Bigger, bolder and still affordable. The new star of the seas

The ship: Star Princess

• The cruise The Bahamas (Fort Lauderdale round trip, four days)
• Commissioned 2025
• Passengers 4300 (double occupancy)
• Crew 1600
• Passenger decks 21; 2157 staterooms
• Length 1133 feet (345 metres)

Star Princess, the newest and most innovative Princess ship, is the second Sphere-class vessel in the fleet. If you know sister ship Sun Princess, you know what to expect. The ships are near-identical in design, including the glass-enclosed Dome and the central Piazza. With capacity for 4300 passengers, it’s a big ship (the largest in the fleet) and it can sometimes feel a bit much to navigate. All the more reason to find your favourite pool or bar and hang out there. After a northern winter season in the Caribbean, Star Princess will reposition to Alaska. Even for passengers who don’t book shore excursions (but why?), wildlife viewing will be easier with outward-focused, glass-panelled lounges and decks and many integrated indoor/outdoor spaces.

Boarding

Port Everglades in Florida is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, and the surrounding city is well-prepared to welcome cruise passengers. Having already downloaded the Princess Cruises app and uploaded my details, check-in formalities at the terminal don’t take long. I’m handed a Princess Medallion, the wearable gadget that I’ll use to open my stateroom door and pay for gift shop purchases.

The design

Princess loyalists will recognise the line’s design signatures, while noticing an emphasis on outward views and reimagined spaces. This Sphere-class ship (the first new class in more than a decade) has gone big on glass to maximise ocean views and blur the lines between indoors and outdoors. Tech advances can be seen in entertainment venues: The 990-seat Princess Arena can be configured in three different ways to suit the production and maximise sight lines. At the Spellbound by Magic Castle speakeasy bar, it doesn’t feel like you’re on a ship. Stateroom design aims to please many different tastes, landing on a modern, airy and minimalist aesthetic. Compared to older ships in the fleet, there’s more living space and considered functionality.

The spaces

Elegant and stylish, but always approachable and comfortable: that’s Princess in a nutshell. It’s not a “hip and sexy” cruise line, nor is it trying to be. Gen X and Baby Boomers are celebrated. No need to dress up for the sushi bar, for comedy shows at Princess Live! or for O’Malley’s Irish Pub, where you’ll find some of the best late-night live music on the ship.

A lot of action centres on the multi-level Piazza, with bars, restaurants and interactive games, shows and dance classes throughout the day and night. Best spots for marvelling at the ocean views and wildlife sightings in Alaska will include the front-of-ship Sea View Terrace and the back-of-ship Wake View Terrace.

The pool deck gets a bit rowdy during the Bahamas sailing I’m on, though it will likely be more low-key in the cooler Alaskan air. Access to the refined Sanctuary Club adults-only relaxation area is a good reason to book a Sanctuary Collection stateroom. There you’ll find a pool, cabanas, custom food and drink menu, premium sun loungers, concierge service and exclusive entertainment. What you won’t find: rambunctious kids.

The stateroom

Balcony staterooms make up the bulk of the 2157 accommodations, with the remainder a combination of suites, mini-suites, connecting rooms and inside cabins. I’m in a Deluxe Balcony Stateroom on Deck 12, one of more than 1500 staterooms with balconies. There’s plenty of space for one (22 square metres), inside and out, and it could easily accommodate two guests in a spacious queen bed or twin beds. There’s a sofa bed, a fridge, a wall-mounted flatscreen TV, multiple USB (USB-A and USB-C) and US power outlets, a desk and chair, and a bathroom with screened shower, an upgrade from shower curtains on earlier ships. One notable change from Royal-class ships in the fleet is the replacement of large, open wardrobes with more discreet cabinetry that allows for more usable living space. The colour scheme is muted and minimalist, but almost too much. Outside is an extended balcony with two deck chairs.

The food

Plenty of food available at no extra charge, including The Eatery buffet (the new grab-and-go options in reusable containers are convenient), the two main dining rooms, O’Malley’s Irish Pub, poolside pizza and tacos, and International Cafe, which is perfect for late-night toasties, cake and cuppas. Guests can order food and drinks on OceanNow in the Princess app for delivery direct to their stateroom or anywhere on the ship. Upgrade to the Princess Premier package (daily fee applies) for unlimited specialty dining, including new restaurants Love by Britto, and The Butcher’s Block by Dario. Princess classics return: Crown Grill steakhouse, Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, The Catch by Rudi and Makoto Ocean.

Wellness

Break a sweat at the impressive fitness centre, where you’ll find the latest and greatest equipment, as well as classes from popular workout franchises (PureBarre, Club Pilates, CycleBar and YogaSix). Outdoors there are several pools, a jogging track, hot tubs, pickleball and basketball courts. The two-storey Lotus Spa offers medispa treatments for non-invasive “facelifts”, plus pricey massages, facials and salon services. Access to the Enclave, a thermal suite retreat with sauna and steam rooms, hydrotherapy pool and heated lounge chairs, may be purchased with a day pass or full-cruise pass.

Entertainment

Boredom is not an option. Entertainment includes Broadway-style productions in the Princess Arena Theatre, comedy and talks in Princess Live!, live music and candlelit concerts in the Dome, dance lessons in the Piazza, and Movies Under the Stars. The new partnership with Magic Castle, the storied Hollywood magicians’ club, has created a grown-up’s speakeasy bar that’s worth the $US45 ($69) admission.

The crew

Friendly and fun, the 1600 crew members of Star Princess join the ship from dozens of countries, including many from the Philippines. Captain Gennaro Arma, who joined Princess in 1998, hails from Italy. There’s a clear emphasis on teamwork and respect: happy crew, happy guests.

The verdict

Princess Cruises continues to innovate in the premium cruise ship space while maintaining an accessible price point. It’s worth upgrading to a Princess Premier package (an additional $134 a day on the Star Princess) if you plan on using Wi-Fi, fitness classes, specialty dining and drinks.

Essentials

From May to September 2026, Star Princess will cruise a debut season of seven-day Alaska Inside Passage voyages, a popular destination for Australians, from Seattle. It will be the newest ship in the region. It costs from $1449 a person, twin share (roundtrip Seattle). See princess.com

Our rating out of five

★★★★

SWELL
The entertainment offerings are fresh, innovative and immersive. Don’t miss the candlelight concert series and Spellbound by Magic Castle.

NOT SO SWELL
The ship’s layout can be confusing to navigate, and you might spend quite a bit of time walking long corridors to get to where you need to be.

The writer was a guest of Princess.