Royal Princess Emerges From Drydock With New Sanctuary Collection

Royal Princess has returned to service after a two-week drydock in Singapore, emerging with a new premium Sanctuary Collection, 20 additional staterooms, and several refreshed dining and entertainment spaces. The work, carried out October 16–30, is part of Princess Cruises’ plan to roll out the Sanctuary Collection across five of its Royal-class ships, with Royal Princess the first to receive it.

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What’s new on board

The centerpiece of the refurbishment is the Sanctuary Collection, a premium, all-inclusive tier that gives guests access to the Sanctuary Club, a private adults-only retreat on the top deck with its own pool. According to Princess Cruises, full Sanctuary Club access begins April 22, 2027, but until then any guest aged 16 or older can preview the space, previously known as the Retreat Pool and The Sanctuary.

Sanctuary Collection guests also get access to a new Sanctuary Restaurant on Deck 6, located next to the Concerto Dining Room. To support the new offering, the ship added 20 cabins during the drydock: six mini-suites, seven oceanview staterooms, two interior staterooms and five single interior staterooms, giving guests more ways to book into the Sanctuary experience.

Rodrigo Llaguno, Princess Cruises’ chief operating officer, said the changes were designed to “elevate every aspect of the guest experience” while building on what he called the ship’s “enduring appeal.”

Dining, casino and shopping changes

Beyond the Sanctuary additions, the ship’s Piazza has seen two notable swaps. O’Malley’s Irish Pub has taken over the former Vines wine bar on Deck 5, while Bellini’s has expanded into the space once occupied by the Photo Gallery, adding seating that overlooks the Piazza.

The Princess Casino has also been reworked. Crews removed the staircase that connected Decks 6 and 7, opening up the floor plan and making room for more gaming machines and tables. Elsewhere, the Effy jewelry boutique has been refreshed, and the ship’s retail spaces have been updated as part of a broader switch to a new onboard shopping partner, Starboard.

What it means for passengers

For travelers who already enjoy Princess Cruises’ Sanctuary concept, this drydock effectively turns Royal Princess into a ship with a dedicated, more upscale retreat option, complete with its own restaurant and adults-only pool deck. Those sailing before the April 2027 cutoff get a chance to experience the preview version of the Sanctuary Club without necessarily booking the full package, which could appeal to passengers curious about the tier before committing to it on a future cruise.

The new staterooms, particularly the added oceanview and single-interior cabins, may also widen options for solo travelers and those looking for a mid-range cabin tied to the Sanctuary experience. Meanwhile, the redesigned Piazza venues and casino give returning guests a few fresh spots to explore, even if the ship’s overall layout remains familiar.

Where the ship is headed next

Having completed its refurbishment in Southeast Asia, Royal Princess is now sailing to Australia, where it will spend the 2026-27 season operating out of Sydney with itineraries covering Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. It is one of three Princess ships deployed in the region for the season, which includes a mix of longer and shorter sailings across 42 itineraries and 62 departures in total.

Passengers booked on upcoming Royal Princess sailings, particularly those in the South Pacific season, can expect to find the ship in largely refreshed condition, with the Sanctuary Collection likely to be a key selling point as Princess continues rolling the concept out fleetwide.