Everything you need to know about Princess Cruises — from MedallionClass technology and Princess Plus to The Sanctuary adults-only retreat and booking with Pavlus Travel.
Princess Cruises is one of the world’s most recognized cruise lines, sailing since 1965 and rising to international fame as the “Love Boat” through the iconic 1977–1986 TV series. Part of Carnival Corporation, Princess operates 15 ships and is best for:
Princess occupies a distinct position in mainstream cruising:
For guests who prioritize destination discovery over onboard attractions, Princess is typically the stronger choice.
Sun Princess launched in February 2024 as the newest and largest ship in the Princess fleet, carrying approximately 4,300 guests. She introduces several innovations to the Princess product: the Sphere atrium (a stunning five-deck central hub), the Piazza marketplace with enhanced dining and entertainment, Reserve Collection dining, and an expanded spa complex. Sun Princess sails Mediterranean itineraries from Rome (Civitavecchia). Her sister ship, Star Princess, is under construction.
Princess offers two bundled fare packages above the base “Standard” fare:
Princess Plus (approx. $60/person/day) includes:
Princess Premier (approx. $80/person/day) adds to the above:
For most guests, yes — Princess Plus typically pays for itself quickly:
The bundled Princess Plus price is typically lower than purchasing these three items individually. Even moderate drinkers (2–3 alcoholic beverages per day) will usually find the package delivers value. Guests who don’t drink alcohol should calculate carefully, though the Wi-Fi and gratuity inclusion still provide meaningful savings.
The Princess Standard (base) fare includes:
MedallionClass is Princess’s technology platform powered by a quarter-sized wearable device called the Ocean Medallion. Every guest receives one before sailing. The Medallion:
OceanNow is Princess’s on-demand delivery service powered by the MedallionClass app and your Medallion. You can order food, drinks, and select items from a menu on your smartphone and have them delivered to wherever you are on the ship — your deck chair by the pool, the theater lobby, your balcony, anywhere. A small delivery convenience fee applies per order (included with Princess Premier). It’s one of the most seamlessly convenient features in mainstream cruising.
Reserve Collection is Princess’s premium main dining room tier, available to guests in Reserve Collection staterooms and suites. Reserve Collection dining features a dedicated section of the main dining room with priority seating (no wait), exclusive menu items not available in the standard dining room, and an enhanced service experience. It’s Princess’s answer to guests who want a step up from standard dining without paying full specialty restaurant prices every night.
Princess specialty restaurant options vary by ship but typically include:
Princess accommodates a wide range of dietary requirements with advance notice. Vegetarian options are available every night in the main dining room as standard. Vegan, gluten-free, and low-sodium menus can be requested through the Dietary Needs form submitted before sailing. Kosher and other special meals must be arranged well in advance through Princess’s guest services. The MedallionClass app can store your dietary preferences so crew are aware from embarkation day.
The Sanctuary is Princess’s adults-only (18+) retreat area at the forward section of the ship, accessible for a daily or half-day fee (typically $30–$50 per person per day). It features:
Princess Cruises has one of the strongest Alaska programs in the industry and has been sailing Alaska for decades. Highlights:
Movies Under the Stars is Princess’s signature outdoor cinema experience — a large LED screen on the pool deck plays first-run movies, classic films, sports events, and concerts, often late into the evening. Blankets and popcorn are provided complimentary. It’s a beloved Princess tradition that many guests cite as a highlight of sea days and evenings at anchor. The combination of a warm night, ocean air, and a great film on deck is genuinely memorable.
Princess Cays is Princess’s private beach destination in the Bahamas (Eleuthera Island). Unlike CocoCay and Castaway Cay, Princess Cays requires tendering (small boat from ship to shore). The island features open beach access, water sports rentals, a BBQ lunch (included), and rental of private beach areas and hammocks. It’s a pleasant beach day without the massive infrastructure of competing private islands — appropriate expectations should be set.
Princess offers a clear cabin hierarchy:
Princess Sky Suites are the line’s top-tier accommodations, featuring dedicated butler service, priority boarding and disembarkation, access to a private dining experience, specialty restaurant reservations upon request, premium in-suite amenities (Nespresso machine, plush robes, pillow menu), and a dedicated Sky Suite concierge. Sky Suite guests on newer ships like Sun Princess access the exclusive Sky Suite Retreat area. The Sky Suite experience competes favorably with luxury line cabin categories at a significantly lower price point.
Call our Princess Cruises specialists at 800-528-9300. We can walk you through the entire process in one call:
Pavlus adds meaningful value beyond what you get booking direct:
Yes — Pavlus Travel regularly has access to onboard credit (OBC) offers on Princess sailings that are not available when booking directly. The amount varies by sailing and current promotions. When you call 800-528-9300, we’ll tell you exactly what is available for your voyage and compare it to what Princess is currently offering direct.
