Recipe: Chocolate Caramel Kisses

Posted By : Courtney Anderson/ 818 0

Princess Cruises invites you to enjoy this decadent recipe from Chef Curtis Stone

PREP TIME: 1 Hour
COOKING TIME: 20 Minutes
MAKES: 20

MAKE-AHEAD:
The chocolate caramel kisses can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/3 cups whole roasted salted cashews
Nonstick vegetable oil cooking spray
7 ounces high-quality dark chocolate, chopped
Maldon or other flaky sea salt

To make the chocolate caramel kisses:
1- In a heavy medium saucepan, stir the sugar and water over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves, occasionally brushing down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush to remove any sugar that clings to the side.

2- Allow the sugar syrup to boil without stirring, brushing down the sides of the pan and swirling the pan occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly, for about 8 minutes, or until it begins to turn golden brown.

3- Remove the pan from the heat and mix in the cream. The caramel will bubble vigorously. Allow the caramel to cool and thicken slightly for 15 minutes. Toss the cashews through the slightly cooled caramel.

4- Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Lightly spray the parchment paper on one sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Using two spoons, drop spoonfuls of the caramel cashew mixture onto the sprayed baking sheet, forming about 20 small mounds. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes, or until the clusters are cold and the caramel becomes more firm but is still sticky and chewy.

To coat the chocolate caramel kisses:
5- Meanwhile, place the chocolate in a small bowl and set the bowl over a small saucepan of barely simmering water and to slowly melt the chocolate, stirring often. Remove the bowl from over the saucepan.

6- Using a small metal spatula, lift one cluster from the baking sheet and drop it into the melted chocolate to coat completely. Using a fork, immediately lift the cluster out of the chocolate and gently shake the excess chocolate back into the bowl.

7- Using a second fork as an aid, place the chocolate-covered caramel cluster on the second prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle each cluster with just a few sea salt flakes. Repeat with the remaining clusters, melted chocolate, and salt.

8- Refrigerate the chocolate caramel kisses for 10 minutes, or just until the chocolate is cold and set. Transfer the chocolate caramel kisses to a platter and serve.

Honeymoon in Alaska

Posted By : Morgan Gibson/ 0 0

Alaska isn’t the destination most people think of in conjunction with a honeymoon but it’s where my husband and I ended up going and it was fabulous.  We got married in the late summer, which corresponds with hurricane season in the Caribbean and we were unwilling to risk the weather.  Europe was also a consideration; however, we were concerned it would be too busy after the intense business of organizing a wedding.  We really just needed to relax!

 

A cruise to Alaska it was! I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest it to anyone – it was quiet romantic to be able to snuggle under warm blankets on our balcony and enjoy the majestic scenery of the inside passage.

Recipe: Strawberries on Fire Mocktail

Posted By : Courtney Anderson/ 3486 0

Master Mixologist Rob Floyd has refreshed the cocktail menus across the entire Princess fleet using his unique blend of knowledge, technique and flair for storytelling. Signature cocktails from the master himself join guest favorites to create an experience that will please every level of discerning patron.

Strawberries on Fire (non-alcoholic)
Ingredients:

1 slice fresh jalapeño
1 strawberry
1 oz. lime juice
.75 oz. agave syrup
4 oz. Sprite
Jalapeño and half a strawberry for garnish
Directions:

Muddle jalapeño, strawberry and simple syrup
Add ice then top with Sprite
Garnish with a slice of jalapeño and half a strawberry on the rim

Fettuccine Alfredo

Recipe: Princess Cruises Fettuccine Alfredo

Posted By : Courtney Anderson/ 4621 0

If you are lucky enough to have the Princess Cruises cookbook by Master Chef Alfredo Marzi you may already be making this classic pasta dish at home to relive your cruise dinners.

Who doesn’t love a bowl made of crispy Parmesan Cheese?

Ingredients:

1 lb egg noodles

4 egg yolks

1 cup heavy cream

½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Salt and pepper to taste

For Parmesan cheese baskets:

2 cups Parmesan cheese, grated

 

Fettuccine Alfredo preparation:

• Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

• Boil ¾ cup of the cream and remove from heat. Combine egg yolks with remaining ¼ cup cream to form a liaison. Add ¼ cup of the boiled cream to the liaison. Stir and then combine liaison with the rest of the cream. Add Parmesan cheese, adjust seasoning.

• If necessary, reheat pasta in boiling, salted water. Pour sauce over drained pasta.

 

Parmesan Cheese Basket preparation:

• Place a non-stick omelet pan on the stovetop over medium heat. Sprinkle the bottom of the pan evenly with approximately ½ cup of the Parmesan cheese. Cook until the color changes to golden.

• Flip the cheese over and cook until golden. Remove the cheese from the pan and place over a mold form or over the bottom of a bowl to create a dome shape. Let cool.

Princess Cruises World Cruise 2021

Princess Cruises Debuts Most Destination-Rich World Cruise Ever Offered

Posted By : Courtney Anderson/ 640 0

Ultimate Bucket-List Itinerary Visits 50 Destinations in 32 Countries Across Six Continents; Free Benefits Including Spending Money, Airfare, Internet and More When Booked Early

SANTA CLARITA, Calif., March 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — For more than two decades, Princess Cruises has been taking guests to iconic and off-the-beaten-path global destinations on annual World Cruises, offering the ultimate bucket-list vacation. The cruise line today announced its most robust 2021 World Cruise itinerary ever with more ports and countries than ever before.

World Travelers seeking an epic adventure around the globe need to look no further than Princess Cruises and the cruise line’s 2021 World Cruise sailing roundtrip from North America. The 111-day World Cruise will visit 50 destinations in 32 countries, across six continents, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, South America and North America.

The 111-day roundtrip voyage from Ft. Lauderdale departs on January 3, 2021, and the 111-day roundtrip cruise from Los Angeles departs January 17, 2021. A 97-day World Cruise from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale is also offered, setting sail on January 17, 2021.

“Our 2021 World Cruise marks a significant milestone for Princess Cruises, with it being our most robust itinerary,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “Guests will sail more than 34,000 nautical miles on an ultimate adventure around the globe, creating unforgettable memories.”

The 2021 111-day World Cruise aboard Island Princess is on sale now with rates starting at $19,999/person. Guests booking the 97- or 111-day World Cruise before November 30, 2019 receive early booking perks such as a $1,000 onboard spending money, free airfare, stateroom upgrade, gratuities, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and wine.

New and interesting details about the 2021 World Cruise include:

  • Cruise to 50 destinations, 32 countries on six continents.
  • Visits to 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Archaeological City of Petra from Aqaba, the ancient Greek city of Ephesus in Turkey and the historical city of Rabat from Casablanca.
  • Island Princess will sail 34,000 nautical miles in 111 days.
  • The World Cruise crosses the Equator two times.
  • Maiden port calls to the beautiful seaside town of Gynthion, Greece; New Plymouth, New Zealand; and Mindelo, Cape Verde Islands.
  • An optional overland excursion to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Australian Outback, home of the iconic Ayers Rock.
  • With 14 late-night “More Ashore” stays to maximize time in port, guests can take in a Tahitian sunset or make a toast to the nightlife in Singapore, plus be treated to overnight stays in ultra-modern Dubai and magical Venice.

Island Princess makes her World Cruise debut in 2021, featuring more than 700 balconies, Princess Luxury Bed in each stateroom, more specialty and casual dining options and more entertainment venues for live music and lavish production shows like The Secret Silk by Broadway Legend Stephen Schwartz. World Cruise guests will be treated to Encounters with Discovery speaker series that includes authors, artists, explorers and more, as well as culinary demonstrations, cooking classes, special-themed menus, foreign movies and regional folkloric shows to bring the destinations to life.

Gratuities

Guide to Cruise Line On board Gratuities

Posted By : Courtney Anderson/ 1090 0

Figuring out how much to tip and who to tip while on a cruise can be confusing, even if you are a seasoned cruiser. Some lines automatically charge gratuities to your onboard account, others include them in your cruise fare, or have a special promotion where you get FREE gratuities. It seems that every cruise line has a different amount they charge and where those gratuities go.

Here is a break down of cruise line on board gratuity charges with some of the top cruise lines

Azamara Club Cruises
Azamara Club Cruises includes gratuities in its fares.

Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line charges $13.99 per person per day for guests in standard rooms; and $15.99 per person per day for guests in suites.

All of the gratuities collected go to Carnival’s shipboard staff. According to its website, the amount is spread between its housekeeping team, dining team, and alternate staff.

Carnival recently announced that it would start charging 18 percent, up from 15 percent, on the automatic gratuity it charges for onboard beverages and a la carte dining outlets.

Celebrity Cruise Line
Celebrity charges $14.50 per person per day for those in standard accommodations; $15.00 per person per day for Concierge Class and AquaClass guests; and $18.00 per person per day for those in suites.

On its website, Celebrity says that collected gratuities are shared between stateroom attendants, dining services staff, and housekeeping staff.

The cruise line also adds an 18 percent gratuity to all beverages, spa, salon, and minibar purchases.

Cunard Line
Cunard automatically charges $11.50 per person, per day, to passenger shipboard accounts in Britannia accommodations. For passengers in Grill Class accommodations the charge is $13.50.

An automatic 15 percent gratuity is added to all bar bills. A 15 percent charge also applies to spa treatments and services.

Crystal Cruises
All of Crystal Cruises’ sailings are all-inclusive, so gratuities for its staff — housekeeping, restaurant, bar, and Penthouse butler staff — are already included in the cruise fare.

Holland America Line
Holland America increased the cost of its automatic gratuities in October, announcing that it would start charging $14.50 per day per person for all guests staying in standard rooms; and $16.00 per person per day for suite guests, starting in 2019.

Holland America states that 100 percent of gratuities go toward compensating onboard crew members.

Norwegian Cruise Line
NCL is increasing its gratuities starting on April 1, 2019. For all sailings after that date (excluding guests booked before on sailings before April 1), Norwegian guests sailing in any stateroom category up to a mini-suite on most ships will be charged $15 per person per day. Those sailing in any suite, Concierge, or The Haven stateroom will be charged $18 per person per day.

Standard guests on Norwegian Sky and Sun, two ships that sail with an all-inclusive price, will be charged $20.50 per person per day. Suite guests will be charged $23.50 per person per day.

Oceania Cruises
Oceania automatically adds $16.00 per person per day for standard guests; and $23.00 per person per day for suite guests.

Oceania also adds an 18 percent charge to all beverage purchases, spa services, and specialty dinners.

Paul Gauguin Cruises
All onboard gratuities are included in Paul Gauguin’s all-inclusive fare.

Princess Cruises
A discretionary gratuity of $15.50 per guest for suites, $14.50 per guest for mini-suites and club class, and $13.50 per guest for interior, oceanview, and balcony staterooms. This gratuity will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including all waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, and housekeeping staff across the fleet.

A 18% gratuity is added to bar charges, dining room wine accounts, and Lotus Spa® services. This is shared amongst the beverage staff, their support staff and Lotus Spa® personnel.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Gratuities are included in the cruise fare for all of Regent’s sailings. The line also offers another option for guests who want to go above-and-beyond for their crew: donations to the Crew Welfare Fund, which is used for crew events, are welcomed at the Purser Office onboard.

Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean’s automatic gratuity is $14.50 per person per day for standard guests; and $17.50 per person per day for suite guests.

Gratuities are shared among dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience.

Seabourn
According to Seabourn’s website, “Gratuities are neither required nor expected on Seabourn ships.”

Silversea
All gratuities onboard, including all service gratuities except spa, are included in Silversea’s all-inclusive fare.

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
When it officially launches in 2020, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will offer a fare that includes onboard gratuities for all restaurant, bar and housekeeping services, along with multiple dining venues, 24-hour in-suite dining, beverages such as beer, select spirits and wines, soft drinks, coffee, tea and bottled water in-suite and throughout the yacht, onboard entertainment and enrichment, use of the marina-style platform with access to watersports, and Wi-Fi.

Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking adds a discretionary hotel and dining charge of $15.00 per person per day to shipboard accounts. Those charges are shared among the waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff, and others.

That fee does not include Viking’s 15 percent gratuity for bar and deck service.

Virgin Voyages
As part of the lead up to the 2020 launch of its first ship, Scarlet Lady, Virgin Voyages revealed that all of its onboard gratuities will be included in the cruise fare.

Windstar
Windstar raised its daily gratuities in January of this year — now, the luxury line charges $13.50 per person per day for gratuities for all guests.

Windstar also adds a 15 percent service charge for bar service.

 

While it’s important to recognize that gratuities are a primary way of rewarding on board crews that make the experience of sailing special, most cruise lines allow guests to adjust (either increase or decrease) the amount paid in gratuities by going to guest services during the cruise. So you can feel confident that you are paying what you feel is fair.

 

 

Gratuity and service fee amounts valid at time of publishing 

More Pasta Please

Posted By : Sydney Hodgins/ 0 0

I’ve been on a few Princess Cruises and one thing that I always look forward to is my Fettuccine Alfredo.  My first cruise was with a seasoned Princess cruiser and they told me I must try it – so of course I did!  It was delicious!  It came in a crispy parmesan basket, was creamy and buttery and just darn tasty.  So now anytime I sail with Princess I have it at least twice a cruise – it is on their “always available” menu so I know I won’t be disappointed.  My husband started getting it as an appetizer and when I travelled with my extended family our waiter knew to bring us a few bowls to share around the table each night so everyone got to have some.

 

Oh and don’t forget to try the Princess Love Boat Dream for dessert!!!

Image courtesy of Travel Pulse News  

A Taste of France aboard Sky Princess & Enchanted Princess

Posted By : Courtney Anderson/ 997 0

Princess Cruises has announced they’ve partnered with 3-Michelin Star Chef Emmanuel Renaut to present La Mer, an authentic French bistro experience at sea. Debuting on Sky Princess when she arrives this fall and Enchanted Princess in 2020. When you sail the Mediterranean, Scandinavia & Russia, Canada & New England and the Caribbean aboard the newest Royal Class ships you will have the opportunity to savor a tantalizing menu, showcasing authentic French dishes crafted with the Chef’s signature flair for the unexpected.

A MENU WITH RENAUT’S UNIQUE TWIST
Named Chef of the Year by Le Chef, Emmanuel Renaut holds the prestigious title Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsmen of France). As the owner, founder and head chef of 3-Michelin Star restaurant Flocons de Sel in the French Alps – named for salt’s essential role in fine cuisine – his partnership with Princess Cruises to take that cuisine to sea was only natural.

 

CREATED WITH ATTENTION TO EVERY DETAIL
Chef Renaut’s tantalizing menu showcases authentic French dishes with his own signature flair. Savor the results of masterful cooking techniques, combined with well-balanced flavors and classic French ingredients in favorites such as Filet de boeuf poelé (beef filet mignon), and Quenelles de vivaneau et St. Jacques (Red snapper and scallop mousseline) accented with tender morsels of lobster and top it off with Iil Flottante Citron-Praline Rose (Floating island lemon-pink praline).

 

DELICIOUS PERSONAL TOUCHES
Throughout the menu, Chef Renaut’s distinctive culinary sensibilities express themselves. Indulge in the Paté en croute named after his grandmother, Marie-Isabelle Macquet, featuring home-style paté in savory dough with red cabbage-blueberry mousseline. And explore pairings from an all-French wine list, with selections from the best wine and Champagne producing regions of France including superb Bordeaux options.

