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Best For: Adults seeking a relaxed getaway and families who like a sophisticated cruise ship
Not For: Guests who want a ton of onboard whiz-bang features like waterslides or rock-climbing walls
Bottom Line: Enchanted Princess is a beautiful cruise ship that offers a wide range of fun activities and a solid array of dining options
Enchanted Princess is a sophisticated cruise ship that delivers a wide range of activities both outdoors and in. It features a lovely range of public spaces that appeal to a variety of tastes -- no easy task on a ship that carries 3,660 passengers. But it does so effortlessly, with great passenger flow and an environment that is inviting and relaxing. The heart of the ship is the Piazza, a stunning, multilevel space inspired by the piazzas of Europe. Restaurants and bars surround the central space, which is always buzzing with activity, from music to balloon drops. It's the best space onboard.
Dining on Enchanted Princess is a highlight: The array of options, including reasonable speciality dining, is strong, and the service in all restaurants -- in truth, across the ship -- was excellent. We especially appreciated that crew seemed empowered to solve problems on their own and do whatever it took to ensure guests were happy. (For example, we asked for a paper list of spa services as well as a printout of the Enchanted Princess deckplan. While these aren't typically shared -- these features are available on the app -- crew scrambled to accommodate, even printing off a new deckplan when they discovered they didn't actually carry these.)
At the forefront of the Enchanted Princess experience is the ship's Medallion. While the concept itself seems straightforward -- create fast, accessible internet while providing an uncomplicated, worry-free cruise for all guests -- the technology behind it is anything but simple. Medallion is Princess Cruises' approach to solving all cruise problems, and it's done so thanks to a wearable disk and a super powerful app, plus a ship that is wired to the nines to make sure it all works. Because Enchanted Princess is one of the few ships in the Princess fleet to debut fully loaded with all the power of the line's Medallion -- it's technically part of the Medallion Class -- we put the technology to the test on our Caribbean sailing. We've had the opportunity to try it before, but all components of Medallion functioned on our sailing better than we'd experienced before. We streamed live meetings with our home office and watched shows on Netflix, thanks to the strong internet, which worked everywhere. We ordered food and drinks on the app, and servers found us to deliver, even when we moved around after placing our orders. We used the Medallion disk to open our cabin doors every time, with a range of about 15 feet. And we effectively tracked our travelling companions using the app. Best of all, we rarely had to swipe that disk when we bought something; most servers simply handed us our items and thanked us (by name!). There were a few hiccups: Medallion is designed to make embarkation frictionless, but ours saw some chaos and longer-than-expected lines (the couple behind us in one line grumbled "we've found some seams in 'seamless'”), and we still found we had to swipe that disk in some locations, especially busy bars. And there was that time we tracked our brother to the women's bathroom (turns out, he was sitting at a table on the wall behind the bathroom). But overall, we were impressed with the evolution of Princess' defining feature, which enhanced our cruise.
Prices mentioned are correct at the time of writing and subject to change
Enchanted Princess' approach to fun isn't all about the sun; the ship really utilizes the indoor space all day, so it tends to eliminate crowding. The main pool, called the Sky Pool, is located on Deck 16. It's actually two pools, connected in the center and flanked by hot tubs. It's suitable for adults and kids, and you'll see plenty of both on sunny sea days. Shaded and full sun lounge chairs are located on the pool deck as well as the overlooking sun deck. Movies play during the day on the giant Movies Under The Stars screen. An additional infinity-style pool is located at the aft of the ship, with a large bar and beautiful views of the wake. Our favourite pool is the quiet Retreat Pool, another deep plunge pool open to adults only. It has a small bar nearby and chairs for relaxing. It's also just steps from the adults-only Sanctuary, a lovely escape that offers shade, deeply cushioned lounge chairs, hot tubs and even an exclusive spa menu, with fruit skewers and the like. Guests can purchase half-day and full-day passes for the Sanctuary, though on our Caribbean sailing, both sold out quickly on sea days. Cabanas are also available for rental, and you can even get spa treatments there. Tip: The Retreat Pool is a hidden gem that many passengers don't discover until a few days into their sailing. Look for it at on Deck 17 forward. Enchanted Princess also has a sports court and small mini-golf course.
