New to Cruising? Tips for First-Time Cruisers

Table Of Content

• Things to know about cruising with Princess (that are pretty amazing)
• Ultimate Balcony Dining is a great value – but only for dinner
• The dry sauna and large showers at the spa are available to all passengers
• Princess cruise tips: things to do before you sail
• Texts to other passengers are free using Princess Onboard at Sea
• Firstly, some cruise advice that will pretty much guarantee that you’ll find out all the important stuff

While many of these cruise ship tips feel like Princess cruise secrets, in fact, all of this information is readily available on board, and much of it applies to any cruise line. Whether you have already booked or are still thinking about it, these tips for cruising apply to nearly every line, although written specifically for Princess. They will save you time and money and enhance your cruising experience. I’m by no means suggesting that you book every shore excursion with Princess, or even that you need an excursion in every cruise port. However, there are times when it’s a good idea to book an excursion. If you’ve booked with a travel agent, the future cruise reservation agent will send the booking to him or her, if you wish.

Things to know about cruising with Princess (that are pretty amazing)

Alcoholic drinks are rarely free on Princess cruises, but if you’re looking to save on your alcohol budget, I have a couple of tips. Don’t try to haggle unless you’re braver than I am – from what I’ve seen, these are pretty rock-bottom prices. Also don’t expect top-notch service if you’re looking at these pieces. Margins are miniscule, so it’s likely you’ll have to flag someone down to try something on. Obviously, a cruise line isn’t going to be able to replicate the feeling of a village pub on a cruise ship full of tourists. I had the steak-and-kidney pie, and Mr. SBC had the bangers and mash.

Ultimate Balcony Dining is a great value – but only for dinner

Booking your future Princess cruise while onboard is an excellent way to snag a good deal. For a small deposit, you can get up to $300 onboard credit for an upcoming cruise. If you don’t know when and where you’d like to sail next, you can still take advantage of the future cruise deposits and choose a sailing within two years. You won't need to memorize all the activities and events each day. The line also recently launched an enhanced version of the above plan called Princess Premier, which adds a photo package and two free meals at restaurants that normally have an extra charge.

12 dining mistakes you must fix on your next cruise - The Points Guy

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The dry sauna and large showers at the spa are available to all passengers

The other is has a small charge and is served in a more intimate setting. If you’re cruising for the first time, or even if you’ve cruised a few times, you may not be aware of the advantages of booking your “next” cruise on board. Whether you order a light breakfast to have in your cabin before an early shore excursion, or a late night snack, just know that this is included with your cruise fare.

Princess Cruise Lines has their own health advice and protocols here. A wonderful selection of movies showed nearly every night on a huge 300-square foot screen with a 69,000-watt sound system found poolside. Padding, removable pillows, and blankets convert the lounge chairs into a comfortable nighttime movie-watching option. And on Princess Cruises, your base price includes many meal and snack options.

Texts to other passengers are free using Princess Onboard at Sea

There are some foods that frequent Princess cruisers just love – they are really kind of fan favorites. So, if you’re cruising with Princess for the first time, and you love cruise food, you might want to know this. The reality is, that although you can read a lot of general cruise tips, every cruise line is unique and has different amenities and offerings.

Firstly, some cruise advice that will pretty much guarantee that you’ll find out all the important stuff

It also specifies the dress code for the following evening (smart casual or formal), along with opening and closing times for restaurants, bars, and shops. They are an excellent source of additional cruise excursion tips or advice on ports. They learn the best and the worst while talking to passengers every day. Also, many crew members have been to various ports multiple times. From that point, we set out on a mission, asking officers, crew, and other passengers for their best Princess cruise hacks.

If you want to take part in formal night, you don’t have to wear an evening gown or a tuxedo, although many do, and that’s fine! I’ve had lots of friends and readers ask me what to wear for formal night (I spent 20 years in the fashion industry, in addition to being a cruise fanatic). I always tell them to dress as you would if you were a guest at a wedding.

Book your optimal package by understanding the options

They’ll replace the items you don’t care for with more of what you’ll actually drink. If you’re thinking of splurging on a dinner or two at a specialty restaurant, and you have a balcony, doing the Ultimate Balcony Dining is a fantastic alternative. Recently, Princess transitioned to an onboard account based specialty coffee package, much like how their other beverage packages function. The Patter is a daily newsletter that shares tons of important information for the next day. It gives a detailed list of all the day’s activities, along with a weather report, scheduled arrival and departure times on port days, and notifications of any changes to the itinerary.

They’ll be happy to share their knowledge and steer you in the right direction.

You can also enjoy late-night snacks or a light lunch in your stateroom. If you purchase this package without the promotion, it would cost about $60 per day. So, if you can take advantage of the Sip & Sail promotion, you can enjoy tons of savings and plenty of poolside cocktails.

Don’t want to waste precious vacation time in the laundry room on your cruise? This may be my number-one tip for cruising in general, but especially on Princess! I’m not saying this so you can get stiffer drinks or faster service (but you might…). If you enjoyed these Princess cruise tricks and tips, please share this article on social media and save them on Pinterest for your next cruise.