Photo: Royal Princess Cruise Ship passing Howth into Dublin Port by Sonse, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Princess Cruises · Royal-class
Royal Princess
Large resort ship — 3,600 guests.
Royal Princess tends to work well for travelers seeking family time and relaxation, while travelers prioritizing nightlife may prefer alternatives.
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Guide-ready (sourced). This page is backed by a sourced evidence file: dining, dress code, kids programming and more, each with a source and a last-verified date. Expand "Sources & verification" below. Jump to sources ↓
Ship DNA
Entertainment onboard tends to include Broadway-style production shows, enrichment lectures and talks, a casino (derived, low confidence).
Good to know
- Dress code
- "Dress to Impress," suggested not strict; casual venues remain open every night.
- Dining
- Main dining included; specialty extra. Princess Plus/Premier fare tiers bundle drinks/wifi/gratuities.
- Onboard vibe
- Generally family-friendly, mainstream energy and a modern, casual feel.
- Crowd character
- Typically typical resort-ship crowd levels.
- Typical itinerary
- Alaska, Caribbean, Europe, and Mexico
Line-level details sourced from Princess Cruises, last verified 2026-08-19 (confidence: medium).
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Who it's for
Likely a good fit for
- Multigenerational families
- Couples seeking mainstream premium cruising
- Alaska and Europe travelers
May prefer another ship if
- You want extensive waterslides
- You seek strong late-night nightlife
Strengths
- Balanced premium experience and broad itinerary coverage
- Strong dining and multigenerational appeal
- Popular adults-only and relaxation spaces
Known trade-offs
- Fewer thrill attractions than family mega-ships
- Some venues become crowded during peak periods
Dining
Sourced ship-specific detail. Each point is backed by a citation in Sources & verification below.
What's included at dinner
Complimentary venues: the Main Dining Room (flexible/traditional seating), the International Cafe (open 24 hours - coffee, pastries, sandwiches, gelato), the World Fresh Marketplace buffet, Prego Pizzeria (Princess advertises this as USA Today's 'Best Pizza at Sea'), Trident Grill (poolside burgers/hot dogs), and the Swirls Ice Cream Bar. No cover charge for any of these.
What costs extra to eat
Specialty (extra-cost) venues: Crown Grill (steakhouse), Sabatini's Italian Trattoria, Alfredo's Pizzeria, Chef's Table Lumiere (multi-course chef's-table experience), Crab Shack, and the Ocean Terrace seafood bar. Princess Premier package guests get unlimited specialty visits; Standard and Plus guests pay a la carte or use Plus's 4 casual-dining credits (specialty covers are not included in Plus).
Reservations
Specialty restaurants take reservations via the Princess app (Cruise Personalizer / MedallionClass app) or onboard; a booking can be made up to 6 months before sailing once the cruise fare is paid in full, or any time for Captain's Circle Elite members. Premier-package guests get unlimited specialty reservations; other guests should book early since popular nights and times fill up. Main dining offers a fixed traditional seating or flexible reservable dining.
Included beverages
No beverage package is bundled into the Standard fare - all drinks are a la carte. Princess Plus bundles a beverage package capped at 15 drinks per person per day, each up to $15 in value (beer, spirits, cocktails, wine by the glass), plus unlimited specialty coffee/tea and soft drinks that don't count against the cap. Princess Premier removes the 15-drink cap (unlimited) and raises the per-drink value cap to $20.
Fare packages
Three fare tiers determine what's actually included beyond the cabin. Standard: gratuities paid at end of voyage; Wi-Fi, drinks and specialty dining all a la carte; OceanNow delivery/room service costs a $14.99-per-person-per-voyage access fee plus $5 per order. Princess Plus (2026: $65/person/day pre-cruise, $70 onboard): daily Crew Appreciation gratuity bundled in ($18-20/day depending on cabin category), 1-device MedallionNet Wi-Fi, a beverage package capped at 15 drinks/day up to $15 each (unlimited non-alcoholic), 4 casual-dining credits per voyage, OceanNow/room-service fee waived. Princess Premier (2026: $100/day pre-cruise, $105 onboard; $105/$110 on Sun Princess and Star Princess): everything in Plus plus a 4-device Wi-Fi (MedallionNet Max), unlimited drinks up to $20 each, unlimited casual AND specialty dining, reserved theater seating, digital photos plus 3 prints, and a shore-excursion credit ($100 on 6-9 night cruises, $200 on 10-20 nights, up to $300 on 21+ nights). Buying a package onboard or within 4 days of sailing costs $5/person/day more than pre-booking.
