Caribbean Cruise on the Enchanted Princess
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
Introduction
Being an avid cruise enthusiast, I took the opportunity that my itinerary included Florida, which is the place from which the most cruises in the world depart, and went on a fairly spontaneous ten-night cruise to the Caribbean on the "Enchanted Princess" Enchanted Princess of the Princess company, the line of the mythical Love Boat.
The company is celebrating its sixtieth birthday this year, like me, but continues to innovate and update. How fun it is to board the ship as early as 10:20 (thanks to the "Elite" status reached after 15 cruises with the company or 150 days) and get a sweet mini-suite (with a large bathtub)
and full of surprises (champagne, fruit, flowers).
Going out to the deck and seeing that I've already sailed on almost all the ships around. Within reach were Royal Caribbean's Oasis, Sun Princess and Celebrity Xcel was the view from the balcony window. Reach out and touch it... It's great that already on embarkation day you can have lunch in the main dining room, named Amalfi, and not just at the buffet (intended for all passengers and most companies don't have this option). I sailed on this ship when it was brand new, right at the end of COVID, in December 2021, when occupancy was intentionally partial and masks were required. Today the ship is at full occupancy, not a repulsive mask in sight (it took people a few years to quit them) and despite the full occupancy there is no crowding, there is space in the theater, no queues and the service is as usual at Princess: wonderful. Nothing beats watching the ship sail away from the hot tub on deck and seeing the shores of Fort Lauderdale receding.
And how fun it is to hear the horn playing the theme song of the Love Boat when leaving the port. The cruise is ten nights long. The ship reaches six different destinations in the Caribbean and additionally there are three sea days. Because the cruise is relatively long and not the standard one week, the ship can reach more ports deep in the Caribbean. As usual, the vast majority of passengers are Americans and throughout the cruise I didn't hear any Hebrew at all. The Enchanted Princess is a ship from Princess Cruises' successful Royal series, launched as mentioned in 2021. Article about the first ship in the series: "Royal Princess" on a different Caribbean itinerary.
Article about the "sister" most similar to it in the series: "Sky Princess" on a wonderful itinerary in Norway and Iceland.
•Number of passengers: The ship can accommodate about 3,660 passengers at double occupancy. At full occupancy (including upper berths) the number can reach up to 5,000 passengers. •Number of crew members: About 1,346 employees take care of service and ship operations. • Ship length: 330 meters. • Weight (Gross Tonnage): 145,000 tons. • Number of decks: 19 decks.
Welcome Reception
The Captain's welcome reception on the first formal night of the cruise is a tradition in all lines and ships.
At Princess, the introduction of the Captain and his team is always accompanied by the traditional champagne glass tower which is also accompanied by a short show. The event takes place in the "Plaza," the ship's central space.
This is an event that attracts many, so most are forced to stand and watch the ceremony, which is also accompanied by live music.
An excellent solution for those with a Premier package (details below) or just for sushi lovers on the "Enchanted Princess" is to arrive a few minutes before the start of the event and eat at the sushi restaurant located in the center of the ship on floor 6, included in the package, tasty and fresh food and also special drinks, and from the restaurant you get the most successful location to watch the captain and his crew and the show while sitting comfortably. This is also the place to watch other events held from time to time in the Plaza, such as the crew appreciation evening at the end of the cruise:
Spa:
In the Enchanted Princess spa on floor five, similar to most Princess company ships, and unlike Celebrity's Aqua where in most ships there is no thermal pool but only saunas and heated chairs, there is an area called: The Enclave Where there is a hydrotherapy thermal pool, including strong water jets for body massage and a waterfall to release neck and shoulder muscles.
The Hammam - a traditional Turkish bath combining heat and humidity.
The Caldarium - a medicinal herb room with fragrant steam and high heat. The Laconium - a dry room at moderate temperature for detoxifying the body. Sensory Showers - experiential showers with lighting effects, scents and varying temperatures (from "tropical rain" to "frozen mist"). Heated Stone Beds - heated stone beds designed according to the body's curves, perfect for resting between treatments.
