Category: Princess Cruises

The Best Fitness Areas on Princess Cruises' Ships

7/27/2015

Regal Princess, Princess Cruises' newest cruise ship

By John Roberts

Princess Cruises, made famous decades ago for having the ship featured in the TV series "Love Boat", now carries more than two million passengers yearly to more destinations than any other major cruise line.

So, how can those passengers stick to their fitness regimens while onboard Princess Cruises' sailings?

Princess Cruises' ships are known for their elegant design and luxury touches, but they don't have the activities onboard that other lines like Carnival Cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have been packing into the areas on the top of their ships, like rock climbing, ziplines, ropes courses, waterslides, etc.

So, when you are looking to stay fit onboard a Princess cruise, you'll pretty much have to stick to the workout basics: weights, jogging and classes.

I have been on three cruises with Princess on a couple ship types and found the best spots to get in your daily workout before you head ashore to explore all those cool destinations.

The Princess Cruises gyms are well-equipped and spacious enough, if not as large as some of the big fitness centers I see on some of the mega-ships launched by other cruises lines in recent years.

I have had great workouts at the Princess Cruises gyms because they have everything you need: free weights (space is cramped at busy times), resistance training machines, dozens of cardio bikes and treadmills and all with good panoramic window views.

The fitness centers feature complimentary Zumba classes. Princess Cruises also offer a range of fitness classes (Pilates, boot camps, TRX training) and individual training for a fee.

Jogging track and weight training stations on Regal Princess, a Princess Cruises ship.

Regal Princess features an excellent jogging track with several weight training workout stations set up along the route.

The jogging track on Princess Cruises' new ships Royal Princess and Regal Princess are among the nicest at sea. The space is truly segregated for runners and walkers who are serious about putting in their miles. This is a nice change from many ships I see that integrate a "jogging track" into common areas that make the runners feel guilty for intruding on the space of cruisers who would rather pull their sun loungers into this space or simply linger for the top-side views of the ocean and leisurely saunter around on the track.

The Princess Cruises' jogging track, however, really work nicely and have a good no-slip track surface. As a bonus, on Regal Princess and Royal Princess, the track features workout stations adjacent to the running circuit, meaning you can get an entire workout outside if you choose -- strength and cardio -- while basking in the Caribbean morning breezes.

Most of Princess's 18 cruise ships also offer a swim-against-the-current lap pool (not on Royal Princess or Regal Princess or the smallest ships). You just hop in the water of the adults-only pool push a button to start a current and start your lap workout, swimming in place against the current. Make sure to bring along a pair of high-quality eye goggles for your cruise, and you can keep up with your daily swim training while on your cruise vacation. Not too many cruise ships feature this amenity that will please avid swimmers.

Thanks for reading.

Travel fit! Travel happy!

JR

Related stories:
Best Fitness Areas on Norwegian Cruise Line Ships
Best Fitness Areas on Carnival Cruise Ships
Best Fitness Areas on Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships
Best Fitness Areas on Celebrity Cruises Ships

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The 10 Commandments of Cruising

11/11/2014

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Have a little fun! We had a great time dressing up when one of our sailings coincided with Halloween.

By John Roberts

We're here to help you have the best adventure at the best price possible.

With that in mind, I present our 10 Commandments of Cruising.

When we get the itch for another cruise getaway -- usually this occurs shortly after returning home, unpacking and sorting all our photos and videos of our recently concluded trip -- we begin our search with key parameters in mind. Then, once onboard, we adhere to self-imposed rules in a bid to have the best, guilt-free time possible.

So, here you are . . .

10. Thou shalt not pay more than $100 per day per person per day for your fare. This commandment refers to the base price we set for the typical vacation. You usually can find sales in this price range or well below. If we have a very special occasion, we would consider more of a luxury cruise. We haven't done this yet, but we have talked about it for perhaps a big wedding anniversary or birthday, for example.

