A Guide for Princess Cruisers
What to do before you set sail on your first Princess cruise
Are you taking your first Princess cruise? This post will help navigate what you need to do before you show up at the pier and some don’t miss things once onboard.
If you booked through Trips with Angie, feel free to email us any questions you have. We can walk you through all of this.
Pre-Cruise
1. Sign up at Princess.com
The first thing you’ll want to do is set up an account on Princess.com. You’ll need your booking number. This is found on your booking confirmation from Princess. If you don’t already have an account, click Register in the upper right corner. Be sure to remember your username and password. You’ll need it later for the App.
2. Book shore excursions
Once you have an account, you’ll be able to view the excursions available for your cruise. You can book through the cruise or independantly. I partner with Project Expedition and Tours by Locals for independent excursions.
You can also use your Cruise Personalizer on the Princess website to book special onboard events and dining reservations.
3. Download Princess Medallion Class App
Princess has slightly different technology from other cruise lines. You get a small, round medallion as your room key. This links to your onboard account and the App. It has location capabilities so you can food or drinks delivered to where you are or locate your shipmates. Everything is centralized in the App so you will need it when you sail.
4. Use Dine My Way to request your preferred dining time
Princess no longer has set dining times. You make reservations for the included restaurants via the App. To make a reservation:
Log into the App.
Scroll down to Dine My Way.
You have the option to reserve the same dining time for whole cruise (Reserve for the same time each day) or Make reservations at different times based on the day (View or book individual daily reservations). The show are usually at around 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm. We always book the same dining time for the whole cruise to start with. You can always change it later if you make different plans.
Select Evening dining period.
Select your travel party. Only the guests in your cabin will show up. You can add guests from other cabins if you have their booking number. Select the guests. Click Continue.
At the top, you’ll be able to Select Time. Then your options will pop up. You can choose a shared table with other guests or a private table. Confirm which option you’d like.
If you booked the same for each day, the dining reservations will populate across your calendar. If you booked an individual daily reservation, you will go back do the process again for each additional night.
5. Register any special diets with Dine My Way
If you require a special diet, you can register this in the App.
Log in to the App
Click on Profile in the lower right corner.
Click My Preferences
Click Dining
Then, select any allergens. Click Next.
Select a special diet. Click Next.
You can also add table preferences here.
6. Register any medical requests – wheelchairs, stools, distilled water
If you are hard of hearing or low vision, require a bed rail bar, hand held shower head, raised toilet seat or shower stool, you can request that in the App.
Log in to the App
Click on Profile in the lower right corner.
Click My Preferences
Click Accessibility
Select what accommodations you need.
To request distilled water for a CPAP machine: You can request it in advance by emailing: dietaryrequest@princesscruises.com. You may need to remind your room steward if it’s not in your cabin at embarkation.
If you are bringing a wheelchair, scooter, or walker on a Princess cruise ship, they request to complete and submit a mobility questionaire. Click here.
6. Check in online
You can complete your check in online or via the App. Check in usually opens about three months before your cruise.
Online - Log into Princess.com, select your cruise and then click Check In from the header. It’s towards the top, left part of the page.
Via the App - Click Go to OceanReady. That will lead you through the Check in Process.
7. Request medallions to be sent or picked up at the port
You can elect to have your Medallion shipped to you in advance so you have it upon arrival at the port. This is done only via the App. In the OceanReady section of the MedallionClass app, tap "Medallion" and complete or confirm your shipping information at least 12 days before your Princess vacation begins.
8. Print luggage tags
When you arrive at the port, you’ll be able check a bag similar to how it’s done on an airplane. Porters will be available to take your large bags from you and deliver them to the ship. You’ll need to print luggage tags at how with your cabin information so the porters know where to deliver your bag.
Once you’ve completed your check in process, your travel summary and luggage tags will be available. Log in to Princess.com on a computer. In the upper right, you’ll see “Travel Summary and Luggage tags”. Click there. Print the document.
If you are wondering what to pack, I share a few of my cruise must haves in this post.
What you need at the port
Printed Luggage tags for checked bags
App showing Green Lane
Passport / Immigration documents
Medallion (if you requested it be mailed)
Now you are ready to board your Princess cruise lines. Be sure to check out some of my favorite things to do and eat on a Princess cruise.