 

THE CHARM OF A FRENCH BISTRO
From its whimsical wall of plates depicting early hot-air balloons, to the marble table tops and comfortable banquettes, La Mer delights the eye and sets the stage for a French bistro dining experience that is both traditional and unexpected.

The delicious world of Chef Renaut awaits you on Majestic Princess®, Sky Princess® and Enchanted Princess®.

 

A Specialty Dining surcharge of $12 per person for lunch and $35 per person for dinner will apply.

 

 

 

Royal-Class Royal Princess

Princess Cruises Showcases Progress Royal-Class Ships

Posted By : Courtney Anderson/ 868 0

Princess Cruises Showcases Progress of Three New Royal-Class Ships Under Construction at Fincantieri Shipyard. Ceremony Marks Cruise Industry First and Signals Strength of Brand and Global Industry

SANTA CLARITA, Calif., Feb. 14, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Princess Cruises, the world’s largest international premium cruise line, is growing and today major milestones for three ships under construction at the same time were celebrated, at Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

The three milestones included the introduction of the Sky Princess crew member who was nominated by her peers to serve as Madrina to celebrate the recent float out of the ship which will enter service in October 2019; the keel laying ceremony for Enchanted Princess launching June 2020 and the steel-cutting ceremony for the sixth and final Royal-Class ship, yet to be named, debuting 2022. With two additional ships on order for delivery in 2023 and 2025, Princess Cruises will increase its capacity by 32 percent over the next six years, adding to its current fleet of 17 ships.

“The number of people enjoying cruise vacations has increased on average more than one million new cruisers every year over the last decade, an overall increase of more than 68 percent,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises and Carnival Australia group president. “As we continue to grow our fleet with five new ships arriving by 2025, we’re proud to not only celebrate these three major construction milestones in the same day but also to continue to innovate our product with cutting-edge technology and elevated guest experiences that will be offered on all of these ships.”

Sky Princess is the first new ship to join the fleet activated with Princess MedallionClass™ Vacations enabled by the OceanMedallion, the vacation industry’s most advanced wearable technology delivering guests the enjoyment of hassle-free, personalized cruise vacations. Sky Princess will also feature MedallionNet, the best Wi-Fi at sea delivering land-like internet speeds for watching sports, movies or making video calls from a smart-phone.

In an industry-first event, three significant ship building construction milestones occurred in the same day, including:

Steel-Cutting Ceremony for the final Royal Class ship
The steel-cutting ceremony for the sixth and final Royal-class ship, was broadcast live to the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone from the builder’s yard in Naples, Italy. This ceremony marked the cutting of the first plates of steel to begin the building phase of the ship, which is scheduled to launch in 2022.

Enchanted Princess Keel Laying Ceremony
Princess Cruises and Fincantieri executives started the countdown to the launch of Enchanted Princess as the keel – the bottom-most part of the ship – was ceremoniously lowered into position in the dry dock. Following a traditional blessing, the ship’s keel – which weighs approximately 500 tons – was lifted then lowered into position by a huge crane onto the keel blocks. Representatives and invited guests participated in a traditional coin ceremony, and for this occasion, welding an OceanMedallion into the ship believed to bring good luck to the vessel and all who sail on her.

Sky Princess Madrina Celebration in Honor of the recent Sky Princess Float Out
Ms. Kerry Ann Wright, 2nd officer for Princess Cruises, nominated by her fellow crew members will serve as the Madrina recognizing her “Reach for the Sky” story and the career she is forging in the cruise industry. Sky Princess is nearing the final construction and interior outfitting phase before joining the fleet in October 2019.

Swartz added, “We couldn’t think of better day to mark these milestones than on Valentine’s Day, a day when we typically celebrate romance and our co-starring role on ‘The Love Boat.’ While we’ll always be known for love on the high seas, today also solidifies our position as the fastest growing premium cruise line in the world.”

All three 143,700-ton Royal-class ships carry 3,660 guests and will include the best of the stunning features found on Royal Princess, Regal Princess and Majestic Princess, as well as new offerings that represent an evolution of the current ships’ designs.

