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My family and I recently returned home from a couple of weeks in Europe. I built our trip around a Princess cruise that we were originally supposed to take last summer. Unfortunately, we had to cancel that trip the day before because our kids brought hand, foot and mouth home from school and it quickly spread through our whole family. Fortunately, I had travel insurance because the cruise line wouldn’t refund or let us postpone even though I had a communicable disease.
Two days before this year’s trip, Princess sent us an email indicating that the cruise must have been oversold and making us an offer: Get your money back and get another cruise for free. Here’s a portion of the email: “We are offering a free cruise offer to those booked on the June 14th Sun Princess Voyage. Sail on an alternate Europe voyage up to 7 days and receive 100% of your cruise fare back as refundable onboard credit. Offer is first come, first serve. Space is limited.” It’s too bad we didn’t get that email last year!
We were already in Europe because I practiced what I always preach in my newsletter and we arrived to the port several days before our cruise. We flew from LAX to Naples, Italy via Chicago (here’s my trip report). From there, we took a one-hour ferry to the island of Ischia for four nights (here’s our trip review), then returned to Naples on one of the almost hourly ferries to board Sun Princess.
I was going to book us on the fast ferry because it was closer to Sun Princess, but we weren’t in a hurry. We prefer the space and the price of the slow ferry. Before we left Ischia, I looked up the ship’s location using VesselFinder.com.
We arrived back to Napoli at 12:25pm and it took 18 minutes to reach the Sun Princess terminal.
I printed our baggage tags at home and covered them with clear packing tape to make them stronger and protect them from any rain (it didn’t rain). All we needed was someone to staple them, which the baggage handlers waiting outside can do. So we dropped off our two large bags and we were on our way into the terminal.
I paid $10 to get our Princess Medallions shipped to us in advance (they arrived two weeks before) and it’s well worth it because it saves a lot of time. BTW: Many guests wear their medallions on a lanyard around their neck but my wife and I use these holders, which attach to your watch band. For our kids, we used these wristbands, which worked really well. They sell similar Medallion accessories onboard but they’re cheaper on Amazon.
It took us 26 minutes to get from the baggage drop to on the ship, and most of that time was waiting in line for security, which was thorough. Checking in using our medallions took under five minutes.
I met a nice mother from Ireland in the security line who didn’t have medallions for her family because Princess doesn’t ship them internationally. Currently, medallions are only shipped to residents of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Guests sailing from other international locations will receive their medallions at the port. She said it took her an hour to check in and go through security so it might be best to arrive earlier or later.
As soon as you board the ship, you’ll be greeted by an agent asking if you want to purchase an upgraded package. We got the Princess Plus package, which was cheaper than the Princess Premier package: $70 per person, per day versus $105 per person, per day. The Princess Plus package includes 15 drinks a day (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), casual dining meals and WiFi for one device.
WiFi
To get on the ship’s WiFi, use this URL since it doesn’t pop up right away: You can swap devices so you can make one WiFi work on multiple devices; you just can’t use them at the same time. But my wife and I used our kids’ WiFi so we could be connected to our laptops and phones (just be sure to put your device in airplane mode once you board the ship to avoid roaming charges from your provider). Use logout.com to speed up the process.
Elevator
Since security was so packed, I was surprised the elevator bank wasn’t. That’s because they use a new system where you press your desired floor on the device on the wall and it assigns an elevator to you (A, B, C, D, E, F). I was impressed how efficient they were.
Our Cabin
We purchased a mini suite (I paid using a Family and Friends rate). The cabin was much larger than I thought it would be. Unlike Enchanted Princess, where the closet is at the cabin’s entrance, the closet in this cabin is in the middle of the cabin so it separates the bed and living room. Ours had bunk beds and of course, somehow I ended up sleeping on the bottom bunk because our five-year-old only wants to sleep with her mama!
So she and Natalie enjoyed the insanely comfortable bed. Seriously. My wife and I have had the good fortune of sleeping in hundreds of different beds over the course of our decades of travel and this bed came out on top! It was like sleeping in a cloud (I snuck a nap in every now and then, which is the only reason I know, but my wife raved about it each morning.)
I slept well on the bottom bunk after I asked for a light blanket instead of a heavy duvet. The Princess app also has a pillow menu, which is a nice perk.
