Repositioning cruises are often a treat for seasoned cruisers — longer sailings that shift a ship from one homeport to another while stopping at exciting destinations along the way.
But for guests aboard Grand Princess, their September 2025 voyage has come with more challenges than expected.
Trouble on the Grand Princess
The 107,500-gross-ton ship, fresh from her Alaska season, departed Los Angeles on September 25 for a 16-night itinerary bound for Fort Lauderdale.
Along the way, she’s calling at ports in the Mexican Riviera, Costa Rica, Panama, and Aruba.
Once she arrives in Florida, the ship will move into Caribbean service from San Juan. Unfortunately, not all guests are enjoying smooth sailing.
Ongoing technical issues have caused problems with both the air conditioning and toilet systems in some staterooms — hardly the ideal conditions for a relaxing cruise.
Princess Cruises has acknowledged the difficulties and assured passengers that repair teams are working quickly.
In the meantime, the line is offering affected guests a combination of refunds and future cruise credits as compensation.
Air Conditioning Struggles Onboard
Moving from Alaska’s crisp, cool climate to the warm, humid Caribbean isn’t just an adjustment for passengers — it’s a test for the ship, too.
As Grand Princess transitions between regions, the onboard cooling systems have needed recalibration.
Princess Cruises confirmed that while the ship’s main air conditioning system is functioning, several staterooms are struggling to maintain comfortable temperatures.
Some guests have reported their cabins feeling warmer than they’d like, making it harder to relax or sleep well at night.
A letter sent to impacted passengers explained the situation:
“While our cooling systems are working properly overall, additional adjustments need to be made in affected staterooms to bring the temperature to a more comfortable level.”
It’s a reminder that what feels like a “minor issue” to some can be a major disruption to others, particularly on longer cruises where comfort is everything.
Toilet Malfunctions Adding to the Frustration
As if warm staterooms weren’t enough, some guests have faced an even less pleasant problem — toilet system failures.
According to Princess Cruises, “ongoing treatment to the system is causing temporary disruptions,” which has left certain cabins without fully functioning restrooms at times.
The technical team onboard is actively working to repair the issue, but for the affected guests, it’s understandably been a frustrating experience.
On a 16-night cruise, reliable bathroom facilities aren’t just a luxury — they’re a necessity.
While not every stateroom has been impacted, the problem has been widespread enough for Princess Cruises to step in with compensation to help ease the inconvenience.
Compensation for Impacted Guests
To make up for the uncomfortable conditions, Princess Cruises has confirmed that affected guests will receive financial compensation.
The package includes:
- Refunds for impacted days – Guests will get a prorated refund of their cruise fare (excluding taxes, port fees, gratuities, and extras) for the days their experience was disrupted.
- Future Cruise Credit (FCC) – A 25% credit based on the total cruise fare will be added to Captain’s Circle accounts. This can be applied to new bookings made by April 1, 2026, for sailings departing no later than April 1, 2027.
It’s worth noting that not everyone onboard will automatically receive the future cruise credit — only those directly affected by the heat and plumbing issues will qualify for the prorated refunds.
This approach shows Princess Cruises is acknowledging the seriousness of the complaints while also ensuring that genuine issues are distinguished from minor inconveniences.
Should Technical Problems Always Mean Compensation?
The situation on Grand Princess has sparked a common question: Should guests always expect refunds or perks whenever something goes wrong onboard?
The truth is, not every inconvenience qualifies for compensation. For example, one person might prefer their cabin at 66°F at night, while another is comfortable at 72°F.
If the room only cools to 68°F, that’s not an extreme problem—just a personal preference. But if the cabin is stuck at 78°F no matter what, that’s a valid complaint worth raising.
The key point is that cruise lines evaluate issues case by case. Minor hiccups, like a flickering light or a noisy air vent, don’t usually result in refunds.
But when larger, widespread technical failures affect guests’ comfort or basic needs—such as climate control or functioning toilets—compensation becomes more appropriate.
The bottom line: if you experience a serious issue onboard, report it immediately. Crew members can’t fix what they don’t know about, and they’ll usually do everything they can to resolve it quickly.
