Your FAQs Answered

“Friendships At Sea” is a brand new social adventure experience built around one simple idea – real friendship forms through quality time and shared experiences.

It is a relaxed group cruise designed for young adults between the ages of 20-39 (inclusive) who want to build new connections, travel together and explore the world.

Over the course of a week, the group travels together on a luxury cruise ship, waking up in a new city most mornings.

Days are spent exploring historic streets, coastlines, and local culture at a comfortable pace, while evenings bring the group back together to share meals, stories, and unplanned moments that naturally build connection.

The cost of the cruise depends on the type of cabin you choose, and whether you’re happy to share or would prefer a solo cabin.

Prices start from £499 per person and you can see the cabin costs here.

This cost includes your cruise accommodation, travel between destinations, and all main meals on board. Drinks, specialty dining, excursions, and travel to Rome are not included and are paid separately.

Yes – absolutely. Many people will be coming on their own, and Friendships At Sea is designed with young adult solo travellers in mind.

We’ll organise group dinners and social moments to make it easy to meet others, but everything is optional and low-pressure.

You can be as social or as independent as you like – whether that’s joining group meals, heading out on excursions together, or enjoying some quiet downtime on board.

The trip begins in Rome, where we travel together to the port and settle into the ship with a relaxed first evening at sea.

From there, we cruise through the Mediterranean, blending iconic destinations with time to slow down and enjoy being on board.

Across the week, you’ll experience a mix of history, scenery and downtime – from ancient sites and coastal towns to sea days spent relaxing, exploring the ship or doing very little at all. There’s space for shared experiences, spontaneous plans and quiet moments in between.

We return to Rome at the end of the trip, with time for sightseeing before heading home.

Full details of each day, including optional activities, are available on the itinerary page.

Princess Cruises offers a full daily programme with activities running from morning through late evening.

You can expect a mix of quizzes and trivia sessions, interactive game shows and a variety of sports tournaments.

Evenings often feature silent discos, live music across multiple venues, themed deck parties, and theatre entertainment such as large-scale productions, comedians, and guest performers.

There’s also Movies Under the Stars on the outdoor screen, alongside plenty of bars, lounges, cafés, and quieter spaces for relaxed socialising.

For an additional cost, there’s also a range of optional extras available on board, including crafts sessions, tastings, workshops, fitness classes, and shore excursions.

The group numbers will be capped to keep it social and manageable around 12-16 people.

We are planning to have a mixed-gender group and whilst, exact ratios can’t be guaranteed – we are actively aiming for a balanced group dynamic.

You’ll get to recognise familiar faces quickly, without it feeling overwhelming.

There will also be a host will be onboard to coordinate group dinners, share daily plans and act as a point of contact throughout the week.

Once you’ve registered your interest, we’ll confirm whether we’re able to allocate you a cabin, subject to availability.

If a cabin is available, you’ll have 5 days to either pay in full or secure your place with a £150 deposit.

The remaining balance will be due by 2nd February when we’re required to pay the cruise operator in full.

Once your deposit or full payment is received, your place on the trip is confirmed and your cabin is secured.

We take care of your cruise cabin, onboard coordination, group logistics and the main activity in each port.

You will need to book your flights, sort your insurance and documents, and decide whether you want to join the group plan or do your own thing on certain days.

The recommended flights we’re currently looking at are around £150–£200 return, including luggage.

Prices are subject to availability and may change. We’ll share full details and booking guidance once flights are confirmed.

If you’re booking a shared cabin, we’ll match you with someone of the same gender where possible.

If you’re booking with a friend, we’ll place you together. If you’d prefer a solo cabin, that option is available at a higher cost.

Cabin sizes vary slightly depending on location, but as a guide:

– Balcony cabins: approx. 214–222 sq ft (including the balcony)

– Interior cabins: approx. 158–162 sq ft

Balcony cabins offer extra light and outdoor space, while interior cabins are a good value option if you plan to spend most of your time around the ship rather than in your room.

All cabins come with the usual cruise essentials, including:

– A hairdryer, fresh towels and bedding (changed regularly)

– Basic toiletries such as shampoo and shower gel

– A personal safe

– Comfortable beds, storage space and a private bathroom

If you rely on any specific toiletries or medical items, we recommend bringing your own.

Yes. Princess accommodates most dietary needs including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free options.

You’ll be able to mention dietary restrictions during check-in, and the ship’s dining staff are used to handling requests.

You’re responsible for communicating any allergies directly to staff when ordering so they can assist you safely.

Group dinners will take place in the main dining room at set times.

These are table-service dinners and we’ll organise seating so it’s easy to join others and feel comfortable.

You’re also completely free to do your own thing if you’d prefer some downtime – you can try one of the specialty dining restaurants (at a small additional cost) or opt for a buffet dinner instead.

You can bring sealed snacks and non-perishable food items. Water and soft drinks are usually allowed in reasonable quantities, but security may inspect liquids.

Only one bottle of wine per person is permitted. Anything outside the guidelines may be taken by security and held until the end of the cruise.

