What is Included on Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises, a prominent name in the global cruise industry, offers a comprehensive and often all-inclusive experience for its passengers. While the definition of “included” can vary slightly between different fare types and promotions, the core offerings provide a foundation for a memorable vacation. Understanding what is standardly part of the cruise fare is crucial for planning and maximizing the value of your journey. This overview will delve into the key elements that are typically included when you book a Princess cruise, from onboard amenities and dining to entertainment and select services.

Onboard Accommodations and Basic Services

The foundation of any Princess cruise is the stateroom and the essential services that ensure a comfortable stay. These are universally included for all guests, regardless of their chosen cabin category.

Stateroom Amenities

Every stateroom, from the interior cabins to the most luxurious suites, is furnished with a range of amenities designed for comfort and convenience. This includes:

Comfortable Bedding: All beds are fitted with premium linens, pillows, and duvets. Beds can typically be configured as either one king or two twin beds, depending on the stateroom and guest preference.
Private Bathroom: Each stateroom features a private bathroom with a shower, toilet, sink, and complimentary toiletries. These toiletries often include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion, replenished as needed.
Wardrobe and Storage: Ample closet space and drawers are provided to store clothing and personal belongings.
Vanity Area: A desk or vanity area with a mirror is standard in all staterooms, offering a dedicated space for dressing and personal care.
Television: A flat-screen television is standard, offering a selection of onboard programming, news channels, and current movies.
In-Room Safe: A personal safe is provided for securing valuables.
Hair Dryer: A hair dryer is typically available in the stateroom for guest use.
Air Conditioning: Individual climate control allows guests to adjust the temperature to their preference.

Daily Housekeeping and Turndown Service

Princess Cruises prides itself on maintaining high standards of cleanliness and comfort. Guests can expect:

Daily Stateroom Cleaning: Your stateroom will be cleaned and tidied daily by a dedicated steward. This includes making beds, emptying trash, and refreshing the bathroom.
Evening Turndown Service: In the evening, your stateroom steward will typically perform a turndown service, preparing your bed for sleep and often leaving a small amenity, such as a chocolate on your pillow.
Fresh Towels and Linens: Towels are replaced daily, and bed linens are changed regularly, or upon request.

Dining Experiences

A significant highlight of any cruise is the culinary journey, and Princess Cruises offers a diverse array of dining options that are largely included in the cruise fare. This allows guests to savor a variety of flavors without additional cost.

Main Dining Rooms

The heart of the inclusive dining experience lies within the Main Dining Rooms. These elegant venues offer multi-course meals with a rotating menu of international and classic dishes.

Breakfast: Available on select days and times, often featuring a range of hot and cold options.
Lunch: Typically served on embarkation day and sea days, providing a sit-down dining experience.
Dinner: The most extensive meal service, with a changing menu that showcases fresh ingredients and culinary artistry. Guests can choose from appetizers, soups, salads, main courses, and decadent desserts. Princess offers both traditional seating times and flexible “Anytime Dining” options in their Main Dining Rooms, allowing guests to dine when and with whom they prefer.

Buffet and Casual Eateries

Beyond the Main Dining Rooms, Princess Cruises provides numerous casual dining venues that are perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal.

Horizon Court/Horizon Bistro (Buffet): This popular buffet restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering a vast selection of international cuisines, freshly prepared dishes, salads, desserts, and beverages. It’s a fantastic option for those who enjoy variety and the flexibility to serve themselves.
Trattoria/Sabatini’s (select ships/included in some packages): While some specialty Italian restaurants might incur an extra charge, many ships feature more casual Italian-inspired eateries within the buffet area or as distinct, complimentary venues offering pizzas, pastas, and other Italian comfort foods.
Burger & Fries/The Grill: Found on many ships, these casual spots offer classic comfort food like burgers, hot dogs, and fries, perfect for a relaxed lunch or a late-night snack.
International Cafe: This bustling cafe offers a variety of coffees, pastries, sandwiches, and light meals throughout the day, making it a great spot for breakfast on the go or an afternoon pick-me-up.

Room Service

For those who prefer to dine in the privacy of their stateroom, Princess Cruises offers complimentary room service.

Standard Menu: A dedicated room service menu is available 24 hours a day, featuring a selection of breakfast items, snacks, salads, sandwiches, and hot meals. While the basic menu is complimentary, certain premium items or packages might have an additional charge.

Entertainment and Activities

Princess Cruises provides a rich tapestry of entertainment and activities designed to keep guests engaged and entertained throughout their voyage. These are generally included in the cruise fare, offering endless opportunities for enjoyment.

Live Music and Performances

From intimate acoustic sets to full-scale productions, live music is a constant presence onboard.

Live Bands and Solo Artists: Various lounges and bars feature live musicians playing a range of genres, from jazz and classical to contemporary hits.
Featured Performers: Special guest entertainers, comedians, and musicians are often brought onboard for limited engagements, adding to the diverse entertainment lineup.

Production Shows and Theater

The ship’s main theater hosts spectacular Broadway-style production shows featuring professional singers, dancers, and musicians. These elaborate performances are a highlight of the evening, showcasing impressive choreography, costumes, and staging.

Onboard Activities and Classes

Beyond scheduled shows, Princess Cruises offers a wide array of participatory activities and learning opportunities.

Deck Parties and Galas: Themed deck parties, formal nights, and captain’s receptions offer opportunities to socialize and celebrate in style.
Guest Lectures and Seminars: Informative talks and presentations by experts on various topics, often related to the destinations being visited or onboard enrichment programs.
Dance Classes: Learn new dance steps in a fun and social environment.
Cooking Demonstrations: Culinary experts showcase their skills with live cooking demonstrations.
Arts and Crafts Workshops: Engage in creative activities like scrapbooking or painting.
Game Shows and Trivia: Fun, interactive game shows and trivia contests are held regularly, often with prizes for the winners.

Casino

For guests who enjoy a bit of gaming excitement, the onboard casino is equipped with a variety of slot machines and table games like blackjack, roulette, and poker. Wagering in the casino is, of course, at the guest’s expense.

Pools, Hot Tubs, and Fitness Facilities

Maintaining an active lifestyle or simply relaxing is made easy with the complimentary access to onboard recreational facilities.

Swimming Pools: Multiple swimming pools are available for a refreshing dip.
Hot Tubs/Jacuzzis: Several hot tubs offer a relaxing soak with ocean views.
Fitness Center: A well-equipped fitness center provides cardio machines, weight training equipment, and often a dedicated space for aerobics and yoga classes (some specialized classes may incur a fee).
Sports Courts: Depending on the ship, facilities for basketball, volleyball, and tennis may be available.

Children’s Programs and Youth Centers

Princess Cruises understands the importance of providing engaging and safe environments for younger travelers. Their youth and teen programs are thoughtfully designed and included for families.

Themed Activities and Supervised Play

Princess Pelicans (Ages 3-7): This program offers age-appropriate activities, including arts and crafts, storytelling, and games, all under the supervision of trained youth staff.
Shockwaves (Ages 8-12): Older children enjoy activities like scavenger hunts, science experiments, video games, and themed parties.
Remix (Ages 13-17): Teens have their own dedicated lounge and program, featuring music, movies, video games, sports, and social events, providing a space for them to connect with peers.

Select Beverage and Specialty Services

While not all beverages or services are included, Princess Cruises does offer some complimentary options and has packages available for enhanced experiences.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Filtered Water: Fresh, filtered water is readily available throughout the ship.
Juices: Certain juices, particularly at breakfast in the buffet and main dining rooms, are often complimentary.
Tea and Coffee: Self-serve coffee, tea, and hot chocolate stations are typically available in buffet areas and some lounges throughout the day and night.

Internet Access and Wi-Fi

Internet access is generally not included as standard but is available for purchase. Princess Cruises offers various Wi-Fi packages, allowing guests to stay connected for browsing, social media, or even streaming, depending on the package chosen.

Specialty Restaurants and Bars

While the Main Dining Rooms and buffets are included, Princess Cruises also boasts a selection of specialty restaurants and bars that offer unique culinary experiences and premium beverages. These venues, such as steak houses, French bistros, and sushi bars, typically incur an additional cover charge or à la carte pricing. Similarly, premium cocktails, fine wines, and branded spirits at bars usually come with an extra cost, though basic sodas, juices, and alcoholic beverages from the included dining venues are available.

Ports of Call and Excursions

The cruise fare typically covers your passage to the destinations listed on your itinerary. However, shore excursions – guided tours and activities at each port of call – are an additional expense. Princess Cruises offers a wide range of curated excursions that can be pre-booked or purchased onboard, allowing guests to explore the destinations in depth.

In conclusion, a Princess cruise provides a substantial and valuable all-inclusive experience covering accommodations, a diverse range of dining options, extensive onboard entertainment, recreational facilities, and supervised youth programs. By understanding these inclusions, passengers can better anticipate their onboard expenses and fully embrace the enriching and enjoyable vacation that Princess Cruises aims to deliver.