Take Me Back is a phrase my friend Heidi and I have spoken to each other several times since we sailed on a Princess Cruise a few years ago. We have such fond memories from our cruise, from the food and friends to the destinations we were taken to during our 4 days onboard. Memories of a lifetime!

Princess Cruises recently announced that one of their newest, most elegant ships – the Royal Princess – will be setting sail on the West Coast from Los Angeles for the first time in 2019. The ship’s itineraries will include sails to the Mexican Riviera, California Coast, Hawaii, and Alaska.

If you didn’t already know (or could have guessed), the Royal Princess was officially named in 2013 by a real life princess – Her Royal Highness, Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge.

The California and West Coasts

Something that always impressed me about Princess Cruises is their attention to detail when it comes to selecting ports and experiences to offer their travelers.

One of the stops on our West Coast cruise was in Santa Barbara. Being from Florida, I haven’t spent a lot of time on the West Coast so this cruise was especially enticing for me because of its destinations. Seeing another side of the country with all the comforts of cruising was a highlight of my experience.

Santa Barbara is absolutely beautiful and rightfully earns the reference as the “American Riviera”. Boats, mountains and palm trees greet us as we take tenders from the cruise ship into the port, it’s a welcoming sight to see.

One of the excursions offered while in Santa Barbara was a wine tasting experience at a family owned local winery. An opportunity to experience wine country is always something I look forward to and this excursion did not disappoint. The winery we spent the afternoon at was Fess Parker Winery where we tasted a sampling of wines paired with the most amazing menu of food cooked by a local chef.

This wine tasting excursion was one of the most memorable parts of my cruise. It was such a treat to be completely immersed into the scenery, the wine and the food for an afternoon.

Additional stops on the Royal Princess along the West Coast include Cabo San Lucas, San Fransisco and Vancouver. Vancouver has always been on my travel bucket list!

Beautiful view of Vancouver skyline with Stanley Park at sunset, British Columbia, Canada.

The Royal Princess

This month, the Royal Princess will undergo a multimillion dollar program of refurbishments, including upgraded luxury beds as well as new equipment in their spa and gym. Their Camp Discovery Youth and Teen Centers will welcome new experiences for younger travelers.

Check out this incredible overwater SeaWalk on the Royal Princess – a 60-foot long glass walkway standing 128 feet above the ocean!

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