The main Icon of the Seas cabins to avoid are the rooms directly below the busy pool and buffet areas on Deck 14, the forward cabins on Decks 12 and 14 closest to the AquaDome, and the Surfside balconies and interiors that sit above the kids’ club, arcade and family cafés. If you get seasick easily, also steer clear of high, far-forward rooms and pick something low and midship instead.
The good news is that Icon of the Seas has more than 2,800 staterooms across 28 categories, so there is almost always a better-placed option at a similar price. Below you’ll find the specific cabin ranges worth skipping, who each problem actually affects, and the rooms that tend to work best for couples, families and suite guests.
Icon of the Seas at a glance in 2026
Icon of the Seas sails year-round from PortMiami on seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, departing on Saturdays, with every sailing calling at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Royal Caribbean has said the ship will stay in Miami through at least 2027. She now has two sisters: Star of the Seas, which sails seven-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, and Legend of the Seas, which moves to Fort Lauderdale from November 2026 for six- and eight-night Caribbean trips after her first summer in the Mediterranean.
Before deciding what to avoid, it helps to understand the room layout. Royal Caribbean groups the ship’s staterooms into four broad types, with several new categories designed around families.
Cabin type
Approx. size
Where you’ll find it
Good to know
Interior
160-190 sq ft
Decks 3, 7-12 and 14
Includes Surfside and Central Park interiors with virtual or neighborhood-facing windows on some decks
Oceanview window
160-190 sq ft
Decks 3, 4 and 7-11
Panoramic Oceanview rooms (about 260 sq ft) sit forward on Deck 14
Infinite Balcony
about 200 sq ft
Decks 9-12
The glass wall drops down, turning the balcony into part of the room
Oceanview Balcony
about 205 sq ft
Decks 7-12 and 14
Traditional balcony; connecting versions available on Decks 7, 8 and 12
Neighborhood balconies
about 190 sq ft
Central Park (Deck 14) and Surfside (Decks 9-12 and 14)
Balconies face inward over the neighborhoods, not the sea
Family Infinite Balcony
about 285-290 sq ft
Decks 9-11
Sleeps up to six with a separate bunk nook
Suites
270-1,770 sq ft
Mostly Decks 15-18, plus aft and Surfside suites
Split into Sea, Sky and Star tiers with rising perks
About 80 percent of rooms can take three or more guests, using pullman beds, sofa beds, bunks or second bedrooms, which is why this ship is so popular with families. You can check exact positions on the official Royal Caribbean deck plans before you book.
Cabins directly below busy pool decks can hear loungers being moved early in the morning. Photo: Kindel Media on Pexels
Icon of the Seas cabins to avoid (with cabin numbers)
None of these rooms are bad in themselves. They simply come with a trade-off that matters more to some guests than others. The cabin ranges below are drawn from deck plan analysis and published guest feedback, so treat them as a guide and double-check the current deck plan for your sailing.
1. Deck 14 cabins below Chill Island
Chill Island is the ship’s main pool area and it is busy from early morning until late afternoon. Cabins roughly 14164-14286 and 14564-14686 sit beneath it, and the most common complaint is the scraping of loungers as crew set up and guests claim spots. Light sleepers and anyone hoping for a lie-in should look a deck or two lower.
2. Cabins below The Hideaway and the Windjammer
Further aft on Deck 14, rooms around 14288-14362 and 14688-14762 sit under the Windjammer buffet and The Hideaway, the adults-only pool with a beach-club feel and music on sea days. Expect foot traffic from breakfast onwards and a livelier soundtrack in the afternoon.
3. Forward rooms near the AquaDome
The AquaDome hosts the AquaTheater shows and evening music. Forward cabins on Decks 12 and 14, roughly 12134-12162, 12530-12562, 14138-14162 and 14538-14562, can pick up bass during performances. It usually stops at a reasonable hour, but it is worth knowing if you turn in early.
4. Surfside balconies and interiors if you are travelling without kids
Surfside is the ship’s dedicated young-family neighborhood, with a splash pad, carousel, Adventure Ocean nearby and the Playmakers arcade. Surfside-facing balconies (for example 7280-7346, 9293-9347, 10293-10347 and 11293-11347, with matching numbers on the other side) look straight down onto it. Surfside and Central Park interiors above Park Café and Surfside Bites, such as 8321-8347 and 9181-9201, can also be noisier. For families with toddlers this is a feature; for couples it can feel like staying above a playground.
5. Cabins above The Pearl and near the Music Hall
Rooms 10219-10235 sit above The Pearl, the large sculpture-and-stairway structure in the Royal Promenade, which brings some noise and a partly obstructed outlook. Low-deck cabins near the Music Hall (around 3180-3200, 4180-4200 and 4577-4591) may hear late-night bands.
6. High, far-forward rooms if you are prone to seasickness
Icon is a very large and stable ship, but you will still feel more movement high up and at the bow in rough seas. If motion is a concern, skip the forward Panoramic and Grand suites and choose a midship cabin on a lower deck, ideally between Decks 7 and 10.
7. Sofa-bed rooms for older children
Many standard cabins sleep three or four using a sofa bed or pullman. These are fine for young kids, but a teenager on a sofa bed in a 190 sq ft room can quickly feel cramped. If your children are older, a Family Infinite Balcony, connecting rooms or two adjoining cabins is usually worth the extra cost.
The best cabins on Icon of the Seas
Once you’ve ruled out the trickier spots, these are the rooms that tend to offer the best value and experience for different types of traveller.
Infinite Balcony, midship on Decks 9-11: A strong all-rounder for couples. You get sea views, a slightly larger usable space when the window is down, and you are well away from pool and theater noise.
Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony: At about 285 sq ft and sleeping up to six, this is one of the most practical family rooms at sea, with a separate bunk area that gives parents some privacy.
Surfside Family Suite: Around 270 sq ft in the heart of Surfside, with a kids’ sleeping nook and split bathroom. It also comes with Sky-tier suite perks, such as all-day access to Coastal Kitchen and the suite lounge.
Central Park balcony on a lower deck: A quieter, leafy outlook that suits couples who are happy to trade sea views for a lower fare. Avoid those directly above busy cafés.
Interior Plus: The best budget choice, with a bigger walk-in closet than standard interiors.
Ultimate Family Townhouse: The three-level aft suite on Decks 7-9, with an in-suite slide, cinema room and private Surfside access. It sleeps up to eight but carries a price tag well into five figures for a week.
A midship balcony away from venue noise is a safe choice for most couples. Photo: Claudia Schmalz on Pexels
Icon of the Seas balcony room: ocean view or neighborhood view?
Choosing an Icon of the Seas balcony room is one of the decisions that trips up first-time guests. Ocean-facing balconies (standard or Infinite) give you sea air and sunsets. Neighborhood balconies in Central Park or Surfside face inward, so you look over gardens or the family zone rather than the water. They are cheaper and fun for people-watching, but they are not private in the same way and can be noisier until late evening.
Infinite Balcony rooms are another quirk. Rather than a separate balcony behind a sliding door, the window lowers to open the room to the sea. Some guests love the extra space; others prefer a traditional balcony for sitting out with the door closed behind them, especially when the air conditioning is running. If you want a classic outdoor balcony, look for the Oceanview Balcony categories on Decks 7-12.
Best deck to stay on for Icon of the Seas
For most people, Decks 9 to 11 midship are the sweet spot. They are low enough to limit motion, sit between the Royal Promenade and the pool decks, and give quick access to the lifts and to dining. Before you choose a room, think about where you will spend your time: if you plan to eat around the ship, our Icon of the Seas restaurants guide shows where each venue sits, so you can pick a cabin close to your favourites.
A quick checklist before you book
Check the deck above and below your cabin on the current deck plan, not just your own deck.
Avoid rooms right beside lift banks if you are a light sleeper.
Avoid connecting cabins if you want quiet; a shared door with strangers lets more sound through.
Remember that neighborhood-view balconies do not overlook the sea.
If you choose a “guarantee” fare, you lose the ability to pick a quieter location.
If you’re thinking of upgrading, our guide to Icon of the Seas suites explains every category, size and Royal Suite Class perk.
If you are choosing between the first two Icon-class ships, our Star of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas comparison covers the differences in shows, dining and homeports.
FAQs
What is the best floor to be on Icon of the Seas?
Decks 9 to 11 midship are a good balance for most guests. They are away from pool and theater noise, feel less motion, and are close to lifts and dining.
Which cabins on Icon of the Seas are the noisiest?
Deck 14 rooms below Chill Island, The Hideaway and the Windjammer, forward rooms near the AquaDome on Decks 12 and 14, and Surfside-facing rooms above the kids’ areas tend to get the most noise.
Are Surfside cabins on Icon of the Seas worth it?
They are excellent for families with young children because the splash pad, carousel and kids’ dining are right outside. Couples or adults travelling without kids usually prefer a quieter location.
What cabins should I avoid on a cruise ship if I get seasick?
Avoid high, far-forward or far-aft cabins. A low, midship cabin moves the least, which is why Decks 7 to 10 midship are the safest choice on Icon of the Seas.
The main Grand Princess cabins to avoid are cabins on Deck 12 (Aloha) under the Lido deck pools and buffet, forward Deck 8 cabins above the Princess Theater and lounges, obstructed oceanview cabins on Deck 8 that look onto lifeboats, and cabins beside the self-service laundrettes. The best cabins for most people are midship on Decks 9, 10 and 11, which have cabins above and below them. If you get seasick, stay midship and low.
This guide covers every Grand Princess cabin type, the locations worth avoiding and what to book instead. It also covers where the ship is sailing in 2026-27, because that has changed.
Is Grand Princess leaving the Princess fleet?
As of late October 2026, we could find no announcement from Princess Cruises or Carnival Corporation that Grand Princess has been sold or transferred, or that it’s leaving the fleet. Princess is still taking bookings on her for sailings into 2028. What has changed is where she sails:
Autumn 2026: after US West Coast sailings from Los Angeles, she left on a 29-night voyage from Los Angeles on 5 October 2026, due in Sydney on 3 November 2026.
2026-28: she becomes Princess’s main long-stay ship in Australia, with cruises from Sydney and Brisbane plus some from Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle. She also sails Circle Pacific voyages to Alaska, Japan and back.
Itineraries on sale currently run to about September 2028.
Grand Princess entered service in 1998, which makes her the oldest ship in the current Princess fleet. If you’re booking far ahead, read the cancellation and change terms on your fare. Cruise lines generally offer a refund or a move to another sailing if a ship is withdrawn. If you’d rather sail on a sister ship, Caribbean, Crown, Emerald and Ruby Princess are all built on a similar Grand-class plan, so most of the advice below applies to them too.
Grand Princess cabins: types and sizes
Grand Princess has about 1,300 cabins. Around three-quarters of the outside cabins have a balcony. Sizes below are approximate. The ship was refurbished in 2011, which added the Piazza atrium and the adults-only Sanctuary sun deck, and again in 2013. Her most recent dry dock, in Portland, Oregon in spring 2025, covered maintenance and light updates to cabins and public rooms.
Cabin type
Approx. size
Where
Who it suits
Interior
160 sq ft
Most cabin decks
Budget travellers, port-intensive cruises
Oceanview
168 sq ft (larger Deluxe Oceanview on Lido)
Decks 5, 8, 14 and others
Natural light without a balcony price
Balcony
168 sq ft + 46-89 sq ft balcony
Decks 8-12, 14
Most couples
Mini-Suite
277 sq ft + 46 sq ft balcony
Decks 8 and 9
More space, sofa bed, tub
Window Suite
319-341 sq ft, no balcony
Deck 6 (Fiesta)
Suite space and perks without a balcony
Vista Suite
329 sq ft + 166 sq ft balcony
Decks 8-10
Large balcony at a lower suite price
Family Suite
335 sq ft + 92 sq ft balcony
Deck 9, forward
Groups of up to eight
Penthouse / Owner’s Suite
381-411 sq ft + 155-180 sq ft balcony
Several decks, mostly aft
Suite perks, big balconies
Grand Suite
about 615 sq ft + 115 sq ft balcony
One on board, aft
The top suite on the ship
Interior and oceanview cabins
Interior cabins are the cheapest option. Oceanview cabins add a window, but some on Deck 8 look out onto lifeboats (more on that below). The Deluxe Oceanview cabins on the Lido deck have floor-to-ceiling windows and are a well-priced alternative to a balcony.
Balcony cabins
Grand Princess balconies are terraced, getting deeper on lower decks. That means people on the balconies above can often see down onto yours. Balconies range from about 46 to 89 sq ft, so if outdoor space matters, check the size for your specific cabin.
Mini-suites
Mini-suites are on Decks 8 and 9 and have a sitting area with a sofa bed, two TVs and a bath with a shower. Most of those on Deck 9 have open balconies that are overlooked from above and give no shelter from rain. The aft mini-suites on Deck 8 have covered balconies that offer more privacy and shade. A few, such as E728, E729, D732 and D733, have extra-large balconies.
Suites: Grand, Owner’s, Penthouse, Vista, Window and Family
The single Grand Suite is aft and has a whirlpool tub and its own balcony. Owner’s and Penthouse Suites have separate sitting areas, walk-in closets and large balconies. Vista Suites offer similar balcony space for less. The Window Suites on Deck 6 were added in 2011 and have no balcony. They sit on the same deck as the casino, the dining rooms and the Princess Theater, and some reviewers have complained about noise and smells there. The two Family Suites join a mini-suite and an interior cabin through a shared living room, and sleep up to eight.
