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, often known as “lessons” in cruise trade 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 fundamental design. If you recognize one member of the group, you recognize all of them.
In complete, the Princess fleet has six Royal Class ships and 7 Grand Class ships, and the road operates simply 4 ships exterior 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 in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, eradicating 5 ships. Nevertheless 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 supply roughly 54,000 berths.
On the whole, Princess operates large ships, however they are not fairly as large because the vessels operated by Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises — the 2 traces finest recognized for big ships. The most important Princess vessels, the road’s new Star Princess and Solar Princess, measure round 177,000 tons. That is about 29% smaller than the most important ship operated by Royal Caribbean. The road’s Royal Class vessels are greater than 40% smaller than the most important Royal Caribbean ships.
Star Princess and Solar Princess are, unquestionably, 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 numerous 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 most important 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 loads 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 in school: Star Princess (2025) and Solar Princess (2024)
Dimension: 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 previous. 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 supply extra eating, ingesting and leisure choices than every other 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 seem to be 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 crammed.
In brief, if you happen to’re within the “greater is healthier” camp in the case 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 house to the Butcher’s Block by Dario, a brand new meat-focused grill designed in partnership with celeb Italian butcher Dario Cecchini (if you happen to’ve seen Netflix’s “Chef’s Desk,” you recognize 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 scorching pot venue Umai Scorching Pot (the latter two shops share the identical house). 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 essentially the most numerous array of leisure venues ever on a Princess ship. They embrace an progressive most important theater that may be reconfigured 3 ways for performances; a secondary efficiency venue for comedy exhibits and karaoke nights; a central atrium that homes musical performances, sport exhibits and different full of life occasions all through the day; and a covered-by-a-glass-dome nightspot atop the ship rigged for aerial exhibits.
Moreover, the vessels are house to a clubby, magic-infused nightspot known as Spellbound by Magic Fort, a first-of-its-kind venue at sea. Open to only a small portion of the vessels’ passengers every night time (who pay no less than $45 per individual for the unique entry), they’re floating variations of Magic Fort, the long-lasting non-public membership for magicians and their visitors in Los Angeles.
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Each of the vessels supply a sports activities courtroom space on their high decks as properly.
The vessels are additionally the primary Princess ships with a separate suite advanced aimed on the rising variety of big-ship-loving vacationers keen to pay large bucks to be pampered whereas at sea.
Royal Class
Ships in school: Discovery Princess (2022), Enchanted Princess (2020), Sky Princess (2019), Majestic Princess (2017), Regal Princess (2014) and Royal Princess (2013)
Dimension: 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, supply extra of all the things — extra lounge house, extra eating places, extra bars and extra leisure — than you may discover throughout most Princess ships.
On the Royal Class ships, you may discover all the issues for which Princess is understood: full of life, piazza-reminiscent central atriums surrounded by bars and eating places that function central gathering factors; numerous leisure venues for stay exhibits, comedy acts and extra; and comparatively uncluttered pool decks with numerous house 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 no less than half a dozen eateries, together with most important eating places and an informal buffet the place meals are included within the fare. Further-charge eating places on the vessels embrace 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 scorching 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 in school: Ruby Princess (2008), Emerald Princess (2007), Crown Princess (2006), Caribbean Princess (2004), Sapphire Princess (2004), Diamond Princess (2004) and Grand Princess (1998)
Dimension: 107,517 to 115,875 tons
The Grand Class ships have lengthy been on the core of the Princess fleet, and so they proceed to be extremely well-liked with Princess followers. About 20% smaller, on common, than the road’s Royal Class ships, the seven vessels within the collection supply a extra intimate really feel than the Royal Class ships whereas nonetheless being large enough to supply loads 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 (house to manufacturing exhibits), comedy golf equipment and a number of eating places and bars unfold throughout their interiors. The highest decks characteristic quiet and stress-free pool and lounge areas the place you may benefit from the expertise of being at sea with out loads of hustle and bustle — a notable distinction from the vibe on loads 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 typically) are loads 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 recognized 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 understood for a extra serene, nearly “old style” kind of cruising that is not about having loads of sights.
Whereas all the Grand Class ships are pretty related, as they had been inbuilt 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 selections 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 enchantment to the Japanese market with intensive Japanese baths, a sushi restaurant and cabin bogs retrofitted with Japanese-style bidets. This ship usually sails round Japan on voyages that concentrate on the native market but in addition 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. In consequence, Caribbean Princess makes for a best choice for Princess followers who will probably be cruising with young children.
Coral Class
Ships in school: Island Princess (2003) and Coral Princess (2002)
Dimension: 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.
On the whole, these are ships that enchantment to cruisers on the lookout for a extra intimate expertise than what you may discover on the large 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 usually deploys the Coral Class ships on its extra far-flung, destination-rich itineraries, together with prolonged globe-spanning cruises. Simply this month, for example, 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 formidable 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 most important eating places, an informal 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, situated on the bow, which permits for nice views over the water and what some Princess followers say is a greater stream than buffets situated farther again on pool decks.
Leisure venues on the ships embrace a comparatively massive most important theater for manufacturing exhibits, secondary lounges that provide comedy exhibits and different leisure, and a on line casino. Like different Princess ships, the highest decks of the vessels are principally dedicated to pool areas with scorching tubs and lounge chairs. Each ships even have spas.
Backside line
The Princess fleet is comparatively straightforward to grasp. There are simply 4 sorts of ships within the Princess fleet, and, for essentially 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 does not make revolutionary adjustments with every class of vessels it unveils (although the most recent 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. Should you’re a fan of massive ships, you may need to gravitate to the brand new Sphere Class and Royal Class vessels. Should you like your cruise ships extra intimate, you may in all probability need to e-book the Grand Class or Coral Class vessels.
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