Entry to The Enclave is at an extra charge. You can purchase a day pass or a pass for the entire duration of the sailing. Successful and highly recommended when it's cold outside, or when there are strong winds or rain where you cannot enjoy the outdoor pools and hot tubs on the decks. Wonderful on an Alaska or Fjords cruise, but also on a Caribbean cruise like this one, it's fun to pamper and relax the body after several port days full of activity.
Bridge Tour
A tour of the ship's bridge is always an experience, especially the first time, but even the twentieth time and above I enjoy it.
Especially when the Captain himself is on the bridge, explaining, telling stories and taking pictures with the visitors.
The view from the bridge is stunning and the cadet (officer candidate) who helped the Captain explain all the systems was sweet with a heavy Welsh accent. The attraction this time was a dog that came for a visit as a service dog for one of the passengers and all the officers on the bridge just wanted to take pictures with him.
In the United States, service dogs, not just for the blind, are very popular. In the current cruise there were at least three. After the tour, we watched in the theater hall as the Captain and the Cruise Director talked about themselves, about the "Enchanted Princess" and life on it, and about ridiculous questions passengers ask them. It was interesting and funny. This was of course intended for all passengers on the ship. Among the viewers, two bridge tours were raffled and the Captain's ducks with a note for a gift on his behalf were also hidden. There is no doubt that the Princess company invests in the connection between employees and passengers and gives them a sense of belonging. Is it any wonder that more than half of the passengers booked a future cruise during the current sailing?
What's included in the packages purchased at Princess beyond the cruise price and how much do they cost?
Princess Cruises has updated the price and content of its Premier and Plus packages. The central change in the 2026 version is the addition of credit for shore excursions, but alongside this, several small benefits that were in the previous package were removed, such as fitness classes, a juice bar and decadent desserts.
Full details including prices in the article: The Premier and Plus packages at Princess
Restaurants
360 Restaurant
The most unique and successful culinary experience I've experimented with on cruise ships awaited me on the "Enchanted Princess" and it's called "360 An Extraordinary Experience".
This is not just a meal in a restaurant, but a multi-sensory culinary show considered one of the most luxurious and exclusive experiences at Princess. It is only available on one other Princess ship: Discovery Princess. The meal takes place in a private and intimate room with a maximum of only 20 diners in each round.
The walls are actually giant LED screens surrounding the diners in 360 degrees and films are also projected on the tables. Throughout the meal, you "travel" to different destinations in the Mediterranean as the landscapes, music, food and even scents change according to the dish being served.
The menu is pre-set and includes seven courses accompanied by personalized wines and drinks for each destination: • Greece (Santorini) - dishes based on local olive oil, feta cheese and octopus.
• Italy (Amalfi Coast and Rome) - handmade pasta and classic Italian ingredients. • Spain (Barcelona and Catalonia) - emphasis on seafood and fine meats, accompanied by a unique wine (ElixSea) that is aged underwater. • France (Provence) - dessert based on honey and lavender, accompanied by champagne.
The price: as of 2026 the cost is $149 per person. This is an event that lasts about two hours and is suitable for those looking for a "theatrical" experience, beyond the food itself which is high-level gourmet food with personal service: one waiter for every two people. Additionally, there is a hostess present at all times, telling about the dishes and their origin and showing various surprises (touching the plate in Greece makes it break into pieces, touching the lemons makes them spin, the dancer - dance, and many other interactive effects). The name of each diner is written on the table before them at the start of the meal.
And pictures of each diner taken before entering the "secret" restaurant (entered through the kitchen of another restaurant) appear on the walls at the end of the meal. The entrance to the restaurant is in a procession accompanied by two saxophone players playing while entering the theme song of the Love Boat. Summary: Highly recommended! Worth every dollar! A unique and surprising experience. Book places in advance! (The meal is held once a day and not on all sailing days).
Crown Grill
The Crown Grill is the flagship restaurant of the "Princess Cruises" company specializing in meats and seafood. It is considered one of the most favorite chef restaurants in their fleet and has a branch in all company ships. The restaurant is designed in a classic American steakhouse style with touches of dark wood, warm lighting and an open kitchen that allows seeing the chefs in action. Famous dishes: Rib-eye steak, Filet Mignon, and the Porterhouse cut about 620 grams, lamb chops, seafood: Lobster Tail, King Crab and scallops.
