Princess Cruises Star Princess

Internet Café and Library

This facility just off the Lobby Atrium combined the ship’s library and internet stations, and coffee was not far away (at the International Café). There were 18 IBM computers for surfing the web, with varied seating arrangements.

The basic rate for internet access—using our own laptop anywhere on the ship or using the Internet Café’s computers—was a heady .79 per minute, plus a $3.95 activation fee. Packages reduced the per-minute rates, and a 40-minute bonus was availed for those who signed up for packages on the first day of the cruise. A bargain “last day” package was also available for the last full day of the cruise: 15 minutes for $8.99.

The library had a few hundred books, with a particularly constrained selection of travel guides to the areas that Star Princess sailed (none of which could be removed from the area). A few board games were available, including Scrabble, Backgammon, Taboo and Trivial Pursuit.

Although computers could be accessed anytime, the station was staffed several hours in the morning, afternoon and evening.

Youth and Teen Centers

A large area of Deck 15 aft was set aside for dedicated kids programs, divided into three separate facilities based on age.

The entry-level program is Princess Pelicans, for ages 3-7, and activities include arts and crafts (T-shirt coloring), a disco night, scavenger hunts, ice cream and pajama parties. Children needed a parent to sign them in and out of the facilities daily.

Pre-teens age 8-12 were grouped into a program called Shockwaves, which featured arts and crafts, Playstation 2 tournaments, sports, a spelling bee, and scavenger hunts. Kids age 8 to 12 were allowed to sign in and out of the facilities daily, with the parents’ permission.

Teens rocked out in Remix, a facility that was not always staffed. Activities included T-shirt graffiti, dance parties, a casino night, DJ workshops, mocktail parties, teens-only formal dinners, and games like Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Pictionary, Scrabble, Jeopardy.

The general hours on sea days were 9 a.m. to noon, 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.; on port days the facilities were staffed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. Group kid-sitting was also available from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., for $5 per hour, per child.

Hearts and Minds

Found on Deck 15, just outside the Lotus Spa, Hearts and Minds was the ship’s small interdenominational chapel. Times for bible study were announced in the newsletter Princess Patter (which referred to the venue as the Wedding Chapel). The space was also used for Bill W meetings, spa seminars and for various groups onboard.