Star Princess
Fodor’s Expert Review
Ship Overview
Car...nama Canal
For... Vancouver
When Sun Princess, the inaugural ship in Princess Cruises’ Sphere Class, debuted in early 2024 as the cruise line’s first megaship, it hit a few stumbling blocks right out of the gate, namely the Park 19 family activity zone that ultimately never opened. Almost two years later, the debut of Star Princess in October 2025 showed that Princess has corrected course and is once again focused on its core demographic, couples aged 50-plus, and away from the adrenaline-rush activities that mainstream competitors Royal Caribbean and Norwegian are known to deliver.Read More
Almost identical to Sun Princess, 4,300-guest Star Princess offers up ample entertainment, much of it participatory and specifically geared to adults who want a traditional cruise experience that’s lively and engaging, but not raucous. Guests can enjoy trivia contests, quizzes, game shows and karaoke in Princess Live! and live music and dance contests in the soaring Piazza atrium. This adult-centric focus is also reflected in the ship’s décor — warm neutrals and natural finishes with a few sparkly accents and elegant circle motifs — which creates an ambience that’s refined rather than cutting-edge.
Complementing the grown-up vibe are several unique-to-Sphere-Class features. The Dome is a glass-enclosed Santorini-inspired relaxation and entertainment space with an indoor/outdoor pool, while Princess Arena is a theater-in-the-round setting for production shows. In addition, Spellbound, a partnership with The Magic Castle in Los Angeles, is an intriguing blend of retro speakeasy and mind-blowing magic that is the place to enjoy a creative libation or two.
Speaking of adult beverages, Princess has notably upped its cocktail game. The cruise line has partnered with a line-up of well-known celebrity-owned spirit brands — from Matthew and Camila McConaughey’s Pantalones tequila (the couple are also the godparents of Star Princess) to Jesse and Jon Bon Jovi’s Hampton Water Rosé — and the 13 bars and lounges on Star Princess offer an impressive array of cocktails.
Another Sphere-Class enhancement is Sanctuary Collection. These 80 suites, along with select Balcony and Mini-Suite staterooms, offer exclusive access to the Sanctuary Restaurant and the Sanctuary Club, a posh deck 18 haven with cabanas, comfy loungers, a pool, a hot tub and bar service. Non-suite guests, meanwhile, can enjoy four pools: the indoor/outdoor pool in The Dome; the main Lido Deck area on deck 17 with its two pools, multiple hot tubs, giant screen, three bars and grab-and-go eateries; and the Wake View Terrace, which is tucked away on deck 8 aft and features a bar, two hot tubs and a glass-walled infinity pool.
What about the aft space on deck 19 that was originally intended to house the Park19 family activity zone? It’s now is home to the SkyDeck Sports Court & Track on both Star Princess and Sun Princess that features pickleball and basketball courts and a walking/jogging track.
Also worth mentioning: Princess uses Medallion technology, a quarter-size disc, worn either on a lanyard or on a bracelet, that replaces the standard key card. It unlocks your stateroom door as you approach and lets bartenders and waiters know your name and stateroom as you order — and even where to find you if you order via OceanNow on the Princess app.
Guests seeking a mostly inclusive cruise fare can opt for a package. Princess Premier features unlimited drinks up to $20 apiece, unlimited casual and specialty dining, Wi-Fi for up to four devices per guest, crew gratuities, and a shore excursion credit of up to $300 per guest. Princess Plus features up to 15 drinks per guest per day priced up to $15 each, four casual dining meals per guest (Alfredo’s Pizzeria and O’Malley’s Irish Pub), Wi-Fi for one device per guest, crew gratuities and a shore excursion credit of up to $300 per guest. Without either package, guests can dine in seven complimentary venues, but they will be charged for all beverages, specialty dining, crew gratuities and Wi-Fi.
With Star Princess, the cruise line has firmly set its navigational course to focus on its loyal customer base — mature couples and groups of friends looking to relax and have fun — while also being kid-friendly but not kid-focused. It’s a shiny new vessel that will appeal to Princess fans who still get a thrill each time one of its ship’s hefty baritone horns blasts the “The Love Boat” theme at sail away, advertising its endearingly nostalgic appeal to romance at sea.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
What to expect on board
Staterooms & Cabins
Sphere-Class ships have more cabin options than older Princess vessels. Both Sun Princess and Star Princess have 2,157 staterooms and suites, which include 80 suites within a dozen categories ranging from 136-square-foot Interior staterooms to a 1,262-square-foot Sky Suite.