But even the bread served at the beginning (two types, one a garlic roll with cheese and another sweetish bread) are particularly tasty, not to mention the soups, appetizers and of course the deadly desserts…
This is a restaurant for an extra charge (as of today $55 plus service per person) which is included unlimited in the Premier package. I ate in it three times within six days and didn't get tired of it and also didn't repeat the dishes I ate. It is recommended to book places in advance long before the cruise because it is very hard to get a free spot during the sailing.
Catch by Rudi's
One of the most successful extra-charge restaurants on Princess company ships. This is a collaboration with the famous chef Rudi Sodamin who is considered one of the most influential chefs in the cruise world. His first restaurant on ships opened in 2023 on the Enchanted Princess, but today it exists on most of the company's Royal series ships and of course on the new Sun and Star. This is a fish and seafood restaurant in a modern and elegant style.
The goal is to serve dishes from the sea with the quality of a "chef restaurant" on the shore, with emphasis on freshness, artistic display and wonderful flavors. The menu combines classics from the sea with creative touches. The variety of appetizers is rich and includes calamari, shrimp in a dream sauce, hot smoked salmon with honey sauce, a seafood tower, rich fish soup and more.
The main courses are of course based on fish, lobsters and other seafood but there are also meats (highly recommended Filet Mignon with Lobster) and even a wonderful vegetarian dish: goat cheese soufflé.
The desserts are usually spectacularly designed, and very creative in the best tradition of chef Rudi. Especially recommended is "Mozart" - a giant and airy berry soufflé and a face made of different types of chocolate.
The service is wonderful and meticulous, the restaurant space is wonderfully designed with delicate maritime motifs and warm lighting . The price is completely reasonable for the value: $55 plus service and free unlimited for Premier package holders.
Sabatini's Italian Trattoria
It is one of the most popular extra-charge restaurants of the Princess company and has a branch in each of the company ships, of course also on the Enchanted Princess. The restaurant is designed in a warm and elegant Italian style, often with murals and wood furniture that give the feeling of a trattoria in Tuscany. The restaurant offers a traditional Italian experience with emphasis on handmade pasta and fresh ingredients. The menu consists of appetizers, a main course and dessert.
Unlike Crown Grill and Rudi, in this restaurant Filet Mignon or Lobster are for an extra charge, which is a pity. At the same time the food is tasty, varied and the tiramisu - one of the best we've tasted.
The service is kind and professional. The restaurant is located on floor 7 near a drink bar in the central Plaza and therefore most of the time it has music from various musicians performing in the Plaza.
Ports on the Cruise Itinerary
Princess Cays
The private island in the Bahamas of the Princess company. Since it is not deep and without a long dock, the ship stands on anchor and you sail in "Tender" boats to the shore.
Due to wind and wavy seas the port was canceled and became another sea day. It's worth noting that this is the fourth time I was supposed to arrive at this port, but two out of the four times (at completely different dates) the port was canceled. Also the use of tenders is a hassle and exhausting. It didn't seem that anyone on the ship was sorry that the port was canceled and we gained another day in the heart of the sea. From 2027, Princess ships will also reach a new private island of the Carnival corporation: Celebration Key.
Port in The island of Saint Thomas
How fun it is to wake up in the morning, open the balcony curtain and see the beautiful view of Saint Thomas island reflecting from the window.
Although I've visited it many times (including November and December), each time I enjoy anew the green mountains, the turquoise water and the abundance of yachts and boats in the quiet sea and marina. After a high-quality breakfast on the ship we drove less than fifteen minutes from the cruise dock (for those arriving with Royal or Celebrity this is a much shorter drive) to a beach we haven't visited before, the beach of the Emerald Beach Resort Located in a protected and quiet bay called "Lindbergh Bay" near the island's airport. The beach is known for its quiet and shallow waters, making it ideal for swimming even when there are higher waves on the northern side of the island.
The water temperature during this period (February) is 26 degrees, air temperature 27 degrees - blue skies, a light breeze - in short perfect Caribbean weather. On the beach there is a bar, there is a restaurant in the water reached by boat (but who needs food and drink when coming from a cruise ship where you constantly just have to think what not to eat from the huge and successful selection in order to leave room for the next delicious meal...), lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent, sea sports and recreation (kayaks, SUPs, etc.) and showers.
