Religious Services

Does Princess hold religious services onboard? On our last cruise (NCL), we noticed that there weren't any religious services. On our last HAL cruise, they seemed to have Catholic Mass daily. This was our first time on NCL so we didn't know if it was just NCL or were cruise lines dropping these services?

Thanks,

R&K

I've found that religous services often depend on whether there's someone on ship to conduct them. Check your Princess Patter (your daily 'newspaper'), it will say there if a service will be held and/or if seeking someone on board to conduct a service in a particular denomination. It may help to mention at the Pursers's or Hotel desk you're interested in services; sometimes they can get you in touch with other passengers who have expressed similar interest and you may be able to share at least a small devotion or service with others. Or, if you know that you're in a port on your day of worship you might be able to research and find a church to attend there, which could be very interesting. There's never been an organized Lutheran service on any of my cruises, but I have seen Catholic and Jewish services listed. Good luck, and enjoy your cruise!

[norm]

Rich & Kathy,

Princess's ships usually do not have chaplains assigned, so they offer services as they are able.

>> There's usually a Jewish Sabbath sevice on Friday evening, though the ship usually provides the necessary articles and supplies and asks that a passenger (who need not be a rabbi) volunteer to lead it.

>> There's usually a non-denominational Christian service on Sunday morning which might be led by either a devout senior officer or a passenger, who may or may not be a minister.

>> If a Catholic presbyter or bishop is travelling as a passenger, the ship usually will invite him to preside at a mass in one of the show rooms for the passengers and crew. Note that Catholic Christians are not obligated to mass if it is not available while at sea.

>> Finally, the tour desk usually has reliable information regarding the locations of churches and the times of their services in the ship's ports of call.

Norm.