The original video came from one specific sailing on Caribbean Princess. It has helped hundreds of thousands of cruisers, but Princess has changed its packages, technology and onboard offerings since then. Here is the advice I would give now.
1. Complete OceanReady—and decide whether to ship your Medallion
Picking up our Medallions at the port slowed down our embarkation, even with Platinum status. Completing every OceanReady step ahead of time is the more important part today. Princess says it helps passengers qualify for faster terminal processing.
Princess currently offers home shipping for a fee and free pickup at the port. Shipping is listed only for addresses in the United States and Puerto Rico, so check what is offered for your booking. Start with Princess’s current pre-cruise guidance.
2. Bring a comfortable Medallion holder
The Medallion unlocks your cabin as you approach, handles purchases and identifies you around the ship. I liked wearing mine on a watch-band holder because it left both hands free when carrying food or drinks.
Some AirTag-style accessories may fit a Princess Medallion because the devices are similarly sized, but confirm the fit before relying on one. A wristband, clip or lanyard is only useful if you will actually wear it.
3. Make a Sanctuary plan before embarkation day
On Caribbean Princess, we went to the buffet before trying to reserve the Sanctuary. We arrived around 11:45 a.m., waited more than an hour and still did not get space. If the traditional, pay-by-the-day Sanctuary is a priority, check the current booking procedure for your ship and act early.
Do not confuse that retreat with Sanctuary Collection on Sun Princess and Star Princess. That is a different product tied to specific cabins and includes exclusive spaces and benefits.
4. Reserve specialty dining as soon as booking opens
I booked our cruise roughly a year and a half ahead, but waited until about eight months out to look at Sabatini’s. By then, the choices were already limited. If Crown Grill, Sabatini’s or another specialty venue matters to you, make the reservation when your booking allows it.
If you miss out, politely ask the restaurant manager in person near opening time whether there has been a cancellation. That worked for us—but treat it as a backup plan, not a guarantee.
5. Learn your ship’s casual alternatives
We discovered the Salty Dog Café and its street tacos too late in the cruise. The larger lesson is to study the dining list before sailing. If the buffet is not appealing, your ship may have a poolside grill, pizza, the International Café or other casual options.
Names, menus and fees vary across the fleet. Princess’s current dining guide separates complimentary, casual, specialty and experiential dining.
6. Recheck what Plus and Premier actually include
The original video directed Plus and Premier passengers to Coffee & Cones for premium desserts and a pool bar for fresh juice. That information should not be treated as current. Princess substantially revised both packages in January 2026.
Princess Plus
Currently lists drinks within the package limit, juice-bar selections, four casual-dining meals per voyage, one-device Wi-Fi, OceanNow and room-service delivery, and crew appreciation.
Princess Premier
Currently adds a higher drink limit, unlimited casual and specialty dining, four-device Wi-Fi, photo benefits, reserved theater seating on eligible ships and other benefits.
Princess no longer lists the old premium-dessert benefit in its current 2026 comparison. Benefits and prices can change again, so check the package shown inside your own booking rather than relying on an older video or screenshot.
7. Ask what spa facilities are complimentary on your ship
Caribbean Princess had sauna and steam facilities in the changing rooms outside the paid thermal suite. That made them a great alternative for our sailing. Do not assume every Princess ship has the same arrangement; newer and differently designed ships may handle spa access differently.
Before purchasing a thermal-suite pass, ask exactly what the ship includes at no charge and tour the spa if that is offered.
8. Consider a special balcony-dining experience
Our Ultimate Balcony Dining dinner was one of the most memorable experiences of the cruise. It turned our own balcony into a private dining room and felt genuinely special.
The experience still appears in Princess’s dining lineup, but availability, format and price can vary. Look for it in your cruise personalizer or ask Princess before sailing rather than relying on the old prices mentioned in the video.
9. Set realistic expectations for Wi-Fi
Our Caribbean Princess connection was painfully slow; a short video that normally took minutes could take close to an hour to upload. That was our experience on that sailing, not a promise about the entire fleet today.
Princess now promotes MedallionNet Max and says guests can stream and video chat, while also warning that speeds vary by destination and may be slower in areas such as Alaska and the Baltic. If work is essential, download files before departure, build extra time into deadlines and have a port-day backup plan.
10. Try OceanNow—but do not plan your day around instant delivery
The idea is excellent: use the app to order food or drinks and let the Medallion help crew find you. On our cruise, a drink order took more than 90 minutes even while the ship was in port. It was fun to try once, but often faster to get the items ourselves.
Princess now describes delivery to your room or select onboard locations—not necessarily everywhere. The current one-time OceanNow activation fee is $14.99 per voyage, and Princess says it is waived with Plus or Premier. Menu items can still carry their own charges.
Bonus: the Princess bed surprised us
We carried a two-inch memory-foam topper because we remembered Princess beds as firm. We never needed it. The bed on Caribbean Princess was comfortable, and that was a pleasant surprise after hauling the topper aboard.
The short version
Do the time-sensitive jobs early: finish OceanReady, reserve dining and investigate any limited-capacity experience.
Study your specific ship: restaurants, spa facilities and Sanctuary access are not identical across the fleet.
Verify package details: Princess has changed Plus and Premier repeatedly, so your booking is the final word.
What still matters most
The best lesson from this list is not any single restaurant, fee or feature. It is that a little planning before embarkation protects your vacation time. Reserve the things that can sell out, learn what is included, and arrive with realistic expectations. Then enjoy the parts Princess does especially well—including those very comfortable beds.
Keep planning