9. Thou shall book during a cruise sale. We always check deals during cruise lines' flash sales throughout the year or during wave season (big sale period between January and March). You also will find fantastic promotions when you book a future cruise while onboard your current cruise. Benefits might include extra onboard credit, lower prices, included beverage packages, included gratuities and lower deposits to book your cabin.

8. Thou shall use a travel agent. These travel pros can find you the best possible prices, help you monitor price drops and offer extra benefits for using their services. For example, our cruise travel agent always gives us onboard credit as a thank you. We often find she has had a bottle of wine and chocolate covered strawberries placed in our stateroom as a welcome aboard gift, too.

7. Thou shall continuously monitor prices. If the price of your sailing drops, you almost always can get the lower price until about 90 days out from your cruise departure date. We use online price monitoring services and tools from CruiseFish.net (emailed prices alerts) and CruiseCritic.com's PriceDrop (email alerts). Your travel agent also should be in touch with you to help you secure the best price possible.

6. Thou shall ask along friends for even deeper discounts. The more the merrier. We always ask our friends and family to join us on a cruise. They don't always say yes, but when they do, it can mean a deeper discount. You travel agent can get better deals once a block of cabins are grouped together (usually eight cabins or more). This means better prices and more perks like extra onboard credit -- not to mention more fun when enjoying the adventure with all those familiar faces.

Before you reserve your next cruise, make sure you are getting the best price and all the perks you can.

5. Thou shalt not use the elevator. We are going to be consuming way more calories during our cruise than we do in our daily lives. The treats, steaks, lobster, desserts, beer, wine -- oh my. That's a big part of the fun, isn't it? Well, we like to work out a lot to try to stay in shape anyways. So, we aim for a bit of physical discipline even if we stray from our dietary regimen. Taking the steps and walking as much as possible (you can walk miles and miles around the ship and in port) is just a start. We also aim for at least a quick 30-minute workout in the ship's gym to get our days started. Then, the rest of the day is relatively guilt free fun.

4. Thou shalt not take trivia time too seriously. Part of the entertainment options on your ship will be the daily trivia contests. We love to go to these and mingle. It's a fun diversion and a way to meet people from around the world while having a little fun during this natural conversation-starting competition. Just please remember that it's a friendly event. Too many times, we've seen people take this far too seriously, throwing fits, protesting scores, claiming others are cheating. Really, people, it's just not worth it for that souvenir pen or key chain that is at stake.

3. Thou shalt not hog sun loungers. This should be common courtesy and common sense, but serves as a constant source of frustration for cruisers. Don't be one of these rude people who rush out to throw towels and books on the loungers and then disappear back to your cabin or to the breakfast buffet for an hour or two before finally coming out to use your chairs â€“ while many other ready-to-lounge cruisers get shafted. Cruise lines are doing their best to crack down and enforce "unoccupied lounger" rules, but we should know better.

2. Thou shall be considerate of your fellow cruiser. Sometimes, we all get a little caught up in thinking only about ourselves (see above No. 3). But cruise ships are large and some areas get busy. Please do not barge around the buffet as if the food is going to suddenly run out. Please use proper hygiene practices, too. This means using tongs instead of grabbing with your hands eating while hovering at the buffet. Please do not cut into lines or mass on the stairs so others cannot move around you. Please do not smoke in undesignated areas. Please do not let your children run around unsupervised and play in adults-only pools and hot tubs. This isn't meant to be scolding, but you need to be considerate because it's the right thing to do. We are all on vacation. Let's relax and have fun.

1. Thou shall venture outside your comfort zone. On Royal Caribbean ships, I recommend getting involved in Quest -- the fun adult-themed game played once during sailings. Dress up for the theme nights, try karaoke or get out there and dance. Enter a talent competition or poolside game. You might be shy, but you'll be amazed how much fun you had if you cut loose and jump into the fun.

There you have it -- our "10 Commandments." Learn them, know them . . . live them!

Elsewhere in cruise news . . .

