Princess
Hot Deals
- 3-night Bahamas cruise (Miami roundtrip) on Carnival from $349 for oceanview
- 7-night S. Caribbean cruise (San Juan roundtrip) on Golden Princess, from $599
- 7-night Mexico cruise (Los Angeles roundtrip) on Carnival Pride, from $579
Princess Ships
- Caribbean Princess
- Coral Princess
- Dawn Princess
- Diamond Princess
- Golden Princess
- Grand Princess
- Island Princess
- Pacific Princess
- Regal Princess
- Royal Princess
- Sapphire Princess
- Star Princess
- Sun Princess
- Tahitian Princess
Princess Information
About
What began as the little cruise line that could, operating one small luxury liner between Los Angeles and the Mexican Riviera (and later Alaska) in 1965, evolved into a cruise industry giant, with more than 10 ships sailing about 150 itineraries around the globe. Princess Cruises' 109,000-ton Star Princess, sister ship to the popular Grand Princess and Golden Princess, made her debut in March 2002, and the company currently has four more ships under construction or on order. Meanwhile, Princess recently announced the departure of Ocean Princess and Pacific Princess from the fleet.
The cruise division of The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company de-merged from P&O; to form a separate company in October 2000. The resulting new cruise company, P&O; Princess Cruises, plc, is headquartered in London and is listed on both the London and New York stock exchanges. P&O; Cruises and the new company's U.S. business, Princess Cruises, are two of the best-known brands in the industry. P&O; Cruises is the UK's foremost cruise company, while Princess is the leading U.S. operator in Alaska and Europe, and has a powerful and expanding presence in the Caribbean. With the inclusion of Aida Cruises, Germany's fastest growing cruise company, and the group's cruise interests in Australia, P&O; is the most international of any cruise company.
Last year, Princess reflagged the fleet to Great Britain and Bermuda. The re-registry process began with Ocean Princess (which left the fleet in 2002 for P&O; UK), and continued with Sun Princess and Sea Princess. The remainder of the fleet now sails under British registry, with the exception of Grand Princess and the new Golden Princess, which sail under the Bermuda flag. Royal Princess already flies the British flag.
Princess greatly expanded its Caribbean program in 2001 with a year-round cruise schedule. New summer sailings aboard Grand Princess, which makes alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings from April through September, has boosted the line's Caribbean presence by 35 percent.
The innovative cruise line spruced up passenger comfort with the addition of Personal Choice dining, allowing passengers to choose between traditional dining room-style meals, at assigned tables and times, and restaurant-style meals in one of the main dining rooms between 5:30 PM and midnight. Princess is the only line offering both options. The program debuted aboard Grand Princess in January and is available on Golden Princess and each of the Sun-class ships (Sun Princess, Dawn Princess, and Sea Princess).
The cruise line also launched yet another dining choice with its alfresco steakhouses set up on the sheltered deck from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. Currently operating on all of the Sun-class ships, the steakhouses specialize in tender cuts of Angus beef from the famous Sterling Silver brand, as well as side dishes and desserts you might find at similar shore side restaurants.
Always on the cutting edge, Princess is in the process of installing AOL Internet Cafés on each of its ships, designed specifically for members of the major Web company. The 24-hour cafés, which debut on the new Golden Princess, offer 25 computer stations, fax machines, printers, and copiers.
Princess ranks as one of the top cruise lines in the mass market. Each ship in the fleet is very well maintained. The newer ships, including Dawn Princess, Grand Princess, Sea Princess, and Sun Princess, all feature stunning central atriums, multimillion dollar art collections, and tasteful and refined décor. Cabins are spacious, well-designed, and boast nice touches like plush terry cloth bathrobes, hair dryers, color TV, and 24-hour room service. While most of the vessels are large, they also have a higher passenger-space ratio than many ships in the moderately priced range, with fitness and entertainment facilities to please just about anyone. Princess's shore excursions are diverse, well-run, and innovative. In the Caribbean, for example, the company offers the New Waves program, a comprehensive scuba diving certification course.
Princess is one of our top picks in Alaska, with five ships offering a total of 91 sailings on five different cruise itineraries. Princess's ground programs in Alaska are nearly unbeatable, featuring beautiful private-dome railcars and wonderful wilderness lodges in key sightseeing areas like Denali, McKinley, Kenai, and Fairbanks. The company opened its fifth property, the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, in summer 2002.
