Many people in the US cruise market know Princess Cruises for their Alaska offerings; they're a leader in that region. Others recognize the line for pioneering Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles during The Love Boat days. Actually, Princess Cruises has the world very well covered with a sailing to suit every taste and timetable, so to speak.
So Let's Talk Caribbean!
A recent host agency webinar with a representative from the line provided an overview of their offerings with some key takeaways.
Dedicated Caribbean Fleet
The Caribbean is the most popular cruise destination in the world; there is no shortage of cruise lines and ships in that region! Princess has seven (7) ships in Caribbean waters for the 2022-2023 cruise season:
Caribbean Princess
Emerald Princess
Enchanted Princess
Island Princess
Regal Princess
Ruby Princess
Sky Princess
These ships are of different "classes" meaning size, but
there's an amazing sense of familiarity among them insofar as facilities and layout. Still, there are differences that set them apart.
Caribbean Princess, for instance, has a lounge suspended over the very aft of the vessel called Skywalkers which offers amazing views of sailaways and the vast expanses of the ocean. At night, the space becomes a dance club. The lounge is accessed by a glass-enclosed walkway. Emerald and Ruby Princess also have a Skywalkers Lounge, but it is set further forward from the stern with a less dramatic design devoid of the walkway. These vessels are mid-sized in the fleet and some of the most beautiful at sea.
Let's call Island Princess more intimate - not that she's actually small by any measure. At nearly 93,000 gross register tons, she's plenty big; it's just that she's smaller compared to the rest of her Caribbean fleet mates. In fact, she's just the right size for traversing the historic locks of the Panama Canal! IAnd that's exactly what part of her Caribbean deployment includes, but more on that in a little bit!
Enchanted, Regal, and Sky are the largest and newest ships in the Princess fleet. In addition to carrying more passengers, they have all the facilities and amenities that Princess is known for and then some.
A Great Variety of Itineraries
Where do you want to go? What do you want to see, do, and explore? Princess Cruises has a Caribbean sailing to suit many tastes and timetables!
Two of the options available involve Princess' versions the ubiquitous 7 night eastern and western Caribbean routes. But wait, there's more!
Be willing to spend just another 24 hours at sea, if you can stand to, and you could enjoy a sailing onboard Regal Princess that is becoming more popular each year: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao! Or you could spend those 8 nights going to the eastern Caribbean with a call at St. Kitts. And for those whose timetable is generous, you may combine these sailings back-to-back!
You also have two ways to see the Panama Canal by taking a round-trip western Caribbean voyage; there are also eastbound and westbound Atlantic/Pacific ocean-to-ocean cruises that are included as part of the Caribbean season.
Some Caribbean sailings stop at Princess Cruises private beach destination in the Bahamas on the island of Eleuthera, called Princess Cays.
Sailing Strategy (There's A Trick)
When it comes to itinerary planning, some cruise lines assign ships to routes they ply week after week after week. Their ships sail to the popular ports of call that people enjoy visiting the most ensuring available capacity on those routes. And with cruise ships getting bigger and better, the ship itself is a destination unto itself!
Princess ups the ante on their sailings by spreading some of them out and mixing things up a bit. The sailing you decide on may only have four dates available, so if you find space onboard, you might just want to jump at that opportunity of a lifetime because those sailings will fill up and you will "miss the boat!" Let's just call it creating a sense of scarcity.
Is Princess Cruises Right For You?
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing any cruise. What do you hope to experience from choosing a particular line and ship?
Some of today's cruise ships are replete with distractions and diversions ranging from skating rinks and laser tag to go-karts and roller coasters. A cruise can be like an amusement park-at-sea!
Princess ships do have fun for kids and families for sure! Caribbean Princes, in particular, has a Family Aplash Zone topside in the shadow of Skywalkers Lounge. The fleet provides access to sports and outdoor activities to keep the young and young-at-heart active. Partnerships with Science Channel and Animal Planet allow for an immersive experience for young passengers and the entire family.
A Princess cruise is all about developing a connection with the places the ship will visit with cultural activity, informative talks, local entertainment at port calls, and food that prepares passengers for where they'll go and what they'll see.
Many passengers are 40 year old-plus couples who love to travel and experience life to the fullest. But the passenger profile isn't one-dimensional at all. Many families sail with Princess and enjoy the more laid back onboard atmosphere. And by family, it's not always mom, dad, and the kiddos. Princess is great for multi-generational family groups or grandparents who want to give their grandkids the gift of cruising as the Princess ambiance encourages family members to spend time focused on one another. And there's plenty to do for all ages. For the little one through teenagers there's Camp Discovery where there are activities incorporated into age-appropriate activity centers onboard where the young ones can make friends and have their own space. For 18-20 year old young adults, there is Club 1820.
There's something for everyone to enjoy!
Come..Sail Away To The Caribbean With Princess Cruises!
All photos courtesy of Princess Cruises