Stateroom décor is contemporary with mid-tone woods, floor-to-ceiling headboards and patterned carpet and accent fabrics in shades of blue and ivory. Two small things worth noting about stateroom amenities: While bedside motion-activated lighting is great for middle-of-the-night bathroom visits, persnickety on-and-off timing can be an issue, as can getting the lights that are activated when you open and close the frosted-glass wardrobe doors to stay off. In the bathroom itself, while the glass-enclosed shower is roomy, its door only opens outward, requiring some awkward maneuvering in a tight space when getting in and out.
The largest number of cabins are Deluxe Balcony staterooms, which are 235 square feet (including the balcony), while Cove Balcony and Premium Deluxe Balcony staterooms range in size from 179 to 279 square feet, depending on their location.
Oceanview staterooms, at 212 square feet, are a spacious option with a smallish window, while Interior staterooms, at a snug 136 to 145 square feet, are the most affordable. Mini-Suites, at 303 square feet (including the balcony), are a more spacious choice for sleeping 2 to 4 guests.
Star Princess also features 389-square-foot Cabana Deck Mini-Suites and 329-square-foot Cabana Mini-Suites on deck 9 featuring an outside cabana area with access to a shared or private deck.
Guests who want the extra amenities of the Sanctuary Collection without booking one of the ship’s larger suites can instead book a 179-to-279-square-foot Sanctuary Collection Balcony stateroom or a 302-square-foot Sanctuary Collection Mini-Suite, since both offer access to the Sanctuary Club and Sanctuary Restaurant.
There are four top suites with Sanctuary benefits: 304-square-foot Signature Suites, which sleep up to four guests; 446-square-foot Vista Suites, which have a separate sitting area and bedroom and sleep up to four guests; and 636-square-foot Grand Suites, which are notably roomier, feature a separate sitting area and bedroom and sleep up to four guests. The largest suite on Star Princess is the 1,262-square-feet Sky Suite, which can sleep up to six guests and has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a sofa bed and a spacious balcony.
While Sanctuary accommodations and amenities on Star Princess aren’t located together in a “ship-within-a-ship” enclave requiring keycard access, as they are on several other cruise lines, the elevated ambience of the Sanctuary Club does offer guests a calmer, quieter place to relax.
Star Princess features 51 accessible staterooms with larger square footage for maneuverability, wider door frames and wheelchair accessible roll-in showers. They are offered in 10 categories: 288-square-foot Interior staterooms, 319-square-foot Premium Ocean View staterooms, 296-to-409-square-foot Deluxe Balcony staterooms, 393-square-foot Mini-Suites, 403-square-foot Sanctuary Mini-Suites, 433-to-441-square-foot Cabana Deck Mini-Suites, 393-square-foot Signature Suites, 517-square-foot Vista Suites, 564-square-foot Grand Suites, and the 1,262-square-foot Sky Suite.
The ship also features accessible routes with ramps and designated accessible seating and spaces for wheelchair users in Princess Arena and other venues.
Food & Drink
Like most mainstream ships, Star Princess offers a mix of included dining options and extra-cost specialty restaurants, for a total of 15 food venues, plus three coffee bars.
All guests can dine at seven complimentary eateries. The Aurora Dining room serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, while the Celestial Dining Room open solely for dinner. The ship’s buffet venue, The Eatery, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (plus grab-and-go items from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.) and features a range of international cuisines, while the adjacent Americana Diner serves familiar comfort food classics for breakfast and lunch.
Poolside, guests can enjoy pizza at Lido Slice (until 10:00 p.m.) as well as a selection of burgers, tacos and salads. Similar casual items are also available along the Promenade on deck 9. Three coffee bars — Coffee & Cones, Coffee Currents and the International Café — serve a variety of hot and cold drinks and light bites, some complimentary and some (such as specialty coffees) at an extra cost.
Guests who book suites, mini-suites or balcony staterooms within the Sanctuary Collection can also eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Sanctuary Restaurant.
Princess is known for having the best pizza at sea and the individual pies served at Alfredo’s Pizzeria are both authentica and delicious. There’s a choice of a dozen classic Princess pizzas plus options created by world pizza champion Tony Gemignani — or you can create your own pizza with a choice of sauce, cheese, meat, vegetables and drizzles. Accompanied by a mixed salad or minestrone soup, these perfectly crispy, generously-sized pizzas are definitely worth the $14.99 cover charge for either lunch or dinner.
Another casual eatery is O’Malley’s Irish Pub, which can be reserved for lunch or dinner and delivers pub classics such as fish ‘n chips, onion stack, burgers and wings.
A stand-out for couples is Love by Britto, an aft restaurant exclusive to Sun Princess and Star Princess. It features sweeping ocean views and creatively showcases the talents of Chef Rudi Sodamin and Brazilian artist Romero Britto. The combination of Britto’s vibrant artwork and tableware and Chef Sodamin’s indulgent menu — options include Cappuccino of Wild Mushroom, Butter-Poached Tail of Lobster and Chocolate Lava Cake — celebrates love with sensual flavors, whimsical heart shapes and romantic flourishes.
Makoto Ocean is another new Star Princess and Sun Princess exclusive that’s ideal for guests who love Japanese flavors, sushi and sashimi in particular (save your appetite for the Signature Sushi Course menu featuring seven courses), while Umai Teppanyaki and Umai Hot Pot are more fun and social. Guests choose a combo from the Teppan Grill signature ingredients (shrimp, salmon, scallops, chicken, steak and tofu) or a Shabu Shabu Umai menu of Japanese hot pot ingredients (a choice of vegetables, seafood or meat) simmered in a flavorful broth.
Two fleetwide guest favorites are also on Star Princess. Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria is known for its traditional Italian dishes (burrata, calamari fritti, branzino and bistecca Toscana) and Mediterranean décor, while Crown Grill is a classic steakhouse with options such as beef tartare, onion soup, lamb chops and 14-ounce rib-eye.
The Catch by Rudi is a joyful space that celebrates seafood (lump crab cake, seafood tower, mussels Provencal and shitake-crusted halibut) with a few treats (duck liver paté and steak frites) for meat-lovers. Those with carnivorous cravings, however, can opt for The Butcher’s Block by Dario, a meat-centric restaurant available solely on Star Princess and Sun Princess. It features a multicourse “Menu Del Maestro Macellaio” curated by master butcher Dario Cecchini that’s served family-style and stars beef (think truffled beef carpaccio and bistecca Fiorentina).
Star Princess has 13 bars and lounges, all showcasing how the cruise line has elevated its cocktail game via partnerships with celebrity-owned brands. Cocktail menus include beverages crafted with not only Matthew and Camila McConaughey’s Pantalones tequila, but also Liev Schreiber’s Slainte Irish whiskey and Jason Mamoa and Blaine Halvorson’s Meili Vodka. Wine-lovers can sip Elizabeth Banks’ Archer Roose wines and Jesse and Jon Bon Jovi’s Hampton Water Rosé. The cruise line’s newest partnership is with Mexico City’s award-winning Handshake Speakeasy, which has created five special cocktails exclusive to Princess ships.
Guests interested in the origins of both classic and contemporary cocktails can head to Good Spirits at Sea for its nightly Cocktail Experience featuring bartender demos of drinks inspired by world destinations. Celebrity mixologist and “Bar Rescue” star Rob Floyd, a long-time Princess cocktail collaborator, also appears in videos detailing the locales and their top beverages.
Buzzy deck 7 is home to not only Good Spirits at Sea, but also Princess Live! with its line-up of interactive game shows and O’Malley’s Irish Pub, which features live Irish folk and contemporary music. Overlooking the nearby Piazza atrium, Bellini’s specializes in champagne and hand-crafted cocktails, while the Wheelhouse Bar towards the ship’s aft near the Celestial Dining Room is a popular pre- or post-dinner spot.
Deck 8 is home to the extremely popular Crooner’s bar, which features live piano music, and the aft Wake View Terrace Bar, which is popular by day but open until 10:00 p.m.
During sunny days or balmy nights, guests can sip cocktails al fresco at the Star Bar overlooking the main Lido Pool from deck 18 or the aft Sanctuary Club bar (if booked into a Sanctuary Collection stateroom or suite). On deck 17 midship, the Lido Bar and The Mix Cocktail Bar are adjacent to the two Lido pools, while the climate-controlled The Dome features the interior Cascade Bar and the Seaview Bar outside.
Entertainment
Princess production shows have generally lacked the wow-factor of the more ambitious entertainment programs offered by its mainstream competitors — and that hasn’t really changed with Sphere Class. There are no big-name Broadway shows, technologically sophisticated multimedia spectacles or audience-pleasing musical tributes to legendary artists. Rather, Princess Arena is the stage for three complimentary Princess-developed shows. The most entertaining is the circus-inspired “Illuminate,” while “Meridian” is a somewhat cliched retro-romance set at sea and “Viva La Musica” is an immersive dance experience.
Princess Arena is also the setting for The Company Men, a musical mash-up of eight decades of greatest hits, from Motown to boy bands, and late-night comedy sets by resident comics. The Dome, which has several tiers of loungers, is the stage for a dramatic Candlelight Concert (arrive early to snag a seat).