You reach the beach by service taxis from the port at a price of $9 per person each way. On the way back there are plenty of service taxis at the same price. In short a recommended beach, free, less crowded and closer than the famous Magens Bay.
It is recommended to overlook the port you are in not only from the room's balcony but also from the ship's outdoor decks. In the Caribbean it is desirable to do this in the afternoon or towards sunset when it's shaded and less hot. Highly recommended when the ship leaves. This is also an opportunity to overlook the neighboring ships.
Saint Thomas - goodbye! You were beautiful and successful, as usual.
♦ Booking tours adapted for cruise ship passengers from Viator:
Yacht or speedboat cruise tours:
Tours around the island:
♦ Trip to Saint John Island - Private St John Tour including Trunk Bay
Including collection and return to the port. Lasts 4-5 hours. Includes a tour of the island and bathing at a charming beach.
Port of Philipsburg on the island of Saint Maarten
Capital of the Dutch side of Saint Maarten island which is one of the popular cruise destinations in the Eastern Caribbean. The island is half French and half Dutch and known for its successful beaches. In December I visited a beach on the French side and this time I chose a successful beach relatively close to the port on the Dutch side: Little Bay Beach. The beach is located inside a small horseshoe-shaped bay, which protects it from strong winds and waves. The water here is almost always quiet, clear and shallow. The Divi Little Bay Beach Resort operates on the beach. The beach itself is public, but you can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas from the hotel and enjoy the hotel's restaurants and bars. This is a wonderful beach for swimming but also ideal for snorkeling from the shore and has a variety of sea sport and recreation options.
The drive from the cruise port is about ten minutes and the cost: $5 per person each way in a shared taxi. In short - a perfect day for spending time at sea and very cheap. After returning to the ship it is recommended to walk on the upper outdoor decks and overlook the beautiful island, the port and the variety of ships anchored in it.
More about the island, tours and attractions in it in my article: The Caribbean island St. Maarten.
♦ Booking tours and excursions adapted for cruise passengers from Viator:
Port of St. John's on the Island of Antigua
Our third port in the cruise was the port of St. John's, Antigua. An island whose unofficial motto is: "A beach for every day of the year" because there are 365 beaches, most characterized by white sand as soft as powdered sugar and particularly clear turquoise water, thanks to the coral reefs surrounding the island and protecting the beaches from strong waves. Since I've already visited it in the past both on cruises and on a land vacation and explored it from all sides, I decided this time only to spend time at a beautiful and nearby beach. We chose Dickenson Bay located about fifteen minutes drive by taxi from the cruise port. Cost of a private drive: $20 each way or in a shared taxi with more people: five dollars per person. Another successful way to reach the beach is by water-taxi where the cost is $20 round-trip per passenger. All types of taxis leave right from the cruise port. Dickenson Bay is the perfect combination between a classic Caribbean postcard and modern comfort. The sand there is very white and soft, and the water is quiet and shallow.
On the beach there is rental of lounge chairs and umbrellas, plenty of sea sport and recreation options and also restaurants and bars. We chose the part of the beach where the impressive all-inclusive resort of the high-quality Sandals chain is located near another small resort near a photogenic dock. Sea temperature like most Caribbean islands in this period: 26-27 degrees Celsius and air temp: 29-30 degrees. A perfect day for fans of quiet water and white sand and for those who love to walk along the shore in a pastoral view.
As usual when returning to the ship don't forget to get an impression of the island and the port from the decks or the balcony.
♦ Booking tours in Antigua adapted also for cruise passengers from the successful Viator site:
Including collection and return to the cruise port:
Saint Kitts Island
Saint Kitts island has become a very popular destination in the Caribbean for all cruise lines in recent years. This is the fourth time I've arrived at it within four years. Second time with the Enchanted Princess ship. After we've already explored all its classic tourist sites and also checked its beaches (not amazing) and those of neighboring Nevis (with much more beautiful and pristine beaches) we decided this time to take a catamaran cruise tour that left adjacent to the cruise port and was supposed to arrive at a protected bay in Saint Kitts for snorkeling and a beach in Nevis. The first destination was very successful: snorkeling in a protected bay with quiet water full of fish with a beautiful view of the cliffs on which dozens of mountain goats walk on the steep slope with ease and bleat vigorously. Beside them monkeys scuttled up and down the cliffs. In the bay there were also remains of a shipwreck. In short, a multi-sensory experience where you snorkel among fish to the sound of goats bleating and when you lift your head you also see monkeys.
