Star Princess Cruise

Highlights from our Amazing Anniversary Cruise on the Star Princess: April 4–13, 2026

What better way to celebrate our 22nd anniversary than with a cruise!!! We sailed away on the beautiful new Star Princess for 9 unforgettable days, and it was amazing from start to finish. From relaxing sea days to stunning Caribbean ports, this trip had everything we could hope for!

Here’s our day-by-day recap of our anniversary trip!

Day 1: April 4 – Planes, Trains & Automobiles (Pre-Cruise in Fort Lauderdale)

Our adventure kicked off bright and early when our son Jack dropped us off at the airport. We flew into Miami, hopped on a super cheap $5-per-person train to Fort Lauderdale (what a steal!), and then Ubered to our hotel. After checking in, we enjoyed an anniversary dinner at Southport Raw Bar, strolled around the pretty marina and shops, and picked up a few last-minute cruise essentials. The perfect low-key start to our celebration!

Day 2: Embarkation Day – Hello, Star Princess!

After a free hotel breakfast, we walked just 15 minutes (about half a mile) to the port — so easy! Once onboard the stunning Star Princess, we spent the day exploring every deck, watching the exciting Sail Away party, trying our luck at the casino, and indulging in the relaxing Thermal Spa. Later, we hit the Irish Pub (O’Malley’s) for some lively Irish music, then cozied up in our cabin to watch an episode of The Love Boat — because how could we not on a Princess cruise? It felt like the perfect welcome aboard!

Day 3: First Sea Day Nothing beats a relaxing sea day!

We started with room service coffee and fresh fruit delivered right to our cabin, then walked a full mile around the track. More casino fun, our first “1st Time on Princess” event, and another blissful visit to the Thermal Spa followed. We had a tasty lunch, soaked up some sun on the deck, attended the Captain’s event, crushed Queen music trivia, and laughed through comedian Mike Siegel’s show. We capped the night with the beautiful Candlelight show. Pure relaxation with a side of sparkle!

Day 4: Another Fabulous Sea Day

Sea days are the best days! Another cozy morning with cabin coffee and a light breakfast, followed by pool time. — We found some rubber ducks hidden around the ship. We enjoyed dinner in the Main Dining Room, went to the incredible Spellbound magic show, saw another great production, and ended the night back at the Irish Pub for more music and good vibes.

Day 5: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

We absolutely loved St. Thomas! We wandered the charming streets, found an adorable coffee shop, and sat in a sunny courtyard sipping our drinks while reading and watching adorable chickens and fluffy baby chicks strut around. Next up: the famous 99 Steps (which are actually 104 if you count them all — plus extra stairs to reach them!). The climb was worth every step for those breathtaking harbor views. We explored Blackbeard’s Castle at the top, then strolled through shops, did a fun rum tasting, and even popped into a grocery store’s freezer section (it was so cold we could see our breath — hilarious in the Caribbean heat!). We visited the pirate museum, took a tram ride up the mountain for even more stunning views, did some shopping, and enjoyed a refreshing drink with a panorama. Back on the ship, we watched sailaway and caught another show.

Day 6 Port: St. Maarten

Room service coffee and pastries to start the day, then we explored the town on foot. We considered heading to the French side but decided against the long taxi or walk. We checked out a grocery store, then made the best decision ever: heading to Lizzy’s beach bar! For just $10, we got two beach chairs, two strong rum punches, an umbrella, and free WiFi. The water was that impossible turquoise blue — we swam for hours, and it felt like paradise. Back on the ship, we cleaned up, watched sail away, hit the casino, went to the White Party, and hid a few more ducks around the ship for others to find.

Day 7: Sea Day

Back at sea, we explored more of the ship, played in the casino, and enjoyed the Thermal Spa again. We caught Joel Meyers’ magic show, had dinner in the Main Dining Room, and watched an amazing acrobatic performance in The Dome. Non-stop entertainment!

Day 8: Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands

Beach day! We found a perfect shady spot on the gorgeous beach (no need to rent chairs), read, and swam in the ocean, and just relaxed with our toes in the sand. We walked down to Jack’s Shack for a refreshing margarita with ocean views — total vibe. Later, we tried our luck at the casino again, then enjoyed the dazzling Illuminate show and one last spa visit. Grand Turk delivered pure beach bliss!

Day 9: Final Sea Day

Our last full day at sea started the usual way: room service, coffee, and a small breakfast. We took a fascinating galley tour — so cool to see behind the scenes of how they feed thousands of people every day! We explored more of the ship, hung out at O’Malley’s Irish Pub, and learned how to play the spoons (so much fun and laughter!), watched the teammate farewell parade, and squeezed in one final Thermal Spa session. Then it was time to pack up for disembarkation. Bittersweet, but we were already dreaming of our next cruise!

Day 10: Disembarkation & Heading Home.

We explored a bit more of Fort Lauderdale after leaving the ship. We walked from the port to a fun park with a beautiful butterfly garden and even a swim area for dogs — so cute! Then we Ubered to the Bass Pro Shop for some browsing and lunch. From there, we walked to the Tri-Rail station, rode to Miami airport, which only cost $3.50a person! We arrived nice and early at the airport, so we decided to hang out and relax in the Turkish lounge until our flight. Jack picked us up late that night and even stayed over. What a perfect ending to an incredible trip!

We had the most wonderful anniversary vacation filled with relaxation, adventure, and lots of laughs. The Star Princess is stunning, the ports were amazing, and the memories will last forever. We can’t wait for our next cruise —

Have you sailed on the Star Princess or visited these islands? Drop your favorite tips or memories in the comments!