Royal Princess
Royal Princess is the lead Royal Class ship, the 2013 vessel that introduced the class, the glass floored SeaWalk, and the expanded three deck Piazza, deployed across Alaska, the West Coast, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. It works best for travelers who want a large Princess ship on a scenic or flexible itinerary.
Cruise cabin gear
The small fixes that make an interior stateroom livable, every pick cruise-line compliant.
Royal Princess trip profile
Use this order next.
The trip profile is already above. From here, check the facts, choose the planning lane, then compare the nearby Princess Cruises choices.
Royal Princess ship facts
The first decision is not whether the ship is impressive. It is whether this ship helps the trip your group is trying to build.
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises |
| Ship | Royal Princess |
| Class | Royal Class, lead ship |
| Debut year | 2013, the lead Royal Class ship |
| Builder | Fincantieri, Italy |
| Gross tonnage | 142,229 |
| Length | 1,083 feet |
| Approximate capacity | About 3,560 guests at lower berth occupancy |
| Crew | About 1,346 |
| Signature feature | The ship that introduced the Royal Class, the glass floored SeaWalk, and the expanded Piazza |
| Dining style | Choose anytime or traditional dining in the main dining rooms, plus a specialty row. MedallionClass lets you order food and drinks to almost anywhere on board via the OceanMedallion. Drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities depend on your Princess Plus or Premier package. |
| Premium layer | The Sanctuary, Princess’s adults only retreat, plus full suites and, on the newest Sphere ships, the Sanctuary Collection suite enclave with its own sundeck and restaurant |
| Homeport pattern | Alaska from the West Coast in summer, with Caribbean, Hawaii, or California coastal routes in other seasons. Check the current schedule |
| Typical voyage length | A mix of 7 night and longer sailings, Alaska in summer and Caribbean, Hawaii, or West Coast routes by season |
| Port examples to check | Alaska’s Inside Passage in summer, with Caribbean, Hawaiian, or California coastal ports by season. Confirm the exact ports for the date. |
Use this table as the fast factual read before comparing cabins, itinerary fit, and onboard zones.
The Royal Princess guide system
Use this page as the central Royal Princess guide, then move into the planning lane that changes the trip most. Start broad here, then use each lane to decide what needs attention before booking or sailing.
Plan Royal Princess by operating zone
Royal Princess is easier to use when you choose where each day will start, reset, and end, rather than memorizing every venue before boarding. These are the operating zones most travelers repeat on a relaxed, premium mainstream Princess ship.
Choose the job first
Use this as a trip router, not a second list of zones. Pick the need first, then jump to the planning card that explains where that need lives on the ship.
The pool deck and Movies Under the Stars
The main pool deck, the giant Movies Under the Stars screen, and, on the earlier Royal ships, the glass floored SeaWalk that extends over the side headline the top decks. These are comfortable premium ships, so the move is a base by view and shade, not a ride.
Jump to pools and decksThe pool deck base
The Royal class splits its pools between the lively main pool and the calmer Retreat pool, with the adults only Sanctuary one deck up. Claim a base early on sea days; the shaded spots and the Sanctuary fill first.
Jump to itinerary fitThe evening anchor loop
The Princess Theater, the expanded three deck Piazza atrium with its live music and street performers, and the Princess Live studio form the evening loop. Reserve the headline production shows and time the Piazza music like dinner.
Jump to entertainmentThe dining anchors
The main dining rooms, the Horizon Court buffet, and a strong specialty row carry dinner, with standouts such as the Crown Grill steakhouse and Sabatini’s. Reserve the specialty anchors and pick your dining style early.
Jump to dining flowThe Sanctuary and spa layer
The Sanctuary adults only retreat, the Lotus Spa with its Enclave thermal suite, and, for suite guests, the Concierge Lounge carry the quiet layer. On a large premium ship these calm spaces hold their value on sea days.
Jump to spa strategyThe youth base for easy family travel
Princess is relaxed and multigenerational friendly. Camp Discovery runs age banded youth centers and a teen lounge, so kids, teens, and adults each get a base without the whole group sharing one loop all day.
Jump to cabin strategyThe Piazza and the SeaWalk
The class signature is the three deck Piazza atrium, the social heart of the ship with live music, the International Cafe, and street performers, paired on the earlier ships with the glass floored SeaWalk out over the side. Treat the Piazza as a destination district.
Jump to itinerary fitThe cabin and suite layer
The Royal class runs Princess’s modern balcony and mini-suite mix, with full suites and, on the newer Sky, Enchanted, and Discovery, the two story Sky Suites mid-forward on Sky Deck 18. Decide the tier early; the suites, the Sanctuary, and the best balconies sell out first.
Jump to cabin strategyRoyal Princess works best when the group reserves the high demand experiences early: specialty tables, the Princess Theater, and the Sanctuary. The Royal class rewards travelers who treat the Piazza and Movies Under the Stars as destinations.
