ShipCritic Blog » Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises Launches 2012 Europe & Alaska Sales

Anne Campbell — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:58:20 +0000

If your sights are set on a 2012 Europe a Alaska cruise it’s worth your while to check out Princess Cruises sale, which runs from today through February 28.

The sale includes a variety of cruises to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia & Russia and Northern Europe, plus Princess’ Alaska itineraries. Also included are the cruise line’s Europe and Alaska cruisetours, with savings on these land and sea cruise vacations that travel to the heart of the Alaska wilderness to see the majesty of Denali or that take in some of Europe’s most spectacular inland destinations, including classic Italy, ancient Petra or the Swiss Alps.

Examples of sale fares include:

12-day Mediterranean/Greek Isles cruises from $1,690
11-day Scandinavia and Russia cruises from $1,740
7-day Northern Europe cruises from $999
7-day Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers from $799
10-day Denali Explorer cruisetours from $1,273

All cruise prices are per person. The Sizzlin’ Summer Sale runs through February 28, 2012, and is available to residents of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Additional sale information and pricing is available at princess.com/summersale.page.

Bookmark to:

Princess, Carnival & HAL Prohibit Smoking in Staterooms

Anne Campbell — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:17:42 +0000

UPDATED: In addition to Princess Cruises (story below), Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland America have also changed their smoking policies to restrict smoking in staterooms although it will be ok to smoke on private verandas.

* * *

Smokers can knock another cruise line off their list: Effective January 15, 2012 all Princess Cruises passengers will be prohibited from smoking in staterooms and on balconies.

Princess joins a growing number of cruise lines severely limiting areas of ships where people can smoke. Oceania Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises forbid smoking in cabins; a small area of open deck are the only places passengers can light up.

The new policy isn’t quite as restrictive as the cruise lines mentioned above. Smoking will continue to be allowed in the cigar lounge and sections of the disco and casino.

Bookmark to:

Princess Cruises Resumes Egypt Port Calls

Anne Campbell — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:51:44 +0000

Princess Cruises has reinstated calls to Egyptian ports on all itineraries where they were previously removed.

In February due to political unrest, Princess modified itineraries for 18 sailings scheduled to call in Egypt through November. The cruises aboard Star Princess, Dawn Princess, Ocean Princess and Pacific Princess have now returned to their originally published itineraries. Princess’ first Egypt call is scheduled for May 15.

“The situation in Egypt has calmed considerably since wide-spread protests earlier this year, and the tourist areas aren’t currently being affected,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “So we’re pleased to tell passengers they can once again plan to experience this country’s iconic pyramids and other ancient wonders.”

The Egyptian ports of Alexandria and Port Said are part of the two-day Egypt experience included on the line’s 12-day Holy Land sailings. Sailings depart from May 7 through November 15, 2011.

Bookmark to:

Happy 80th Birthday Gavin MacLeod, Captain of the Love Boat

Anne Campbell — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:13:43 +0000

Gavin MacLeod’s 80 birthday, Princess Cruises through a proper birthday bash complete a5-foot-long, 3D replica of the original “Love Boat,” Pacific Princess.

MacLeod, who played “Captain Merrill Stubing” in the popular television series, The Love Boat, has played a key part in Princess promotions, including the launch of new ships.

To celebrate the “Love Boat” Captain’s big day, click here

Bookmark to:

How Do You Plug in A Cruise Ship?

Anne Campbell — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:24:47 +0000

While the cruise industry has been criticized for polluting the environment, Princess Cruises took the first step in reducing engine emissions ashore. Yesterday, Island Princess inaugurated the Port of San Francisco’s new shore power facility by literally plugging into electric power from shore.

The new shore power technology at the Port of San Francisco cruise ship terminal enables Princess Cruises’ ships, and other equipped vessels, to use power from the city’s grid instead of the engines to power the ship’s onboard services–reducing emissions when docked in San Francisco.

