If you like the idea of a quieter corner of a big cruise ship, Princess Cruises has some interesting news. Its Sanctuary Collection is expanding to five more ships, including Sky Princess, which is especially relevant for anyone sailing from Southampton.
Until now, this premium experience has been associated with the newer Sun Princess and Star Princess. Bringing it to the Royal Class ships means more people will have the option, although there are a few things I'd check before getting too excited.
Which ships are getting Sanctuary Collection?
The five additions are Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Discovery Princess, Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess. The first Sanctuary Collection sailing on Royal Princess is scheduled for 4 January 2027, with bookings already open.
For UK passengers, the date to watch is 10 December 2026. That's when Sanctuary Collection bookings are due to open for Sky Princess, starting with a 14-day Baltic cruise departing Southampton on 29 May 2027.
Regal Princess opens for bookings on 5 November, Discovery Princess on 4 December and Enchanted Princess on 17 December. Their first eligible cruises take place between April and June 2027.
What do you actually get?
Princess says guests booking the collection will have access to a private Sanctuary Club with lounge areas and a dedicated pool, plus an exclusive restaurant with menus inspired by the places the ship visits.
New Sanctuary Collection bookings will include Princess Premier, covering things such as drinks, dining, Wi-Fi and crew appreciation. There are some extras to watch, though: shaded poolside cabanas, for example, will cost more.
There's also a useful detail for people who already booked Royal Princess. Guests who reserved a Reserve Collection stateroom before 22 October 2026 will receive the new Sanctuary amenities on eligible sailings at no extra charge, but Princess Premier is not included in that arrangement.
Is this a good change?
I can see the appeal. Big ships offer so much to do, but sometimes all you want is somewhere peaceful to sit with a sea view and a decent drink. Having a quieter space without giving up the rest of the ship could be lovely.
My main question is what the changes mean for everyone else. If an area that passengers previously enjoyed becomes exclusive, I'd want Princess to explain that clearly. The new experience also needs to be worth the extra fare, not just sound impressive in a brochure.
And I hope the rollout is planned with the crew in mind. More personalised service only works when teams have the time, training and support to deliver it well.
I'm pleased to see Sky Princess included, and I'll be interested to see the finished spaces and actual prices. Until those details are clearer, I'd compare the whole fare rather than booking purely for the Sanctuary name.
Details from Princess Cruises' announcement, published 22 October 2026.
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