Top 10 FAQs From New Cruisers

Your cruise fare includes accommodations, meals throughout the day including our 4-course dining rooms, entertainment, and an endless array of activities, including programs like Stargazing, kids crafts and more! Plus, you won’t have to pay for costly airfare, trains, or cabs to get you from one city to the next. When you take everything into consideration, you'll discover that you can actually save money by going on a cruise, as opposed to a land-based vacation.

Additional fees may apply for services such as specialty restaurants, shore excursions, laundry, etc.

Our larger ships are more stable with heavier weight and therefore are less prone to rolling motion. Most ships are so large and well-stabilized that it doesn’t even feel like you’re moving, especially in calmer waters such as Alaska’s Inside Passage and the Caribbean. The middle of the ship tends have less motion, as it is the natural balance point.

If you are prone to sea sickness, consider itineraries with fewer sea days. Port intensive cruises will give you the opportunity to spend more time on land. Consult your physician for a drug or alternative solution. Guests find over-the-counter medicine, patches and special wristbands often remedy the situation.

The crew appreciation is a daily (adjustable) amount added to your onboard account and pooled in order to recognize the many crew members in the Bar, Dining, Entertainment, Housekeeping, Guest Services, Galley and Onboard Revenue areas and entertainment areas throughout our fleet who contribute to the guest experience. The daily amount of the Crew Appreciation is based on stateroom category: $18 USD per guest in Interior, Oceanview and Balcony staterooms, $19 USD per guest in Mini-Suites and Reserve Collection, and $20 USD per guest in Suites.

*Not applicable to residents of Australia or New Zealand.

Casual sportswear, including shorts, lightweight pants and jogging suits, is the order of the day both at sea and ashore in hotter climates. We recommend you bring a sweater, a jacket or an all-weather coat for cool evenings, and for shore excursions, depending on your destination. You'll also want comfortable shoes for strolling on deck.

For evening dining, keep with what you would wear to a nice restaurant at home: skirts/dresses, slacks, and sweaters for ladies, pants and open-neck shirts for men. Cruises five days or longer include at least one formal dining night: evening gowns and cocktail dresses for ladies and tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits for men.

Princess has a variety of ships, some that can carry over 3,500 guests. Every vessel in our fleet is designed to give you plenty of room to yourself with spacious decks, public spaces and balcony staterooms. Yet each also creates many opportunities to socialize through activities and entertainment to suit your mood.

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Mobile phone service is available for use when the ship is at sea, in international waters, and in other areas where such use is permitted. All charges will be conveniently billed to you directly by your mobile device provider.

Your mobile phone provider must have a roaming agreement with Maritime Communications Partner (MCP)or Wireless Maritime Services (WMS). Please contact your provider for more details on rates and availability.

Not only do we have the internet, we offer the best Wi-Fi at sea! With MedallionNet® and MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi, you can stream your favorite movies and shows, video chat with family and friends back home and post photos of your vacation with ease. You can purchase a package before or during your cruise.

Nope! You couldn’t do all the activities or attend all the events on board if you tried. (And we don’t recommend it.) The possibilities are just this side of endless – culinary demonstrations, bingo, wine tastings, spa treatments, destination-specific onboard programs like North to Alaska, miniature golf, a book club, dance classes and that’s just for starters.

1.7 million passengers sail with Princess annually. Your safety is our top priority. All of our onboard medical facilities meet or exceed the standards established by the American College of Emergency Physicians. Our onboard medical facilities are staffed by full-time registered doctors and nurses. In addition to twice-daily office hours, they are available 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency.

All ships must follow rules and regulations to protect passengers' (and crewmembers') safety while onboard. The Coast Guard conducts quarterly inspections of all ships that operate from U.S. ports, making sure they comply with emergency-response requirements. Ships operate under international rules that regulate everything from fire safety to navigation and maritime security. We were the first in our industry to have a virtual training facility for our bridge crew, which we call the SeaSmart program. We also have voluntarily installed fire sprinklers in all cabins and balconies on all our ships.

The staterooms are comfortable as can be, whether you’re sailing in an interior or a suite. But of course the higher the category, the nicer the experience. It all comes down to what you’re looking for. If you are keeping an eye on your budget – totally fine! – try an interior or oceanview. If you want the freedom to go outside from your stateroom, go with a balcony. (No matter where we sail, there’s always a great view.) And if you want more space – and a larger bathroom with tub – we recommend a mini suite. Looking to indulge in the best? Try a full suite. It includes all sorts of extras, like laundry and professional cleaning services. And if you’re traveling with a group, we have connecting staterooms and family suites, which sleep up to eight guests.

Exploring ports of call will be one of the highlights of your cruise, and one of the best ways to do this is on a shore excursion. You will find a variety of options available to suit your taste including family friendly options with discounted rates for children.

Excursions offered through Princess are carefully selected and provided by reputable tour operators who meet the high standards of Princess. Your security and comfort are of paramount importance. Every effort is made to ensure that each tour operates safely.

Princess organizes your tours in advance so your time in port is maximized and worry-free. We closely monitor tour departures and returns and we are able to hold the ship in the event your tour is delayed.

You can book your shore excursions with Manage Booking from approximately 12 weeks before travel, and up to 5 days before you depart. Learn more about our ports and excursions, or watch one of our cruise destination videos.