Star Princess
Star Princess is the newest ship in the Princess fleet, the second Sphere Class vessel, an LNG powered megaship with the glass domed Dome venue, Park19, the three deck Piazza, and the Sanctuary Collection of suites, designated mini-suites and balcony rooms, deployed across the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe. It works best for travelers who want the most current Princess hardware.
Star princess cruise ship.jpg. Photo: Shiphistory62 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Responsively scaled; full source frame preserved.
Cruise cabin gear
The small fixes that make an interior stateroom livable, every pick cruise-line compliant.
Star 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.
Star 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 | Star Princess |
| Class | Sphere Class, second ship and the newest in the fleet |
| Debut year | 2025, the second Sphere Class ship and the newest Princess ship |
| Builder | Fincantieri, Italy |
| Gross tonnage | 177,882 |
| Length | 1,133 feet |
| Approximate capacity | About 4,300 guests at lower berth occupancy |
| Crew | About 1,600 |
| Signature feature | The newest Princess ship, with the glass domed Dome venue, Park19, the three deck Piazza, and the Sanctuary Collection |
| 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 | On the newest Sphere ships, full suites and designated Sanctuary Collection mini-suites and balcony rooms provide access to the adults only Sanctuary Club sundeck and private Sanctuary Restaurant |
| Homeport pattern | A rotating deployment across the Caribbean, Alaska from the West Coast, and Europe by season. Check the current schedule |
| Typical voyage length | Mostly 7 night sailings, Caribbean and Alaska weeks plus Mediterranean by season |
| Port examples to check | Caribbean, Alaskan, or Mediterranean ports depending on the season, from San Juan and the islands to the Inside Passage and the Med. Confirm the exact ports for the date. |
Use this table as the fast factual read before comparing cabins, itinerary fit, and onboard zones.
The Star Princess guide system
Use this page as the central Star 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 Star Princess by operating zone
Star 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 decks and Park19
The open pool decks, the hot tubs, and the Park19 top deck activity zone headline the Sphere ships. These are design forward premium ships rather than waterslide ships, so claim a base by view and shade and plan around the schedule.
Jump to pools and decksThe pool deck base
The Sphere class spreads its pools across several decks, including the aft Wake View terraces with their sweeping sightlines. Claim a base early on sea days; the prime loungers and the shaded spots go first.
Jump to itinerary fitThe evening anchor loop
The Dome, a glass enclosed venue with a pool by day and aerial and acrobatic entertainment and a club feel at night, plus the Princess Arena and the three deck Piazza, form the evening loop. Reserve the headline shows and the Dome events like dinner.
Jump to entertainmentThe dining anchors
The Sphere ships carry Princess’s deepest dining lineup, with reimagined main dining, the Eatery buffet, and a long specialty row including the Catch by Rudi, Sabatini’s, and the Crown Grill. Reserve the specialty venues and pick your dining style early.
Jump to dining flowThe Sanctuary and spa layer
The adults only Sanctuary Club sundeck is for guests in designated Sanctuary Collection suites, mini-suites and balcony rooms. The Lotus Spa with its thermal suite also carries the quiet layer. On a large premium ship these calm, design forward 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 Dome and the Sphere design
The class signature is The Dome, the glass enclosed venue forward that gives the Sphere ships their look and hosts everything from aerialists to evening club nights, paired with the dramatic three deck Piazza. Treat them as destinations to plan around.
Jump to itinerary fitThe cabin and suite layer
The Sphere ships introduced the Sanctuary Collection, a collection of designated suites, mini-suites and balcony rooms with an exclusive sundeck and restaurant, alongside Princess’s balcony and mini-suite mix. Decide the tier early; the Sanctuary Collection and the best balconies sell out first.
Jump to cabin strategyStar Princess works best when the group reserves the high demand experiences early: specialty tables, the Dome, and the Princess Arena. The Sphere ships are Princess’s most design forward, so treat the Dome, Park19, and the Piazza as destinations.
Dining, entertainment, pools, and family flow
Star 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 Catch by Rudi, Sabatini’s, or the Crown Grill, and book them early. Then let the main dining rooms and the Eatery buffet fill the gaps. MedallionClass lets you order to almost anywhere on board.
Protect the headline nights
The Dome shows, the Princess Arena productions, and the Piazza music should be reserved or timed like dinner. The best seats and Dome events go fastest on sea day nights.
Sea days need a base
Pick a realistic base by light and noise tolerance: a main pool for the energy, the aft terraces for the view, 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 Dome.
