Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Discovery Princess, Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess will introduce private spaces, exclusive dining and enhanced services as Princess Cruises extends its premium onboard experience.
The concept of luxury aboard large cruise ships is evolving, with cruise lines increasingly introducing exclusive areas and personalised services for guests seeking a more private experience. Princess Cruises is taking another step in this direction by expanding its Sanctuary Collection to five additional vessels, bringing a resort-inspired concept to a wider section of its fleet. Following its introduction aboard Sun Princess and Star Princess, the experience will be extended to Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Discovery Princess, Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess, beginning in 2027. The initiative forms part of a multi-year fleet modernisation programme and reflects a growing interest in combining the variety of a contemporary cruise ship with the atmosphere of a more intimate luxury retreat.
Sanctuary Collection is designed around a selection of suites and staterooms offering access to dedicated facilities, enhanced dining and additional services. The concept allows guests to enjoy quieter surroundings and a more personalised experience while retaining full access to the ship's restaurants, entertainment venues, activities and public spaces. This combination is particularly appealing on larger vessels, where the opportunity to alternate between lively common areas and a more secluded environment can significantly influence the overall cruise experience. For Princess Cruises, the expansion represents an important step in making this premium accommodation concept available across different ships and itineraries.
One of the central elements of Sanctuary Collection is the Sanctuary Club, an exclusive retreat reserved for eligible guests. The area will offer comfortable lounges, dedicated relaxation spaces and a pool environment designed around privacy and tranquillity. Upgraded loungers and shaded cabanas will create an atmosphere inspired by luxury resorts, with food and beverage service available directly by the pool. Cabanas will be available at an additional charge, while the dedicated service and controlled access to the area are intended to provide a more relaxed alternative to the busier pool decks. The importance of this type of space becomes particularly evident during sea days, when outdoor areas are among the most popular places aboard a cruise ship.
Dining will also play a significant role in the experience. Sanctuary Collection guests will have exclusive access to the Sanctuary Restaurant, featuring an intimate setting and menus inspired by the destinations visited. Dedicated dining facilities offer a more consistent atmosphere and the possibility of a service experience tailored to a smaller number of guests. For travellers who appreciate the culinary aspect of cruising, this provides an additional dimension to the voyage, combining a reserved environment with access to the wider gastronomic variety available throughout each Princess ship.
The expansion will involve selected suites and staterooms, including newly constructed oceanview accommodations. Sanctuary Collection will extend across different accommodation categories, allowing guests to choose according to their preferences and budget while enjoying access to the dedicated premium facilities. Those booking Sanctuary Suites will receive additional benefits, including assistance from a dedicated suite concierge who can coordinate restaurant reservations, entertainment arrangements and other aspects of the onboard experience. Suite guests will also have access to a private Suite Lounge, offering refreshments, comfortable seating and personalised concierge assistance. These facilities create a more complete premium environment, extending the exclusive experience beyond the accommodation itself.
A significant element of the package is the inclusion of Princess Premier, the cruise line's most comprehensive bundle of onboard benefits. For new eligible Sanctuary Collection bookings, the package includes premium unlimited beverages, specialty and casual dining, high-speed Wi-Fi, crew appreciation, complimentary room service and OceanNow delivery, together with other included amenities. Combining these services into the accommodation package simplifies the experience, particularly for guests who prefer to have many of their onboard expenses included in the initial cruise fare. Sanctuary Collection will also feature priority access and reservations, selected in-room amenities, tailored daily programming and dedicated service throughout the voyage.
The first Royal Class ship to introduce the expanded concept will be Royal Princess, with Sanctuary Collection accommodation available for booking from October 22, 2026. The official introduction is scheduled for the 12-day South Pacific itinerary departing on January 4, 2027. Princess has also announced preview sailings beginning October 30, 2026. Guests who booked a Reserve Collection stateroom before October 22, 2026, will receive access to the additional Sanctuary Collection experience without an extra accommodation charge, although Princess Premier will not automatically be included. This distinction is important for passengers who already hold reservations and wish to understand the benefits associated with their booking.
The programme will continue with Regal Princess, where bookings open on November 5, 2026, for voyages beginning with the transatlantic departure from Port Everglades on April 17, 2027. Discovery Princess will follow, with reservations opening on December 4, 2026, ahead of a seven-day Mexican itinerary departing roundtrip from Los Angeles on April 24, 2027. Sky Princess will introduce the experience from May 29, 2027, on a 14-day Baltic sailing from Southampton, with bookings opening December 10, 2026. Enchanted Princess will complete this initial expansion phase, offering Sanctuary Collection from June 12, 2027, beginning with a seven-day Mediterranean cruise departing from Civitavecchia. Reservations for this ship will open on December 17, 2026.
The choice of vessels and itineraries illustrates the ambition behind the programme. By bringing Sanctuary Collection to ships operating in the South Pacific, the Caribbean and Atlantic region, Mexico, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, Princess Cruises is extending the concept across a diverse range of destinations. The introduction aboard established Royal Class vessels also demonstrates how existing ships can evolve through targeted improvements to accommodation, dining and public areas. For returning passengers, the changes will offer a different way to experience familiar ships, while first-time Princess guests will have another accommodation option when planning their cruise.
From an industry perspective, the expansion highlights the increasing importance of differentiated experiences within large cruise ships. Private lounges, dedicated restaurants and exclusive pool areas have become important components of the premium cruise market, allowing operators to offer different levels of service and comfort within the same vessel. Princess Cruises is developing this approach through a clearly defined collection that combines reserved spaces with an extensive package of onboard inclusions. The result is a product intended to appeal to travellers who value privacy and additional attention while continuing to enjoy the variety of entertainment, restaurants and activities associated with a large cruise ship.
The success of this model will depend on the quality of its execution, particularly the design of the exclusive spaces, the level of personalisation and the consistency of service across the different vessels. Sanctuary Collection has already established its identity aboard the newest Princess ships, and its introduction across the Royal Class fleet will be an opportunity to adapt that concept to ships with different layouts and existing facilities. For passengers, the practical advantages will be found in everyday details: a quieter place to relax during a sea day, a dedicated restaurant for dinner, easier access to reservations and a more personalised relationship with the onboard team.
With the expansion of Sanctuary Collection, Princess Cruises continues to develop a more flexible interpretation of premium cruising, offering guests the opportunity to tailor their experience according to individual expectations. The five additional ships will progressively introduce the concept throughout 2027, extending a formula that brings together the intimacy of private facilities and the extensive possibilities of a modern cruise ship. It is a development that reflects the direction of the contemporary cruise market, where comfort, exclusivity and freedom of choice are increasingly central to the way passengers select and experience their holidays at sea.
Gabriele Bassi
