Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises has 16 cruise ships in service in 2024 with more under construction. If you’re planning a Princess cruise and are wondering about the older and newer ships and which is the best, then you should find this article useful.

Here, I’ve listed all of the Princess Cruises ships in age order, from newest to oldest. Then below that, you’ll find some facts, statistics and photos for each ship.

This table shows Princess Cruises ships by age from newest to oldest:

Sun Princess is the newest ship in the fleet (for now)

The newest Princess Cruises ship is Sun Princess, which launched in early 2024. She’s also the largest ship in the fleet. She has a sister ship under construction – Star Princess will launch in 2025.

Read more: The Newest Princess Cruises Ships (In Order)

As a new class of ship, the Sphere Class vessels (Sun Princess and Star Princess) have a gross tonnage of 175,500 tons and accommodation for 4,300 guests.

The largest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet before Sun Princess arrived was Discovery Princess. This 19-deck cruise ship has an internal volume of 145,000 gross tonnes and is 1,083 feet long and 217 feet high. She can accommodate 3,660 guests at double occupancy, more with extra beds in use, as well as 1,346 crew members.

Princess Cruises has six Royal-class cruise ships that are all similarly sized. Discovery Princess is the largest as she is 20cm taller than her sister ships.

Suggested read: The best and worst cabins on Discovery Princess

Coral Princess is the little sister of the fleet

The smallest cruise ship in the Princess Cruises fleet is Coral Princess. This ship has a gross tonnage of 91,627 and a length of 964 feet. She accommodates 2,000 passengers over 16 decks.

Unlike most Princess ships, Coral Princess is small enough to fit through the Panama Canal.

Until January 2021, Princess Cruises had one small ship – Pacific Princess. With a gross tonnage of 30,277 and a length of 592 feet, this 11-deck cruise ship was just a third of the size of Coral Princess. Pacific Princess accommodated just 670 guests.

Read more: Princess Cruises Ships By Size

Each of the ships – regardless of age – are now MedallionClass

On MedallionClass cruises, each guest receives a wearable device that is the size of a ten-pence piece in the UK or a quarter in the US. It functions in the same way as a traditional cruise card, but with some added benefits.

It used to be the case that only the newer ships had Medallion Class, but since 2022, every Princess Cruises ship has Ocean Medallion technology.

Read more: What You Need To Know About Princess Ocean Medallion

Is newer better? Not always

Newer Princess Cruises ships aren’t necessarily any better than the older ones. Each ship is refurbished every three to five years, so even the oldest ships will never have peeling paint or worn carpets.

Princess Cruises ships have an American-style decor and the older ships can look a little dated in terms of style. So you’ll probably see more dark wood, blue carpets and orange curtains than on the newer ships which have a more modern, neutral colour scheme.

The facilities are similar on the older and newer ships. Whereas with Royal Caribbean, the newer cruise ships have all the best things like skydiving simulators and robot bartenders, you won’t find these things on Princess Cruises ships which are much more elegant.

Suggested read: Princess Cruise Ships Ranked From Best To Worst

Full list of Princess Cruises ships (with some key info)

Here’s an overview of each of the ships in the Princess Cruises fleet…

Star Princess

Launch: August 2025
Guests: 4,300
Crew: 1,600
Decks: 21
Tonnage: 175,500
Length: 1,133 feet
Height: 200 feet

Sun Princess

Launch: February 2024
Guests: 4,300
Crew: 1,600
Decks: 21
Tonnage: 175,500
Length: 1,133 feet
Height: 200 feet

Discovery Princess

• Launch: March 2022
• Guests: 3,660
• Crew: 1,346
• Decks: 19
• Tonnage: 145,000
• Length: 1,083 feet
• Height: 217′ 6¼ feet

Enchanted Princess

• Launched: November 2021
• Guests: 3,660
• Crew: 1,346
• Decks: 19
• Tonnage: 145,000
• Length: 1,083 feet
• Height: 217 feet

Sky Princess

• Launched: October 2019
• Guests: 3,660
• Crew: 1,346
• Decks: 19
• Tonnage: 141,000
• Length: 1,083 feet
• Height: 217 feet
• Christened by: Captain Kay Hire and Poppy Northcutt

Majestic Princess

• Launched: March 2017
• Guests: 3,560
• Crew: 1,346
• Decks: 19
• Tonnage: 143,700
• Length: 1,083 feet
• Height: 224 feet
• Named by: Yao Ming and Ye Li
• Chinese Name: 盛世公主号 (Shèng Shì Gōng Zhǔ Haò)

Regal Princess

Royal Princess

• Launched: June 2013
• Refurbished: December 2018
• Guests: 3,560
• Crew: 1,346
• Decks: 19
• Tonnage: 142,229
• Length: 1,083 feet
• Height: 217 feet
• Christened by: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge

Ruby Princess

• Launched: November 2008
• Refurbished: October 2018
• Guests: 3,080
• Crew: 1,200
• Decks: 19
• Tonnage: 113,561
• Length: 951 feet
• Height: 195 feet
• Christened by: Trista and Ryan Sutter from ‘The Bachelorette’

Emerald Princess

• Launched: April 2007
• Refurbished: April 2019
• Guests: 3,080
• Crew: 1,200
• Decks: 19
• Tonnage: 113,561
• Length: 951 feet
• Height: 195 feet
• Christened by: Florence Henderson and Susan Olsen (From The Brady Bunch), Erin Moran and Marion Ross (From Happy Days)

Crown Princess

• Launched: June 2006
• Refurbished: April 2018
• Guests: 3,080
• Crew: 1,200
• Decks: 19
• Tonnage: 113,561
• Length: 952 feet
• Height: 195 feet
• Christened by: Martha Stewart

Caribbean Princess

• Launched: April 2004
• Refurbished: May 2019
• Guests: 3,140
• Crew: 1,200
• Decks: 19
• Tonnage: 112,894
• Length: 952 feet
• Height: 193 feet
• Christened by: Jill Whelan (‘Vicki’ from The Love Boat)

Diamond Princess

• Launched: March 2004
• Refurbished: February 2019
• Guests: 2,670
• Crew: 1,100
• Decks: 18
• Tonnage: 115,875
• Length: 952 feet
• Height: 205 feet
• Christened by: Yoshiko Tsukuda (wife of the president of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries)

Sapphire Princess

• Launched: May 2004
• Refurbished: March 2018
• Guests: 2,670
• Crew: 1,100
• Decks: 18
• Tonnage: 115,875
• Length: 952 feet
• Height: 205 feet
• Christened by: Nancy Gore Murkowski, former First Lady of Alaska

Island Princess

• Launched: July 2003
• Refurbished: December 2017
• Guests: 2,200
• Crew: 900
• Decks: 16
• Tonnage: 92,822
• Length: 964 feet
• Height: 204 feet
• Christened by: Jamie Salé and David Pelletier (Olympic Gold Medalists)

Coral Princess

• Launched: January 20003
• Refurbished: January 2019
• Guests: 2,000
• Crew: 895
• Decks: 16
• Tonnage: 91,627
• Length: 965 feet
• Height: 203 feet
• Christened by: Mireya Moscoso, President of Panama

Grand Princess

• Launched: May 1998
• Refurbished: March 2019
• Guests: 2,600
• Crew: 1,150
• Decks: 17
• Tonnage: 107,517
• Length: 949 feet
• Height: 188 feet
• Christened by: Olivia de Havilland

To conclude

Princess Cruises is a family-friendly cruise line with 16 ships that cruise to destinations across the globe. Each ship is regularly refurbished, so whether you choose an older ship like Grand Princess or a brand new ship like Enchanted Princess, you can be sure that you’ll be accommodated in luxurious surroundings.

Related posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Princess Cruises’ Suites comes with a whole host of VIP benefits. And, the better the Suite you choose, the more free perks you’ll get.

Choosing the best Suite or Mini-Suite for you is a decision that you won’t want to get wrong. So in this guide, I’ll show you what you can expect when you book each of the different accommodation types on Princess Cruises ships.

First, you need to know the different suite types

There are five different suite types on Princess Cruise ships:

• Mini-Suites
• Club Class Mini-Suites
• Cabana Mini-Suites
• Suites
• Two Bedroom Family Suites
• Sky Suites

Mini-Suites

Mini-Suites are the next level of accommodation up from a balcony room and they feature a separate sitting area – ideal for people who like a little more space.

A Princess Mini Suite is substantially larger than balcony rooms but, as the name suggests, not as large as a full Suite.

Club Class Mini-Suites

The best Mini-Suites on Princess Cruises ships are Club Class Mini-Suites. These are located in the best spots in the middle of each ship and come with a selection of extra perks like Club Class Dining, priority boarding and free wine on embarkation day.

You can learn more about the Princess Club Class perks later in this guide.

Cabana Mini-Suites

Introduced on the new Sphere-class ships for Princess Cruises, Cabana Mini-Suites offer their own private cabana – an indoor/outdoor area between the main Mini Suite and the balcony.

You get the same Princess suite benefits as a regular Mini-Suite, but with access to the Cabana Deck on the ship too, which is a private area for Cabana guests.

Suites

On Princess Cruises ships, Suites come with all the amenities of Club Class Mini-Suites and a few more as well. You’ll enjoy considerably more space and extra freebies like laundry, a mini-bar setup and speciality dining on the first night.

Sky Suites

Sky Suites are only available on the newest ships – Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess, along with the Sphere-class ships like Sun Princess (where they are called Signature Sky Suites)

They are absolutely huge, with a 1,000-square-foot balcony offering 270-degree views. You’ll be looked after by a Suite Experience Manager are will receive lots of free perks like access to The Enclave spa, VIP seats in the theatre and meals served on your balcony if you wish.

Two Bedroom Family Suites

A Two Bedroom Family Suite is essentially a regular Mini-Suite that’s connected to an Inside Stateroom via a shared lounge.

They are only available on certain ships – Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Diamond Princess, Emerald Princess, Grand Princess, Ruby Princess and Sapphire Princess. These suites sleep up to eight people on most ships, but only six people on Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess.

Read more: Suite Vs Mini Suite Vs Balcony

To help you avoid these worst cabins on Princess Cruises, I’ve created a cabin checklist that you can get for free. Just enter your email address below and you’ll receive it in your inbox straight away.

At a glance – the Princess suite benefits

So many benefits! Let’s learn more…

The VIP perks and amenities you can expect differ across the different Princess Suites. The most expensive suites, Sky Suites, are extremely spacious and feature lots of facilities and extra services. The cheapest Mini-Suites, however, are just a small upgrade from a balcony room.

Here’s what you can expect at each level…

1. Separate sitting area

On Princess Cruises, what sets a Mini-Suite or Suite aside from a Balcony room is the separate sitting area. And the larger your suite, the larger and more distinct this area is.

With a Mini-Suite, you’ll get a sofa bed and coffee table, whereas, in a Full Suite the seating area features a sofa bed, chair and two tables.

The living area in Princess Cruises’ Sky Suites is the most spacious with a sofa bed, side table, lounge chair, coffee table and a large dining table that seats four.

2. Bathtub

One of the perks of a Suite or Mini-Suite on a Princess cruise is that you get a bathtub rather than just a stand-up shower. This is ideal for families with young children or those who like to soak in the tub.

In Club Class Mini-Suites and Suites, you’ll also get upgraded toiletries, although the standard toiletries are very nice anyway.

Sky Suites feature two bathrooms – one with a bathtub and separate rain shower and another with a shower. The toiletries and towels are extra special too.

3. Larger balcony

Princess Cruises Suites generally have larger balconies than standard Balcony cabins. These increase in size as you upgrade through the different suite types. Princess Cruises’ Sky Suites have the largest balconies at sea.

The Sky Suite balcony is so large that it’s impossible to fit it all into one photo. While it is very large, it doesn’t have a jacuzzi on the balcony as you might expect if you’re used to cruising with other cruise lines such as Carnival.

Mini-Suites have floor-to-ceiling glass doors, while full Suites have two sets of sliding glass doors and Sky Suites have three, as well as a window onto the balcony.

One thing to be aware of though, is that not every suite has a balcony. Some Suites, known as Window Suites, have a large window instead. If you value a balcony, you’ll want to avoid these. However, if you’re travelling with young children or a vulnerable person, the lack of a balcony could give you some added peace of mind.

4. Luxury bedding

When you book a Mini-Suite you can expect a better night’s sleep as your bed will feature a luxury mattress topper and pillows.

Club Class Mini-Suites and above feature ‘The Princess Luxury Bed’. Designed by sleep expert Dr Michael Breus, the mattress, linens, duvets and pillows have been carefully crafted for maximum comfort. So comfortable is this bed, that many cruisers are willing to pay upwards of $2,000 to recreate the experience at home.

Guests staying in Full Suites have the option to customise their bed with a pillow and mattress topper menu.

In each Princess Cruises Suite and Mini-Suite you’ll find not one but two flat-screen televisions – one in the bedroom and one in the seating area. On the newer ships these have a touch screen.

Princess Cruises Sky Suites have an unbelievable four TVs as well as a view of the big movie screen on the pool deck. So, every member of the family can watch something different should they wish.

6. Bathrobes and slippers

Mini-Suites don’t come with bathrobes on Princess Cruises – those are reserved for guests staying in Club Class Mini-Suites and Full Suites. If you book the Sky Suite, you’ll get an extra special robe to wear.

Slippers are only provided for guests in Full Suites, except on Asian cruises where they are generally provided for everybody as is expected by the local culture. You’ll need to return your dressing gown at the end of the cruise, but the slippers are yours to keep.

7. Complimentary drinks

On Princess cruises, Mini-Suite guests will be welcomed with a complimentary glass of bubbly on embarkation day, but if you book Club Class or a Full Suite this will be upgraded to real Champagne.

Club Class and above also receive a complimentary wine set up on embarkation day, with half a bottle of red and half a bottle of white wine.

Guests staying in Full Suites will also receive one complimentary mini-bar set up. But after this, you’ll be expected to pay for drinks from your mini-bar. You’ll also get free bottled water delivered daily.

If you stay in the Sky Suite, you’ll also be invited to a complimentary fine wine tasting on one evening.

Plus, suite guests get free drinks in the Concierge Lounge (more on that below).

8. Canapes

One of the perks of staying in a Club Class Mini-Suite or Full Suite is that you can have delicious canapes delivered each evening. To avoid waste, these aren’t delivered automatically, you’ll need to request them. So, don’t forget to let your room steward know if this is something that you’d like.

9. Dining perks

One of the main reasons to upgrade from a Mini-Suite to a Club Class Mini-Suite or Full Suite is the Club Class Dining Experience.

