Royal Princess cruise ship: who it suits and which cabin to book

Royal Princess at a glance

Line

Princess Cruises

Class

Royal

Entered service

2013

Gross tonnage

142,229

Guests

About 3,560 (double occupancy)

Crew

About 1,346

Decks

19

Part of the Princess Cruises fleet. Sister ships: Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess, Discovery Princess. Home ports: Seattle, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Los Angeles / Long Beach, Vancouver, Singapore.

Royal Princess was built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone, Italy, and entered service in June 2013, when it was christened by Catherine, then Duchess of Cambridge. It was the first of six Royal-class ships, the modern core of the Princess Cruises fleet. About 81% of its 1,780 cabins have a balcony. It moved from Europe and the Caribbean to the Pacific in 2019 and has sailed Alaska, Mexico and Australia since; in 2026–2027 its schedule also takes in Southeast Asia and Hawaii.

Who it suits

First-time Alaska cruisers from the West Coast. A Seattle round trip means no flight to Vancouver and no one-way airfare, and Glacier Bay is on the 2027 itinerary. Compare lines in our best cruise lines for Alaska.

Couples and retirees who want a big ship with plenty of dining and shows but a calm atmosphere.

Multi-generation families where the adults set the pace. There are kids’ clubs for ages 3 to 7 and 8 to 12 and a teen lounge, but no water park.

Who should look elsewhere: families who want slides should look at Royal Caribbean. If you want the newest ship from Seattle, Star Princess sails from the same pier on Sundays.

Standout features

• SeaWalk: a glass-floored walkway that extends out over the side of the ship, high above the water.
• The Piazza: the central atrium with street performers, cafés and shops.
• Movies Under the Stars: a large outdoor screen by the pool.
• The Sanctuary: an adults-only outdoor retreat.
• The Enclave: a thermal suite in the Lotus Spa, for an extra fee.
• Balconies: about four in five cabins have one, useful for glacier days in Alaska.

Cabins to pick, cabins to avoid

Cabin types run from interiors (about 158 to 162 square feet) and balconies (about 214 to 222 square feet) to mini-suites, Reserve Collection mini-suites and suites.

Pick:

• Midship balconies on decks 9 to 14 with cabins above, below and beside you, for the least motion and noise.
• Extended balconies on the angled midship sections of decks 8 and 9, which have more outdoor space.
• Aft penthouse suites if your budget stretches, for large balconies with a wake view.
• Interior cabins if you mostly want the itinerary and will spend your time on deck.

Avoid or think twice:

• Deck 8 (Emerald deck) cabins over the Princess Theater and the Vista Lounge, where noise from shows can carry late.
• Emerald deck balconies marked as obstructed, where lifeboats block the view.
• Cabins directly under the pool and buffet areas, where early-morning furniture noise carries, and aft Deck 15 cabins overlooked from the Horizon Terrace.
• Starboard deck 16 cabins next to the SeaWalk, which walkers can see into.
• The forward-facing balconies on decks 15 and 16 (L101 to L108 and M101 to M108), which are too windy to use at sea, and forward cabins on high decks if you get seasick.
• High aft balconies, which can collect soot from the funnel.

Dining and activities

The main dining room has flexible seating, and Reserve Collection guests have their own dining area. Included casual options include the World Fresh Marketplace buffet, International Café, Prego Pizzeria, Trident Grill and Swirls ice cream. Extra-charge restaurants include Crown Grill (steakhouse), Sabatini’s (Italian) and Alfredo’s Pizzeria.

Evenings center on the Princess Theater, Princess Live! for comedy and cabaret, the casino and Movies Under the Stars. Drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities are extra unless you buy Princess Plus or Premier; see our Princess line guide.

Where Royal Princess sails in 2026–2027

• Summer 2026: Alaska from Seattle. 7-day Inside Passage round trips from Pier 91, with weekend departures. See our Seattle cruise port guide.
• Winter 2026–27: Southeast Asia, then Australia and New Zealand. It has a Southeast Asia sailing on sale from Singapore in late 2026, then cruises from Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland to New Zealand, the South Pacific islands and the Australian coast.
• Spring 2027: back across the Pacific. It has South Pacific sailings on sale via Honolulu, then short US Pacific Coast sailings from Los Angeles and Vancouver on the way north. See our Los Angeles cruise port guide.
• Summer 2027: Alaska from Seattle. 7-day round trips every Saturday that include Glacier Bay National Park, plus some 9- and 10-day Inside Passage voyages.
• Autumn 2027: Hawaii from Vancouver, on a 10-night voyage, before returning to the South Pacific for the 2027–28 season.
• 2027–28: Australia and New Zealand again, including 13- to 15-night New Zealand cruises, some with Tasmania.

Its Los Angeles and Vancouver departures are repositioning voyages, not a regular season from either port.

Sample Royal Princess sailings. From-prices per person, checked September 2026.

Departs	Line and ship	Nights	Itinerary	From	Link
Nov 10, 2026	Princess Cruises, Royal Princess	15	15 Night Southeast Asia Cruise (from Singapore, Singapore)	$2,095	Check price
Mar 6, 2027	Princess Cruises, Royal Princess	13	13 Night Australia Cruise (from Auckland, New Zealand)	$3,353	Check price
Mar 19, 2027	Princess Cruises, Royal Princess	6	6 Night Australia Cruise (from Sydney, Australia)	$609	Check price
Apr 16, 2027	Princess Cruises, Royal Princess	12	12 Night South Pacific Cruise (from Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii)	$514	Check price
Apr 22, 2027	Princess Cruises, Royal Princess	6	6 Night U. S. Pacific Coast Cruise (from Los Angeles, California)	$359	Check price
Apr 28, 2027	Princess Cruises, Royal Princess	3	3 Night U. S. Pacific Coast Cruise (from Vancouver, British Columbia)	$134	Check price
Sep 11, 2027	Princess Cruises, Royal Princess	10	10 Night Alaska Cruise (from Seattle, Washington)	$684	Check price
Sep 21, 2027	Princess Cruises, Royal Princess	10	10 Night Hawaii Cruise (from Vancouver, British Columbia)	$1,094	Check price
Apr 12, 2028	Princess Cruises, Royal Princess	13	13 Night South Pacific Cruise (from Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii)	$1,054	Check price

Sister ships

Royal Princess is the first of six Royal-class ships. Regal Princess (2014) is its twin, and Sky Princess (2019) is a slightly updated version of the design. Majestic, Enchanted and Discovery Princess complete the class. If a sister’s dates or ports suit you better, the onboard experience is close to the same.

Royal Princess FAQ

Does Royal Princess sail to Alaska from Seattle?

Yes. It sails 7-day Inside Passage round trips from Seattle’s Pier 91 in summer 2026, and every Saturday in summer 2027 with Glacier Bay National Park on the itinerary.

What are the best cabins on Royal Princess for Alaska?

A midship balcony on a deck with cabins above and below: you get your own view of the glaciers and the least motion. Avoid obstructed-view balconies on the Emerald deck, where lifeboats block part of the view.

How big is Royal Princess?

About 142,229 gross tons, with about 3,560 guests at double occupancy, about 1,346 crew and 19 decks.

Where can I find the Royal Princess deck plans?

Princess publishes deck plans on the ship’s page at princess.com and in its booking engine. Check what is above and below your cabin before you book, especially near the theater and under the pool deck.

Is Royal Princess a good ship?

We don’t publish ratings for ships, but it offers the full Royal-class layout: many balconies, the SeaWalk and a good range of restaurants. It lacks the newest venues on Sun and Star Princess. See how Princess compares on our cruise line rankings.