Separate the base fare value from the upgrades
Star 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 Eatery, and casual snacks. | The Catch by Rudi, Sabatini’s, or the Crown Grill 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 Dome shows, the Princess Arena productions, the Piazza music, Movies Under the Stars, and deck events. | A paid experience solves a specific traveler priority. |
| Pools and activities | The pools, the hot tubs, Park19, and Movies Under the Stars. | Sanctuary Collection accommodation, the Lotus Spa thermal suite, and some Park19 activities can carry charges that change the sea day. On these ships, Sanctuary Club access comes through an eligible collection room rather than the pay-by-the-day retreat offered on some other Princess ships. |
| Cabins | A balcony or inside that keeps the trip affordable and the route simple. | A suite or the Sanctuary Collection 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, with designated mini-suites and balcony rooms also eligible. |
| 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 decks 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. |
| Park19 and the pool decks | 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 Dome and Princess Arena 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 Sanctuary Collection and suite decks | 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. |
Star Princess rotates across the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe
The destination question starts with the season. Star runs the Caribbean and Alaska plus Europe by season, so the first planning step is confirming which region and homeport your dates fall in.
Star’s homeport and region vary by season. Confirm the departure city and route for your dates first.
Many weeks run the Caribbean from a US port or Alaska from the West Coast. Confirm the ports and glacier days.
Summer can bring Mediterranean 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 Dome. The best slots and suites go at the booking window.
Star 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 Star Princess is on the shortlist.
Star Princess
Princess at its most current: the Dome, Park19, the Piazza, and the Sanctuary Collection on a Caribbean, Alaska, or European sailing.
Sun Princess
The 2024 first Sphere Class ship, the same hardware and the Dome. The comparison is mostly date and price.
Discovery Princess
The 2022 newest Royal Class ship, a step below Sphere pricing. Compare if the newest design is not essential.
| Ship | Best use | Planning tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Star Princess | The newest, most design forward Princess ship | Newest ship pricing and a premium, not budget, fare |
| Sun Princess | Same hardware, often cheaper | A year older, very similar |
| Discovery Princess | Modern Royal class value | Older design, lower fare |
Where the Star 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 main theater name, Dome day/night use and Sanctuary Collection access were checked on October 4, 2026 against the official Star Princess fact sheet and Sanctuary Collection guide. Other venue, booking and price statements are outside this targeted 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.
Star Princess questions families ask first
How big is Star Princess?
Star Princess is about 177,882 gross tons and roughly 1,133 feet long. It is the second Sphere Class ship and, with Sun Princess, one of the two largest ships in the Princess fleet.
How many guests does Star Princess hold?
Star Princess carries about 4,300 guests at lower berth, double occupancy, with a crew of about 1,600. Total counts run higher when third and fourth berths fill.
How old is Star Princess?
Star Princess entered service in 2025. It debuted in 2025 as the second Sphere Class ship and the newest in the fleet.
Where does Star Princess sail from?
Star Princess runs a rotating deployment across the Caribbean, Alaska from the West Coast, and Europe by season, on mostly 7 night and longer sailings. Confirm the exact season, departure city, and route for your dates.
What is the Dome on Star Princess?
The Dome is the Sphere Class signature: a glass enclosed venue forward that serves as a pool by day and hosts aerial and acrobatic entertainment with a club feel at night. Star also carries the Park19 top deck zone and the dramatic three deck Piazza.
What class is Star Princess?
Star Princess is the second Sphere Class ship, after Sun Princess in 2024. The Sphere Class is Princess’s newest and largest class, LNG powered and built around the Dome and the Piazza.
What is the Sanctuary Collection on Star Princess?
The Sanctuary Collection is the Sphere Class premium accommodation collection for designated suites, mini-suites and balcony rooms, with an exclusive sundeck and a private restaurant, the closest Princess comes to a ship within a ship. It sells out early on a new ship, so decide whether it fits the budget before booking.
When was Star Princess built?
Star Princess was built by Fincantieri, Italy and entered service in 2025. Princess refreshes its ships on a regular cycle, so check the current deck plan for the latest venue list.
What restaurants are on Star Princess?
Star Princess carries Princess’s deepest dining lineup, with reimagined main dining, the Eatery buffet, and a long specialty row including the Catch by Rudi, Sabatini’s, and the Crown Grill. MedallionClass lets you order to almost anywhere; reserve the specialty venues early.
Is Star Princess good for families?
Yes. Star Princess works well for easy multigenerational travel, with Camp Discovery youth centers, pools, Movies Under the Stars, and a relaxed premium tone, though it leans calmer than the big family thrill lines. Couples and mixed age groups do especially well.
Keep comparing Princess Cruises ships
Use the Princess Cruises fleet guide to compare Star Princess with Sun Princess and Discovery Princess, and the rest of the fleet before choosing the ship that fits the trip.
Back to the Princess Cruises hub