New to Princess

[kikiz]

My husband and I just booked the Meditteranean & Aegean cruise for next month. We've been on other cruises but never the Princess. I have a question about soda. Do they have soda cards? Also, I can't have caeffine or sugar: do they servce some type of sugar free caeffine free soda?

Are there any other tips you can share for a first timer on the Princess Star??? Thanks so much!

[MichTraveler]

Soda cards - yes. Sugar-free (diet) - yes. These are Coke products. I don't know if they have sugar-free and caffeine-free in a single beverage.

[paul929207]

Soda card is $4.25 per day plus 15% tip.

[Toto2Kansas]

I can't remember any type of soda that you can get with the soda card that is both sugar and caeffine free though. The soda card is only good for the types of sodas that come from the bar guns.

[cattolica]

I found on the Princess website that they offer Diet Sprite which would be caffeine free and sugar free.

[Coral]

There is no caffeine free diet soda in the soda guns (which is what the soda card is for).

[Toto2Kansas]

I found on the Princess website that they offer Diet Sprite which would be caffeine free and sugar free.

 

If I am not mistaken, that is offered in cans only. If it is from the soda gun, then the soda card/sticker would cover it, but if it is only in cans (which I think it is) then it would not be offered with the soda card/sticker.

[onthelake]

You can bring soda on board yourself. We would find grocery/corner stores in Europe and buy what we wanted to take aboard. We enjoy trying something different and I am sure you can find sodas to fit your needs and taste. I know we bought in Greece to take ashore in Egypt.

[Pam in CA]

The soda card (actually a sticker on your cruise card) is only for bar-distributed Coke products, which do not include caffeine-free Diet Coke. However, you can get Sprite Zero in a can which I believe does not have any caffeine. I don't know if caffeine-free Coke is available in a can.

 

As I'm Elite, I get the mini-bar set-up. Once onboard, I always call Room Service to get everything changed out for Sprite Zero. You can either bring soda onboard with you or call Room Service and ask what is available and order it.

 

Just double-checked and Sprite Zero IS caffeine-free.

 

Something I do is bring travel-sized packets of Crystal Light which I mix with water. It's easy to pack and you can get a variety of flavors.

[kikiz]

Thank you everyone for all your help! Sprite Zero will be great and the Crystal Light idea is super too.

I have another question....Does it cost to go to The Sanctuary? I read somewhere that it was $10 for half a day. I"m hoping there are free places to go to relax, enjoy some quiet time with a good book.

Thanks again for everyone's help!:D

[MichTraveler]

Yes, the Sanctuary is a fee-based spot on the ship. You can buy for the complete cruise or for 1/2 day increments.

There are plenty of great spots to relax on just about every ship, including pool side, on the 7th deck (promenade) inside and out.

[Haze]

This has been helpful for me also. We leave on Oct 17th for our first Princess cruise on Crown Princess. We are seasoned cruisers but have never been on Princess and I also wondered about the Soda cards.

Many thanks

[geoherb]

We enjoy the spa pool area. It's adults only. A lot of people apparently never find it--or else they're more interested in movies under the stars and all the other activities going on at the larger pools.

[kikiz]

Thanks again for everyone's input. Can't wait to get on the ship!:)