The 4 lessons of Princess Cruises ships, defined

Of the seven cruise traces that account for almost all of cruises taken by North Individuals, Princess Cruises has the only fleet.

The overwhelming majority of the road’s 17 ships fall into one among simply two teams, referred to as “lessons” in cruise business lingo: the Royal Class and the Grand Class.

Every of those two teams is made up of ships constructed across the similar time with the identical primary design. If one member of the group, all of them.

In whole, the Princess fleet has six Royal Class ships and 7 Grand Class ships, and the road operates simply 4 ships outdoors these two teams: Star Princess, Solar Princess, Coral Princess and Island Princess. Star Princess and Solar Princess are the road’s latest and largest vessels, and the one ships within the line’s new Sphere Class of vessels. Coral Princess and Island Princess are the road’s oldest and smallest vessels, a part of what’s known as the Coral Class.

An introduction to Princess Cruises ships

Princess downsized its fleet significantly through the COVID-19 pandemic, eradicating 5 ships. However it has begun rising once more within the final two years and stays the world’s fifth-largest cruise line by passenger capability, with 17 vessels that collectively provide roughly 54,000 berths.

Normally, Princess operates large ships, however they don’t seem to be fairly as large because the vessels operated by Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises — the 2 traces finest identified for big ships. The largest Princess vessels, the road’s new Star Princess and Solar Princess, measure round 177,000 tons. That is about 29% smaller than the largest ship operated by Royal Caribbean. The road’s Royal Class vessels are greater than 40% smaller than the largest Royal Caribbean ships.

Star Princess and Solar Princess are, indubitably, the belles of the ball within the Princess fleet. Newer, greater and extra venue-filled than the road’s different ships, they debuted in 2025 and 2024, respectively, and carry 4,300 passengers at double occupancy.

Additionally comparatively new and chock-full of a lot of venues are the road’s six Royal Class ships, which measure between 142,229 and 145,281 tons. These vessels started rolling out in 2013 and carry about 3,600 passengers apiece at double occupancy.

Nonetheless, the largest cohort of ships within the Princess fleet is its seven Grand Class vessels. Unveiled between 1998 and 2008, the vessels on this class are smaller than the Royal Class vessels at round 107,000 to 116,000 tons in dimension. This smaller dimension permits them to function a wider vary of itineraries than the Royal Class ships. Nevertheless, they’re nonetheless large enough to supply a whole lot of onboard venues. The Grand Class ships carry between 2,600 to three,100 passengers at double occupancy.

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Rounding out the Princess fleet are its two Coral Class ships that, at round 92,000 tons, are the smallest of the road’s ships. They every carry round 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.

Sphere Class

Ships at school: Star Princess (2025) and Solar Princess (2024)

Measurement: 177,882 tons

Princess’ two Sphere Class ships have not been at sea for lengthy in any respect. The second vessel within the collection, Star Princess, is simply a few months outdated. That mentioned, the Sphere Class is already making waves as a category of Princess ships that is a major evolution from what got here earlier than.

Notably, the 2 vessels are extra full of life and provide extra eating, ingesting and leisure choices than another Princess ship at sea. That is, partly, as a result of the ships are considerably greater than is typical for Princess, giving them room for extra venues. At 177,882 tons, they are a whopping 21% greater than the subsequent largest Princess ship and almost double the scale of the road’s smallest ships.

The vessels additionally carry much more passengers than earlier Princess ships — 4,300 at double occupancy and 5,189 with each berth stuffed.

In brief, should you’re within the “greater is best” camp in terms of cruise ships, these are the Princess ships for you.

Among the many most important variations between each Star Princess and Solar Princess and earlier Princess ships is that they’ve a much more numerous array of eateries — a acutely aware effort by the road to supply its clients extra choices.

Along with the 2 specialty eating places discovered on nearly each Princess ship (the Crown Grill steakhouse and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria), each Star Princess and Solar Princess are dwelling to the Butcher’s Block by Dario, a brand new meat-focused grill designed in partnership with movie star Italian butcher Dario Cecchini (should you’ve seen Netflix’s “Chef’s Desk,” who he’s).

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They each even have three new Asian eating choices: Makoto Ocean, a sushi eatery designed by James Beard Basis honoree Makoto Okuwa; teppanyaki-serving Umai Teppanyaki; and sizzling pot venue Umai Sizzling Pot (the latter two shops share the identical area). There’s additionally a brand new restaurant known as Love by Britto, designed in partnership with artist Romero Britto, and a model of The Catch by Rudi, a seafood restaurant designed by Princess’ head of culinary arts Rudi Sodamin that’s on a handful of Princess vessels.