On most days, Enchanted Princess' vibrant multilevel Piazza serves as a hub of activity. In the morning, guests gather at the International Cafe for coffee and snacks and genial conversation with other passengers. During the day, you might catch a little light music, like a steel pan player or musical trio, and this continues into the evening. The other daytime hotspot is Princess Live, a large venue with a stage and video screen. During the day, you might enjoy dance lessons or participate in trivia sessions. Enchanted Princess also has a good lineup of enrichment lectures, and many are hosted here. These are further enhanced by the line's partnership with Discovery. On our sailing, well-attended lectures covered topics like "Birds of the Caribbean" and "What's it Like to Come Face to Face with a Great White Shark?" Other daytime activities include wine or spirits tastings (usually with a fee) and afternoon tea, as well as bingo (also with a fee).
At Night
Enchanted Princess spreads the nighttime fun around multiple venues, each with their own personality. Passengers tend to find their favorite spots and stick to them
Princess Theater: The two-level Princess Theater hosts the ship's big production numbers. Enchanted Princess offers two of these: Rock Opera and 5-SKIES. Both feature a mix of modern hits as well as older music and offer stunning costumes and a bit of over-the-top theater. Neither is exclusive to Enchanted Princess; if you've sailed on Sky Princess, you have likely seen these before. But they're both worth a repeat viewing. Other acts, like comedians and magicians, perform here on nights when there isn't a production show going on.
Princess Live: This space is all about fun, and it's usually standing room only here. Part of the appeal is the layout; Princes Live is set up as a lounge with a stage at the front. But it's wide open to passersby, who often will stop and check out the action, lingering near the nearby bar or straight-up joining in the fun. In the evening, you'll participate in trivia or watch the ship's gameshows, like the Yes No Game. Princess Live also hosts mixers and get-togethers, like the 18-20s meetup. Tip: If you want to play trivia, you must arrive early if you want a seat. We never saw a session that wasn't full. You can check your app to see how many people have bookmarked sessions to get a sense of what the crowd might be like.
Vista Lounge: Another spot for more organized entertainment, the Vista Lounge is vast and has a great bar serving up a menu of craft cocktails. Catch live music, shows, comedians and more here. This is also the venue for late-night dancing, thanks to a DJ.
Movies Under The Stars: Movies Under The Stars is a Princess-original concept, though other lines have taken the idea and run with it as well. Each night, you'll find a different moving playing on the pool deck. To enhance the experience, lounge chairs are covered in red velvet, and crewmembers provide popcorn and fleece blankets to guests. Movies range from classics to just released.
Princess Casino: The casino on Enchanted Princess features table games and slot machines. It also hosts tournaments routinely. The Medallion app gives passengers the ability to gamble from anywhere onboard, playing the slots from their mobile devices or getting in on the onboard lotto. Princess also offers a sports book at sea, where passengers can bet on the action of many games being played all over the world, from NBA to English Premier League soccer. This can only be done virtually; you can't place a bet with a real person at the casino. We tried it out on our sailing, putting $5 on an NFL game (we lost). The process had some kinks -- we got booted out a couple of times and ended up logging four bets even though we only made one -- but we're chalking this one up to a new ship. (Still, double-check your folio to make sure your bets are registering correctly.) Princess has told us live, in-game and proposition betting is on its way.
Enchanted Princess has a solid selection of bars and lounges, suited to a variety of tastes. What is especially appealing is that you can order using the Medallion app and have drinks from virtually any venue delivered to where you are -- no lines or wandering around. (We tried this one night at dinner at the Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar, ordering a drink from Good Spirits and were pleasantly surprised by how quickly it was delivered.)
