Western Caribbean cruises offer an enticing blend of spectacular beaches, reef-filled turquoise waters, thrilling adventures, ancient archeological sites, and amazing nature-related experiences. These warm-weather sailings provide exciting activities and attractions for all ages and interests.
Western Caribbean cruise ports can include sunny islands, towns along Mexico’s Caribbean coast, and Central American Caribbean destinations in Honduras and Belize. Cruise lines offer a wide variety of Western Caribbean itineraries from easy-to-reach homeports along the southern U.S. coast.
I was invited to sail with Princess Cruises on one of its Royal Class and MedallionClass ships, Sky Princess.
Princess Cruises is The Love Boat cruise line, and relaxation, reconnection, and renewal are the name of the game. You won’t find massive water slides or go-kart tracks on the top decks of these ships. There are tons of pools, hot tubs, and lounge areas instead.
Here are nine reasons why you’ll love sailing with Princess Cruises.
1. MedallionClass Technology
Princess Cruises’ award-winning MedallionClass technology offers a distinct advantage, making life onboard easier and hassle-free. The Princess MedallionClass experience uses a wearable, quarter-sized Medallion device and the line’s MedallionClass app to activate numerous benefits. Some of my favorites include unlocking stateroom doors, ordering food and drinks for delivery, quickly checking onboard expenses, and finding family members anywhere on the ship.
Download the MedallionClass app well in advance so you can get familiar with it and get OceanReady. You can customize your Medallion device through the MedallionClass app when ordered well ahead of time, and it will be delivered to your home before your cruise. Guests can also pick up their medallions at embarkation.
Pro Tips: There’s a MedallionClass presentation in the Princess Live! Lounge on embarkation day. If you miss it, staff are available at OceanFront on Deck 7 to provide assistance throughout the cruise.
2. Exciting Shore Excursions
Princess Cruises offers a wide variety of shore excursions in each of their Caribbean ports of call. Western Caribbean shore excursions range from exploring ancient Mayan ruins to beach escapes, zip line adventures, wildlife encounters, and brewery tours. There are appealing options for all age groups, allowing guests to explore their unique interests. Two of my favorite shore excursions were our multi-hour luxury catamaran sail and snorkel trip in Cozumel and a fun-filled Belize airboat tour complete with sightings of a baby manatee, crocodiles, and brightly colored birds.
Princess Cruises also offers unique tours recommended by two well-known names in adventure and exploration — Discovery and Animal Planet. Discovery and Animal Planet recommended shore excursions are exclusive small-group offerings that provide enriching, immersive experiences. These include scuba diving expeditions, Mayan ruin explorations, cave tubing adventures, and culinary workshops.
Make sure to read shore excursion descriptions carefully for details on pricing, required age and fitness levels, weight and medical restrictions, and other topics. Guests with mobility issues should make note of any excursions requiring walking on uneven surfaces. In addition, check to see if you’ll need to bring along items such as water shoes and reef-safe/biodegradable sunscreen.
Pro Tip: Book your shore excursions immediately after your final cruise payment, as popular tours can sell out quickly.
3. Outstanding Service
Warm, welcoming service is one of the hallmarks of the Princess cruise experience. Sky Princess carries close to 1,400 hard-working crew members, and the service on our sailing was exceptional. Guests are treated royally on this ship.
Crew members in every Sky Princess venue went out of their way to ensure we were happy, and other guests on board raved about the superb service. The ship’s MedallionClass technology makes it easier for crew members to provide highly personalized service, but their warm smiles and friendly greetings come straight from the heart.
Pro Tip: Connecting with friendly crew members is often a cruise highlight. They are an excellent source of information, so make sure to ask if you need insights or assistance.
4. Included Dining Options
Sky Princess features over a dozen dining options for guests to enjoy. The ship has three main dining rooms where meals are included as part of the cruise fare. We enjoyed two dinners in the Cielo main dining room and breakfast in the Soleil dining venue on one day at sea. While all were fine, we tended to prefer the many casual included dining options available on Sky Princess.
World Fresh Marketplace and Alfredo’s Pizzeria were two of my favorites. World Fresh Marketplace offers a wide variety of food stations with an impressive selection of menu items, particularly for lunch and dinner. One of the most popular areas is the Pastry Shop, serving delectable desserts and afternoon tea items. The restaurant also features a dedicated vegan station and vegetarian options.
Alfredo’s Pizzeria is one of the top pizzerias at sea, and their made-to-order pizzas, pasta, and calzones were superb. This complimentary, full-service restaurant offers numerous pizza choices as well as antipasti, soup, salad, and desserts. Alfredo’s Pizzeria is popular for lunch and dinner, so arrive early.
Additional complimentary dining venues on Sky Princess include the International Café, Swirls, Slice, and the Salty Dog Grill, plus room service. The 24-hour International Café was our go-to spot for specialty coffees, which cost extra.