Late-night food (experiential)
Genuinely limited after midnight compared with the daytime spread - Princess does not run a traditional midnight buffet. The International Cafe stays open 24 hours (pastries, sandwiches, coffee, gelato) and room service runs 24 hours, though the overnight room-service menu narrows mostly to pizza (around $9) rather than the fuller daytime menu - passenger reports on this point vary by sailing/date, with at least one recent complaint thread describing hot room-service items being pulled overnight, so treat the exact late-night room-service menu as something that can vary rather than a fixed guarantee. Trident Grill (poolside) keeps daytime-into-evening hours, not overnight.
Family & adults-only
Sourced ship-specific detail. Each point is backed by a citation in Sources & verification below.
Kids' programming
Royal Princess's own ship page brands its youth program 'Just For Kids' (ages 3-7, forest-themed room; and 8-12, outdoor-lodge-themed room) and 'Just For Teens' (13-17, a beach-house-style lounge) - complimentary, staffed clubs. This is the branding on Royal Princess's own page as of this review; do not assume it matches newer ships' 'Camp Discovery' naming (seen on Discovery Princess) without re-checking - Princess may not use identical youth-program branding fleet-wide, and this file deliberately does not generalize the naming to other Princess ships.
Adults-only spaces
Two adults-only areas: The Sanctuary (top-deck retreat, reservation-based - $20/half day or $40/full day per person; 4 private Sanctuary Cabanas from $80/half day, 2 Lotus Spa Cabanas $320-$3,000 for spa-treatment packages) and the Retreat Pool (a separate adults-exclusive pool with more loungers than the adult pool on other Princess ships, new Retreat Cabanas from $50/half day, and it becomes 'Chill Lounge' with a different vibe at night). There is no adults-only restaurant.
Costs & practical
Sourced ship-specific detail. Each point is backed by a citation in Sources & verification below.
Common extra charges (derived)
Beyond the fare and gratuities: the OceanNow/room-service access fee ($14.99/person/voyage + $5/order on Standard fare only), specialty dining covers (unless on Premier), drinks beyond a package's cap or on Standard fare, MedallionNet Wi-Fi (unless Plus/Premier), self-service laundry or the $35 laundry bag, Sanctuary/Retreat Pool cabana rental, Lotus Spa/Enclave Thermal Suite treatments, shore excursions (unless Premier's credit covers them), the casino, and photos (unless Premier). Buying a Plus/Premier package onboard or within 4 days of sailing costs $5/person/day more than pre-booking - the single most common way first-timers overpay.
Gratuities
Princess calls its gratuity the 'Crew Appreciation' charge: on the Standard fare it's auto-added to the onboard folio daily (roughly $18-20 per person per day, tiered by stateroom category - suites pay the higher end), and it's adjustable at Guest Services if a guest wants to change it. On Princess Plus and Premier, Crew Appreciation is bundled into the package price instead of billed separately. Either way, it does not cover bar/drink, spa or specialty-dining service charges - those are separate percentage-based charges applied at time of purchase.
Wi-Fi
MedallionNet (unlimited, no data caps) is not included in the Standard fare - it's sold a la carte at roughly $24.99/day for a single device or $44.99/day for a multi-device plan, cheaper pre-purchased than bought onboard. MedallionNet Max (Starlink-backed, faster/prioritized) is not sold a la carte on its own - it's only available bundled: 1 device with Princess Plus, 4 devices with Princess Premier. Independent speed testing found real-world Starlink-tier speeds well below marketing claims (roughly 5.3 Mbps down / 1.2 Mbps up in one test), so treat it as workable for messaging/browsing/light streaming rather than as home-broadband-equivalent.
Laundry
Self-service laundry (where fitted) runs about $3/wash and $3/dry via the Medallion (no coins), with vending-machine detergent around $1.50-2. A 'Laundry By The Bag' service is $35 to fill one standard bag with as many items as fit. Suite and Club Class guests get 3 free bags per cruise (up to 20 items/bag). Captain's Circle Elite loyalty members get free next-day laundry for the whole voyage (same-day and dry cleaning excluded). This is fleet-wide Princess policy, not re-verified specifically for Royal Princess's laundromat availability.
