Christmas Cruises: No priests on board but website says otherwise

Just talked to Mary Brink in Customer Service at Princess, and she said that there will be NO Priest on board to say Catholic Mass for Christmas....even though the Princess.com website says there will be!

They will be taking down this information off their website shortly. We booked the Regal yesterday when we saw online that they would have a priest onboard. When I called Princess to double check we were told that was not correct but they would get back to us today. Needless to say we will not finalize our booking today as we had the cabin on hold for 24 hours.

The past few Christmases we cruised on Celebrity and they always have a Priest on board for the Holy days of Easter and Christmas.

She also never heard of Apostleship of the Seas that coordinates the Priests to be on these Christmas and Easter cruises for the cruise lines.

We have cruised on Princess 10 times and this was a real disappointment.

Princess stopped having Priests onboard for Christmas and Easter several years ago. If one is onboard, they can volunteer their services. Last time I saw their website, this indicated such:

https://www.princess.com/learn/faq_answer/onboard/experience.jsp

We respect our guests' religious beliefs and invite them to practice on their own or with their fellow guests. Guests who wish to lead religious services may volunteer by contacting the Guest Services desk or a member of the Cruise Staff. In some cases, our shipboard staff will lead services. However, Princess Cruises does not place clergy on board our vessels.

Clergy traveling as Guests onboard our vessels are welcome to conduct services while sailing. They should leave their name, cabin number, and services offered at the Guest Services Desk and they will be contacted by a member of the Cruise Director's Staff. Approval of services will be made based on schedule suitability, appropriate onboard supplies, etc. Please bring your Letter of Celebret or Letter of Good Standing with you to provide to the onboard staff.

Please note that during Passover, there will be a Seder service (including Passover meal) held onboard. For Hanukkah, services are available and will be guest-led with wine, Challah bread, prayers and an electric Menorah (no candles or live flames) provided by Princess. Supplies are present and available for anyone who wants to lead the service at 5:30 PM on Friday evenings.

If you would like to bring on your own Menorah, you may. However, since candles are prohibited onboard all Princess ships, it must be electric (no live flame).

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Not sure where on their website it says they do. I thought it was removed years ago. There are several threads the past several years to indicate they no longer do.

I have read that HAL has Mass every Sunday and that the QM2 normally has Mass every day. You may wish to look into those.

From the princess website 1 minute ago...read last sentence:

Cruising Through the Holidays

Princess' Shipboard Celebrations Make it Easy to have a Happy Hanukkah, Christmas or New Year

As each year draws to a close, Princess guests look forward to enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday season, those age-old traditions of Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's ... as they visit exotic locales, soak up the sun and participate in the many other activities a cruise has to offer. The ease with which Princess enables guests to enjoy these special days has made the holidays one of the most popular times to take a seagoing vacation, as Princess ships make the season particularly festive.

Princess' fleet offers a wide range of Christmas and New Year's cruises across the globe each year, typically sailing to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Australia/ New Zealand, South America and the South Pacific during this holiday period.

A Merry Christmas at Sea

It's not hard to get into the Christmas spirit right from the start, as ships are trimmed from stem to stern in festive holiday decor, complete with wreaths, holly, mistletoe and, of course, Christmas trees, which often even decorate the ship's mast. It's not uncommon to see Yuletide carolers strolling the decks singing favorite holiday tunes, or waiters wearing Santa hats. Seasonal entertainment abounds, as guests may enjoy themed production shows, live music and films during the voyage. Guests can also attend Catholic mass and inter-denominational church service.

When we were on a cruise one Easter, a Catholic mass was held by a guest who was among a group at the Fusion lounge. Days prior, PSD was not sure if there will be mass as they don’t have a priest.

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From the princess website 1 minute ago...read last sentence:

 

Cruising Through the Holidays

 

Princess' Shipboard Celebrations Make it Easy to have a Happy Hanukkah, Christmas or New Year

 

As each year draws to a close, Princess guests look forward to enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday season, those age-old traditions of Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's ... as they visit exotic locales, soak up the sun and participate in the many other activities a cruise has to offer. The ease with which Princess enables guests to enjoy these special days has made the holidays one of the most popular times to take a seagoing vacation, as Princess ships make the season particularly festive.

