Princess Ritual -

[Hillmom]

So I searched and the last time I could find this on the Princess thread was 2007.  I think we can agree that times have changed (and yet.....).

This is my first time on Princess - first equator - first dateline.  (Although I've cruised for 50+ years, and on some lines that no longer exist, so not a newbie).

What are the Princess rituals I must not miss?  What do you do upon boarding? (I'm solo this time - so not that.....)

I'll be on the Sapphire - lunch in the dining room is on the list.  What else?

Happy sailings - where ever - when ever!

[karatemom2]

There are a few things we always do every cruise - first is lunch in the MDR. That is the best way to start off a relaxing vacation. We usually skip the chaos of the deck party and enjoy sail away with a beverage on our balcony.

 

Another must do for me at least one or more days is afternoon tea in the dining room. If we are doing a scenic cruise, like in Alaska, we always order the Ultimate Balcony Breakfast for our glacier viewing day. We also like trivia - so try to make at least one or two a day.

 

And we always choose at least one of the nicer days to eat lunch sitting outside at the grill - pizza, hot dogs, burgers followed by soft serve cone. We also usually have at least one or two meals in specialty restaurants and we attend one of the wine tastings. At some point during each cruise we also try to watch a movie that we haven't seen before one evening - usually after a long port day when we are tired and just want to hang out in the cabin.

 

Those are pretty much our must dos (well except for Casino - that is DH's must do!). Other than that we just do as we please from day to day and mix it up from cruise to cruise depending on the choices, time onboard as opposed to port days, and our interests - maybe shows or piazza entertainment, crafts, lecture, spa, etc. 

[Waynetor]

Princess has a ceremony for crossing the equator.  It has been clamed down from earlier events.  I recall getting a certificate for the crossing.  Certificates have also been give out for other events live crossing the dateline or the Artic Circle.

[mtnesterz]

Well, not a ritual, but certainly something newer than 2007 and must be done and you need to do it right after boarding. This may be unique to Princess, I haven't cruised other lines recently. Go to your cabin, if you can get in, and turn on the TV. You no longer go to a life boat drill. You watch a safety video on your TV, then go to your Muster station and tap your Medallion on the device at that location. 

Some here will say watch it on the App while having a drink at a bar, but whatever you do, just be done with it and start having fun.

Edited March 21 by mtnesterz

[memoak]

2 hours ago, karatemom2 said:

There are a few things we always do every cruise - first is lunch in the MDR. That is the best way to start off a relaxing vacation. We usually skip the chaos of the deck party and enjoy sail away with a beverage on our balcony.

 

Another must do for me at least one or more days is afternoon tea in the dining room. If we are doing a scenic cruise, like in Alaska, we always order the Ultimate Balcony Breakfast for our glacier viewing day. We also like trivia - so try to make at least one or two a day.

 

And we always choose at least one of the nicer days to eat lunch sitting outside at the grill - pizza, hot dogs, burgers followed by soft serve cone. We also usually have at least one or two meals in specialty restaurants and we attend one of the wine tastings. At some point during each cruise we also try to watch a movie that we haven't seen before one evening - usually after a long port day when we are tired and just want to hang out in the cabin.

 

Those are pretty much our must dos (well except for Casino - that is DH's must do!). Other than that we just do as we please from day to day and mix it up from cruise to cruise depending on the choices, time onboard as opposed to port days, and our interests - maybe shows or piazza entertainment, crafts, lecture, spa, etc. 

our ritual is to eat lunch on land to avoid the early crowds and go to the terminal around 2:00 when we can just waltz on the ship

[trbarton]

39 minutes ago, memoak said:

our ritual is to eat lunch on land to avoid the early crowds and go to the terminal around 2:00 when we can just waltz on the ship

I get there real early, well before the boarding has started, & I’m usually in the 1st group let into the terminal, & since I’m elite, in the 1st group to board. Perhaps I’ve been lucky but I’ve never been in a long line to get into the terminal or onto the ship. 
 

Lunch in the MDR is nice to relax with a nice drink, & meeting new people. 
 

Just my experiences but I been outside on deck later, & sometimes seen very long lines, so I felt great by arriving early. 
 

Tom😀

[memoak]

32 minutes ago, trbarton said:

I get there real early, well before the boarding has started, & I’m usually in the 1st group let into the terminal, & since I’m elite, in the 1st group to board. Perhaps I’ve been lucky but I’ve never been in a long line to get into the terminal or onto the ship. 
 

Lunch in the MDR is nice to relax with a nice drink, & meeting new people. 
 

Just my experiences but I been outside on deck later, & sometimes seen very long lines, so I felt great by arriving early. 
 

Tom😀

Well you are still waiting eating princess pastries and coffee while I am dining at 4 star restaurants. Last month in SF I disembarked at 8:30 and the were already lined up down to the Embarcadero   Besides I will be on board for 2-3 week plenty of time to meet others 

Edited March 21 by memoak

[cr8tiv1]

No special ceremony for crossing the international Dateline.  
 

Crossing the Equator “ceremony” is held on the Lido deck.  If you were in the Navy, this will be much tamer.  

