As noted, Holland America always has a valid priest aboard. He offers Mass for the passengers, but his presence is contractually guaranteed for their Fillipino crew members. That’s why you can count on his presence. Princess will have a priest aboard for Easter and Christmas but we have also experienced one at other times. Other cruise lines tend to only cover major holy days too.
The last cruise I went on was February, 2014 – on Royal Carribbean out of Galveston. There happened to be a priest on board for vacation (he is a chaplain at one of the VA hospitals) and he said Mass a couple of times – once in a lounge It was nice seeing all the people that attended both Masses that I went to and it was nice to have the Saturday Mass so I didn’t have to rush home to attend at my local church
Yes, as others mentioned, Holland does. Carnival and Norwegian did not the times I sailed with them.
We went on HAL to Alaska in July out of Vancouver and there was Mass every day and there was Saturday vigil that we attended. Shortest Mass I’ve ever been to
Holland America is our go-to cruise line and there has always been a priest on board through the Apostleship of the Sea, I believe. aos-usa.org They are always priests in good standing with a diocese, or retired.
We cruised recently on Royal Caribbean out of New Orleans, and there was a priest on board then, as well, though he may have been on vacation. That has happened occasionally on other lines, but you can’t count on it.
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