Princess Cruises Celebrates 50th Anniversary

If you have the cruising bug like I do now, then you’ll want to hear about the fabulous 2015 Princess Cruises is having!  Just over a month since my first cruise aboard the Crown Princess, I’m eager to plan my next one.  Princess Cruises is celebrating 50 years of voyages with a ton of great activities that will have you ready to call your travel agent.

Onboard Celebrations

The 50th anniversary of Princess Cruises will be especially memorable for guests cruising in 2015. They will be treated to festive onboard celebrations including a themed menu, cocktails, and entertainment.

Love Boat Disco Deck Party-To honor the iconic role The Love Boat television series played in cruise line’s history, a Love Boat Disco Party will create an exciting 70’s theme night!  Movies Under the Stars will showcase video messages from the original Love Boat cast, special montages from the show, a Love Boat sing-a-long, show trivia, 70’s music videos, and a live kiss cam.  The party will also include a production number, a celebration of weddings and anniversaries of guests onboard, a photo op with a Love Boat life ring and plenty of dancing!

Cheers to 50 Years-Sip inventive cocktails from renowned mixologist Spike Marchant along with popular drinks through the decades-from a classic martini to a pina colada.  A special half-bottle anniversary-labeled Prosecco will be offered and the new Seawitch West Coast IPA craft beer especially brewed for the 50th anniversary will be available.  I tried Seawitch and it’s so good!

Let Us Entertain You-A 50th celebration in the signature Piazza will feature a golden balloon drop and some balloons will even feature surprise giveaway items hidden inside. A special anniversary song, “Here’s to Princess,” celebrating the line’s history will also be performed. Guests can also compete in exciting game shows and test their knowledge with the Princess Trivia Challenge. On select sailings guests can dance to the music of tribute bands like the Beatlemaniacs!

Festive Decor– Each ship in the fleet will be adorned with a 50th anniversary flag on the bow.  Anniversary decor will be on display for guest to enjoy including golden anniversary decals and banners and even a display cake presented in the atrium.  A 50th anniversary tote bag and commemorative time line will be placed in each guest state room upon embarkation. The 50th anniversary logo will be on their stateroom keys and Princess Patter.  Videos will play in stateroom TVs that share the company’s history and milestone moments.

Onboard News

If you love Princess Cruises, they’re getting even better this year with new programs, menus, and connectivity!

Discovery at Sea -The cruise line now partners with Discovery Consumer Products and a new Discovery at Sea onboard program will feature themed tours, science activities, hands-on programs, and games based on Discovery’s breadth of brands and programming. The interactive experiences are designed to bring to life the nature, wildlife, and history of the regions guests are sailing.  Activities include:

• Discovery Under the Stars-Guests on select cruise vacations will forever look up at the night sky in a whole new way after this cosmic voyage from the ship’s top deck
• Shark Week at Sea- This experience will challenge adults and kids alike, testing their knowledge of the ocean with trivia games and a variety of themed activities.
• Baking at Sea with TLC-All ages will be able to join in the fun of learning to bake and decorate cakes by the best pastry chefs at sea
• Discovery, Animal Planet and Science Channel Shore Excursions-Offerings will include panning for gold on the Gold Rush inspired tour; getting up-close with each destination’s native animals during Animal Planet tours; and learning how popular foods and beverages go from farm to table on Science Channel How It’s Made tours
• Discovery Kids and Teens Program- Age-appropriate onboard activities will include fun and engaging science experiments made popular by Mythbusters; Animal Planet themed activities; brain teasers and competitions;and videos, puzzles, games and apps from Discovery

Chocolate Journeys -A delectable onboard experience presented by Princess Cruises, has been created in partnership with internationally-acclaimed master chocolatier Norman Love.  Chocolate Journeys, the line’s new premium onboard chocolate experience will entice guests fleetwide with an impressive array of offerings like wine and chocolate pairings, specialty cocktails, custom crafted desserts, spa treatments and exquisite bites created by one of the top names in artisan chocolate.  I’ve personally tasted the candies on two occasions and they are unforgettable!

Regional Menus -A new dining program showcasing regional culinary specialties designed to reflect the destinations Princess visits around the world is currently rolling out to the fleet.    The new program will enable guests to enjoy items created with local produce, spices and seafood.  The first special menus are inspired by the Caribbean and additional menus will include influences from the Mediterranean, Alaska and Hawaii.

Wi-Fi@Sea -As part of a Carnival Corporation initiative, new Wi-Fi@Sea will provide 10 times faster internet connectivity than previous networks!  The new hybrid wireless network high-speed Wi-Fi will offer a faster, more stable and powerful service connection integrating land-based antennas installed along cruise routes and Wi-Fi from a port connection and advanced satellites.

Princess@Sea Mobile App -Guests will enjoy a new free mobile messenger (via smartphone or tablet) feature making it easy to share updates and make plans amongst family and friends during their vacation.

Youth & Teens -Guests ages 3-17 will enjoy many exciting onboard activities.  All ships but two (Ocean and Pacific Princess) have Youth Centers and Teen Lounges staffed by experienced counselors who are ready to ensure the youngest cruisers have fun all day long with art projects, game tables, the latest movies, pizza parties, talent shows, video games and so much more.

Special Services

Online Honeymoon Registry Newlyweds taking a honeymoon Princess cruise can enjoy the cruise of their dreams with a new online Honeymoon Wishes Registry. This feature allows couples to easily sign up and select desired gifts to enhance their cruise vacation and share with family and friends.

Princess Cruises Gift Cards Princess Cruises recently launched a new gift card program making it easy to give the gift of cruising. Gift cards can be applied as payment towards the purchase of a Princess cruise as well as onboard products and services including specialty dining, drinks, Lotus Spa treatments, shore excursions, and more. Available in increments of $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000, and $2000, customized dollar amounts are also available up to $2000.

2015 sounds so amazing for Princess Cruises and cruise lovers everywhere.  For more information and to plan your trip to “come back new,” visit http://www.princess.com.