Pro Tip: World Fresh Market has different daily themes and specials, which are listed in the Princess Patter daily newsletter. Don’t miss the Pastry Extravaganza on your last day at sea.
5. Memorable Specialty Restaurants
One of Princess Cruises’ key strengths is dining, and the paid dining experiences on Sky Princess were some of the high points of our cruise. I sampled almost all of the ship’s specialty restaurants, which were exceptional.
Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria is a Princess Cruises signature restaurant serving traditional Italian specialties, and their freshly made pasta, seafood entrees, and decadent desserts were superb. The award-winning Crown Grill is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner or celebration, and I would strongly recommend dining here at least once during your voyage. Renowned 3-Michelin Star chef Emmanuel Renaut created a menu of tantalizing French dishes for Bistro Sur La Mer, and our appetizers, entrees, and desserts were exquisite.
Another added-fee restaurant stood out on Sky Princess. Gelato serves certified authentic Italian gelato, and it’s the best I’ve had at sea. The gelateria offers numerous flavors, plus toppings and sauces are available.
Pro Tip: Make specialty dining reservations as soon as you have made your final cruise payment for the best selection of dates and dining times.
6. Pools And Lounge Areas
Sun decks and pool areas are popular on Caribbean cruises, and Sky Princess is designed to handle the demand. Guests on Sky Princess can choose from multiple pools, hot tubs, and lounge zones which are perfect for relaxing. We could always find lounge chairs around one of the ship’s pools, even on busy sea days. With the ship at almost full capacity, that was a big plus.
Don’t miss the hot tubs along the ship’s sides on Deck 17 and the adults-only Retreat Pool on Deck 17 forward. That two-level Retreat area is quieter and was one of my favorite places to chill out on Sky Princess.
Pro Tips: The Wakeview infinity pool on Deck 16 aft can be a beautiful place to have coffee and watch spectacular sunrises. The glass-floored Seawalk on Deck 16 is a popular spot for photos and videos.
7. The Lotus Spa
Princess Cruises’ Lotus Spa offers a wide range of spa treatments, including massages, wraps, facials, and salon services for both women and men. Spa services are in high demand, so book treatments in advance for the best selections of dates and times. The spa staff on Sky Princess is superb, and my hot stone massage was one of the best I’ve had.
The spa also includes The Enclave, a fee-based thermal suite area with a hydrotherapy pool, a Turkish hammam steam bath, an aromatherapy steam room, a heated Laconium dry chamber, heated stone beds, and other features. It’s a relaxing oasis, and passes are required.
Pro Tip: Spa specials may be available on port days. Passes for The Enclave thermal suite can only be purchased onboard the ship, so head to the Lotus Spa on embarkation day to make your reservations.
8. Movies Under The Stars
Sky Princess offers entertainment options for a wide variety of ages and interests, including live music, karaoke, trivia, musical production shows, enrichment talks, spa seminars, and a myriad of games and programs in the Princess Live! Lounge. The cruise line also features Camp Discovery Youth Center programs for kids and teens, making Princess Cruises an excellent choice for multigenerational family groups.
One of our favorite activities was enjoying Movies Under the Stars on the ship’s massive outdoor LED screen. Watching Top Gun: Maverick under a full moon was one of our cruise highlights, and snacking on complimentary popcorn made the experience even more fun.
Pro Tip: Movie schedules are available in Princess Patter daily newsletter, the MedallionClass app’s JourneyView activities timeline, or on the ship’s interactive touch screen portals.
9. The Sanctuary
This quiet adults-only retreat was another of my favorite spaces on Sky Princess, and it’s a lovely place to enjoy panoramic ocean views. The Sanctuary offers guests an exclusive spa-like setting complete with plush loungers, a hot tub, specialty beverages, light meals, and even afternoon tea. The Sanctuary’s Serenity Stewards provide attentive service for guests throughout their visit.
The Sanctuary is adjacent to the two-level adults-only Retreat Pool area on Sky Princess, providing convenient access to its pool and hot tubs. There’s an extra charge to access The Sanctuary, and I thought the experience was well worth the cost. Guests can reserve loungers for $20 for a half-day or $40 for the full day, and more expensive private cabanas are also available.
Pro Tip: Reservations for The Sanctuary can only be made onboard the ship. Advance booking is essential, and it’s best to purchase your passes on embarkation day. Guests can also book alfresco massages in The Sanctuary through the Lotus Spa.
We spent a week exploring tropical ports and enjoying adventures and activities in the Western Caribbean. Sky Princess has a capacity for 3,660 passengers. Although we had nearly that amount on our cruise, the ship never felt crowded. Our Caribbean sailing was a relaxing vacation experience, and we returned home with fabulous memories of our adventures and time together.
