I found the secret to cruising with a teenager (2025)

"We’re on the original Love Boat,” I tell my 15-year-old daughters as I enthusiastically play episode one of the sitcom in our cabin aboard Royal Princess. It also happens to be Valentine’s Day.

Despite Evie’s lack of enthusiasm for 1970s canned laughter – Grey’s Anatomy appears to be her limit for “olden-day shows” – Princess Cruises still trades on the fact their ships were the setting for the hit sitcom in the ’70s and ’80s.

But I would need to find another way to appeal to my young Gen-Zer. And it’s not hard. Cruising is, after all, the great generation equaliser and as we sailed a portion of Princess’s 14-day New Zealand round-trip from Sydney, we found ways to bridge the gap – we danced in the silent disco (Cyndi Lauper on my headphones, Sabrina Carpenter on Evie’s), we found a breakfast spot we both loved (Sabatini’s, where maître d’ Carlos served Evie’s hot chocolate without even being asked), and we even embraced moments alone (Evie watching the Super Bowl in the lounge with hopes of catching a glimpse of Taylor Swift, while I ordered a cocktail and read my book in the adults-only retreat, The Sanctuary).

The medallion

Whoever invented the Medallion should be knighted. I’ve been lost in countless shopping centre car parks and even the backstreets near home. So you can imagine the difficulty a ship carrying 3500 passengers and spanning 19 decks poses. But this wearable disk the size of a watch face was my saviour and a Princess invention that makes the cruise line stand out in a crowded market.

First, it unlocks your cabin door as you approach, you don’t even need to tap it against the door, which is a lifesaver if you have two hot drinks in hand. But for me, the real genius lies in the fact it tracks you around the ship, if you choose to allow fellow group members to do so. There were times when I’d message Evie “where was that place that does the really nice ice-cream sundaes?” and she’d write back: “Mum, you’re on the wrong deck, you need to go down to 2.”

Another fab use is that you can order a coffee, a cocktail, or a meal through the Princess app and the waiter will deliver your items wherever you are to save you waiting in a queue.

See also: 10 ways to get the best out of the Princess Cruises medallion

Drinking and dining

Most passengers will eat at the Horizon Court buffet at least once a day as it is the easiest and most diverse option. Another regular is the Main Dining Room, which offers a menu of favourites along with new chef-prepared dishes every night. And if you want something casual, the 24-hour International Café serves pies, quiches, sandwiches and more, while poolside Trident Grill is great for a burger or hotdog while Prego Pizzeria serves a great slice. But the specialty dining restaurants – which are included if you opt for the Princess Premier Package at $100 a day and which also delivers a premium drinks package – are worth a try.

Part of what makes these eateries great is the service, and if you visit more than once, chances are your waiter will remember the type of sauv blanc you prefer, or that you don’t drink alcohol at all. Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria serves crowd-pleasers like lasagne, meatballs and carbonara, while the Crown Grill is a steak house serving premium cuts perfectly prepared (the New Zealand lamb chops with rosemary essence were so delicious, I abandoned propriety to nibble the bones using my fingers – don’t judge me).

Shore excursions

The best part of this itinerary for me was the shore excursions, and that’s because the team that put these together strives to provide an immersive experience, not just plonk you on a coach to a tourist hotspot. Highlights included a zipline through ancient forests with EcoZip Adventures on Waiheke Island; a visit to Maori village Te Pa Tu in Rot in Rotorua; a walking tour of Wellington with The Big Foody where I learned why locals are so obsessed with cheese scones; and a hike along the cliff tops at Godley Head near Christchurch.

But the highlight was Natures Wonders on the Otago Peninsula. The 263ha conservation freehold is owned by Perry Reid, a unique character giving Steve Irwin vibes, whose mission is to return the land to a state of pre-human arrival. He welcomes cruise lines who help in this endeavour, like Princess, one of the few to put money into his conservation. With this help, Perry built a timber walking track along the top of the bay, called a hide, with penguin nesting boxes attached so people can view the wildlife without disturbing them.

Perry asked Evie to come forward and slide open a nesting box. The open-jaw, wide-eyed look on Evie’s face as she spied the fluffy little blue penguin chicks cuddled up to their parents is one I have rarely seen on her before, and it’s memories like this we will carry home with us.

Adults only

The Lotus Spa is a third the length of the ship and within it is The Enclave, a retreat from the hustle of ship life. It has a big hydrotherapy pool andvarious steam rooms and hot-tile beds. My favourite was the heated water bed, which lulls you into a relaxing rest.

On the upper decks is The Retreat, where the pool is surrounded by daybeds, cabanas and a bar. Off this is The Sanctuary, which attracts an additional fee from $30 for a half-day reservation, and is serviced by “serenity stewards” who bring you food, drinks, a refreshing cold towel or will even arrange an alfresco massage.

If anyone needed to find me, they didn’t need to use the Medallion to know I’d be hiding away there with my book.

Escape Route

The 14-day New Zealand round-trip from Sydney aboard Royal Princess is priced from $3309 a person twin share for an Inside Cabin and visits the Auckland, the Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Picton, Christchurch, Dunedin and Fiordland National Park. The Princess Premier Package costs $100 a day and includes unlimited wi-fi, premium beverage package, specialty dining, fitness classes and more.

The writer was a guest of Princess Cruises.