The occasion was Lisa’s December birthday along with a bit of the holidays on our December 15 sailing of Caribbean Princess. It was our 8th time on this ship, although the last time we stepped on board was over ten years ago. That was also the last time we were on a Princess cruise. Additionally, it was the last time we sailed from Port Canaveral, the closest embarkation port to our home in the Orlando area. We had been traveling but to places that required flights to different places around the world.

Those international trips were on smaller, more luxurious ships that called on ports which big ships can’t. We were basically “new people” when we walked on board Caribbean Princess, albeit Elite status new people thanks to previous sailings. In addition, we had booked the Princess “Plus” package which includes a different list of benefits. Complicating matters in a very lovely way, we also upgraded to the Princess “Premiere” plan which is about as good as it gets.

Are you confused yet? I was “gotta make a spreadsheet about this” -level confused initially but once on the ship, everything made sense. Like other cruise lines, Princess Cruises has their own intuitive app which we can do a lot with before stepping onboard. But also like other cruise lines, the Princess app springs to life once on the ship with features from when to arrive at the pier to when it is time to leave and everything in between. It’s that everything in between which will command the most space in this writing. Let’s start with what comes with what we planned.

Elite Status brings us a number of benefits

• Captain’s Circle Lounge from 5:00 to 7:00 for snacks and beverages
• Captain’s Circle Party
• Grapevine Wine Tasting
• Priority Water Shuttle
• Complimentary laundry and shoeshine service
• Complimentary one-time mini bar set up (see photo below)
• Handmade Pralines on Formal Nights via room service
• Complimentary Afternoon Tea In Stateroom
• Priority Disembarkation
• 50% Off any MedallionNet Package
• 10% Off Shore Excursions
• 10% Off Lotus Spa services
• 10% Off photos in the Photo Gallery
• 10% Discount in The Shops Of Princess

Some of those benefits are also on the Plus and Premium add on packages

Princess Plus
$60 per day per guest

• The Plus Beverage Package includes all beverages priced up to $15.00.
  Any bottle of wine, one-liter bottles of water purchased on board with the Plus Beverage Package will receive a 25% discount. Exclusions apply, see full terms & conditions for Plus Beverage Package.
• Wi-Fi included for one device per guest. All internet usage subject to standard Wi-Fi policies, which may limit browsing of sites due to network security and bandwidth usage and is subject to change with or without notice. 
• Crew Appreciation paid on behalf of the guest varies based on stateroom type (up to 4 guests per stateroom). Princess Plus does not include other service charges. Although Crew Appreciation is listed as part of the Princess Plus package, on Australia and New Zealand voyages Crew Appreciation is already included in the cruise fare and therefore all guests, regardless of whether they book the Princess Plus package, will receive Crew Appreciation and no substitution or refund will be provided for such part of the package. 
• *Medallion Shipping will be offered to U.S. residents only and will be shipped via ground shipping. Must book package with ample time for the Medallion to arrive to guest via ground shipping or such package part shall be forfeited. 
• *Premium Desserts is limited to 2 desserts per guest per day during the voyage. Excludes SMiZE premium ice creams. Gratuities included; not valid using OceanNow feature within the Princess® App. Only available during open hours of the venue at which dessert is available. 
• *Juice Bar: Only available at breakfast and lunch during the opening hours of the World Fresh Market place/other adjacent location at which juice is served; not valid using OceanNow feature within the Princess® app. 
• *Fitness Classes is limited to 2 classes per guest during the entire voyage. Applies to in-person classes, must sign up for class on-board by visiting the fitness center. Exact class type, length, timing, schedule, availability, and other details will be determined by the ship type and by Princess in its sole discretion. 
• *Casual Dining with pre-fixe meals are limited to 2 meals per guest during the entire voyage at ship’s select casual dining venue locations. This package allows the guest to enjoy two price fixe meals at Casual Dining venues that otherwise carry a charge not included in your cruise fare.
• *Included One-Time Delivery Access Fee covers the one-time fee of $14.99 USD for each guest for delivery orders placed through the Princess® App (OceanNow®). Orders for delivery through the stateroom phone or stateroom breakfast order cards are also included for guests with the Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages.

Princess Premier
$90 per day per guest

Basically, all of the above with the Plus package but more, so much more. This is what we did and will do on future sailings as long as it is offered.

