Emerald Princess: 5 of Our Highlights

Emerald Princess is a popular ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, a 3,080-passenger vessel that’s explored some of the world’s most incredible destinations during her 15 years on the high seas.

We recently experienced this Princess Cruises ship for ourselves – and here are just some of our personal highlights.

The Princess Cruises MedallionClass experience

If you’ve never been on a MedallionClass ship before then prepare to be amazed. The technology comes in the shape of a ten-pence-sized device, which you can link up to your mobile device via an app to get maximum value. Your Medallion quickly becomes a key part of your time on board, doing everything from allowing you to tap on and off the ship while she’s in port, to opening your cabin door and ordering food and drinks.

Emerald Princess was last refurbished in 2019 to bring her up to MedallionClass standard – and boy was it worth it! This is a nifty piece of kit that revolutionises the whole cruising experience from start to finish. It’s fair to say we’re MedallionClass converts.

Emerald Princess outdoor spaces

The indoor areas on Emerald Princess are impressive, don’t get us wrong, but it’s the outdoor areas where this ship really comes into her own. We were impressed by how spacious the open decks were, so whether you wanted to lounge by the pool, get some steps in around the walking track (and burn off some of those cruise calories!) there was a place to do it.

Special mention must go to the aft area of the ship on decks 15, 16 and 17, which had its own exclusive feel. And, of course, with the help of your Medallion app, your next drink is never far away.

The Sanctuary and Lotus Spa

Speaking of exclusive spaces, The Sanctuary offers just that in the truest sense of the word. You have to pay a supplement to use it, but from what we could tell, it was well worth every penny (or cent, to be precise). It’s located above the Lotus Spa – another one of our highlights, if only for the array of steam rooms, saunas and oh-so-lovely heated loungers – and is an adults-only retreat.

The Sanctuary on Emerald Princess is a plush area with extra-comfortable sun loungers, iced cold water and a shaded area which is guaranteed to be a welcome sight on a scorching summer’s day. Staff are on hand to deliver drinks, snacks and whatever else your heart desires – pure bliss!

Movies Under the Stars

This has become something of a Princess Cruises institution over recent years, as guests huddle under their blankets and watch a selection of films out on the open deck. Movies Under the Stars operates no matter which itinerary you’re on – so if you’re sunning it in the Caribbean or out in the blustery Arctic, you can be guaranteed an unforgettable film-watching experience.

Crown Grill

There are various speciality dining options on Emerald Princess, and we were fortunate enough to try out the Crown Grill. This restaurant on deck 7 specialises in steak and seafood, and comes with a $29 cover charge. Was it worth it? Oh yes!

The portions are generous and there’s the opportunity to try out the legendary Crown Grill Black and Blue Onion Soup, which in all honesty is a meal in itself. If you’re a foodie who wants to experience next-level dining on your cruise, this is one that’s not to be missed.

Interested in sailing on Emerald Princess? Take a look at the upcoming cruises by clicking here.