The time has come to wrap up the final cruise of 2024 for me. The past ten days have been spent on Princess Cruises’ Enchanted Princess as we jaunted around the Caribbean, enjoyed fantastic weather for the entire trip, and immersed ourselves in an unforgettable experience.
Wait!
It’s not time for that yet—I still have a few things to cover before diving into the good, the bad, and the ugly of the trip, and offering my final thoughts on this adventure.
Since I usually recap the entire trip in my final day reports, I’ll keep today’s highlights brief. Being a sea day, there isn’t much action to report. The day was spent mostly relaxing before heading back to the room to pack up and get ready to disembark tomorrow morning in Fort Lauderdale. For some reason, they expect us all to leave the ship when we dock.
What nerve!
The final day onboard included some unique offerings for guests, such as a culinary demonstration and galley tour. During this event, the cruise director introduced us to the executive chef and the director of restaurant operations. They gave a brief but fascinating tour of the galley, where thousands of meals are prepared three times a day, every day!
Another scheduled activity was a behind-the-scenes presentation on the environmental efforts involved in running a cruise ship. These massive vessels are essentially cities at sea, some accommodating more than 6,000 guests and over 2,000 crew. The presentation highlighted the initiatives Princess takes to protect the environment, a topic that was both eye-opening and inspiring.
For those not into presentations, there were plenty of other activities to enjoy, including dance classes, catching the NFL game on the big screen at the Lido pool, or learning about different cocktails and how they’re made.
Dinner at The Catch by Rudi
One quick note about the last dinner of the cruise, which I enjoyed at The Catch by Rudi. This seafood restaurant is the brainchild of celebrity chef Rudi Sodamin, who has long been associated with many brands under the Carnival Corporation umbrella. With restaurants bearing his name on both Holland America and Carnival Cruise Line, The Catch by Rudi is relatively new to Princess.
Each time I’ve dined at one of Rudi’s restaurants, the meal has been excellent, and my first experience here on Enchanted Princess lived up to that expectation. In fact, it was better than the line’s signature steakhouse, Crown Grill.
Priced at $45 per person and included with the Princess Premier package at no additional charge, your meal consists of a starter, entrée, choice of sides, and dessert.
The meal began with a serving of caponata and a crusty baguette—seriously addictive!
For my starter, I chose the crab cakes. While they were on the small side, they were packed with delicious chunks of crabmeat.
I opted for the cioppino (fisherman’s stew), a dish I’ve always enjoyed at Rudi’s other restaurants. This flavorful broth was filled with fresh seafood, including white fish, shrimp, clams, and mussels, and was served with garlic toast. Absolutely delicious!
I briefly considered the Dover Sole for my main course but was talked out of it by my server, who recommended the surf and turf instead. Once again, the filet and lobster tail combination did not disappoint—they were prepared to perfection.
For dessert, I went with Rudi’s Face to Face, a whimsical presentation featuring different types of chocolates, creatively arranged into the shape of a face.
Despite the restaurant being very busy, service was top-notch! Stay tuned for where this restaurant ranks compared to others on the ship.
Ok, without further ado, let’s get going with the overall rating of this 10-day eastern Caribbean cruise on the Enchanted Princess!
Embarkation Experience
For this trip, I drove from my home in Delray Beach to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. As mentioned in my Day 1 report, Princess uses Terminal 2, located at the far north end of the facility, near Disney Cruise Line’s terminal.
The area is undergoing a lot of construction, which can make navigation a bit tricky. After dropping off my bags and parking on Level 2, I realized I should have parked on Level 5 to avoid the extra steps. To reach the terminal, you need to take an elevator to Level 5, cross a sky bridge, take another elevator down to street level, walk outside, and then re-enter the terminal.
It’s an odd setup that requires a lot of walking, particularly challenging for those with mobility issues.
The rest of the embarkation process—from security to check-in and boarding—was smooth and efficient. While not the fastest boarding experience I’ve had, it was well-organized with no bottlenecks once inside the terminal.
Standard Balcony Stateroom R721
Initially, I was given an interior stateroom at no charge as part of a casino promotion. However, I decided to bid for a stateroom upgrade. Princess offers this option via PlusGrade after the final payment deadline and a few weeks before sailing.
I placed bids on several stateroom types and, a few days before the cruise, my bid for a standard balcony stateroom was accepted at a cost of $550. Since I’m a solo traveler, I paid the double-occupancy rate for the upgrade, which is standard for single cruisers.
The stateroom was located on Deck 14, all the way aft at the very end of the ship. It was your typical balcony room, featuring two twin beds that convert to a queen, a separate vanity/desk area, a decent-sized walk-in closet, an additional small closet for extra storage, and a very (very) small bathroom with a shower.
Inside, the room was equipped with a flat-screen television, a safe, and a mini fridge. There was one USB port on each side of the bed, along with power outlets at the desk area.
The balcony itself was a bit cramped. Sitting in one of the two provided chairs, my knees were practically touching the glass wall. Not ideal if you’re tall!
That said, the bed was surprisingly comfortable—a rarity on cruises, where I often find myself grumbling about hard mattresses.
Stateroom service was provided twice daily, with the evening service being a quick touch-up and towel replacement. Sadly, no towel animals were included.
Stateroom R721 Video Tour
Enchanted Princess Food
Enchanted Princess offers a variety of dining options beyond the main dining room and buffet. On the Lido Deck near the pool, you can grab pizza by the slice or visit The Salty Dog for burgers, hot dogs, and other casual fare. Both venues are open until 11 p.m.
Today, I ordered a burger from The Sanctuary menu, mistakenly thinking it would come from The Salty Dog. Instead, it was a room service burger. I missed out on sampling The Salty Dog burgers, but the pizza was fresh, delicious, and consistently made throughout the day.