Room service
On the Standard fare, ordering via OceanNow (the Medallion app) or room service costs a $14.99 per-person, per-voyage access fee, plus $5 per individual order. Princess Plus and Premier both waive this entirely. Room service runs 24 hours with a wider late-night menu (appetizers/snacks, hot food, sandwiches, pizza, sides, sweets) plus a door-hung card for continental breakfast.
Onboard life
Sourced ship-specific detail. Each point is backed by a citation in Sources & verification below.
Nightlife (experiential)
Polished but not a party ship: production shows, a casino, live music at the Vista Lounge and Crooners-style bars carry the evenings, with the crowd skewing older and couples-heavy. Deck parties and late-night DJ sets exist but wind down earlier than on adult-oriented or younger-skewing lines.
Entertainment
The Princess Theater runs original production shows multiple times per voyage, several developed with composer Stephen Schwartz (some using large-scale puppetry from Jim Henson's Creature Shop). The Vista Lounge (deck 7, aft) is the secondary venue - live bands, comedians, illusionists, bingo and themed parties. Princess Live! is a live TV-studio format broadcasting game shows/interviews into stateroom screens. The casino runs standard slots plus blackjack, Texas Hold'em and roulette. Movies Under the Stars shows films poolside with complimentary popcorn.
Spa & wellness
Lotus Spa has 18 treatment rooms - more than any other Princess spa per Princess's own materials - including two Couples Villas. The Enclave Thermal Suite (an extra-cost circuit) is triple the size of a standard Lotus Spa and includes a hydrotherapy pool with a cascading rain shower plus four thermal experiences: a Hammam, Caldarium, Laconium and sensory showers. A Scrub & Shine bar offers salt/sugar scrubs before treatments.
Pools & deck
Four pools fleet-listed for Royal Princess (general/family, adult Retreat Pool, Sanctuary pool, plus a splash area), with the SeaWalk - a glass-bottomed walkway cantilevered over the side of the ship - as a signature photo/viewing spot. One detailed passenger review (dated 2016, so treat as a physical-layout note rather than current pricing/crowding) measured the main pools as unusually deep (4'11" / 150cm minimum), impractical for shorter guests or small kids to stand in, and named Deck 16 aft as an underused, shaded, lower-traffic retreat compared with the main pool deck. These structural/depth claims haven't been re-verified against a current source this pass.
Layout & crowding (experiential)
Two readings, both kept because they're not really in conflict: a current (2026) fleet-ranking source rates Royal Princess as feeling spacious without ever getting overwhelmingly crowded, especially for its size. A more detailed, older (2016) passenger review flags a real structural navigation issue that a ranking blurb wouldn't capture: decks 7-17 have elevators but no mid-ship staircase, so getting fore-to-aft on some floors requires a roundabout route, and the elevators themselves get small and crowded at peak times (embarkation, dinner seatings). Pool decks get busy on sea days with real competition for shaded loungers near the adult pool. Read together: the ship doesn't feel packed in its public spaces, but its internal layout and elevators are a genuine source of friction, especially for anyone with mobility considerations.
Cabins
Specific cabins/areas flagged to avoid: Caribe Deck (10) cabins C203/204/207/208/211/212 sit directly above the Princess Theater stage and can carry rehearsal/performance noise past midnight. Caribe Deck cabins C316/317/322/323/328/329/334/335 sit near air-handling vents with a constant low hum (some guests find it calming, others don't). Marina Deck (15) cabins under the Horizon Court buffet get pre-dawn trolley/cleaning noise from around 3:30am. Emerald Deck (8) Grade BW/DW balcony cabins have views blocked by lifeboats/tenders. Aft-facing suites on Dolphin Deck (9, e.g. Owner's Suite D727) can accumulate funnel soot/grime on the balcony. Baja Deck (11) cabin B406 sits next to a crew hallway with audible conversation/PA noise. Four-berth cabins have wall-mounted Pullman berths that reduce usable floor space; connecting cabins have weaker soundproofing at the connecting door than a standard wall.
The main trade-off (experiential)
Royal Princess trades mega-ship thrills for a calmer, more dining-and-relaxation-forward premium experience - but that calm comes with a genuinely confusing internal layout on some decks (no mid-ship stairs decks 7-17, small elevators) and standard cabins that run smaller than competitors'. The other real trade-off is financial: the base fare looks competitive, but Wi-Fi, drinks, room service and specialty dining are all a la carte unless you buy Plus or Premier, and working out whether that math is worth it is the single most common piece of pre-cruise planning friction for first-timers.