Grand Princess balconies are terraced, so upper decks can see onto lower ones. Photo: Jimmy Liao on Pexels
Grand Princess cabins to avoid
Cabins under the Lido deck
Deck 14 is the Lido deck. It has the Horizon Court buffet, the Neptune’s Reef and Calypso Reef pools, grills, pizza and bars. There is no Deck 13, so Deck 12 (Aloha) sits directly below it. Cabins under the pool and buffet areas can hear early-morning deck chair moving and cleaning, plus footsteps late into the evening. On the Lido deck itself, the forward starboard cabins sit below the fitness centre, which can be noisy early in the morning.
Forward Deck 8 cabins above the theatre and lounges
The Princess Theater is forward on the lower public decks, and Deck 7 also has lounges such as Club Fusion and Explorers. Deck 8 (Emerald) cabins forward, or above those venues, can pick up show bass, rehearsals and late-night music. Some forward cabins on this deck are also near crew areas. The forward balconies on Deck 8 can be seen from the outdoor promenade, so they offer less privacy.
Obstructed oceanview cabins on Deck 8
Deck 8 sits above the lifeboats. Several groups of oceanview cabins here are sold as obstructed, roughly E209-E231, E301-E326, E401-E425, E501-E521, E601-E632 and E701-E715, in categories with codes ending in V, W, Y or Z. They’re cheaper and still get daylight, but the view is partly or largely blocked. That’s fine if you just want natural light, but disappointing if you were expecting a sea view.
Forward balconies and the Family Suites in the wind
Balconies at the front of the ship catch the most wind when the ship is moving. On colder routes, or on a long Circle Pacific crossing, you may not get much use out of them on sea days. That includes the forward-facing Family Suite balconies on Deck 9.
Cabins next to laundrettes and crew doors
Each main cabin deck has a self-service laundrette, and cabins right next to it get steady foot traffic and door noise. On Deck 9 (Dolphin), cabins near the blank space around D123 are next to a crew area. Blank spaces on a deck plan are worth treating with caution anywhere on the ship.
Cabins for seasick travellers
Motion is felt most at the bow and on high decks. Grand Princess will spend 2026-28 sailing waters that can be lively, such as the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait, and on long Pacific crossings. If you get seasick, avoid forward cabins and book midship on Deck 9 or 10.
Midship cabins on decks with cabins above and below are usually the quietest. Photo: Sabbir Bhuiyan on Pexels
The best cabins on Grand Princess
Quietest all-round: midship on Deck 9 (Dolphin) or Deck 10 (Caribe). Both have cabin decks above and below and no public rooms next to them.
Best mini-suites: the aft mini-suites on Deck 8 with covered balconies. These are some of the most sought-after cabins on the ship.
Best for cooler weather: aft-facing balconies, which are more sheltered from the wind and tend to stay warmer.
Best value: forward or aft cabins in the same category as midship ones. They’re the same size and often cheaper, though you’ll feel more motion.
Best for families: a Family Suite for big groups, or connecting balcony cabins.
Accessible cabins: there are 27 wheelchair-accessible cabins across several categories, including balcony cabins on Decks 11 and 12 and an accessible Window Suite. Door widths vary, so a collapsible wheelchair is recommended.
Aft cabins
Aft cabins have wake views and some of the larger balconies, and the aft mini-suites and suites are popular. The trade-off is some vibration and motion in a swell. Balconies are terraced at the stern too, so check what overlooks yours.
Avoid vs book instead
Instead of…
Because…
Try…
Deck 12 under the pools/buffet
Chair scraping and cleaning noise
Deck 10 or 11 midship
Forward Deck 8
Theatre and lounge noise; overlooked balconies
Deck 9 midship
Obstructed oceanview, Deck 8
Lifeboats block the view
Deluxe Oceanview on Lido, or an interior to save money
Open Deck 9 mini-suite
Overlooked, no rain cover
Aft Deck 8 covered mini-suite
A cabin beside the laundrette
Foot traffic and door noise
Any cabin a few doors away
How to check a cabin before you book
Open the deck plan for your deck and the decks immediately above and below. Remember there’s no Deck 13.
Look for public rooms, laundrettes and unlabelled (crew) spaces near the cabin.
Check the category code. Codes ending in V, W, Y or Z usually mean an obstructed view.
Search for photos of the exact cabin number to see the view and balcony.
If location matters to you, avoid guarantee fares, where Princess picks the cabin for you.
Avoid Deck 12 cabins under the Lido pools and buffet, forward Deck 8 cabins above the theatre and lounges, obstructed oceanview cabins on Deck 8, and cabins beside laundrettes or crew areas. If you get seasick, also avoid high forward cabins.
Is Grand Princess being sold or retired?
As of October 2026 no sale or retirement has been announced. She is moving to Australia from November 2026, and Princess is selling cruises on her into 2028.
Where is the best place to get a cabin on Grand Princess?
Midship on Deck 9 or 10 is the quietest and most stable option. For a suite feel at a lower price, the aft mini-suites on Deck 8 with covered balconies are popular.
Do Grand Princess mini-suites have covered balconies?
Most mini-suite balconies on Deck 9 are open and overlooked from above. The aft mini-suites on Deck 8 have covered balconies, which give more shade and privacy.
The Emerald Princess cabins to avoid are mainly those on the Riviera deck (14) directly below the Lido deck pools and World Fresh Marketplace buffet, oceanview cabins on the Emerald deck (8) that look straight at lifeboats, and any cabin right beside a launderette, stairwell or busy public room. The best cabins on Emerald Princess are midship balconies and mini-suites on decks 9 to 12, which are quiet, stable and an easy walk from almost everything.
This guide explains each cabin grade, the specific locations worth thinking twice about, the best picks for families, light sleepers and seasick cruisers, and a simple way to check any cabin number before you commit.
Emerald Princess in 2026-27: fleet status and where it sails
Emerald Princess was launched in 2007 (its inaugural cruise was in April that year) and is the middle sister of a three-ship group that also includes Crown Princess and Ruby Princess. It is 113,561 tons, carries 3,090 guests at double occupancy, and has around 1,546 staterooms. As of October 2026 there has been no announcement that it is being sold or leaving the Princess fleet.
The ship’s most recent drydock was in Palermo, Italy, in April 2025. That was routine maintenance and class work rather than a major cabin redesign. The last big cabin change was a 2015 refit that brought in Princess Luxury Beds. Its current pattern is very West Coast focused:
Autumn and winter 2026-27: round trips from Los Angeles to Hawaii and the Mexican Riviera, plus West Coast sailings including San Francisco departures.
Summer 2027: Alaska, with weekly Inside Passage cruises from Vancouver to Glacier Bay or Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, plus two 16-day round trips from Los Angeles.
Late 2027 onwards: Caribbean sailings appear in the schedule, including departures from San Juan, Fort Lauderdale and Bridgetown, Barbados.
Hawaii round trips from Los Angeles involve several open-ocean sea days each way, so cabin location matters more than usual on this ship.
Emerald Princess cabins explained: every grade
The table below gives approximate sizes. Figures differ a little between Princess and the deck-plan sites, so treat them as guides rather than exact measurements.
Grade
Approx. size
Typical decks
Who it suits
Watch out for
Inside
About 160 to 180 sq ft
5, 8 to 12, 14, 15
Port-intensive trips, budget
Pull-down berths make rooms tight for 3 to 4
Oceanview
About 160 to 180 sq ft
5, 8, 14 and 15
Light without balcony prices
Lifeboat views on deck 8; obstructed rooms forward on deck 15
Balcony
Cabin of roughly 170 sq ft plus a balcony of about 45 sq ft
10, 11, 12, 14, 15
Couples, Alaska and Hawaii scenery
Lower balconies can be overlooked
Premium Balcony
Larger balcony, often aft
8 to 11
Wake views
More motion at the stern
Mini-Suite / Reserve Collection
About 323 sq ft with a 57 sq ft balcony
8 and 9
Longer voyages, a bathtub, more space
Prices rise quickly near sailing
Suites and Family Suites
From about 460 sq ft to nearly 690 sq ft including balcony
8 to 15
Suite perks, families of up to six
Some corner balconies partly blocked
Inside cabins
Inside cabins are found on almost every cabin deck. Those midship on Dolphin (9), Caribe (10), Baja (11) and Aloha (12) are the pick: quiet, dark and stable. Rooms with third and fourth upper berths are fine for a family but feel cramped once the bunks are down.
Oceanview cabins
The unobstructed oceanview cabins are mainly on Plaza (5) and Emerald (8), with a few aft on deck 14. A large share of the deck 8 rooms face the lifeboats, and a handful forward on the Lido deck (15) are also obstructed. Princess discounts these, but if you want a sea view, choose a cabin that is not marked obstructed.
Balcony and Premium Balcony cabins
Standard balcony cabins line decks 10 to 15. The hull steps out on the lower decks, so balconies there are partly visible from above. From the Caribe deck (10) upwards they feel noticeably more private. Premium Balcony cabins, many at the stern on decks 8 to 11, have bigger outdoor space and views over the wake, which is lovely on a long Hawaii crossing, at the price of more movement in a swell.
Mini-suites and Reserve Collection
Emerald Princess mini-suites are among the best value rooms on board: about twice the size of a standard balcony cabin, with a sitting area and sofa bed, two TVs and a tub. Princess’s former Club Class mini-suites are now sold under the Reserve Collection name. The Reserve Collection mini-suites are on the Dolphin deck (9) and come with a private dining area in the main dining room, wine on arrival, plush bathrobes and canapés on request.
Suites and Family Suites
Vista Suites are on the aft corners of decks 8, 9 and 10, with large wraparound balconies.
Penthouse Suites are aft on decks 10 and 12 with wake views, and midship on the Riviera deck (14) beside the panoramic lifts.
Owner’s Suites are two suites aft on the Aloha deck (12), each nearly 690 sq ft including the balcony, with sweeping wake views.
Family Suites: there are two, forward on the Dolphin deck (9). Each joins two cabins through a shared living room and a large balcony.
The pool deck wakes up early, and the cabins below hear it first. Photo: Glenn Langhorst on Pexels
Emerald Princess cabins to avoid
None of these Emerald Princess cabins to avoid is a deal-breaker for everyone, but each location comes up again and again in passenger feedback.
Under the Lido deck
On Emerald Princess the Lido deck (15) runs from the Lotus Spa at the bow, past Neptune’s Reef and Pool, to Calypso Reef and Pool and the World Fresh Marketplace buffet from midship to the stern. Riviera deck (14) cabins underneath, including the midship Penthouse Suites, are close to the action but can hear deck chairs being moved and decks being cleaned early in the morning. The Terrace Pool is on deck 14 aft, so the nearby cabins get foot traffic and door noise too. If you want quiet mornings, drop down a deck or two.
Next to launderettes, stairwells and service doors
Self-service launderettes on the cabin decks are busy on sea days, and Hawaii round trips have plenty of those. Cabins beside them, or beside lift lobbies and crew doors, hear far more coming and going than rooms a few doors along.
Above or below entertainment venues
The Princess Theater is at the bow on decks 6 and 7, Gatsby’s Casino is forward on deck 6, and Club Fusion is aft on deck 7. Skywalkers Nightclub is high up on deck 18. Cabins on the decks immediately above or below these venues can pick up music and late-night traffic. A cabin-check tool will show you whether yours does.
Lower forward cabins
Some cruisers have reported vibration in certain lower-deck forward cabins on the Plaza deck (5), and bow cabins in general pitch more in a swell and can hear the anchor at tender ports. If you are sensitive to noise or motion, stay midship.
Forward balconies on windy routes
Forward-facing and bow-side balconies catch the full headwind. On an Alaska morning or an open-ocean leg to Hawaii, that can make them almost unusable while the ship is moving.
A midship balcony on a middle deck is the safest all-round choice for most travellers. Photo: Jan van der Wolf on Pexels
Best cabins on Emerald Princess by traveller type
Light sleepers
Choose midship on decks 9 to 12, with cabins above and below and no launderette next door. This is the single most reliable rule on this ship class.
Seasick cruisers
Choose low and central. A midship balcony or mini-suite on deck 8 or 9 rides the swell best. This matters most on the Los Angeles to Hawaii crossings, which have several consecutive sea days.
Families
Book one of the two Family Suites early. Otherwise, Princess lists 100 connecting staterooms on Emerald Princess, so two connecting balcony cabins are a practical alternative. The youth and teen centres are on the Sports deck (17).
Accessible travel
Princess lists 28 wheelchair-accessible staterooms on Emerald Princess across several grades. Ask Princess to confirm the bathroom layout and balcony threshold of the specific cabin before you pay the deposit.
Alaska and Hawaii views
For glacier days, a balcony on either side works, because the ship turns at the glacier face. Aft-facing Premium Balconies and Vista Suites give the widest views. On Hawaii trips, a starboard or port balcony both catch the islands, depending on the day.
How to vet an Emerald Princess cabin before booking
Find your cabin on the Princess deck plan and open the decks directly above and below it.
Look for red flags: pools, the buffet, galleys, the theater, nightclubs, the casino, the fitness centre and launderettes.
Run it through a cabin-check tool such as CruiseDeckPlans, which shows what sits directly above and below a cabin number.
Read the category name. “Obstructed” or “partially obstructed” means lifeboats or structure in the view.
Match the cabin to the route. Sea-day-heavy Hawaii sailings reward a quiet midship cabin. A port-a-day Caribbean week is more forgiving.
A word on guarantee fares: they are cheaper because Princess assigns the cabin, which could be a Riviera deck room under the pool deck or one beside a launderette. If location matters to you, pay for a specific cabin.