Specialty dining options include Crown Grill (the signature steakhouse), The Catch by Rudi (seafood), GiGi’s Pizzeria (Italian), Sabatini’s (Italian fine dining), and O’Malley’s (pub fare).
The buffet serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Breakfast is fairly standard, but lunch and dinner offer an impressive selection of unique dishes. Each station features something different—whether it’s pasta, themed nights (Indian, Italian, Bavarian), or a dedicated gluten-free section. The dessert and pastry offerings are also exceptional.
The main dining rooms cater to different preferences: one for traditional early/late seating, another for reservations, and a third for walk-ins. Additionally, a section of the Capri Dining Room is reserved for Reserve Collection suite guests.
Two unique dining experiences stand out: the Caymus Winemaker’s Dinner ($145 per person) and 360 ($149 per person). Both are highly recommended and elevate the culinary experience aboard Enchanted Princess.
Here’s my ranking of the restaurants I experienced:
- Main Dining Room (free) – ***
- Crown Grill Steakhouse ($45 per person) – ** (dinner review here)
- The Catch by Rudi ($45 per person) – ***** (first night dinner review here)
- Sabatini’s ($45 per person) – **** (dinner review here and here)
- GiGi’s Pizzeria del Capitano (a la carte) – *** (dinner review here)
- Alfredo’s Pizza by the Slice (free) – ***
- 360 ($149 per person) – ***** (experience review here)
- Caymus Winemaker’s Dinner ($149 per person) – ***** (dinner review here)
Enchanted Princess Fellow Passengers
As a first-timer on Princess, I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of my fellow cruisers. While there were families aboard, there weren’t many children under 13. The average passenger age hovered around the mid-50s, slightly younger than Holland America’s usual crowd but with a similar vibe. Most passengers were seasoned travelers with high loyalty status, enjoying the more refined aspects of cruising, like dressing up for dinner and relaxing in a pampered atmosphere.
Princess lacks the flashy waterslides and splash pads found on Disney or Royal Caribbean ships. Instead, it offers a quieter experience, with kids’ clubs, arcades, and curated activities for younger cruisers. It’s an excellent choice for families seeking a more elegant vacation.
Enchanted Princess Entertainment
Entertainment on cruises can be hit or miss, and Enchanted Princess was no exception. While I wasn’t expecting Broadway-caliber productions, the shows I attended were enjoyable filler activities.
The magician on the first night was underwhelming, so I skipped his second performance. However, the production show Spotlight Bar was quite good, though the Christmas show fell flat.
The live music around the ship was consistently impressive, particularly the party band that performed in the atrium. The activities program offered a well-balanced mix for guests of all ages and interests.
Enchanted Princess Service
I discussed the Princess Medallion in my Day 3 report, but it’s worth mentioning again here. This little wearable device significantly enhances the onboard experience. Crew members can see your name and preferences on their devices as you approach, allowing them to deliver a more personalized level of service.
Throughout the cruise, every crew member I interacted with was pleasant, accommodating, and willing to go the extra mile to assist. Whether it was helping navigate the ship, answering questions, or offering recommendations, the staff’s commitment to top-notch service was evident.
Debarkation
Princess offers two types of debarkation:
- Self-Debarkation – You carry off all your bags on your own.
- Scheduled Debarkation – You leave your luggage out the night before, select a debarkation time, and pick up your luggage in the terminal.
Unlike Carnival’s electronic debarkation process, Princess uses a more traditional approach. A few days before debarkation, you receive a letter in your stateroom asking you to choose an option. If you opt for scheduled debarkation, luggage tags are provided, and you leave your bags outside your door the night before.
Self-debarkation began at around 6:30 a.m. Since I had two suitcases and a backpack, I chose the scheduled option. My selected time was 8:15 a.m., but my group number was called at 8:00 a.m., so I made my way to Deck 5 for disembarkation.
The process was smooth and efficient. Once in the terminal, it was a quick game of “Where’s Waldo?” to locate my luggage. Afterward, a facial scan cleared immigration, and I was on my way to the elevators, across the sky bridge, and back down to the parking garage.
While the process took only about 20 minutes, the terminal’s layout isn’t ideal. Lugging bags through elevators and across sky bridges isn’t the most convenient, especially for those with young children or mobility challenges.
Closing Notes
As a first-timer on Princess, I didn’t know what to expect. However, I was thoroughly impressed with almost every aspect of the cruise. The service, food, amenities, stateroom, and fellow passengers all contributed to a memorable experience.
The only letdown was the disappointing meal at Crown Grill. Everything else exceeded my expectations, especially the Princess Premier package, which included drinks, WiFi, unlimited dining, and more.
The standout dining experiences—360 and the Caymus Winemaker’s Dinner—were absolutely incredible and exemplified the kind of unique experiences Princess offers.
Will I cruise with Princess again? Absolutely! I’m already looking at available dates for 2025.
For transparency, I should note that I was provided a free interior stateroom as part of a casino promotion. I paid for the upgrade to a balcony stateroom, and Princess also provided complimentary access to a Sanctuary Cabana and the Caymus Winemaker’s Dinner. These perks had no influence on my daily reviews or final summary.
Final Thoughts
This 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard Enchanted Princess was everything I hoped for and more. From the personalized service to the exceptional dining and relaxing atmosphere, Princess delivered a vacation that exceeded expectations.
If you’re considering a Princess cruise, don’t hesitate. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned cruiser, their commitment to quality ensures an unforgettable experience.
Until next time, happy cruising!
Princess Patter for Day 10:
