Libby Rome, 52, has spent the past three years living on cruise ships full-time, frequently sailing on the Sky Princess, where she's reached the line's top-tier "Elite" loyalty status.
How to reach Elite status
To achieve Elite status with Princess Cruises, a traveller needs to have completed 15 cruises with the line or spent 150 days sailing with them in total.
Everyday perks
Rome, who documents her travels on Instagram, said one of her favourite perks is complimentary laundry service, explaining: "You get free laundry service, and I really like that. A lot of people ask me how I do laundry and I'm like 'I don't'. I put it in a bag and somebody takes it away and then brings it back clean the next day." She also highlighted a customisable in-room mini bar, saying: "Every time a new cruise starts, you get a whole new mini bar set up and, maybe people don't know this, but you can call and order exactly what you want. They'll give you like two beers, and two tequilas, but you could call and say that you wanted all cognac or all sparkling waters. They can make the bar the way you want it."
Exclusive events
Elite guests also get access to a nightly lounge and a recurring cocktail event called the Captain's Circle Party. Rome said: "There is also a cocktail event and there's a lounge every night. The one cocktail event is call the Captain's Circle Party and you get free cocktails and little hors d'oeuvres and things." She added that the evening lounge, often featuring live piano or singing, is a good spot to meet other frequent travellers.
As one of the ship's most travelled guests, Rome is also occasionally invited to an exclusive dinner reserved for the Sky Princess' top 20 most travelled passengers, where guests sit down with the ship's officers over a full-course gourmet meal. She said: "I usually get invited to that and that is super special because it is a luxury gourmet meal, and you get wine or whatever you want with it. It's a full course and you sit down with each of the officers. Getting to that on every cruise is really nice because you actually get to meet the officers. In one instance I was sat next to the ship's doctor and I got to ask her questions, and on my most recent one I was talking to the head of IT. That's a really nice way for us to feel extra recognized on the ship."
What Princess Cruises says
According to the Sky Princess website, Elite members also receive early access to booking new itineraries, additional onboard discounts including shore excursions and in-ship shops, complimentary canapés on formal nights, and free shoe polishing alongside the laundry service.
