• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

FTF's cruise expert takes a look at the elegant, British-born cruise line and how it treats her little princess.

Princess Cruises has an activities program, Princess Kids, that accepts children in age-appropriate groups from 3 to 7-years-old (Princess Pelicans), 8 to 12-years-old (Shockwaves), and teens from 13 to 17-years old (Remix). Also, the line offers youth activities on port days, thus eliminating the previous hourly fees on these days.

While not all ships have a dedicated youth room, and some only offer a children's program when 20 or more children are sailing, most ships (excluding the Tahitian, and Pacific) have roomy, well-equipped kids' rooms, teen rooms, and splash pools.

The newer Coral Princess and Island Princess feature extra-large dedicated youth and teen rooms.  The teen room doubles as a young adult disco while the youth room features areas for karaoke, games, and plenty of Playstations. On the Grand and Golden Princess fleets they give even more attention to teens, providing them with their own jacuzzi and sun deck area. The fleet-wide Teen Spa program offers an age-appropriate selection of spa services including facials, body polish, manicures, and pedicures.

Youth staff members on Princess ships use the California Science Center's program, "Science on the Seas" and the National Park Service's "Junior Ranger Program" to engage kids in learning about animals and their habitats.  Princess also features a seasonal program, Pete's Pals, in which kids and teens can learn about the endangered species that live in the seas they are traveling on, with each group participant receiving a stuffed animal of one of the endangered species they learn about. Children receive activity books and other learning materials throughout these programs as well.

In addition, there are more special events geared toward kids, featuring guest experts who give lectures and workshops on a variety of pertinent topics.  For example, youth may get to draw with a famous animator or go star-gazing with an astronomer.

SMOOTH SAILING:  Princess offers a top-rated children's program with a very warm staff. They did a good job of coordinating activities and craft projects with the destination, such as making Rasta dolls while in Jamaica. Highlights of the program included tours, just for kids, to the bridge and galley.

The staff went above and beyond in many ways; we loved seeing the stewards decorate cabin doors of those celebrating a birthday or anniversary. The food is excellent for kids and adults and the dining room menus -- which often have an Italian flair -- exceeded our expectations and the 24-hour buffet is a big plus, since it also has a children's menu.

ROUGH SEAS: Princess does not offer private babysitting, although late night group babysitting is available (except on Royal, Tahitian, and Pacific) for $5/hr per child.

Overall, we felt very comfortable with Princess' premium product that attracts a better traveled and slightly more sophisticated clientele than some of the mass market carriers.