princess cruise be

Front Row Seat for Beautiful Scenery

This impressive stateroom offers the added indulgence of a balcony and gives you more space than a standard stateroom. Enjoy your own private outdoor space with a table, two chairs, and a relaxing view of the inspiring scenery surrounding you, whether a beautiful sunset over the ocean or a new city to explore. It’s also perfect to enjoy cocktails before dinner or a leisurely breakfast.

• Approx. 214 to 222 sq. ft., including balcony
• Balcony with 2 chairs and table
• Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
• Comfortable queen or two twin beds ▲
• Refrigerator.
• Flat-panel television
• Private bathroom with shower
• 100% cotton, high-thread count linens
• Spacious closet
• Desk with chair
• Hair dryer & bathroom amenities
• Digital security safe

▲3rd/4th berths available in select cabins.

Photos, floor plan diagrams, and amenities represent typical arrangements and may vary by ship. Certain stateroom categories may vary in size and configuration by ship. Square footage varies based on stateroom category and deck location.

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Table of Contents

About Princess Cruises

What’s included in a princess cruise, princess cruises loyalty program: captain’s circle.

Princess Cruises is a U.S. cruise line owned by Carnival Corp., which also owns and operates other lines including Carnival, Holland America and Cunard.

First launched in 1965, Princess Cruises offers passengers the opportunity to sail all over the world, including to North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia and Antarctica.

Here’s a quick overview of some of Princess Cruises' key features.

Cabin types: Princess Cruises ships feature room types that are standard across most cruise lines. These include interior, ocean view, balcony, mini-suite and suite rooms. Princess Cruises’ inside rooms are contemporary and well-furnished, as are its higher-end offerings. 

Main U.S. routes: You’ll find Princess Cruise ships throughout the U.S., though routes are heavily season-dependent. Look for Caribbean cruises out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and for destinations along the West Coast, out of Los Angeles.  

Loyalty program: Captain’s Circle is the name of Princess Cruises’ loyalty program, which provides elite benefits based on how much you’ve cruised with the line. 

Princess Cruises destinations

Princess Cruise offers a large array of itineraries and destinations. Its sailings range in length from two-day getaways to a 116-day journey that travels around the globe, and it stops in seven continents and 330 ports of call.

» Learn more: Do you need a passport for a Caribbean cruise?

Princess Cruises prices

Princess ships tend to be a little more upscale than some other options, which means it can be more expensive to travel on one. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily be paying luxury prices.

Prices for rooms can vary dramatically based on when you travel. The cost is higher during the holidays. For example, a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise leaving from Fort Lauderdale can cost as little as $548 for an interior room. However, if you’re traveling during the winter holidays, the price skyrockets up to $1,178 for the same room.

What is the best Princess cruise ship?

There are a total of 15 vessels on this cruise line, with two more ships planned for sailings in 2024 or later.

Many of the line’s ships score well with reviewers, including the Discovery Princess ship, which is one of six Royal Class vessels. These vessels feature a larger atrium (the social hub of the ship), private poolside cabanas, a glass-bottomed over-water SeaWalk and more staterooms with balconies.

» Learn more: How to plan a cruise in 6 steps

What is the newest Princess Cruises ship?

The Discovery Princess is the newest ship. It debuted in 2022 and can carry up to 3,660 guests. However, according to Princess Cruises news, the Sun Princess will soon take the title of newest ship with its inaugural voyage in 2024.

While most cruises include many services and amenities with the base fare, not everything comes at that rate. There are some extras that you may need to pay more for.

Here’s what comes with each fare package on a Princess cruise:

The Princess Standard fare includes your cabin, use of facilities, all meals, snacks and entertainment. 

The Princess Plus fare includes all the amenities of the Princess Standard fare but also provides Wi-Fi service to one device, crew gratuities, premium beverages (including most alcoholic drinks), fitness classes, food delivery and two nights of dining at a casual sit-down restaurant.

The Princess Premier package includes all of the above, with Wi-Fi available on multiple devices, a superior drink package, two nights of specialty dining, unlimited casual dining, a photo package and reserved seating at shows. 

» Learn more: The best ways to book a cruise

The Captain’s Circle is the loyalty program for Princess Cruises, and after you complete your first cruise, you’re automatically a member with Gold tier status.

Captain’s Circle levels

The Captain’s Circle levels are Gold, Ruby, Platinum and Elite. Here’s how to reach each tier as well as the benefits you’ll receive.

How to earn: Complete one Princess cruise. 