Onboard Atmosphere
The average passenger age is 40+ on Caribbean itineraries, and 50+ on Alaska itineraries and all other cruising regions. Dawn Princess, Grand Princess, Sea Princess, and Sun Princess attract more families during holidays and school vacation periods.
Special Programs
Children's program
Princess Cruises runs one of the best supervised children's programs at sea, available on all ships during holiday and vacation periods. The line operates three different programs: Princess Pelicans (ages 37), Princess Pirateers (ages 812), and Off Limits (ages 1317), all geared to specific age-related activities. Princess welcomes children as young as 6 months on Caribbean, Mexico, and Alaska sailings.
Past guest program
This multi-tiered, past-passenger programs perks include lapel pins marking milestones (such as third, fifth, and 10th voyages), onboard credits after 20 cruises, Captain's Circle News (published quarterly), onboard cocktail reception, and upgrades on select itineraries.
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Booking your cruise
The information below is from Princess cruise line and is subject to change by Princess cruise line at any time and without notice. The details shown are for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for any errors and/or omissions resulting in pricing, inventory, or content discrepancies.
RESERVATIONS: A deposit must be received within seven days of booking. The per person deposit required for 7-day Caribbean sailings is US$250; for 10-day Caribbean sailings, the deposit required is US$450 for all cruises and cruisetours. For combined cruises, a deposit is required for each segment. Deposits are not required for 3rd or 4th berth passengers. Formal confirmation will be made to the passenger's travel agent when the deposit is received. For non-holiday sailings, all final payments are due no less than 75 days prior to departure. Final payments for Christmas and New Year's sailings are due no less than 90 days prior to departure. Bookings made within 75-15 days prior to departure require full payment within seven days of booking. Bookings made within 14 days of departure require full payment within 24 hours of booking. Cabins are subject to cancellation if deposit/payments are not received within the periods stated above.
GOVERNMENT FEES AND TAXES: "Government fees and taxes" may include any and all fees, charges and taxes imposed by U.S. and/or foreign governmental or quasi-governmental authorities, including U.S. customs fees, head taxes, hotel taxes, air taxes incurred as part of a land tour, inspection fees, immigration and naturalization fees and Internal Revenue Service fees. Government fees and taxes are subject to change, and Princess reserves the right to collect any increases in effect at the time of sailing, even if the fare has already been paid in full.
Canceling your cruise
The information below is from Princess cruise line and is subject to change by Princess cruise line at any time and without notice. The details shown are for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for any errors and/or omissions resulting in pricing, inventory, or content discrepancies.
CANCELLATION OF RESERVATIONS: Cancellation notices must be received by Princess via telephone, or via electronic advice through a Princess authorized Computerized Reservation System (CRS), followed by immediate written notification. Changes of sailing date or substitution of passenger names are considered to be cancellations and new bookings. All sailing date changes and name substitutions are subject to space availability and, if accepted, are subject to the rates, discounts, cancellation fees and booking conditions in effect at the time of the change or substitution.
CANCELLATION FEES AND REFUNDS: The following policy applies to all cancellations with respect to cruise or cruisetour fare, air add-ons, shore excursions and pre-cruise and post-cruise package charges ("total charges"):
Princess Cruises cancellation charges (per person)
All cruises PRIOR to Summer 2005 sailings
Days Before Departure Charges per person
More than 74 days...............................................No penalty (full refund)
43-74 days..........................................................Deposit amount
22-42 days..........................................................50% of total fare
8-21 days............................................................75% of total fare
Fewer than 8 days...............................................100% of total fare (no refund)
All cruises for Summer 2005 sailings and beyond (non-holiday)
Days Before Departure Charges per person
More than 74 days...............................................No penalty (full refund)
57-74 days..........................................................Deposit amount
29-56 days..........................................................50% of total fare
15-28 days............................................................75% of total fare
Fewer than 14 days...............................................100% of total fare (no refund)
Holiday cruises PRIOR to Summer 2005 sailings
Days Before Departure Charges per person
More than 89 days...............................................No penalty (full refund)
57-89 days..........................................................Deposit amount
29-56 days..........................................................50% of total fare
15-28 days..........................................................75% of total fare
Fewer than 15 days.............................................100% of total fare (no refund)
Note: Total fare includes cruise or cruisetour fare, flights, shore excursions, and pre- & post-cruise vacation packages.
All cruises for Summer 2005 sailings and beyond (non-holiday)
Days Before Departure Charges per person
More than 74 days...............................................No penalty (full refund)
57-74 days..........................................................Deposit amount
29-56 days..........................................................50% of total fare
15-28 days............................................................75% of total fare
Fewer than 14 days...............................................100% of total fare (no refund)
Holiday cruises Summer 2005 sailings
Days Before Departure Charges per person
More than 89 days...............................................No penalty (full refund)
64-89 days..........................................................Deposit amount
42-63 days..........................................................50% of total fare
22-42 days..........................................................75% of total fare
Fewer than 21days.............................................100% of total fare (no refund)
Note: Total fare includes cruise or cruisetour fare, flights, shore excursions, and pre- & post-cruise vacation packages.
Any refund owed to you will be made directly to your credit card account or your travel agent and you must receive your refund directly from these sources. If you have purchased air through our FlightChoice air travel program, all refunds of total charges will be held until the air tickets have been returned to Princess. Some travel agents may, at their discretion, withhold an agency cancellation fee. Princess is not responsible for payments made to the passenger's travel agent but not received by Princess, or for the passenger's receipt of any refund which Princess has paid to the passenger's travel agent. There will be no refund of cancellation or interruption fees by Princess under any circumstances. You must recover such fees from your own insurance or from Princess Travel Care/Princess Travel Care Gold.
TICKETING CHANGES: A US$35 service fee per passenger, per change will be assessed for each change to the cruise, cruisetour or air tickets once the tickets have been issued. However, no change will be made unless permitted under our cancellation policy. The service fee will not be assessed when upgrading cabin accommodations. Air tickets may not be changed within 30 days of your departure.
TOUR CUSTOMIZATION PROGRAM: Subject to availability, Princess will allow cruisetour passengers to tailor their vacation by modifying the beginning or end of their cruisetour. A nonrefundable fee of $35USD per person will apply per customization request. Requests for booking under deposit must be made between 320-30 days prior to departure. All customization are subject to availability and confirmation. No customization fee is charged for adding a Princess pre- or post-Cruise Plus optional package.
Before you sail
Inoculations and Health Advisories: Passengers are advised to check with their doctor regarding inoculation requirements in the ports they will be visiting. Some ports strictly enforce these requirements, and certain documents may be needed to go ashore. In addition to contacting your personal physician for the appropriate inoculations, for your protection we strongly recommend that you contact the Centers for Disease Control prior to traveling to learn of any health advisories for the region you will be visiting.
Cruise Ticket, Passports And Travel Documents: Please be sure to bring your Cruise Ticket and Passage contract with you to embark on the ship. You should read the Passage contract carefully as its terms and conditions apply to you and your cruise.
Princess' far reaching itineraries require you to carry proper travel documents. U.S. and Canadian citizens need proof of citizenship when taking a Princess cruise to any destination. A passport is required for Europe, South America, the Orient, India, Africa and the South Pacific. Various countries require visas for entry. Please check with your travel agent for details.
Note that residents of countries other than the U.S. and Canada require a passport for all sailings, and may require additional documentation. Check with your travel agent or the Consulate for each port you will visit for any specific documents you need to obtain prior to your cruise.
Although a passport is not specifically required for U.S. and Canadian residents in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Panama Canal and Canada/New England, it is highly recommended that you always carry your passport for U.S. and Canadian residents in these destinations, an original or certified birth certificate along with a photo ID is acceptable. A driver's license alone is not sufficient. United States Resident Aliens must bring their Alien Registration Card.
Note that residents of countries other than the U.S. and Canada require a passport for all sailings and may require additional documentation. Check with your travel agent or the Consulate for each port you will visit for any pecific documents you need to obtain prior to your cruise.
All travel documents required for disembarkation at various ports of call are your responsibility and should be carried with you. Passengers will not be able to board the vessel without proper documentation.
Important: Visa requirements vary by destination and do change from time to time. Be sure to check with your travel agent to verify current regulations.
PREGNANCY: Princess cannot accept passengers who will have entered the third trimester of pregnancy by the end of the vacation.
WHAT TRAVEL AND HEALTH DOCUMENTS DO I NEED?
Bring your cruise ticket, airline tickets, cruise passage contract, passport and visa, if required. You must also present vaccination certificates and other health documents if required for your particular ports of call. If you do not possess the proper documentation, you may be prevented from boarding the flight or vessel without refund of the cruise and you will be subject to any fine or other costs incurred by Princess which results from the lack of proper documentation. Please consult your travel agent for full details regarding documentation, as it is your obligation to determine what documents will be necessary.