To create this unique power system, also known as “cold ironing,” Princess has outfitted its ships with custom-built connection cabinets that join the ship’s electrical network to the local electric system ashore. The electric power is transmitted from a landside transformer to the vessel via four 3½-inch diameter flexible cables. The actual cable connection on a vessel is a traditional, though quite large, plug and socket. The length of time needed to connect a ship to shore power and shut down the vessel’s diesel generators is approximately 40 minutes. Once connected, the ship’s engines are powered down and, simultaneously, the necessary amount of power is delivered to run the ship’s services while in port.

The port becomes the fourth in the world where Princess Cruises’ ships can take advantage of this innovative technology. The new shore power installation in San Francisco is a cooperative effort by the Port of San Francisco, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the Environmental Protection Agency, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises.

Bookmark to:

The Cruise Industry’s 9/11 Experience

Anne Campbell — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:02:12 +0000

EDITOR’S NOTE: We all remember where we were on 9/11 (I was in New York and this is always a horrible anniversary for those of us present for the disaster). The cruise industry also had an emergency with passengers and ships all over the globe. Below is my interview with the president of Princess Cruises about his challenges that day conducted after the event.

* * * * *

“Before the second plane hit, I reached the head of Princess’ marine operations and said, ‘this is going to be a very busy day,’” says Phil Kleweno, president of Princess Cruises.

While we all stood transfixed before our TVs as the terrorist attacks of September 11 unfolded, cruise line executives weren’t afforded that luxury. With millions of their customers literally at sea during one of the most precarious moments in our history, they had to react immediately to ensure their passengers’ safety.

In case you worry about another terrorist incident occurring while you’re aboard ship, or when you’re on the far side of the world about to embark on a cruise, it’s reassuring to know how quickly a cruise line can react, and what steps they will take to ensure your safety. The experience of Princess Cruises last September is typical of how effectively the major lines reacted in protecting their passengers.

Kleweno, like the rest of Princess’ staff, immediately jumped into action. “Even before the World Trade Center fell, I notified our call center to expect a huge rush of calls,” he said. Kleweno’s next order of business was to account for all the employees, staff and crew, then start studying the particular situation of each ship.

“Remember, we are all very dependent on air travel, and there’s a huge ripple effect in getting passengers to and from ships,” he points out.

His first priority was Royal Princess, which had sailed from New York en route to Newport, Rhode Island only hours before the attacks on the World Trade Center. Then there was the matter of 300 passengers who were staying in a midtown Manhattan hotel, scheduled to board a ship of Princess’ sister company, P&O. “For the first 24 hours, we had to account for each person, in some cases entering their rooms to see if the towels were wet, as evidence that they’d been in the hotel,” he recalled.

The Pacific Princess, on its way back to New York, had to be diverted to Boston.

But Kleweno’s biggest challenge was in Istanbul, where the Golden Princess was scheduled to disembark 2,600 passengers and board thousands of others, many of whom had just arrived in the Turkish city on or before September 11.

Trying to bring nervous passengers back home was a logistical nightmare, because all U.S. airports were shut down, and no one knew how long that would last. “There was no airlift–and we had thousands of people in Istanbul, in a Muslim country.

At the same time, our security folks were chatting with FBI, who were saying, ‘Gee, you have a big white target sitting in Istanbul,” he said

Kleweno said that as a matter of policy, Princess always defers to the recommendations of its own security staff. “We have security staff that interacts with all the governments. If they had said, ‘I don’t feel safe sitting in Istanbul,’ we would have left. And we have a longstanding, loyal relationship with local officials, especially the Turkish police. We were in constant contact with them, and they doubled the number of officers in port,” he said.

Still, there were nearly 800 passengers waiting to board Golden Princess, and 2,600 more disembarking in Istanbul who couldn’t get out of Turkey. Princess found hotel rooms for many, and opened up the ship to accommodate those who didn’t feel safe ashore. Planes were chartered all over the world to get passengers home. “We paid for everyone’s air, whether they bought a ticket from us or not,” Kleweno recalled.

