Princess Cruises nails the big things. You step on board an elegant ship, enjoy polished service, and a laid-back, refined vibe that’s hard to beat. So, it’s easy to assume everything will fall into place after booking. But after making a few rookie cruise mistakes and digging through countless comments on cruise forums, it’s the little pre-cruise moves that separate smooth sailings from frustrating ones.
Plenty of travelers get caught out. They fly in too late, miss early check-in windows, or wait until onboard to book excursions. What happens? They’re still standing in line at the cruise terminal while savvy cruisers are sipping margaritas poolside. The good news—you can learn from the mistakes that I and many other cruise passengers have made.
If you want your Princess cruise to feel effortless from the minute you step onboard, here’s exactly what to do—and what you’ll kick yourself for forgetting.
6 Mistakes That Spoiled My Princess Cruise
Even the best ships hit rough seas when you skip the basics. I thought I had everything charted out—but a few rookie mistakes left me feeling more seasick than smug. Here’s where I ran aground before we even left port.
Flew in on Embarkation Day—Bad Planning and Rookie Mistake
I figured flying in the morning of my cruise would be fine. One quick flight, no problem—right? What could go wrong? Turns out—almost everything. A short flight delay turned into a full-on sprint to get to the cruise terminal, and I barely made it to the ship before final boarding.
Tons of posts on Cruise Critic warned about this, but I thought they were just being overly cautious. Turns out, they were smart. Lesson learned? Always fly in the day before and stay in a hotel. Losing a night’s hotel cost is better than losing the entire cruise.
I’ve also discovered that Princess Cruises has an EZair program. It’s simple—book flights through the cruise line, and you’re guaranteed to make boarding, regardless of flight delays or lost luggage. Perfect for peace of mind cruising.
Forgot to Book The Sanctuary Early Enough and Missed Out
I kept telling myself I’d book The Sanctuary adults-only retreat later, not realizing how quickly it sells out on Princess ships. By the time I finally got around to it, every single sea day was sold out. It was only around $40 per day for pure bliss and luxury at sea, and I’m kicking myself for missing the opportunity.
Cruisers on Reddit kept saying the Sanctuary goes fast, but I figured there was no rush, and “I’d get round to it.” I did get around to it, but only when it was too late. My reward was trying to relax on crowded pool decks. The best advice is to book a Sanctuary spot the minute it opens. Those shaded loungers are pure gold on a sea day.
Want to avoid more slip-ups before you book? Check out my article: 15 Princess Cruise Booking Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Vacation.
Left it Too Late to Check In and Got a Lousy Boarding Time
I didn’t realize the importance of checking in as soon as it opened until I discovered all the early boarding slots were gone. I assumed that the cruise was still weeks away. So, instead of getting on board around 11 a.m., I was standing in line at 1 p.m., watching enviously as others relaxed on the Lido Deck.
I wish I’d listened to the advice from all the cruisers on Reddit—set the alarm for the minute check-in opens. It’s simple math: Early check-in means early boarding and the first shot at everything onboard, from dining reservations to poolside loungers.
At least I got one thing right. A few weeks before the cruise, I spent $12 to have the Medallion wristband shipped to my home. This was better than having a lanyard around my neck the whole time.
I Didn’t Learn About the MedallionClass App Before Sailing
I consider myself pretty tech-savvy, so I thought using the MedallionClass app would be a breeze. Therefore, I never spent time checking out its functions before I boarded. Turned out, I spent most of the first day trying to navigate the features and spent way too much time trying to book dining, check-in for muster, and find event schedules.
After reading many comments on Reddit about the app, it appears that I’m not the only one who struggled with the app on departure day. The best advice is to download the app early, login, get to know its features, and be prepared before you board.
Left Booking Shore Excursions Until I Was On Board—and Missed the Good Ones
I made the classic first-timer mistake of leaving it until I was onboard before booking shore excursions. I figured that I’d get to my cabin and then scroll through the trips I wanted. On my bucket list was exploring Mayan ruins on Cozumel and snorkeling in Roatán. So, imagine my disappointment when they were fully booked.
Experienced cruise passengers on Cruise Critic always warn that the best tours in Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean sell out fast. If you wait until you’re onboard, you’ll have a choice of the leftovers. In other words, the ones no one else wanted.
The simple lesson: book everything you want to do—shore excursions and specialty dining—as soon as reservations become available.
Didn’t Realize How Important It Is to Turn Up for Shows Early
In my pre-cruise planning, I didn’t factor in the theater filling up pretty quickly. On Enchanted Princess, I got turned away the first night for Rock Opera despite arriving ten minutes before curtain time. Not really a great start to the cruise!
It’s good to note that the theaters on Princess cruise ships are relatively small, with only just over 900 seats. So, if you want to enjoy a memorable evening, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early to get a good seat. Trust me, it’s worth it to actually enjoy the show without standing at the back.
To discover the best onboard entertainment options, check out my review of the best and worst Princess ships.
How I Planned the Perfect Princess Cruise: My 12 Smartest Moves
Luckily, it wasn’t all stormy waters. A few smart moves helped me enjoy the cruise despite my mistakes. Here’s what you should do before going on a cruise with Princess.
So Glad I Purchased the Princess Plus Package
My best decision before boarding Enchanted Princess was to purchase the Plus Package. It comes with unlimited drinks, two casual dining meals, two premium desserts, WiFi, pre-paid gratuities, and room service delivery. What I loved best was OceanNow delivery—order through the app, and your food or drink is delivered wherever you are on the ship.
I thoroughly agree with the many comments on Reddit and Facebook groups that the Princess Plus is a “no-brainer.” Even if you’re not a heavy drinker, you can stay connected, enjoy a few cocktails, and dine at Alfredo’s, which serves the best pizza at sea, hands down.
It’s the best way to cruise without watching every dollar or worrying about every time you tap the MedallionClass tag.
However, it should be noted that Princess Plus or Premier packages are not suitable for everyone or for certain cruise types, and you can read more about it here.
Find out why MedallionClass is the thing that Princess Cruises does best.
The Packing Moves That Actually Paid Off
When preparing for the cruise, some advice kept popping up all over cruise forums—pack smart. After all, space in cabins is a premium, and clutter builds fast. Thankfully, a few smart moves kept my cabin from turning into a dumping ground. Here’s what I did.
Organizing the cabin: I packed magnetic hooks and a hanging organizer to keep the floor space tidy. A clothesline also meant I could do some laundry in the sink. Also, a cruise-friendly power strip was invaluable because there were only two outlets in my cabin. (Newer Princess cruise ships have more outlets per cabin).
Carry-on: One of the smartest moves was packing a well-organized carry-on. It contained swimwear, a change of clothes, sunscreen, and my Kindle. Even though my boarding was late, I could get straight to the action before my luggage arrived.
Layers: I’m glad I listened to the advice to pack layers on my Western Caribbean cruise. A hoodie and light jacket were perfect when watching movies at Movie Under the Stars, as the sea breeze was fairly chilly.
Packing list: I created a packing list weeks before the cruise and kept editing it. This saved me from last-minute panic-packing and forgetting something important.
Download my Ultimate Packing List for an unforgettable cruise vacation.
Joined Facebook Groups and Cruise Critic Roll Calls Weeks Before Sailing
Joining Facebook groups and the Cruise Critic roll call for my sailing provided the best tips and cruise hacks before the cruise. At first, I felt awkward asking simple questions, but I was surprised at how helpful everyone was. The tips on excursions, embarkation, and quiet places on the ship saved me time, money, and stress.
Cruisers constantly said roll calls were the secret weapon for better trips. They were right. I even found a group tour buddy and grabbed a few insider tricks I wouldn’t have known otherwise.
Studied the Ship’s Deck Plan and Watched YouTube Videos—Nerdy, But Worth It
Before booking, I studied deck plans to pick the perfect cabin location. I didn’t want to risk a guaranteed cabin type. But the real pot of gold of cruise hacks was spending hours watching YouTube videos of the Enchanted Princess in the weeks before the cruise.
By the time I boarded, the ship felt totally familiar, and the YouTubers’ tips on quiet lounges and fastest elevators were invaluable.