Emerald Princess has a near-identical sister, and our guide to Ruby Princess cabins to avoid looks at her layout in the same way.
FAQs
Which cabins should I avoid on Emerald Princess?
The cabins to weigh up are Riviera deck (14) cabins under the Lido deck pools and buffet, lifeboat-view oceanview cabins on deck 8, cabins next to launderettes or stairwells, and lower forward cabins if you are sensitive to motion or vibration.
What is the best deck on Emerald Princess?
Decks 9 to 12 (Dolphin, Caribe, Baja and Aloha) are generally the quietest, with cabins above and below and an easy lift ride to the dining rooms and the pool deck.
What are the benefits of an Emerald Princess suite?
Full suites come with a much larger balcony, a living area, priority embarkation and disembarkation, Concierge Lounge access and complimentary laundry. Reserve Collection mini-suites add dining and in-room perks without the full suite price.
Is Emerald Princess leaving the Princess fleet?
No sale or transfer had been announced as of October 2026. The ship is scheduled for West Coast, Hawaii and Mexico sailings in winter 2026-27 and Alaska from Vancouver in summer 2027.
The worst cruise ports in Europe are rarely bad places. They are usually stops where the famous sight is hours from the pier, or where several ships arrive at once. Le Havre, Naples, Santorini, Marseille, Kusadasi and Civitavecchia all earn complaints, and all of them can be a good day with the right plan.
This guide covers Europe only and gives a concrete plan for each port: how to get around, how much time you need and what to do instead if the obvious option does not suit your schedule. For stops further afield, see our list of the worst ports of call worldwide.
Worst cruise ports in Europe at a glance
Port
Main complaint
Best plan
Port time to feel comfortable
Le Havre
Paris is about 200 km away
Honfleur or the Perret city center
5+ hours (10+ for Paris)
Naples
Busy, chaotic first impression
Historic center and museum, or Herculaneum
5+ hours (8+ for Pompeii)
Santorini
Tender and cable car queues
Early tender, then straight to Oia or Akrotiri
7+ hours
Marseille
Terminal is in an industrial port
Vieux-Port and Le Panier, or a Calanques boat
5+ hours
Kusadasi
Shopping-heavy town, crowded Ephesus
Early Ephesus with the Terrace Houses
5+ hours
Civitavecchia
Rome is about 70 km away
Train on a long call, tour on a short one
9+ hours for independent Rome
The time column is our planning guide, not an official figure. Your ship’s all-aboard time matters more than its published departure time.
Le Havre: stop trying to see Paris by default
Le Havre is sold as the “port for Paris”, but it is about 200 km from the capital. The terminal at Pointe de Floride sits around 2.5 km from the center, and that walk (about 25 minutes) runs through dockland. Most ships offer a paid shuttle to Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, and a taxi into the center costs roughly €8 to €10.
Three ways to spend the day
Le Havre itself (3 to 5 hours). The center was rebuilt by Auguste Perret after World War II and has been UNESCO-listed since 2005. See the 107-meter tower of Église Saint-Joseph, with its 12,768 pieces of colored glass, the Perret show apartment, the MuMa art museum and the seafront. Check opening days, as some museums close on Mondays.
Honfleur (5 hours). The pretty harbor town is 30 to 40 minutes away across the Pont de Normandie. Taxis run about €35 to €50 each way, and Nomad coaches link it with the Le Havre bus station, although regional buses do not stop at the cruise terminal. Étretat and its cliffs are about 45 minutes to an hour away and work well on a shared shuttle or tour.
Paris (10+ hours). Direct trains to Saint-Lazare take about 2 hours 20 minutes, with around 14 to 16 a day. That leaves four to five hours in the city at best. Ship coach tours typically allow three to four hours in Paris, but the ship will wait if the tour runs late.
Rouen is an underrated compromise. Its cathedral and medieval center are about 45 minutes away by train, far less than the trip to Paris.
Naples: skip the port area, not the city
Naples can feel loud and hectic straight off the ship, yet the location is excellent. Most ships berth at Stazione Marittima beside Castel Nuovo, about 15 minutes on foot from Piazza del Plebiscito. The old city is around ten minutes further, and Municipio metro station is close to the pier. Your daily program will name the berth, as some ships dock further east.
Half day in the city (about 5 hours). Walk Spaccanapoli, stop at San Lorenzo Maggiore’s underground Roman remains, have pizza on Via dei Tribunali and visit the National Archaeological Museum (around €15, closed Tuesdays), which holds many of Pompeii’s finest finds.
Pompeii (8+ hours in port). Take Metro Line 1 to Garibaldi, then the Circumvesuviana toward Sorrento and get off at Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri, not Pompei Santuario. The ride takes about 35 minutes and costs around €3 to €4. Pompeii has had a 20,000-a-day cap since November 2024. Tickets are named, so carry matching photo ID, and timed entry applies from mid-March to mid-October. Book through the official site and allow three to four hours on site.
Herculaneum (5 to 6 hours). It is about 15 minutes by train from Garibaldi, smaller than Pompeii and better preserved, with upper floors and wooden beams still in place. It takes about two hours to see and suits shorter calls.
Capri (full day). Hydrofoils from Molo Beverello take about 50 minutes and cost roughly €25 to €31 each way. Sailings can be canceled at short notice in bad weather, so a guided excursion is the safer option if you want to visit Capri.
Santorini is at its calmest before the day's tenders arrive. Photo: Giannis Tsoumetis on Pexels
Santorini: the most changed port for 2026
Santorini’s problem is arithmetic. Ships anchor in the caldera, tender passengers to the small Old Port at Skala, and then funnel them up to Fira by cable car. Queues can reach one to two hours when several ships call, and the alternative is about 588 steep steps shared with donkeys.
Santorini cruise levy and passenger limits
Two rules now affect visits. Santorini operates a daily cap of 8,000 cruise passengers, and for 2026 ships are counted at 100% occupancy rather than 80%. Reported scheduled calls fell to 595 in 2026 from 728 in 2025. Greece also charges a cruise passenger fee:
Season
Santorini and Mykonos
Other Greek island ports
June to September
€20
€5
April, May, October
€12
€3
November to March
€4
€1
The cap covers cruise passengers only, so Fira and Oia can still be busy with visitors arriving by air and ferry.
A plan that avoids the worst of it
Take the earliest tender you can, or book a ship excursion if you want a guaranteed route ashore, as these may use Athinios port instead.
Head straight to Oia by bus or taxi (about €30 to €40) before the crowds, then work back to Fira.
For something different, visit the Bronze Age site at Akrotiri or the black-sand beaches at Kamari and Perissa.
Be back at the cable car at least 90 minutes before all-aboard, and check the fare and hours locally, as published fares vary.
Marseille: the terminal is the worst part
Cruise passengers often judge Marseille by its vast industrial port. The Marseille tourist office says a free shuttle runs on ship days to Place de la Joliette, with a 5 to 12 minute walk along a green line to the Gate 4 stop. Check your port information, because some lines also sell their own shuttles, typically around €20 return, that go directly to the Vieux-Port area. Local bus 35T is the budget backup.
City day (4 to 5 hours). From Joliette it is about 15 to 25 minutes on foot to the Vieux-Port. Explore Le Panier, then take bus 60 or the tourist train up to Notre-Dame de la Garde, the city’s best viewpoint.
Water day (3 to 5 hours). Boat tours from the Vieux-Port run to the Calanques, and a roughly 20-minute crossing reaches the Château d’If and the Frioul Islands.
Further afield (4 to 6 hours). Aix-en-Provence is about 30 minutes by road and Cassis is a common excursion. Both are simplest on an organized tour.
Arriving early at Ephesus helps you avoid heat and tour groups. Photo: Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz on Pexels
Kusadasi: go for Ephesus, and go early
Kusadasi is convenient, with ships docking in the center of town, but the port area is built around shopping and persistent sales patter. The reason to come is Ephesus, about 19 km away and 25 to 30 minutes by road.
Getting there. Taxis wait outside the port gate and usually quote a flat return fare including waiting time, so agree it before leaving. The dolmuş minibus to Selçuk is cheapest, but it needs a bigger time buffer.
Tickets. Ephesus was listed at €40 and the Terrace Houses at €15 in November 2026, with increases scheduled for April 2027.
Timing. Allow about 4 hours port to port, plus 45 minutes for the Terrace Houses, whose mosaics and frescoes are well worth the extra. Enter at the upper gate so the walk runs mostly downhill.
Heat. There is very little shade, so bring water and a hat and go as early as you can.
If you have seen Ephesus before, walk the causeway to Pigeon Island, or take a longer excursion to Şirince village and the House of the Virgin Mary.
Civitavecchia: one of the worst Mediterranean cruise ports for transfers
Rome’s port is about 70 km from the capital, and it is a common example of cruise ports that are far from the city they advertise. Door to door, expect about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes each way by public transport.
Take the free port shuttle to Largo della Pace, which runs roughly every 20 to 25 minutes.
Walk 15 to 20 minutes along the seafront to the station, or pay about €6 for the station shuttle.
Take a regional train (flat fare around €4.60, not tied to a specific departure). Roma San Pietro, for the Vatican, takes about 50 to 60 minutes and Termini about 75 to 85 minutes.
Leave central Rome at least four hours before sailing, and aim to reach Civitavecchia two hours before all-aboard.
Independent Rome only really works on a call of nine or ten hours. A private transfer starts at around €221 per vehicle and takes about 65 minutes, while a ship tour moves the timing risk to the cruise line. If you would rather stay close, Civitavecchia has a waterfront and Forte Michelangelo, and the Etruscan tombs at Tarquinia are a short rail trip north. Local connections there need checking in advance.
How to spot a problem port before you book
A few minutes with an itinerary can save a frustrating day. Compare these points before you commit:
Hours in port, not just the port name. Subtract the transfer each way and a safety margin from the time alongside.
Dock or tender. Tender ports add waiting at both ends, and bad weather can cancel the call.
Other ships that day. Port schedule sites can show how many ships are due, which matters most in Santorini and Naples.
The return plan. The ship will generally only wait for its own excursions. If a train or ferry is your only way back, leave a large margin.
FAQs
What is the worst cruise port in Europe?
There is no official ranking, but Le Havre and Civitavecchia draw frequent complaints because the headline destination is hours away. Santorini and Naples are criticized more for crowds and logistics than for a lack of things to see.
Can you visit Paris from Le Havre on a cruise?
Yes, but it is a long day. Direct trains to Paris Saint-Lazare take about 2 hours 20 minutes each way, which leaves roughly four to five hours in the city on a generous port call. A ship coach tour removes the risk of missing the ship.
How much is the Santorini cruise passenger fee?
The published rate is €20 per passenger from June to September, €12 in April, May and October, and €4 from November to March. How it is billed varies by cruise line, so check your fare breakdown or onboard account.
Is it worth getting off the ship at Civitavecchia?
Yes, if your call lasts about nine hours or more and you want Rome. On a shorter call, a guided excursion or a quieter day in Civitavecchia or nearby Tarquinia is a more relaxed choice.
Where is the best place to cruise in Europe?
It depends on what you want from port days. The Greek islands and Adriatic suit travelers who like to walk straight off the ship into historic towns, while the Western Mediterranean offers big-name cities that often need longer transfers.
On most cruises, you cannot take your pets with you. If they are permitted, they usually have to stay in kennels. But the Villa Vie Odyssey, and her epic three-and-a-half-year itinerary, is no ordinary cruise.
Three years is a long time to be away from home, with many guests planning to stay onboard the Villa Vie Odyssey indefinitely. So it makes sense that some have special permission to sail with their beloved pets in tow.
Holly Hennessy is a Florida resident who has embarked on the cruise with her cat Captain. I spoke to her to learn more about cruising with a cat.
Holly has purchased a cabin on Villa Vie Odyssey, which gives her the option to use it well beyond the initial three and a half years of sailing. It’s expected that the useful life of the ship will be 15 years.
I love ships. I’ve done three word cruises and countless others. My winter home in Florida was a 53′ boat, and it was Captain’s winter home since he was a kitten (he’s 8 now).
After 17 years of owning my boat, I had just grown tired of the headaches and being disappointed by people who maintained her. And the costs of maintaining a private vessel were becoming crazy. So to be on the water when someone else takes care of all those things? Perfect!
A perpetual world cruise in your own cabin really is ideal, esepcially if you want to explore as many countries as possible in luxurious comfort.
Holly admits that Captain, the ‘Cruising Kitty’, had been cramping her travel style and limiting her options. But now Villa Vie Odyssey offers an exciting opportunity to travel the world together:
The few times I did go away and left him in the care of dear friends who knew him well, his normally very social self didn’t love it, and let everyone know. So I was resigned to the fact that my travel had to include him. Villa Vie is the perfect solution. I love ships, and I love Captain. I can have them both!
Captain’s time onboard (and ashore if possible)
Captain was lucky enough to get a peek at his cabin before the much-delayed cruise set sail, but otherwise he spent the time ashore with Holly while they waited for the ship to launch.
Now that the ship is sailing, Captain enjoys free rein within his cabin. There is also a special area outdoors where cat owners are allowed to enjoy their pets in public.
The company hopes for it to be a social spot so those who left their fur babies at home, and crave some love, can come and share. There has been a contingency of cat haters emerge, and some passengers are allergic. All cat owners will be very respectful and stay out of the way of these passengers.
With a balcony cabin, Captain does still get plenty of fresh air. Although when the balcony door is open, he’s kept in his playpen or on a leash to prevent him getting too adventurous!
Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, Captain won’t be spending much time ashore. There are lots of rules and regulations around bringing animals into other countries. But there is some hope that Captain may get to explore the world a little.
As a private yachtie, I have been a member of a Facebook group called Gatos Del Mar. These are private yachts all over the world cruising with feline crew and they share the hassles in various places. The cruise company will clear us as needed.
Holly made it clear that the cat owners didn’t want to ask for anything that forced the crew to go above and beyond. The fact that cats are allowed onboard at all is definitely seen as enough. However, if she could have anything, there was one feature she would like to make life a little easier for her and Captain:
My wish list would include litter to be for sale at the ship shop so I don’t need to waste precious port time finding litter and having to carry heavy bags of it back to the ship.
There is one other cat on the ship, and some others joining the cruise along the way. So maybe the cat owners can work together on sourcing the litter they need. The cruise line was also going to allow small dogs for the cruise, but that plan had to be cancelled once they purchased the ship, since it does not have the right facilities for dogs.
Getting to the departure port
Before the ship set sail, Holly and Captain had to get to Belfast from Florida. I asked how that went.
Captain has always been a great traveller. We would go between our Florida and Wisconsin homes multiple times of year, both flying and driving.
Holly has some travel tips for anyone who wants to take their cat with them on their next cruise:
Check with your airline multiple times. Policies regarding pets can change at the last minute, and aircraft can vary in terms of under-seat space for pet carriers.
Always check the paperwork needed for travel in advance, and arrange to visit the vet close to departure. It’s important to understand all requirements long before you set off.
Packing light
Packing for any cruise can create a few logistical challenges, never mind a three and a half year itinerary. Thankfully, there’s reliable laundry services onboard! But when you add a cat to the equation, there are a few extra things to think about.
With the UK not allowing pets in flight cabins, Holly flew to Dublin instead, and then took a specialist pet taxi to get to Belfast. She was able to use this wisely:
He was kind enough to let me have all the things a cat needs shipped to his home, so Captain had a litter box, litter, and a scratch pad waiting for him. I do that in the States when we’re flying somewhere he hasn’t been. Hotels are usually very good about holding packages.
Cats, in Holly’s words, are just more portable than dogs. So once you can arrange the associated paraphernalia, it’s relatively easy.
Food is a different matter though, especially with a fussy eater. Captain only eats two types of dry food along with some wet food, so Holly packed as much as she could (with a kind guest bringing back another bag from the US). The ship was originally scheduled to return to the US, but that changed, meaning a re-think was needed:
We are not going to the east coast of the US as originally planned, so I ordered multiple large bags of food to pick up in the Caribbean. Thank goodness for Walmart.com.
Other tips and advice for cruising with a cat
Holly admits that she doesn’t know the full list of challenges she’ll face when sailing with Captain. It’s a question that can be answered as the cruise unfolds.
There is a retired vet tech onboard who has offered to help in case of emergencies, and vets will be visiting the ship for vaccinations as needed too.
I am a tiny bit concerned about really rough seas, which are bound to happen. The last slip I had my cat in was quite bouncy, so he’s had a taste, but big swells will be a new thing for him. Vet says he can have tiny amounts of Dramamine if it comes to that.
Cruising with pets is still a very limited market. You can bring your pets across the Atlantic with Cunard on the Queen Mary 2, but they must remain in the kennels onboard.
Holly has tried to find alternative options too…
I once saw a golden retriever in a Viking commercial, but when I asked, they said no pets. Because I have cruised so much, I have top or near top status with most major cruise lines, and the answer was still no pets.
And when I asked Holly what she was most excited about with this cruise, her answer was touching:
Just the fact that I can live how I have always wanted to live and he can be with me.
The Villa Vie Odyssey has now finally set sail, but not every guest is staying onboard for the whole three-years-plus itinerary, and there are cabins available.
So, if you’d like to try a cruise with your cat, why not get in touch with Villa Vie and see if you can join Holly and Captain on their shared odyssey?
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.
You know that feeling at the end of a cruise where you’re sad that you have to get back to everyday life…
Wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to worry about that feeling ever again? Can you live on a cruise ship permanently?
It’s actually not as far-fetched a thought as you might think. In this guide, I’ll take you through all the options for living on a cruise ship. You’ll learn how much it costs, and what you’d need to think about if you wanted to try it.
Can You Live Permanently on a Cruise Ship?
It is possible to live on a cruise ship and there are several cruise lines that allow you to purchase an apartment onboard. Alternatively, you could book a series of short cruises on a mainstream cruise line.
It’s better to choose a cruise ship designed for long-term living than one from a mainstream cruise line. Logistically, booking back-to-back cruises with a standard cruise line is often not possible and you may have to change rooms regularly or even switch ships.
Cruise Ships You Can Live On Permanently
Technically you could live on any cruise ship, but it might not be possible. Cruises don’t always sell out, but the most popular staterooms and cabins book up far in advance. You would have to constantly look at booking cruises to make sure you have somewhere to stay.
Let’s look at your options in a little more detail…
Traditional Cruises
You can book yourself onto a traditional cruise ship for the long term. You would need to book each itinerary, one after the other.
If you wanted the same cabin on every cruise, it’s wise to make sure that you’re first in line when bookings open. That’s the only way to make sure you can secure the same room for the long term. Otherwise, someone could book your room and essentially kick you out.
Cruises are available to book around 18 to 24 months in advance, so you’ll need to plan ahead.
Moving cabins might not be the end of the world – but it would be a lot easier if you didn’t have to pack and unpack at the start of every new itinerary.
Note: Some cruise lines might make you leave the ship and re-board between itineraries
World Cruises
The easiest way to enjoy living on a cruise ship for the long term would be to look for world cruises. These itineraries can last a long time. Some of the longest run for six months, but three months is more common.
However, don’t expect world cruises to run back-to-back. Typically a cruise ship that is offering a world cruise will go back to offering more regular sailings for the rest of the year, so you would need to keep booking new cruises every time.
These cruises are often expensive too, so the cost of booking world cruises as frequently as possible may not be something you can afford to do.
I was keen to see what a world cruise ship was like, and I managed to book myself a place on board just for the first two days. You can see what the ship was like in my video…
Ship-Hopping
Another option is to ship-hop every few weeks. This may work out cheaper, especially on some cruise lines that offer cheap nightly rates and one-way repositioning cruises.
You should bear in mind how much work would be involved in constantly booking your next cruise, plus the added stress of worrying about whether you’d miss your chance and end up without a cabin.
It can be done though. One person who’s doing just that is Fraser from the YouTube channel Fraser At Sea. Check out this video where he announced his plans to live on cruise ships in 2023:
I’ve taken cruises that cost as little as £40 ($50) per night with all meals included. So if you’re savvy, living on cruise ships can be pretty cheap.
Below you can see examples of some of the best cruise deals available right now…
Cruise Ships Designed For Permanent Living
Arguably the better way to live on a cruise ship is to choose one that’s designed for permanent living.
There aren’t too many of these in existence, but there are some ships that are planned with full-time living in mind, removing all of the worry about making sure you stay booked onto the ship.
Here are the ships that are designed for full-time living:
Ship name
Operated By
Year of Launch
The World
Residences at Sea
2002
Victoria Majestic
Victoria Cruise Line
2024
Somnio
Somnio Superyachts
2024
Villa Vie Residences
Villa Vie
2024
MS Utopia
Utopia Residences
2025
MV Narrative
Storyline Cruises
2025
Njord
Ocean Residences
2025
MS Dark Island
Clydebuilt Dark Island Residences
2026
It’s important to note that these are all planned launch dates. Already some have been pushed back – MS Utopia was originally scheduled for 2023. If you’re interested in living on a cruise ship, you probably need to be flexible on your start year, as plans can change.
1. The World
Me with The World cruise ship in Piraeus, Greece
The World is the largest private residential ship on the planet with 165 residences. It has 106 two- and three-bedroom apartments, 19 one- and two-bedroom studio apartments and 40 studios.
Instead of booking individual cruises, people purchase one of the residences on the ship and are then free to use it as and when they want. Some people live on the ship full-time while others come and go, using it as a vacation home or an alternative to owning a yacht.
The World tries to distance itself in some ways from comparisons to a traditional cruise ship, but there are a lot of similarities, including in the onboard experience.
Take a look at this video to see what you can expect from life on board…
The ship features guest speakers, musicians, and cultural performances to entertain guests, similar to those which would feature on traditional luxury world cruises.
Daytime activities are available too, with two swimming pools as well as a tennis court, and a gym offering exercise classes like yoga and cardio. This is good, considering there are six gourmet restaurants on the ship!
The residences also have their own kitchens, and there’s a grocery store on the ship, if you want to cook for yourself.
The World has a spa, just like you would find on a cruise ship. So really, the experience is very comparable to a typical cruise ship – the only difference is that you have your own kitchen area and that you’re able to stay on the ship long term.
Although, one more difference is the option to host guests. You own your residence and so you’re able to welcome guests onto the ship if you wish.
The ship isn’t particularly family-friendly – kids are welcome, but there isn’t much for them to do. Understandably, the ship is primarily aimed at a mature audience as it’s likely to be retirees who wish to live on a cruise ship.
But that doesn’t mean your family won’t want to visit every now and then, and they will be permitted onto the ship to say hello, although you may be charged if they use some of the facilities, including the restaurants.
2. MS Utopia
Utopia is a planned luxury residential ocean liner project costing $1.1 billion that was originally ordered all the way back in 2009 by Utopia Residences.
The ship has had the launch date regularly pushed back, with the latest launch date announced as 2025. Everything has since gone a little quiet, so there are no guarantees that this project will actually reach completion.
The ship’s yearly itinerary includes stops at some of the world’s most premier events, such as Wimbledon in London, Carnival in Rio De Janeiro, Running of the Bulls in Spain, and Cannes Film Festival in France.
If it does go ahead as planned, Utopia will have 190 residences and will also feature a 175-room hotel, casino, 16,000-square-foot spa, nightclub, and many other amenities typical of large-scale commercial cruise ships.
3. Victoria Majestic
The former ms Veendam for Holland America Line, Victoria Majestic has now been turned into a residential ship and will soon set sail with Victoria Cruises.
Billed as the “world’s first affordable residential ship”, she doesn’t allow guests to purchase a room, but instead lease one on a long-term basis.
The longer you rent a cabin, the higher a discount you’ll get. For example, an Inside Cabin typically costs $8,000 per month (with a $10,000 refundable deposit), but if you book one of the longest leases for 37 months, you’ll get a 40% discount, meaning you’ll pay $4,800 per month. And that’s for two people – $2,400 per person, per month is a pretty great deal for living on a ship!
The ship will offer plenty of onboard facilities to keep guests entertained, and WiFi access means that you could work remotely from the ship if you’re able to.
The planned itinerary for the ship sees her sail from the US around the Caribbean and then down around South America, back up to the west coast of the US before crossing the Pacific to Asia, then onto Africa and a comprehensive tour of Europe for her first 212 days.
4. Somnio
Not a lot is known about Somnio – the superyacht is still cloaked in mystery, and details are only available to those invited to apply for a residence onboard. It’s that kind of exclusive.
But here’s what we do know…
There are just 39 residential apartments on this exquisite vessel, each of which is customisable to fit the needs of the buyer. Prices are believed to start from around $11 million, with maintenance fees payable on top of that to the tune of around $100,000 or more.
For the money, you get use of the aft deck – the main hub of the yacht where you can enjoy a large lap pool, two spa pools and various bars and seating areas. Watersports equipment is also available, along with boats if you want to go fishing or diving.
The ship will sail a leisurely itinerary, cruising the world slowly to allow guests more time to explore in port (and to be more environmentally friendly, burning less fuel at slower speeds).
5. Villa Vie Residences
Villa Vie Residences is another new live-on-board world cruise option that has an interesting offering. You can choose to own a cabin, or you can just craft your own world cruise by paying for a cabin like you normally would on a ship, for your chosen segment of the cruise.
And that cruise is epic – it’s a planned 3.5 year journey that will visit over 420 ports in 147 continents across all seven continents. And it’ll continue running this cruise in perpetuity, so once it completes the first navigation, it all begins again.
If you choose to own a cabin, prices start from just $99,999, although there is then a monthly fee you need to pay on top of that. However, you can welcome guests to your cabin and only pay the daily port fees and gratuities for them ($33 per day), and what’s cool is you can rent out your cabin when you aren’t on the ship – making your money back.
Otherwise, if you prefer the Voyagers Program, it works like any other cruise. Prices start at $89 per person, per night and there are a range of itinerary options from 35 days up to 120 days, with the option to combine any that you like.
The cruise is all-inclusive with beer and wine served at meals, complimentary healthcare, free high-speed WiFi, selected free excursions, and free laundry.
And even with the monthly fees, it’s one of the best-value options for living on a cruise ship full time.
MV Narrative is a contemporary superyacht offering a luxury residential community at sea. Belonging to Storylines, it’s a more affordable choice than some of the other ships you can live on, with the cheapest residences starting at $875,000.
It’s also much larger, with 547 residences available and 18 decks.
You also have the option of leasing a residence on the yacht, if you can’t afford to buy one outright. This means you can pay yearly fees at a much more reasonable five-figure sum, but the downside is that once your 12- or 24-year lease is finished, you don’t own the residence.
It’s a very beautiful yacht with lots of relaxing places to unwind. There are three swimming pools, along with a mammoth 20 restaurants to choose from. You can also borrow from the 10,000 books in the library, or enjoy a drink brewed in the ship’s own microbrewery.