Heart of the Action: Good Spirits at Sea is located on Deck 5, just off the ship's Piazza. Here, you get inventive drinks and a bit of a show.
For Great Jazz: If you like jazz and swanky cocktails, Take Five is your spot. The lounge hosts jazz late at night, every night, and we were impressed with the variety of exclusive gin cocktails offered.
For the Views: Visit the Wakeview Bar for the best scenery around. We love this at sunset.
To Have a Quiet Drink: You don't have to be eating at the Crown Grill to enjoy the adjacent Crown Grill Bar. It's a nice spot to get together with friends and enjoy an intimate drink, with seating at deep couches and armchairs.
For a Bit of the Bubbly: Bellini's Bar offers everything from mimosas (it's open in the morning) to high-end bottles of Champagne and sophisticated cocktails. It's also a nice spot for people watching in the Piazza.
To Get Your Martini Fix: Crooners Bar is a Princess staple, specializing in martinis. It's a favorite of Princess fans, and chances are, you'll chat with an avid cruiser here.
One of our favorite features on Enchanted Princess is its lovely Lotus Spa. Princess smartly placed the spa on Deck 5. (Spas on many cruise ships often take up prime real estate on high decks, even though, for the most part, natural light isn't necessary. We like the approach on Enchanted Princess, which combines serenity with a beautiful space. It promotes calm without being too dark.) The spa and adjacent beauty salon offer a range of treatments, from massages to manis and pedis and blowouts. A number of them combine treatments; we enjoyed our Couture Touch Face and Body Treatment, which combined a massage with an excellent facial. The Lotus Spa uses Elemis products. Therapists will make product recommendations, but if you're not interested, politely let them know before your treatment even starts. Of course, the best part of the spa might actually be The Enclave, a thermal suite available by purchase of a pass only. Passes can be purchased for a single day or the length of the cruise. The Enclave features a hammam, steam rooms, sensory showers, saunas and heated thermal loungers. Tip: The Enclave is among the more reasonably priced thermal suites at sea, so if you are someone who craves this kind of space on your vacation, book a pass for the length of your cruise, as day passes aren't guaranteed and the space sells out quickly, especially on sea days.
Enchanted Princess' fitness centre is well-equipped, with cardio machines like treadmills, ellipticals and stationary bikes as well as a large array of free-weights and weight machines. Your workout won't suffer from being onboard. The space is well designed and well used, especially in the morning from about 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and again in late afternoon. A few classes, Zumba or dance classes, for example, are offered free of charge on the top decks or in Princess Live. Most group classes, as well as personal training come with an additional cost. You'll get your sweat on with TRX or group cycling, but you'll pay for the experience. A jogging track is found on Deck 18. Tip: If you're a Peloton fan, you can take cycling classes using one of the gym's Expresso bikes and your mobile device; the ship's internet is good enough for streaming live or recorded classes.
Enchanted Princess includes 25 bars and restaurants, with a mix of included and for-fee options. It's easy to focus on the up-charge venues, which offer a little something special, but we appreciate that diners can enjoy a great meal no matter where they eat. Enchanted Princess' included options are filled with variety and offer diners a chance to stay in -- or venture from -- their comfort zones. The most formal of the included options are the ship's three main dining rooms: Capri, Amalfi and Santorini. All three offer the same menu, but hours and who can dine there vary. Passengers can expect at least one restaurant will be open for breakfast; all are open for dinner. Lunch is only offered on sea days. The three restaurants are beautiful open spaces, though space between tables, especially in the coveted window spots, can be a bit tight. These are the restaurants people think of when they think of traditional cruise dining: Guests are seated and served plated, multicourse meals. You can elect to dine at the same table and same time each night, or you can choose a looser, dine-when-you'd-like approach. Tip: Your food preferences and allergies follow you, thanks to your Medallion disk. We talked with vegetarians who told us servers at restaurants made menu suggestions unprompted.
