Enchanted Princess Review: Honest Ship & Dining Guide
By Tom and Dom Travel | Updated: 21 October 2026
Sailing deep into the breathtaking Norwegian fjords towards Flåm aboard Enchanted Princess
Most cruisers expect an established Royal-class ship to run like clockwork from the moment they step up the gangway.
While Enchanted Princess delivers plenty of elegance, great entertainment, and phenomenal food, an established vessel does not always guarantee a completely frictionless holiday. From dinner reservation chaos to patchy onboard technology, we ran into a few real-world surprises along the way.
After dozens of cruises across various lines, we have learned that glossy cruise brochures rarely tell the whole truth once you are out at sea.
Enchanted Princess is an established, 3,660-guest Royal-class cruise ship boasting exceptional dining options, standout specialty venues, and a bustling central Piazza. While it offers a refined, comfortable experience suited to couples and mature travellers, popular evening entertainment and peak main dining room times require savvy forward planning to avoid queues.
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Our ENCHANTED PRINCESS FULL REVIEW! Would we go AGAIN?
We sailed on Enchanted Princess for a full 14 nights, visiting a number of ports in Norway and Iceland. This gave us a deep insight into all the venues and activities that are available onboard. In this video we review our full time onboard and provide tips and hints for making your time onboard even more special.
Kicking off our cruise with our favourite embarkation tradition: fresh pizza at Gigi’s Pizzeria
Embarkation at Southampton and First Impressions
Our cruise began at Ocean Terminal in Southampton. For UK departures, Princess guests collect their wearable OceanMedallion at the terminal check-in desk rather than having it posted home in advance.
The initial document verification was spot-on and faff-free, taking barely five minutes before our medallions were handed over.
The hiccup started right after. We were directed to wait in the terminal lounge for roughly 45 minutes with minimal communication, watching priority boarding tiers filter through ahead of us.
Once we walked up the gangway, however, any initial frustration vanished the moment we stepped into the Piazza.
Enchanted Princess's three-deck central atrium is magnificent. Filled with polished marble, warm lighting, and welcoming crew, it immediately set a relaxed, premium tone for our holiday.
Cabins and Comfort: Inside Our Balcony Cabin
We booked a standard balcony cabin, which served as a comfortable, bright base for the duration of the voyage. If you want a closer look at the exact layout, dimensions, and bathroom setup, check out our full Enchanted Princess standard balcony cabin review.
The Princess Luxury Bed lived up to the hype. It was exceptionally comfortable, and neither of us had any trouble getting a solid night's sleep.
Practical cabin details we noticed:
Storage space: We were surprised to find our balcony cabin felt slightly tighter on functional wardrobe and shelf space compared to standard inside cabins we have stayed in on Princess ships.
Power points: The vanity desk offers standard US 110V sockets, European round-pin sockets, and USB ports, but lacks standard UK three-pin plugs, so remember to pack a travel adapter.
The Sky Suite: Friends we made onboard invited us to tour their Sky Suite. Perched high above the pool deck, it boasts the largest continuous balcony at sea and stunning panoramic views, sitting firmly at the pinnacle of luxury accommodation.
Ready for five courses of freshly made pasta at Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria aboard Enchanted Princess
Dining on Enchanted Princess: Included vs Specialty
Food is where Enchanted Princess genuinely shines, offering everything from artisan pizza to elevated multi-course dining.
Main Dining Rooms: Capri, Santorini, and Amalfi
Complimentary three-course evening meals are split across three main dining rooms: Capri, Santorini, and Amalfi.
Princess allows you to book dining times via the MedallionClass app before sailing, but our onboard experience proved quite chaotic:
The booking queue reality: On our first few evenings, we turned up on time for our 7:00 pm reservation only to be informed the dining room was packed, facing waits of up to an hour.
The silver lining: Once the restaurant team ironed out early-cruise bottlenecks, having a pre-booked slot proved much better than joining the standby queue.
Service: Our assigned table waiters were phenomenal, friendly, and attentive throughout our voyage.
Casual and Buffet Dining
Gigi's Pizzeria: Sister venue to Alfredo's Pizzeria found on other Princess ships, this sit-down Italian venue serves freshly prepared personal pizzas, calzones, and pasta. It operates under casual dining pricing ($14.99 cover charge) or as an inclusion on the Princess Plus and Premier packages.
World Fresh Marketplace: The primary buffet offers generous choice and plenty of seating, making it a reliable, stress-free spot for quick breakfasts and lunches.
International Café: Located on Deck 5 in the Piazza, this 24-hour venue serves brilliant specialty coffees, fresh croissants, toasted paninis, and savoury snacks around the clock.
Specialty Dining: Are the Steaks and Pasta Worth Paying For?
Enchanted Princess features several specialty dining venues. We tried two during our sailing:
Crown Grill: Princess Cruises' signature steakhouse costs an extra $55 per person cover charge (plus 20% gratuity), but it was worth every penny. The beef tenderloin, garlic tiger prawns, and sea salt accompaniments were outstanding, and the service was faultless.
Sabatini's Italian Trattoria: Priced at $55 per person cover charge, Sabatini's serves handmade pasta crafted onboard alongside classic multi-course Italian dishes. While the food was rich and delicious, service was noticeably slower due to fewer staff working our section.
