The newest Princess cruise ship is Star Princess, which began sailing on 4 October 2025 from Barcelona. She is the second Sphere-class ship, following her twin Sun Princess (February 2024), and at about 177,800 gross tons and 4,300 guests she is the largest ship Princess has ever built. No other new Princess ship is due until the first Voyager-class ship arrives in late 2035.
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Below you’ll find the full Princess Cruises fleet listed newest to oldest, what makes the Sphere class different, which older ships are getting upgrades in 2027, and what to expect next. Figures are as of October 2026.
Princess Cruise Ships Newest to Oldest (2026 Fleet Table)
Princess currently sails 17 ships across four classes. Years show when each ship joined the fleet; guest numbers are based on double occupancy, and tonnage figures vary slightly between sources, so treat them as close approximations.
| # | Ship | Year | Class | Gross tons | Guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star Princess | 2025 | Sphere | 177,800 | 4,300 |
| 2 | Sun Princess | 2024 | Sphere | 175,500 | 4,300 |
| 3 | Discovery Princess | 2022 | Royal | 145,000 | 3,660 |
| 4 | Enchanted Princess | 2020 (first guests 2021) | Royal | 144,650 | 3,660 |
| 5 | Sky Princess | 2019 | Royal | 145,281 | 3,660 |
| 6 | Majestic Princess | 2017 | Royal | 143,700 | 3,560 |
| 7 | Regal Princess | 2014 | Royal | 142,229 | 3,560 |
| 8 | Royal Princess | 2013 | Royal | 142,229 | 3,560 |
| 9 | Ruby Princess | 2008 | Grand (Crown-style) | 113,561 | 3,080 |
| 10 | Emerald Princess | 2007 | Grand (Crown-style) | 113,561 | 3,080 |
| 11 | Crown Princess | 2006 | Grand (Crown-style) | 113,561 | 3,080 |
| 12 | Caribbean Princess | 2004 | Grand | 112,894 | 3,140 |
| 13 | Sapphire Princess | 2004 | Grand (Gem) | 115,875 | 2,670 |
| 14 | Diamond Princess | 2004 | Grand (Gem) | 115,875 | 2,670 |
| 15 | Island Princess | 2003 | Coral | 92,822 | 2,200 |
| 16 | Coral Princess | 2002 | Coral | 91,627 | 2,000 |
| 17 | Grand Princess | 1998 | Grand | 107,517 | 2,600 |
A few things stand out. First, the fleet splits neatly into generations: two brand-new Sphere ships, six Royal-class ships built between 2013 and 2022, and nine ships from 1998 to 2008. Second, the last departures were back in 2020-21, when the original Sun Princess (1995), Sea Princess and Pacific Princess were sold, so this lineup has been stable for several years. The former Golden Princess, which some older fleet lists still show, has long since moved to sister brands and now sails in Australia as Carnival Adventure.
The newest Princess ships, one by one
- Star Princess (2025): Debuted in the Mediterranean, then moved to Fort Lauderdale for Caribbean cruises. In spring 2026 she made her first Panama Canal transit on the way to her first Alaska season from Seattle, and she is due to base in Los Angeles for Mexican Riviera sailings from April 2027.
- Sun Princess (2024): The ship that launched the Sphere class, splitting her time between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. For a deeper look at her cabins, dining and itineraries, see our Sun Princess cruise ship guide.
- Discovery Princess (2022): The sixth and final Royal-class ship, mostly sailing from the US West Coast to Alaska and Mexico.
- Enchanted Princess (2020): Delivered in 2020 but held back by the pandemic, she welcomed her first guests in late 2021. If you’re thinking of booking her, our Enchanted Princess cabins guide covers the best and worst rooms.
- Sky Princess (2019): The first of the upgraded Royal-class “Plus” ships, often based in Southampton for European summers.
What’s New on the Sphere Class
Sun Princess and Star Princess are the first Princess ships designed from a clean sheet in more than a decade, and both run mainly on liquefied natural gas (LNG). Rather than adding headline thrill rides, Princess focused on space, light and food. The main features shared by both ships are:
- A reimagined Piazza: the traditional Princess atrium is now a three-deck, glass-walled space with sea views all around.
- The Dome: a glass-domed venue at the top of the ship that works as a pool area by day and a performance space for acrobatic shows by night.
- The Arena: a theatre that reconfigures its seating for each production.
- A three-level main dining room plus specialty venues such as Love by Britto, Umai Teppanyaki, The Butcher’s Block by Dario and The Catch by Rudi.
- Sanctuary Collection: a “ship within a ship” area with selected suites and balconies, a private Sanctuary Club, a dedicated pool, the Sanctuary Restaurant and, for new bookings, the Princess Premier package included.
- Cabana Mini-Suites: new cabins with private indoor-outdoor cabana areas.
How Star Princess differs from Sun Princess
The two sisters are nearly identical, so don’t expect a completely different ship. Princess used feedback from Sun Princess to tweak Star Princess: O’Malley’s Irish Pub has extra seating, Love by Britto seats more guests, the casino has a larger non-smoking area, and a new SkyDeck sports court adds pickleball and basketball plus a jogging track and splash pad. She also introduced new production shows. If you’ve already sailed Sun Princess, think of Star Princess as a refined version rather than a new concept.
Which Princess Ship Age Is Right for You?
Most fleet lists stop at the table, but age is only part of the story. Here’s a practical way to read the list when you book:
- Want the newest features? Only Sun and Star Princess have The Dome, the glass Piazza and Cabana Mini-Suites. Expect the highest fares, especially on Caribbean and Alaska sailings.
- Want a modern ship at a lower price? The Royal-class ships (2013-2022) all have the SeaWalk glass walkway, a large Piazza and plenty of balcony cabins. Five of them (Royal, Regal, Discovery, Sky and Enchanted Princess) are scheduled to add a Sanctuary Collection during 2027, bringing Sphere-style perks to older hulls. Check our Sky Princess cabins to avoid before you pick a room.
- Want unusual itineraries? The smaller, older ships go where megaships can’t. The Coral-class pair can fit through the original Panama Canal locks, and the older ships are often used for longer, more port-intensive voyages.
- Want value? Ships built in the 2000s often have the lowest per-night fares. Age matters less than refurbishment history, so check when a ship was last in dry dock.
Still deciding between brands? Our comparison of Holland America vs Princess looks at how the two Carnival Corporation sisters differ on price, ships and atmosphere.
Next New Princess Cruise Ship: The Voyager Class
There is no third Sphere-class ship on order. Instead, on 15 April 2026 Princess announced three new ships from Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard in Italy, called the Voyager class. Here’s what has been confirmed so far:
| Detail | Voyager class |
|---|---|
| Number of ships | 3 |
| Deliveries | Late 2035, 2038 and 2039 |
| Size | About 183,000 gross tons each |
| Guests | About 4,700 each (the most in the fleet) |
| Fuel | Dual-fuel, mainly LNG |
| Names and features | Not yet announced; redesigned outdoor decks, cabins and Piazza promised |
That leaves a long gap. If you’re asking about a new Princess cruise ship for 2026 or 2027, the answer is that no new ship arrives in either year. Star Princess will remain the newest Princess ship for roughly a decade. Fleet investment in the meantime goes into upgrades like the Sanctuary Collection rollout, so the Royal-class ships are the ones to watch for changes.
If you’re planning a sailing on one of the newer ships, fares on Sun and Star Princess tend to be highest soon after debut and in peak season. Our guide to cruise deals in 2027 explains when to book and which offers are worth watching. You can check current itineraries on the official Princess Cruises website.
For the two newest ships in the fleet, see how Sun Princess and Star Princess compare side by side.
FAQs
What is the newest Princess cruise ship?
Star Princess is the newest Princess cruise ship. She began sailing in October 2025 and is the second Sphere-class ship, after Sun Princess.
Is there a new Princess cruise ship in 2026 or 2027?
No. Princess has no new ships arriving in 2026 or 2027. The next new ships are three Voyager-class ships due in late 2035, 2038 and 2039.
What is the oldest Princess cruise ship?
Grand Princess, which entered service in 1998, is the oldest ship in the current Princess fleet, followed by Coral Princess (2002) and Island Princess (2003).
How many ships does Princess Cruises have?
Princess Cruises has 17 ships as of October 2026: two Sphere-class, six Royal-class, seven Grand-class and two Coral-class ships.
What are the biggest Princess cruise ships?
Star Princess and Sun Princess are the biggest, at roughly 175,000 to 178,000 gross tons and 4,300 guests each. The Voyager-class ships will be larger again when they arrive.
