Hey cruisers, I’m Sheri with Cruise Tips TV. Today’s episode was inspired by one of our subscribers who asks “I’m about to sail on Princess for the first time. Any tips or hints for this line?”. Why yes, Jennifer we do! If you’ve been watching our channel for a while, you’ve probably heard us speak very fondly about Princess. There’s a lot to like, so here are some tips that should apply across most of the fleet: #1- Choose your dining experience. Most Princess ships give you the choice between anytime dining, where you choose your dining time in about a 4 hour window, or a set dining time, usually a 6pm seating and another around 8:15pm or so. You’ll want to consider this carefully and talk with your travel companions about this choice. The flexibility of anytime dining can be great, but you can also end up waiting for a table if you choose to dine at peak times, usually between 6 and 7:30pm. #2- Princess has a stateroom category that we LOVE. These cabins are called mini suites, and while they will cost a little more than a balcony, they won’t set you back as much as a full suite. These cabins are much bigger than standard balcony cabins and have a few little luxuries that we love. The first of which is a bathtub, a luxury on any cruise ship. The second thing that makes mini suites special is the separate sitting area, with a couch, and a little extra room to spread out. When we an afford it, we choose mini suites because they offer more space, and what can I say, I love that bathtub (and so does our little boy!) #3- Movies under the stars! Yep, you can watch movies, concerts, and whatever else Princess deems appropriate for your sailing on a giant movie screen on the pool deck. We think this is pretty cool, and have spent hours and hours watching documentaries, first run movies and even and music performances from the hot tub on our cruises to Alaska. And, a bonus tip for you – sometimes, the staff will provide you with popcorn, hot chocolate, blankets and even cookies during special movie screenings. Just ask the crew! #4- Did you know that USA today voted Princess’s pizza the best at sea? Let’s just say, we’re backing up their vote. It is seriously delicious, and you don’t want to miss it. On our first cruise, we found ourselves grabbing a slice on the run just about every day and we’re not big pizza people. The crust is thin, it’s not overly salted and ….just yum! Trust me here. #5-Speaking of food, Princess’s International Café is a little secret that some cruisers never fully explore. If you’re walking by, you might think “oh, there’s the coffee shop, and those pastries look nice”, but the International Café is actually a 24 hour spot to grab not only an espresso, but a huge variety of pastries, paninis, soups, salads and other items that vary throughout the day. We recommend you give it a try, not just for a breakfast pastry. They usually list their menu items on a board near the register. #6- Speaking of the International Café, When we sail on Princess, we always buy a coffee punch card to be used to purchase specialty coffees and espresso drinks at the International Cafe. What makes this little card unique is that if you don’t use all your punches on your cruise, you can take it with you on your next Princess sailing. As you can see, I’ll be packing this little guy on my next Princess sailing. Don’t forget to save it! #7- If you’re looking for solitude on your vacation, Princess has a mellow, spa like place just for you. It’s called the Sanctuary, and it’s an adults only retreat. You can expect spa inspired snacks and drinks, personalized service from the serenity steward and nice little touches, like MP3 players to listen to, and a cabana-like vibe. There is a charge, so you’ll want to do your research and budget for it if it sounds appealing to you. #8- Here’s another tip for you. Princess offers a super unique experience, if you’re sailing in a balcony or suite cabin, that a lot of people don’t know about. It’s called Ultimate Balcony Dining and for a reasonable charge, you can have a romantic dinner, or breakfast on your own verandah. #9- The steakhouses on Princess ships are a great value. For a cover charge that is MUCH less than you’d be charged for premium steaks and chops at home, you can enjoy a multi-course meal at either the Crown Grill or Sterling Steakhouse, depending on which ship you choose. You can enjoy appetizers, soups and salads, entrees including steaks, chops and seafood, and fabulous desserts, all included in your cover charge. #10- I may just be saving the best tip for last. If you’re a chocolate lover, you’ll be a happy cruiser on Princess right now. Because Princess has teamed up with Norman Love to feature high quality chocolate all over their ship, and I really mean ALL over the ship. You guys…you can even have a chocolate massage in the spa.

• published: 09 Aug 2016
• views: 1193