Before you sail
Sourced ship-specific detail. Each point is backed by a citation in Sources & verification below.
Formal / dress nights
Princess brands its formal evenings 'Dress to Impress.' Frequency scales with cruise length rather than a fixed fleet-wide count: shorter cruises (around 4-6 nights) typically get one, longer voyages two or more. Never mandatory - the buffet and other casual venues stay open as normal on Dress to Impress nights for anyone who'd rather not dress up.
What to pack for evenings (derived)
Smart casual is the default for most evenings: sundresses, khakis or nice jeans, a collared shirt or blouse, casual (non-athletic) shoes. Shorts, swimwear, tank tops and flip-flops are discouraged in the Main Dining Room and specialty venues at dinner. The buffet and casual venues have no dress code any night.
Embarkation day
Embarkation: Princess uses 'Arrival Groups' rather than fixed boarding-time slots - selectable in the Princess app starting 30 days before sailing, choosing a check-in window rather than a strict time (this replaced a stricter timed-slot system in August 2023). Guests who complete the pre-cruise Travel Checklist and have their Medallion mailed to them in advance (US/Puerto Rico only) qualify for the fastest 'Green Lane' at the terminal; everyone else picks up their Medallion at the terminal with a still-expedited but slightly longer process. Disembarkation: the default is placing luggage in the hallway the night before for porter collection, then leaving at an assigned time after the ship clears customs. 'Self-assist' disembarkation is the faster alternative - keep all your own bags overnight and carry them off yourself first thing in the morning, no porter and no waiting to reclaim luggage in the terminal, but you personally handle everything door-to-curb.
What to reserve before sailing (derived)
Worth locking in before sailing, roughly in priority order: (1) a Plus/Premier package at least 4 days pre-cruise (saves $5/person/day vs. buying onboard or last-minute); (2) specialty dining reservations, bookable once the fare is paid in full or up to 6 months out for Elite members - popular nights fill first; (3) shore excursions, bookable up to 180 days ahead and closing 7 days before sailing; (4) Sanctuary/Retreat Pool cabana reservations if wanted, since space is limited; (5) spa treatment times at the Lotus Spa/Enclave, which fill up on sea days especially. All of this runs through the Princess app or the 'Cruise Personalizer' on princess.com.
Easy to forget to pack (experiential)
A complimentary lanyard ships with the Medallion, so that specific item is covered - but travelers commonly still forget: a non-surge-protected power strip (cabins typically have only two outlets; surge-protected strips are prohibited, non-surge multi-outlet strips are allowed), magnetic clips/hooks (cabin walls and doors are magnetic steel - useful since storage is tight), motion-sickness medication, and a swimsuit packed in the carry-on rather than checked luggage (cabins aren't usually ready at boarding, but the pool deck is open).
What guests say
Sourced ship-specific detail. Each point is backed by a citation in Sources & verification below.
What guests keep saying is good (experiential)
Recurring positives: the ship feels spacious without ever feeling overwhelming or packed, unusual for its size (145,000 GT / ~3,600 guests); the SeaWalk glass-bottomed walkway cantilevered off the side of the ship is a genuine signature feature reviewers call out; and the dining and entertainment are consistently rated strong even by reviewers who prefer other lines overall.
What guests keep saying is a letdown (experiential)
Recurring negatives across reviews: standard (non-suite) staterooms and bathrooms run small, even though it's rarely called a dealbreaker given the amount of public space; the ship's internal layout is genuinely confusing to navigate on some decks (see layoutAndCrowding); small, crowded elevators at peak times; and, per one detailed review, unusually deep pools that are impractical for shorter guests or small children.
Sources & verification — 29 sourced details, verified 2026-09-04 or later
Each detail below carries a source, a nature (fact, derived, editorial or experiential), a confidence rating, and a last-verified date. Experiential attributes reflect what guests commonly report, not a hard fact. See how My Cruise Intel sources and reviews information.
diningVenuesIncluded: Complimentary venues: the Main Dining Room (flexible/traditional seating), the International Cafe (open 24 hours - coffee, pastries, sandwiches, gelato), the World Fresh Marketplace buffet, Prego Pizzeria (Princess advertises this as USA Today's 'Best Pizza at Sea'), Trident Grill (poolside burgers/hot dogs), and the Swirls Ice Cream Bar. No cover charge for any of these.
diningVenuesPaid: Specialty (extra-cost) venues: Crown Grill (steakhouse), Sabatini's Italian Trattoria, Alfredo's Pizzeria, Chef's Table Lumiere (multi-course chef's-table experience), Crab Shack, and the Ocean Terrace seafood bar. Princess Premier package guests get unlimited specialty visits; Standard and Plus guests pay a la carte or use Plus's 4 casual-dining credits (specialty covers are not included in Plus).