In most cases, yes — Princess allows transfers to a travel agency within 60 days of the original booking date, provided final payment has not been made. Call us at 800-528-9300 with your booking confirmation number and we’ll handle the transfer process. You’ll retain your existing cabin assignment and any promotions applied at booking.
No — you will pay less. Pavlus Travel provides a savings benefit on top of current Princess promotions, in the form of a discount, cash back, or onboard credit — combineable with all current Princess offers. Pavlus charges no booking fees; our compensation comes from Princess directly through commission.
Pavlus has been selling Princess Cruises — including decades of Alaska Cruisetour bookings, which requires detailed knowledge of land itinerary options, lodge quality, and rail scheduling that most agencies don’t possess. Our advisors complete Princess’s Commodore Club certification and attend fleet events for new ship launches. We know the MedallionClass platform, the Sun Princess, and what makes one Alaska itinerary better than another for a specific traveler’s goals.
Call us at 800-528-9300. Pavlus serves as your direct advocate with Princess. Whether it’s a pricing correction, cabin change request, itinerary modification, or a concern arising mid-voyage, we work on your behalf. Princess periodically changes itineraries or repositions ships — when that happens, having a knowledgeable advisor is far more effective than navigating Princess’s customer service queue alone.
Yes. Our advisors watch fares on active bookings and will reach out proactively if your sailing’s price drops before final payment. Princess’s Best Price Guarantee allows repricing to a lower published rate on the same category, typically applied as an adjustment or onboard credit. We handle the repricing request on your behalf.
Captain’s Circle is Princess’s loyalty program with four tiers based on cruise days sailed:
Princess calls gratuities “Crew Appreciation” — a daily charge of approximately $16–$18 per person per day (suite guests pay a higher rate), automatically applied to your onboard account. This is included in the Princess Plus and Premier packages, which is one of the key reasons those packages pay off quickly for most guests. If booking the base Standard fare, crew appreciation can be pre-paid at the time of booking for easier budgeting.
Princess offers MedallionNet — branded as one of the fastest and most reliable Wi-Fi systems at sea. It is sold in one-device and four-device plans, or included with Princess Plus (one device) and Princess Premier (four devices). MedallionNet is integrated with the MedallionClass app, enabling features like OceanNow ordering. Speed is sufficient for streaming video calls and remote work in most sea conditions, though mid-ocean transatlantic connectivity is naturally slower than near-port regions.
Princess deposits are typically $100–$400 per person depending on voyage length and cabin category. Key terms:
Princess does not have dedicated single-occupancy studio cabins fleet-wide, but periodically offers reduced single supplements on select sailings and cabin categories — particularly for interior and oceanview cabins. The Princess Plus package can actually be economical for solos since the per-person cost of gratuities, Wi-Fi, and drinks doesn’t change with occupancy. Princess’s social programming (Discovery enrichment talks, Captain’s Circle events) creates natural connection opportunities for solo travelers. Your Pavlus advisor can identify current solo-friendly options.
Discovery at Sea is Princess’s enrichment partnership with Discovery Inc., bringing content from Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Shark Week, and National Geographic into lectures, documentaries, and themed activities onboard. Guest expert naturalists, wildlife guides, and destination specialists lead educational programming that enhances the destination experience — particularly valuable on Alaska and nature-focused itineraries. This programming is complimentary and aligns with Princess’s positioning as a more destination-oriented, intellectually engaged cruise line.
Yes — Princess is one of the few mainstream lines offering true World Voyages (full circumnavigation) and Grand Voyages (extended regional itineraries of 30–60+ days). These sailings are popular with retired travelers who have the time for extended voyages and want to see multiple continents in one trip. Grand Voyages allow passengers to book segment legs rather than the full voyage. Princess’s scale of itinerary diversity — from the Caribbean to Antarctica to Asia — is genuinely unmatched among comparable mainstream lines. Book world voyages 12–18+ months in advance; they sell steadily from first announcement.
Princess’s Alaska advantage is structural, not just promotional. The line owns and operates a network of four wilderness lodges in Denali, Fairbanks, Copper River, and Kenai Peninsula — plus connections on the scenic Alaska Railroad. No other mainstream cruise line has this land infrastructure. A Princess Alaska Cruisetour combines a glacier-viewing cruise with a land journey through some of the most spectacular wilderness in North America, seamlessly coordinated under one booking. For first-time Alaska visitors who want both the cruise and the interior wilderness experience, Princess is the clear choice.
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