What would it be like to be a princess for a day?
Just imagine: being wined and dined, pampered, and waited on hand and foot.
Would madam like a chocolate treat?
Madam would!
Surrounded by luxury, visiting exotic destinations … and no need to trouble yourself with mundane chores like cooking or cleaning!
Luxurious surroundings – fit for a princess
It sounds heavenly doesn’t it?
Well last week I discovered that you don’t have to be a princess, to experience the full royal treatment.
Princess for a Day on the Golden Princess
That’s not sunglasses on my head, it’s a tiara 😉
If you’ve been following along on social media, you might have noticed that last week I got to be a princess for a day 🙂 , thanks to the good people at Princess Cruises. Seems they’d noticed my love of cruising holidays (I’ve been on 5 so far!), and so invited me to Melbourne to sample the delights of their flagship vessel in Australian waters, the Golden Princess.
Welcome Aboard the Golden Princess!
I felt very honoured to be one of just a handful of guests selected for the experience, along with Rachel from Sesame Ellis (photoblogger), Liz from Bizzy Lizzy’s Good Things (food blogger), Paula and Gordy of the Contented Traveller (travel bloggers), and the versatile Jo from Lifestyle Fifty and Zigazag (lifestyle and travel blogger).
A Very Royal Experience
We were welcomed like royalty by some of the senior crew members, before being served a high tea featuring the creations of Master Chocolatier, Norman Love.
I can confirm – it tasted every bit as good as it looks!
Our royal tour of the ship included a sticky beak an exclusive viewing of one of the luxury suites …
Your luxury cabin awaits …
It’s the little touches!
… as well as the array of guest facilities, including this sumptuous indoor pool and whirlpool spas, which definitely had the wow factor:
It can get quite blowy at sea, so an indoor swimming pool is a great idea
Our visit to the galley included the opportunity to try our hand at preparing a delicious dessert. And as befitted our royal status, we didn’t even have to wash up afterwards 😉 !
Mine didn’t look quite as good as the professional’s,
and was in danger of sliding right off the plate …
The five-star treatment continued on deck, when we became the stars of the big screen:
Not just a Princess – also a star on the big screen!
Wining and Dining
And then there was lunch.
I’ve heard so much about roasted pork belly, but had never actually tried it before, so this was my pick from the new menu by celebrity chef, Curtis Stone. Can I tell you – it more than lived up to my expectations. My mouth is watering just thinking of it now! Crunchy crackling, tender meat, served with homemade apple sauce, crispy roasted potatoes and sauteed spinach. Mmmmmmm …
But the day wasn’t over yet, as we were whisked up to the Lotus Spa on Deck 15 for beauty treatments. Just like the restaurants on board, the menu was incredibly comprehensive, and even featured some of the same ingredients (chocolate indulgence body treatment anyone?!). A soothing massage was just the thing to relax all the knots in my back, neck and shoulders (from waving at my loyal subjects spending long hours toiling at my computer).
The Royal Treatment for Every Guest
We drifted up to The Sanctuary, where I was found it hard to resist the temptation of the pool (I hadn’t brought my swimmers!).
Yes, I felt like a princess for a day … but I’m pretty sure that would be the experience of any guest on the Golden Princess.
I think it’s fair to say, I’ve lost my heart to the Golden Princess
Thank you so much Princess Cruises, I can’t wait to experience your delights again!
What do you think you would enjoy the most about a cruising holiday – the food, the luxury, the destinations or … ?!
Love this post? Then why not …
It was like being a princess for a day, wasn’t it! Great post and thank you kindly for the shout out, Janet. It was lovely to meet you : )
I’m looking forward to seeing all the other posts that our magical day inspires!
What a gorgeous day, I’m so jealous! I’d love a dip in that stunning pool 🙂
It was very hard to walk away at the end of the day … and even harder to get back into the usual work routine this week!
This sounds absolutely fabulous! I’d love to be a princess on the Golden Princess for a day or better still a week!
I love the fact that there are no chores or cooking to be done, just relaxing and being entertained and generally being treated like a princess!
One of the best parts of cruising for sure 🙂
It was a fabulous day and so great to spend time with you too. Thanks for the shoutout:)
Looking forward to reading your post about it Jo!
