The Scouting Report: Princess Cruises Through a Business Event Planner's Eyes
A candid assessment of what worked (and what didn't) for potential business group use aboard the Island Princess.
When Princess Cruises awarded us a complimentary cruise after earning our certification, we saw the perfect opportunity to do what we do best: scout with purpose. We chose the 10-day Canada/New England itinerary aboard the Island Princess—not for vacation, but for a comprehensive evaluation of Princess's potential for our business clients.
The Island Princess, one of the fleet's smallest ships at 2,200 passengers and among the oldest (though exceptionally well-maintained), gave us the perfect laboratory to assess the top-to-bottom Princess experience. Here's what we discovered through our business event planner lens.
First Impressions: Logistics That Actually Work
The Good News: Princess nailed the embarkation experience. Unlike other cruise lines that assign rigid check-in windows (hello, sweating in Florida the heat while waiting in line), Princess allows boarding anytime after their designated start. We watched the process from 11 AM to 3 PM, and even during peak arrival times, groups moved through efficiently.
The Medallion system worked seamlessly. Though we didn't receive ours by mail due to our last-minute booking, pickup at the terminal took minutes. For business groups coordinating airport transfers and group arrivals, this flexibility is gold.
Navigation Win: The Island Princess proves that smaller can be better. Clear signage on every deck, intuitive layout, and within a few days, even first-time cruisers were confidently navigating. For retreat groups where you want attendees focused on content, not getting lost, this matters.
Meeting Spaces: Limited but Functional
Here's where Princess shows its leisure DNA. The Island Princess doesn't have a dedicated conference center - a significant limitation for complex business events.
What's Available:
Hearts & Minds wedding chapel - the closest thing to a formal meeting room
Library (bookable for private events, as we observed several times)
Card Room and various lounge spaces during off-peak hours
Large theater for plenary sessions
Specialty dining rooms might be available during non-service hours
The Reality Check: If your event requires multiple simultaneous breakout sessions, this ship won't work. But for leadership retreats, board meetings, or events with sequential programming, the available spaces are quiet and professional.
Tech Infrastructure: WiFi was reliable throughout the ship. We observed passengers successfully taking video calls, streaming, and working on laptops. The cost, however, issteep (more than a month of home internet for two people), though this may be negotiable for group bookings.
For a more detailed look at Island Princess, check out our ship tour!
The Passenger Experience: Know Your Audience
The 10-day Canada/New England itinerary attracted an older demographic (late 60s - early 70s average), with families taking advantage of summer break. This created a distinctly leisure-focused atmosphere - many passengers were there for ship experience over port exploration.
Service Excellence: Staff responsiveness was outstanding. Professional, available throughout the ship, and quick to assist, though not as “warm and friendly” as other cruise lines. They push the "rate us 10" message hard at cruise end, but the actual service delivery was solid.
Dining Flexibility: Five options serve different group needs:
Buffet (open most of the day)
Casual venues (pizza, burgers, ice cream)
Flexible dining (reservations or walk-in)
Traditional assigned dining
Specialty restaurants (upcharge)
The food quality is good - perfectly fine for most business entertaining, but skip this ship if you're hosting serious foodies.
Networking Gold Mines
Princess creates natural connection opportunities. The Atrium serves as the ship's heart with constant live music and activities. Pool areas, dining spaces, and shared tables at tea and dinner times sparked numerous spontaneous conversations.
Sailaway Magic: Some of our best observed networking happened during port departures and arrivals. There's something about shared scenic moments that breaks down barriers.
Evening Entertainment: Variety shows, musicians, magicians, and performers provided suitable post-meeting entertainment. The quality wasn't spectacular compared to other lines, but it served its purpose for group bonding.
Operational Realities: The Fine Print
Accessibility: The ship handles mobility needs well. Multiple passengers used wheelchairs, scooters, guide dogs, and walkers successfully, with proper ramps, elevators, and accessible staterooms. Note: pool lifts aren't available on this older ship.
The Upsell Situation: Be prepared. Princess pushes add-ons aggressively throughout the cruise. Even activities that seem included often have sales components. This could annoy business groups expecting all-inclusive experiences.
Noise Considerations: It's a loud ship. There are shipwide announcements, the demographic doesn't use headphones with electronics, and there are lots of open spaces, which disrupts the relaxing atmosphere some business groups seek.
Communication Gap: We had to research which terminal our cruise departed from (Manhattan vs. Brooklyn), as Princess never specified. This won't happen everywhere, but highlights potential coordination issues.
The Bottom Line: Right Ship, Right Group
This Ship Works Best For:
Traditional company cultures ("belong to the club" mentality)
Manufacturing, dental practices, family-owned businesses
Union industries, established service sectors
Groups wanting comfort over cutting-edge amenities
Leadership retreats with sequential programming
Hard Pass If You Need:
Multiple simultaneous breakout spaces
High-end culinary experiences
Modern ship amenities and adventure activities
Budget-conscious options (Princess runs expensive with lots of upsells)
High-tech, startup, or younger company cultures
Would We Book This Ship? Yes, for the right client. If they match the cultural fit, want Island Princess’s current itinerary, and we've properly set expectations about the ship's age and limitations, it could create exactly the traditional, comfortable retreat experience they're seeking.
The Real Talk: Princess Cruises delivers professional service and solid logistics, but with limited meeting flexibility and significant upselling. It's not the most exciting option available, but for certain business cultures seeking that "established, traditional" feel, the Island Princess provides exactly what they're looking for—without pretending to be something it's not.
Planning a business retreat at sea? Every ship and cruise line serves different group needs. The key is matching your organization's culture and event goals with the right maritime environment. Want help finding your perfect floating venue? Let's talk.