Princess Cruises — Royal Princess ship page ↗; Princess Cruises — Princess Plus & Princess Premier package comparison ↗
specialtyDiningReservations: Specialty restaurants take reservations via the Princess app (Cruise Personalizer / MedallionClass app) or onboard; a booking can be made up to 6 months before sailing once the cruise fare is paid in full, or any time for Captain's Circle Elite members. Premier-package guests get unlimited specialty reservations; other guests should book early since popular nights and times fill up. Main dining offers a fixed traditional seating or flexible reservable dining.
No Point Left Behind — Princess Cruises Dining Reservations ↗
formalNights: Princess brands its formal evenings 'Dress to Impress.' Frequency scales with cruise length rather than a fixed fleet-wide count: shorter cruises (around 4-6 nights) typically get one, longer voyages two or more. Never mandatory - the buffet and other casual venues stay open as normal on Dress to Impress nights for anyone who'd rather not dress up.
Travel Vient — Princess Dress Code 2026: Formal Nights, Casual, What to Wear ↗; Iglu Cruise Help Centre — Princess Cruises dress code ↗
dressCodeEvening: Smart casual is the default for most evenings: sundresses, khakis or nice jeans, a collared shirt or blouse, casual (non-athletic) shoes. Shorts, swimwear, tank tops and flip-flops are discouraged in the Main Dining Room and specialty venues at dinner. The buffet and casual venues have no dress code any night.
Travel Vient — Princess Dress Code 2026: Formal Nights, Casual, What to Wear ↗
lateNightFood: Genuinely limited after midnight compared with the daytime spread - Princess does not run a traditional midnight buffet. The International Cafe stays open 24 hours (pastries, sandwiches, coffee, gelato) and room service runs 24 hours, though the overnight room-service menu narrows mostly to pizza (around $9) rather than the fuller daytime menu - passenger reports on this point vary by sailing/date, with at least one recent complaint thread describing hot room-service items being pulled overnight, so treat the exact late-night room-service menu as something that can vary rather than a fixed guarantee. Trident Grill (poolside) keeps daytime-into-evening hours, not overnight.
Cruise Critic — 5 Best Places to Eat After Midnight on a Cruise ↗; Cruise Critic Community (forum) — No more hot room service food after midnight - Princess Cruises ↗
wifiModel: MedallionNet (unlimited, no data caps) is not included in the Standard fare - it's sold a la carte at roughly $24.99/day for a single device or $44.99/day for a multi-device plan, cheaper pre-purchased than bought onboard. MedallionNet Max (Starlink-backed, faster/prioritized) is not sold a la carte on its own - it's only available bundled: 1 device with Princess Plus, 4 devices with Princess Premier. Independent speed testing found real-world Starlink-tier speeds well below marketing claims (roughly 5.3 Mbps down / 1.2 Mbps up in one test), so treat it as workable for messaging/browsing/light streaming rather than as home-broadband-equivalent.
Princess Cruises — MedallionNet - Fast, Reliable Internet at Sea ↗; High Seas Cruising — Princess Cruises MedallionNet WiFi: Speed Test And Review ↗
gratuitiesPolicy: Princess calls its gratuity the 'Crew Appreciation' charge: on the Standard fare it's auto-added to the onboard folio daily (roughly $18-20 per person per day, tiered by stateroom category - suites pay the higher end), and it's adjustable at Guest Services if a guest wants to change it. On Princess Plus and Premier, Crew Appreciation is bundled into the package price instead of billed separately. Either way, it does not cover bar/drink, spa or specialty-dining service charges - those are separate percentage-based charges applied at time of purchase.
