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.
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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.
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.
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’s sisters share almost the same layout, so these tips carry over. See our guides to Crown Princess cabins to avoid and Ruby Princess suites and mini-suites if you are comparing sailings.
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.
