Photo: Barry Skeates | Licence: CC BY 2.0; crop by CruisePing.
Royal Princess at a glance
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship class or type | Royal Class, first ship |
| Entered service | 2013 |
| Last major refurbishment | 18 December 2018 in current Princess itinerary data |
| Gross tonnage | 142,229 GT |
| Length | 330 m / 1,083 ft |
| Guest capacity | 3,560 guests at lower-berth occupancy |
| Crew | 1,346 |
| Passenger decks | 19 decks in official ship data |
| Cabins or suites | 1,780 staterooms, including 36 suites and 314 mini-suites |
| Accessible cabins | Wheelchair-accessible rooms in selected categories; confirm the current deck plan |
| Dining venues | Three main dining rooms plus Crown Grill, Sabatini’s, Alfredo’s, Ocean Terrace, buffet and casual venues |
| Bars and lounges | Piazza venues, Crooners, Wheelhouse, Princess Live!, Vista Lounge and Club 6 |
| Pools and hot tubs | Multiple pools including Retreat Pool, plus hot tubs |
| Library | Dedicated library |
| Spa and fitness | Lotus Spa, Enclave thermal suite, fitness centre, jogging track and sports deck |
| Children’s facilities | Princess youth and teen centres for ages 3 to 17 |
| Adults-only facilities | The Sanctuary, Retreat Pool and Enclave |
| Wi-Fi | MedallionNet available; device limits and fare inclusions vary |
| UK departures or deployment | Alaska, Mexico and Asia feature in current deployment; no regular Southampton homeport season |
Best suited to
- Travellers who want Royal Class at a potentially better price than later sisters
- Alaska or Pacific passengers who value extensive balcony accommodation
- Couples wanting Piazza-led evenings, Sanctuary time and a real library
Think carefully if
- You expect the WakeView and later aft-deck refinements of Sky, Enchanted or Discovery
- The fare is close to a newer sister on a comparable itinerary
- You want a small ship or short walking distances
The booking decision
Royal Princess created the practical blueprint for six ships: a large multi-level Piazza, balcony-heavy accommodation, SeaWalk, three main dining rooms, Princess Live!, broad theatre and lounge choice, and a distinct adults-only retreat. The design still feels recognisably modern, especially beside the Grand-related ships, but later Royal Class vessels improved the aft areas and refined several venue combinations.
The right reason to choose Royal Princess is the itinerary. Current Princess material highlights Alaska, Mexico and Asia, all of which suit a ship with more than 1,400 balcony cabins and strong indoor programming. Compare the route, total fare and cabin position with Regal, Sky, Enchanted and Discovery Princess. The original ship should win on substance, not historical importance.
Royal Princess deck-by-deck video
The original Royal Class layout
The Piazza is the social centre and a useful navigation anchor. International Café, bars, entertainment and guest services create continual activity across its levels. The Princess Theatre, Vista Lounge, Princess Live! and Club 6 distribute the evening programme, while the SeaWalk gives the ship its most recognisable outdoor feature.
The layout is easier to understand than Sphere Class, but it still carries 3,560 guests over a 330-metre hull. Lifts become busy after shows and at port return times. The absence of a full traditional promenade disappoints walkers, and some balconies near SeaWalk sacrifice privacy. Study the deck plan vertically before choosing a room.
Cabins, balconies and mini-suites
Princess lists 1,780 staterooms, including 36 suites, 314 mini-suites, 358 deluxe balconies, 730 standard balconies and 342 inside rooms. A standard balcony gives valuable outdoor access but limited internal seating. A mini-suite provides a sofa and a more usable living zone, which matters on a long Alaska or Asia itinerary.
The safest cabin is usually midship with accommodation above and below. Upper-deck rooms can inherit noise from pools, buffet or deck furniture. SeaWalk-facing balconies may be overlooked. Accessible passengers should confirm door widths, bathroom layout and lift routes for the exact category rather than relying on the broad ship label.
Dining and package value
Royal Princess has three main dining rooms supported by Crown Grill, Sabatini’s, Alfredo’s, Ocean Terrace, International Café, buffet and poolside food. It offers more choice than the older Grand-related ships without the larger premium restaurant catalogue of Sphere Class.
Princess Plus or Premier should be priced against actual use. Premier becomes easier to justify when several specialty meals, premium drinks and four-device Wi-Fi will be used. It remains poor value for a light drinker who prefers the main dining rooms. Reservations still matter, even when a package includes the meal.
Alaska, Mexico and Asia fit
The balcony inventory and indoor venues make Royal Princess a good scenic-cruise platform. Alaska rewards access to open decks as well as a private balcony because wildlife and glacier views move from side to side. Mexico makes greater use of pool decks, while Asia places more weight on long port days and embarkation logistics.
Choose the itinerary first. Port times, scenic cruising access and travel to the embarkation city will affect the holiday more than a small difference between Royal Class sisters. British travellers should include flights and hotel nights when comparing the ship with a Southampton departure on Sky Princess.
Families, adults and atmosphere
Youth and teen centres cover ages 3 to 17, with films, pools, sports and organised activities. Royal Princess is family-capable rather than attraction-led. Children expecting slides, surf simulators or a theme-park deck will find a quieter product.
Adults have the Sanctuary, Retreat Pool, Enclave, Crooners, specialty dining and a conventional theatre-and-lounge evening. Outside school holidays, couples dominate the atmosphere. The ship is strongest for multigenerational groups that want shared meals and shore days without constant high-energy hardware.
Before you book Royal Princess
- Compare the fare directly with later Royal Class sisters on similar routes.
- Check SeaWalk privacy before selecting a nearby balcony.
- Use the deck plan to avoid cabins beneath pool and buffet areas.
- Choose the Alaska or Asia itinerary first, then use ship differences to break the tie.
Royal Princess compared with other Princess ships
| Ship | Main difference | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Regal Princess | Very close second Royal Class ship | Choose by itinerary, fare and cabin |
| Sky Princess | Later Royal Class with WakeView and UK relevance | Choose Sky for Southampton convenience |
| Discovery Princess | Final Royal Class ship with later refinements | Choose Discovery for modern Alaska deployment |
Related CruisePing guides
- Princess Cruises guide
- complete Princess ship selector
- Princess Medallion guide
- Celebrity Cruises versus Princess Cruises
- inside cabin versus balcony guide
- best cruise-cabin position guide
- the true cost of a cheap cruise
- Regal Princess
- Sky Princess
- Discovery Princess