World Fresh Market: Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, World Fresh Market is the ship's buffet restaurant. Enchanted Princess has done a fine job of setting up a space that creates stations and eliminates lines. We're especially enamoured of the salad station, which includes a variety of grab-and-go premade options as well as a build-your-own spot, where a crewmember will put together a salad just the way you like it. In fact, a shining spot for Enchanted Princess is the sheer variety of pre-plated choices throughout the buffet; it's ideal during the pandemic when we're all concerned with sharing utensils. But it also cuts down on food waste and time standing in lines.
Gigi's Pizzeria: Gigi's might be the best-included pizza joint on the waves. Pizza is made-to-order, crusts are perfectly soft and chewy and salads and calzones complete your order. It's worth repeat visits, as the menu offers a great variety. Tip: Visit Gigi's on embarkation day, before everyone else finds out about it. You'll have the place mostly to yourself and can skip the crowds that usually hit World Fresh Market on the first day.
Salty Dog Grill: Burgers, barbecue, hot dogs and fries, this poolside venue has a nice selection that's perfect for a casual nosh when you just don't feel like leaving the sun. Tip: Skip the crush at lunchtime and order a burger (for free!) from your app. A server will bring it to your lounge chair.
Slice: The poolside pizza restaurant. If you're looking for fast and convenient, eat here. But if you're looking for great pizza, hit Gigi's.
International Cafe: Located in the heart of the Piazza, International Cafe is a buzzy little spot throughout the day. Coffee lovers go here to get their jolt of caffeine, but it's the selection food that makes us happy. Open 24 hours, there's always something tempting behind the glass display cases. We enjoyed the breakfast sandwich, a satisfying quick bite. But you can get anything from soup to quiche to sweets here, depending on the time of day.
Gelato: For-fee gelato served throughout the day. Options rotate, and sugar-free selections are available.
If you're willing to spend a little extra, Enchanted Princess offers several restaurants that enhance the ship's dining offerings. While we've seen prices for speciality dining on the rise throughout the industry, offerings on Enchanted Princess are reasonably priced, mostly coming in at less than $30 per person.
Crown Grill: The ship's steakhouse, Crown Grill is the restaurant you should choose if you only are visiting one. (Unless you're a vegetarian, in which case you have better options.) Cuts of beef and lamb are served perfectly, with a great selection of side dishes. We especially like the selection of salts designed to enhance the flavour of your meat.
Sabatini's Italian Trattoria: Serving up a variety of Italian favourites as well as more modern dishes, Sabatini's is a multicourse affair that is created to give you a little taste of everything. If you're so inclined, you can walk through five courses, including antipasti and dessert. Not to be missed is the burrata starter -- ask for the balsamic glaze -- and the seafood linguine. One minor complaint: Courses were so large, we filled up well before our entree was served.
Bistro Sur La Mer: The menu at this French bistro is created in partnership with 3-Michelin Star chef Emmanuel Renaut. Diners can choose from dishes inspired by land or sea. This one got mixed reviews from our group: Items like the fried polenta and seabass were a hit, while the approach to the scallops and red snapper had some shaking their heads. Waiters at Bistro Sur La Mer are expert at steering guests in the right direction, giving great menu descriptions and offering suggestions as needed.
Salty Dog Gastro Pub: Open for lunch and dinner, Salty Dog Gastro Pub is where you go when you want comfort food. It's not a light meal, but it's a good place to splurge a little. Choose from favourites like the lobster mac and cheese or emmenthal and gruyere grilled cheese. Our favourite is the Ernesto burger, topped with gruyere, kimchi and fried jalapeno chips.
Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar: An a la carte sushi/sashimi bar that sits on the Piazza, Ocean Terrace is great for a meal or to pick up a roll or two as an appetizer before heading to another restaurant.
Chef's Table: A great pick for foodies, the Chef's Table is a multi-course tasting menu, paired with wines.
