Today we’re kicking off the first of two back-to-back sea days as the Enchanted Princess heads back to Fort Lauderdale as this 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruise comes to an end. We’ve made stops at Princess Cays, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and yesterday we made our final port call in St. Thomas.
Since it’s a sea day, there are lots of activities scheduled around the ship, as you can see in the Princess Patter daily schedule at the bottom of this post. There certainly isn’t a lack of things to do throughout the day, but don’t expect things like dance parties at the lido pool in the afternoon or beer pong championships. Think dance classes, ice carving demonstrations, wine tasting, and trivia.
Since it’s a weekend, there’s football on TV, and the NFL games are being shown on the big screen out on the lido deck. There’s no sports bar on the ship; the pool is the place to be if you’re looking to catch the big game.
On a side note, in one of the other cruise line groups I follow on Facebook, there was quite a bit of complaining about NFL games not being shown on this line’s ships. So if you’re a football fan, there’s probably a good chance you’ll get to see your favorite team play if you’re on a Princess cruise!
The Sanctuary on Enchanted Princess
As I mentioned before, Princess provided me with a cabana in The Sanctuary, which is located on Deck 18 forward for this cruise. The Sanctuary is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the ship on a sea day and just hang out, relax, and let the Sanctuary Stewards take care of you.
Let’s be real: we all need a break sometimes. And what better way to hit the reset button than a cruise? Life at sea is already a great escape from the daily grind, but if you’re craving total peace and quiet, The Sanctuary on the Enchanted Princess is calling your name.
This adults-only retreat is the ultimate chill zone, designed for when you just need to unplug and unwind. No kids, no noise—just pure, unadulterated relaxation. Plus, one deck below you have the adults-only pool to take a dip in when you need to cool off.
And let’s talk service! The Serenity Stewards are there to cater to your every whim. Feeling a little warm? They’ll hand you a chilled face towel. Need something extra? They’ve got you covered. Need a bite to eat? There’s a menu with some great options for lunch, a snack, or a drink.
The Sanctuary offers massages, from Deep Tissue to Swedish options. Imagine being pampered with ocean views and a gentle sea breeze—does it get any better?
The Sanctuary cabanas have a television, two lounge chairs, a mini fridge, along with a sofa and chairs inside. There’s also a hot tub and plenty more loungers and seating along the wall of windows that overlook the bow of the ship and the ocean below.
Needless to say, the whole Sanctuary experience made for a great day spent at sea… doing absolutely nothing! If that sounds like your type of thing, definitely check it out. Also, look into renting a cabana by the day or for the length of the cruise—you’ll quickly find out it’s worth it.
@scottsanfilippo Huge thanks to @Princess Cruises for providing me with a private cabana in the Sanctuary on EnchantedPrincess! These cabanas, located on deck 18 fwd have a television, ceiling fan, lounge chairs, couch and chairs, plenty of places to store your stuff, and a mini fridge. Plus… you have a super-attentive crew who take excellent care of you. Want a drink? No problem! Some lunch? No problem! There’s even afternoon tea service. Truly an exceptional experience and a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle on a sea day. #cruise #cruiselife #princesscruises #princesscruise #travel #traveltip #cruisetip
Dress Code on Enchanted Princess
Let’s get into what was going on during the evening. Even though we had two formal nights this cruise, tonight was “Dress to Impress Night.” So let’s talk about dress code for a moment.
Caribbean cruises are known for their laid-back vibe, but that doesn’t mean you won’t encounter opportunities to dress up. Most cruise lines offer themed evenings with dress codes, but don’t worry—what you wear is entirely up to you, and these guidelines are more relaxed than they used to be.
Once upon a time, “formal night” on a cruise meant men in tuxedos and women in elegant cocktail dresses or evening gowns. These days? Not so much. While you’ll still spot a few passengers sticking to the traditional attire, the majority opt for a more relaxed approach—think business casual or even semi-formal. On the Enchanted Princess, formal night showcased a mix: a few tuxedos and gowns, but mostly slacks, collared shirts, and sundresses.
Some cruise lines have shifted from “formal night” to an “elegant night.” The idea is the same—you’re encouraged to put on something nice, but there’s no pressure. Again, you’ll see a range of outfits, from chic cocktail dresses and blazers to more casual slacks and tops. It’s all about finding what makes you comfortable.
For most evenings, “smart casual” is the default. Sundresses, khakis, polo shirts, or even a nice pair of jeans are perfect for dinner or the theater. Just avoid swimwear, shorts, or T-shirts in the main dining room, and you’ll be good to go.
Cruise lines have relaxed their dress code policies over the years, and enforcement is minimal. As long as you avoid swimwear, gym clothes, or overly casual items in the dining areas, you’ll fit right in. Even on formal nights, passengers in more casual attire won’t be turned away. It’s all about personal preference and what makes you feel good.
Whether you love dressing to the nines or prefer a polished casual look, you’ll be in good company. So pack what makes you feel confident and comfortable—you’re on vacation, after all!
