Princess Cruises' Royal Princess has wrapped up a two-week drydock in Singapore, and the refit is more than a paint job. Between 16 and 30 October the 3,595-guest ship gained the line's Sanctuary Collection, new cabins, a reworked casino and a handful of venue changes ahead of her season down under.
The headline addition is the Sanctuary Collection, Princess's resort-style premium package, which is rolling out across five Royal-class ships. It centres on the Sanctuary Club, an adults-only top-deck retreat with its own private pool. Officially it opens to Sanctuary guests on 22 April 2027, but until then anyone aged 16 or over can preview the space, which replaces what was previously the Retreat Pool and The Sanctuary.
The refit also added cabins: 20 in total, split between six mini-suites, seven oceanview rooms, two interiors and five single interiors — those solo staterooms are a nice touch for travellers travelling alone who don't want a single-supplement headache. Sanctuary Collection guests also get access to the new Sanctuary Restaurant on deck 6, next to the Concerto Dining Room.
Elsewhere on board, O'Malley's Irish Pub has taken over the former Vines spot on deck 5 at the Piazza, and Bellini's has expanded into the old Photo Gallery. Casino players get more room too: the staircase between decks 6 and 7 is gone, freeing up floor space for more gaming options. Shopping has had a once-over as well, with the Effy jewellery boutique refreshed and stores transitioning to new retail partner Starboard.
Why does this matter to travellers? If you're eyeing a Princess cruise this summer, you'll likely be sailing on this refreshed ship. After debuting in Southeast Asia, Royal Princess is heading to Australia for a season from Sydney covering Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. She's one of three Princess ships in the region for 2026-27, across 42 itineraries and 62 departures — plenty of options whether you want a short coastal hop or a longer trans-Tasman or island run.
For cruisers who like a quieter deck, the Sanctuary Club preview is worth seeking out now; after April it becomes a paid, adults-only perk. And if you've sailed Royal Princess before, expect a noticeably different mid-ship: more dining choice around the Piazza and a bigger casino floor in place of the old stairwell.
The upshot: a familiar ship with meaningful upgrades, positioned right at the start of the southern-hemisphere season. Anyone booking a Sydney-based Princess cruise this summer will be among the first to try the new venues and cabins.