The line decided to keep Golden Princess in Istanbul until all disembarking passengers were safely on their way out of the country. “The ship didn’t move until the wheels were up on the last charter,” he said.

The ship eventually left port four days late, on what was originally scheduled as a 12-day cruise to Barcelona, carrying 700 booked passengers and 700 others who stayed aboard from the previous cruise.

Kleweno credits the tireless work of his entire staff, in the Los Angeles office and aboard the company’s 19 ships scattered around the globe. “Everyone in the country had their own way of processing what was happening, but our staff put off their own feelings for a week in taking care of our passengers,” he said.

To learn what the experience was like for passengers, we chatted with Kathy Evans, who arrived in Istanbul on September 11, the day before her scheduled Golden Princess departure. She learned of the events happening in New York as she was visiting the Blue Mosque, where a young Moslem man told her how sorry he was that so many Americans had lost their lives. Back in her hotel, Kathy learned the awful truth from CNN.

“The next morning, September 12th, we called Princess, told them that we were in Istanbul and asked what we should do,” Kathy said. “They told us to be at the dock the following morning as scheduled. The cruise was still on, but there might be some changes in the scheduled stops. We felt very fortunate. Princess could have easily chosen to cancel the cruise and we would have been left with very few options.”

“From the very beginning of the cruise, Princess told us that the safety of their passengers took priority over everything else,” she recalled. She said the line kept its shore-side customers well informed of their options, including the line’s plan to charter a plane flight from Istanbul to the U.S. Kathy opted to go on the ship, where on the second day of the cruise, the captain announced that everyone who boarded in Istanbul would receive full credit for a future cruise.

When the ship departed, passengers were told that for safety’s sake, the Golden Princess would sail directly to Barcelona, skipping scheduled stops in Kusadasi. Athens, Venice, Florence, Naples and Monaco.

“While at sea, we kept noticing what looked like air force jets patrolling the area. It may have been a coincidence, but it was almost as if we had an escort all the way to Barcelona. There had been police boats in port keeping watch over the ship to prevent any unauthorized boats from getting too close. Even though we were technically a big white floating target, we never really felt like we were in any danger,” Kathy said.

While there were some disgruntled passengers, Kathy Evans isn’t one of them.

“Three days later, after we arrived in Barcelona. Princess arranged for special excursions while we were there. We had five wonderful days to see all of the sights of Barcelona that we would have otherwise missed. I can’t tell you how wonderful Princess was throughout this trip. They did everything they could to ensure our safety as well as provide us with first class accommodations, service, food and entertainment,” Kathy said.

The lesson for fence-sitting future cruisers: If you hesitate to travel because you are afraid that unforeseen events might put you in jeopardy, think again. Cruise executives and their security staffs have contingency plans in place for almost everything, and the experience of September 11 proved that they are ready to react quickly during emergencies, not only to protect passenger safety but also to minimize the disruption of the passengers’ cruise experience.

Any other cruisers affected by the terrorist act in New York?

Bookmark to:

Princess Cruises Super Sale: 7 Nights/$399

Anne Campbell — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:16:47 +0000

Princess Cruises has launched a new “Caribbean Super Sale” offering cruisers significant savings on select 2010 and 2011 voyages through the Caribbean. Travelers can choose to sail among the sun-swept islands for seven to 14 days, with fares starting at $399.

Tropical itinerary options and pricing (per person, based on double occupancy) available in the Caribbean Super Sale include:

Seven-day Classic Southern Caribbean on Caribbean Princess – starting at $399

Seven-day Western Caribbean on Crown Princess – starting at $449

Seven-day Eastern Caribbean on Ruby Princess – starting at $449

Seven-day Southern Caribbean Explorer on Caribbean Princess – starting at $449

Eight-day Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean on Caribbean Princess – starting at $549

10-day Eastern Caribbean Voyager or Southern Caribbean Medley on Emerald Princess or Star Princess – starting at $749

14-day Caribbean Collection on Grand Princess – starting at $999

Contact your travel agent for reservations and additional information.