For tonight’s “Dress to Impress” night, people stuck to the casual look, with some dressing as if it were another formal night onboard.
Evening Entertainment
Tonight’s entertainment was a production show in the ship’s main theatre called Rock Opera. Billed as “high fashion meets rock, opera, and pop,” it fits the theme for Dress to Impress Night. I had every intention of heading over to see the show, but once again, I waited a little too late to get a seat. When I arrived at 7:20 PM, the theatre was full.
Now, if you purchase the Princess Premier package, which I did, it comes with reserved seating. However, you do need to get to the theatre early, as about ten minutes prior to showtime, they release any of those empty seats for anyone.
Personally, I like to be towards the back of the theatre to make a quick exit after the show, as it takes a while for the theatre to clear. I’ve found that, for the most part, you need to be at the show about 30 minutes before showtime in order to get a good seat, so keep that in mind.
Princess Casino
With the show now off my to-do list, where did I go? The casino, of course! Like many others onboard, I made a few “donations” (read: lost a little money) but had a great time doing it. If you’re planning to try your luck in the casino on the Enchanted Princess, here’s what you need to know about how it all works.
Since Princess Cruises is part of the Carnival Corporation, its casino is run by the Ocean Players Club, the loyalty program that spans all of Carnival’s cruise brands. That includes Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America, and others. While it’s nice to know that the same system is in place across the brands, here’s the kicker: your points and benefits don’t carry over between brands or cruises. Once your cruise is over, your points reset.
Earning points in the casino is straightforward. For slot machines, you’ll earn 1 point for every $2 cycled through the machine. What does “cycled” mean? It’s the total amount of money you’ve put into the machine, minus any winnings you’ve cashed out. For example, if you load $50 into a slot and play multiple spins, winning and re-betting as you go, the total amount wagered (or cycled) determines your points—not just your original $50.
For table games, points are awarded based on a different system. Your play is rated by factors such as the type of game, your average bet, and how long you play. While table play isn’t as transparent as slot machines in terms of seeing your points add up, your efforts still count toward the loyalty benefits.
As you rack up points, you unlock perks that can make your casino experience even more rewarding. These benefits can include free play and free drink packages on future cruises, discounted or complimentary staterooms for future sailings, and onboard perks such as priority access or special events in the casino. Higher levels of play unlock bigger rewards, so if you’re someone who enjoys spending time at the slots or tables, you could find yourself booking a future cruise on the house.
While I didn’t win anything major, I had some small wins that kept me playing for about 90 minutes. However, I was not ahead, and since this was my last night gambling, I’m definitely considered a loser!
Gi Gi’s Pizzeria on Enchanted Princess
For dinner, I decided to hit up Gi Gi’s Pizzeria, which is located on Deck 7 across from Sabatini’s in the ship’s atrium. The restaurant has an open kitchen where you can watch the pizza chef whip up specialty pies from celebrity pizza chef Tony Gemignani.
In addition to pizza, the menu features starter salads and soups, calzones, and two small pasta dishes. But the star here is really the pizza, with over 12 different types available. Now, you’re probably wondering why, when you’re on a cruise, you would go to a pizzeria for dinner.
Why not?
Sure, there are some great spots to grab something to eat, like The Catch by Rudi or the Crown Grill, but sometimes you want to just have a casual meal with some of the best comfort food—pizza!
I started off with a tomato and mozzarella salad. While the mozzarella wasn’t the type of creamy burrata I enjoy, it was your typical mozz that most everyone is familiar with. Whether it was homemade or not… I don’t think it was, but it was still a nice way to kick off dinner.
I then asked for a pasta course and went with the veal agnolotti, which was essentially a few veal-stuffed ravioli in a veal and sage sauce. Ok, so impressions count, right? Yeah… this one didn’t look very appealing from the outside. It wasn’t garnished in any way and just looked like a bowl of “brown stuff.” The presentation definitely needs to be reviewed on this one, but the ravioli and sauce weren’t bad. Homemade? Again, I don’t think so.
Now, onto the pizza. I went with one of Gemignani’s pizzas, the New Yorker, which had cupped pepperoni AND cupped sausage! None of that crumbled or thick-sliced sausage on this pie. And wow, what a difference that made in the taste. The pizza also had some fresh ricotta, which added a nice bit of cool to the spice from the meats. With a light and airy crust and a flavorful tomato sauce, this was a solid, delicious pizza.
When it came time for dessert, I went with the apple crostata, which was the perfect ending.
Don’t sleep on Gi Gi’s on Enchanted Princess! A solid dinner experience with some great pizza. And speaking of pizza, even the pizza by the slice that’s available at the lido pool is some good stuff. I always say Carnival pizza is trash, MSC pizza is heaven, but Princess may have just overtaken MSC in my book of cruise pizza places!
After dinner, I walked around the ship for a bit before calling it a night. Another day at sea tomorrow, and it’s the last day of the cruise, so in tomorrow’s report, I’ll have the full review of what I thought about my first time on Princess and whether I’ll be back!
As always, thanks for following along.
Princess Patter for Day 9:
