Tips for First-Time Cruisers: Things to Know Before You Book a Princess Cruise

As a longtime cruiser who has cruised on small ships, big ships, river ships and Princess ships, here’s everything I have learned along the way about booking a cruise and what you need to know about booking a Princess cruise specifically.

Highlights

• Learn what to book now and what can wait: Some things are easier (and cheaper) to book onboard
• Understand the difference between cabin classes and drink packages
• Get the help you need: Booking a cruise can be complicated. Enlist the experts!

This post is sponsored by Princess Cruises.

I love just about everything about cruising: the personal service, the ability to unpack once and see different parts of the world, the wealth of entertainment and dining options and, on a lot of ships, the chance to have a top-tier massage at sea.

But booking a cruise can be complicated. Here are nine things I learned from booking three Princess cruises over the last two years.

1. Princess Cruises Hits the Sweet Spot Between Casual and Upscale

I’ve done all types of cruises, from ultra luxe to not so much. My three Princess cruises hit that sweet spot right in the middle.

The experience is far superior to budget cruise lines, without the potential to get snooty like some luxury brands. The same goes for the quality of the food, the immensely talented entertainers and the impressive level of personal service.

I found it all to be top-notch on Princess, which is why I booked two more cruises after my maiden voyage.

2. Cruise Pricing Is More All-Inclusive Than You Think

If you’ve been pricing cruises and think the per-person charge is pricey, it’s time to do the math.

Cruise pricing includes:

• Accommodations
• Meals in white-tablecloth, sit-down dining rooms and buffets
• Entertainment throughout the day and throughout the ship, from talented musicians to Broadway-style shows to first-run movies
• Pools and fitness centers

When you compare the price of a hotel room, three restaurant meals per day and a wide variety of top-tier entertainment daily, I find the price of a cruise to be very budget-friendly.

3. Which Cabin Should I Book?

Unlike a standard hotel reservation, where you book the type of room you want (double vs king vs suite) and then get assigned whatever’s available when you arrive, the cruise company lets you pick the actual cabin you want.

Here are a few things to consider:

• If you need less motion from the ocean: Choose a midship cabin on a lower deck to minimize movement if you tend to get a little queasy. Forward and aft cabins and upper decks tend to feel the sway a little more.
• If you’re a light sleeper: Opt for cabins far away from the noise on the Lido (pool) deck, the buffet, the theater and other heavily trafficked areas of the ship.
• If you’re sensitive to smells: Choose a cabin toward the front of the ship; there can be diesel fumes in the back of the ship.
• If you need to see the sea and smell the salt air: Book a cabin with a balcony.

4. Which Class of Cabin is Right for Me?

For me, the answer is ALWAYS the same: I want a balcony cabin. I love to get up early, sit on my balcony and watch the day come alive. Or end the evening with a glass of wine while looking for constellations in a starry sky.

But a balcony adds cost and you can get the same views up on the pool deck. So here are the other cabin options on Princess:

• Inside cabin: This is the smallest room with no window to the world. It’s great for people who expect to use the cabin only for sleeping. It’s dark and quiet.
• Ocean view cabin: These generally are on the lower decks and include a porthole or window to look out upon the sea, but no access to the outside from the cabin.
• Balcony cabin: Slightly larger cabins with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors onto a small balcony with two chairs and a cocktail table. This is the only type of cabin I ever book on a ship.
• Suites: These are the luxury option with more room, better locations and higher prices.

SheBuysTravel Tip: It’s OK to save money by booking an inside cabin if you’re happy to spend most of your waking hours on deck.

5. Which Add-Ons are Worth It?

These are the basics available for an additional fee:

• Excursions: Spend some time looking through the offerings before you book. If there are excursions you SIMPLY MUST experience, book them when you book your cruise. Popular tours sell out. Wait to book others until you’re on board. We found that several of the tours we wanted were available at a discount once we were on the ship.
• The Drinks Package: At Princess, the drinks package includes wifi and prepaid gratuities. If you think you’ll actually drink 15 alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees, sodas and bottles of water each day, then this is a great deal.
• Onboard experiences: These include spa treatments, fitness classes, mixology classes and more. Check your daily ship schedule or the Princess app to see what’s available.