Princess Cruises — Princess Plus & Princess Premier package comparison ↗; TravelAge West — Princess Cruises Updates Premier and Plus Packages for 2026 ↗
princessFarePackages: Three fare tiers determine what's actually included beyond the cabin. Standard: gratuities paid at end of voyage; Wi-Fi, drinks and specialty dining all a la carte; OceanNow delivery/room service costs a $14.99-per-person-per-voyage access fee plus $5 per order. Princess Plus (2026: $65/person/day pre-cruise, $70 onboard): daily Crew Appreciation gratuity bundled in ($18-20/day depending on cabin category), 1-device MedallionNet Wi-Fi, a beverage package capped at 15 drinks/day up to $15 each (unlimited non-alcoholic), 4 casual-dining credits per voyage, OceanNow/room-service fee waived. Princess Premier (2026: $100/day pre-cruise, $105 onboard; $105/$110 on Sun Princess and Star Princess): everything in Plus plus a 4-device Wi-Fi (MedallionNet Max), unlimited drinks up to $20 each, unlimited casual AND specialty dining, reserved theater seating, digital photos plus 3 prints, and a shore-excursion credit ($100 on 6-9 night cruises, $200 on 10-20 nights, up to $300 on 21+ nights). Buying a package onboard or within 4 days of sailing costs $5/person/day more than pre-booking.
Princess Cruises — Princess Plus & Princess Premier package comparison ↗; TravelAge West — Princess Cruises Updates Premier and Plus Packages for 2026 ↗
includedBeverages: No beverage package is bundled into the Standard fare - all drinks are a la carte. Princess Plus bundles a beverage package capped at 15 drinks per person per day, each up to $15 in value (beer, spirits, cocktails, wine by the glass), plus unlimited specialty coffee/tea and soft drinks that don't count against the cap. Princess Premier removes the 15-drink cap (unlimited) and raises the per-drink value cap to $20.
Princess Cruises — Princess Plus & Princess Premier package comparison ↗
kidsClubAges: Royal Princess's own ship page brands its youth program 'Just For Kids' (ages 3-7, forest-themed room; and 8-12, outdoor-lodge-themed room) and 'Just For Teens' (13-17, a beach-house-style lounge) - complimentary, staffed clubs. This is the branding on Royal Princess's own page as of this review; do not assume it matches newer ships' 'Camp Discovery' naming (seen on Discovery Princess) without re-checking - Princess may not use identical youth-program branding fleet-wide, and this file deliberately does not generalize the naming to other Princess ships.
adultsOnlySpaces: Two adults-only areas: The Sanctuary (top-deck retreat, reservation-based - $20/half day or $40/full day per person; 4 private Sanctuary Cabanas from $80/half day, 2 Lotus Spa Cabanas $320-$3,000 for spa-treatment packages) and the Retreat Pool (a separate adults-exclusive pool with more loungers than the adult pool on other Princess ships, new Retreat Cabanas from $50/half day, and it becomes 'Chill Lounge' with a different vibe at night). There is no adults-only restaurant.
spaAndWellness: Lotus Spa has 18 treatment rooms - more than any other Princess spa per Princess's own materials - including two Couples Villas. The Enclave Thermal Suite (an extra-cost circuit) is triple the size of a standard Lotus Spa and includes a hydrotherapy pool with a cascading rain shower plus four thermal experiences: a Hammam, Caldarium, Laconium and sensory showers. A Scrub & Shine bar offers salt/sugar scrubs before treatments.
poolsAndDeckNotes: Four pools fleet-listed for Royal Princess (general/family, adult Retreat Pool, Sanctuary pool, plus a splash area), with the SeaWalk - a glass-bottomed walkway cantilevered over the side of the ship - as a signature photo/viewing spot. One detailed passenger review (dated 2016, so treat as a physical-layout note rather than current pricing/crowding) measured the main pools as unusually deep (4'11" / 150cm minimum), impractical for shorter guests or small kids to stand in, and named Deck 16 aft as an underused, shaded, lower-traffic retreat compared with the main pool deck. These structural/depth claims haven't been re-verified against a current source this pass.
My View From the Middle Seat — Cruise Review: Royal Princess ↗
entertainmentOverview: The Princess Theater runs original production shows multiple times per voyage, several developed with composer Stephen Schwartz (some using large-scale puppetry from Jim Henson's Creature Shop). The Vista Lounge (deck 7, aft) is the secondary venue - live bands, comedians, illusionists, bingo and themed parties. Princess Live! is a live TV-studio format broadcasting game shows/interviews into stateroom screens. The casino runs standard slots plus blackjack, Texas Hold'em and roulette. Movies Under the Stars shows films poolside with complimentary popcorn.