You’ll be seated in an exclusive area of the main dining room that’s a bit nicer than the rest of the room. You’ll benefit from the best waiters so you can be sure of the very best service and you’ll have extra menu options with a daily Chef’s Special that’s not on offer to other guests.

Club Class Dining is available for breakfast and dinner every day, as well as lunch on sea days.

If you cruise on board Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess, Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Coral Princess or Island
Princess, Suite guests will also enjoy a complimentary speciality dining dinner on the first evening of the cruise.

Other culinary perks for suite guests include ‘welcome goodies’ from the chef on embarkation evening, afternoon tea served in your suite each day, a bowl of exotic fruits refreshed as required and an upgraded room service menu.

10. Priority access

While Mini-Suite guests are not invited to the front of any lines, those staying in Club Class Mini-Suites and above will benefit from priority embarkation and disembarkation at the beginning and end of the cruise.

Priority embarkation is great because you’ll be able to head straight to The Sanctuary to book a place. This usually gets fully booked within an hour or two of boarding.

And with priority disembarkation at the end of your cruise, you can leave the ship as you please without being restricted to an allotted time.

If you choose a Full Suite, you’ll also get priority disembarkation at tender ports, meaning that there will be no wait for a boat to take you ashore. You will, however, have to join the line of people waiting for tender boats back to the ship.

You’ll also benefit from priority dining and shore excursion reservations and can join the VIP line at the guest services desk.

11. Free laundry

On longer cruises, free laundry can be a really valuable perk to have. If you book a Suite on a Princess cruise, you’ll receive free laundry and dry cleaning throughout your trip.

Suggested read: Cruise Ship Laundry Guide

12. VIP lounges

Guests staying in Full Suites have exclusive access to the Elite Lounge which is available on most ships. Here you can enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and discounted drinks between 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm on selected evenings.

Suite guests also have unlimited access to the Concierge Lounge. Here, you can enjoy tea, coffee and snacks around the clock. Between 5 pm and 7 pm each evening you can also enjoy complimentary drinks. A concierge will also be on hand to assist with any reservations that you require.

13 Suite parties

Princess Cruises’ suites guests will receive invitations to a variety of special VIP events throughout the cruise. These are often attended by senior officers or the cruise director so guests will have the chance to chat to them and ask any questions

14. Spa access

Suite guests receive complimentary access to The Enclave – the thermal suite of the Lotus Spa – on selected ships. Here you can use the hydrotherapy pool, heated beds, steam rooms and saunas.

Access to The Enclave usually costs around $249 for a whole-cruise pass, although you can sometimes buy day passes. You’ll have to pay extra for any spa treatments.

15. Little touches

One of the best reasons to choose a suite is all of the little extras that add up to make you feel really special during your cruise. Some of the perks you can look forward to when you choose a Full Suite include:

• Fresh orchids in your suite
• An upgraded turndown service
• Use of umbrellas
• A free cruise card wallet
• Complimentary Shoe polishing service
• Private portrait sitting with the photographer

16. Sky Suite perks

Those staying in Princess Cruises’ very best suites, Sky Suites or Sky Signature Suites, can expect some extra perks that nobody else will get. These include:

• Pre-cruise shoreside concierge
• Seamless curb-to-suite experience
• Services of a Suite Experience Manager
• Reserved seats in the theatre
• A reserved bungalow at Princess Cays on cruises that call there
• Two full bottle bar setups with mixers
• Free wine tasting event
• Private shopping concierge
• The ability to choose a movie on the big screen for Movies Under the Stars
• Use of telescope
• Breakfast and dinner on your balcony
• Nespresso machine

So how do you know which suite to choose?

If money is no question and you want the best suite on the ship, then there’s no question – you have to go for a Sky Suite. However, these are only available on the newest ships and there are only a couple on each ship, so you’ll need to book early to secure your place.

Princess Cruises Suites come with so many perks and plenty of room to relax. Many cruisers say that once they enjoy the benefits of a Suite, they never want to go back to the standard accommodation classes.

If a Suite is out of your budget, you can choose between a spacious Mini-Suite and a Club Class Mini-Suite which comes with some additional benefits.

Club Class – worth it or not?

On Princess Cruises, Club Class Mini-Suites gives you the perks of a Suite, at a lower price. Most people would say that Club Class is worth it because your Mini-Suite will be in a great location on the ship, you’ll enjoy exclusive Club Class Dining and priority boarding and debarkation.

To decide which is the best Princess Cruises Suite for you, I’d suggest getting quotes on the various options and considering carefully whether you think that the benefits that you’ll get from upgrading are worth it or not.

Related posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Princess Cruises is one of the most popular cruise lines in the world, with a large fleet of ships that offer very different experiences.

If you’re not familiar with the fleet, you might want to know which is the best ship, and which is the worst. So I’ve put together this guide that ranks all of the ships in popularity order.