Bookmark to:

Flying to Take a Princess Cruise Just Got Easier

Anne Campbell — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:55:19 +0000

For some, the hardest part of the cruise booking process is finding affordable airfare that works seamlessly with the cruise departure and arrival times. Now, however, those flying to take a Princess cruise will find the process is much simpler now.

The cruise line has revamped its air/sea program to give passengers full control of their flights plus the ability to coordinate them with the cruise itinerary. Called “Princess eZAir”, the program lets passengers and their travel agents pick their own carriers and flights and select their preferred cabin level and seating. And, there’s no extra charge.

In the past, buying airfare from a cruise line was often fraught with problems: all too often cruisers discovered their flights connected with other airports when a non-stop was possible. And, to change the itinerary there was a fee of $35.

With Princess eZAir, cruise passengers can choose from two different air options – flexible and restricted – depending on the certainty of their travel plans. The flexible plan allows passengers to cancel or modify their reservation without charge, while the restricted option offers the benefit of a typically less expensive fare for those travelers who are comfortable with cancellation and change restrictions. Passengers can view both fare options side by side, so they can make the best choice for their vacation schedule.

Bookmark to:

Princess Launches Bon Voyage Parties … For a Price

Anne Campbell — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:39:23 +0000

Until the early 1990’s, part of the fun of taking a cruise was the traditional bon voyage party, when family and friends joined you aboard ship to toast your departure. Cruise lines banned bon voyage parties because , they said, of security concerns.

Princess Cruises has announced that it will bring back — sort of — this festive tradition with a new program, the “Bon Voyage Experience, that allows cruisers to invite family and friends aboard their ship on embarkation day for lunch and a tour of the ship. The only catch is that, unlike earlier bon voyage programs, each guest will be charged $39 per person, which can be applied to a future Princess cruise.

Starting March 6, the bon voyage program will be offered aboard select Princess ships in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Fort Lauderdale. Once their cruise is booked, passengers will receive an reminding them of the program. In-port guests can be booked through a travel agent or by calling (800) PRINCESS beginning 120 days before the cruise and up to six days before the sailing date.

Would you invite guests to party with you on a Princess ship?

Bookmark to:

Princess Love Boat to Host Romance Summit During Valentine’s Week

Anne Campbell — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:03:45 +0000

I’m not sure if Princess Cruises still calls February 14 “Love Boat National Holiday” but the cruise line really does try to fulfill your fantasies, especially during Valentine’s Week.

If the TV show Love Boat was before your time, click here to get in the mood. I don’t know what it is about the show’s opening theme song, but it sure gets me eager to jump aboard a ship with a significant other in tow.

This year Princess’ Department of Romance — I kid you not, this is for real — sails aboard Crown Princess during Valentine’s week, February 13-20, hosting a “Romance Summit” with seminars, panel discussions and and a host of special activities. All couples aboard Crown Princess will be invited to renew vows and party in a Valentine’s Gala donning their best red attire for an evening of romantic dining and entertainment.

The entire Department of Romance will be aboard the special sailing. In addition to current members “Love Boat” captain Gavin MacLeod, “The Bachelorette’s” Trista and Ryan Sutter, and destination wedding expert Lisa Light, three new members will join the department. The new love experts are Anna Post, the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post who will be discussing romance etiquette; “The Dating Diva” Dee Frazier of The University of Dating, an authority on finding love at any age; and Princess Cruises comedian Kevin Hughes, who keeps audiences laughing with his comedic and insightful take on relationships.

There may still be space aboard Crown Princess, which sails round-trip from Fort Lauderdale on a seven night cruise. Ports of call are Grand Cayman, Roatan, Cozumel and Princess Cays (the company’s private Bahamian island). Visit Princess Cruises website for further information.

Bookmark to: