Princess Cruises

During my recent cruise on Princess Cruises' newest and largest ship, I ventured from the included dining options in favor of their specialty restaurants to elevate my culinary experience. 

While you'll get the most bang for your buck by sticking with complimentary restaurants on cruise ships, specialty restaurants are known for offering higher-quality cuisine in intimate environments. 

Eating is arguably one of the best parts of taking a cruise. From massive buffets to indulgent multi-course meals in the Main Dining Room, there's something for everyone to enjoy. While passengers only see the dining areas and final presentation, the true culinary magic happens in the kitchen, AKA the galley. 

Drink packages are one of the most popular cruise add-ons. By purchasing a Princess Cruises beverage package, you can enjoy a fixed number of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for a set daily price during your sailing. 

Princess' base fare isn't all-inclusive, so while you won't have to worry about paying extra for theater productions or meals in the Main Dining Room, you will need to budget for optional expenses like specialty dining, excursions, and alcoholic beverages. 

Unless you are sailing on a luxury cruise line, your cruise fare is not going to be all-inclusive. 

Outside of complimentary food and beverage options, accommodations, entertainment, and transportation between ports of call, you will be responsible for paying for cruise add-ons. These range from specialty dining experiences to drink packages, shore excursions, spa treatments, and more. 

Some cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises, have begun to roll out different types of fares meant to make your cruise more inclusive. 

Getting to your cruise ship is the part of the planning process no one relishes planning, but it's gotten a whole lot easier in Florida.

In a state not well known for public transportation, Brightline's new high-speed train service between Central and South Florida has become a breath of fresh air for residents and tourists alike.

Princess Cruises markets itself as a leader in the Alaska cruise market, so I booked a sailing to see for myself whether or not it was worth the hype.

Despite cruising to Alaska every summer, I had never cruised with Princess Cruises before, but I had heard amazing things about the cruise line’s Alaska itineraries.

Princess Cruises puts a bigger focus on the Alaska cruise experience compared to other mainstream cruise lines, offering Alaska-specific programming, guest lecturers, and cuisine.

Earlier this summer, I cruised to Alaska on the Royal Princess, a 10-year old cruise ship by Princess Cruises. I almost always book a tiny inside cabin when I cruise, and this 7-night sailing was no exception.

I paid $2,294 for my interior stateroom on the Royal Princess. The cost of my cabin was for two adults and included all taxes, fees, and gratuities, bringing it to $1,147 per person, or around $164 per night.

After 19 cruises with Royal Caribbean, I booked a 7-night Alaska cruise with Princess Cruises, and here’s what I liked better.

Ever since I started cruising, I’ve almost exclusively sailed with Royal Caribbean. Like most cruisers, I tend to stick to the same cruise line in order to rack up loyalty points, which can lead to exclusive benefits like complimentary drinks and private lounge access.

Booking a cruise on a new-to-me cruise line is always exciting, as I never know exactly what to expect. Whether the food, entertainment, or activities, it’s always interesting to see the good and the bad of what other cruise lines have to offer.

I recently returned from my first-ever Princess cruise, a 7-night Alaska sailing on the Royal Princess. Princess Cruises is one of the most popular American cruise lines, and they are most well known for their Alaska itineraries, in which they are a market leader.