6. Should I Buy the Drinks Package on Princess?

Princess offers two drink package options: Princess Plus and Premier. Here are the basics and who should buy it:

Princess Plus Package

• 15 drinks/day costing $15 or less (any per-drink cost over $15 will be billed to your shipboard account). Includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees and teas, energy drinks and bottled water.
• Wifi for one device at a time. When you want to use your laptop or iPad, you’ll need to disconnect your phone to connect the other device, which can be a little irritating.
• Four casual dining meals. Casual restaurants include pizza spots, a really yummy hot dog grill near the pool and other simple eateries that charge around $15 for a meal.
• Staff gratuities. This money is not distributed directly to the staff; it’s rolled into their paychecks. We always bring smaller bills ($5s and $10s) so we can tip daily for great service from our cabin attendant, wait staff and bartenders.

Who Should Buy the Princess Plus Drink Package: Moderate drinkers and latte lovers who don’t spend a lot of time on their devices.

Princess Premier Package

• 15 drinks/day costing $20 or less (any cost over $20 will be billed to your shipboard account). Includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees and teas, energy drinks and bottled water.
• Wifi for four devices at a time. That means you can be online on your phone, iPad, laptop and other phone(?!?) at the same time, no annoying switching needed.
• Unlimited specialty dining and casual dining. If you’re a foodie, this can be a HUGE savings. A meal in a specialty restaurant on Princess can cost $50 or more per person. Just remember to make your dining reservations when you book your cruise. The specialty restaurants book up quickly.
• Shore excursion credit. This can be enough to cover one or two shore excursions.
• Photo package. This doesn’t seem quite as important in the Age of the Selfie, but I see plenty of couples and families dressed up in their Sunday finest posing for the ship’s professional photographers.
• Reserved theater seating. It means you don’t have to show up for the nightly show 30 minutes early to snag a great seat. But if you aren’t there five minutes before showtime, the seats get released to anyone who wants to sit there.
• Staff gratuities . Again, this money is not distributed directly to the staff; it’s rolled into their paychecks. Bring small bills for daily tips to the hard-working waiters, cabin attendants and others who offer service with a smile.

Who Should Buy the Princess Premier Package: Foodies who love a great meal and top-shelf drinks, techies who can’t live without being fully connected at all times and cruisers who know they want the whole experience, from an excursion in every port to professional photographic remembrance of the cruise.

SheBuysTravel Tip: You don’t have to decide this when you book. Princess will regularly remind you before embarkation day that you can still buy the drinks package!

7. Should I Book Shore Excursions Through Princess?

If you’re a first-time cruiser, then, yes, definitely book through the cruise line. They handle everything and vet the local guides to ensure they speak English really well and are well-versed in information about that destination.

You’ll get a tour ticket (don’t forget to bring that with you!) and an assigned meeting time and place. You’ll wait there for your group to be called, then join the line to disembark the ship. On land, you’ll get in another line and wait to board a bus that will take you to the attraction with a guide who will explain what you’re seeing along the way.

You don’t have to book excursions before you board, although you risk that the tour you want could sell out. If that happens, check with the excursion desk regularly. People change their minds often.

SheBuysTravel Tip: If you don’t like groups or waiting in lines, a ship excursion might not be right for you. Instead, walk off the ship on your own and hire one of the many, many locals who will take you on a similar tour. Just beware: If you run into traffic or the local cab breaks down and you don’t make it back to the ship in time, the ship WILL leave without you! Booking through Princess is the only way to guarantee the ship will wait if you’re late.

8. What Do I Have to Book Before I Board?

I highly recommend booking specialty dining reservations and must-see shore excursions as early as possible. You can always cancel for a full refund once you board the ship if you change your mind.

Plus, when spa services and excursions are not fully booked, the ship will offer deals onboard.

SheBuysTravel Tip: If you really want to do something that is fully booked, check with the excursion desk regularly. People often cancel. If it’s a specialty dining reservation you crave, make friends with the restaurant maître d. He or she has the power to make that happen for you!

9. Should I Use a Travel Agent to Book My Princess Cruise?

You don’t have to, but booking a cruise has many moving parts, from choosing the right cabin to booking those specialty dining reservations. If you use a travel agent, look for one with experience booking Princess cruises. Alternatively, use the very helpful Princess reservation staff. They’re easily reachable by phone.

Or, do what I did twice: Book your next Princess cruise while you’re on the ship enjoying your first Princess cruise.

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