Princess' fleet offers a wide range of Christmas and New Year's cruises across the globe each year, typically sailing to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Australia/ New Zealand, South America and the South Pacific during this holiday period.

A Merry Christmas at Sea

It's not hard to get into the Christmas spirit right from the start, as ships are trimmed from stem to stern in festive holiday decor, complete with wreaths, holly, mistletoe and, of course, Christmas trees, which often even decorate the ship's mast. It's not uncommon to see Yuletide carolers strolling the decks singing favorite holiday tunes, or waiters wearing Santa hats. Seasonal entertainment abounds, as guests may enjoy themed production shows, live music and films during the voyage. Guests can also attend Catholic mass and inter-denominational church service.

Wow -they changed this years ago. Thanks for posting it. There most likely will be a Priest onboard as a guest but you wouldn't want to risk it.

The part I quoted was from a different area. Your text is still up on the website.

When we traveled over the holidays on one of the cruise lines, if we wished, the cruise line was always accommodating in regards to providing us with an area in which to have services. In fact over Chanukah, Carnival even provided us with a Menorah as well as cooking Potato Latkes for us.

However except for Holland America and Cunard, there usually is not a Minister, hired by the cruise line on board.

My guess is that these two lines do it more for tradition than anything else.

Certainly if you want to celebrate Christmas with services on board, why don't you organize it among yourself and others who wish to do so. I am sure that the cruise lines will help out.

The Apostleship of the Seas only has agreements with HAL, RCI, Seabourn, and MSC to provide priests for the holy days. HAL has a priest on every cruise.

When we traveled over the holidays on one of the cruise lines, if we wished, the cruise line was always accommodating in regards to providing us with an area in which to have services. In fact over Chanukah, Carnival even provided us with a Menorah as well as cooking Potato Latkes for us.

 

However except for Holland America and Cunard, there usually is not a Minister, hired by the cruise line on board.

 

My guess is that these two lines do it more for tradition than anything else.

 

Certainly if you want to celebrate Christmas with services on board, why don't you organize it among yourself and others who wish to do so. I am sure that the cruise lines will help out.

Thanks for the suggestion however Christmas is a holy day for Catholics and they must attend a mass and take communion which can only be consecrated at a mass by a priest.

Thanks for the suggestion however Christmas is a holy day for Catholics and they must attend a mass and take communion which can only be consecrated at a mass by a priest.

However, being Catholic ourselves, we have checked with our parish priests who always state that if we are unable to attend Mass on a holy day, then what we should do is find something to keep the day holy. Keep this in mind if you find yourself onboard and the priest isn't. Check with your parish priest in advance if you need to verify this yourself.

https://www.princess.com/news/backgrounders_and_fact_sheets/factsheet/Cruising-Through-the-Holidays.html

It seems to been a toss up in getting a sufficient religious service on holidays. A few people were complaining a ways back about the Jewish holidays on celebrity ships. If sticking to a true religious tradition is important; then traveling on those days isn’t a great idea. No way to guarantee you’ll get the experience you are looking for.

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We also miss having a priest on board. I've read, but can't confirm, that it stopped because some passengers complained that they were concerned they might be paying for some portion of it. I've never attended a Mass on Princess that wasn't full or overfull, not only with passengers but with crew. There are obviously enough of us that we could contribute to fare for a priest if Princess would allow the service to be held and there were a method of doing it. I know retired priests who would be delighted by the opportunity. We love spending holidays with Princess but do sometimes reschedule cruises because of the lack of a priest.

From the princess website 1 minute ago...read last sentence:

 

Cruising Through the Holidays

 

Princess' Shipboard Celebrations Make it Easy to have a Happy Hanukkah, Christmas or New Year

 

As each year draws to a close, Princess guests look forward to enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday season, those age-old traditions of Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's ... as they visit exotic locales, soak up the sun and participate in the many other activities a cruise has to offer. The ease with which Princess enables guests to enjoy these special days has made the holidays one of the most popular times to take a seagoing vacation, as Princess ships make the season particularly festive.