How I gathered the data

The only fair way to rank the Princess Cruises ships is to look at the overall popularity of each. It’s not right if I just decide my own personal preference, because:

1. I haven’t cruised on every Princess ship
2. I’m not you, and we might like different things!

So what matters to me is understanding an average review of the ships. Therefore I’ve taken the data from three of the biggest review sites on the internet for cruise ships – Cruise Critic, Cruiseline.com and TripAdvisor – and created an aggregate score for each ship.

(It helps that they all rank ships out of 5, so creating an average isn’t too difficult!)

This list is ranked from the ship with the best average score, down to the worst. And whenever I rank ships in this way, I like to clarify that “worst” doesn’t mean “bad”.

To prove my point – the top-scoring ship on this list has an average score of 4.07 out of 5, while the “worst” ship still has a score of 3.53 out of 5 – so well above average.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at all 15 ships in the Princess Cruises fleet, and see which is the best and which has been reviewed the worst. I’m pretty surprised by numbers 13 and 15, let me tell you!

Which Princess cruise ship is the best?

According to customer reviews, the best Princess Cruises ship is the Regal Princess, the second of the Royal-class ships to launch when she debuted in 2014. Her sister ship Enchanted Princess is actually rated the worst of the cruise line’s ships.

The best Princess ships by reviews

Here’s the full list of all the ships in the Princess fleet, organised by average score.

1. Regal Princess

If you stepped onboard Regal Princess today, you might struggle to believe that she’s been sailing for around 10 years. It might be an exaggeration to say that she looks brand new, but she has definitely maintained a very high standard and her decor remains contemporary to this day.

The ship is an identical twin to Royal Princess and so didn’t introduce anything new or innovative, but that doesn’t matter – guests still really enjoy the balance of the ship. She has a lot to offer for daytime and evening activities, but unlike some of the mega ships sailing for other cruise lines she never feels extremely crowded.

Guests do have some minor complaints but they tend to be inconsistent issues – bad dining experiences that are in the minority, patchy WiFi, staff maybe having a bad day and not offering the best service.

Read more: Regal Princess Cabins

2. Coral Princess

I love some of the surprises that these ranked lists throw up, and Coral Princess being the second-most popular ship in the Princess fleet definitely counts as one.

She’s not the eldest ship in the fleet (although you don’t have to read much further for that), but she’s the second eldest and more importantly, she is the smallest ship in the fleet, tied with her sister ship Island Princess.

So why the popularity?

She tends to offer more unusual itineraries, and her smaller size gives her a really pleasant, intimate atmosphere – the combination suits a lot of people who want an exciting adventure with excellent service. Onboard features are limited so she feels more like a classic cruise ship – albeit one that is beautifully maintained.

Read more: Coral Princess Cabins

3. Royal Princess

Royal Princess was a major ship launch for Princess Cruises in 2013. The first new ship in 5 years, she was also significantly larger than prior ships in the fleet and she debuted exciting features including the SeaWalk, the glass-bottomed walkway extending over the side of the ship.

She remains really popular because she is spacious, and has a lot to offer for days at sea, but she never feels too busy.

The only consistent criticism from guests is that some of the more basic staterooms aren’t huge, but with so much to do onboard it’s not a major problem.

Read more: Royal Princess Cabins

4. Grand Princess

I said it wouldn’t be long until we got to the oldest ship in the Princess fleet. And having launched in 1998, Grand Princess is one of the oldest ships still sailing for any of the major American cruise lines.

When she debuted, Grand Princess was the largest and most expensive ship ever built in the world!

Her high review scores are not just based in nostalgia though – yes, she tends to be preferred by older guests who want a more classical cruising experience, but her exciting Alaska and Australia itineraries, and her great dining and evening entertainment, are the basis of her position near the top of this list.

Read more: Grand Princess Cabins

5. Island Princess

Proof that the older Princess Cruises ships are some of the most loved, the 2003 Island Princess is the second Coral-class vessel for the cruise line and despite lacking some of the modern features of later ships, guests still rate her highly.

With Island Princess it’s less about the itineraries – she offers similar Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruises to other ships – and more about the relaxing atmosphere of this smaller ship. Another good example of a ‘classic’ cruise ship experience, but with modern decor and a good variety of dining options.

Read more: Island Princess Cabins

6. Ruby Princess

Ruby Princess is a mid-sized ship that offers a varied cruise experience. Unlike some of the smaller ships in the fleet, Ruby feels more suited to families – she isn’t packed with features, but she has enough to keep kids of all ages entertained on a couple of sea days, with a great kids club too.

Her itineraries are interesting too, including a mix of sailings around the Caribbean and Alaska, including Panama Canal sailings while repositioning between the two.

The ship is generally well maintained, although the decor is starting to show its age, especially in some of the staterooms. A minor gripe really, as guests generally have a really positive experience onboard.

Read more: Ruby Princess Cabins

7. Discovery Princess

Part of the Royal Class, Discovery Princess is larger than Royal Princess and Regal Princess after some design changes which began with 2019’s Sky Princess.

