This blog is about all the the changes that have taken place on all the ships in the Princess Fleet.
On Sunday, 17 March 2024 I boarded the grand Princess cruise at Station Pier Wharf for a two week Queensland Round Trip. Although cruising is back after the loooooong lockdown period; Princess Cruises has really stripped everything back to the basics. These are just some of the changes I noticed straight away when I boarded the ship for my 2024 cruise; starting with this one 'it's a lot easier, and faster to board the ships.'
Your Cabin:
In your cabin; you no longer get a love heart chocolate treat on your pillow every night, and a complimentary Carry bag for the cruise. You now need to supply or purchase your own. The Medallion technology has made the art of 'getting into your cabin' easier. If you have the 'coin sized medallion' on you; your cabin can tell if you're close by and unlocks the door for you with no hassle.
The Ships Restaurants:
Your travel agent no longer organizes your Restaurant, and seating time for the cruise. You now have to book this yourself using the Princess App, and you now sit at different tables, and with different people every night. At the Restaurants, there’s no longer a bread basket in the center of your table. The wait staff now walk around, and offer you one roll (only) for your meal.
Ordering drinks:
Introducing Ocean NOW. Just say you're 'watching a movie under the stars (or sunlight), relaxing in the SPA's, or you simply don’t want to leave your deck chair; you can now order the drinks via the Princess app using Ocean NOW. For an additional charge of $23.00 (AUS) your drink will find you any where on board the Princess Ships except the in Princess Theatre. You also need to supply your own straws for your drink.
Entertainment:
Princess cruises no longer hosts specialty (on board) events designed for ‘Captain Circle members,’ or shows afternoon movies in the ships main Theatre. All the movies are now shown (night and day) on the big screens on the pool deck
Disembarking:
Unlike before; all passengers are now required to fill in paper work to have their luggage taken off the ships for them at the end of the cruise. If not, you'll have to take your own luggage off the ship with you when you disembark. My cabin mate and I didn't know about this change. We received the paper work from our Cabin Steward but didn't fill it in so we had to take our luggage off the ship ourselves which was annoying for us because my small black suite case has a mind of its own, and no one helped us.
Despite all the changes; it’s great to have the ships on the ocean, and cruising back once again.
I look forward to my next cruise with the Princess line.