Ship review: Star Princess

I was recently invited on one of the first sailings of Star Princess, the second ship in Princess Cruises’ Sphere Class, which launched with Sun Princess in 2024. The timing couldn't have been better. Just months earlier, I'd sailed on Discovery Princess, the final ship of the previous generation, the Royal Class. This gave me the perfect reference point for understanding how Princess Cruises' approach has evolved.

My opinion in a nutshell

Star Princess represents a clear step forward from Princess Cruises' previous generations. The ship feels thoroughly modern whilst preserving the casual luxury that defines the line.

Princess Cruises has managed to retain most of what worked brilliantly on the Royal Class ships, addressed the few minor shortcomings, and introduced appealing new spaces - all that with only a few very minor niggles. The result is a resounding success – and a ship I'd happily return to.

Favourite bits

• The Dome: A new versatile venue designed by ICRAVE, the agency that designed the interiors of The Sphere in Las Vegas. By day, it's a tranquil poolside retreat; by night, it transforms into a captivating performance space.
• Spellbound by Magic Castle: An exclusive collaboration between Princess Cruises and Hollywood's private-member club Magic Castle. This speakeasy-style venue blends illusion, theatre and mixology.
• The Sphere: A striking architectural centrepiece unique to the Sphere Class. This glass-enclosed atrium floods the central Piazza with natural light, creating a bright and welcoming heart to the ship.
• Dining: With 30 restaurants and bars aboard, you might expect a few disappointments. I've tried most of them and genuinely couldn't identify a weak link.
• The smart lifts: A welcome innovation on this generation of ships. Digital panels controlling the lifts have reduced waiting times despite the increased passenger capacity.

Style & Character: 4.5/5

With capacity for 4,300 passengers, Star Princess is – alongside Sun Princess – significantly larger than any previous ships in the fleet. Before setting sail, I wondered whether this size increase might dilute the relaxed-yet-sophisticated Princess experience.

The answer? Size genuinely didn't matter. The ship feels quintessentially Princess – from the earthy palette of blues, creams and coppers to the elegant-yet-unpretentious atmosphere and attention to detail throughout. Anyone familiar with Princess Cruises will recognise that signature sense of casual luxury. But there are notable improvements.

The Sphere floods the Piazza with natural light, making it brighter and more inviting than previous designs. The number of bars and venues around the atrium has been thoughtfully streamlined too, creating a less congested feel.

The Good Spirits at Sea bar particularly benefits from this reorganisation. Previously adjacent to the atrium on ships like Discovery Princess, it now occupies its own dedicated space on Deck 7, lending it a far more intimate atmosphere.

The Dome and Sea Terrace add an extra pool area with sun loungers compared to previous generations of ships. This benefits the Lido Pools, which felt more peaceful than what I experienced on Discovery Princess.

Cabins: 4.5/5

Whilst staterooms on previous ship classes were always good, they feel considerably more polished on Star Princess. The open-style wardrobes are gone. Though storage is marginally reduced, the new cupboard doors mean staterooms look far tidier after a few days at sea.

A persistent complaint from Princess Cruises guests has been the shower curtains in bathrooms. I'm delighted to report that these have been replaced with proper shower doors.

In fact, the bathrooms represent the most significant improvement to the staterooms, sporting an appealing modern aesthetic that compares favourably to the more functional bathrooms found on ships like Discovery Princess.

My only minor criticism was the firmness of the sofa bed mattress, which would have benefited from a topper. But the main bed was blissfully soft and comfortable.

During my cruise, I stayed in a Balcony Stateroom. There is a comprehensive range of other accommodation options available, from Interior and Oceanview Rooms through to Mini Suites and full Suites.

One development worth noting is the introduction of Sanctuary Staterooms and Suites, signalling a new direction for Princess Cruises' Sanctuary concept.

The Sanctuary used to be an adults-only pool and bar retreat available on a first-come-first-served basis. It's now exclusively reserved for guests staying in Sanctuary accommodation.

Sanctuary options include Balcony Staterooms, Mini Suites and Suites. These command a premium but include the Princess Premier package (covering gratuities, speciality dining, Wi-Fi and more) plus access to the exclusive Sanctuary Restaurant and Sanctuary Club.

As a fun gimmick, the Sanctuary Club features a bell guests can ring after 3pm to receive a glass of Champagne.

Food and drink: 5/5

With 30 venues available, Star Princess – alongside Sun Princess – offers the most extensive selection of food and drink options in the entire fleet.

There are two main dining rooms (Aurora on Deck 6 and Celestial on Deck 7) included in the cruise fare, plus the Americana Diner and the buffet-style The Eatery on Deck 9.

The Eatery benefits from generous outdoor seating on a promenade running alongside the restaurant. Among the complimentary options, I had a soft spot for the pizza, tacos, hot dogs and burgers available poolside on the Lido Deck.

For speciality dining, several of Princess Cruises' popular venues return, including The Catch by Rudi, Sabatini's Italian Trattoria and Crown Grill.