With the conclusion of the successful snorkeling they served us an unnecessary meal (I really don't understand how people who have so much tasty and aesthetic food on a cruise must have a meal during a trip and devour the basic and unexciting food). And then they informed us that because of the weather (they didn't detail but most likely because of strong winds) we wouldn't reach Nevis beaches but would anchor at the southernmost beach of Saint Kitts. Disappointment because there's no comparison between the beaches, but that's how it is - you need a lot of luck with the weather. We certainly had a lot of luck in the other ports except for the Princess private island in the Bahamas which was canceled. We spent about half an hour at the beach and then instead of sailing back more than an hour in the catamaran to the ship, we found a private taxi at the beach which in a 25-minute drive took us through spectacular views back to the ship.
Sometimes it's nice to improvise a bit and return earlier to the pampering ship, enjoy it and also see from its high decks the beautiful view of the island.
Guided tours from Saint Kitts (to book from Viator)
Tortola British Virgin Islands
A British virgin island that has become in recent years one of the popular destinations in Eastern Caribbean cruises. A perfect combination of pristine beaches, luxury yachts and authentic Caribbean atmosphere. Since I've already explored the island in my previous visit to it, this time I chose to sail to a small island adjacent to it, which also belongs to the British Virgin Islands: Jost Van Dyke island, which is the smallest island among the four British Virgin islands. There are public ferries to it but contrary to my habit I chose for two reasons a cruise-tour to it from the ship. The main reason is that there is too high a risk of missing the ship in an independent sailing to another island. The second reason was that our successful Premier package included a significant on-board credit for tours that would be a shame not to use, so we chose a cruise in a private boat only for our cruise passengers that left from the cruise dock and arrived at the small port of the island, where trolleys were waiting for us and took us on a short and scenic five-minute drive to the most beautiful beach on the island, White Bay, with soft white sand and clear turquoise water.
There are lounge chairs and umbrellas on the beach (included in the trip price, as well as an unnecessary light lunch and non-alcoholic drinks). Many of the beach goers arrive in private yachts anchoring in the bay and jump from their boats for swimming and spending time on the beach. The duration of the sailing to the island from the cruise port is about fifty minutes.
We spent about three hours at the magical beach and sailed back to the ship. We arrived exactly at the last moment for "all aboard" (we weren't worried because for tours purchased on the ship the ship waits for latecomers), boarded the ship and sailed after about half an hour. The exit from Tortola port is scenic and impressive and includes a fairly narrow channel between islands and cliffs. It is recommended to see it from the upper decks because the combination of the scenic sailing with the beautiful ship is a winning combination. Sea days After a series of five consecutive ports in the Caribbean where every day we spent time at a different exotic beach, there's nothing like two days at sea on the ship before the end of the cruise. In Princess sailings there are indeed no climbing walls and water slides, but for activity fans there is never a dull moment. The excellent Cruise Director, named Duval, and the entertainment staff prepared activities that everyone can find something to their liking. Many and varied TV games, trivia, including musical, dancing of all kinds, sports activities, shows, lectures and more. Lots of interaction with the crew and employees, from cooking demonstrations, through fruit and vegetable cutting and carving, towel folding to a charming farewell parade of hundreds out of almost 1400 employees. In every corner something else happens, plenty of live music everywhere and of course tasty and varied food without end. Sunsets on cruises... how many words have already been written about them and they don't disappoint every time anew. There is nothing like sitting on the private balcony of the room, with drinks from room service (included unlimited in the Premier package) and watching a beautiful sunset (in my case while preparing a travel plan for clients).
Every sunset is different and special and this time I was lucky to see (but didn't manage to photograph) a green flash right at the last moment of the sunset. A rare sight that I've seen before only in Hawaii.
