Princess Cruises Celebrates Most-Travelled Guest Marking 2,500 Days at Sea and 282 Cruises

Floridian Ilene Weiner Shares Her Favorite Cruise Destinations, Memories and Travel Tips

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Mar 06, 2019, 08:02 ET

SANTA CLARITA, Calif., March 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In 1989 Ilene Weiner and her husband, Howard, set sail aboard Fair Princess to the Caribbean and fell in love with exploring new destinations, connecting with locals and fellow guests and the many onboard amenities only offered on a cruise vacation. Nearly 30 years later, Weiner is the most-travelled guest on Princess Cruises and just celebrated her 282^nd cruise, marking 2,500 days at sea.

Princess Cruises’ most-travelled guest Ilene Weiner, and her companion Carl Cutting, enjoy her favorite destination – Australia – pictured in front of the iconic Sydney Opera House aboard Golden Princess.

"We're incredibly honored to have the loyalty and passion for Princess Cruises that Ms. Weiner exudes as our most-travelled guest," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. "Not only has she celebrated her own milestones throughout the years, she's found pure joy and happiness in discovering the world's beauty and local cultures from a cruise ship."

Princess Cruises celebrated Weiner's milestone on her 280^th cruise – a 28-day Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific Crossing aboard Golden Princess from Los Angeles that ended in her favorite destination, Australia.

The Highland Beach, Fla. resident continues to sail with Princess, most recently aboard Crown Princess to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean where she celebrated the holidays and rang in the new year.

A detailed Q&A with Weiner including her favorite cruise memories, destinations and travel tips follows:

From all your cruises with Princess, what is your favorite destination and why?
Without a doubt … Australia! No matter how many times you go, there is always something new to see. This past year was my first time visiting Western Australia, which is very different than my previous visits to East Coast and Northern Australia.

If you had to pick one city to visit with Princess, what city would you select?
St Petersburg. I just completed my fourth visit this past summer and I'm still amazed that each time I find new sites to experience and meet the most interesting people.

What is your most memorable experience ashore? Any insider tips to share on must-do activities?
I recently visited Petra in Jordan and found this to be a memorable shore excursion. Gazing at The Treasury, I just imagined the archeological marvel that was upon me and was filled with wonder knowing it was built thousands of years ago. During that same trip, I did an evening Jeep Safari in Dubai to a Bedouin Camp. WHAT FUN!

What is your favorite port to sail in or out of?
Sydney Harbor … spectacular every time. It's different when you sail in early in the morning and experience the quiet calm of a sleeping city. When you sail out of Sydney, it's alive with the hustle and bustle of locals and tourists alike. And, I can't leave out Ft. Lauderdale since that's where I'm from.

Where was your most memorable sunset?
Last December 29, 2017 sitting in the Crown Grill Steakhouse aboard Emerald Princess, sailing between The Falkland Islands and Puerto Madryn, Argentina and our window seat gave us a spectacular colorful pink and blue sunset.

Where and what was your most memorable meal?
In Aruba at the Flying Fishbone Restaurant – I had the freshest seafood I've ever tasted, caught that very morning. I'd heard about it on a cruise and booked it the next trip. I was in Aruba when the ship stayed late enough to go to dinner. My favorite meal on a ship was aboard Royal Princess at the Chef's Table - spectacular food and ambiance with the crystal curtains.

What is your favorite souvenir from your travels with Princess?
When I was aboard Pacific Princess upon reaching my 250th cruise, the officers and captain surprised me at the champagne waterfall with four-stripe epaulettes, the same as worn by the Captain. The picture they gave me of this event is my favorite souvenir.

What is next on your bucket list?
Africa is first on my bucket list. I have seen very little of that continent and would like to explore there more and see the countryside, wildlife and meet the locals.

What destination would you suggest to a first-time cruiser?
For a first cruise, I would suggest going to the Mediterranean. It's both beautiful and historical with so much to see and taste!

What destination is the most romantic?
After my husband Howard passed away in 2014, I continued to cruise on my own. Sure enough, I met my partner, Carl, on a cruise aboard Crown Princess heading from Scandinavia to New York. It was a true "Love Boat" experience and still is today. For me, the Princess ships are the most romantic destination – so many possibilities and endless activities to truly connect with someone special. And, you can even watch "The Love Boat" in your stateroom!

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.

About Princess Cruises
One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is the fastest growing international premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 17 modern cruise ships, carrying two million guests each year to 380 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica and World Cruises. A team of professional destination experts have curated 170 itineraries, ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises is continuously recognized as "Best Cruise Line for Itineraries."

In 2017 Princess Cruises, with parent company Carnival Corporation, introduced MedallionClass Vacations enabled by the OceanMedallion, the vacation industry's most advanced wearable device, provided free to each guest sailing on a MedallionClass ship. The award-winning innovation offers the fastest way to a hassle-free, personalized vacation giving guests more time to do the things they love most. MedallionClass Vacations will be activated on five ships by the end of 2019. An activation plan will continue across the global fleet in 2020 and beyond.

Princess Cruises continues its multi-year, "Come Back New Promise" – a $450 million-dollar product innovation and cruise ship renovation campaign that will continue to enhance the line's onboard guest experience. These enhancements result in more moments of awe, lifetime memories and meaningful stories for guests to share from their cruise vacation. The product innovations include partnerships with award-winning Chef Curtis Stone; engaging entertainment inspired shows with Broadway-legend Stephen Schwartz; immersive activities for the whole family from Discovery and Animal Planet that include exclusive shore excursions to onboard activities; the ultimate sleep at sea with the award-winning Princess Luxury Bed and more.

Three new Royal-class ships are currently on order with the next new ship under construction, Sky Princess, scheduled for delivery in October 2019, followed by Enchanted Princess in June 2020. Princess previously announced that two new (LNG) ships which will be the largest ships in the Princess fleet, accommodating approximately 4,300 guests are planned for delivery in 2023 and 2025. Princess now has five ships arriving over the next six years between 2019 and 2025. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).

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SOURCE Princess Cruises