The dining mix (which varies by ship) might include a New Orleans–style café or an Italian restaurant. The three-deck Piazza, a relatively new feature that’s being expanded to older ships, includes a 24-hour café, a wine bar, and Alfredo’s pizza, as well as shops and a performance venue. Princess ships have casinos, nightclubs, discos, and kids’ clubs. All have Lotus spas and fitness centers that offer yoga and other classes. Some spas feature alternative therapies like acupuncture; the newer ones have such medi-spa options as Botox and other fillers. Depending on the ship, activities might include art auctions and all kinds of classes, some of which carry a fee: computer technology, photography, ceramics, or cooking. The newest (Royal Class) ships have expanded piazzas, SeaWalks (glass-enclosed walkways), and Princess Live! (an interactive TV studio). Princess cruises include both formal nights (one for 7-to-13-night trips) and smart casual nights. Formal means a tuxedo or dark suit for men and gowns, cocktail dresses, or fancy-pants suits for women. “Smart casual” means pants and open- neck shirts for men and dresses, skirts, or slacks and sweaters or blouses for women. T-shirts, shorts, and halter tops are not allowed in the dining room, and shoes are required. Back in “the old days” of cruising, friends and family were allowed to come aboard with passengers, perhaps to share some champagne and small treats before sailing. That sweet custom ended, but Princess revived it with the “Bon Voyage” experience, which allows guests to come aboard for a tour and lunch with wine. The package, which runs about four hours, costs $39 and is a nice way to share the cruise experience. (And if any guests decide to take a cruise after sampling the experience, that $39 can be applied to the price.) Depending on the ship, fellow passengers can include family groups, couples, singles, or mature travelers. On the big or mid-size ships, you’ll find the broadest mix. The two smaller ships—Ocean Princess and Pacific Princess—have fewer features that appeal to families and sail longer itineraries to more exotic ports, so they attract older travelers. The mid-size and big ships are best for couples, families, multi-generational groups, and singles who enjoy an active environment and want many itinerary choices. For mature travelers who want a small-ship experience with few children, longer itineraries and off-the-beaten-path ports, the Ocean Princess and Pacific Princess are good choices. Destinations Alaska Asia, India, and Africa Australia and New Zealand California Coastal Canada and New England Caribbean Europe Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific Japan Mexico
Panama Canal South America World Cruise Minimum Age
The minimum Passenger age is 6 months on Alaskan, Canada/New England, Caribbean, European, Mexican, and Panama Canal cruises, and 12 months on all other cruises to places such as Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the Indian subcontinent, South America, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Tahiti, and transatlantic and world cruises. The minimum age for escorted cruise tours is five.
Policies subject to change without notice, always check with your travel agent regarding pregnancy policies and children age policies prior to booking your cruise.
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