Shipboard life
Travelers With Physical Challenges
Princess Cruises is proud to lead the industry in providing a carefree and enjoyable cruise experience for all passengers. In order to accommodate your needs, please have your travel agent provide Princess with complete details of your requirements.
Princess Cruises offers accessible cabins and can provide dining room seating arrangements to avoid stairs and raised areas. Just be sure your travel agent notifies Princess Cruises of your wheelchair usage and any other special needs prior to sailing. Travelers with physical challenges should check in with the onboard Tour Office to ensure that all pre-reserved tours can accommodate their needs.
In some ports of call, the ship must anchor and passengers must be transported to the pier via ship's tender. Tidal conditions, even when the ship is docked, may also limit pier accessibility. With your safety and comfort in mind, the decision to permit or prohibit passengers from going ashore will be made on each occasion by the ship's Captain, and the decision is final. Because Princess Cruises is not staffed with specially trained personnel to assist passengers with physical challenges, it recommends that you be accompanied by someone who is physically able to assist you both ashore and aboard if necessary. Each ship stocks a limited number of wheelchairs, but please be aware they must be pre-reserved at the time of your booking.
When bringing your own wheelchair, Princess Cruises highly recommends collapsible wheelchairs, as the width of cabin doors varies from ship to ship. Should you require further information, please contact your travel agent or our Reservations Department for assistance.
If you need to bring and use syringes or other medical equipment onboard, Princess Cruises request that you bring a sharps box and that you contact the shipboard medical infirmary for disposal instructions.
If you are traveling with a service animal, please be aware that Princess requires advance notice and that regulations may vary from port to port. Princess does not provide pet food. If your service animal requires special food, you will be responsible for bringing a supply of such food for the duration of your trip. Passengers are advised to consult the local authorities at each port of call prior to departure for the necessary documentation.
PRINCESS ACCESS
Princess is for everyone. A great deal of thought has gone into making Princess ships accessible for all passengers. Princess is proud to offer a variety of accessible cabins and has made most public areas accessible as well. Many of the Princess elevators have Braille call buttons and audible arrival announcements. Princess welcomes service animals. Passengers can request an "all-in-one kit" that includes telephone amplifier, visual smoke detector, door knocker-sensor, text telephone and other aids for passengers with hearing loss. Because many countries have not yet achieved a reasonable level of access, in some ports of call wheelchair users may find few, if any, wheelchair-accessible shore excursions or transportation. However, Princess is happy to work closely with their passengers to provide an accessible cruise experience. Please see the ship deck plans on pages 40-47 for the locations of wheelchair-accessible cabins.
Princess is happy to meet your request for low-sodium, low-fat, low-sugar, and vegetarian diets. In addition, kosher meals (frozen entrees only) and baby food are available upon written request. Any other special diet requests must be authorized in advance by the corporate office. Please ask your travel agent to advise Princess in writing of any requests for special diets to accommodate medical needs or allergies, at least four weeks before you sail. Please note that baby formula is not available onboard. For your convenience, you can also supply this information online at tmuw.prmcess.com. Once onboard, please check with the Maitre d'Hotel to confirm your request.
Terms and conditions
CLAIMS FOR INJURY, ILLNESS OR DEATH/NOTICE REQUIREMENTS/TIME LIMITS
Any incident or accident resulting in injury, illness or death to the passenger, whether occurring aboard ship, in connection with pre- or post-cruise accommodations, or during a shore excursion (independent or ship-sponsored), must be reported immediately to a ship's officer or Princess. Carrier shall not be liable for and no suit shall be maintainable for emotional or bodily injury, illness or death to the passenger unless (A) a written claim with full particulars is presented to carrier within six (6) months of the incident or accident and (B) a lawsuit on such claim is commenced within one (1) year from the date the emotional or bodily injury, illness or death, whichever comes first, and valid service of the lawsuit is made within ninety (90) days of the suit. In all other cases, no lawsuit may be brought against carrier unless (A) written notice giving full particulars of the claim is delivered to carrier within fifteen (15) days of termination of the cruise and (B) a lawsuit on such claim is filed within six (6) months from the date the cruise terminated and valid service of the lawsuit is made within ninety (90) days of the suit. If you choose to sue Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd., all disputes and matters whatsoever against Princess arising out of or relating to your cruise or the booking/cancellation of your cruise shall be litigated by you, if at all, in Los Angeles, California.
Cruise line reviews are provided by CruiseCritic.com, an award-winning cruise community, giving you objective, unbiased information to help you choose the right cruise.
Cruise Critic ©2004, The Independent Traveler, Inc. All rights reserved.