October 23, 2026 — Princess Cruises will add its Sanctuary Collection — a premium area within the ship with its own lounge, pool and restaurant — to five Royal-class ships. The first sailings with it start in January 2027.
What happened
The Sanctuary Collection launched on Sun Princess and Star Princess. Princess calls this expansion the first phase of a multi-year modernization of its fleet. Each ship’s collection goes on sale on a set date:
| Ship | On sale | First sailing with Sanctuary Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Princess | Now | 12-day South Pacific, departs January 4, 2027 |
| Regal Princess | November 5, 2026 | Transatlantic from Port Everglades, departs April 17, 2027 |
| Discovery Princess | December 4, 2026 | Mexico roundtrip from Los Angeles, departs April 24, 2027 |
| Sky Princess | December 10, 2026 | Baltic from Southampton, departs May 29, 2027 |
| Enchanted Princess | December 17, 2026 | Mediterranean from Civitavecchia (Rome), departs June 12, 2027 |
What’s included
- Select suites and staterooms, including newly added oceanview staterooms
- A private Sanctuary Club lounge with personalized service
- A dedicated pool with upgraded loungers and poolside food and drink service. Shaded cabanas cost extra.
- The Sanctuary Restaurant, a small dining room with menus inspired by Princess destinations
- A suite concierge and access to the Suite Lounge for suite guests
- Princess Premier, the line’s most inclusive package, for guests who book the collection once it is on sale on each ship
Prices were not announced. Royal Princess guests who booked a Reserve Collection stateroom before October 22, 2026, will get the Sanctuary Collection experience with the added amenities.
What it means for airline travelers
- The first sailings start in different regions: the South Pacific (departure port not given in the report), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Los Angeles (LAX), Southampton (London Heathrow or Gatwick) and Civitavecchia (Rome FCO). Plan your flights around the ship you choose.
- The Regal Princess transatlantic and the Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess European sailings all need long-haul flights. Fly in a day early to arrive rested and protect your departure.
- Sale dates are fixed (November 5 to December 17, 2026). Set a reminder if you want one of the limited spaces on a particular ship.
- The announcement does not mention travel-industry or interline rates for the Sanctuary Collection.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News: Princess Expands Sanctuary Collection to Royal Class Ships
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