Our Pick: Our favourite restaurant is Crown Grill, which provides an upscale steakhouse experience without paying high-end prices. You can't make a bad choice here. The restaurant we'd go back to time and again is Sabatini's, in part because the menu is so extensive, we had a hard time choosing. (If you're with tablemates willing to share, you'll cut down on the FOMO.)
No matter which stateroom you choose, Enchanted Princess cabins are comfortable, if a little on the tight side. Decor is modern and fresh, with adequate space for storage and plugs and USB ports for charging. All cabins come with two twin beds (which can be combined to create one queen bed), a TV, mini-fridge, wardrobe, night tables and a sitting area with some combination of sofa, armchair, vanity and table, depending on cabin category. One of the highlights on Enchanted Princess is the bed, dubbed a Princess Luxury Bed. Mattresses are exceptionally comfortable, and, no matter your cabin category, you'll have premium bedding including high-thread-count linens and duvets. Princess Cruises' beds are so wildly popular, the company actually sells mattresses and linens online. Bathrooms are equipped with toilet, sink and shower, along with big bottles of shampoo/conditioner, shower gel and lotion. (If you aren't a fan of the shampoo/conditioner combo, bring your own hair products from home.) Rooms include hair dryers. You'll also find bags for sending out laundry (for a fee), but Enchanted Princess also offers self-service launderettes, which will cost about what you'd pay on land.
More than three-quarters of Enchanted Princess' rooms include balconies, and while the ship offers a number of interior cabins, it has no standard cabins that feature windows rather than verandas. (This is somewhat unusual in cruising but has become the norm for this class of Princess ships.) The smallest inside cabins are 166 square feet, and they do feel small -- definitely smaller than your average U.S. hotel room. The bulk of the cabins fall into the balcony category. Those seeking a little fresh air from the comfort of their own rooms can enjoy a veranda, though we found these to be small as well. Thirty-six wheelchair-accessible cabins are available, across multiple categories.
On a Budget: Pick an interior stateroom, which offers the lowest price of any of the cabins but provides all the comforts you'll need. This is also a good pick for solo travellers looking to save a little. (Though a single-supplement charge still is required.
A Little Splurge: If you want a balcony but aren't quite ready to make the leap to a mini-suite or full suite, a Deluxe Balcony is your best bet. Verandas in these rooms are slightly larger than what is offered in a standard balcony cabin. Want even more space? Go for the aft-facing Premium Balcony cabins, which offer more room inside and out.
Family: The ship doesn't have any family-specific cabins, but it does have 100 connecting cabins as well as staterooms across multiple categories, from interior on up, that offer space for four, thanks to pullout sofas. Mini-Suites are a nice pick for families, as they're slightly more spacious than standard balcony cabins and offer a curtain that closes off the living area from the bed, so parents and their kids might find a little privacy. These also come with bathtubs, a must when travelling with small children.
A Bigger Splurge: If you want all sorts of space, plus premium amenities, go for a Penthouse Suite. Staterooms in this category start at 319 square feet and run to 730 square feet, depending on location. (Balconies also are nice-sized.) These suites feature separate living and sleeping areas and include a complimentary minibar setup and upgraded bathroom amenities.
Sky's-The-Limit Suites: Enchanted Princess features just two of its top-level Sky Suites, but boy, are they beauts. At around 1,500 square feet, these suites include two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Much of the wow has gone into the massive, wraparound balconies, that give guests views of the lido deck below. Sky Suites come with the best view of the MUTS screen, which is perfect because guests in these rooms can pick their personal favourites to play on the screen. Other perks for Sky Suite (and other full suite guests) include upgraded bathroom amenities, including bath salts and gel eye masks, upgraded robes, upgraded showers and showerheads, VIP priority embarkation and disembarkation, complimentary laundry and professional cleaning services, complimentary thermal suite and a bevvy of other exclusives. Sky Suites are the premier suites across all of the Princess fleet, and they're only available on Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess.
