Just about six weeks ago, Global Traveler editor in chief Kimberly Krol Inlander reached out to me to see if I would be interested in representing FXExpress Publications, Inc. on a special press trip to embark on the Discovery Princess’ inaugural Mexican Riviera sailing. The Discovery Princess is Princess Cruises’ newest and final Royal-class ship,

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with her maiden voyage with passengers . . . tomorrow! With travel really opening up and COVID numbers rapidly dropping, it took me very little time to say “Yes!” especially as I could bring my husband along as my cabin mate.

The past weeks have found us selecting shore excursions (we’ll be visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta, sailing roundtrip from Los Angeles) and pouring over deck plans and exploring the dining and entertainment options (so many!). Although we’ve enjoyed several cruises over the years, we’ve never cruised with Princess, and this will be our first international trip since the fall of 2019. I’m very reassured by the stringent health and safety protocols the cruise line has in place, further bolstered by the CDC’s Cruise Ship Color Status Dashboard, which identifies our ship as in the green (no reported cases of COVID or COVID-like illness) and “highly vaccinated.”

I think my biggest worry was getting my COVID test results in time, but Princess made that easy. We could choose to search out our own testing site or opt from a couple of recommended companies from whom we could order our test kits (two for $70) and schedule a tele-med visit when it came time to take and verify the test. We did that Friday morning (48 hours before sailing) and found the process very easy and our “guides” patient and helpful. The verified test results were then sent via email and can be accessed on our phones when we arrive at the ship.

I’m also very impressed with Princess’ MedallionClass program. The app   and the wearable, quarter-sized Medallion device make it possible to enjoy keyless entry to staterooms, order food and beverages anywhere on the ship, make dining reservations and much more. We were able to use it to prepare for a contactless boarding experience and avoid waiting in line at the terminal. We scanned in our passports and security and profile photos, answered a health questionnaire and were able to share some of our preferences and set up contactless payment. I can avoid getting lost with deck plans right in my phone, view port guides and keep track of all the things I want to see and do on an activities timeline. All of that, and I’ve barely scratched the surface! MedallionClass really makes touchless travel a breeze and also provides for a greener experience by reducing the need for paper maps, daily schedules and the like.

I’ll be sharing my cruise experience in upcoming blogs and articles in issues of Global Traveler and in our eFlyer newsletter and online sister publications TrazeeTravel and WhereverFamily. Can’t wait to share with you this long-awaited chance to get out and explore the world again!

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor