Sky Princess Cabins to Avoid (and the Best Rooms to Book)

The main Sky Princess cabins to avoid are balcony and Deluxe Balcony rooms on Decks 8, 15 and 16, where structures below or above can block part of the view, plus cabins directly under the pool and buffet deck or above the theatre and Piazza, which can be noisier. For the quietest stay, pick a cabin on Decks 9 to 14, midship if you are prone to seasickness, and avoid squeezing four people into a standard balcony.

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Sky Princess is a Royal-class ship that entered service in October 2019, carrying around 3,660 guests in 1,830 staterooms, and roughly four in five of those rooms have a private balcony. That makes it a ship where most cabins are good, so this guide focuses on the handful of locations and layouts worth double-checking before you pay a deposit, and on the best cabins on Sky Princess for different types of traveller.

Sky Princess at a glance

Before you look at a deck plan, it helps to know how the ship is laid out. Sky Princess was the fourth Royal-class ship built for Princess Cruises by Fincantieri, with sisters including Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess. Cabins are spread over nine decks, and most of the accommodation decks have nothing but cabins above and below them, which is the main reason this ship is considered relatively quiet.

Figures come from the Princess Cruises fact sheet and published deck plans; sizes vary slightly by cabin, so always check the specific room you are offered. Sky Princess also has 38 accessible staterooms across several categories.

Sky Princess cabins to avoid (and why)

None of these are terrible cabins. They are simply the rooms where a particular guest might end up disappointed, so match the issue to your own priorities.

1. Deck 8 balconies if you want a clear sea view

On Royal-class ships the lifeboats and tenders hang along the side of the ship just below the lowest balcony deck. On many Deck 8 balconies you look down onto the top of them rather than straight out to sea. Princess usually sells the worst affected rooms as obstructed or partially obstructed, often at a lower fare, but it is worth checking the exact cabin number on a deck plan or obstructed-view photo site before you book.

2. Some balconies on Decks 15 and 16

Higher up, the ship’s hull steps in and out. A number of balcony and Deluxe Balcony cabins on Decks 15 and 16 sit beside or beneath overhanging structure, which can shade the balcony or cut into the view. If an open, sunny balcony matters to you, pick a cabin on Decks 9 to 14 instead.

3. Cabins directly under the pool and buffet deck

Deck 15 sits beneath the main pool area and casual dining. Guests in some of these cabins report hearing loungers being moved and set up early in the morning, plus footsteps and trolleys late into the evening. Light sleepers should look for a room with another cabin deck above it.

4. Deck 8 cabins above the theatre and Piazza

The Princess Theater and the Piazza atrium, where live music and events run into the evening, are on the decks below Deck 8. Noise is not a problem for everyone, but if you go to bed early it is one more reason to choose a cabin from Deck 9 upwards.

5. Cabins right next to laundrettes, lifts or crew doors

Each accommodation deck has self-service laundry rooms, lift lobbies and service doors. The laundry rooms generally close overnight and Princess lift lobbies are fairly quiet, but cabins immediately beside them still get more passing chatter and door noise than rooms halfway down a corridor. Use the deck plan to check what is next door, not just what is above and below.

6. Standard balconies booked for four people

Some standard balcony cabins can take a third and fourth guest using a sofa bed or pull-down upper bunks. With four people, roughly 175 sq ft of indoor space gets very crowded, and lowered bunks can make moving around at night awkward. Families of four are usually happier in a Mini-Suite, which has a separate sitting area, or in two connecting cabins.

7. Forward or high cabins if you get seasick

Motion is felt most at the front of the ship and on the highest decks. The forward Oceanview cabins and Window Suites on Deck 17 have striking views, but they are not the best choice for anyone who struggles with seasickness, especially on Atlantic or North Sea crossings. A low to middle deck, midship, is the most stable spot on any cruise ship.

8. Cabins at the very end of long corridors

At just over 1,080 feet long, Sky Princess is a big ship. A cabin at the far forward end can mean a long walk to the aft lifts and the main dining rooms. That is great exercise for some people and a real nuisance for anyone with limited mobility, so check how far your room is from the nearest lift bank.

9. Very aft cabins if you are sensitive to vibration

Aft-facing balconies are some of the most sought-after rooms on the ship, but on the lower aft decks some guests notice more vibration from the engines and thrusters, particularly when the ship is docking or leaving port. If you are a very light sleeper, a higher aft deck or a midship cabin is a safer bet.

The best cabins on Sky Princess

Turning the list above around, here is where to look for the best cabins on Sky Princess depending on how you like to cruise.

• Best for a quiet night’s sleep: any balcony or Mini-Suite on Decks 9 to 14, with cabins above and below and away from lift lobbies.
• Best views: aft-facing Premium Deluxe Balconies, which measure around 242 to 312 sq ft and look out over the wake, and the corner Penthouse Suites.
• Best for families: Mini-Suites, which sleep up to four with a curtain dividing the sitting area, or connecting balcony cabins. Many cabins on the ship connect to the room next door.
• Best value balcony: a standard balcony midship on Decks 9 to 14. Because there are more than 750 of them, they come up regularly in Princess sales.
• Best for seasick travellers: a midship balcony on Deck 9 or 10, low enough to feel less motion while still having fresh air.
• Ultimate splurge: one of the two Sky Suites on Deck 18, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and wraparound balconies that Princess describes as the largest at sea.