Princess' fleet offers a wide range of Christmas and New Year's cruises across the globe each year, typically sailing to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Australia/ New Zealand, South America and the South Pacific during this holiday period.

A Merry Christmas at Sea

It's not hard to get into the Christmas spirit right from the start, as ships are trimmed from stem to stern in festive holiday decor, complete with wreaths, holly, mistletoe and, of course, Christmas trees, which often even decorate the ship's mast. It's not uncommon to see Yuletide carolers strolling the decks singing favorite holiday tunes, or waiters wearing Santa hats. Seasonal entertainment abounds, as guests may enjoy themed production shows, live music and films during the voyage. Guests can also attend Catholic mass and inter-denominational church service.

I read the last sentence. But there is a BIG assumption by the reader here. I read it to state that there will be a room set aside for mass and an inter-denominational church service. It does NOT state who will be leading them if anyone. I guess you could assume that if there is a mass there will be a priest, but then we all know what assume spells. With today's climate of so easily offended people, I can see why a priest's services are not provided by Princess. A shame, but that is what the majority of people today have brought on themselves. I can see where it would be a disappointment to the OP, but don't blame Princess!!!!

Pooh

That's very offensive.

Is it? I do security at one of the mega churches - and say what you want about them, they are evolving with the times unlike some Christian denominations. And are becoming outrageously popular and big business because of it. They brand that is big in my city has expanded to 6 campuses city wide plus many satellite campuses around the world.

This is exactly how they do communion. They make prepackaged communion cups that include a small cup of juice and a small water. Grab one when you go in and they have everyone do communion at once. They do webcast their services and if you are watching at home they suggest you grab a cracker and wine/juice to join in.

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Is it? I do security at one of the mega churches - and say what you want about them, they are evolving with the times unlike some Christian denominations. And are becoming outrageously popular and big business because of it. They brand that is big in my city has expanded to 6 campuses city wide plus many satellite campuses around the world.

 

This is exactly how they do communion. They make prepackaged communion cups that include a small cup of juice and a small water. Grab one when you go in and they have everyone do communion at once. They do webcast their services and if you are watching at home they suggest you grab a cracker and wine/juice to join in.

 

 

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That's fine for that denomination and others as they do not believe in Trans-substantiation but see Communioin as symbolic.

Different for Catholics, Orthodox and some other denominations who do believe in it.

That's fine for that denomination and others as they do not believe in Trans-substantiation but see Communioin as symbolic.

 

 

 

Different for Catholics, Orthodox and some other denominations who do believe in it.

I don’t pretend to understand Christian traditions and find catholic traditions particularly befuddling. No one has yet successfully explained confession. And don’t bother, people have tried. Just seems to me that if you practice what you preach there’s no need to confess; and if you don’t practice what you preach you probably shouldn’t be there in the first place. But confession is beside the point.

Just reporting that many practicing Christians - and yes, referring to crossroads church which serves tens of thousands of practicing Christians every weekend - take communion exactly as that poster described. So have trouble seeing the suggestion as offensive.

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I don’t pretend to understand Christian traditions and find catholic traditions particularly befuddling. Just reporting that many practicing Christians - and yes, referring to crossroads church which serves tens of thousands of practicing Christians every weekend - take communion exactly as that poster described. So have trouble seeing the suggestion as offensive.

 

 

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I can assure you that the Voljeep post really is very offensive to a devout Catholic.

I respect all religions and their beliefs and traditions and would not stoop to insult them by the sort of comment he made..

Each to his own and all that....................

Just to clarify my original posting.....the issue is the website stated they will be holding a Catholic mass. They now say that was not correct and the website was wrong. How about doing what you say you are going to do and bring on a priest for Christmas. Lastly they handled the phone call back to us very poorly....almost with an air of indignation. That’s too bad but Ok, I’ll look elsewhere in the future

Just to clarify my original posting.....the issue is the website stated they will be holding a Catholic mass. They now say that was not correct and the website was wrong. How about doing what you say you are going to do and bring on a priest for Christmas. Lastly they handled the phone call back to us very poorly....almost with an air of indignation. That’s too bad but Ok, I’ll look elsewhere in the future

Can't say I blame you. Its also particularly sad for the Filipino crew, many of whom are devout Catholics and so far from home for so long and have told me they derive comfort from the occasional times a priest used to be onboard.

If there is no priest on board for my Christmas cruise, I will go to Mass on Dec 26 when in port. It is not the optimal, but it will suffice for my spiritual needs.

A service lead by a lay member cannot fulfill the obligations of a Catholic; there can be no Communion without the offices of an ordained priest. I assume that this is also the case for the major Protestant groups, but I recall one cruise in which a priest held Catholic Mass and then lead ecumenical Protestant services.

For Jewish services, Jews do not need an ordained rabbi for most (if any) of their prayer services; a lay worshiper can lead the services. Of course, I would not recommend an amateur for a bris!!!!!

I have read that HAL has Mass every Sunday and that the QM2 normally has Mass every day. You may wish to look into those.

Pretty right about QM2, we were on QM2 in March, Sydney to Hong Kong. The ship was on her 100 day world cruise and carried the same priest on board for the journey. I spoke to him a few times. He just volunteered his service to Cunard and won the prize.

A very nice chap who was around 40 years of age, from a northern England Parish. he did hold mass most sea day mornings anyway. :halo: He acted as ship's escort on a couple of shorex we were on.

Scott, I agree with you. If Princess stated on its website that there would be a Mass, and now says there might be no priest, they did mislead you. There can be no Mass without a priest to act as G_d's instrument in transforming the host and wine; so if they promised a Mass, they promised a priest.

Discuss this with your parish priest, and determine when you can attend Mass during your cruise if there really is no priest on board. As I said above, I will attend Mass the next day, ashore, if there is no priest on my cruise. I was told that this is acceptable, when I cannot attend Mass on the Holy Day.

Then, we can get into discussions of whether you voluntarily placed yourself where you cannot attend a Mass, But you in fact did rely on Princess' promise that there would be a Christmas Mass. So you are without fault in this regard -- this time! Next year, do not take a Christmas or Easter cruise with Princess.

I think the real reason for any cruise line not to provide a "Catholic Priest" at their expense is that ALL other denominations/religions could then demand one of their own faith to be on board to conduct services for their holy days.

I think the real reason for any cruise line not to provide a "Catholic Priest" at their expense is that ALL other denominations/religions could then demand one of their own faith to be on board to conduct services for their holy days.

Back in the day when I used to cruise on QE2 there was usually a Catholic priest, a Protestant minister and sometimes a Rabbi on board, The priest was retired and from France,, he was the only one I ever shared a table with.

Anyway to cut a long story short the Catholic Priest used to say Mass at around midnight for the crew on a daily basis - as all Catholic priests are bound to say Mass every day in any case wherever they are, even if they are alone.

And with the number of Catholic crew on board Princess I am surprised they don't have one primarily for them in the interests of crew welfare,.

Is it? I do security at one of the mega churches - and say what you want about them, they are evolving with the times unlike some Christian denominations. And are becoming outrageously popular and big business because of it. They brand that is big in my city has expanded to 6 campuses city wide plus many satellite campuses around the world.

 

This is exactly how they do communion. They make prepackaged communion cups that include a small cup of juice and a small water. Grab one when you go in and they have everyone do communion at once. They do webcast their services and if you are watching at home they suggest you grab a cracker and wine/juice to join in.

 

 

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That's not the point at all.

I'm not Catholic, but I know that Protestant and Catholic denominations have different practices for communion.

I can do without Voljeep's continuous rude and hostile messages. Even when he's put on ignore, other posters still quote him in their messages.

Isn't mocking and belittling someone's religious faith against the Terms of Service? Where are the moderators who are supposed to be reading this thread?