Cruising Movie Fans Have More Choices Than Ever

[Jan115]

When my son was a teenager, his favorite thing to do on cruise ships was watch movies – especially in the cabin, while ordering room service. Apparently he is not alone.

Cruisers have proven to be big movie fans, and the cruise lines have responded with movie-related offerings.

Princess Cruises just debuted on Royal Princess a new, proprietary, on-demand system that allows passengers to choose from a library of 100 movies, both new and classic, as well as TV shows – all for free. That's in addition to the line's signature Movies Under the Stars outdoor movie screenings.

Silversea has also added a new movie experience on its Silver Cloud (other ships to follow) – complimentary streaming movies that guests can watch on their smartphones, tablets or e-Book readers. The extensive library includes classic and recent Academy Award-winning films.

Some other lines have free and for-a-fee movie offerings.

On the newer Royal Caribbean ships, including Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, you can watch first-run movies in a 3-D theater or at a poolside outdoor movie screen that's part of the ship's regular programming that include DreamWorks' films. The line also has in-cabin movie showings as well as pay-per-view ($11.95) selections.

Movie trivia: The red carpet premier of DreamWorks Animation's Puss in Boots in 3-D was held on the Allure in 2011. Stars Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas were in attendance (they did voiceovers for the flick).

Disney Cruise Lines screens first-run and digital 3-D Disney movies on its four ships in specially equipped theaters complete with popcorn and candy stands. Cabins have two movie channels, one featuring animated classics.

But not all shipboard selections are kid-oriented. Windstar Cruises, which caters mostly to adult couples on its sailing yachts, stocks on each ship about 400 movie titles in the DVD library. Passengers borrow the movies to take back to their cabins.

Little known fact: Those who want, ahem, real adult movies can inquire what's available via the reception desk.

By Fran Golden, Special to USA TODAY ("Movies on Cruise Ships" - July 3, 2013)

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[DebbieandJerry]

We've been on cruises where you check out tapes from the purser's desk; order movies off the t.v.; watch movies in the theater and watch movies under the stars! Loved all of the options.

The last theater movie that we went to, I had brought along all kinds of "theater candy". INSTANT friends. We passed those boxes along to everyone in the theater. Movie was terrible, but the candy and friendship were top notch.

Carnival added movies under the stars and serves popcorn! Not sure about the other ships. We did watch movies under the stars on Princess, but I don't remember any treats.

Thanks for the tip about the adult films!

[Jan115]

What a great idea to bring theater candy! Free popcorn and blankets were handed out last time we were at MUTS on Princess.

[WeCruiseToo]

I like knowing that the movies are readily available but we’ve never actually watched an entire one while cruising. One neat thing we noticed on river cruises in Europe: they feature movies that are about or were filmed in the very region you’re cruising through!