Royal Princess has wrapped up a two-week drydock in Singapore and now carries a handful of new venues and cabins ahead of her move to Sydney for the 2026-27 summer cruise season. The 3,595-guest ship is one of three Princess vessels heading to Australian waters, joining a programme of 42 unique itineraries over 62 departures.
The big change is the Sanctuary Collection, Princess Cruises' premium all-inclusive tier, rolling out to five Royal-Class ships. On Royal Princess it covers suites, mini-suites, deluxe balcony and balcony staterooms, plus a batch of newly built ocean-view cabins. Collection guests get a private Sanctuary Restaurant on deck 6 and a suite lounge, with the flagship Sanctuary Club itself — currently open to everyone aged 16 and over — converting to Collection-only access from 22 April 2027. So this summer, passengers who book the tier get the restaurant and lounge perks while the club remains a shared space.
Down in the ship's central Piazza, two venues have swapped in. O'Malley's Irish Pub has taken over the old Vines spot on deck 5, serving Irish-inspired pub food with a local-boozey atmosphere. Next door, Bellini's has expanded into the former photo gallery, giving it a bigger perch overlooking the Piazza for its signature cocktails, champagne and sparkling wines.
There's more beyond the bars. The drydock added 20 cabins — six mini-suites, seven ocean-view, two interiors and five single interiors, the last handy for solo travellers. The casino has a more open layout with extra slot machines after the removal of a staircase between decks 6 and 7, and retail got a refresh with a revamped Effy jewellery boutique and a shift to new partner Starboard for the Shops of Princess.
From Sydney, Royal Princess will sail itineraries covering Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific, and shorter coastal getaways. Princess has also confirmed it will base a ship in Melbourne again from the 2028-29 summer, deepening its Australian homeporting.
For travellers, this is essentially a familiar ship with sharper digs and better places to drink and eat — a decent argument for repeat cruisers who might otherwise skip a vessel they've already done. And if you've been curious about the all-inclusive premium trend spreading through mainstream cruise lines, this is one of the first chances to try Princess's version from an Australian homeport, with New Zealand fjords and South Pacific islands on the menu rather than the Caribbean. Solo cruisers should also note the new single cabins, still a rarity at sea.