Everything’s included with MV Narrative, including laundry services, high-speed WiFi, premium satellite TV and even regular wellness visits with the onboard doctors and nutritionists, so you can make sure you stay fit and healthy while enjoying your life at sea.
If you have children, it’s by far the best option. There’s a ‘worldschooling’ program with onboard teachers offering hands-on learning through field trips, tutoring, classes and clubs.
Njord by Ocean Residences is a planned superyacht due to launch in 2025, with a wide variety of luxury residences that you can buy.
Studios on the yacht range from two to six bedrooms, so you can really splash out on a luxury pad for entertaining guests if you want to. The biggest suites are 9,000 square feet – consider how an average interior room on a cruise ship is around 130 square feet, and you get the picture.
Everything about this yacht will be extremely luxurious, including hand-picked furnishings, high-end appliances from Gaggenau and integrated smart-home tech throughout.
The yacht has seven onboard restaurants, an extensive spa and fitness suite, its own concierge hospital and medical centre, a cinema, a games room, arts and craft studios, and even a kids club should you wish to bring the family. There are two pools including an aft infinity pool.
Suites on the Njord start from $8.5 million so this is definitely a yacht aimed at the super-rich.
8. MS Dark Island
Dark Island is another residential cruise ship which is planned to be built by 2026.
The ship offers adventurous itineraries, visiting destinations around the world, with lectures, forums, discussions and field trips by leading academics preceding the destinations and expeditions.
There are 101 ultra-luxurious suites to choose from, each with a balcony and a choice of one, two or three bedrooms.
The Dark Island is built to minimise its impact on the environment, with a focus on sustainability and green initiatives.
The Three-Year World Cruise
There was one more option – and this was designed as a middle option between traditional cruising and residential cruising. That’s the ultra-long-term world cruise option announced by Life At Sea Cruises.
However, just as the ship was due to launch on her three-year itinerary in November 2023, the company cancelled the cruise after revealing they had not been able to secure a suitable ship.Read about the cancellation here.
The company had originally announced a three-year itinerary on their ship MV Gemini, with all-inclusive fares starting at $29,999 per person, per year. At the time, this looked like one of the most affordable long-term options for anyone interested in living on a cruise ship.
But then there were challenges about whether the ship was seaworthy, and so a second ship was sought. But with a deal lined up, the cruise line didn’t pay for the AIDAaura when it came up for sale, and instead it was purchased by Celestyal Cruises.
The cruise was due to set sail on 1st November 2023 and visit 135 countries until late 2026, covering 130,000 miles.
Guests had already travelled to Istanbul for the departure, and are now facing a wait for refunds. The company has promised to repay guests but using monthly installments, which suggests the money may have been spent – hopefully everyone gets their money back.
How Much It Costs To Live on A Cruise Ship
The cost of buying an apartment on a residential cruise ship is between $1 million and $14 million. There are also annual fees of between $60,000 and $300,000 to pay. In theory, you could cruise on traditional cruise ships for around $35,000 per year, if you choose a basic cruise.
There’s no getting away from the fact that residential cruise ships are expensive. That’s because they’re more like luxury ships, and they’re very exclusive. Plus you’re buying an asset, which can be sold on at a later date.
It’s difficult to compare costs directly since ships include different levels of service within their fares, plus you don’t know how long you’re going to want to live on a cruise ship.
But for the sake of comparison, let’s look at the estimated costs of living aboard three residential cruise ships, three traditional cruise lines and the new three-year world cruise.
Table comparing the cost of living on cruise ships for 10 years
Type
Cruise line/ship
Purchase price
Cruise Fare / Fees (10 years)
Taxes (10 years)
Tips (10 years)
Drinks (10 years)
Estimated WiFi cost
Total cost for 10 years (for 2 people)
Asset value after 10 years
Cheap cruise
Carnival
n/a
$156,000
$127,750
$52,925
$219,000
$70,000
$1,251,340
$0
Mainstream cruise
Royal Caribbean
n/a
$360,000
$58,400
$56,300
$325,000
$66,000
$1,731,400
$0
Luxury cruise
Regent Seven Seas
n/a
$2,190,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$4,380,000
$0
Residential
MS The World
$3,000,000
$1,000,000*
Included
Included
Included
Included
$4,000,000
$3,000,000
Residential
Somnio
$11,000,000
$1,000,000*
Included
Included
Included
Included
$12,000,000
$11,000,000
Residential
Villa Vie
$99,999
$419,880
Included
Included
Included
Included
$519,879
$99,999
Residential (lease)
Victoria Majestic
$10,000 deposit
$576,000
Included
Included
Included
Included
$606,000
$30,000
Residential
MV Narrative
$1,000,000
$650,000
Included
Included
Included
Included
$1,650,000
$1,000,000
Notes about the data
It’s difficult to compare costs directly since ships include different levels of service within their fares, plus you don’t know how long you’re going to want to live on a cruise ship. You can’t really compare the price of owning a residential place on a ship to cruising for just one year. If you’re looking to buy a place on one of the residential ships, you’ll probably be looking to use it for the long term.
With that in mind, I’ve used 10 years as a guideline, comparing the price of buying a room on a residential ship for 10 years, against the cost of booking traditional cruises for the same time period.
The costs for each option is based on the cheapest accommodation using reported figures.
For the Carnival price, I have used a typical 4-day cruise and included the cost of the Cheers drinks package and the premium WiFi packages.
For Regent Seven Seas I’ve based the price on a typical 10-day cruise. Drinks, WiFi, tips and taxes are included as standard.
Where I’ve placed an asterisk for annual costs – these aren’t published by Residences at Sea or Somnio Superyachts, so I’ve used the best estimate I can find.
How To Live On a Cruise Ship Cheaply
The cheapest way to live on a cruise ship would be to choose Life At Sea’s Three Year World cruise. They have the cheapest fares for long-term living, starting at $29,999 per person, per year and including everything you need.
You can even pay monthly if you prefer, with financing options starting at $5,227 per month – a figure that may be within reach for many digital nomads.
With Life at Seas, you get:
Free family & friend visits
Medical consultations during your cruise
Access to a Business Center onboard
Alcohol served with dinner
All port fees and taxes
High-speed internet
Laundry and housekeeping
All entertainment and enrichment seminars
If you would rather stick to a traditional cruise line, you can still keep prices low, but remember you’ll be booking cruises regularly, and you would need to avoid paying for many extras on the ship. You’ll also want to look at cruising with the cheapest cruise lines in the world, such as Carnival or MSC Cruises.
When you’re booking a Carnival cruise, the cheapest fare you can get will be one where you only pay for the cruise itself and the necessary extras – the port fees, taxes and gratuities.
And trust me, while it is possible to opt out of gratuities, you definitely don’t want to do that when you’re living on a cruise ship!
If you cruised in this way – choosing an inside cabin, eating only in the free restaurants and sticking to the free drinks you get on the ship (water, juices, basic tea and coffee at breakfast) then you could possibly cruise for around $35,000 per year.
This would mean you’d have no internet access and you would have to pay for any other drinks separately, but you would be able to enjoy the free accommodation, days at port, and the included daytime and evening entertainment on the ship, along with meals in the main dining restaurant, the buffet and any other included venues on the ship.
Life at Sea’s three-year cruise remains cheaper, and you get more included, but it depends on whether you like the idea of cruising with a more established mainstream cruise line or taking a punt on something new.
How To Live On A Cruise Ship For Free
The absolute cheapest way to live on a cruise ship is to work on one – although it probably isn’t what you had in mind when you thought about living on a cruise ship!
It’s the cheapest option because you’d actually be making money – and your room and food would be free. But you would be working six or seven days a week with only very rare days off, and often for long hours.
In some cases, senior officers, including the ship’s captain and cruise director, may be allowed to have their families staying on the ship with them. It isn’t really standard practice, and most officers live on the ships alone, but if you really wanted to live on a cruise ship for free, then try convincing your partner to take up a career as a ship’s senior officer and then see what the cruise line can do for you!
Comparing The Cost of Cruise Ship Living With Other Options
A cruise ship offers a number of perks over regular living, the main one being that you get to see the world. Living on a cruise ship means travelling all across the globe, experiencing new cultures and thrilling experiences.
But how does the cost compare to regular living?
Is it cheaper to live on a cruise ship than in a house?
It costs a similar amount to live on a cruise ship as it does in a house. In the UK, the average cost of living is £2,200 per month, equal to around $2,650, and in the US the average cost is $3,200. You can live on a cruise ship for around $2,500-$3,000 per month.
Surprising, right? The average cost of living stats for the UK and for the US include typical rent payments, the cost of food, transport and entertainment, so we’re looking at very comparable rates. The UK’s cost of living makes it being cheaper than the average cruise, while the US is slightly more expensive.
Again, these are average costs for the countries. If we just look at the most expensive places to live, then London becomes £3,200 a month, or $3,800, while New York is approximately $5,100. So living on a cruise ship could actually work out cheaper!
Is it cheaper to live on a cruise ship than in a nursing home?
It is usually cheaper to live on a cruise ship than in a nursing home. The UK average cost for living in a care home is £3,550 per month ($4,250), while the US average is much higher at $7,900 per month. It is possible to live on a cruise ship from $2,500 per month.
Of course, if you need to live in a care home, there’s a good chance you need a carer. If that carer’s responsibilities aren’t specialised – if a family member is capable of taking care of you – then you just need to pay for a second person to join you on a cruise.
But that can still work out to be cheaper than paying for a care home.
Accommodation option
Monthly cost for 1 person plus carer
Nursing Home in UK
$4,250
Nursing Home in US
$7,900
3-Year World Cruise (Life At Sea)
$5,000
Mainstream Cruise (Carnival)
$5,800
Luxury Cruise (Regent)
$36,500
So, if you don’t need any specialist medical care and have someone in mind who would like to travel the world with you, then paying for the two of you to live on a cruise ship could work out cheaper than living in a care home.
However, one thing that you’ll certainly need to factor in is travel insurance and medical costs. Travel insurance for such a trip could be very costly indeed, and it is mandatory.
Cruise ships do have doctors, but visits to the onboard medical centre can be very costly indeed, and for any serious medical issues, you would need to visit a hospital on land.
The People Who Live On Cruise Ships
What we’ve gathered from this guide is that financially, it is viable to live on a cruise ship, although you need to plan your cruise carefully.
But is it actually an option, or are we being fanciful?
I’ve looked into some real-life examples of people who have lived on cruise ships, and there are some notable examples that prove it is a lifestyle within reach.
1. Lee Wachtstetter
Lee Wachtstetter was an American author who began living on cruise ships back in 2005, choosing Holland America Line’s MS Prinsendam as her ship of choice. She moved in 2008 to Crystal Serenity, and I love the reason why – it’s because Holland America stopped providing dancing partners.
Wachtstetter remained on Crystal Serenity until 2018 when she apparently had to return to land due to ill health. She’s published a book about her experiences, called I May Be Homeless, But You Should See My Yacht.
2. Morton Jablin
Morton Jablin, affectionately nicknamed ‘Captain’, is another long-term cruise passenger. As of 2018, when Jablin was 94 years old, he had spent 13 years living on Seven Seas Navigator, enjoying a life of luxury.
3. Mario Salcedo
Perhaps the most famous case is of Mario Salcedo, nicknamed Super Mario. Mario has lived continuously on Royal Caribbean ships since 2000, with an average of 15 days a year spent on land to handle life admin. He did live on land for 15 months during the COVID-19 pandemic too.
Salcedo isn’t a retiree – he works on the ship, managing investments for various high-worth individuals. And he isn’t tied to a single ship – at the end of his cruises he will return to his condo in Miami for a few hours, before embarking on his next voyage, often flying to a different port to meet the ship.
Things To Consider When Living On A Cruise Ship
Here are some of the things you’ll need to consider when you’re living on a cruise ship.
1. Tax
There are two main things to mention when considering tax on your cruise.
Firstly, every cruise you take has taxes that need to be paid. On residential cruise ships or long-term world cruises, these are incorporated into the cost, but if you choose to book traditional cruises back-to-back, the taxes and fees may be separate – so be careful when you’re budgeting.
The second tax consideration is if you decide to work while you cruise. Even if you cruise on a ship permanently, you’ll still need to have a home country of residence, and you’ll need to obey the tax laws for that country.
However, there are often exclusions if you spend less than a set number of days residing in the country, so it’s worth checking your local tax laws and speaking to your accountant for advice.
As an example, in the UK you usually only pay tax if you live in the country for more than half the year. So, by living on a cruise ship permanently, you may not have to pay tax at all.
In theory, you could get a work-from-home job and work on a cruise ship, and potentially save yourself tax money by not being permanently based in your home country! And if you’re a high earner, it could even be more cost-effective to work at sea since the cost of the cruise fare may be less than the tax you save.
Especially when you consider that your cruise fare includes your room and food – maybe this is something I need to think about?
Just be careful, though because you may also be paying other benefits at home that you could miss out on if living on a ship. For example, in the UK, if you don’t make National Insurance payments, you won’t get the full state pension later in life.
2. Insurance
Normal travel insurance isn’t going to cover you if you decide to live on a cruise ship. Travel insurance policies count on the fact that medical cover is a rarity when you travel for 2-3 weeks of the year.
You’ll need to look into long-term health insurance, so that you have cover should anything go wrong while you’re sailing, and this is likely to be significantly more expensive than regular travel insurance.
3. Health
Speaking of health, you’ll need to consider how you’re going to stay healthy while living on a cruise ship. Cruise ships generally have a doctor onboard but visits to see them are costly, and they don’t offer most dental treatments.