A notable newcomer to the Sphere Class is Love by Britto, which you’ll also find on Sun Princess. This pop-art-inspired venue, created in collaboration with artist Romero Britto, serves a five-course dinner and ranks as the ship's most romantic dining option.

The food was excellent across the board. And while I’d recommend checking out the speciality restaurants, you could easily cruise for a week eating only at the free venues and go home happy.

With regards to bars, many of the favourites on the Princess Cruises line-up also return, but often repositioned to great effect. Good Spirits at Sea and O’Malley’s Irish Pub are now in enclosed areas, making them more intimate. Bellini’s becomes the Piazza’s only bar, making it a social meeting point.

One fresh addition, the Cascade Bar, offers a serene retreat within The Dome, featuring a cascading waterfall backdrop.

Service and facilities: 4.5/5

I'm always cautious about reviewing service when a ship has just launched, particularly when it's a relatively new class. While cruise lines do their best to be ready from the first day, it can take some time for the crew to gel with a new environment.

However, there were no such issues here – the service was impeccable. The crew were friendly, attentive and already appeared to know the ship intimately. Kudos to Princess Cruises for evidently excellent training.

As for facilities, the ship has them in abundance. Beyond the expected offerings (beauty salon, spa, gym…), there are innovations worth highlighting.

We've mentioned it already, but The Dome deserves repeating – it's the most exciting addition. The space blends relaxation and spectacle: a luminous, glass-topped sanctuary for swimming and lounging during the day, and a vibrant entertainment venue with immersive performances and dramatic lighting effects at night.

Also worth highlighting is the Sea View Terrace, an outdoor yet protected area forward of The Dome, right at the front of the ship. With Star Princess deploying to Alaska later next year, I suspect this is where you'll want to be to enjoy the passing landscapes.

For those who enjoy gambling but dislike cigarette smoke, there's good news: the casino benefits from an expanded smoke-free area. There is a new sports court and track on Deck 19. The retail space has also been expanded across two decks, featuring over 200 brands.

The only niggle was the location of the kids' clubs. Previously housed in bright, top-deck rooms with expansive sea views on the Royal Class, they're now located on lower decks towards the ship's centre – and feel darker as a result.

Entertainment and excursions: 4.5/5

The flagship Princess Arena theatre debuts with two world-premiere productions: Meridian and Illuminate: A Spectacle of Joy. Both were created in partnership with creative studio Black Skull Creative and feature immersive staging.

Popular favourites like Viva La Música – a high-energy Latin dance spectacular – return. Entertainment extends well beyond the theatre too. The Piazza hosts the 15-piece Princess World Orchestra for 45-minute Princess Jamz concerts, whilst the new Celestial Champagne Soirée combines lighting, multimedia storytelling and a Champagne waterfall.

Meanwhile, The Dome transforms into the venue for the Candlelight Concert Series, where classical and contemporary music merge in a candlelit, ocean-view setting. At the boutique speakeasy-lounge Spellbound by Magic Castle, guests are transported to the golden age of illusion.

As for excursions, whilst none are included in the fare (standard for Princess Cruises), there's an extensive selection available to book both before and during your cruise. On my cruise, I visited a Spanish ranch near Cartagena, Spain, which was a highly enjoyable experience.

Value for money: 4.5/5

With any new ships, particularly ones from a recent class, you'd typically expect cruises to command a premium over older-generation vessels.

Interestingly, it doesn't seem to be the case here. At the time of writing, a seven-night Alaska Inside Passage cruise from Seattle on Star Princess starts at the same price as an equivalent sailing on Royal Princess. Be aware that Princess Cruises' add-on packages are more expensive on both Star Princess and Sun Princess.

The Princess Plus package costs £55 per person per day (compared to £50 on non-Sphere Class ships), whilst the Princess Premier package comes in at £80 per person per day (versus £75 on older-generation vessels).

Additional information

Something that genuinely surprised me about Star Princess is how quiet it felt compared to other ships I've sailed on. As it turns out, the propulsion system plays a role in this.

Star Princess uses cutting-edge Azipod technology. Think of it as having electric motors housed in pods suspended beneath the hull, outside the ship, rather than mounted internally. These pods rotate 360 degrees to provide manoeuvrability whilst reducing noise and vibration transmission to passenger areas.

Star Princess also runs on liquefied natural gas (LNG) rather than traditional marine diesel. LNG burns both cleaner and quieter than conventional fuel, further minimising engine noise. The result? A noticeably more peaceful and environmentally friendly cruising experience.

Full list of facilities

• 5 pools
• 9 hot tubs
• 30 restaurants and bars
• Spa
• Beauty salon
• Theatre
• Live performance venue
• Casino
• 30 restaurants and bars
• Fitness centre
• Fitness studio
• Sports court
• Jogging track
• Splash pad
• Retail shops
• Youth/kids clubs
• Teen lounges
• Adults-only retreat
• Cinema/outdoor movie screen
• Medical centre