Princess Cruises Doubles Admission Fee for Adults-Only Deck

Princess Cruises has raised the fee for entry into its adults-only area, The Sanctuary, on all ships in its fleet. 

According to Karen Candy, the line's public relations manager, passengers will now be charged $20 for a half-day pass or $40 for a full day -- double the previous fees, which were $10 and $20, respectively. 

So, why the sudden and drastic change? 

"The price increase was implemented starting in January to help control demand," Candy said. 

Cruise Critic members have already started chattering about the changes on our message boards: "I am a huge Sanctuary fan ... but not at that price!" says CRLess. 

Members say that, under the old pricing, The Sanctuary's entry fee went up on certain days during certain sailings, like "canal day" on Panama Canal voyages. We've reached out to the line for comment on whether prices for special days will remain the same or whether those have increased, as well. 

We've also contacted Princess for information regarding "extras" like Evian misters and Sanctuary menu drinks, which previously levied additional fees; there has been no word yet on whether they will now be included in the price. 

Several other lines -- like Holland America, Oceania, P&O, Norwegian and Carnival -- also offer adults-only retreats. Most charge for the privilege (anywhere from $15 to $100, depending on cabana rental), but some, including Carnival, offer free access on a first-come, first-served basis.

Source:cruisecritic.co.