The extra space is used for suites and staterooms, rather than adding more entertainment features or facilities, so the day-to-day experience is similar to her sisters, although despite the extra room there are more complaints from guests about service being slow or the ship feeling crowded.

This could be teething issues, although based on the placement of Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess in this list, it could show that the design tweaks weren’t quite right.

Read more: Discovery Princess Cabins

8. Majestic Princess

Majestic Princess is a unique ship in the Princess fleet, in that she was originally built with the Chinese cruise market in mind.

She’s part of the Royal Class, and shares a lot of similarities, but she has features such as the Harmony restaurant, offering Chinese cuisine, and the Hollywood Pool Club area, that set her apart.

Reviews are broadly positive but she shares some of the same criticisms of other Royal-class ships – particularly in the size of the standard staterooms, which can feel a little cramped. Some complaints also mention how everything relies on the app and the Medallion, and sometimes they fail, which can cause frustrations.

Read more: Majestic Princess Cabins

9. Sapphire Princess

Sapphire Princess is another older ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, having been sailing for around 20 years. And while there are elements of the ship that are showing that age, an extensive refurbishment in 2018 has helped to keep it looking fresh and removed many of the really dated features.

She’s the largest ship in the Grand Class but she carries the fewest passengers, which helps give her a more spacious feel (not that any of the Grand Class ships feel particularly cramped).

The best features, according to reviews, are the itineraries and the service offered by the crew. The most frequent comments in negative reviews mention the food being a little basic, and those dated areas of the ship – especially the public bathrooms. 

Read more: Sapphire Princess Cabins

10. Emerald Princess

Emerald Princess is another mid-sized ship that’s considered part of the Grand Class for Princess, although that class has a number of sub-classes too. She’s another ship that offers a fun mix of cruises on both US coastlines, including the Caribbean, cruises to Hawaii and cruises to Canada and New England.

Reviews for the ship are more mixed. Most of the positive comments focus on the food and the service, while most of the criticism are levied against the evening entertainment. There are also some experienced Princess cruise passengers who think the ship just isn’t what she used to be, and that there’s more nickel-and-diming than there used to be.

Read more: Emerald Princess Cabins

11. Caribbean Princess

Caribbean Princess is considered part of the Grand Class, but she is also the only Caribbean-class ship sailing for Princess. First launching in 2003 she is a little older than some of the other ships sailing for the fleet, but she’s been maintained to a relatively high standard.

Originally built exclusively for the Caribbean, she now offers sailings in Europe too, although her lack of an enclosed pool due to her original design can sometimes be a drawback. She’s definitely a Caribbean ship – there’s not a huge amount to do during the day, since you’re more likely to be exploring tropical islands, but at night she is a lot of fun.

Read more: Caribbean Princess Cabins

12. Diamond Princess

Diamond Princess is a sister ship to Sapphire Princess, and both were built in Japan. The difference is that Diamond Princess has largely remained there – her home port is Yokohama. 

This makes for some exciting itineraries, but it also means the ship is much more international than her sister, which can be a positive or a negative. Crew will broadly speak English, so it shouldn’t cause any real issues.

Most guests really enjoy her unique atmosphere, but she is a little dated now and even a 2019 refurbishment hasn’t stopped some guests from commenting on how her age is showing in places. If you love international cuisine though then definitely put this ship nearer the top of your list.

Read more: Diamond Princess Cabins

13. Sky Princess

Sky Princess launched in 2019 and she remains one of the largest ships in the fleet, being an enhanced design of the Royal Class. I’m surprised to see her down so low because she’s thought of as one of the more popular ships to sail from the UK, she has a lot of facilities and she’s very modern.

But the criticisms of the ship seem to be that she’s a little too busy even for her size, and that can sometimes impact the quality of the service onboard too. Plus, because she’s quite new and big, cruises can sometimes be more expensive.

Plus, one of the more exciting features of the ship was the new Sky Suite, with the largest balcony at sea, and that’s too costly for most guests to experience, so is hardly going to have a big impact on review scores.

Read more: Sky Princess Cabins

14. Crown Princess

Crown Princess is considered both a Crown-class and a Grand-class ship, similar to others in her class she is a comfortable mid-sized ship that offers a good balance of space and entertainment, but is perhaps starting to show her age.

She has been updated, so she doesn’t feel too dated, and positive reviews do talk about how her simple style is refreshing compared to feature-packed ships. She just isn’t that exciting though, so her review scores tend to be closer to average.

Read more: Crown Princess Cabins

15. Enchanted Princess

Enchanted Princess is another of the newer Royal-class ships, launching between Sky Princess and Discovery Princess. Unfortunately, guests see her more like her earlier sister Sky, meaning there are some criticisms about how busy she feels, or how expensive the cruises are compared to other ships that offer a similar standard of cruising.

And similar to her earlier Royal-class sisters, there are a handful of customer reviews criticising the size of the rooms and the balconies. Unless you’re in a suite, don’t expect the most spacious accommodation.