It would be better to have the option of returning to land on a semi-regular basis to see a doctor and dentist, where prices will be lower.
If you intend to eat in the cruise ship restaurants, remember that they are aimed at vacation guests, and so meals will be richer and higher in calories than a regular diet may be. You might need to be careful with your meal choices, and you’ll want to make sure you visit the gym regularly, or find other ways to stay active.
You probably shouldn’t eat this for breakfast every day!
4. Mail
A minor consideration, but if you sail on a cruise ship, receiving mail isn’t as easy as it would be at home. It is possible for someone to write to you at a cruise port via the port agency, but this requires you to reach an agreement for them to hold your mail.
It may be better to have a post box somewhere that you visit regularly – essentially, set up a home port where you can visit medical services and pick up any mail that you need.
FAQs About Living On A Cruise Ship
Is there a cruise ship you can live on?
There are several cruise ships designed for permanent living. The World is the only one sailing currently but more are coming soon – though you need to be flexible on dates, as launches are often postponed.
How much does it cost to live on a cruise ship for a month?
Living on a cruise ship costs between $2,800 and $6,000 per month for most mainstream cruise lines, including drinks packages and WiFi. Luxury cruise lines can cost more, up to $40,000 per month for a typical suite.
How much does it cost to retire and live on a cruise ship?
You can retire and live on a cruise ship from $2,500 per month, if you choose world cruise itineraries on the cheapest ship options. Choosing other long-term residential cruises, or back-to-back cruises that include drinks and internet access, can cost a lot more than this.
The Bottom Line
That’s a lot of information, but considering how we’re talking about as big a decision as living your life on a cruise ship, there’s always going to be a ton of information you need.
Is it realistic? Yes, it clearly is since others have done it, but it’s not something you can do without having some decent savings.
You’ll need at least $3,000 a month on most cruises, often more, and that’s per person – if you want to live solo then costs may be inflated as well, so bear that in mind.
The best option is to choose one of the specialist cruises aimed at residential guests – such as the MV Narrative from Storylines. These offer the comfort of a long-term solution, while being more affordable than the ultra-luxury MS The World.
It’s definitely a tempting way of living out your retirement, with the chance to be cooked for and pampered while being whisked around the world. Are you considering it?
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss these hot cruise offers…
Related Posts:
If you found this interesting, please share!
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.
The main Sapphire Princess cabins to avoid are obstructed-view oceanview cabins behind the lifeboats, Dolphin-deck mini-suites if you want a private, shaded balcony, cabins beside lifts, launderettes and crew doors, and far forward cabins if you are prone to seasickness. The best picks for most guests are midship balcony cabins on the Baja and Caribe decks and the covered-balcony mini-suites on the Emerald deck.
As of October 2026, Sapphire Princess is still sailing for Princess Cruises and has moved to Asia for 2026-27. Below we cover where she is sailing, every cabin type, and how to choose the right one.
Where Sapphire Princess is sailing in 2026-27
Sapphire Princess remains part of the Princess fleet and is on sale for 2026 and 2027 voyages.
Here is what has actually changed recently:
October 2025 drydock. A two-week refit in Portland, Oregon, refreshed the ship and added two specialty restaurants: Crown Grill steakhouse, which replaced the Savoy Dining Room on deck 5, and Makoto Ocean sushi, which replaced the former Internet Café on deck 7. Princess’s release did not mention any changes to staterooms.
A move to Asia. For the 2026-27 season Sapphire Princess joins her sister Diamond Princess in Asia, with voyages of 10 to 42 nights from Singapore and the Tokyo area (Yokohama) to Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia and beyond.
A long Japan season in 2027. Princess says Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princess will sail together from the Tokyo region from March to December 2027, the first time the line has based two ships there at once. A Fremantle (Western Australia) season has also been reported for the 2027-28 southern summer; check princess.com for confirmed dates.
What this means for you: if you are in North America or Europe, Sapphire Princess will not be sailing from your region for the time being, so you will need to fly to Asia to sail on her. Her sister Diamond Princess is almost identical inside, so the cabin advice below works for both ships.
Sapphire Princess at a glance
Sapphire Princess entered service in 2004. At about 115,900 gross tons, she carries around 2,670 guests in 1,337 cabins, and more than 700 cabins have balconies. Fun fact: she and Diamond Princess swapped names during construction after a fire delayed the ship originally due to be Sapphire. Cabins are spread over seven decks: Plaza (5), Emerald (8), Dolphin (9), Caribe (10), Baja (11), Aloha (12) and part of the Lido (14) deck. A 2017 refit fitted every cabin with the Princess Luxury Bed.
Sapphire Princess cabins: every category compared
Sizes are approximate and vary within each category. Deck-plan sites sometimes disagree slightly, so treat these as a guide.
Cabin type
Approx. size (sq ft)
Roughly how many
Best for
Interior
160-180
about 380
Budget travellers and port-heavy Asia itineraries
Oceanview
160-190
about 220
Natural light at a lower price; check for obstructions
Inside cabins are generously sized for their price. Oceanview cabins come in several grades, and four of them (shown as OV, OW, OY and OZ on deck-plan sites) have windows partly or fully blocked by lifeboats or ship structures. They are fine if you just want daylight, but not if you expect a clear sea view.
Balcony cabins
Standard balconies are the backbone of the ship. Balcony depth varies, with some corner and aft cabins getting noticeably more outdoor space. Cruisedeckplans records guest complaints about vent smells on the balconies of cabins D740 and D741, so it is worth checking reviews of any specific cabin number you are offered.
Mini-suites and Reserve Collection
Mini-suites are on the Emerald (8) and Dolphin (9) decks. The Dolphin-deck mini-suite balconies are uncovered and can be seen from decks above, which cruisers on forums regularly mention. Emerald-deck mini-suites have covered balconies that give more shade and privacy. Princess now sells its premium mini-suites, previously called Club Class, under the Reserve Collection name, with a reserved dining area and priority perks.
Suites and family suites
The single Grand Suite sits aft and is the biggest room onboard. The two-bedroom family suites are forward on the Dolphin deck and connect two bedrooms through a central living room. Their forward-facing balcony gets little wind protection, so it may be unusable at speed.
A covered midship balcony is the safest all-round choice on this ship. Photo: Canan İldeniz on Pexels
Best cabins on Sapphire Princess
For most couples
A midship balcony on the Caribe (10) or Baja (11) deck is the sweet spot. These decks are sandwiched between other cabin decks, so noise from public rooms is unlikely, and midship cabins are close to the lifts without being right beside them.
For wake views
Aft-facing balconies and suites look over the wake and often have bigger outdoor areas. Expect a longer walk forward and some vibration when the ship manoeuvres in port.
For families and accessible travel
The two family suites sell out early, so book well ahead. CruiseMapper lists 27 wheelchair-accessible cabins across balcony, oceanview and interior grades; confirm the exact features, such as roll-in showers and balcony thresholds, directly with Princess before you book.
Sapphire Princess cabins to avoid
Obstructed-view oceanviews if you want a real sea view.
Dolphin-deck mini-suites if privacy and shade on the balcony matter to you.
Cabins on the upper cabin decks directly under the pool deck or buffet. The Aloha (12) deck and the cabin section of Lido (14) are closest to the pools, Horizon Court and World Fresh Marketplace, so check what is above any cabin there.
Cabins beside lifts, stairwells, launderettes and crew doors, which bring corridor noise.
Far forward cabins on longer sea crossings if you are prone to seasickness, such as the long Pacific and Asia voyages.
Lower-deck cabins near gangways and tender platforms, which can be noisy on port mornings.
Think twice about…
Book instead
An obstructed oceanview
An interior (cheaper) or an unobstructed oceanview
A Dolphin-deck mini-suite
An Emerald-deck mini-suite with a covered balcony
A cabin under the pool deck
A Caribe or Baja balcony with cabins above and below
A forward cabin if you get seasick
A midship cabin on Emerald or Dolphin
A cabin beside the lift lobby
A cabin a few doors along the same corridor
An oceanview window is only worth paying for if lifeboats do not block it. Photo: Flickr on Pexels
How to check a Sapphire Princess cabin on the deck plan
The Sapphire Princess deck plan is one of the most searched things about this ship, and it is the best tool you have. Before paying a deposit:
Ask for the cabin number. Guarantee fares are cheaper but Princess picks the cabin for you, so skip them if location really matters.
Look above and below. Use the official Princess deck plan or a cabin-check tool such as the one on cruisedeckplans.com to see what is directly over and under the cabin.
Check the grade code for obstructed views.
Scan the corridor for lifts, stairs, launderettes and crew doors.
Search the cabin number online for recent reviews mentioning noise, smells or balcony shape.
Not sailing in Asia? Alternatives to Sapphire Princess
If you wanted a Sapphire Princess cruise closer to home, similar Princess ships are still sailing from North America and Europe. The Grand-class ships have a comparable layout and cabin mix; see our guides to Caribbean Princess cabins and Crown Princess cabins. For the newest ship in the fleet, read our Sun Princess best and worst cabins guide.
Sapphire Princess has a near-identical sister ship, so our guide to Diamond Princess cabins to avoid is useful if you are comparing the two.
FAQs
Where is Sapphire Princess sailing in 2026-27?
Sapphire Princess is still operated by Princess Cruises. She is sailing in Asia for 2026-27 and is scheduled to spend March to December 2027 based in the Tokyo area alongside Diamond Princess.
Which cabins should I avoid on Sapphire Princess?
Avoid obstructed-view oceanviews if you want a sea view, Dolphin-deck mini-suites if balcony privacy matters, cabins beside lifts, launderettes and crew doors, cabins directly under the pool deck, and far forward cabins if you get seasick.
What is the best deck on Sapphire Princess?
The Caribe (10) and Baja (11) decks are the best all-round choice for balcony cabins, with cabins above and below. For the smoothest ride, choose a midship cabin on the Emerald (8) or Dolphin (9) deck.
What does obstructed mean on Princess Cruises?
An obstructed cabin has part or all of its view blocked, usually by lifeboats. These grades cost less, and you still get daylight, but not a clear sea view.
Are Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princess cabins the same?
They are sister ships with very similar layouts and cabin categories, so the same advice on decks, mini-suites and cabins to avoid applies to both.
The Caribbean Princess cabins to avoid are mostly about location rather than category: obstructed-view oceanview cabins behind the lifeboats, rooms right next to lifts, launderettes or crew doors, cabins on the top Riviera and Lido decks that sit close to the pool deck, and far-forward cabins if you are prone to seasickness. The best-value picks are midship balcony cabins on the Baja and Aloha decks, Emerald-deck mini-suites with covered balconies, and the aft-facing balconies for anyone who wants a wake view.
Below you will find every cabin type on Caribbean Princess, which ones suit couples, families and light sleepers, and a simple way to check any cabin number on the deck plan before you pay a deposit.
Caribbean Princess at a glance in 2026-27
Caribbean Princess is a modified Grand-class ship that launched in 2004. At around 112,900 gross tons and roughly 3,140 guests at double occupancy, she is slightly bigger than her sisters because of an extra deck of cabins, the Riviera deck, added during construction. Deck-plan sites list around 1,569 cabins across more than 30 price grades, so there is a lot of choice and a lot of variation within each category.
The ship is still very much part of the Princess fleet. For winter 2026-27 she is based in Fort Lauderdale, mainly on 12-night round-trip Caribbean voyages, as part of Princess’s large Caribbean deployment. In summer 2027 she is one of four Princess ships assigned to Northern Europe, with sailings from Copenhagen, before Canada and New England voyages in the autumn and a return to Fort Lauderdale. Itineraries do change, so always confirm the exact sailing on princess.com.
Caribbean Princess was last refurbished in 2019, when Princess updated staterooms, dining and the children’s areas and added the Reef Splash Zone. An earlier 2017 refit replaced all beds with the Princess Luxury Bed and, according to CruiseMapper, created extra pairs of interconnecting cabins, which is good news for families.
Caribbean Princess cabin categories compared
Sizes below are approximate and vary within each category, especially for balconies. Use them as a guide rather than a guarantee.
Cabin type
Approx. size (sq ft)
Where you find them
Best for
Interior
160-180
Most cabin decks, from Plaza (5) to Lido (15)
Budget travellers, port-intensive itineraries, dark rooms for sleeping
Oceanview
160-190
Plaza (5), Emerald (8), Riviera (14), Lido (15)
Natural light without balcony prices; check for lifeboat obstructions
Balcony
about 170 plus a 45-90 sq ft balcony
Emerald (8) up to Lido (15)
Most couples; Caribbean sailaways and Northern Europe scenery
Mini-suite
about 275 plus a 45 sq ft balcony
Emerald (8) and Dolphin (9)
Extra living space, a sofa bed and a bathtub
Club Class mini-suite (Reserve Collection)
same as a mini-suite
Mini-suite decks
Guests who want a reserved dining area and priority perks without suite prices
Window suite
320-340, no balcony
Fiesta (6), forward
Suite space and perks at a lower price than balcony suites
Inside cabins on Caribbean Princess are a sensible size for the price and work well on busy port itineraries where you are rarely in the room. Oceanview cabins sit on fewer decks than you might expect. The key thing to know is that Princess sells several oceanview grades (OV, OW, OY and OZ on deck-plan sites) where the window is partly or fully blocked by lifeboats or ship structures. Cruisedeckplans lists obstructed cabins on the Emerald deck, for example in the E101-E121 and E401-E425 ranges. They are cheaper for a reason, so only book one knowingly.