Cruisers always advise you to “know your ship before you sail.” Now I get why. Those hours of research made day one feel effortless. I headed straight to my cabin while others were wandering in circles and asking for directions.
Checked all Travel Documents and Expiry Dates
I only discovered by accident that your passport must be valid for six months after the cruise. I’m glad I found out because I had enough time to renew it. Also, having hard copies and digital copies of my documents gave me peace of mind at check-in and boarding.
Cruise forums are full of horror stories from passengers who were refused boarding because of invalid passports. They figured that the travel documents were valid because they hadn’t expired. They never realized the six-month rule.
Renewing my passport early was also a lot cheaper than paying for an expedited process.
Ignored the Temptation to Book a Guaranteed Cabin and Got the Cabin I Wanted
I was considering saving money by booking a guaranteed cabin type, but I’m glad I didn’t. From what I read on Cruise Critic, there’s a good chance of ending up in a noisy location under the Lido Deck or above the Princess Theater.
Some take the gamble, and it pays off. I didn’t want to take the risk, so I boarded with complete peace of mind.
Sailing to Alaska with Princess? Find out the best cabins and best ships on Princess Cruises Alaska sailings.
Set a Price Alert and Scored a Better Deal When the Price Dropped
One of the best money-saving tips I got was to set notifications if the price drops and then rebook. Thankfully, I’d booked my cruise through a travel agent, and they monitored the price. I ended up saving a few hundred dollars by rebooking at a lower rate.
I also discovered that Princess has a price guarantee policy— “Better Than Best Price.” If you find a lower public fare for an identical booking, you can get onboard credit with a value of 120% of the fare price.
Glad I Read the Fine Print on Princess BYO Alcohol Policy—I Saved a Fortune
Princess Cruises allows each passenger to bring a bottle of wine on embarkation. With a bottle of wine costing around $50 onboard, this was a real money saver for us both. If you drink the wine in your room or pour a glass and then head to the Main Dining Room, you can also save on the corkage fee.
Cruisers often share that Princess is pretty relaxed about bringing wine back on port days too (although hard liquor is always a no-no). Always check the latest rules—but bringing a bottle (or two) is a smart move on embarkation day.
I Planned to Dine in the MDR on Embarkation Day, I’m Glad I Did
One of my best moves was to follow common advice on cruise forums to avoid the buffet World Fresh Marketplace on embarkation day. After passing the long lines of cruise passengers, I was thankful that I’d planned other dining arrangements. In fact, I snagged a great first-day deal in Sabatini’s, which was the perfect beginning to a week-long cruise in the Caribbean.
Believe me, sitting down for a relaxed meal sets a totally different tone for the cruise.
Called Ahead to Inform of My Dietary Needs
I’m glad that I called Princess ahead of time to let them know about my lactose intolerance. Once onboard, everything was arranged for my meals in the Main Dining Room, casual dining, and specialty restaurants. This saved time and stress, as I didn’t have to tell each member of the waitstaff about special meals.
It’s a common thread in cruise forums—let the cruise line know well in advance (45 days at least) about any dietary requirements. Princess Cruises website says that they can arrange low-sodium, low-sugar, low-fat, and vegetarian meals. Also, kosher, gluten-free, and lactose-free meals are available.
I Downloaded Netflix, Podcasts, and Books Before Leaving Home
Before the cruise, I loaded my tablet and phone with music, movies, audiobooks, and my favorite Netflix shows. Best decision ever. It was easy to enjoy some peaceful downtime in my cabin or listen to music on my headphones on excursions. Although the Plus Package has WiFi, it’s not fast enough for streaming.
Many cruisers on Reddit stress how important it is to “download first if you want to cruise happier later.” I didn’t want to risk battling with slow or patchy WiFi during my cruise.
Making Your Princess Cruise Unforgettable
Despite making a few rookie blunders, planning a few smart moves made all the difference sailing on the Enchanted Princess. From the moment I stepped on board, I was able to enjoy the premium experience the cruise line promises. Wishing you smooth seas, perfect sunsets, and the perfect cruise you’ve been dreaming of.
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