Dining, entertainment, pools, and family flow
Royal Princess is not hard because there is too little to do. It is a comfortable premium ship where the best dining, shows, and quiet spaces reward a little planning, and MedallionClass handles the logistics with the OceanMedallion wearable. These cards group the ship around the decisions most travelers actually make.
Dining still needs a plan
Start with the meals that would disappoint the group if missed, like the Crown Grill or Sabatini’s, and book them early. Then let the main dining rooms and the Horizon Court fill the gaps. MedallionClass lets you order to almost anywhere on board.
Protect the headline nights
The Princess Theater productions, the Piazza music, and Princess Live should be reserved or timed like dinner. The best seats go fastest on sea day nights.
Sea days need a base
Pick a realistic base by light and noise tolerance: the main pool for the energy, the Retreat pool for calm, the Sanctuary for quiet. Sea day middays still fill, even on a calmer premium ship.
The ship works for easy family travel
The ship works for easy multigenerational travel. Camp Discovery and the teen lounge give younger guests a base while adults use the Lotus Spa, the Sanctuary, and the Piazza.
Separate the base fare value from the upgrades
Royal Princess can feel all inclusive and full of add ons at the same time. A Princess Plus or Premier package bundles a drink allowance, Wi-Fi, and gratuities, but specialty dining, The Sanctuary, premium drinks, the spa, and shore excursions move the real trip cost. Decide the package and the upgrade budget before boarding.
Ready to price it? Compare Princess sailings at CruiseDirect.
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Use the included layer first
Build the trip around the main dining rooms, the buffet, the Piazza and the pools, the pools, Movies Under the Stars, and Camp Discovery before adding upgrades. A Princess Plus or Premier package bundles drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities; the standard fare is cruise only.
Pick paid items by friction, not hype
Specialty dining, a higher fare package, the Sanctuary, the Lotus Spa, and shore excursions should solve a specific trip problem instead of becoming a second vacation budget. Whether you book the standard, Plus, or Premier fare changes this math, so read the booking first.
Decide the fare package early
Princess sells the standard cruise only fare plus the Plus and Premier packages that bundle the drink allowance, Wi-Fi, and gratuities. The refreshed packages purchased or redeemed on or after July 22, 2025 (Pacific time), for sailings departing on or after January 14, 2026 no longer include premium desserts or fitness classes. For earlier purchases, Princess preserves the benefits of the applicable earlier package version, as explained in its package FAQ; check your booking. Run the package math against how your group really drinks and connects before booking.
| Planning area | Use the included layer for | Consider paying extra when |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | Main dining rooms, the buffet, the International Cafe and the Slice pizzeria, and casual snacks. | The Crown Grill, Sabatini’s, or another specialty venue becomes the anchor meal for the trip. |
| Drinks | Water, coffee, and tea, plus the drink allowance when your fare is Princess Plus or Premier. | A standard cruise only fare makes drinks, specialty coffee, and Wi-Fi add ons. Run the Plus or Premier math against your real consumption. |
| Entertainment | The Princess Theater productions, the Piazza music, Princess Live, Movies Under the Stars, and deck events. | A paid experience solves a specific traveler priority. |
| Pools and activities | The main and Retreat pools, the hot tubs, the SeaWalk where fitted, and Movies Under the Stars. | The Sanctuary and the Lotus Spa thermal suite carry charges that change the sea day. |
| Cabins | A balcony or inside that keeps the trip affordable and the route simple. | A suite or a Sky Suite changes the trip tier, and a Princess Plus or Premier package changes daily value. Both reward booking early. |
Choose the room around movement, not just category
Cabin value on Princess runs on the route and the tier: a balcony for scenery, a mini-suite for longer sailings, a full suite or the Sanctuary Collection for the premium layer, plus what sits above and below the room you book.
| Traveler type | Cabin priority | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Couples and adults | A balcony for the scenery | Princess shines on scenic routes, so the balcony category and which side it faces often matter more than chasing the cheapest inside. |
| Scenic itinerary | A balcony on the right side | On Alaska, fjords, and coastal sailings the balcony and its orientation can change the trip, so ask about the scenic side for your route. |
| Premium buyer | A suite or the Sanctuary Collection | Suites add space and perks, and on the newest ships the Sanctuary Collection adds an exclusive sundeck and restaurant, the closest Princess comes to a suite enclave. |
| Value buyer | Inside or a guarantee | If the route is the point, an inside or a guaranteed balcony keeps the premium experience affordable. |
| Light sleeper | Deck buffer | Rooms directly below the pool deck, the buffet, or live music can feel different from the same category in a quieter stack. |
| Repeat zone | What to check before booking | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| The pool deck and Camp Discovery | Route from room to the pools, Movies Under the Stars, and Camp Discovery programming. | Families and couples both make repeated room trips, so a short path to the daily base helps. |
| The pool deck and SeaWalk | Elevator path, stairs, shade timing, and distance to casual food. | Sea days get easier when the group is not fighting the ship every time it needs something. |
| The Princess Theater nights | Show timing, dinner choice, and how you get back after late events. | On a premium ship the evening flow matters; a bad route makes the ship feel harder than it is. |
| The three deck Piazza | Access to everyday food, coffee, bars, the Piazza, and movement corridors. | These are the connector spaces many travelers pass through more than they expect. |
| The suites and the Sanctuary | Whether you will use the suite, the Sanctuary, or a package enough to factor it into cabin position. | Premium value is strongest when it changes daily movement, dining, and recovery time. |
Royal Princess follows the scenery, season by season
The destination question leads here. Royal runs Alaska in summer and the Caribbean, Hawaii, or the West Coast in other seasons, so the first planning step is the region and season, then the departure city.
Royal’s homeport and region vary by season. Confirm the departure city and route for your dates first.
Summer often brings Alaska’s Inside Passage from the West Coast. Confirm the ports and glacier days.
Other seasons bring the Caribbean, Hawaii, or California coastal routes. Match the season to the region you want.
Decide the cabin tier and the Princess Plus or Premier package first, then reserve specialty dining and the theater. The best slots and suites go at the booking window.
Royal Princess versus the nearby Princess choices
The useful question is not which ship is biggest. It is which ship solves the trip better. These are the comparisons most travelers are actually weighing when Royal Princess is on the shortlist.
Royal Princess
The ship that started the Royal Class: the SeaWalk, the expanded Piazza, and Movies Under the Stars on a scenic Alaska, Hawaii, or West Coast itinerary.
Regal Princess
The 2014 Royal Class ship, the same hardware and the SeaWalk, often on Caribbean and Europe routes. The comparison is mostly deployment.
Sky Princess
The 2019 Royal Class ship with the Sky Suites. Compare if the newest Royal features matter.
| Ship | Best use | Planning tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Princess | The original Royal Class ship on a scenic route | No Sky Suites, and rotating homeports |
| Regal Princess | Same class, warmer routes | A year newer, very similar |
| Sky Princess | Newer Royal class, Sky Suites | Newer, higher pricing |
Where the Royal Princess facts come from
Princess Cruises’s own materials check the ship facts. Deep Arrival adds the planning read, including trip fit, cabin movement, dining, deck flow, adult spaces, and itinerary logic. Pricing, sailing dates, port lists, and program details change. Use these as the next step after this guide.
The Sky Suite location in the newer-ship comparison was checked on October 4, 2026 against the official plans for Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess. This location statement refers to those three ships; suite options on Royal Princess and other configuration descriptions were not revalidated in this check.
Cruise lines do not cover medical evacuation. EKTA travel insurance covers it from about 1 dollar a day.
Deep Arrival earns a commission when you buy through partner links. It does not change the price you pay.
Royal Princess questions families ask first
How big is Royal Princess?
Royal Princess is about 142,229 gross tons and roughly 1,083 feet long. It is the lead Royal Class ship, the design that introduced the SeaWalk and the expanded Piazza.
How many guests does Royal Princess hold?
Royal Princess carries about 3,560 guests at lower berth, double occupancy, with a crew of about 1,346. Total counts run higher when third and fourth berths fill.
How old is Royal Princess?
Royal Princess entered service in 2013. It entered service in 2013 as the lead Royal Class ship, christened by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.
Where does Royal Princess sail from?
Royal Princess runs Alaska from the West Coast in summer and the Caribbean, Hawaii, or California coastal routes in other seasons, on 7 night and longer sailings. Confirm the exact season, departure city, and route for your dates.
What is the SeaWalk on Royal Princess?
The SeaWalk is the feature Royal Princess introduced: a glass floored walkway that extends out over the side of the ship, letting you look straight down to the sea. Royal also debuted the expanded three deck Piazza.
What class is Royal Princess?
Royal Princess is the lead Royal Class ship, followed by Regal, Majestic, Sky, Enchanted, and Discovery. It introduced the SeaWalk and the expanded Piazza to the fleet.
What is the Sanctuary on Royal Princess?
The Sanctuary is Princess’s adults only retreat, a calm, reserved top deck space with dedicated loungers and service for a daily or full cruise fee. It is the quiet upgrade on a busy sea day, alongside the suites and the Lotus Spa.
When was Royal Princess built?
Royal Princess was built by Fincantieri, Italy and entered service in 2013. Princess refreshes its ships on a regular cycle, so check the current deck plan for the latest venue list.
What restaurants are on Royal Princess?
Royal Princess centers on the main dining rooms and the Horizon Court buffet, with specialty venues such as the Crown Grill steakhouse and Sabatini’s as the paid anchors. MedallionClass lets you order to almost anywhere; reserve the specialty rooms early.
Is Royal Princess good for families?
Yes. Royal Princess works well for easy multigenerational travel, with Camp Discovery youth centers, pools, and Movies Under the Stars on a relaxed premium ship, especially on scenic Alaska sailings.
Keep comparing Princess Cruises ships
Use the Princess Cruises fleet guide to compare Royal Princess with Regal Princess and Sky Princess, and the rest of the fleet before choosing the ship that fits the trip.
Back to the Princess Cruises hub