Sun Princess Embarkation Guide (Lazy Girl Edition)
Embarkation day sets the tone for your entire cruise, and on the Sun Princess, the process is smoother, calmer, and more organized than ever. This updated guide includes my exact embarkation routine — arrival timing, OceanReady tips, why I no longer pre‑order Medallions, and how I make day one as Lazy Girl‑easy as possible.
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🌸 Start Your Princess Cruise Journey Here
Planning a Princess cruise? My Princess Cruises Hub is your shortcut to everything you need — embarkation guides, dining reviews, packing lists, and money‑saving strategies.
👉 Visit the Princess Cruises Hub to explore all my Lazy Girl guides for Sun Princess, Discovery Princess, and beyond.
✨ Overview
Princess recently added the ability to select your arrival time 30 days before sailing, which spreads out crowds and makes the terminal feel calmer. Combine that with OceanReady and a few Lazy Girl strategies, and embarkation day becomes effortless.
🕓 Arrival Time Selection (NEW for Princess)
Princess now lets you choose your arrival time in the app at the 30‑day mark. This is a small change that makes a big difference.
I pick a time that fits my morning rhythm — not the earliest, not the latest — because ease is better than speed. The terminal is calmer, lines are shorter, and everything feels more organized.
🎟️ OceanReady & Medallion Pickup
Let’s talk about Medallions, because this is where my routine has changed.
Why I don’t pre‑order Medallions anymore:
It’s one less thing to keep up with
Picking them up in port is fast and easy
It’s not a real time saver
OceanReady still works perfectly
My whole goal is easier is better
At the port, you simply walk up to the Medallion pickup station, show your boarding pass, and they hand it to you. No shipping delays, no tracking, no stress.
🛂 Check‑In & Security
Princess’s check‑in process is predictable and smooth:
OceanReady speeds things up
Security is airport‑lite
Staff directs you straight to your muster check‑in
Princess prefers that guests do not go to their rooms until they’re officially ready
Rooms typically open around 1:00–1:30 PM
Wine Policy
Princess allows each adult to bring one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne onboard. I pack mine in my embarkation bag so I don’t have to dig through luggage later. Most cruise lines want wine in your carry-on bag. I use wine skins to protect my wine as I board the ship.
Lazy Girl Cruise Tip: Your cabin can be a full bar with zero effort. See the Cabin Bar Hacks I use on every sailing.
🚢 Boarding the Sun Princess
Once onboard, here’s my flow:
Complete muster
Head to lunch (my favorite Lazy Girl hack — see below!)
Explore the Dome, Atrium, and Sanctuary
Drop bags in the room once staterooms officially open
🍽️ Embarkation Day Dining: Skip the Buffet, Go Straight to the MDR
Most people rush to the buffet the moment they board, which means it’s crowded, loud, and full of rolling suitcases. I do the opposite.
I regularly go to the Main Dining Room on embarkation day because:
It’s way more relaxed than the buffet
You can roll your bags right in or leave them at the front
Service is calm, friendly, and fast
It sets the tone for an easy, stress‑free first day
Princess doesn’t advertise this enough, but the MDR is almost always open for lunch on embarkation day — and it’s one of the best Lazy Girl hacks on the ship.
🍕 Casual Dining Tip: Try Alfredo’s on Day One
Embarkation day is also a perfect time to try Alfredo’s, one of my personal favorites on Princess.
Why it’s great on day one:
No wait
Fresh pizza and pasta
Calm atmosphere
A great break from the terminal chaos
You can roll your bags in here too
Check out my full review of Alfredo’s.
🧳 What to Pack in Your Embarkation Bag
Here’s what I carry onboard:
Book
Phone charger
Swimsuit (I love this brand)
Medallion lanyard
Your wine bottle
Lazy Girl tip: Wear your swimsuit onboard so you can head straight to the pool once rooms open.
🧭 Insider Tips (Lazy Girl Edition)
Don’t stress about Medallions — pickup is easy
Choose your arrival time at 30 days
Wear your swimsuit onboard
Pack a ready‑to‑go beach bag
Skip the buffet and head to the MDR or Alfredo’s
Explore the Dome early before crowds arrive
Rooms usually open around 1:00–1:30 PM
🏖️ Disembarkation Preview
OceanReady also makes disembarkation smooth — scan your face, walk off, and you’re done. No long customs lines.
💡 Final Thoughts
Embarkation day on the Sun Princess is effortless when you keep things simple. Skip the pre‑ordered Medallion, choose your arrival time, head to the MDR instead of the buffet, and pack a smart embarkation bag. Lazy Girl cruising is all about removing friction — and Princess makes that easy.
If you’re sailing Sun Princess soon, here are the guides I recommend reading next — these are the exact systems I use to save money, stay organized, and make cruising easier.
More Princess Cruise Resources
How I Book Cruises & Save Thousands — my full strategy using points, perks, and timing to reduce cruise costs year after year.
My Princess Packing List (Lazy Girl Edition) — everything I bring onboard for a smooth, stress‑free cruise, including embarkation day essentials.
How I Book Shore Excursions — when I use Princess, when I use GetYourGuide or Viator, and how I avoid overpriced tours.
Alfredo’s Review — why embarkation day is the perfect time to try it.
Princess Plus vs Premier — updated for Sun Princess and written from a Lazy Girl perspective.
Cruise Port Hub — all my port guides, DIY itineraries, and money‑saving cruise tips in one place.
How I Save on Cruises
I earn over 20 free flights a year using points and perks, and I stack those savings with cruise deals, referral bonuses, and Princess promos. If you want to cruise more without spending more, start with my booking strategy above — it’s the system I’ve used for years.
How I Book Shore Excursions
I mix Princess excursions with GetYourGuide and Viator depending on the port. My rule: Princess for tender ports or tight timing, third‑party for everything else. It saves money and gives you better experiences.
Packing List for Sun Princess
If you want to see exactly what I bring onboard — including my embarkation day bag — you’ll find it in my Princess packing list. It’s Lazy Girl‑friendly, shade‑friendly, and cruise‑optimized.
⭐ About the Author
Hi, I’m Julie — cruise‑obsessed, points‑powered, and the creator of No Point Left Behind. I sail 7–9 times a year, specialize in Princess and Celebrity, and love helping travelers save money without sacrificing fun. If you love cruise dining reviews, port guides, and Lazy Girl travel hacks, you’re in the right place.