Recently announced features to debut onboard Sky Princess, include:

  • Largest Balconies at Sea for guests in the Sky Suites accommodations, featuring the largest continuous private balconies ever offered by any cruise line. Measuring 1,012 square feet (starboard side Sky Suite) and 947 square feet (port side Sky Suite), the furnished balconies will provide a private vantage of the ship’s Movie Under the Stars screen and create the ultimate space for entertaining. The two suites will also offer 270-degree panorama views and have sleeping capacity for five guests, and more room for gathering — making them ideal for families.
  • Princess MedallionClass™ Vacations enabled by the OceanMedallion, this complimentary wearable device is the most advanced in the vacation industry. Delivering a hassle-free, personalized vacation giving guests more time to enjoy what they love most about cruising.
  • Award-winning entertainment offerings, including new jazz lounge Take Five, the popular Vista Lounge, an enhanced Princess Theatre, and new exclusive entertainment options.
  • World-class dining with more than 25 restaurants and bars onboard. From the World Fresh Marketplace to guest favorites like the Crown Grill Steakhouse and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, offering the Northern Italian flavors of acclaimed chef, Angelo Auriana and La Mer, a French Bistro by Chef Emmanuel Renaut whose Flocons de Sel restaurant has received three Michelin stars.
  • Contemporary-designed Sanctuary with eight private cabanas – offering an adults-only area for rest and relaxation.
  • The Enclave at Lotus Spa. Sky Princess will include Princess’s largest thermal suite at sea – featuring a stunning hydrotherapy pool, heated stone beds, Turkish bath and dry, steam, and aromatherapy chambers.

Sky Princess is scheduled to launch in the Mediterranean in October 2019, before debuting in North America in December 2019 marked with the traditional naming ceremony before sailing a season of Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale.

Family Zone

Princess Introduces New Family Zone

Posted By : Courtney Anderson/ 743 0

Newly Designed, Kid-Friendly Water Attraction to Offer Interactive Area for Families to Play Together On The Caribbean Princess

SANTA CLARITA, Calif., Feb. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — When Caribbean Princess emerges from drydock in June 2019, for a season of summer cruises to the sun-drenched Caribbean, The Reef Family Splash Zone will debut offering a refined, playful and relaxing area for adults and kids alike to gather and enjoy the sun and water together.

“In our latest effort to enhance our family offerings, this newly reimagined space invites families and kids to experience a multi-functional area to engage, play, reconnect,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “The Reef is the ultimate spot for families of all ages to enjoy spending time together with new water features, recreational activities and lounge areas.”

Located aft on deck 17, The Reef will offer many enticing features, including:

Splashpad with Whale Feature – this interactive and inviting water playground features a splash pool, assorted water sprays and showers where families can enjoy a day of splashing, laughing and playing. The focal point is an interactive whale feature, with ‘rain” from its fluke.

Game Zone – bringing family competition to a whole new level with oversized backyard games, comfy lounge sectionals, and a kid-friendly bar setting, families can grab some cocktails and mocktails while challenging the kids to a game of Connect Four, Jenga or Cornhole.

New Outdoor Furniture – with a variety of seating and lounging options, from single sun loungers to sectional chairs and couches with tables, he Reef transforms into an inviting space for groups of all sizes aimed to be comfortable and conversational, also featuring new fixtures and finishes.

Shade Canopy and Wind Panels – for guests looking for less sun, a canopy will offer a section of the Reef shade and sun protection while wind panels will be installed throughout the area for all-day comfort.

Upgraded Lighting and Music System – updated lighting to the pool and steps as well as wall lighting installations allow the space to be utilized for evening events and activities.

Refurbished Pool, Jacuzzi and Bar – the existing pool, spa and bar will be updated to match the newly designed space featuring updated signage and contemporary artwork. In addition, just below the Reef on deck 16 in the Camp Discovery outdoor area, kids can interact and explore with a destination themed water table. This educational offering features the many destinations and iconic landmarks Princess visits, including the Sydney Opera House and Golden Gate Bridge and also highlights how a cruise ship moves through water, waves and weather and even how to navigate the Panama Canal locks.