Read more: Enchanted Princess Cabins

Choosing the best Princess ship for you

There’s no single answer on which is the best Princess Cruise ship. As you can see from the rankings, the ships have a lot of differences. You’re going to have a very different cruise on Island Princess compared to Sun Princess, the newest ship in the fleet.

And people have different tastes. A lot of the decision will come down to the itineraries but you need to bear in mind the atmosphere and facilities too. A busier ship may be more entertaining but can also feel overwhelming if you want peace.

A bit about Sun Princess

Sun Princess is the newest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, launching in early 2024. Once she’s had more time to welcome guests, I’ll add her into this list.

She’s the largest Princess cruise ship, and the nicest one too – she’s brand new, she has a stunning design and she’s packed with exciting features.

The bottom line

One thing you can definitely say about Princess Cruises’ fleet – it proves that newer ships aren’t always the most popular. Yes, some of the more recent Princess ships are near the top of the list, but some are down at the bottom too, and a lot of guests prefer the quieter atmosphere of the older ships.

It’s down to you and your own personal preferences, but also remember that none of these ships are “bad”. They might have some bad reviews but every ship scored higher than an average rating, so most people enjoy their cruise on every ship in the Princess fleet.

Still, if you’re planning a Princess cruise, make sure you consider which ship would be more suited to your style of cruising. And it’ll be interesting to see where Sun Princess – the newest ship in the fleet – will end up in this ranking.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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Specifications

• 1,626 sq. ft.
• Guests: 5
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 2

Photos

Details

The Signature Sky Suite aboard Princess Cruises’s newest ship, Sun Princess, stands as the pinnacle of cruise accommodation.

Designed for opulence and functionality, this suite provides a plush sanctuary for up to five guests, making it an ideal choice for families or groups seeking a premium cruise experience.

Suite Overview

Spanning approximately 1,262 square feet, including a generously sized balcony, the Signature Sky Suite is the largest and most premium stateroom available on the Sun Princess.

The suite is expertly laid out to maximise space and comfort, featuring two elegant bedrooms, two well-appointed bathrooms and a spacious living area that seamlessly blends relaxation and style.

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

The master bedroom is a haven of tranquillity, boasting the exclusive Princess Luxury Bed, known for its supreme comfort and support.

The room also includes a private master bathroom equipped with a luxurious bathtub and a separate rain shower, providing a spa-like experience. Ample closet space and a vanity/desk area add to the room’s convenience and elegance.

The second bedroom is similarly furnished with the option of a queen bed or two twin beds, providing flexible sleeping arrangements along with a spacious closet and vanity/desk area. Each bedroom is adorned with luxury linens, enhancing the comfort of guests throughout their stay.

Living Area and Balcony

The living area of the suite is designed to be a comfortable retreat with a sofa that doubles as an additional sleeping option for a fifth guest.

The suite’s balcony is outfitted with luxury furniture, perfect for enjoying breathtaking views and dining al fresco with the complimentary Ultimate Balcony Breakfast or Dinner service.

Exclusive Amenities and Services

Guests of the Signature Sky Suite enjoy a variety of exclusive amenities and privileges that elevate the cruising experience:

• Pre-Cruise Shoreside Concierge: Assistance is provided even before boarding, ensuring a seamless transition from curb to suite
• Suite Experience Manager: A dedicated professional who caters to every need of the guests, from making reservations to handling special requests
• Access to Private Venues: Suite guests have exclusive access to the Signature Restaurant, Lounge, and a private area of The Sanctuary, offering serene and luxurious spaces away from the crowd
• Enhanced In-Suite Features: The suite includes a two-full-bottle bar setup with mixers, a Nespresso machine, premium Champagne upon arrival, and a private shopping concierge service

Premium Offerings

Adding to the luxury are several other indulgent offerings such as complimentary Princess Fine Wine Tasting, premium champagne upon arrival, upgraded bathrobes and slippers, and high-end bathroom amenities.

The attention to detail and level of care provided in the Signature Sky Suite ensures that every aspect of the guest experience is nothing short of spectacular.

The Signature Sky Suite on the Sun Princess redefines luxury cruising, offering an unmatched level of comfort, exclusivity, and personal service.

It promises not just a journey across the seas, but a memorable experience that pampers and delights in every possible way, setting a new standard for luxury at sea. Whether it’s the breathtaking views from the expansive balcony or the sumptuous comfort of the plush beds, every element of the Signature Sky Suite has been crafted to ensure that guests enjoy the ultimate in luxury and relaxation.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

The Princess Cruises fleet has 16 ships. Some of the older ships in the fleet are still going strong after over 20 years of service. The more recent additions, however, are larger with a more modern look and feel.

Princess Cruises has launched an average of one new ship every two years – a trend that’s continuing with the launch of a brand new class in the coming years.

If you want to know more about the newest Princess ships, and the ships that are just around the corner for the cruise line, then read on.

1. Sun Princess – 2024

The Sun Princess is the first in a brand new class of ship for the cruise line – the Sphere-class.

Launched in February 2024, she is the largest ship to ever sail for Princess Cruises by some distance.

