Princess Cruise Line is known for:
- Activities geared towards an older audience
- Lots of space on the top decks for you to relax
- A chill, calm atmosphere
- Not a lot of crazy entertainment options
Let’s cut straight to the point: Princess Cruise Line definitely isn’t about the mega-resort experience at sea. If you’re looking for a cruise line that invests millions in roller coasters, ice rinks, and go-kart tracks, then your next vacation should probably be with Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival, or MSC Cruises.
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Princess Cruises is all about a traditional, elegant cruise experience. You’ll find plenty of calm, peaceful places to relax and recharge, and virtually no waterslides or theme park attractions like those at Magic Kingdom. This makes sense, considering Princess is geared toward a more adult audience, particularly guests in their 50s to 70s. I’m nearing my 40s, and my back already hurts after riding some roller coasters, so I can understand why these passengers prefer to just chill and enjoy a romantic time onboard.
Princess does offer a lot of shows aboard their ships, and activities like bingo & trivia nights, crafting classes and they even feature a Kids Club that gets pretty good reviews online.
Here is what you can find onboard Princess Cruise Line:
- Shows
- Sports Courts
- Culinary Demonstrations
- Dancing Classes
- Wine Tasting
- Casinos
- Art Galleries
- Shopping
- Trivia & Bingo
- Fitness Center
- Spa
- Movies under the stars
- Karaoke
- Kids Club
Shows aboard Princess Cruise Line
Shows and lounge entertainment are a big part of Princess Cruises. In 2024, you might expect to see Broadway-level productions on some of the biggest cruise lines, and Princess doesn’t disappoint. They offer a major show in the main theater each night, but you’ll also find other artists performing in various bars, with live music happening throughout the ship. Princess is all about providing a relaxed and romantic atmosphere, and live music only enhances those moments.
In fact, Princess has recently elevated their Broadway-level shows through new partnerships, including collaborations with Stephen Schwartz (the composer of “Wicked”) and the Jim Henson Company (creators of the Muppets).
Here are some of their main shows:
The Secret Silk
Available on: Royal Princess, Island Princess, Diamond Princess.
This is probably one of the most hyped Princess Cruises shows. Here is what Princess has to say: “Watch a remarkable world come to life before your eyes as life-size puppetry from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, dance and special effects transport you to a mythical realm. Created and directed by John Tartaglia, a star of Broadway hits such as Avenue Q and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Secret Silk is our third exclusive show produced with Stephen Schwartz, the Oscar, Grammy and Tony award-winning composer of Wicked”.
Spotlight Bar
Available on: Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess.
Here is what Princess has to say: “Join us at the Spotlight Bar, where this imaginative show transports guests to a vibrant bar atmosphere where they connect with local storytellers who share tales of their colorful lives through song. Come as you are to the Spotlight Bar, where a familiar, modern playlist inspires camaraderie and the urge to dance”.
Rock Opera
Available on: Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess.
According to Princess Cruise Line, “This one-of-a-kind production features incredible costumes inspired by glamorous avant-garde fashion with a musical soundtrack spanning classic rock, opera and musical theater, sung in English, Spanish, Latin and even American Sign Language”.
Kids Club onboard Princess Cruise Line
Many guests are surprised to learn that Princess Cruises actually has a Kids Club - and it's a big one too, in partnership with Discovery, called "Camp Discovery." This club caters to kids aged 3-17. As is standard with a Kids Club, Princess divides children into specific age groups, each with its own set of activities:
- Treehouse (3-7yo)
- Lodge (8-12yo)
- Beach House (13-17yo)
Children under the age of 3 are also welcome at Camp Discovery if accompanied by an adult. However, there are no nurseries available.
As I mentioned before, Camp Discovery gets great reviews and is a step above other Kids Clubs from cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival (though it still can’t beat Disney - but who can, right?). It’s included in your cruise fare, and parents even receive a pager to stay in contact with staff at all times. Be sure to register your kids pre-cruise so they’re ready to join the activities as soon as your vacation begins!