Balcony cabins
With hundreds of standard balcony cabins, this is the most popular choice. Balconies vary in depth: corner and aft positions are often larger, while some Caribe-deck balconies have a ceiling overhang that covers the first few feet. That overhang gives shade in the Caribbean sun, which many guests see as a plus.
Mini-suites and Club Class
Mini-suites are on the Emerald and Dolphin decks. Cruisedeckplans notes that Dolphin-deck mini-suite balconies are uncovered and can be seen from decks above, because the ship steps out below them. If privacy and shade matter, the Emerald-deck mini-suites are usually the safer pick. Club Class mini-suites, now sold under Princess’s Reserve Collection banner, are the same size as standard mini-suites but add a reserved section of the dining room, extra in-cabin touches and priority boarding and tendering.
Suites: Grand, Owner’s, Penthouse, Premium, Vista and Window
The single Grand Suite is aft on the Aloha deck and is the largest room onboard. Owner’s and Penthouse suites have the biggest balconies after that, and Premium and Vista suites are a step down in size. Window suites on the Fiesta deck have no balcony but offer suite space and perks for less money, which suits guests who rarely sit outside.
A midship balcony gives a steady ride and an easy view of the sea. Photo: Duygu on Pexels
The best cabins on Caribbean Princess by traveller type
Couples and first-timers
A standard balcony on the Baja (11) or Aloha (12) deck, as close to midship as your budget allows, is hard to beat. These decks have cabins above and below them, which is the simplest way to avoid noise from public spaces, and midship cabins are close to the lifts without being right next to them.
Wake-view lovers
Aft-facing balcony cabins and suites look straight out over the wake and often have bigger balconies. The trade-off is that you may notice more vibration when the ship manoeuvres in port, and aft cabins are a long walk from the forward theatre.
Families
The two-bedroom family suites on the Dolphin deck sleep up to eight and give each bedroom its own bathroom. Their balcony is at the front of the ship, so it can be windy and may be unusable in strong winds while sailing. Connecting cabins are another good option since the 2017 refit added more of them; ask Princess or your agent to block a connecting pair early, as they go fast in school holidays.
Accessible cabins
CruiseMapper lists 25 wheelchair-accessible staterooms across suite, balcony, oceanview and interior grades. Numbers are limited, so book as early as possible and confirm the exact features (roll-in shower, door widths, balcony threshold) directly with Princess.
Caribbean Princess cabins to avoid
No cabin on this ship is truly bad, but some locations come with trade-offs that catch people out. These are the ones to think twice about.
Cabins near the pool and buffet decks. The Riviera (14) and Lido (15) decks sit right by the main pool deck, World Fresh Marketplace buffet and sun loungers. Some cabins here can pick up early-morning chair scraping and deck cleaning. Check exactly what is above any cabin on these decks.
Obstructed-view oceanviews. Fine if the price is right and you only want daylight, but disappointing if you expected a sea view.
Cabins next to lifts, stairwells, launderettes or crew doors. Expect corridor chatter, slamming doors and trolleys. The self-service launderettes are popular on sea days.
Dolphin-deck mini-suites, if privacy matters. The uncovered balconies can be overlooked from above.
Far forward cabins on rough itineraries. The front of the ship moves the most in a swell, which matters more on transatlantic crossings and North Atlantic or Baltic sailings than in the Caribbean.
Lower-deck cabins near the gangway or tender platforms. These can be noisy on port mornings.
If you were going to book…
Consider instead
An oceanview in an obstructed grade
An unobstructed oceanview or an interior, depending on whether you want a view or just a low price
A Riviera or Lido deck cabin under a busy public area
A balcony on Baja or Aloha with cabins above and below
A Dolphin-deck mini-suite for privacy
An Emerald-deck mini-suite with a covered balcony
A forward cabin if you get seasick
A midship cabin on a lower cabin deck such as Emerald or Dolphin
A cabin beside the lift lobby
A cabin a few doors along the same corridor
Aft and midship cabins feel the motion of the sea very differently. Photo: Godfrey Academia on Pexels
Best cabins on Caribbean Princess for seasickness and light sleepers
Motion is felt least low and in the middle of the ship. If you are worried about seasickness, choose a midship cabin on the Emerald (8) or Dolphin (9) deck. A balcony helps too, as fresh air and a view of the horizon make many people feel better. This matters most on the Northern Europe, transatlantic and New England sailings, where seas are often rougher than in the Caribbean.
Light sleepers should prioritise a cabin sandwiched between other cabin decks, away from lifts and service areas, and should avoid the very top cabin decks under the pool area and the cabins nearest the aft nightclub and family areas on the upper decks. An interior cabin is also the darkest option if you like to sleep late.
How to check a Caribbean Princess cabin before you book
Get the cabin number. If you are booking a specific cabin, ask for the number before paying. A guarantee fare (where Princess assigns the cabin later) is cheaper but means you cannot control location, so avoid guarantees if noise or motion really matter to you.
Look at the deck above and below. Open the official Princess deck plan or a cabin-check tool such as the one on cruisedeckplans.com and see what sits directly over and under your cabin.
Check the grade code. Oceanview grades marked obstructed and some balcony grades flagged for partial views will be listed on the booking page.
Look along the corridor. Spot the lifts, stairs, launderette and any crew doors.
Read recent cabin reviews. Search the cabin number on forums to see if anyone has reported vent smells, noise or an unusual balcony shape.
Quick checklist: picking the best rooms on a cruise ship like Caribbean Princess
Midship and lower for a smoother ride.
Cabins above and below you for a quieter night.
Not next to the lifts, launderette or crew doors.
Emerald-deck rather than Dolphin-deck mini-suites if balcony privacy matters.
Avoid obstructed grades unless the saving is worth it to you.
Book early for family suites, connecting cabins and accessible cabins.
Planning a cruise in Asia instead? Our guide to Sapphire Princess cabins to avoid gives the same kind of advice for a Princess ship based there.
Caribbean Princess grew out of the Grand-class design, so our guide to Grand Princess cabins to avoid covers many similar layout issues.
FAQs
Which cabins should I avoid on Caribbean Princess?
Avoid obstructed-view oceanview grades if you want a sea view, cabins beside lifts, launderettes and crew doors, cabins on the top Riviera and Lido decks directly under busy pool or buffet areas, and far forward cabins if you are prone to seasickness.
What is the best deck on Caribbean Princess?
For most guests, the Baja (11) and Aloha (12) balcony decks are the best balance: they have cabins above and below, easy access to the lifts and buffet, and good balcony choice. Seasick-prone travellers may prefer the lower Emerald (8) or Dolphin (9) decks midship.
What does an obstructed balcony or oceanview mean on Princess Cruises?
It means part or all of the view is blocked, usually by lifeboats or ship structures. Princess prices these grades lower. You still get daylight, but you may not see the sea clearly from your bed.
Are aft cabins on Caribbean Princess worth it?
Aft-facing balconies are often larger and have a wake view many cruisers love. The trade-offs are a longer walk to forward venues and possible vibration when the ship manoeuvres in port.
What are the best rooms on a cruise ship for families?
On Caribbean Princess, the two-bedroom family suites sleep up to eight, and connecting cabins are a flexible alternative. Book early, as both sell out quickly in school holidays.
The main Crown Princess cabins to avoid are those on the Riviera deck (deck 14) directly below the Lido deck pools and buffet, cabins that sit next to the self-service launderettes or above or below busy public rooms, and the oceanview cabins on the Emerald deck whose windows look out at lifeboats. For most cruisers the best Crown Princess cabins are midship balconies on decks 9 to 12, where there are cabins above and below you, the motion is gentlest and the walk to everything is short.
Below we cover every cabin grade, the quiet spots, the best picks for families and light sleepers, and how to check any cabin number before you pay the deposit.
Crown Princess at a glance: where the ship is sailing in 2026-27
Crown Princess entered service in June 2006 and is a 113,561-ton, 3,090-guest ship built by Fincantieri. It has around 1,545 staterooms, and roughly four in five outside cabins have a private balcony. It is one of three near-identical sisters, together with Emerald Princess, whose cabin layout we cover in a separate guide, and Ruby Princess.
The ship had a scheduled drydock between late November and mid-December 2025, so its soft furnishings and public rooms have been freshened up recently. There has been no announcement of a sale or transfer out of the Princess fleet. Its deployment is unusually varied, which matters when you choose a cabin:
Autumn 2026: Australia and the South Pacific, including a round-Australia voyage that called at Fremantle in October 2026, before repositioning across the Pacific and through the Panama Canal.
Winter 2026-27: Caribbean, including seven-night Eastern and Southern Caribbean round trips from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 14-night Southern Caribbean sailings.
Summer 2027: Alaska from Vancouver, with six- to nine-day sailings that include Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier and can be combined with a Denali land tour.
Later: Princess has announced that Crown Princess will return to Australia and be based in Melbourne for the 2028-29 season.
Long Pacific crossings and the Panama Canal transit mean runs of sea days, when cabin location and motion matter most.
Crown Princess cabin types and grades
Princess sells Crown Princess cabins in six broad groups. Sizes below are approximate, because Princess and the deck-plan sites round them slightly differently.
Cabin type
Approx. size
Where on the ship
Best for
Inside
About 160 sq ft
Most cabin decks, 5 to 15
Budget travellers who sleep well in total darkness
Oceanview
About 160 to 180 sq ft
Mainly Plaza (5) and Emerald (8) decks
Natural light on a budget; check for lifeboat views on deck 8
Balcony
About 170 sq ft plus a balcony of roughly 45 sq ft
Decks 9 to 15
Most couples; scenic cruising in Alaska
Premium Balcony
Similar interior, larger balcony
Aft corners and stern, decks 8 to 11
Wake views and extra outdoor space
Mini-Suite (incl. Reserve Collection)
About 323 sq ft with a 57 sq ft balcony (Princess figures)
Emerald (8) and Dolphin (9) decks
Couples wanting a sofa area and a bathtub
Suites (Vista, Penthouse, Premium, Owner’s)
About 300 to 410 sq ft plus balconies of 155 to 180 sq ft
Decks 8 to 15
Longer voyages and suite perks
Inside and oceanview cabins
Inside cabins are a sensible choice on itineraries packed with ports, and those midship on decks 9 to 12 are some of the quietest rooms on the ship. Some have pull-down upper berths for a third and fourth guest, which makes the floor space tight. Oceanview cabins are the same size with a picture window. The thing to watch is the Emerald deck (deck 8): many oceanview cabins there look out onto the lifeboats, and Princess prices these as obstructed-view rooms. If the view matters, pay the small extra for an unobstructed grade or a balcony.
Balcony and Premium Balcony cabins
Standard balconies make up the largest group of cabins. Because the side of the ship steps out on the lower decks, balconies on decks 9 and 10 can sometimes be seen from cabins above, while decks 11 and 12 feel more private. The ten Premium Balcony cabins at the aft end of deck 11 are widely considered some of the best balconies on board, with larger outdoor areas and wake views, but some have support beams in the sightline and you will feel more pitching at the stern than midship.
Mini-suites and Reserve Collection mini-suites
Mini-suites add a separate seating area with a sofa bed, two TVs, a bathtub and shower combination, and champagne on arrival. Princess has replaced its old Club Class branding with Reserve Collection, which applies to selected mini-suites on Crown Princess. Reserve Collection adds a dedicated dining area in the main dining room with no-wait seating, complimentary wine, upgraded bathrobes and evening canapés on request. These rooms are grouped on the Dolphin deck (deck 9), close to the middle of the ship, so they also make a good choice for anyone prone to seasickness.
Suites: Vista, Penthouse, Premium and Owner’s
Vista Suites sit on the aft corners of decks 8, 9 and 10, with large wraparound balconies. Some corner balconies have partly obstructed views.
Penthouse Suites are mostly midship on the Riviera deck (14), plus a pair aft on deck 10. The deck 14 suites are well placed for the pools but sit below the Lido deck (see the next section).
Premium Suites are a pair forward on the Lido deck (15).
Owner’s Suites are the two largest cabins, aft on the Aloha deck (12), with big balconies and wake views; a support beam crosses part of the view.
Suites include extras such as Concierge Lounge access, priority embarkation and disembarkation, and complimentary laundry.
Pool decks are busy from early morning, so think twice about cabins directly below them. Photo: Je Hwan Lee on Pexels
Crown Princess cabins to avoid (and why)
No cabin on Crown Princess is truly bad, but these Crown Princess cabins to avoid carry known trade-offs worth weighing before you book.
Riviera deck cabins under the Lido deck
The Lido deck (15) holds Neptune’s Reef and Pool, Calypso Reef and Pool and the Horizon Court buffet area running from midship to the stern. Riviera deck (14) cabins underneath are popular because the pool is close, but cruisers on Princess forums regularly report hearing deck chairs being dragged and decks being cleaned from around 6am. The aft Terrace Pool is on deck 14 itself, so the cabins nearest it get door noise and passing foot traffic too. If you sleep lightly, book a deck lower.
Cabins next to launderettes
Crown Princess has self-service launderettes on most cabin decks. They are busy on sea days and in the evening, and the doors open and close constantly. Cabins directly next to them pick up chatter and the hum of dryers. They are marked on the Princess deck plan, so these are easy to spot.
Forward balconies and the extreme bow
Balconies at the front of the ship catch the wind when the ship is moving, which can make them unusable on sea days or in Alaska’s cooler air. The bow also pitches most in a swell, and cabins at the very front sometimes hear the anchor being dropped or raised at tender ports. They are fine for heavy sleepers on calm itineraries, but not ideal on a long Pacific crossing.
