Princess Plans to Add Adult-Only Areas to Entire Fleet

This just in from the USA Today Cruise Log and Johanna Jainchill:

Princess plans to add quiet, adult-only deck areas to its entire fleet of ships, expanding the popular Sanctuary spots that debuted on the Crown Princess in 2006.

Only the Crown and Emerald Princess currently have Sanctuary, but the Island Princess, Grand Princess, Star Princess and upcoming Ruby Princess will be outfitted by the end of this year, and the remainder of the fleet by 2010.

These kid-free, low-music zones have become increasingly popular in the last couple years. Cruise lines like Disney and Royal Caribbean have had versions of adult areas on their ships since the 90’s, but Princess took it to the next level.

The Sanctuary is a roped off area that was initially free, but became so popular when the Crown debuted, the line quickly began charging a $10 fee for about four hours of relaxation time.

For the price, cruisers can lounge on plush, outdoor furniture while listening to piped-in spa music, while stewards bring around chilled face towels and Evian water atomizers. For additional fees, guests can order from a “healthy” food and beverage menu or rent MP3 players with pre-loaded relaxation tunes.

Carnival Cruise Lines took a cue from Princess and began adding quiet, adult-only “Serenity” areas to its ships this year as part of its $250 Fantasy-class upgrade initiative. The Serenity is so popular on the Imagination, the first ship to get it, that Carnival has said it may expand the concept to the rest of the fleet as well.

For now, Carnival has no plans to charge for use of that area, but if its popularity continues, the line has not ruled out the possibility of assessing a fee.