The broader vary of eateries is complemented by probably the most numerous array of leisure venues ever on a Princess ship. They embody an progressive foremost theater that may be reconfigured 3 ways for performances; a secondary efficiency venue for comedy reveals and karaoke nights; a central atrium that homes musical performances, recreation reveals and different full of life occasions all through the day; and a covered-by-a-glass-dome nightspot atop the ship rigged for aerial reveals.

Moreover, the vessels are dwelling to a clubby, magic-infused nightspot known as Spellbound by Magic Citadel, a first-of-its-kind venue at sea. Open to only a small portion of the vessels’ passengers every night time (who pay a minimum of $45 per individual for the unique entry), they’re floating variations of Magic Citadel, the enduring personal membership for magicians and their company in Los Angeles.

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Each of the vessels provide a sports activities court docket space on their prime decks as effectively.

The vessels are additionally the primary Princess ships with a separate suite complicated aimed on the rising variety of big-ship-loving vacationers keen to pay large bucks to be pampered whereas at sea.

Royal Class

Ships at school: Discovery Princess (2022), Enchanted Princess (2020), Sky Princess (2019), Majestic Princess (2017), Regal Princess (2014) and Royal Princess (2013)

Measurement: 142,229 to 145,281 tons

The six Royal Class ships within the Princess fleet aren’t as large as Star Princess and Solar Princess. However they’re nonetheless considerably greater than the remainder of the road’s vessels and, just like the Sphere Class ships, provide extra of the whole lot — extra lounge area, extra eating places, extra bars and extra leisure — than you may discover throughout most Princess ships.

On the Royal Class ships, you may discover the entire issues for which Princess is thought: full of life, piazza-reminiscent central atriums surrounded by bars and eating places that function central gathering factors; a lot of leisure venues for reside reveals, comedy acts and extra; and comparatively uncluttered pool decks with a lot of area for sunning.

You will additionally discover some extras not discovered on the opposite ships, together with the glass-floored SeaWalk that extends over the aspect of among the vessels.

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Every Royal Class ship has a minimum of half a dozen eateries, together with foremost eating places and an off-the-cuff buffet the place meals are included within the fare. Additional-charge eating places on the vessels embody variations of the road’s signature steakhouse, Crown Grill, and Italian restaurant, Sabatini’s.

A number of the ships even have the seafood restaurant The Catch by Rudi (additionally featured on Solar Princess), which serves up the likes of Dover sole, mussels Provencale and lobster. Plus, you may discover pizzerias on the vessels and the connoisseur sizzling dog- and taco-serving Salty Canine Grill.

As famous above, the Royal Class ships can carry about 3,600 passengers apiece, based mostly on double occupancy (two folks per cabin). Nevertheless, it is attainable you may discover much more folks on these ships whenever you sail on them. When further berths from pull-down bunks and pullout couch beds are factored in, the entire capability of the ships jumps to round 4,600 passengers.

In case you are curious, the identify of the Royal Class collection ties to the godmother of the preliminary Royal Class vessel. Dubbed Royal Princess, it was famously christened by a royal, the UK’s Catherine, Princess of Wales (then the Duchess of Cambridge). The cruise line’s earlier ship, the primary Royal Princess, debuted in 1984 and was christened by Diana, Princess of Wales.

Grand Class

Ships at school: Ruby Princess (2008), Emerald Princess (2007), Crown Princess (2006), Caribbean Princess (2004), Sapphire Princess (2004), Diamond Princess (2004) and Grand Princess (1998)

Measurement: 107,517 to 115,875 tons

The Grand Class ships have lengthy been on the core of the Princess fleet, they usually proceed to be extremely widespread with Princess followers. About 20% smaller, on common, than the road’s Royal Class ships, the seven vessels within the collection provide a extra intimate really feel than the Royal Class ships whereas nonetheless being large enough to supply a whole lot of options and actions.

Just like the Royal Class ships, Grand Class vessels have interiors that revolve round full of life, piazza-style atriums with cafes serving as central gathering locations. In addition they have large theaters (dwelling to manufacturing reveals), comedy golf equipment and a number of eating places and bars unfold throughout their interiors. The highest decks function quiet and enjoyable pool and lounge areas the place you possibly can benefit from the expertise of being at sea with out a whole lot of hustle and bustle — a notable distinction from the vibe on a whole lot of large ships at competing traces.