• Premier Beverage Package including Juice Bar, Specialty Coffees and Bottled Water- this was very handy at the popular International Cafe in the lobby of Caribbean Princess. Don’t pass up the Almond Croissants which should be available to buy online to ship home since we can’t walk off the ship with food.  
• MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi (four devices per guest) We brought all our devices with us and used them all, some for streaming video, and never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever had an issue with connectivity. This is a really big one to me. While I was not working on this sailing, I sure could have.
• Unlimited Specialty Dining Meals We enjoyed the Crown Grill on Lisa’s birthday and it was just wonderful. I did something I have never done here too. Not big drinkers, we asked the somelier to pair a glass of wine with each course which he did with gusto.
• Photo Package- includes digital downloads of images taken by onboard Princess Cruises’ photographers featuring the guest and three prints, up to 8×10 size of such photos or photos supplied by the guest. The photo package does not apply to Platinum Studio, weddings, portraits or group special events. Related Add On: We bought a private photo session with one of the ship’s photographers in a very nicely equipped photo studio up high on deck 16 of Caribbean Princess by the spa. I was looking for an easel photo…the one that goes on an easel by my/our coffins when we die which will hopefully happen at the exact same time for both of us MANY DECADES FROM NOW!
• Unlimited Casual Dining with Prix-Fixe Meals per sailing– This is one of the benefits we never got around to trying. There are just so many hours/meals in a day. If we had been on a longer cruise or done this as a back to back as many on our sailing did, we would have had more time for this sort of feature. We stopped trying to do everything long ago but this one got us out to doing more than on any other cruise I can recall.
• Unlimited Premium Desserts per sailing- We never did this but walked by the popular venue on the way somewhere else several times. Don’t get me wrong, we love desserts. It was a matter of priorities.
• Waiver of OceanNow® fee- that’s for ordering anything you can think of to be delivered to you wherever you might be on the ship. This one is a work in progress but I hope they stick to it as this is a wonderful idea.
• Unlimited Fitness Classes per sailing– Nope. Not what we cruise for.
• Reserved Seating in Theater and this was reason enough to get Premier- Princess reserves a group of seats for  guests who purchase a Package for “production show” presentations (Broadway-style shows with singers and dancers) during a voyage; such guests must arrive at the Theater between 15 and 30 minutes before show time to select seats (no saving seats will be allowed by guests). Reserved seats are strictly limited and subject to availability, are first come, first served. Princess Cruises  will determine, in its sole discretion, the location of reserved seats. Such seats will be released to all voyage guests starting 15 minutes prior to show time and people line up to get those seats. Right about here is a good time for a come to Jesus moment about me and entertainment. I grew up in a home full of entertainers and have a decent appreciation for everything from broadway to jazz yet have zero talent of my own. Frankly, I swore off at sea entertainment decades ago as just ok and not really worth the time. This ship, this Princess is different and absolutely worth a try in the big scary theater many of you reading this avoid. Go. You’ll thank me later.
• Medallion shipping (US and Canadian residents only)- This may worry you when the ship sail date is a month away, you’ve already been packed for two weeks and you do not have your medallion. It will arrive and if it does not, you do not need to worry, they can make you another one at embarkation. Highly suggested, a wrist band to hold your waterproof medallion. I absolutely love this experience with the door to our stateroom unlocking as we approached it. Still, I kept thinking I left my (non-existent) card in the stateroom which I was frequently guilty of on previous sailings.
• Room Service Delivery- We tried the pizza once and breakfast once and both were excellent. Here is a good place to compliment Princess on their choice of Lavazza coffee shipwide. Not just in the International Cafe which one would expect because they have those big espresso machines to prove it. This was good coffee from room service, in the dining room, everywhere.
• Princess Prizes- we never figured this one out but it was included with the Premier plan. For $10 per day there is a chance to win prizes like a seven-day cruise, a hosted VIP shopping experience, one-of-a-kind onboard experiences, onboard spending money credits and more.

Arriving at Port Canaveral about Noon, our driver dropped us off for luggage collection and embarkation. In the “green lane” because we filled out all our paperwork in advance, we never stopped walking until we got to our stateroom which was ready. Luggage soon followed. We watched the safety video on our new stateroom TV and that was when we noticed, everything in our stateroom, Baja 753, was new. TV, carpet, entire bathroom area, bed, furniture, you name it. All new except for the balcony which they had not gotten around to yet.

Shortly after arrival, crew knocked on our door and was there to fill up the mini-bar with glass/plastic airline bottles of Gin, Vodka and Scotch, beer and soft drinks. We unpacked and sent off clothing to be pressed before stopping by the World Fresh Marketplace for lunch. We could also have chosen a dining room , the International Cafe, the Salty Dog Grill or Slice Pizza. Good to see: hand-washing facilities you have to walk right past to get to the buffet. We stopped.

Princess Excursions or any excursion I can’t speak to as we had not planned on leaving the ship. While it had been a decade, we have been to everywhere on the itinerary many times and we were there for the ship and crew. Both surpassed our most lofty expectations by quite a bit. Frankly, there are a handful of cruise lines where we make a list of crew on our phones; people who deserve recognition for their excellent work.

Still, new to us was the ability to charge shoreside purchases on our shipboard account via the Medallion, a convenient feature safety-wise (no need for cash)

One part of cruising that many travelers have found annoying in the past: the ship’s photographers. With Princess Premier, all that is included so all of the sudden the ship’s photographers are not annoying anymore. They are your friends and you want them to like you because people holding cameras who like you get better photos. Get your photo taken any time you see a photographer and be sure to download them from the Princess app before getting off the ship when, poof: they all disappear.

Some quick favorites:

• Smokers Rejoice- In addition to a cigar lounge, there are several other designated smoking areas on the ship but you really should quit don’t you think?
• Casino Players Rejoice- Slots are open 24/7
• The Dress Code which is really easy, one “formal” night and one “dress to impress” night yet some still came to dinner in shorts which is simply rude.
• Getting to Port Canaveral, we use a car service from our home in the Orlando area although Brightline trains from Orlando to Port Canaveral are coming soon. Text me for contact info.
• How Floridians Pack For A Cruise They Drive To- We bring everything.
• International Cafe- Deserves another recommendation, any time of the day or night with a menu that evolves throughout the day.

The Right Speed For Us

The bottom line here, at 70 and 67, we both agreed, this ship was just about the right speed for us. We’re not going to try to do everything but what we did enjoy suited us marvelously. Add in a terrific value: this was $3354 total for two in a very nice, aft facing balcony stateroom. That’s where my favorite place on the ship is.

We’re looking forward to our November sailing of Sky Princess, also from Port Canaveral. This one will be hard to beat.