How lovely! I’ve never been interesting in going on a cruise until recently – my mum has been on two in the past few years and so many friends have been sharing such great adventures that I’m now desperate to go on one!
Aussies love their cruises – apparently over a million of us took one last year!
Oh that sounds soooo nice! I’ve been hanging out to go on a cruise, it’s my very next holiday plan! I’m just waiting till the kids are ever so slightly older so that they’ll either enjoy it if they come or I can palm them off on someone without quite so much guilt! Lucky you, and I must say that chocolate concoction looked delicious!
The Kids Clubs on board cruises are wonderful – IF you can get your kids to go to them. Mine were in two different age group / clubs so refused point blank 🙁
Looks fabulous and I’m most excited that you ate pork belly for the first time – so delicious! Hope you were able to maintin the royal mood back home for a bit as well.
Alix it was absolutely divine 🙂 . I also tried my first souffle, however I have to say I wasn’t as fussed on that!
Oooh that all looks amazing!!! Everything there that I would love. Lucky you!
I did feel very lucky. And like I need to book another cruise SOON!
Please tell me you had a swim. This looks fantastic and what great way to spend your day
Sadly no 🙁 but there’s always next time …
A cruising holiday is hard to beat, unpack once and you are done. What a lovely way to spend a day and that chocolate dessert looks amazing!
Yes, it just whet my appetite for more … already planning to book another cruise but where?! Alaska? Scandinavia? European River cruising? 😉
Looks like you had a lovely day. Everyone deserves to be treated like a Princess once in a while.
Yes we do!
You now have my mouth watering at the thought of the Pork belly meal.
Where do I sign up for this meal? 😉
If only I knew how to make it at home!
I’m curious if being “trapped” on a ship would force me to relax for once haha
There’s so much to do on board Vanessa, if you’re the busy type you’d probably still be busy – but in a relaxing way, if that makes sense?!
OH MY GOD I AM SO JEALOUS RIGHT NOW.
I felt so very lucky!!!
What an awesome experience, Janet. Lucky you!!!! Meanwhile, I love your dress in the first pic. Perfect for a cruise. I know cruises are hugely popular, but for some reason they aren’t my cup of tea. I think it’s the great expanse of the ocean and sharks that scares me 🙂
I used to feel the same … all I can say is, you never know til you give it a try 😉 . Isn’t the dress gorgeous?! Would you believe I picked it up for just $35 from Rockmans, reduced from $90! I love how colourful it is!
Oh my that food looks delicious! I could definitely go for being treated like a princess for a day right now!
So wishing I was back there right now 😉
Oh it looks wonderful! What a fabulous experience you had Janet! I’m so pleased for you. xx
It was magical Jess, blogging has brought many wonderful things into my life and this is one of them x
Technically it’s not their flagship vessel (that would be the much larger Royal Princess) but the Golden Princess is still a marvelous ship. Just spent a week on it myself.
I’m sure I read it in the literature somewhere – maybe they meant their flagship vessel in Austrlia? Where did you go on your cruise?!
It looks at exactly like it’s sister the Sapphire Princess that I have just cruised on around South East Asia. They could in fact be twins! It sounds like you had a fab time onboard Janet and yes the food is the absolute best on the cruise. Although I have returned with a tummy bug which isn’t very pleasant.
It has just whet my appetite for more cruising adventures … hope you are feeling better soon x
You did a lovely job covering this amazing day Princess :)) Thank you for mentioning us. Mine just went up and I also gave a shout out to you, for being special 🙂
Paula, meeting you was one of the highlights for me x
Would Madam kindly share a chocolate? They look good… as do all of your photos.
I hope to see you at our weekly photo linkup at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2016/02/potted.html
i always find the gold, and mirrors and sparkly sparkliness of these ships a little jarring. But once you get passed that the food and pools and spas are fabulous and fun. Hope you get to leave port on another day!
Wow Princess Janet, what a fabulous day for you. I think I see another cruise in your future! 😉 x
Oh so envious of your experience Janet, but how wonderful to see how the other half lives 🙂
wow!What a wonderful experience!
Oh Janet, I’ve been meaning to catch up on this blog post for a few days now. Oh what an amazing experience and those pics are stunning. What a great day! Can’t wait to follow along on your next trip on the high seas.
Lucky you, being spoiled for a day. I’m not the cruise ship kind, but hey, that sounds great!