The cabin walls are fairly thick so I couldn’t hear our neighbor’s toilet, like I have on other ships, and the only time I could hear them speak was when I was in the bottom bunk bed. The sliding balcony doors are also quiet so guests don’t hear you opening and closing them.
I loved the bathroom too – beautifully designed with a spacious marble shower, under cabinetry lighting and tile floors that look like hardwood. It’s really beautifully done. The only think I didn’t like was the sink faucet, which is way too short. It’s impossible for someone with big hands to wash their hands without touching the sink basin.
My wife appreciated the Drybar hairdryer and the shaving ledge in the shower. I appreciated the large text on the toiletries in the shower: Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash – large print and easy to read!
Power Outlets
One of my tips for cruisers is to be sure to bring a non-surge protected power strip (surge protectors are banned on cruise ships) but you don’t need extensions or converters on Sun Princess. Our cabin had plenty of North American outlets, USB and USB C ports, which was really nice.
Another tip I always share with first-time cruisers is to bring a night light, but you don’t need one on Sun Princess as the undermounted lights on the night tables and in the bathroom automatically activate with the slightest movement. I tried my best Tom Cruise impression, sneaking into the bathroom in the middle of the night, but to no avail. If you’re a light sleeper, bring an eye mask. This is the one we use and it’s a game-changer for blocking out light and ensuring a great night’s sleep.
I love that free room service delivery is included with the Princess Plus package but when calling down to room service, it always took about 10 minutes for them to answer. You can use the app or TV but my son has food allergies so I always need to double check everything when ordering food.
TVs
Speaking of TVs, we had two in our cabin and they have a great selection of free movies, TV shows and other programming. We kept the ship’s webcam or the live map on on one of the TVs, while the kids were able to watch their own shows on the other TV.
High Tech Muster Drill
The first thing we did after exploring and photographing our room was the in-room muster drill. You can do it on the TV or your phone and it senses your medallion so it knows you were in the vicinity to watch. You then have to check into your Assembly Station (they just scan your medallion). The whole process takes about five minutes and it’s painless compared to years past.
Glass Elevators
On our way to our Assembly Station, we went to find some food. We went down one of the two glass elevators at the aft of the ship (not far from our cabin). The glass elevators were a huge hit with our kids (and me) and we had a great view of one of the pools.
American Diner
The glass elevator dropped us off on the 9th floor at the rear entrance of the American Diner, which serves American favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They set up early and opened 30 minutes prior.
The Eatery
Connected to the American Diner was The Eatery, which is probably triple the size and offerings of the diner. This is where we had breakfast every morning since they had something for everyone.
I ended up discovering Filipino beef, paratha, pork tocino, and Indian delights like egg bhurji.
The food was solid, and my waist is still paying the price for my daily cinnamon rolls, but they were just too good to pass up.
The best part about these eateries is that the food, for the most part, is not an open buffet. It’s served to you. So it reduces the chances of contracting norovirus, cross-contamination and overeating. So it’s a win-win-win. BTW: The cruise director said that the average cruiser eats 12 meals a day and 15,000 calories. Not sure if that’s true or not, but after witnessing some people’s plates, including mine, I’m leaning toward it being true.
The main reason why is there are so many places to eat. There are 30 restaurant and bar venues, so there are way too many to visit in a seven-day cruise. Besides, some of them are specialty restaurants, which cost more depending on your package. Here’s the list: Good Spirits at Sea, Makoto Ocean, Love by Britto, Master Winemaker Wine Tasting, Royal Afternoon Tea, SMiZE Cream, The Butcher’s Block by Dario, The Catch by Rudi, The Eatery, Horizons Dining Room, Soleil Dining Room, Eclipse Dining Room, All American Dining Room, International Café, The Lido, Lido Greens, Lido Grill, Lido Slice, Lido Tacos, Lido Coffee & Cones, Promenade Grill, Promenade Ice Cream, Promenade Slice, Alfredo’s Pizzeria, Crown Grill, O’Malley’s Irish Pub, Sabatini’s, Umai Hot Pot, Umai Teppanyaki and Reserve Collection Restaurant.
We dined at:
Alfredo’s Pizzeria, which serves great pizzas.
Lido Grill for all-American fare.
Lido Slice: Thin pizza with a different special each day, along with cheese and pepperoni.
Promenade Slice: Bulgarian style (thicker pizza)
Lido Tacos
Lido Coffee & Cones
Promenade Ice Cream
Every day, they rotate the flavors, from chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. It closes at 9pm
My favorite was The Sanctuary. This is a more upscale option but still kid-friendly. The staff took amazing care of our daughter, tying a napkin around her shoulders when she was cold and going above and beyond to ensure food that was safe for my son, who has a variety of food allergies.
The people
One of the best parts of the cruise are the workers that come from all over the world (their name tags state their home country). There were 1,600 crew members from 70 countries for the 5,326 passengers. (By far, Americans were the most represented, followed by Australia, the UK and Canada.) Some workers are extremely friendly though some are not. Our favorite was SupaChai, our cabin attendant from Thailand but some of the food staff deserve an honorable mention: The chef at the burger place from the Philippines, the ice cream attendant from India, Vincente, the restaurant manager of The Eatery from Mexico (pictured above), and Claudiu, the Romanian chef who went above and beyond to assist with our son’s food allergies every morning at breakfast.
It’s also nice they have the same people working the same positions, so you get to know them and they get to know your preferences.
What to Do
You won’t get bored on the Sun Princess, as there are 120 events a day. We barely did any of them since we were so busy either sightseeing, eating, playing with the kids at the pool or ping pong table, or working. We didn’t even see the gym, two-story spa or the top deck, which has a jogging area. There’s also a large casino.
There are five pools and nine hot tubs (some are private, like The Sanctuary).
The most popular are the two Lido Deck pools. They look a lot bigger thanks to a shallow foot of water with lounge chairs, surrounding the deeper pool. There were always plenty of clean towels available for guests.
The WakeView Pool is by far the coolest. It’s located at the aft of the ship, and it’s mostly plexiglass, offering great sea views.
The Dome is a multi-level, glass-enclosed structure inspired by the terraces of Santorini. It serves as a versatile venue, functioning as a relaxing solarium and pool area during the day and transforming into an entertainment space at night. The Dome features a pool, a stage for immersive shows, expansive ocean views, and a “Cascade Bar” with a waterfall and custom cocktails.
One night, we stumbled upon Zumba in the promenade.
Movie Nights
One of my complaints from our cruise aboard Enchanted Princess is that they need to rethink their movie programming. During the summer months, there are tons of kids aboard (around 500 under 18 years old). But the movies they show at the first of two showtimes (7pm and 9:30pm) aren’t generally appropriate for little kids. I’m not sure why they don’t offer a family-friendly film for the first showtime.
Shows
We didn’t go to any of the shows in the theatre except for the informational sessions but the ship has a variety of shows in multiple venues like the Dome, the Princess Arena and the Piazza.
Kids Club
Our kids LOVED the kids club on Enchanted Princess but this year, their ages required them to be in different clubs; Firefly Park is for kids ages 3-7, while Neon Grove is for kids 8-12. Olivia, our youngest, didn’t want to be away from her big brother, and we were just fine with that because we’d rather hang out with them. We don’t often use kids clubs when we travel but the kids club on Enchanted Princess was so good, our kids begged to go.
Laundry
One of the best parts about going on a Princess cruise is that they have laundry facilities on each floor. Though it gets busy, I did mine often late at night, and there were still people in there after midnight towards the end of the cruise. They’ve improved how to pay, so you no longer need to go down to the front desk to get a coin; you can just pay using your medallion ($3 a load and $3 to dry). A reader shared this tip with me afterward: This Genius Laundry Tip Will Save You Space and Prevent Mess When You Travel
Our Cruise Itinerary:
Our cruise itinerary went as follows:
Day 1: Naples, Italy — Set sail at 9pm (onboard by 8pm)
Day 2: Messina, Sicily (8am–5:30pm)
Day 3: At Sea
Day 4: Chania (Crete) (8:00am–6:00pm)
Day 5: At Sea
Day 6: Istanbul (7:00am–4:30pm)
Day 7: Mykonos (12pm–8:30pm)
Day 8: Athens (6:00am)
The whole cruise was very smooth sailing except for a few minor bumps and sway between Crete and Turkey.