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Certainly, what you will not discover on many of the Grand Class ships (and most Princess ships on the whole) are a whole lot of family-focused deck-top sights. Not like a lot of its opponents within the big-ship market — most notably Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises — Princess hasn’t been identified to load up the tops of its vessels with sprawling water parks, go-kart tracks, laser tag programs and different flashy diversions.

In comparison with most of its large ship-operating rivals, Princess is thought for a extra serene, nearly “old fashioned” type of cruising that is not about having a whole lot of sights.

Whereas the entire Grand Class ships are pretty related, as they have been in-built clusters, you’ll nonetheless discover some variation from ship to ship.

Among the many largest variations is that the three oldest of the Grand Class vessels — Grand Princess, Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess — every have one fewer deck than the remainder of the ships within the class.

You will additionally discover some variation in restaurant decisions on the seven Grand Class vessels. All have a signature Princess steakhouse (both known as Crown Grill or Sterling Steakhouse) and a Sabatini’s Italian eatery, however two of the ships — Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess — even have a gastropub known as Salty Canine that is not discovered on the opposite vessels. A number of the vessels have a seafood outlet known as Steamers.

Moreover, one of many Grand Class ships — Diamond Princess — has been specifically overhauled to attraction to the Japanese market with in depth Japanese baths, a sushi restaurant and cabin loos retrofitted with Japanese-style bidets. This ship typically sails round Japan on voyages that focus on the native market but additionally Individuals and Australians.

Three of the Grand Class ships — Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess and Caribbean Princess — have extra elaborate spas with thermal suites than the others. Moreover, one of many vessels, Caribbean Princess, includes a family-focused pool deck with a splash pool — a nod to household vacationers that is distinctive amongst ships within the class. Consequently, Caribbean Princess makes for a best choice for Princess followers who will probably be cruising with babies.

Coral Class

Ships at school: Island Princess (2003) and Coral Princess (2002)

Measurement: 91,627 tons

The Coral Class ships are even smaller than the Grand Class ships — about 15% to twenty% smaller — and have a cozier really feel. However due to their smaller dimension, in addition they have considerably fewer options and facilities than ships within the different Princess lessons.

Normally, these are ships that attraction to cruisers searching for a extra intimate expertise than what you may discover on the massive Royal Class ships. In addition they draw cruisers who care extra concerning the locations that they go to on a cruise than the onboard sights.

Alongside these traces, Princess typically deploys the Coral Class ships on its extra far-flung, destination-rich itineraries, together with prolonged globe-spanning cruises. Simply this month, as an illustration, Coral Princess is setting off on an epic 115-day world cruise out of Los Angeles to the South Pacific, Australia and Asia, and it will function a equally bold 114-day crusing throughout the Pacific in early 2027.

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As is typical for Princess ships, each Coral Class vessels have a restaurant scene revolving round foremost eating places, an off-the-cuff pool deck buffet, a steakhouse (on this case, one with a New Orleans theme known as Bayou Cafe and Steakhouse) and an Italian eatery known as Sabatini’s.

The informal pool deck buffet on every of the ships is, notably, positioned on the bow, which permits for nice views over the water and what some Princess followers say is a greater circulate than buffets positioned farther again on pool decks.

Leisure venues on the ships embody a comparatively massive foremost theater for manufacturing reveals, secondary lounges that provide comedy reveals and different leisure, and a on line casino. Like different Princess ships, the highest decks of the vessels are largely dedicated to pool areas with sizzling tubs and lounge chairs. Each ships even have spas.

Backside line

The Princess fleet is comparatively straightforward to know. There are simply 4 forms of ships within the Princess fleet, and, for probably the most half, they don’t seem to be wildly totally different from one another.

Princess believes strongly in providing a constant product from ship to ship, and it usually would not make revolutionary modifications with every class of vessels it unveils (although the latest Sphere Class has comparatively extra variations from earlier lessons).

The massive distinction among the many line’s 4 lessons of ships is the scale of the vessels within the lessons. If you happen to’re a fan of huge ships, you may wish to gravitate to the brand new Sphere Class and Royal Class vessels. If you happen to like your cruise ships extra intimate, you may most likely wish to guide the Grand Class or Coral Class vessels.

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