6 Need to Know Cruise Tips Before Booking a Princess Cruise 2026
As international cruises are preparing to restart, I boarded the Regal Princess for one of Princess Cruises first post pandemic trips – to get a taste of what it’s like to cruise in 2022 and beyond. Here are my top Princess Cruises tips for before you book, so you can get the most out of your holiday.
This post is brought to you in collaboration with Princess Cruises. As always, all words and opinions are my own. This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to yourself. This helps towards the upkeep of this website for which I am grateful.
Top 6 Princess Cruises Tips
1. Check Covid Restrictions and Rules
Covid restrictions are the most important thing to check before booking any holiday from 2022 onwards.
Princess Cruises require all passengers to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before beginning the cruise and have proof of vaccination.
It is also a requirement that all fully vaccinated guests test negative for COVID-19 at the terminal.
In terms of the experience onboard, you are required to social distance when you can, use the hand washing stations often and you may be required to wear face masks onboard the ship (depending on how crowded it is).
For more information and up to date rules please check this Princess Cruises Covid-19 protocols page or the UK protocols here.
2. Check You Have The Right Travel Insurance
For any Princess Cruises holiday you should make sure your travel insurance has Covid-19 cover (you’ll be surprised how many don’t!).
Princess Cruises have their own recommended cruise travel insurance from Holiday Extras which is very good value for money, and cost me just £16 for 4 days cover in August 2021.
It will cover you for cancellation, medical emergencies, missed cruise departure, as well as covering pre-existing medical conditions.
If you are planning more cruises, then an annual travel insurance policy could work out better as it was only £32 for me when I priced it up!
3. Check The Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel you can go through your travel insurance or take advantage of the Book with Confidence policy.
It takes the worry out of booking and makes it easier to change your plans.
If you cancel up to 30 days prior to sailing you will receive your cancellation fees back as a Future Cruise Credit.
This currently applies to all sailings departing up to 30 April 2022.
4. Check Details about Your Embarkation
Before you book your cruise make sure you have asked the following:
- How will you get to the departure port?
- Will you need to pre-book car parking?
- Will you be taking public transport and need to purchase train tickets?
Note the safest thing to do is arrive the day before your cruise and book a hotel, especially if you are flying into the port, so you can easily be able to meet your departure time.
That way, you can help avoid potential flight delay issues and spend the extra day relaxing before you set off on your cruise.
I did this on two previous cruises, one starting from Florida and one from Barbados, and it meant I got to spend a day on the beach before boarding the ship.
5. Save Money with Princess Plus
One of the best money saving tips for your Princess Cruises trip is to purchase the Princess Plus package for £30 per day per person.
If you drink alcohol AND use the WIFI then this is a great value package.
Available on all cruises over three nights long, this fare includes three of the most popular add ons for 54% cheaper than paying for them separately.
This includes:
Premier Beverage Package
This package includes beer, spirits, wine by the glass and cocktails under $12, all non-alcoholic drinks including bottled water (500ml), fountain sodas, fresh juices, speciality coffees and teas, Gong Cha items, frappes, milkshakes and Red Bull drinks.
The package includes the additional benefit of a 25% discount on all bottles of wine, one litre bottles of water, canned soda and bottled juices. A daily limit on alcoholic beverages of 15 beverages over a 24-hour period (6am to 6am) will apply.
Usually priced at $59.99 + 18% service charge comes to $70.79 per day which is approximately £51.
Unlimited Wi-Fi
Princess Cruises boasts the best Wifi at sea and costs only $9.99 per day. One device can be used at a time per guest.
Guests will be given the option to upgrade to a four-device package on board and Platinum and Elite guests will automatically receive a 50% discount if they upgrade to a four-device package.
Full Crew Incentive
The crew incentive is a daily amount added to your onboard account.
It is your way of giving back to the many crew members across dining, entertainment, housekeeping etc that make your cruise unforgettable.
If you want to prepay your crew incentive instead of settling up before you leave the ship it is charged at $16.50 per guest for suites, $15.50 per guest for mini-suites and $14.50 per guest (including children) in all other staterooms, per day.
Princess Plus Fare
This means the individual prices come to $70.79 + $9.99 + $14.50 = $95.28 per day which is around £69 per day, vs the Princess Plus package cost of only $40 per day which equals £30.
This package is great value if you drink alcohol and want WIFI.
However, if you don’t want WIFI and you don’t drink alcohol then the Premier Coffee & Soda Package ($19.99 per day per person) or the Classic Soda Package ($9.99 per day per person) will be better value for you, and you can pay your crew incentive separately, and still save money.
6. Pre-Reserve Your Shore Excursions
Check what shore excursions are available on your particular cruise and pre-reserve them via the Cruise Personaliser up to 120 days in advance.
Princess Cruises shore excursions focus on sightseeing, culture, history, adventure, nature and wildlife.
Many of which are endorsed by their partners, Discovery and Animal Planet.
Why is It Important to Book Early
This is important, as availability is limited, not guaranteed for everyone and bookings close five days before travel.
For example, a few years ago I did an Arctic Norway cruise, where the most popular excursions (chasing the Northern lights and the Husky dog experience) sold out way before embarkation, I am so glad we booked our spots straight away as it would have been such a shame to go all the way up to the Arctic and not experience those once in a lifetime events.
In fact I met several passengers on the waiting list who were hoping for last minute on the day cancellations!
Another reason to book your shore excursions ASAP is so that you know what to pack for your cruise.
E.g. water shoes, hiking boots or even a particular camera lens, could be required, depending on what you get up to on your cruise adventure.
Why Book Shore Excursions with Princess Cruises
Usually I would say to shop around for day trips etc but there are several good reasons to book your shore excursions with Princess Cruises directly.
- Price Promise: Get 110% of the price difference back if you find the same shore excursion cheaper elsewhere. The price difference will be in the form of a non-refundable onboard credit.(which I’d personally spend on Spa treatments!).
- Guaranteed Return to Ship: All excursions booked with Princess Cruises have a guaranteed return to ship, meaning if your tour or activity over runs and you are running late, the ship will wait for you to return before departing from the port. This happened to me on an island tour of Antigua on a Caribbean cruise a few years ago, traffic meant we were nearly one hour late returning to the ship. Had we booked with a different tour company I would have been waving goodbye to the ship (and all my belongings!) as I stood there at the port.
…Lastly After You Book
The first thing to do after you book is to download the MedallionClass app and check out this post about my firsthand experience with the OceanMedallion.
Together, these two tech solutions help to improve your Princess Cruises experience, and get the most out of your holiday!
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