I'm Cruising with Confidence!

Princess have introduced the Medallion Class App onto which passengers upload all pre travel requirements (including proof of vaccination, passport etc) that would previously been entered onto a cruise personaliser. Be patient! I found the process slow to start with but once I understood the navigation, found it to be a useful introduction.

The cruise was available to Covid-19 vaccinated UK residents only. Before boarding at our chosen time slot at Southampton, a free of charge PCR test had to be taken at the port for anyone arriving on foot or being dropped off and if arriving in your own vehicle, at a dedicated test centre around 2 miles away. Face masks must then be worn to enter the terminal building where you wait until you receive a negative result to show before check in procedures start (Boarding will be denied if testing positive with 100% future cruise credit provided) Seating is spacious and plentiful.

Check in was well spaced and screened and here we picked up our ‘Ocean Medallion’. This replaced what we would have known as our key card and can be worn around the neck on the lanyard provided or if preferred, you can purchase a wrist strap or clip. No more putting my card down and losing it and an innovative way to eliminate anyone else needing to touch it. You simply tap it on a reader to make a purchase or when leaving/returning aboard and it automatically picks up a signal to unlock your cabin door on approach. Clever!

The rest of boarding and security was as usual but with awareness of space. It was a privilege to be on board again and when mobile anywhere inside the ship, face masks were required. All staff always wore face masks. I noticed many more automatically opening doors, lifts were restricted to 4 passengers, only accommodating more if the group was one party.

Expect a very different safety drill which takes place in 3 parts. 1) Watch a short safety video when you first enter your cabin 2) At your leisure (but by a given time) go to your appointed muster station to check in with staff using the Ocean Medallion. 3) Listen to the Captain’s announcement prior to leaving port.

I noticed far less ‘touchables’ in our cabin. All menus and information are found on your interactive TV screen (interactive screens are also at various locations around the ship) and via the App. A kettle with tea & coffee making facilities was a new addition to our Princess experience and we could still order any additional items needed such as extra hangers, plug converters etc to be delivered to the cabin.

Sanitising stations were plentiful throughout and even hand washing facilities at the entrance to the buffet restaurants. For me, one of best introductions is no more self-service buffet! Apart from being kinder to my waistline, as all food is served to you from behind Perspex screens, I can be sure of hygiene standards and that no other passenger has touched/put back food or mixed utensils etc. Cutlery is prewrapped in napkins and handed to you.

We prefer to choose anytime dining at the regular restaurants. Our table for 2 request was always accommodated and with a short wait on only 1 occasion. Reservations can also be made and amended via the App.

No self-service drinks are available in the restaurants, all are served by staff. No more queues at the bars, again a member of staff will take your order and bring your drink. The same applies on the pool deck where sun loungers were well spaced and wiped down between uses. I was pleased to see any pre used towels (provided) constantly whipped away. Being a UK coastal in September, the pool water was on the chilly side and although I saw no restrictions, guests using the pool were conscious of allowing space to their fellow passengers. Hot tubs were large and again although I saw no restrictions, there were never any more than 4 guests at one time.

Altogether a calm, safe and relaxed experience with excellent customer service. We were hugely aware of the attention to health protocols and on a ship size of 4000+ passenger capacity at just over a third full, we encountered so much personal space. I’m sure there is so much more to tell you so please feel free to contact me with any questions which I’ll honestly answer. I'll have to get an overseas cruise booked in now as I’m sure you’ll need more feedback!