Tom & Dom's Booking Tip: Specialty restaurants book up rapidly. As soon as you step on board, visit any specialty restaurant desk. The crew can make reservations across all venues on the ship in a single booking session, saving you multiple trips.
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Tom enjoying a glass of wine at Bellini’s cocktail bar overlooking the central Piazza
Bars, Drinks, and the Princess Plus Package
We opted for the Princess Plus package, and we reckon it represents proper good value for money for most guests.
The package includes:
Up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day (priced up to $15 each, covering branded spirits, cocktails, and wine by the glass).
Unlimited specialty coffees, teas, sodas, and bottled mineral water.
Included Wi-Fi access (single device per person) and daily crew appreciation gratuities.
Four casual dining meals per guest per sailing (such as Gigi's Pizzeria).
Our Favourite Evening Drink Venues
Good Spirits at Sea: Situated just off the Piazza on Deck 5, this cocktail lounge features nightly live mixology demonstrations that are well worth watching.
Crooners Bar: A classic martinis-and-piano venue. It is immensely popular, so arrive at least 15 minutes before showtime if you want a table.
Take Five: A sleek, dedicated jazz lounge featuring live performances every evening by a house jazz band, accompanied by themed cocktails.
Crown Grill Bar: A relaxed lounge ideal for pre-dinner conversation, card games, and acoustic string duos without blaring background music.
Evening Entertainment and Daytime Life
Enchanted Princess provides plenty of variety across its entertainment lounges day and night.
Princess Theater: Hosts full production shows like Rock Opera and 5 Skies. Production standards are top-notch, but you must arrive 30 minutes early to guarantee a seat, as it consistently reaches full capacity.
Princess Live!: An interactive studio venue that hosts game shows, trivia challenges, and karaoke, making it one of the liveliest spots on board after dinner.
Vista Lounge: Located aft on Deck 7, this space hosts guest comedians, cabaret acts, and late-night DJ sets that run past midnight.
The Piazza: From daytime dance classes to impromptu musical performances, the central atrium remains the beating heart of onboard life.
Practical Ship Life: The Medallion and Wi-Fi Reality
The wearable OceanMedallion makes daily life simple, automatically unlocking your cabin door as you approach and handling onboard purchases.
You can also use the MedallionClass app to order drinks directly to your deck chair or lounge. Roughly 90% of our orders arrived quickly and without issue.
The biggest disappointment of our trip was the onboard Wi-Fi. The network struggled heavily with passenger volume, frequently dropping out and leaving thousands of passengers without reliable internet across multiple days.
If you require consistent Wi-Fi for urgent emails or remote work, be prepared for potential connection snags.
Sail with Us! Our First Ever Group Cruise 🚢
After years of sharing our adventures on YouTube, we’re hosting our very first group cruise, and we want you there!
Join us aboard Cunard’s stunning new ship, Queen Anne, for a 7-night Spain & Portugal voyage sailing roundtrip from Southampton on 24 October 2027.
Expect exclusive Tom & Dom Travel events, beautiful ports, and the chance to cruise with fellow channel fans.
Tom and Dom at Lisbon's iconic Portas do Sol viewpoint, with Queen Anne anchored on the glittering Tagus
Watching the sunset up on deck as we sail away
Was It Worth It?
Without hesitation, yes. Enchanted Princess delivers a cracking cruise holiday that hits high standards where it matters most.
Who it suits best: Mature cruisers, couples, and multi-generational groups looking for premium food, excellent live music, and elegant, traditional ship spaces.
Who might look elsewhere: Travellers after high-energy amusement park features (like go-kart tracks or massive waterslides), or anyone dependent on high-speed internet.
Overall value: Excellent value, particularly when bundling drinks, tips, and Wi-Fi using the Princess Plus fare.
Enchanted Princess offers a refined, comfortable cruise experience with exceptional food and warm service.
Our standout memory was the quality of the dining, particularly our memorable evening inside Crown Grill.
Our single top piece of advice? Sort your dining and entertainment reservations the moment you board. Once those practical details are locked down, you can sit back, relax, and soak up the atmosphere in the Piazza with a drink in hand.
Before you go... check these out next:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Enchanted Princess suitable for first-time cruisers?
Yes. Enchanted Princess features an intuitive layout, helpful crew, and convenient OceanMedallion technology, making it very accessible for beginners.
What is included in the cruise fare on Enchanted Princess?
Your standard fare covers your cabin accommodation, main dining room meals, the World Fresh Marketplace buffet, International Café counter food, theater productions, and access to pools and the fitness centre.
Is specialty dining on Enchanted Princess worth the extra cost?
Crown Grill is well worth its $55 cover charge for the premium steakhouse cuts, exceptional sides, and attentive service.
How does the Princess Medallion work on board?
The medallion acts as your digital room key, onboard charge card, and boarding pass. It unlocks your cabin door hands-free and lets the crew locate you when delivering drinks.
Does Enchanted Princess feel crowded on sea days?
The ship disperses crowds well across multiple lounges, though popular spaces like Crooners, the Princess Theater, and the main pool deck become busy during peak afternoon and evening hours.
About the Authors
We’re Tom and Dom, the creators behind Tom and Dom Travel. Through our ship reviews, cabin tours, port guides, and cruise tips, we share honest, experience-led advice from our travels around the world. Everything we publish is designed to help you cruise with confidence.
Thanks for reading, and happy cruising.
