What is Princess Cruises Club Class?

If you’re planning to book a cruise with Princess Cruises, one of the most important decisions you need to make is the type of cabin that you want. One of the newest types of cabins (or staterooms) to be introduced into the mix is Club Class. What is Princess Cruises Club Class? And what is included?

Princess Cruises Club Class Mini-Suites

Club Class is a category of mini-suite that offers a number of special perks to guests who book them. These added extras act to bridge the gap between mini-suite and full suites.

The only physical difference between a mini-suite and a Club Class mini-suite is the location. Princess Cruises Club Class mini-suites are located in more favourable positions. For example, on Regal Princess, Club Class mini-suites are available midship and forward.

Both types of mini-suites are physically the same and were all standard mini-suites before some changed to Club Class. Club Class mini-suites are identified as M1 on deck plans.

What Benefits do you get with a Club Class Mini-Suite?

Along with the best location and regular mini-suite amenities, Princess Cruises Club Class mini-suites have a number of added perks to enjoy:

• Club Class Dining
• Priority embarkation/disembarkation
• Priority specialty dining reservations
• A half bottle of white wine and half bottle of red wine (whose drunk the other halves??)
• Complimentary evening canapes (on request)
• Upgraded bathrobes

What is Club Class Dining?

If you stay in a Princess Cruises Club Class mini-suite, one of the best perks is Club Class Dining. Club Class Dining is basically a VIP area in the Main Dining Room. It has its own section where guests are seated and extra dishes are available from the menu.

Your dining room allocation for Club Class Dining is stated within your room information, which guarantees a table and avoids waiting times. This means that you can take advantage of Anytime Dining too.

Club Class Dining is available in the Main Dining Room during breakfast and dinner.

At breakfast, Club Class diners can expects a fresh fruit cart, fresh orange juice and a wider selection of pastries alongside regular breakfast options. Examples of some of the extra dishes available at dinner to Club Class guests include:

• Sirloin steak
• Pasta prepared in front of you
• Veal
• Lobster
• Surf and Turf
• Shrimp

Sometimes the dishes have a slight twist on an item on the regular menu.

Priority Embarkation and Disembarkation

Passengers in Club Class will benefit from priority embarkation and disembarkation for their cruise. This means that you can get on the ship quicker and start your vacation earlier. This is particularly advantageous if you haven’t reached Platinum status with Princess yet.

In reality, you can actually disembark the cruise as early as you wish as long as you’re happy to walk your luggage off yourself. You can also make your way off the ship whenever you’re ready with the hope that your luggage is already waiting for you in the terminal.

Wine in Your Club Class Mini-Suite

Passengers in Club Class mini-suites will receive half a bottle of red and white wine. I find this kind of bizarre, why not a whole bottle of each? Even so, it’s nice to have a glass of wine on your balcony and this means you can still bring one bottle of wine or Champagne per passenger onboard in line with Princess Cruises’ alcohol policy. Be aware that the complimentary wine in your Club Class mini-suite is not available on China sailings and is only offered on embarkation day.

Complimentary Canapes

Each Club Class mini-suite can request a plate of complimentary canapes to enjoy in your stateroom in the evening. To take advantage of this, all you need to do is order through your room steward. Perhaps save it for a special time or when you’re planning to dine later in the evening. You should get a few different canapes to try.

Upgraded Bathrobes

Premium terry towel bathrobes are available in your Club Class mini-suites but be aware that these are not to take with you at the end of the cruise. These will come in handy if you’re planning to visit the cruise ship spa.

Be aware that whichever stateroom you choose with Princess Cruises, you can request a bathrobe. It may not be a premium bathrobe, but a bathrobe all the same. Just speak to your room steward when you get onboard.

Priority Specialty Dining Reservations

Princess Cruises has some excellent specialty dining restaurants such as Sabatini’s and the Crown Grill. If you are staying in a Club Class mini-suite you can get help in booking your reservations and actually have priority for these bookings. I would always recommend getting an idea of when formal nights are planned on your cruise and then organise your specialty dining early in your cruise.

How Much is Princess Club Class?

The cost of a Princess Cruises Club Class mini-suite will obviously depend on the ship and itinerary. To provide an example of the price difference between a mini-suite and a Club Class mini-suite, I have selected a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise on Regal Princess:

• Mini-suites start from £1,099 pp
• Club Class Mini-Suites start from £1,499 pp
• Full suites start from £1,999 pp

In this instance, Club Class is an additional £400 per passenger, based on two people sharing. Whether the additional perks of a Club Class mini-suite is worth it, is a personal decision. It has been known for passengers to be upgraded to Club Class. For example, my friends who typically booked suites and frequented the casino on previous Princess cruises received an upgrade to Club Class from a balcony stateroom. This is by no means a sure fire way to guarantee an upgrade but a nice insight into how upgrades may work.

Final Thoughts

In my opinion, the best things about Princess Cruise Club Class are the priority embarkation, Club Class Dining and stateroom location. The other additions are nice touches but are not deal breakers. It might be a nice option to try for a special cruise to celebrate a birthday or anniversary.

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