Best benefits: Preferential pricing, members-only events. 

How to earn: Complete three cruises or 30 cruise days.

Best benefits: Vacation protection upgrade, shoreside access to priority phone line.

How to earn: Complete five cruises or 50 cruise days. 

Best benefits: 50% off Wi-Fi package, priority boarding, early access to dining reservations, exclusive member lounge, 10% discount on spa treatments. 

How to earn: Complete 15 cruises or 150 cruise days. 

Best benefits: Early access to new itineraries, 10% off-shore excursions, complimentary mini-bar setup, complimentary laundry services, priority embarkation and disembarkation.

(Top photo courtesy of Princess Cruises)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

on Bank of America's website

1.5x-2x Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Thousands of passengers affected as Princess Cruises delays new ship

The next new Princess Cruises ship won't be arriving as soon as planned.

Princess on Friday pushed back the debut of the 4,300-passenger Star Princess from Aug. 2, 2025, to Oct. 4, 2025 — a two-month delay that will affect thousands of vacationers.

The delay will result in the cancellation of eight Europe sailings of nine and 10 nights that were scheduled to take place between Aug. 2, 2025, and Oct. 20, 2025. The line has also canceled a 16-night transatlantic sailing from Southampton, England, to Fort Lauderdale scheduled from Oct. 20, 2025, to Nov. 5, 2025.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

In place of some of those sailings, Princess has added a new inaugural voyage for Star Princess out of Barcelona on Oct. 4, 2025. It'll be an 11-night trip around the Mediterranean.

The new inaugural sailing will be followed by two more new voyages: A seven-night Mediterranean trip scheduled for Oct. 15, 2025, and a 14-night transatlantic trip scheduled for Oct. 22, 2025.

All three of the new sailings will open for bookings April 30.

Princess made the announcement Friday in tandem with its shipbuilder, Fincantieri, citing construction delays. Fincantieri originally planned to deliver Star Princess to the cruise line July 29, 2025. It'll now deliver the ship Sept. 26, 2025.

"Despite our collective dedication and relentless pursuit to deliver the ship in late July, it has become evident that additional time is required to ensure the Star Princess is delivered to the highest standards expected by our guests," Princess president John Padgett said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

Princess on Friday said passengers booked on the canceled Star Princess sailings can switch to any other Princess sailing. If they do, they'll get a future cruise credit and onboard credit in an amount that varies depending on the sailing they choose.

Passengers on the canceled sailings also have the option of not switching to another Princess cruise and instead getting a full refund for the fare they paid.

When it launches, Star Princess will be the second vessel in Princess' long-awaited new Sphere Class of ships. Under development for more than six years, the Sphere Class includes the just-unveiled Sun Princess , which also was delayed by several weeks .

The Sphere Class ships are significantly bigger than previous Princess ships and offer several notable new-for-the-line features, including suites that come with exclusive access to a private restaurant, a lounge and a sun deck.

Additionally, the Sphere Class ships have been designed with an innovative new type of "cabana cabin" along their extra-wide 10th deck that comes with access to a private deck area. Plus, the top decks of the ships have some unusual-for-Princess sizzle with the addition of a glass-dome-topped pool area that transforms into a nightspot after the sun goes down.

At 177,882 gross tons, Sun Princess is about 21% bigger than the next largest ships in the Princess fleet. It's able to hold about 17% more passengers than the next biggest Princess ships.

Star Princess is expected to be roughly the same size.

The Sphere Class is the first new class of ships to debut at Princess in nearly 11 years.

Star Princess is being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, which has a long history of building cruise ships for Princess, Cunard , MSC Cruises and several other brands.

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Princess Cruises' Star Princess ship delayed, 9 sailings canceled

Travelers will have to wait longer than planned to sail on Princess Cruises’ upcoming ship.

The delivery of Star Princess, which was set to debut next summer, will be pushed back by about two months. The cruise line said the delay was a “mutual” decision with shipbuilder Fincantieri.

“Following a comprehensive review of the remaining construction milestones, both parties have elected to adjust the ship's delivery date from July 29, 2025 to September 26, 2025, which will result in the cancellation of the nine inaugural sailings,” Princess said in a news release .

Guests whose cruises are impacted will be able to rebook on any Princess ship and, depending on which sailing they pick, receive future cruise and onboard credits. They will also be able to opt for a full refund of their fare instead.

“Despite our collective dedication and relentless pursuit to deliver the ship in late July, it has become evident that additional time is required to ensure the Star Princess is delivered to the highest standards expected by our guests,” Princess Cruises President John Padgett said in the release.