International Expeditions is offering free airfare for your bucket-list vacation to the Galapagos. Travelers get free airfare -- up to $1,000 -- on two small ship expedition sailings, January 30, 2015, and April 10, 2015. On IE's Galapagos cruises, you travel on the 32-guest yacht M/V Evolution, which offers a 2-to-1 guest-to-crew ratio led by three naturalist guides. The guides offer lectures nightly onboard and in the field while bringing cruisers within inches of giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, penguins and other creatures.

In addition to daily snorkeling and hiking through deserts, rainforests and volcanic terrain, highlights include a visit to the volcanically active island of Fernandina to search for flightless cormorants and the largest marine iguanas. You'll also stop at the Charles Darwin Research Center, famous for its tortoise breeding programs, and explore Genovesa (Tower) Island, with an opportunity to swim, kayak and snorkel in the calm caldera of this partially eroded volcano. Prices for the 10-day Galapagos Islands cruises start at $5,298 per person and include accommodations, all excursions, most meals, transfers and tips to porters and waiters for included meals.

Courtesy International Expeditions

Carnival Cruises Carnival Pride has completed its Funship 2.0 upgrades, the line released the ship's schedule of winter seven-day sailings to the Caribbean out of Tampa, Florida. Carnival Pride started its winter season and sails Sundays from Port of Tampa to Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Costa Maya, Mexico. All of these locations are great stops, full of active opportunities, such as cave tubing, snorkeling and diving. The drydock upgrades include a large waterworks park with a super-fast waterslide as well as new dining and bar venues.

Princess Cruises announced a new onboard activities and excursion program in partnership with the company that owns Discovery Channel. Included in the Discovery at Sea program are Discovery, Animal Planet and Science Channel shore excursions. The outings will include panning for gold on a Gold Rush-inspired tour, getting up-close with each destinationâ€™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.

Thanks for reading,

JR

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New Cruise Ships Head to U.S. Homeports

10/28/2014

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The Regal Princess will have its naming ceremony next week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

By John Roberts

Brand new cruise ships will be in the news in the coming weeks as Princess Cruises Regal Princess comes to the United States for its naming ceremony and Royal Caribbean's innovative Quantum of the Seas makes its crossing from England to New Jersey for its inaugural season and christening.

Regal Princess has been sailing a Mediterranean season since May and will be in Fort Lauderdale on November 5 for its big festivities. The ship's godparents are the cast members of the classic TV show Love Boat, and dozens of stars who made appearances on the show will be on hand for the event that also kicks off the 50th anniversary year for the Princess Cruises line.

Quantum of the Seas will makes its transatlantic eight-day voyage November 2 from Southampton, England, to Cape Liberty in Bayonne, N.J., where godmother Kristin Chenoweth will lead the festivities.

Quantum of the Seas will offer a skydiving simulator, "Dynamic Dining" (a choice of themed dining venues instead of a traditional main seating room), a high-tech interactive entertainment space, robot bartenders and what Royal Caribbean says will be the fastest Internet speeds at sea.

I sailed on the 3,500-passenger Regal Princess in May. It is a fantastic ship, with great decor and wonderful food and service. It's probably my favorite ship I've been on out of 25 total sailings. Regal Princess will be sailing Caribbean itineraries out of Fort Lauderdale.

I hope to get onto the 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas one of these days to give you a review of the ship, which will be sailing to the Bahamas out of New Jersey for six months before heading to its permanent homeport in China.

Elsewhere . . .

Costa Cruises also will be christening a new ship, Costa Diadema, on November 7 in Genoa, Italy. The ship will sail seven-day itineraries in the Mediterranean.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that its new ship, the 4,200-passenger Norwegian Escape, to launch from its year-round Miami homeport in November 2015, will feature a Tobacco Road bar onboard. The bar celebrates the famed Miami tavern of the same name.

Cruisers now can get information from the U.S. Department of Transportation website, which has been updated to include cruise industry regulations and consumer rights when booking a cruise vacation.

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The Best Fitness Areas on Princess Cruises' Ships

The 10 Commandments of Cruising

New Cruise Ships Head to U.S. Homeports

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