 

Over the last few years Caribbean Princess has undergone a major revitalization, with many family-oriented features and amenities including breakthrough technology, family accommodations, new dining experiences and entertainment offerings.

Caribbean Princess was the first Princess cruise ship to debut Princess MedallionClass vacations, offering guests a portfolio of experiences specifically designed to enhance their cruise vacation. Considered a breakthrough in the vacation industry the OceanMedallion wearable device features leading-edge technology that delivers personalized service through enhanced guest-crew interactions, eliminates friction points and enables interactive entertainment. Offerings include:

Fast ship boarding with OceanReady™ – guests who arrive at the terminal with travel documents (i.e. passports) uploaded to their profile have an expedited check-in process that starts their vacation with ease. Personalization starts pre-cruise by guests becoming OceanReady while at home.

On demand beverages – using smart devices, guests have the ability to order drinks using OceanNowTM and have them delivered directly to their location throughout the ship and even in their stateroom.

The best Wi-Fi at sea: MedallionNet™ – fast, reliable, affordable and unlimited, MedallionNet provides land-like speeds that allow families to stay connected from anywhere on the ship including staterooms which are each equipped with a Wi-Fi access point. With MedallionNet guests easily share vacation experiences with friends and family back home, stream TV shows, movies and sports events, and even make voice and video calls.

Locate and chat with friends and family: OceanCompass™, available on guests’ smart devices and portals throughout the ships, leverages the OceanMedallion to enable point-to-point wayfinding throughout the ship. OceanCompass guides guests throughout their journey, providing directional information so they can seamlessly navigate to their next point of interest, as well as easily locate and chat with friends and family on board using ShipMates.

For families looking for immersive, enriching and fun experiences while traveling, Princess Cruises partnered with Discovery Inc. to create “Discovery at SEA” onboard programming that bring to life many of the destinations visited while on a cruise and favorite Discovery and Animal Planet shows. Onboard activities include:

Stargazing at Sea & Voyage to the Stars Indoor Planetarium – Science Channel and Princess Cruises take guests on a cosmic voyage looking at the sky from the top deck on an interactive guided tour with a Stargazing Specialist, identifying major constellations and learning the secrets of the stars and the folklore around them. The indoor “Voyage to the Stars Planetarium” displays real-time images of constellations and planets. Both indoor and outdoor stargazing includes commentary from Discovery at SEA’s Science Channel Ambassador Astrophysicist Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi and Kari Bryon from Mythbusters.

Camp Discovery – newly rebranded “Camp Discovery” Youth & Teen Centers offer cruisers, ages 3 to 17, engaging new experiences and wonder-filled centers inspiring creativity, curiosity and entertainment.

High Seas Heist with Detective Joe Kenda – calling all mystery lovers, Princess guests go on the case with celebrity detective Lt. Joe Kenda to see if they can solve a heist whodunit. This voyage-long experience begins with the theft of a rare necklace and ends with the unmasking of the culprit. In between is a journey full of puzzles, clues and activities as guests narrow down their suspect list with help from Lt. Kenda via video segments.

Discovery Hit Shows – Discovery at SEA incorporates content from hit shows and programming like Shark Week, Finding Bigfoot and Mythbusters through activities, challenges and trivia.

With family travelers in mind, Caribbean Princess offers 87 connecting staterooms keeping the whole family together. All stateroom types can accommodate up to 4 people. Families of 5 or more can also be accommodated in a two-bedroom family suite. Each stateroom features the cruise line’s award-winning Princess Luxury Bed, designed in collaboration with sleep exert Dr. Michael Breus for the ultimate night of sleep at sea.

Caribbean Princess begins a season of summer Caribbean cruises beginning on May 14, 2019 offering alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings, roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale. Now is the perfect time to book a vacation to the Caribbean during the All Aboard Sale that is available through February 28.