Cabins next to or above public rooms
The Princess Theater is at the bow on decks 6 and 7, Gatsby’s Casino is forward on deck 6, and Club Fusion is at the stern on deck 7. Cabins on the decks immediately above or below these spaces can pick up bass and late-night foot traffic. Cabins next to stairwells, lift lobbies and crew service doors get more corridor noise as well.
Obstructed-view and connecting cabins
Lifeboat-view oceanview cabins on deck 8 are fairly priced if you accept them, and disappointing if you didn’t notice. Connecting cabins are ideal for families, but if you are not travelling with the people next door you may hear them through the connecting door. Avoid them if you are a light sleeper.
The best cabins on Crown Princess for different travellers
For the quietest sleep
Choose a midship cabin on the Dolphin (9), Caribe (10), Baja (11) or Aloha (12) decks, where there are cabins directly above and below you and no venues nearby. These are passenger-only decks sandwiched between other cabin decks, so they are reliably calm.
For seasick travellers
Go low and central. Midship cabins on decks 8 to 10 move the least. Mini-suites on the Dolphin deck are a comfortable option. Avoid the bow and, on rough crossings, the high aft cabins.
For families
Crown Princess has two Family Suites forward on the Dolphin deck. Each combines a mini-suite and an inside cabin, linked through a living area, and sleeps up to six. They sell out early. Otherwise, look for connecting balcony cabins, or a balcony cabin with a third and fourth berth. Kids’ and teen centres are aft on the Sports deck (17).
For accessible travel
Princess lists 29 wheelchair-accessible staterooms on Crown Princess, spread across several grades. Book them as early as possible and confirm the specific layout (roll-in shower, door widths, balcony threshold) with Princess before you pay.
For scenery and wake views
Aft-facing cabins, including the deck 11 Premium Balconies, the Vista Suites and the Owner’s Suites, have wake views that are especially good in Alaska. Expect a little more vibration when the ship is manoeuvring.
Checking what sits above and below a cabin takes minutes and saves a noisy week. Photo: Zsófia Fehér on Pexels
How to check a Crown Princess cabin before you book
Top results often say “avoid noisy cabins” without telling you how to find them. This quick routine works for any cabin number:
Open the Princess deck plan for the deck above and the deck below your cabin. Look for pools, the buffet, galleys, the theater, lounges and launderettes directly above or below.
Use a cabin-check tool. Sites such as CruiseDeckPlans let you click a cabin and see what sits above and below it.
Look sideways. Stairwells, lifts, crew doors and launderettes beside the cabin are the most common source of corridor noise.
Check the category description for “obstructed view” or “partially obstructed” wording before you accept an upgrade or guarantee.
Think about your itinerary. A sea-day-heavy Panama Canal or Pacific crossing deserves a midship cabin. A port-intensive Caribbean week is more forgiving.
Guarantee cabins: the trade-off
A guarantee fare saves money because Princess picks the cabin for you within or above your grade. You cannot rule out a cabin under the Lido deck or next to a launderette. If your sleep is fragile, pick a specific cabin number instead.
For most people it is the Dolphin (9), Caribe (10), Baja (11) or Aloha (12) deck. These decks have cabins above and below, are well away from the pool and entertainment decks, and are a short lift ride from both.
Which cabins should I avoid on Crown Princess?
The cabins to weigh up carefully are Riviera deck (14) cabins under the Lido deck pools and buffet, cabins next to launderettes or stairwells, lifeboat-view oceanview cabins on deck 8, and forward balconies if you dislike wind or motion.
What does an obstructed balcony or view mean on Princess Cruises?
It means something, usually a lifeboat, support beam or structural overhang, blocks part of the view from the window or balcony. Princess flags these cabins in the category description and normally prices them lower.
Is Crown Princess being sold or leaving the Princess fleet?
No sale or transfer has been announced as of October 2026. Crown Princess is scheduled for the Caribbean in winter 2026-27 and Alaska from Vancouver in 2027, and Princess has announced a Melbourne season for 2028-29.
Are Crown Princess mini-suites worth it?
Often, yes. A mini-suite is far bigger than a standard balcony cabin, adds a sofa bed and a bathtub, and Reserve Collection mini-suites add dining and in-room perks, which adds up on long voyages.
A Ruby Princess mini-suite is about 323 sq ft including the balcony, roughly half as big again as a standard balcony cabin, with a separate sitting area, sofa bed, two TVs and a bathtub. Reserve Collection mini-suites (what Princess used to call Club Class) add a private dining area, priority boarding and a few in-cabin extras. Full suites on Ruby Princess are larger again and come with the widest set of perks, but there are only 26 of them, plus two family suites.
This guide explains every suite and mini-suite option on Ruby Princess as she sails from San Francisco in 2026-27, what the perks really include, where each type is on the ship and which ones give the best value. If you are still deciding between a regular balcony, oceanview or interior cabin, read our companion guide to Ruby Princess cabins to avoid and the best cabins to book first.
Ruby Princess suites and mini-suites at a glance
Ruby Princess has 178 mini-suites, 26 suites and 2 family suites out of 1,542 cabins. The sizes below come from Princess and from the CruiseDeckPlans category pages. Suite sizes differ slightly between sources, so treat them as approximate.
Type
Where on the ship
Approx. size
Who it suits
Mini-suite
Dolphin (9) and Emerald (8) decks
About 323 sq ft including balcony
Couples who want more space, small families of three or four
Reserve Collection mini-suite
Dolphin deck (9)
About 323 sq ft including balcony
Couples who want faster, quieter dining and priority boarding
Vista suite
Lido (15), plus Emerald, Dolphin and Caribe decks
About 329 sq ft plus a 166 sq ft balcony
Entry point to full suite perks
Premium suite
Riviera deck (14)
About 304 sq ft plus a 169 sq ft balcony
Guests who want suite perks near the pool deck
Penthouse suite
Caribe (10) and Aloha (12) decks
About 381 sq ft plus a 155 sq ft balcony
Longer cruises, entertaining on the balcony
Owner’s suite
Aloha deck (12)
About 411 sq ft plus a 180 sq ft balcony
The most space and the biggest balcony on board
Family suite
Dolphin deck (9)
Two connected cabins, sleeps up to 8
Larger families or groups travelling together
For comparison, a standard Ruby Princess balcony cabin is 214-222 sq ft including the balcony, so a mini-suite gives you roughly 100 sq ft more.
The Ruby Princess mini-suite
The Ruby Princess mini-suite is the most popular upgrade on the ship, and with 178 of them it is also the easiest to find. It is essentially a longer balcony cabin with a sitting area at the window end.
What you get in a mini-suite
Twin beds that convert to a queen (Princess notes some layouts cannot be converted, so check)
A separate sitting area with a sofa bed for a third guest; some also have a pull-down bed for a fourth
Two flat-screen TVs, a mini-fridge, a desk and a walk-in closet
A full bathroom with a bathtub and shower combination, which standard balcony cabins do not have
Egyptian cotton linens, a welcome glass of champagne and evening turndown with chocolates
A balcony with patio furniture
Mini-suite drawbacks to know about
Most standard mini-suites on Ruby Princess are on Dolphin deck (9). The balconies on this deck are uncovered and can be seen from the decks above, so they offer little privacy. On the plus side, they get plenty of sun and an open-sky feel. If privacy matters more to you, look at the mini-suites on Emerald deck (8), which sit under the deck above. Balcony sizes vary from cabin to cabin, from about 46 to 89 sq ft, so compare individual cabins on the deck plan rather than assuming they are all the same.
A standard mini-suite does not include suite perks such as priority boarding, free laundry or a mini-bar. You pay mostly for space, the bathtub and the sofa bed.
The sitting area and sofa bed are the main reason to choose a mini-suite. Photo: Mayank M on Pexels
Ruby Princess Club Class and Reserve Collection mini-suites
If you see “Ruby Princess Club Class” in older reviews, it refers to the same thing Princess now sells as the Reserve Collection mini-suite. Princess renamed Club Class to Reserve Collection in early 2023 and kept the same core perks. On Ruby Princess, Reserve Collection mini-suites are in the M1 category on Dolphin deck (9). The cabin itself is the same size and layout as a standard mini-suite. What changes is the service.
Reserve Collection perks
Reserve Collection dining: a private area of the main dining room with its own entrance, no wait for a table, dedicated waiters and extra menu choices. It is open for breakfast and dinner daily, plus lunch on sea days.
Priority embarkation and disembarkation at the start and end of the cruise.
A bottle of wine in your cabin on boarding day, and evening canapés on request.
Upgraded bathrobes and bath products, plus the Princess Luxury Bed.
Priority help booking specialty restaurants.
Is Reserve Collection worth it on Ruby Princess?
It depends on how you like to eat. If you prefer the main dining room and hate waiting for a table or being seated with others, the private dining area is the biggest benefit, and it adds up over a 7 or 10 night cruise. If you mainly eat at the buffet or specialty restaurants, you will get much less from it, and a standard mini-suite is better value. Price gaps vary by sailing, so compare both before you book.
Ruby Princess suites: which are best and worst value?
All full suites on Ruby Princess share the same core layout: a bedroom area, a separate living area with a sofa bed, a wet bar, a walk-in closet and a bathroom with a tub and separate shower. The differences are mostly size, balcony and location.
Owner’s suite: the most space
The owner’s suites on Aloha deck (12) are the largest suites on the ship, with the biggest balconies. Aloha deck has cabin decks above and below, which is good for quiet. If you are spending a long time on board and will use the space, these are the top choice.
Penthouse suites: the sweet spot
Penthouse suites on Caribe (10) and Aloha (12) give you most of the space of an owner’s suite for less money. They tend to be the best value full suite for couples who want room to spread out.
Vista suites: cheapest way into a full suite
Vista suites are the entry-level full suites. They still come with full suite perks and a generous balcony. The ones on Emerald, Dolphin and Caribe decks are in quieter areas. The Vista suites on Lido deck (15) are on the same level as the pools and buffet, which is convenient but can be busier.
Premium suites: check the location first
Premium suites are on Riviera deck (14), directly below the Lido deck. That puts you close to the pools and food, but some guests on this deck report early-morning noise from deck chairs and cleaning above. If you are a light sleeper, a Penthouse or a Vista suite on a lower deck is a safer choice.
Family suites
Ruby Princess has two family suites on Dolphin deck (9), made by connecting two cabins. Princess describes them as two-bedroom suites that sleep up to eight. They are a good alternative to booking two or three separate cabins, but because there are only two, they sell out early on school holiday sailings.
A full suite balcony gives you real space for meals outside. Photo: iam luisao on Pexels
What full suite guests get
Princess lists these perks for suite guests (on top of the Reserve Collection benefits above). Some depend on the ship and cruise length, so check the current list for your sailing.
Complimentary laundry and professional cleaning
A complimentary mini-bar set-up
Complimentary breakfast in a private venue and a specialty restaurant dinner on boarding day, with a glass of bubbly
Priority disembarkation at tender ports and at the end of the cruise
A suite experience manager for reservations and requests, and a concierge lounge on ships that have one
Note that suites and mini-suites do not automatically include the Princess Plus or Princess Premier packages. For 2026 sailings these are sold separately at about $65 (Plus) and $100 (Premier) per person per day when bought before the cruise, unless your fare promotion bundles them in.
Mini-suite vs balcony vs suite: which should you book?
Choose
If you
Standard balcony
Spend little time in the cabin and want the best price
Mini-suite
Want space for three, a bathtub, or room to relax indoors on cooler Alaska and Pacific Northwest days
Reserve Collection mini-suite
Eat most dinners in the main dining room and value priority boarding
Vista or Penthouse suite
Are on a longer cruise and will use laundry, the bigger balcony and suite dining perks
Owner’s suite
Want the biggest space and balcony on the ship
Family suite
Are travelling with four or more people who want to stay together
One extra tip: on Ruby Princess’s longer Hawaii and Mexican Riviera cruises, the free laundry included with full suites saves real money and a lot of packing. On a shorter cruise, the extra perks matter much less, and a mini-suite is usually the better buy.
If you are comparing ships, our Crown Princess cabins guide covers a sister ship with a very similar layout, while the newer Sun Princess cabins guide shows how the suite offer differs on Princess’s newest ships, which use the Sanctuary Collection instead.
For a tier-by-tier comparison of mini-suite, Reserve and Sanctuary perks across the fleet, see our guide to Princess suite benefits.
FAQs
What do you get with a mini-suite on Princess?
On Ruby Princess a mini-suite gives you about 323 sq ft including the balcony, a separate sitting area with a sofa bed, two TVs, a bathtub with shower, Egyptian cotton linens, a welcome glass of champagne and turndown with chocolates. Suite perks like priority boarding and free laundry are not included unless you book a Reserve Collection mini-suite or a full suite.
Does Ruby Princess have Club Class?
Not under that name. Princess renamed Club Class to Reserve Collection in 2023. Ruby Princess has Reserve Collection mini-suites on Dolphin deck with private dining, priority boarding and in-cabin extras.
Are Dolphin deck balconies on Ruby Princess private?
Not very. Dolphin deck (9) balconies are uncovered and can be seen from decks above. They get lots of sun and open sky, but if privacy matters, consider mini-suites on Emerald deck or a covered balcony elsewhere.
How many suites are on Ruby Princess?
Ruby Princess has 26 suites with balconies plus 2 family suites, and 178 mini-suites. Suite types include owner’s, penthouse, premium and vista suites.
Is a mini-suite worth it over a balcony on Ruby Princess?
Often yes, if the price gap is small. You get about 100 sq ft more space, a sofa bed and a bathtub. If you rarely spend time in your cabin, a standard balcony is the better value.