Sun Princess is the first ship in the fleet to be powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), a much cleaner fuel than most ships currently use. This will help the cruise line to reduce its environmental impact as more ships switch to this fuel source in the future.

The maximum guest capacity of Sun Princess iss 4,300, so still some way short of the biggest cruise ships in the world. Instead, the focus is on sumptuous decor and accommodations, including some of the world’s largest suites.

There are an epic 29 restaurants and bars available to enjoy, while there will be entertainment at every hour of the day in the Princess Live! venue. The Piazza is a stunning central hub, and The Dome transforms from an enclosed pool space during the day to a vibrant entertainment venue at night.

The Sun Princess also features the debut of the Reserve Collection and the Signature Collection.

Reserve Collection Mini-Suites and Cabanas are situated in prime locations on the ship and grant access to a private restaurant, while Signature Collection Suites offer access to the Signature Restaurant, Sun Deck and Lounge.

I’ve booked a cruise on Sun Princess for August and I’m super excited to see this new ship, and show you around. Be sure to subscribe to the Cruise Mummy YouTube channel if you’d like to see what we get up to on board.

2. Discovery Princess – 2022

The Discovery Princess debuted in early 2022. She is the last of the Royal-class ships which started back in 2013 with Royal Princess, and is a true gem of the fleet.

The Royal-class ships are not identical, and Discovery Princess is closest in layout to the ships added later in the class – the Enchanted Princess and the Sky Princess.

One of the standout features is the Sky Suite – one of the largest suites at sea with an incredible balcony which alone is big enough to host parties with other guests.

Of course, this suite isn’t just about the size (although that’s pretty impressive), when you book a suite like this, you also get a whole host of extra perks.

Popular features from across the class are retained including the Sanctuary – an adults-only retreat where guests can enjoy outdoor massages, special beverages and light snacks in a completely peaceful environment.

The Discovery Princess offers some fun itineraries too, away from the typical Caribbean/Europe combination. During the winter months she is based in Los Angeles, sailing the Pacific West Coast.

And then in summer, she moves to Vancouver and offers thrilling cruises to cruise ports across Alaska.

3. Enchanted Princess – 2020

Enchanted Princess was the fifth Royal-class ship to launch for Princess Cruises. She was originally announced in 2015 as part of a wider deal that the Carnival Group struck with the shipbuilding yard Fincantieri, and then a year later she was fully confirmed.

She was delivered to the cruise line in September 2020, but due to the ongoing world events her maiden voyage was delayed until November of 2021.

She is very similar in design to Sky Princess, and is capable of hosting up to 3,660 passengers when at full capacity – around half the size of the biggest ships in the world, but bigger than any other ship in the Princess fleet at the time.

She has the best features of the enhanced Royal Class, meaning great places to unwind and a wealth of fantastic dining options, including more venues than on any other class of ship in the Princess fleet.

Also introduced to Sky Princess, and replicated on Enchanted Princess, there are extra swimming pools including two deep-tank pools when you want a swim.

Enchanted Princess does follow the classic Caribbean/Europe split over a year. During the summer months, she mainly cruises from Barcelona, Athens and Rome around the Mediterranean, focussing on France, Spain and Italy.

And then in winter she moves to Fort Lauderdale, with itineraries sailing around the southern and eastern Caribbean.

4. Sky Princess – 2019

Often when cruise lines make small adjustments to a ship class, they slightly adjust the name – see Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Plus, or the NCL Breakaway Plus. Princess Cruises didn’t do that with Sky Princess – despite the fact that she offered enough enhancements over the previous Royal-class ships to be worthy of a subclass of her own.

She was first announced as part of the same deal with Fincantieri that would ultimately confirm her sister ship, Enchanted Princess, back in 2015, and her name was confirmed in 2017. She remained on schedule and was able to take her maiden voyage, as planned, in late 2019.

Sky Princess introduced a number of new features to the Royal Class for Princess Cruises, including the aforementioned extra pools and the Sky Suite class of accommodation. 

New entertainment venues were also added for the first time on Sky Princess, including Take Five – a jazz venue that brings the history of the genre to life whilst you sip on carefully crafted cocktails.

Sky Princess does call Fort Lauderdale her home during the winter, but more excitingly for UK passengers, she sails from Southampton during the summer months, and is one of the larger ships to sail from the UK.

The next new ship on the horizon…

Sister ship to Sun Princess, Star Princess has been confirmed for a 2025 launch and will be sailing her first season in Europe.

She’ll feature the same exciting features as Sun Princess, including the Reserve Collection and Signature Collection.

Her entertainment venue will be inspired by the white terraces of Santorini, and she will host a selection of unique food concepts too. She’ll be the third ship to have sailed for Princess Cruises under the Star Princess name.

Further details for the ship are still yet to be confirmed but expect that she’ll have the same fantastic selection of dining venues and restaurants as Sun Princess. We do know that she will also feature Cirque Éloize shows, as will her sister ship.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me