How I Booked Our June 2027 Princess Mediterranean Cruise for a Fraction of the Price 🛳️✨
I use affiliate links and personal referral links in this post. That means I may earn a small commission or bonus if you choose to book or buy through them — always at zero cost to you. I only recommend products, tools, and travel strategies I personally use, love, and have tested in real life. No Point Left Behind is built on transparency, and I’ll always tell you exactly how I book my trips, save money, and travel smarter.
☕ The Real Story: A Lazy Girl Booking
I was drinking my morning coffee, scrolling through my inbox, and there it was: a Princess casino offer that actually meant something.
Two weeks earlier, I’d bought one FCC — just one — because I knew I’d use it eventually. And suddenly? It was the perfect puzzle piece.
Because I’m an agent, I didn’t have to call anyone or wait on hold. I applied the FCC, stacked the offer, booked the cabin myself, and yes — made a tiny commission off my own deal because No Point Left Behind means NO POINT LEFT BEHIND.
By lunchtime, my parents were booked too. When you see a good deal, you don’t think — you seize it.
And now? I already found another Princess cruise I want to do in April… and guess who wishes she had a second FCC sitting in her account?
Me. It’s me. Hi.
⭐ Lazy Girl Takeaway: The best cruise deals aren’t planned — they’re stacked. One FCC + one casino offer + one morning coffee = a Mediterranean cruise for almost nothing.
FCC basics Casino offers Stacking strategy
🗺️ The Itinerary (Lazy Girl Edition)
Rome 2025
🇮🇹 Rome (Civitavecchia) Flying in the night before because chaos is not the vibe. Eat pasta. Wander. Sleep. Board early. That’s the whole plan.
If you want my full Lazy Girl guide to Rome — neighborhoods, food, walking routes, and stress‑free planning — here it is: Lazy Girl Rome City Guide
🇬🇷 Corfu Venetian architecture + Ionian Sea blue that looks filtered even when it’s not. Small-group tour only — no giant buses, no flags, no sprinting.
🇲🇪 Kotor The port that sold the entire itinerary. Fjord-like arrival, medieval walls, cats everywhere. My parents will café-sit. I’ll climb. Balance.
🇭🇷 Dubrovnik Crowded? Yes. Worth it? Also yes. Walk the walls early, grab a pastry, be back on the ship before the crush.
🇮🇹 Naples Pizza. That’s the whole agenda. Optional Pompeii if you’re feeling historical.
One of my favorite excursions ever was in Naples — the kind of day that sticks with you long after the cruise ends. I’m seriously considering booking the exact same experience again for 2027 because it was that good. If you want to see the full breakdown, here’s the post: My Naples Shore Excursion
Don’t miss my Mediterranean port tips
🛥️ How I Book Shore Excursions (Lazy Girl Style)
I book shore excursions the same way I book cruises — simple, strategic, and without overthinking it. I avoid giant buses, long days, and anything that feels like a school field trip. Small groups, local guides, and flexible pacing are the vibe.
If you want to see exactly how I choose and book my excursions, here’s my full guide: How I Book Shore Excursions
💳 How I Stacked the Cruise Deal
Princess Casino offers = discounted or complimentary cabins for past casino players. FCCs = credits from disrupted sailings.
My Lazy Girl Strategy:
Saw the Princess casino offer while drinking coffee
Applied the FCC I bought two weeks earlier
Booked my cabin myself (small commission - agent to book my own travel!)
My parents booked theirs by lunchtime (not a casino deal but still got them a good deal)
We paid only port fees + taxes (~$500 per cabin)
⭐ Lazy Girl Takeaway: The best cruise deals aren’t planned — they’re stacked. One FCC + one casino offer + one morning coffee = a Mediterranean cruise for a fraction of the price.
If you want to see all my Princess cruise guides, reviews, casino offers, and real booking strategies in one place, here’s my full Princess Cruises Hub — it’s where I keep everything organized for beginners and deal‑hunters. Princess Cruises Hub
✈️ Flights: Avios + Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus is the underrated Avios sweet spot:
Lower award rates
No BA-style fuel surcharges
Easy Dublin connection to Rome
How I earn Avios:
Chase Sapphire → BA transfer
Capital One → BA Transfer
Amex Rewards → BA Transfer
⭐ Lazy Girl Rule: Search award space before transferring points. I use Seats.aero and PointMe.
And for the flight home, we’re doing one of my favorite tricks: booking Delta flights using Flying Blue points. It’s almost always cheaper than using Delta miles directly, and it’s one of the easiest ways to save on European returns. If you want to see exactly how I booked our flights home — step‑by‑step — here’s the full post: How I Book Delta Flights Using Flying Blue
💙 The Parent Factor
My parents — the unofficial mascots of NoPointLeftBehind — are retired, active, and always ready for the next adventure.
This itinerary is perfect for them:
Walkable ports
Beautiful views
Easy pacing
Zero logistics
Maximum joy
No better use of points than helping your parents see the world in retirement.
👜 Lazy Girl Packing List (Mediterranean Edition)
What I Pack
Linen pants + tops
One wrinkle-proof dinner outfit
Real walking sandals
Lightweight day bag
Scarf (churches + chic moments)
Sunscreen
Refillable water bottle
Meds + blister plasters
Alo Yoga joggers + tee for travel days
What I Don’t
Heels
“Just in case” outfits
More than one pair of jeans
Full-size hair dryer
Packing anxiety
🧳 My Lazy Girl Luggage System
I travel carry‑on only — always. My Lazy Girl luggage system is built around lightweight pieces, under‑the‑seat bags, and packing cubes that keep everything calm and organized.
If you want to see the exact bags I use, here’s the full list: Lazy Girl Luggage System
📊 What We Actually Paid
Four people. Mediterranean cruise. Flights. Rome hotel.
Out-of-pocket: ~$1,200–$1,500 total
Retail value: easily $10,000–$15,000+ depending on season, cabin category, and flight prices.
Consistency > complexity.
Use the right cards, track your FCCs, and be ready when the deal hits your inbox.
If you love seeing real examples, here’s every Princess cruise I’ve booked using my actual strategies — FCCs, casino offers, points, and Lazy Girl stacking. Princess Cruises I’ve Booked Using Real Strategies
🌊 See You in the Adriatic
June 2027 is happening. Kotor views, Neapolitan pizza, my parents living their best retired lives.
I’ll be sharing the real‑life adventure — ports, pasta, parents, and Princess — over on Facebook. Follow my trip on Facebook
👋 About the Author
Julie Davis is the creator of No Point Left Behind and the Lazy Girl approach to points and miles — simple, real‑life strategies that help families travel smarter without spreadsheets or stress. She’s a travel‑obsessed mom based in Tennessee who specializes in cruise reviews, Mediterranean itineraries, beginner‑friendly points strategies, and practical “stack & save” travel hacks. Julie has helped her parents (the unofficial mascots of NPLB) travel well in their 70s using points and smart deals, and she shares every strategy openly so beginners can learn without overwhelm.
