Our First Princess Cruises Adventure

We are cruise virgins, so when we were invited by Princess Cruises to enjoy a trip from Southampton for seven nights, taking in Guernsey, La Rochelle, Bilbao and La Coruña, and returning to Southampton, we jumped at the opportunity. (Please see the route and itinerary here.)

We packed our cases, booked our car parking in Southampton, completed the necessary information and drove to meet the Sky Princess for our allotted check-in time. We checked in the car and ourselves and boarded the ship, in awe of the size and beauty as we made our way to our mini-suite—all very uncomplicated and speedy.

Luxury of the Sky Princess Mini-Suite

Our mini-suite on Deck Eight was spacious with a fabulous balcony. We were lucky enough to be on the sunny side of the ship much of the time—the ideal spot for that pre-dinner cocktail delivered to the suite within minutes of ordering it through room service. The bathroom was perfectly adequate with a powerful shower and plenty of storage space for toiletries. We also had a fluffy dressing gown each. The mini-suite included a sofa, tea and coffee-making facilities, a desk, coffee table, large wardrobe with loads of hangers and, of course, the famously comfortable bed. We were pleasantly surprised at the space and the quality of the soft furnishings, which rivalled a five-star hotel.

Seamless Onboard Experience

When I say the whole seven days and nights ran like clockwork—from embarkation and check-in, the mini-suite concierge service, restaurant bookings, excursion experiences, security, spa treatments and pool visits all the way through to disembarkation, car drop-off and pick-up—it is no exaggeration; it was seamless. The Sky Princess onboard team were helpful, polite and knowledgeable. The entire cruising experience for us was absolutely fabulous, with the sun shining for the whole trip.

The Game-Changing Medallion App

One reason the ship runs so smoothly is the ‘Medallion App’, which needs to be downloaded and completed before you set sail by each guest. The Medallion is a technological wearable device that enables completely personalised service. Through the app, you can book your whole trip, from dining and spa treatments to excursions and entertainment. The wearable device is your security and method of payment for extras not included in your chosen cruise package, of which there are three—please see here and here.

The ship was full—3,200 people, many repeat customers of Princess Cruises, which is always a good sign. They were all ready and eager to impart advice to ensure we gained the best holiday. We did get lost once or twice, but this only helped us achieve our 10,000 steps each day! Not once did we feel the ship was overcrowded; it was so spacious, vast in fact.

Dining Delights Across the Ship

Each morning we chose a different breakfast venue, our favourite being The International Café, where we could choose from pastries and yoghurts to toasties and fresh coffee. In the evenings, we managed to dine in most of the restaurants over the course of the trip. The Crown Grill served delicious steaks and is named one of the ‘Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses’. Another is Sabatini’s, a superb Italian dining room serving modern and rustic dishes. The Chef’s Table is also exceptional—a fine dining experience with wine pairing and more. We found it easy to book a table in all of these and enjoyed tasty meals in each one, with impeccable service. (These fall into the ‘speciality restaurants’ category and may incur an extra charge depending on your package.)

There are numerous other restaurants. The Marketplace is the buffet-style option serving everything from great salads to different cuisines from Spain, France, China, India and Mexico, with a huge variety of sweet delights too. We enjoyed Alfredo’s for its tasty pizzas and the Sushi Bar for a lighter option.

Excursions and Port Adventures

The ship generally sailed overnight to the next port of call, with excursions taking place during the day. At each port, there were several options to visit historical sites, museums, churches or culinary tasting trips—or simply go ashore to enjoy these coastal towns with a beer, coffee or delightful fresh fish restaurant. The excursions are well organised; you can see the options here for this particular cruise.

Poolside Relaxation and The Sanctuary

On our return to the ship following excursions, we were lucky enough to enjoy some vitamin D—the sun shone for the whole trip. The sundecks on Sky Princess are great. There’s a real party vibe on the Top Deck pool with a huge TV screen playing music all day, a jacuzzi and takeaway-style dining options for pizzas, hot dogs and burgers, plus a bar. We chose the quieter Retreat Pool at the front of the ship, with upper and lower decks, a jacuzzi and another great bar where we enjoyed several Margaritas and Bloody Marys.

We were also invited to spend an afternoon in The Sanctuary, a luxurious spa-inspired top-deck retreat on Deck 17, reserved for adults. It features plush lounge furniture, attentive Serenity Steward service, soothing music, refreshing beverages, spa fare and even open-air massages in private cabanas. It was heavenly.

Endless Onboard Activities and Entertainment

If you are not a sun worshipper or fancy a break from the sun, the onboard options to keep you busy are endless: mini-golf, casino, basketball court, wine tasting, shopping mall, spa, art galleries, book club, dance classes, gym, yoga and more. In the evening, there is a huge variety of entertainment in the onboard theatres—great comedians, movies under the stars by the main pool, West End-style shows and live music of all genres. Please see the onboard entertainment and activities on Sky Princess here.

The Vibrant Piazza Atrium

The hub of the ship is The Piazza. Stroll into the European-style Piazza and discover old-world charm as you venture through the stunning decks—it’s a hive of activity inspired by Europe’s vibrant squares. There are roving street performers, quaint boutiques, a spiral staircase and glass-walled lifts. This is the spot for afternoon tea, a pre-dinner drink, meeting fellow cruisers or relaxing with a coffee and cake. The impressive atrium spans several decks with duty-free shops, International Café, gelato, bars and most restaurants over three decks.

Impressive Ship Statistics

The ship took three million man-hours to build, features 200 tons of marble, is 330 metres long and 68 metres high—that’s taller than London’s Tower Bridge. There are 18,000 bottles of wine and champagne on board; weekly, 21,200 towels are used, there are 4,000 pieces of art onboard and 54,600 napkins are washed. It’s mind-blowing and impressive in equal measure.

Motion Sickness? No Problem

I was worried about cruising as I suffer from motion sickness, but even the Bay of Biscay did not phase me. You would honestly think you were in a hotel until you see the sea. The sailing was smooth and quiet, even at night; we slept like babies—perhaps due to the most comfortable beds on any cruise ship.

Final Thoughts

Apart from the dreadful Wi-Fi, we had a first-class experience. We loved the freedom of dining as and when we wanted in a vast variety of restaurants, the pool options and ordering poolside cocktails or snacks. The spa treatment choices were fabulous—I had a superb massage and facial in relaxed surroundings by a lovely therapist. The Sky Princess team made the experience most special. Our mini-suite was fabulous, but we barely spent time in it as our days and evenings were filled with activities.

All in all, this was a truly fabulous week of great food, amazing entertainment and a touch of relaxation.

W: Princess Cruises
T: 0344 388 8663

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Written by Global Editor for the Luxuria Group, Debbie Stone