Sicily
It was 168 miles to Sicily and we went 18 knots. That’s the only announcement I could hear, since most of them were not amplified in the cabin. It was my first time in Sicily and I was so happy I woke up in the middle of the night and looked out the window, because seeing the island of Stromboli with its volcanic cloud above it in the moonlight was magical.
The ship docked right in town, a block from the Duomo. But everyone said to go to Taormina, which was featured in the hit HBO show The White Lotus. On the morning of, we decided to go and were going to take the train (45–59 minutes) at a cost of 6 euros. On the walk to the train station (half a mile), a very good salesman of a taxi driver pulled up and sold me on going with him. He said that once at the train station in Taormina, we would need to take a taxi anyway.
We ended up paying 200 euros for the 40-minute ride there and back, 90 minutes at Taormina, and then 30 minutes at the beach on the way back. The water was clear but surprisingly chilly. Note: I had my Meta sunglasses on and recorded the driver quoting me his price, just in case he tried to change it at the end.
Messina to Crete
Our next port was Chania on the Greek island of Crete. It was 462 nautical miles away and we went at a very slow, leisurely pace. We decided to check out a brand new resort that had just opened a few days before … the JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa. Here’s our story and photos of our time there.
Istanbul, Turkey
Two days later, we were in Istanbul, Turkey. Set your alarm and make sure you catch the sunrise, as it was one of the most epic sights. I woke everyone up to see it and it was worth it. We booked a city tour through Princess to see Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) and the Grand Bazaar (all within walking distance of each other), and it didn’t disappoint, though Istanbul is an easy city to navigate yourself.
Istanbul’s new cruise facility is state-of-the-art. You need to bring your excursion tickets, government ID and the slip with the QR code that’s left on your bed a couple of nights before. You need the QR code to get through immigration, both arriving and departing. It’s a well-oiled machine. No long waits, including none on the way back. Security at the Galata Port is top-notch, so the ship doesn’t do it on their end like they do in Naples, Messina and Crete.
Our tour was a little long (an hour shorter would have been perfect since we have small kids), but next time I will tell the guide I’m leaving on my own and take a taxi. It was just a 350 Lira Uber ride back to the ship (around $8). Everything is super cheap. For example, I bought three bottles of water and a bag of candy for $3 while walking down the street. Arriving back at the port, they make you go through Duty Free, and of course, my wife and son took the bait.
Embedded above is my video with advice for going to the Blue Mosque or many other religious sites around the world. I’m also sharing my video of the kids’ highlight: getting ice cream. The vendors are hilarious and talented.
Mykonos
We booked another excursion through Princess to go to the beach in Mykonos for three hours and then do a tour of some of the sites, enjoy lunch, and then visit the picturesque Old Town. It was seven hours, which is long for kids, but they loved most of it. The only thing I didn’t like about the tour is that the guide kind of pushes everyone to go to this one beach vendor to get two chairs and an umbrella. For three hours, they charged 70 euros ($80). I walked 50 yards to the vendor next door and got the same for 40 euros ($46).
The beach is hot, and there’s really no place with shade unless you get an umbrella. The water is clear but again surprisingly chilly.
Mykonos gets over 750 cruise ships in the summer (first one was 1921), but it’s deserted in the winter. The season is early April through early November, and the island relies on 99% tourism.
Athens
The ship arrived in Athens at 6am and it was bright and sunny. We weren’t in a hurry, so we took our time getting off, but everyone needs to be out of their cabin by 8am and off by 9am. Again, Princess and the port run a smooth operation. Disembarking was quick and easy. We didn’t make that 9pm cut-off to leave our bags outside.
That turned out to be for the best because we were able to just walk off the ship with our bags. It was no big deal and we did not book any transportation, so I was worried about long lines, but I must say: The taxis in Athens are plentiful and they do a great job. You can use Uber and you just walk 100 yards to the left to E12, which is where they pick up. The wait was five minutes and Uber gives you the license plate number and a pin. It only cost €15 ($17) to the Grand Hyatt Athens, about a 20-minute drive.
We loved our trip on Sun Princess. Everything went so smoothly, from check-in to disembarking … as well as the waters of the Mediterranean. We loved it so much we booked another cruise for 2026. Stay tuned!
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