Basic drinks (such as water, tea, coffee and some juices) are included.

Alcoholic drinks and premium soft drinks aren’t included, but optional drinks packages are available to purchase directly with the cruise line.

When you’ve confirmed your spot, we’ll be sharing guidance on how these work.

At each destination, there will also be optional activities you can choose to take part in.

Where there’s a main group activity planned for the day, we’ll actively look for discounts, group rates or good-value options to help keep costs as low as possible.

Any costs will also be shared clearly in advance, so you can decide what you want to join without pressure.

Yes. Most onboard activities are included in your cruise fare. This includes things like quizzes, gameshows, live entertainment, use of the gym, pools and hot tubs, and Movies Under the Stars.

Some optional extras – such as spa treatments, specialist classes or tastings – may cost extra, but these are entirely optional and clearly priced onboard

There are usually a few shared touchpoints each day, such as group dinners or suggested activities, but nothing is compulsory. You’re free to join in as much or as little as you like.

Some people enjoy spending lots of time together, others dip in and out or take time to themselves. The trip is designed to make connection easy without ever feeling forced.

The cruise fare covers the essentials: all main meals, shows, entertainment, the gym, pools and most onboard activities.

If you’d like to choose extras like drinks, spa treatments or the casino, they’re charged to your cabin account and you settle it at the end.

You manage your own onboard spending, but we’ll help explain before departure so nothing catches you off guard.

Wi-Fi is available in most cabins and public areas, but it’s not free and is expensive compared to land-based plans.

It’s provided via Starlink, which is more reliable than older systems but still slower and less consistent than internet on land, with performance varying by location and demand. Streaming and video calls may be unreliable, and there’s no alternative onboard internet.

You’ll usually get much better mobile signal when in port or near the coast. Most ports offer mobile service (international roaming may be required), and some cafés or venues ashore have Wi-Fi, though speeds can vary.

We’d highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for the trip and select one that covers:

• Cruise travel

• Medical care at sea

• Cancellations and disruptions

Medical treatment onboard is chargeable, so insurance isn’t optional in practice.

For the cruise, you’ll need to organise a flight to Rome (we’ll recommend a suggested flight, but you’re free to book your own if you prefer, providing it will arrive in good time for departure).

The ship departs from Civitavecchia, and all passengers must be onboard no later than 4pm on departure day.

Some people may choose to arrive in Rome the day before and stay overnight. If you do, accommodation arrangements are up to you.

Civitavecchia is around 1.5-2 hours from central Rome and there’s no simple direct route from Rome’s major airports.

To make things easier, we’ll be organising optional group transfers from Rome to the port for anyone who’d like to use them.

Full details and costs will be shared closer to the time.

Yes, we’ll set up a WhatsApp group ahead of departure so you connect with your fellow travellers, ask questions, coordinate flights and feel more comfortable before the trip begins.

All main group activities are planned with generous buffer time, and we stay close to port – unless the excursion specifically guarantees return to the ship. 

If you choose to explore on your own, you’re responsible for getting back before the “all aboard” time and we strongly recommend returning at least an hour earlier than required. It’s simple but important.

Sea days are deliberately relaxed. Each morning we’ll share what we’re doing – whether that’s attending an onboard Silent Disco, getting involved with a Table Tennis Tournament or just spending time by the pool – so you can join us if you want to. 

Otherwise, you can take the day entirely at your own pace, with time to sunbathe, read, nap, explore the spa or enjoy the entertainment programme.

Most people don’t get seasick at all. The ship is large, modern and very stable, and April–May are typically calm months with smooth sailing conditions.

If you’re prone to motion sickness or feeling unsure, bringing travel tablets or motion bands can offer peace of mind, but it’s unlikely you’ll need them.

You’ll need a valid passport with at least six months’ validity remaining from your date of return.

Italy is the point of entry into the Schengen Area, so standard Schengen entry requirements apply. Greece is also within the Schengen Area and follows the same rules. Turkey is included as a short port call during the cruise, and no visa is required for guests visiting as part of the itinerary.

You are responsible for ensuring that you meet the entry requirements for the Schengen Area and have secured any necessary visas in advance of travel.

It’s also your responsibility to bring your travel insurance documents, flight boarding passes, cruise documents, any excursion confirmations (including alternatives booked independently), and any personal medication you rely on.

We’ll remind you of the basics before departure, but you’re responsible for ensuring you have everything you need at the airport and at cruise check-in.

Yes, the itinerary is specifically designed to be simple, friendly and easy to follow, making it perfect for first-timers. 

Everything is explained clearly in advance, you always know what to expect each day, and the group setup removes the usual uncertainty of travelling alone or trying something new.

If there’s anything you’re still unsure about, Princess Cruises provides a comprehensive FAQ library covering everything from onboard facilities to safety, accessibility, dining policies, medical information and ship-specific details. 

It’s a useful resource for any very specific or niche questions that go beyond the scope of our group guide. You can find their full FAQ section here:

https://www.princess.com/en-uk/faq