New Amenities Debut Aboard 3,595-Guest Vessel Royal Princess has emerged from a two-week drydock in Singapore with the Sanctuary Collection—a premium, all-inclusive tier that Princess is rolling out across five Royal-Class ships. The update introduces new ocean-view staterooms, suites, and dedicated dining space, alongside broader enhancements to social areas and gaming. "The enhancements aboard Royal Princess introduce new accommodations, distinctive venues for entertaining, dining and socializing, and thoughtfully refreshed spaces designed to elevate every aspect of the guest experience," said Rodrigo Llaguno, Princess Cruises Chief Operating Officer.
Stateroom and Dining Additions Royal Princess added 20 guest cabins during the drydock: six mini-suites, seven oceanview, two interiors, and five single interiors. Sanctuary Collection guests gain access to the Sanctuary Restaurant on deck 6, adjacent to the Concerto Dining Room, along with the Sanctuary Club and personalized service.
Redesigned Social Spaces The ship's central Piazza—a multi-deck social hub—received upgrades with two new venues. O'Malley's Irish Pub opened in the former Vines location on deck 5, offering Irish-inspired fare and beverages. Bellini's cocktail bar expanded into the former Photo Gallery space, creating a larger setting overlooking the Piazza. The Princess Casino was reconfigured to create an open gaming floor with additional slot machine space. The staircase connecting decks 6 and 7 was removed to allow expansion. Guests will also find a revitalized Effy jewelry boutique and upgraded retail offerings through new onboard partner Starboard.
Australian Season Deployment Following the Singapore drydock, Royal Princess heads to Sydney for a season of trans-Tasman and South Pacific cruising. The ship will operate 42 itineraries and 62 departures during the 2026-27 season, part of a three-ship Princess presence in the region.
Why It Matters
The Sanctuary rollout reflects cruise lines' strategy to segment premium capacity and capture higher-yield bookings. Enhanced dining and gaming venues address operator concerns about onboard revenue and guest engagement, while stateroom additions increase capacity on a proven vessel—key metrics for fleet productivity.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the Sanctuary Collection and who should operators be marketing it to?
It's Princess Cruises' new premium, all-inclusive tier debuting across five Royal-Class ships, anchored by dedicated dining at the Sanctuary Restaurant on deck 6 and access to the Sanctuary Club with personalized service. Target your high-yield guests willing to pay for exclusivity—this is your revenue-per-available-berth play, comparable to Norwegian's Studio cabins or Royal Caribbean's Suite Class.
How many new staterooms did Royal Princess add, and what's the mix?
Twenty new cabins total: six mini-suites, seven oceanviews, two interiors, and five single interiors. That single-cabin segment matters—it's your solo travelers and single supplements that don't share bunks, a growing demo that hits different yield metrics than traditional doubles.
Why did Princess remove a staircase between decks 6 and 7?
To expand the Princess Casino's footprint and create a true open gaming floor with significantly more slot machine capacity. They're optimizing deck density for ancillary revenue—gaming spend per passenger is a major KPI for Princess, and they're literally redesigning the vessel to capture more of it.
What new F&B venues opened in the Piazza refresh?
O'Malley's Irish Pub (deck 5, replacing Vines) and an expanded Bellini's cocktail bar that took over the former Photo Gallery space with sightlines to the Piazza. These replacements tell you something: traditional venues are getting swapped for higher-velocity beverage operations with better entertainment positioning.
When does Royal Princess resume service after this drydock and where?
The ship heads directly to Sydney post-drydock for trans-Tasman and South Pacific itineraries during the Australian season. If you're in the Pacific cruising market, Royal Princess with these Sanctuary amenities becomes a competitive product you need to reckon with—this isn't a refresh, it's a repositioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the Sanctuary Collection, and who should operators pitch it to?
It's Princess Cruises' premium, all-inclusive tier debuting across five Royal-Class ships, starting with Royal Princess. Operators should position it to guests seeking dedicated dining (Sanctuary Restaurant on deck 6), exclusive club access, and personalized service—it's a direct revenue play against competitors' suite upsells.
How many new cabins did Royal Princess gain, and what mix?
Twenty total: six mini-suites, seven oceanview, two interior, and five single interior. That cabin count bump matters for your yield—it's inventory you can sell at premium rates, especially the single interiors targeting solo travelers willing to pay the premium.
Which venues got added or expanded during the drydock?
O'Malley's Irish Pub replaced Vines on deck 5, Bellini's cocktail bar doubled in size by consuming the former Photo Gallery space, and the casino floor expanded after they removed a staircase between decks 6 and 7. New partner Starboard also handles expanded retail—that's real onboard revenue diversification.
Why did Princess remove a staircase, and what does that tell us about their design priorities?
They eliminated the deck 6-7 staircase to expand casino gaming floor and slot machine capacity—a signal Princess is doubling down on casino revenue per sailing. If gaming is outpacing other onboard spending at your properties, this move validates your portfolio strategy.
When does Royal Princess return to service, and where?
The ship heads to Sydney post-drydock for trans-Tasman and South Pacific cruising. If you're selling Australian and New Zealand markets, Royal Princess now has 20 additional cabins and premium Sanctuary inventory to fill—adjust your capacity forecasts accordingly.
