What Is the Difference Between the Princess Cruise Ships?

By Michael Ferguson

If you are planning a cruise with Princess Cruises, you might be wondering about the differences between their ships. Princess Cruises has a fleet of 18 ships, each with its own unique features and amenities. Here is a breakdown of the key differences between their ships.

Ship Classes

Princess Cruises’ fleet is divided into six classes: Royal Class, Grand Class, Gem Class, Sun Class, Coral Class, and Pacific Class. Each class has its own distinct design and features.

Royal Class

The Royal Class includes the newest and largest Princess cruise ships: Majestic Princess, Regal Princess, Royal Princess, Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess. These ships offer a variety of dining options including specialty restaurants like Crown Grill and Sabatini’s as well as casual dining options like the World Fresh Marketplace buffet. They also have the SeaWalk – a glass-bottomed walkway that extends out over the side of the ship – on select ships.

Grand Class

The Grand Class includes seven ships: Diamond Princess, Emerald Princess, Golden Princess, Grand Princess, Ruby Princess, Sapphire Princess and Star Princess. These ships offer traditional dining in addition to specialty restaurants like Sabatini’s and Sterling Steakhouse. They also have outdoor movie theaters and adults-only Sanctuary areas.

Gem Class

The Gem Class includes two ships: Crown Princess and Ruby Princess. These mid-sized ships offer many of the same amenities as the larger Royal and Grand class ships but with a more intimate atmosphere.

Sun Class

The Sun Class includes two older but well-maintained ships: Sun Princess and Sea Princess. These smaller ships offer traditional dining as well as specialty restaurants like Sterling Steakhouse.

Coral Class

The Coral class includes two ships: Coral princess and Island princess. These smaller ships offer an intimate atmosphere with traditional dining and specialty restaurants.

Pacific Class

The Pacific class includes one ship: Dawn Princess. This ship is smaller and more traditional, offering a more classic cruising experience.

Ship Amenities

In addition to the differences between ship classes, each individual ship has its own unique amenities. Some ships have features like the SeaWalk mentioned earlier, while others have things like a Piazza – a central atrium area with shops and cafes – or an adults-only Sanctuary area.

Conclusion

When choosing a Princess Cruise, it’s important to consider both the ship class and the individual amenities of each ship. Whether you prefer larger, more modern ships or smaller and more traditional ones, Princess Cruises offers a variety of options to suit your preferences.