Ship Review: Princess Cruises’...

Sarah Hedley Hymers discovers the charms of the Princess Cruises’ Royal Class ship

Key selling points for agents:

2 Sky Suites accommodate up to five guests
100 connecting rooms
24 restaurants and bars
Three age-specific kids’ clubs
Designer boutiques selling premium and preloved brands, such as Rolex and Louis Vuitton
Jam-packed and diverse daily events programming
Nightly entertainment including world-class theatre productions and guest performers
MedallionClass technology, which allows for one-touch check-in, hands-free automatic cabin door opening, easy ship navigation and quick purchasing
Guest-to-staff ratio of 2.7 to 1

Overview: The elegant, 15-deck, 3,660-passenger Royal Class Enchanted Princess joined Princesses Cruises fleet with an official naming ceremony in December 2021, bringing 24 restaurants and bars, a spa and fitness centres, multiple pools, designer boutiques, a theatre, a casino and an art gallery to the seas. MedallionClass technology identification facilitates the F&B crew being able to address all guests by name, creating the luxurious ambiance of elevated service.

Cabins: From the largest two-bedroom Sky Suites, sleeping up to five guests and boasting the fleet’s largest stateroom balconies, down to Interior Cabins, there are nine categories of accommodation, including wheelchair-accessible cabins with roll-in showers.

Balcony Stateroom

Any option from the Balcony Stateroom upwards feels luxurious with en suite shower rooms, generous walk-in wardrobe space, 100% cotton linens and extra-plump mattress toppers that deliver a restorative night’s sleep. Fridges are restocked daily with jugs of water, TVs are loaded with movies, and balconies are furnished with tables and chairs to allow for time soaking up the views. Altogether, the total space is around 220 square feet.

The décor, in pale shades of almond, is subtle and soothing

Food and drink: Savour jumbo sea scallops with salmon roe and herb beurre blanc at the Crown Grill or sate your appetite with a quick snack. Brie and basil croissants and creamy egg mayonnaise tiger bread rolls are among the sublime readymade grab-and-go sandwiches at the International Café.

Upscale sandwiches at the International Cafe

From casual Neapolitan-style pizzerias to speciality fine dining bistros, there are 12 restaurants in total and as many bars, making it easy to find exactly what you fancy. For convenience, reservations for all bookable restaurants can be made via mobile phone on the Princess Cruises app.

Facilities: The Enchanted Princess has eight hot tubs, two deep-tank, open-deck pools, and the infinity-style Wakeview pool and bar, offering spectacular horizon views. The Lotus Spa delivers treatments ranging from basic facials to Botox and non-invasive skin-tightening radiofrequency Thermage therapy. There’s also a hair salon. The gym is huge and well-equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows. A sports courts and jogging track provide even more ways to keep fit.

Broadway-style stage shows on board

There’s an outdoor cinema and Broadway-style shows can be seen at the Princess Theatre. A sprawling, sparkling casino, tempting designer boutiques and an art gallery round out the entertainment

For kids, there are three age-specific Camp Discovery clubs: the Tree House for little ones between three and seven, The Lodge for eight- to 12-year-olds and the Beach House for teens

Activities: Daily event schedules are diverse and include sommelier-guided wine-tasting sessions, acupuncture demonstrations, quiz shows, bingo games, wellness talks, craft workshops, line dancing and art seminars. The Behind The Scenes Theatre Tour was particularly fascinating, revealing how a moving ship manages to put on world-class stage shows at sea.

Inside the performers' dressing rooms

USP: The Enchanted Princess features MedallionClass technology. With MedallionClass cruising, each guest is allocated a medallion that can be worn around the neck or wrist. The medallion makes life easier, from one-touch check-in to unlocking your cabin door as you approach – no keys required. You can charge everything to your account using your medallion and, as you approach a restaurant, the medallion will alert the host, so they can greet you by name. It’s a slick feature that sets MedallionClass ships apart.

Cruise Master is the official sales agency for Princess Cruises in the Middle East. For more information, visit https://cruisemaster-me.com