Princess Cruises — Royal Princess ship page ↗; Crew Center — Entertainment venues on new Royal Princess ↗
nightlifeCharacter: Polished but not a party ship: production shows, a casino, live music at the Vista Lounge and Crooners-style bars carry the evenings, with the crowd skewing older and couples-heavy. Deck parties and late-night DJ sets exist but wind down earlier than on adult-oriented or younger-skewing lines.
layoutAndCrowding: Two readings, both kept because they're not really in conflict: a current (2026) fleet-ranking source rates Royal Princess as feeling spacious without ever getting overwhelmingly crowded, especially for its size. A more detailed, older (2016) passenger review flags a real structural navigation issue that a ranking blurb wouldn't capture: decks 7-17 have elevators but no mid-ship staircase, so getting fore-to-aft on some floors requires a roundabout route, and the elevators themselves get small and crowded at peak times (embarkation, dinner seatings). Pool decks get busy on sea days with real competition for shaded loungers near the adult pool. Read together: the ship doesn't feel packed in its public spaces, but its internal layout and elevators are a genuine source of friction, especially for anyone with mobility considerations.
Cruise Mummy — Princess Cruise Ships Ranked Best To Worst ↗; My View From the Middle Seat — Cruise Review: Royal Princess ↗
cabinConsiderations: Specific cabins/areas flagged to avoid: Caribe Deck (10) cabins C203/204/207/208/211/212 sit directly above the Princess Theater stage and can carry rehearsal/performance noise past midnight. Caribe Deck cabins C316/317/322/323/328/329/334/335 sit near air-handling vents with a constant low hum (some guests find it calming, others don't). Marina Deck (15) cabins under the Horizon Court buffet get pre-dawn trolley/cleaning noise from around 3:30am. Emerald Deck (8) Grade BW/DW balcony cabins have views blocked by lifeboats/tenders. Aft-facing suites on Dolphin Deck (9, e.g. Owner's Suite D727) can accumulate funnel soot/grime on the balcony. Baja Deck (11) cabin B406 sits next to a crew hallway with audible conversation/PA noise. Four-berth cabins have wall-mounted Pullman berths that reduce usable floor space; connecting cabins have weaker soundproofing at the connecting door than a standard wall.
laundryService: Self-service laundry (where fitted) runs about $3/wash and $3/dry via the Medallion (no coins), with vending-machine detergent around $1.50-2. A 'Laundry By The Bag' service is $35 to fill one standard bag with as many items as fit. Suite and Club Class guests get 3 free bags per cruise (up to 20 items/bag). Captain's Circle Elite loyalty members get free next-day laundry for the whole voyage (same-day and dry cleaning excluded). This is fleet-wide Princess policy, not re-verified specifically for Royal Princess's laundromat availability.
Cruise News Brief — Princess Cruises Laundry: Costs, Tips and Elite Perks ↗
roomServicePolicy: On the Standard fare, ordering via OceanNow (the Medallion app) or room service costs a $14.99 per-person, per-voyage access fee, plus $5 per individual order. Princess Plus and Premier both waive this entirely. Room service runs 24 hours with a wider late-night menu (appetizers/snacks, hot food, sandwiches, pizza, sides, sweets) plus a door-hung card for continental breakfast.
Princess Cruises — Princess Plus & Princess Premier package comparison ↗; Cruise with Leo — Princess Cruises Room Service Full Menu with Prices ↗
commonExtraCharges: Beyond the fare and gratuities: the OceanNow/room-service access fee ($14.99/person/voyage + $5/order on Standard fare only), specialty dining covers (unless on Premier), drinks beyond a package's cap or on Standard fare, MedallionNet Wi-Fi (unless Plus/Premier), self-service laundry or the $35 laundry bag, Sanctuary/Retreat Pool cabana rental, Lotus Spa/Enclave Thermal Suite treatments, shore excursions (unless Premier's credit covers them), the casino, and photos (unless Premier). Buying a Plus/Premier package onboard or within 4 days of sailing costs $5/person/day more than pre-booking - the single most common way first-timers overpay.