[jdacombe]

Try and get onboard as early as possible, then find a seat in the Piazza, watch the safety video on my phone whilst relaxing with a bottle of Peroni and a tasty snack from the IC, after that report to our Muster Station 

Finally find our stateroom for a quick unpack, have a chat with our steward and then the cruise fun starts.

[Esprit]

2 hours ago, jdacombe said:

Try and get onboard as early as possible, then find a seat in the Piazza, watch the safety video on my phone whilst relaxing with a bottle of Peroni and a tasty snack from the IC, after that report to our Muster Station 

Finally find our stateroom for a quick unpack, have a chat with our steward and then the cruise fun starts.

Great minds think alike.👍

[DiRonT]

18 hours ago, memoak said:

our ritual is to eat lunch on land to avoid the early crowds and go to the terminal around 2:00 when we can just waltz on the ship

Love this - always our plan too.  Much more relaxing way to start the cruise.

[DCThunder]

16 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

No special ceremony for crossing the international Dateline.  
 

Crossing the Equator “ceremony” is held on the Lido deck.  If you were in the Navy, this will be much tamer.  

I haven't Crossed the Line on a Princess ship (or on a USN vessel) but did become a 2X Shellback on HAL, including last month crossing the Equator on the Amazon River.  On HAL, only the crew members had to undergo the initiation ceremony, although I did "kiss the fish" after the ceremony was over and King Neptune and his Mermaid Consort had returned to his watery realms.

[Sprocket]

Upon boarding the first stop is always Good Spirits for a Bud and Clamato, plus a little little snack from the IC to tide us over until dinner.  Always enjoy catching up with those bartenders  I know from previous cruises.

 

From there we go straight to our Muster station scan in and then head to our cabin to watch the video, unpack and enjoy sail away from our balcony.  We also get to meet and have a quick chat with our Steward and apologize in advance because we usually sleep in while cruising.

[tulok]

Agree with those that don’t rush to board as sitting in a holding room is not my idea of starting a vacation. My plan on our  cruise from PE, is to have lunch at 11a,(staying on Los Olas) then take Uber to port after. We will do everything needed when we get on board, (list of what and where on my phone)  muster, excursion desk to make some changes, get on wifi, correct some dining app issues, grab a couple of bottles of water and a drink. Then cabin should be ready and hopefully bags also. Unpack and organize cabin. Get the balcony doors between cabins opened.

Vacation now officially starts! Go up on a higher deck to watch sailaway with a glass of champagne and starting to meet our fellow passengers. 

We are traveling with DH sister and BIL that has never taken a cruise or anything like it vacation. It will be interesting to get their perspective on everything.

[cgolf1]

So reading this I am trying to figure out if we board early, hotel transfers always get us to port early, can we get into the room right away to drop off our carry on? Celebrity is set up to do this and it is great. This will be our first time on Princess.

[rjack22]

For those that wait and have lunch off ship before boarding...how does that work with checking out of your hotel by 11:00 and having all your luggage with you?

[DCThunder]

3 minutes ago, rjack22 said:

For those that wait and have lunch off ship before boarding...how does that work with checking out of your hotel by 11:00 and having all your luggage with you?

Most hotels will "hold" luggage for you even after check-out.  So check out, leave the bags with the front desk, go have lunch or do last minute shopping, come back and get bags, travel to port, and board ship.

[tulok]

1 hour ago, rjack22 said:

For those that wait and have lunch off ship before boarding...how does that work with checking out of your hotel by 11:00 and having all your luggage with you?

The hotel has always stored them and we always stay within walking distance to a lot of restaurants. In FLL, we are eating at El Camino across the street. Love that place. Then go back to the hotel, pick up our bags and call uber, taxi, etc. We have never used a cruise transfer so not sure about their timing. We should get to the port around 1230. We should already have the medallions so the line should be moving. That’s the plan anyway.

[memoak]

1 hour ago, rjack22 said:

For those that wait and have lunch off ship before boarding...how does that work with checking out of your hotel by 11:00 and having all your luggage with you?

Most hotel concierge desk will keep your bags. Our trips in April and July are out of Vancouver. We are staying at the Pan Pacific and they will arrange for our bags to get to the ship ($20 tip). In April we sail on Sunday so one elevator to 5 Sails for High Tea at 11:45 and then a 2nd elevator to check in. Never have to leave Canada Place

[2806]

On 3/20/2024 at 11:27 PM, trbarton said:

I get there real early, well before the boarding has started, & I’m usually in the 1st group let into the terminal, & since I’m elite, in the 1st group to board. Perhaps I’ve been lucky but I’ve never been in a long line to get into the terminal or onto the ship. 
 

Lunch in the MDR is nice to relax with a nice drink, & meeting new people. 
 

Just my experiences but I been outside on deck later, & sometimes seen very long lines, so I felt great by arriving early. 
 

Tom😀

I am so glad that I saw your post!  We are trying to figure out what time to get to the terminal.  We would like to be able to board at the very beginning.  We will be driving and parking in the Heron parking garage at the terminal.  What time would you suggest that we should get to the parking garage if boarding starts at 11:00?  Thank you so much!