Reserve Collection, suites and Sky Suites

Princess has renamed its Club Class Mini-Suites as the Reserve Collection. These are Mini-Suites in well-placed locations that come with extra perks: priority seating in a reserved section of the main dining room without a booking, a daily chef’s special and extra menu choices, a bottle of wine on embarkation day, evening canapés in your room and priority specialty dining reservations. On Sky Princess, the former Club Class Mini-Suites are found on several of the upper cabin decks, so check which deck your Reserve Collection room is on using the same noise and view advice as above.

Full suites (Premium, Penthouse and Owner’s) add a larger living area, a bigger balcony and suite perks such as priority embarkation and lounge access. The forward Window Suites on Deck 17 swap a balcony for huge windows, which suits guests who prefer a light-filled room over outdoor space. The two Sky Suites sit above the bridge area on Deck 18 and are usually the first rooms to sell out on any sailing.

Accessible and connecting cabins on Sky Princess

Sky Princess has 38 accessible staterooms spread across inside, balcony, Mini-Suite and suite categories. They offer wider doorways, more turning space around the bed, roll-in showers and, in balcony categories, larger balconies with level access. They book up early, so if you need one, reserve as soon as your dates are fixed and tell Princess about any specific equipment you are bringing.

For groups, connecting rooms are widely available, particularly among balcony cabins. Two connecting balconies often cost about the same as a single suite but give you two bathrooms, which many families value more than extra floor space.

How to check a Sky Princess cabin before you book

Most comparison guides stop at “avoid these decks”. The more useful step is checking the actual cabin number you have been offered. This takes about five minutes:

1. Look up and down. Find your cabin on the official Princess deck plan and check what is directly above and below. Cabins, good. Pool deck, galley, theatre or nightclub, think twice.
2. Look sideways. Check whether the room is beside a lift lobby, laundry room or service door.
3. Check the view category. If the fare is listed as obstructed or the cabin is on Deck 8, 15 or 16, search for photos of that cabin number’s balcony.
4. Confirm the bed and sofa layout. Bed configurations and sofa beds can differ between cabins in the same category, so ask the booking agent if you are travelling as three or four.
5. Be careful with guarantee fares. A guarantee (cabin assigned later) is often cheaper, but you give up the right to choose and could end up in one of the locations above.
6. Price in the package. Princess Plus and Princess Premier bundle drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities and more. At the time of writing they cost from around $70 and $105 per person per day respectively when bought before sailing for departures from mid-October 2026, and prices change regularly, so compare the cabin upgrade against the package cost.

Sky Princess vs Enchanted Princess cabins

Because Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess are near-identical Royal-class sisters, the same principles apply on both ships: obstructed balconies low down on Deck 8, noise under the pool deck and the best quiet decks in the middle of the ship. If you are comparing sailings, our guide to Enchanted Princess cabins to avoid and the best rooms to book covers that ship deck by deck. Travellers weighing up other lines can also compare our Celebrity Cruises cabins to avoid guide.

Once you know which cabin type you want, timing your booking matters too. Our roundup of cruise deals for 2027 and when to book explains when lines such as Princess tend to release their best fares and upgrade offers.

For the newer Sphere-class ship, see our Sun Princess cruise ship guide, covering The Dome, cabins, dining and 2026-27 itineraries.

Considering the newest Royal-class sister? See our guide to the best and worst Discovery Princess cabins before you book.

Considering a smaller ship for a Panama Canal cruise? See our guide to Coral Princess cabins to avoid and the best rooms to book.

FAQs

Which deck is best on Sky Princess?

Decks 9 to 14 are generally the best decks on Sky Princess. They are sandwiched between other cabin decks, so you avoid noise from the pool deck, theatre and Piazza, and most balconies there have clear sea views.

Which Sky Princess balconies are obstructed?

The main obstructed balconies are on Deck 8, where many look down onto lifeboats and tenders, plus a number of cabins on Decks 15 and 16 that sit beside or under overhanging structure. Princess normally labels the worst affected rooms as obstructed when you book.

What are the categories of Princess staterooms?

On Sky Princess the categories are Inside, Oceanview, Balcony, Deluxe Balcony, Mini-Suite (including Reserve Collection Mini-Suites), Suites such as Penthouse and Owner’s Suites, and the two Sky Suites on Deck 18.

What is the best room on a cruise ship for seasickness?

On Sky Princess, as on most ships, the best room for seasickness is on a low to middle deck, midship, where motion is least noticeable. Avoid high forward cabins such as those on Deck 17 if you are prone to motion sickness.

Is a Mini-Suite on Sky Princess worth it?

A Mini-Suite is worth it if you want more space, a bathtub or are travelling as three or four. At around 323 sq ft it is noticeably larger than a standard balcony, and Reserve Collection Mini-Suites add dining and in-room perks.