Princess Cruises' Return to Service: Cruise with Confidence
Sponsored by Princess Cruises.
I’m someone who has a hard time coming out of their shell, especially in crowds or among strangers. In fact, I used to be someone who looked at the stereotypical “cruiser” and thought, “Noooo way, that is not the group for me.” That is, until I went on my first cruise hosted by Princess! I fell in love with the cruise community because even though a ship is literally a crowd of strangers, no one cares where you come from, knows what your flaws may be, or judges your appearance. Two thousand cruise passengers are joined together by a singular mission—to find joy and to have new experiences and do it all on the ocean blue.
It turned out that the cruise community was eager enough to get back on board a MedallionClass™ ship that no one minded how different the scene looked—we cared that we were there at all. We all checked the “Terms and Conditions” box that said we’ll do anything to enjoy a cruise vacation again, even if that means wearing face masks indoors and in crowds or taking turns in maxed-capacity areas or getting two shots (considering some of us still cry getting poked with a needle, even in our 30s).
Embarking on an Alaskan cruise aboard Majestic Princess was something we all wanted—even needed.
I’m not shy about saying that I was hesitant to get on a cruise ship after all that we’ve been through over the last couple of years, but in addition to the rejuvenation and replenishment that I found embarking on a Princess Cruises voyage after such a long break, I was surprised by how safe and comfortable I felt with the thorough guidelines Princess put in place to keep cruisers’ health at the top of their priority list.
The safety protocols begin long before you board. At the time of our cruise in August 2021, the requirements for passengers were to a) be fully vaccinated, and b) have received a negative COVID test within 72 hours of embarkation day. This double layer of protection did a lot for my mental security about being in enclosed spaces with large groups of people while spending seven days at sea. I’m happy to report we didn’t have any reported COVID cases on our 7-day Inside Passage itinerary!
Onboard, OceanMedallion technology shines as the number one way to keep passengers safe and healthy. By having keyless stateroom entry and touchless embarkation and disembarkation in place, Princess was already prepared for how the world would change following the pandemic in many ways. Other features highlighted in their new TrulyTouchless™ protocols are:
Completely contactless shopping onboard
Simplified safety training
On-demand food, beverages and retail items delivered anywhere on board
Guest service requests via mobile device chat
Entertainment content via smart devices
Hand sanitizer stations are ubiquitous in all the main areas like most public places these days, and current guidance and protocol is displayed via consistent signage and screens throughout the ship—all 1,083 feet of it. Surfaces and touchpoints are constantly being sanitized by dedicated staff—watching this happen regularly also did a lot to ease any worries I came in with. Princess is taking their return to service seriously, and their practices have paid off. As we sail into 2022, I wouldn’t hesitate before booking another cruise vacation—to be honest, I’d be happy doing this exact same itinerary in the spring. And summer. And fall. And on and on and on…
While 2021 has been as challenging as 2020 in many ways, it’s remarkable that Princess has been able to create such a special space out at sea for cruisers to enjoy despite the pandemic climate. Returning service to Alaska is quite literally a lifesaver for many of the towns up there that rely on cruise tourism to make their income. We met dozens of people absolutely thrilled to see the ship in port who had been unsure they’d be able to continue living in Alaska much longer.
For myself and for them, I want to give a huge thank you to Princess as well as the Alaskan government, the CDC, and the Port of Seattle for working so hard to continue bringing families memorable travel experiences exploring America’s Last Frontier.
However long we may have to get vaxxed and stay masked, this self-proclaimed cruiser can’t wait to get back out there.