Camp Discovery Hours of Operation
- Sea Days: 9am to 12pm | 1pm to 5pm | 6pm to 10pm
- Port Days: 8am to 5pm | 6pm to 10pm
During port days, you can authorize your kids to have lunch or dinner with the supervised staff.
While the free programming for children ages 3 to 12 ends at 10 pm, you can pay extra ($5 per guest, per hour) to leave your kids at the ship's Youth and Teen centers from 10pm all the way to 1am.
Nightlife onboard Princess Cruise Line
Nightlife onboard Princess isn’t much different from what you’d find on most cruise lines. There is usually one major show each night in the main theater, along with various presentations in secondary bars. These can range from comedy acts to a skilled musician playing the violin, providing a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere.
Princess is also well known for their Movie Nights, where a film plays on the main deck. You can grab a blanket, enjoy the breeze, and watch the movie next to the swimming pool. Some guests even find it cozy enough to fall asleep there if they wish.
Other popular options are cocktail demonstrations, trivia nights and karaoke. All in all, Princess does have some fun night activities that just aren’t wild parties like you’d find aboard Virgin Voyages or Carnival Cruises. Nightlife aboard Princess Cruises is calm and romantic, geared towards an older audience.
Spellbound by Magic aboard Sun Princess
This one looks really cool, even if I haven’t been there yet! Spellbound by Magic is a new entertainment option onboard Sun Princess that combines a restaurant, a speakeasy, and magic performances. It’s a paid activity and not inexpensive - costing $149 per guest - but it includes an impressive magic act, dinner, and unlimited special cocktails.
At Spellbound, you’re welcome to first watch some private magic performances, and then enjoy dinner and unlimited drinks for the rest of the night.
Spellbound has only three reservation times available: 5pm, 7 pm, and 9 pm. With a capacity of about 100 guests, it’s a good idea to book your spot in advance.
Pools aboard Princess Cruise Line
Princess Cruises are known for their ships with multiple pools and, even better, plenty of open space on their decks for chairs, lounges, and relaxation. They focus more on a serene and laid-back atmosphere rather than large water slides and high-energy entertainment. Their top decks are designed for you to chill, catch a movie, or sit down and chat with family and friends. In addition to movie nights, you can also enjoy cocktail demonstrations by the pool and participate in a few poolside competitions or ping-pong matches. I’m bad at ping-pong but I’ve won a few foosball tournaments in the past!
Do Princess Cruise Line ships have waterslides?
You won’t find waterslides onboard Princess Cruises, but they are beginning to introduce water parks designed for children. For example, the Sun Princess features a recreational zone with a splash area, pop jets, a rock climbing wall, and more.
Princess Cruise Line Shore Excursions
Like most major cruise lines, Princess Cruises offers a variety of excursions at all their destinations, including popular locations in Europe and Alaska, where they are a significant player. Princess Cruises provides some perks when booking excursions with them, such as a guarantee to return to your ship even if your excursion runs late.
You can book your shore excursions with Manage Booking on your Princess account from approximately 12 weeks before travel, and up to 5 days before you depart.
They also offer some fun, different excursion types, like:
Culinary Excursions: I actually love this idea, where passengers are all about trying what a place has to offer by… eating! This is what Princess has to say, “savor the authentic flavors of the places you sail with culinary shore excursions. Soak in Italy's spirit on a visit to a pasta factory in Sorrento. Learn to make decadent scones surrounded by Ireland's rolling countryside. Prepare Paella with a local chef at your side in Spain. With cooking classes and tastings curated with expertise and imagination, a culinary adventure is on your horizon”.
Discovery Tours: those are excursions focused on small parties. Princess says that “Discovery Exclusive Tours are unique and immersive tours in a small-group setting that cannot be booked independently. Discovery Recommended Tours provide enriching and immersive once-in-a-lifetime experiences”.
Discovery Family Tours: Another fun idea. These are tours aimed mostly at families with kids that will teach you something new and introduce you to your destination. Princess says that “Discovery Family tours are designed to capture the imaginations of all ages. Many excursions provide hands-on opportunities to enrich your understanding of the regions we visit, including features specially designed to appeal to 3–12 year-old guests”.
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