Princess Cruises — Princess Plus & Princess Premier package comparison ↗
embarkationNotes: Embarkation: Princess uses 'Arrival Groups' rather than fixed boarding-time slots - selectable in the Princess app starting 30 days before sailing, choosing a check-in window rather than a strict time (this replaced a stricter timed-slot system in August 2023). Guests who complete the pre-cruise Travel Checklist and have their Medallion mailed to them in advance (US/Puerto Rico only) qualify for the fastest 'Green Lane' at the terminal; everyone else picks up their Medallion at the terminal with a still-expedited but slightly longer process. Disembarkation: the default is placing luggage in the hallway the night before for porter collection, then leaving at an assigned time after the ship clears customs. 'Self-assist' disembarkation is the faster alternative - keep all your own bags overnight and carry them off yourself first thing in the morning, no porter and no waiting to reclaim luggage in the terminal, but you personally handle everything door-to-curb.
Princess Cruises — Arrival Groups & Boarding Guide ↗; Port Journey — Self Assist Disembarkation on Princess Cruises ↗
whatToReserveBeforeSailing: Worth locking in before sailing, roughly in priority order: (1) a Plus/Premier package at least 4 days pre-cruise (saves $5/person/day vs. buying onboard or last-minute); (2) specialty dining reservations, bookable once the fare is paid in full or up to 6 months out for Elite members - popular nights fill first; (3) shore excursions, bookable up to 180 days ahead and closing 7 days before sailing; (4) Sanctuary/Retreat Pool cabana reservations if wanted, since space is limited; (5) spa treatment times at the Lotus Spa/Enclave, which fill up on sea days especially. All of this runs through the Princess app or the 'Cruise Personalizer' on princess.com.
No Point Left Behind — Princess Cruises Dining Reservations ↗
packingCommonlyForgotten: A complimentary lanyard ships with the Medallion, so that specific item is covered - but travelers commonly still forget: a non-surge-protected power strip (cabins typically have only two outlets; surge-protected strips are prohibited, non-surge multi-outlet strips are allowed), magnetic clips/hooks (cabin walls and doors are magnetic steel - useful since storage is tight), motion-sickness medication, and a swimsuit packed in the carry-on rather than checked luggage (cabins aren't usually ready at boarding, but the pool deck is open).
commonComplaints: Recurring negatives across reviews: standard (non-suite) staterooms and bathrooms run small, even though it's rarely called a dealbreaker given the amount of public space; the ship's internal layout is genuinely confusing to navigate on some decks (see layoutAndCrowding); small, crowded elevators at peak times; and, per one detailed review, unusually deep pools that are impractical for shorter guests or small children.
Cruise Mummy — Princess Cruise Ships Ranked Best To Worst ↗; My View From the Middle Seat — Cruise Review: Royal Princess ↗
recurringPositives: Recurring positives: the ship feels spacious without ever feeling overwhelming or packed, unusual for its size (145,000 GT / ~3,600 guests); the SeaWalk glass-bottomed walkway cantilevered off the side of the ship is a genuine signature feature reviewers call out; and the dining and entertainment are consistently rated strong even by reviewers who prefer other lines overall.
bestFitTravelers: Best fit: couples and multigenerational families who want a mainstream-premium, dining-and-relaxation-forward cruise without mega-ship scale; Alaska, Mediterranean and Caribbean itinerary shoppers who value port variety over onboard thrill attractions; travelers comfortable optimizing the Plus/Premier package math to control costs; and anyone prioritizing a genuinely well-executed adults-only retreat (the Sanctuary/Retreat Pool) over waterslides or a rock wall.
poorFitTravelers: Poor fit: travelers who want a high-energy party ship or a large late-night nightlife scene; families specifically shopping for waterslides, a splash park or extensive teen thrill attractions (Royal Princess has neither); anyone who needs simple, obvious internal navigation without studying a deck plan first, given the fore/aft layout quirks on some decks; and budget-fare shoppers who won't reliably want to spend for Plus/Premier, since the Standard fare's a la carte drinks/Wi-Fi/room-service fees add up quickly for anyone who'd use them.
My View From the Middle Seat — Cruise Review: Royal Princess ↗
topTradeoff: Royal Princess trades mega-ship thrills for a calmer, more dining-and-relaxation-forward premium experience - but that calm comes with a genuinely confusing internal layout on some decks (no mid-ship stairs decks 7-17, small elevators) and standard cabins that run smaller than competitors'. The other real trade-off is financial: the base fare looks competitive, but Wi-Fi, drinks, room service and specialty dining are all a la carte unless you buy Plus or Premier, and working out whether that math is worth it is the single most common piece of pre-cruise planning friction for first-timers.
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