Your cruise was canceled: Now what?

The ship’s new inaugural itineraries will include 11 and seven-day Mediterranean cruises on Oct. 4 and 15, 2025, respectively. Those will be followed by a two-week transatlantic voyage to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Oct. 22, 2025.

Those sailings will be available to book on April 30.

Star Princess will be the second in the line’s Sphere Class. Sister ship Sun Princess was also delayed ahead of its launch earlier this year, with Princess citing “additional technical work” needed at the shipyard.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

• Princess Cruises

What do the letters in cabin categories mean?

By Buster1993 , June 4, 2007 in Princess Cruises

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I'm very new to cruising as I've only cruiesed one other time before (on Disney). I've booked a cruise on the Golded Princess for June 30 in the category "BF". I have yet to be assigned a room. I know I'm guaranteed an unobstructed balcony view. I've been noticing on the comments that people have a better understanding of the meanings of the category jargon than I have. What for example, are the meanings of the categories : C, BB, BC, BD, BF? There are many more examples of categories. Is there a place that explains the meaning of them? This may be a simple question, but I can't seem to find the pattern to them. Thanks for any help.

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Toto2Kansas

The different letters in each category don't actually mean anything. They just show the higher prices for different locations in that category. Most cabins are pretty close to the same layout and actual design, all insides, outsides, balcony cabins, etc. But location is the main reason.

The best locations for cabins are higher up in the category. A BF balcony would usually be the least expensive where as a BA would be the most expensive in the balcony cabin category.

Does that make any sense? It is kind of hard to explain in type.

I will try. There are some variations to this. But, generally speaking a "B" is balcony ocean view. NOTE: This is not a Suite or a Mini-Suite.

The "BF" is usually the entry point into the "B" category (sometimes there is a BG too). This is generally based on its size, availability and location. From there you have "BE", "BD", "BC", "BB" and "BA".

With me so far? Okay, now it can be confusing. If you want a mini-suite those are "AE", "AD", "AC", "AB" and "AA". Same as before, "AE" is the entry point and "AA" is the top.

Now, if a balcony is not your thing. But, you would like a view. Then the "C", "D", "E", "F" and "G" would be your things.

Interior cabins without a view are "I", "J", "K", "L" and "M".

There are also Suites available at the high end. They are "GS", "OS", "PH", "PS" and "VS".

There you have it. :) :)

Location, Location, Location. Just like in real estate, the closer you are to the middle of the ship (prime real estate), the higher the letter within your room type (AB). The further away from the middle you get, the lower the letter (AC, AD, AE), etc.

Fuzzzy's explaination is very good and is right on for all of the newer Princess ships (Grand class, Coral/Island and even the former R-class ships) but on the Sun class ships category AA is actually a full suite. Not sure about the Regal Princess.

Colo Cruiser

Yes location. :)

You are right. It can be confusing to a new person. I guess I would suggest going to the princess web site and checking the deck plans. Unless, you have them memorized like me. LOL :D

I'll ask a question again that I never really got an answer for before.

We have been on 4 Princess cruises so far, all in mini-suites, and all but one was in an AB or AA. We picked them because of the location - midship.

Our next cruise is on the Coral Princess - again in an AA mini - but on the Coral the AA minis aren't midship, they are all the way foreword. Any explanation why the higher priced minis are located there on that ship???

Vic The Parrot

I hope there's no quiz on this later ....

there is always a quiz.....your grade will be anywhere from fa,fb,fc,to aa,ab,ac or somewhere in between depending where your answer is on the page...............:D :rolleyes: :eek:

I give your comment an FF (obstructed view on the Golden) or a GG (obstructed view on the Coral).

I give you all an "incomplete" for your answers. You forgot to answer the "guarantee" part of his question. He is guaranteed a minimum of a BF cabin but probably will be given one or more higher classes. Now there...

I just reread the OP's post and I don't see him asking a question about "guarantee" - just that he has one and wonders what the letters mean. No wonder I failed 1st grade.

Since he's a new cruiser the question about the guarantee was "inferred".

In my opinion, the second letter is almost meaningless. It generally infers whether one is foward aft or midship.

I like to be aft, so that is a lower catergory than midships.

Some of us like to book specific cabins, so that you can avoid being next to the laundry, stairwells, etc. Can also look to see what is above and below to aviod public areas that may be a bit noisey.

Its a good idea to look at the deckplans.

I'll ask a question again that I never really got an answer for before.   We have been on 4 Princess cruises so far, all in mini-suites, and all but one was in an AB or AA. We picked them because of the location - midship.   Our next cruise is on the Coral Princess - again in an AA mini - but on the Coral the AA minis aren't midship, they are all the way foreword. Any explanation why the higher priced minis are located there on that ship???

We were a little confused about this also but we loved the forward location on the baja deck. Our balcony was somewhat covered and we had a great view of the bridge.

Is it really location or just price? I have an aft balcony on the CB (C743) which is about as far from the middle as you can get, yet it is a BB...:confused: :)

Thanks for your great answer. You're good.

Jack, in Charleston (aka Buster)

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Princess Cruises Officially Christens Sun Princess

Princess Cruises has officially named its newest ship Sun Princess in a ceremony Tuesday in Barcelona. British actress Hannah Waddingham—the ship’s godmother—named the ship in a ceremony in the Princess Arena onboard. 

“I name this ship Sun Princess. May God bless her and all who sail on her,” she said, before fitting a piece of a sun graphic on stage which released a Nebuchadnezzar of Veuve Clicquot Champagne against the outside of the ship’s hull, to cheers from Princess employees outside, and an array of passengers and assorted dignitaries inside the arena. 

In remarks during the ceremony, Waddingham referenced her excitement at serving as the ship’s godmother, “I’ve seen over the years, the magnificent godmothers that have been asked to associate with the ships, and I couldn’t believe it—and I was so quick to reply to the e-mail.” She also referenced a long personal connection to the sea, “As much as theatre ripples through my bloodstream, I have the strongest history of maritime in my family—we still have my grandfather, he’s 107—he was in the North Atlantic convoy scraping the ice of the bow of the ship—so it’s in my blood and in my bones.” 

Included in the festivities were three original cast members of The Love Boat series: Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, and Jill Whelan. Whelan, who played Captain Steubing’s teenage daughter Vicki on the series, now serves as Celebrations Ambassador for Princess and was also on hand earlier in the day during a news conference when Princess announced the new Sanctuary Collection onboard Sun Princess, which will debut later this year.

Princess also announced that the new  Star Princess —the second Sphere Class ship scheduled for delivery in September 2025—is slated to sail to Alaska during the 2026 summer season, making it the largest Princess ship ever to sail on Princess itineraries to the 49th State.

Food and beverage updates were also revealed. A new restaurant concept, Love by Britto, inspired by artist Romero Britto, and the new Love Line Premium Liquors, a selection of three celebrity liquors, including Voli Vodka by Pitbull, Love Prosecco by Britto, and Melorosa Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon from Jason Aldean. The liquor selection is currently available on Sun Princess, and will soon be introduced to the rest of the fleet.

Princess expects Sun Princess to be the “new normal” for the line in terms of ship size and design, Princess President John Padgett told TravelPulse during the event. “We think this is the sweet spot,” he said, “and what sets us apart is our ability—using MedallionClass—to provide personalized, ‘small ship’ service on a ship of this size.”

Padgett added that the first passenger reactions to Sun Princess have been overwhelmingly positive—even with longtime customers one might expect to look back with nostalgia. He referenced a passenger he spoke with on a recent Sun Princess sailing who had been sailing Princess since 1972. When he asked the passenger which ship out of all the Princess ships he’d sailed over the years was his favorite, his response was immediate: “This one.”

Designating a godmother to name a ship is a longstanding maritime tradition. Godmothers name ships and become part of the ship’s history and legacy. Waddingham joins several members of the Royal Family, and other legendary world-renowned actresses and personalities as godmothers of Princess ships, including Diana, Princess of Wales; Catherine, Princess of Wales; Audrey Hepburn; Sophia Loren; Alaska First Lady Nancy Murkowski; and Martha Stewart.

Sun Princess also marks a number of superlatives, such as the largest ship ever built for Princess Cruises, with lower-berth capacity for 4,300 passengers in 2,157 staterooms including 80 suites on 21 decks. She’s also the first Princess ship to be powered by Liquid Natural Gas, reducing carbon emissions. The ship also debuts a new cabin category for Princess, the Cabana Mini-Suite, which offers a transitional indoor-outdoor seating space between the indoor seating area and the outdoor balcony.

Built by Fincantieri, and weighing in at 177,882 tons she is also the largest ship to date for her builders, and the largest ship ever built in Italy.

Sun Princess itineraries in the Mediterranean during the summer of 2024 and will reposition to Fort Lauderdale for Caribbean cruises in the fall of 2024.