Photo: Shiphistory62 | Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0; crop by CruisePing.
Star Princess at a glance
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship class or type | Sphere Class |
| Entered service | 2025 |
| Last major refurbishment | None since entering service |
| Gross tonnage | 177,800 GT |
| Length | 345 m / 1,133 ft |
| Guest capacity | 4,300 guests at lower-berth occupancy |
| Crew | 1,600 |
| Passenger decks | 21 decks in official ship data |
| Cabins or suites | 2,157 staterooms, including 80 suites and 123 mini-suites |
| Accessible cabins | 51 accessible staterooms |
| Dining venues | 30 restaurant and bar venues combined |
| Bars and lounges | Piazza, Dome, Princess Live, casino and a broad bar programme |
| Pools and hot tubs | Multiple pools and hot tubs across the Sphere Class outdoor decks |
| Library | No large traditional library; reading space is dispersed through lounges |
| Spa and fitness | Lotus Spa, fitness centre and outdoor activity areas |
| Children’s facilities | Camp Discovery, family accommodation and activity areas |
| Adults-only facilities | The Sanctuary and Sanctuary Collection spaces; access depends on category |
| Wi-Fi | MedallionNet Max available; package inclusions vary by fare |
| UK departures or deployment | Mediterranean, Alaska and Caribbean programmes; no regular Southampton homeport season |
Best suited to
- Travellers wanting the newest Princess ship with the established Sphere Class concept
- Guests comparing Alaska, Mediterranean or Caribbean routes where Star has the stronger itinerary
- Couples and families who will actively use the dining, entertainment and Sanctuary choices
Think carefully if
- You expect a radically different ship from Sun Princess
- You prefer a quieter, smaller vessel with short walking distances
- You are booking mainly for novelty and have not compared the total fare with sister ships
The booking decision
Star Princess entered service in October 2025 as the second Sphere Class ship. The core architecture matches Sun Princess: the suspended Sphere around the Piazza, the glass Dome, a 990-seat Princess Arena and 2,157 staterooms. Princess used the second ship to make targeted adjustments rather than reinvent the class, including expanded dining areas and a larger non-smoking section in the casino.
That makes itinerary and price decisive. Star Princess is not automatically the better booking because it is newer. Choose it when the route, embarkation port, cabin position or total package suits you better. Choose Sun Princess when it offers the same class experience at a lower price or on a more appealing itinerary. The two should be treated as close sisters with operational and venue-level differences, not as different generations.
Scale, layout and how it feels aboard
At 177,800 GT and 4,300 lower berths, Star Princess is a large resort ship. The Sphere creates a dramatic visual centre and the Dome adds a second signature landmark, but both can attract crowds around performance times. The ship feels most manageable when you understand which lift bank serves your cabin and where your preferred dining rooms sit relative to the entertainment spaces.
Passengers who struggle with long distances should use the official Star Princess deck plan before paying a deposit. A cabin near the Piazza may be convenient for dining and evening activity but less convenient for the Dome or outdoor spaces. The cheapest room can be a poor bargain if every meal or activity requires a long cross-ship journey.
Cabins and the Sanctuary proposition
The ship has 2,157 staterooms, including 80 suites, 123 mini-suites, more than 1,000 balcony rooms and 100 connecting rooms. Princess also lists 51 accessible staterooms. The Sanctuary Collection creates a more premium path through selected cabins, private dining and designated adult space. It can reduce some of the friction of a large ship, but the price must be assessed against a standard balcony plus whichever extras you would genuinely buy.
Families should consider connecting cabins before defaulting to one room for four. Couples should focus on location and balcony use rather than assume every mini-suite justifies its premium. On a port-intensive Mediterranean sailing, a standard balcony may be enough. In Alaska, cabin orientation, sheltered outdoor access and the ability to reach viewing areas quickly may matter more.
Dining and drinks
Princess describes 30 restaurant and bar venues combined. The headline restaurants mirror the broad Sphere Class programme, including Love by Britto, The Butcher’s Block by Dario, Makoto Ocean and Umai Teppanyaki. Star Princess also carries expanded dining areas compared with its sister. The practical advantage is choice, but reservations and extra charges still determine how much of that choice you actually use.
The Princess Plus and Premier packages can simplify drinks, Wi-Fi and dining, but Star Princess carries the higher Sphere Class UK package prices published for 2026 voyages. Compare the package for every day and every eligible guest in the cabin. A couple buying Premier for a long voyage needs to use a meaningful amount of specialty dining, beverages and included services before the convenience becomes good value.
Entertainment and evening atmosphere
The Princess Arena can change configuration, while the Dome moves between daytime pool use and evening performance. Princess Live, the Piazza and casino add alternatives. This spreads activity more effectively than a single theatre, although the most popular shows can still create queues and busy lift areas. The larger non-smoking casino section is a useful improvement for guests who enjoy gaming but dislike smoke.
Princess entertainment remains more polished and conventional than the high-energy, attraction-led programmes on Royal Caribbean. Star Princess suits guests who want production shows, live music, quizzes and destination days rather than constant thrill rides. Families have dedicated spaces, but the ship is equally designed for couples and multigenerational groups.
Alaska, Europe and Caribbean deployment
Star Princess moved from its inaugural Mediterranean season into broader deployment including Alaska and the Caribbean. The ship’s size supports a wide onboard programme on sea days, while the Dome and sheltered indoor spaces are useful in cooler conditions. In Alaska, however, check port arrangements and scenic cruising details rather than assuming the newest ship receives the strongest itinerary.
UK travellers should budget for flights because Star Princess has no regular Southampton homeport season. That can make Sky Princess more convenient even when Star is the more advanced ship. The correct comparison includes flights, hotel nights, transfers and luggage, not only the cruise fare.
Before you book Star Princess
- Compare the exact sailing with Sun Princess before paying a newest-ship premium.
- Use the deck plan to balance cabin access to the Piazza, Dome and preferred restaurants.
- Price flights and pre-cruise accommodation when comparing Star with Southampton-based Sky Princess.
- For Alaska, judge the itinerary and viewing opportunities before the ship’s age or size.
Official Star Princess ship tour video
Star Princess compared with other Princess ships
| Ship | Main difference | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Princess | First Sphere Class ship with the same core layout | Often the better-value alternative when dates and route are similar |
| Sky Princess | Smaller Royal Class and regular Southampton deployment | Stronger for UK convenience and familiar Princess design |
| Island Princess | Roughly half the tonnage and focused on longer itineraries | Choose for scale and route rather than new hardware |
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