What works exceptionally well aboard Star Princess is Spellbound. This collaboration with L.A.’s The Magic Castle is a must-do, especially if you love immersive décor (a speakeasy based on the life of magician The Great Cardini), creative cocktails and how-did-they-do-that illusions. You’ll need to reserve and pay for tickets, which will entitle you to a mesmerizing magic show in the Peacock Theater, two sophisticated craft cocktails and plenty of time in Cardini’s Bar to marvel at sleight of hand tricks, retro-cool antique pieces, eclectic artwork and ephemera.
The daily activities listed in the Princess Patter and on the Princess app also offer laughter and good times, mainly in Princess Live! and The Piazza. Game shows with lively audience participation are popular and range from the sing-out-loud Musical Bingo and Rock the Room to the highly entertaining Do You Wanna Dance? The Piazza, as well as the ship’s bars and lounges, regularly feature live music, including piano, acoustic guitar and chart-topping pop and rock.
Film-lovers can also grab a free bucket of popcorn and a lounger on the Lido deck to enjoy night-time Movies Under the Stars, while those looking for Vegas-style gaming can hit the Princess Casino (there’s also a smoke-free satellite casino with just slot machines).
Spa & Fitness
The two-story Lotus Spa on Star Princess is tucked away with an entrance on deck 6 (reachable solely by the midship elevators and stairs). It offers an extensive treatment menu (facials, massages, wraps and scrubs), as well as an IV Lounge, acupuncture sessions and medi-spa aesthetic treatments.
Guests who book a treatment get complimentary access to The Enclave thermal suite’s hydrotherapy pool, heated tile loungers, steam room, salt room, sauna, aromatherapy rain showers and high-pressure massage showers. A daily or full-cruise thermal pass can also be purchased.
Princess has separated the Lotus Spa from the Lotus Salon (for hairstyling, manicures, pedicures and teeth-whitening), locating the latter on deck 18 near the 24-hour Fitness Center and Fitness Studio. The expansive Fitness Center features cardio and strength-training equipment as well as free weights, while the Fitness Studio offers extra-cost classes such as yoga, barre and Pilates. Personal training sessions are also available for an added fee.
Key cruising tips
Health & Safety
Cruise lines no longer enforce most COVID-19 protocols and Princess Cruises does not require guests to be vaccinated. Guests must watch a safety video on the Princess app or on their stateroom TV and then check in at their assigned muster station. There are international medical staff onboard and anyone requiring medical aid will be charged based on the services provided.
Dress Code
The recommended packing list for a Star Princess cruise varies by destination — Caribbean vs. Alaska — but casual sportswear such as shorts, lightweight pants, jeans, t-shirts, polo shirts, sweaters and sundresses is the standard daytime dress code.
For evening dining, Princess recommends “smart casual,” or what you would wear to a nice restaurant at home: dresses, skirts or slacks and blouses or sweaters for ladies, and pants and collared shirts for men.
Cruises that are five days or longer do have at least one optional formal night, when evening gowns and cocktail dresses for ladies and tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits for men are suggested but not required.
Junior Cruisers
Princess executives describe the cruise line as “kid-friendly but not kid-focused,” so children age six months and older (12 months for transatlantic crossings and more remote locales) are welcome. Guests under the age of 21 need to travel in a stateroom with a guest 21 years or older who will assume responsibility for them during the cruise. For family groups booking multiple staterooms, the minimum age for each guest is 16, provided they are traveling with a parent or legal guardian.
Onboard activities for kids and teens are more limited than on the megaships operated by other mainstream cruise lines — there are no waterslides, aqua parks, arcades or escape rooms — but Star Princess does have a complimentary youth program for kids age 3-12 (Firefly Park for ages 6 months to 7 years and Neon Grove for ages 8 to 12) as well as The Underground teen lounge for ages 13 to 17. Activities include arts and crafts, games and movies for younger kids and theme parties, karaoke and video games for tweens and teens. The SkyDeck Sports Court & Track also has a basketball court.
Service
Many Princess crew members are long-time employees and guests can expect service with warm greetings and genuine smiles. The crew-to-guest ratios are lower on megaships (in this case 1 crew member for every 2.7 to 3.3 guests, depending on the ship’s occupancy), so you may have a wait when ordering at popular bars during peak hours, but service in the restaurants is generally efficient and professional.
Tipping
Princess automatically adds a daily Crew Appreciation gratuity ($17.50 per person for stateroom guests, $18.00 per person for mini-suite guests and $19.00 per person for suite guests), which is divided by members of the ship’s bar, dining, housekeeping, guest services, galley and other staff. This amount can be adjusted by visiting the guest services desk. Guests who book Princess Premier or Princess Plus inclusive packages will already have these charges included in the cruise fare they paid.
All specialty dining and bar purchases are also automatically subject to an 18% service charge, which is also applied/included in the Princess Premier and Princess Plus package pricing.