Majestic Princess Review: A Royal-Class Ship Built for Comfort
Majestic Princess is one of Princess Cruises' Royal-class ships, launched in 2017 and originally designed with the China market in mind, which is why she has some grander, more formal touches than her sisters. She carries the Royal-class signatures: the cantilevered SeaWalk over the side of the ship, the multi-story Piazza atrium, and Movies Under the Stars up top, with an adults-only retreat built as the enclosed Hollywood Pool Club rather than the open-air Sanctuary you find on her sisters. Princess sits in that comfortable middle ground, more refined and relaxed than the mass-market party lines but more approachable than true luxury. I tour ships like this on my channel, so here is the full walkthrough and a real review.
QUICK TAKE
Majestic Princess is a relaxed, grown-up big ship that does scenic cruising well. The Piazza is the social heart, the food leans refined, and the OceanMedallion makes everything from boarding to ordering a drink seamless. Book a balcony midship on a higher deck, run the Princess Plus math before you pay, and book the Hollywood Pool Club early for a scenic sailing. The honest caveat: she predates the newest Sky Suites and Sphere-class features, and her deployment moves around the world by season, so always confirm the homeport and region for your exact dates.
Majestic Princess Full Ship Tour
Here is my full walkthrough if you would rather watch than read.
Key Facts on Majestic Princess
Majestic Princess 2026 Itinerary and Homeports
Majestic Princess moves around the world by season, which is the single most important thing to confirm before you book. For 2026 she is positioned in Europe, homeported in Southampton, running British Isles and Northern Europe voyages, including longer crossings such as a 14-night Fire and Ice Explorer between Southampton and New York. In other recent years she has covered Alaska in summer out of the West Coast, Asia and Australia in the winter months, and a history of Mexican Riviera roundtrips from Los Angeles.
The takeaway is simple: two people can book Majestic Princess and have completely different trips depending on the year, so check the region, the homeport, and the round-trip versus one-way structure for your exact sailing date. The Royal-class hardware travels with her, but the ports do not stay the same.
Because she has done Alaska so well in the past, she is a frequent recommendation for that region when she is deployed there. The SeaWalk over open water, the balcony cabins, and the enclosed Hollywood Pool Club all suit cool-weather scenic cruising, where you want glass between you and the wind but still want the view.
Booking Tips for Majestic Princess: Princess Plus, Premier, and the Medallion
Princess uses two bundles, Princess Plus and Princess Premier, that fold drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and more into one fare. For 2026, Princess Plus runs about $65 per person per day when bought ahead, and Princess Premier runs about $100 per person per day. The packages cover crew appreciation gratuities, which the cruise-only fare does not, so the real comparison is bundle price versus base fare plus a drink package plus tips.
For most couples who order a few drinks a day and want Wi-Fi, Plus usually wins. Premier only makes sense if you want the top-shelf drinks, more specialty dining, and the photo and reserved-seating perks. The OceanMedallion wearable handles boarding, room access, payments, and ordering anywhere on the ship, and it is one of the best pieces of cruise tech afloat. For a scenic itinerary, a balcony midship on a higher deck is the comfortable pick.
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Things to Do on Majestic Princess: Walking the Ship
Majestic Princess has the elegant Royal-class look, anchored by the grand central Piazza atrium that serves as the social heart of the ship: live music, cafes, and people-watching across three levels. The standout feature is the SeaWalk, a glass-floored walkway that extends about 28 feet out over the side of the ship, roughly 128 feet above the water, for a nerve-testing view straight down to the sea. Up top there is the pool deck, the Movies Under the Stars big screen for poolside films and concerts, the Lotus Spa and fitness center, a top-deck walking track, and the casino.
The adults-only retreat on Majestic is the Hollywood Pool Club, which is different from the open-air Sanctuary on her sister ships. It is an enclosed, glass-domed space with panoramic windows, a pool, two hot tubs, plenty of loungers, and a bar, which makes it especially good in cooler or rainy weather where an open-deck Sanctuary would sit empty. Above it sits the Hollywood Conservatory, a quiet lounge area.
There is a paid day pass or full-cruise pass, and on a scenic sailing it is worth every dollar. The vibe across the ship is calmer and more grown-up than the big party ships, which is exactly why Princess fans keep coming back.
Majestic Princess Entertainment and Nightlife
The Princess Theater is the main stage for the big production shows, typically three or four song-and-dance productions per cruise plus guest comedians, magicians, and vocalists. Princess Live is the smaller studio for daytime cooking demonstrations, trivia, game shows, and evening comedy and music. Princess also runs deck parties and live music in the Piazza most evenings.
For drinks, most of the bars ring the three-story Piazza. Bellini's Pours Italian-inspired cocktails and prosecco-based Bellinis right in the atrium, Crooners-style piano and martini service anchors the evening crowd, and the Piazza added O'Malley's Irish Pub In a recent refit alongside a wine and sushi spot. Up top you will find the pool bars and the bar inside the Hollywood Pool Club.
The casino and the nightclub handle the later hours. It is a refined nightlife rather than a wall-to-wall party, which suits the crowd Majestic draws.
Dining on Majestic Princess: The Named Venues
The main dining rooms, Allegro, Concerto, and Symphony, plus the World Fresh Marketplace buffet handle your included meals, and Princess food leans a bit more refined than the mass-market lines. Majestic carries a deeper specialty roster than most Princess ships because of her original design. The anchors are the Crown Grill steakhouse on Deck 7, the best dinner on the ship for most people with strong steaks, chops, and seafood, and Sabatini's Italian Trattoria On Deck 5 for handmade pasta and Italian classics.
Beyond those, Majestic has venues you will not find fleet-wide. Harmony Serves contemporary Chinese cuisine developed by Chef Richard Chen, a holdover from her China-market origins, and La Mer is a French bistro created with Michelin-starred Chef Emmanuel Renaut. On some sailings you will also find The Catch by Rudi, the seafood concept from Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, and a Chef's Table experience.
The International Cafe In the Piazza is the highlight for coffee, pastries, paninis, and quick bites at most hours, much of it included, and Princess desserts are deservedly famous. If you carry a package, your specialty dining credits change the value math, so plan the splurge nights around the venues you actually want. Premier includes unlimited specialty dining subject to availability, which makes Majestic's wider lineup more tempting than it would be on a two-restaurant ship.
Majestic Princess Deck Plan and Best Cabins
Pull up the Majestic Princess deck plan before booking. A few smart picks:
- Balcony midship on a higher deck is the dependable choice for a steady ride and quick access to the pool deck and Piazza.
- Deck 9 deluxe balconies include some cabins with larger balconies that extend further than the rest, and certain midship cabins have angled balconies that run bigger, including some mini-suites and Club Class mini-suites.
- Club Class mini-suites add priority dining and a reserved dining-room section, a nice mid-tier upgrade short of a full suite.
- Owner's Suites at the aft corners are the largest rooms on board, with wraparound balconies, for travelers who want the splurge.
- Cabins to think twice about: rooms directly under the Lido pool deck or buffet (early-morning chair noise) and cabins near the laundry or service areas. Majestic predates the Sky Suites feature, so if a forward-facing Sky Suite is a must, look at Sky, Enchanted, or Discovery Princess instead.
Majestic Princess reviews love the refined vibe, the SeaWalk, and the OceanMedallion, and her itinerary varies widely by season, so confirm the region and homeport for your dates before booking.
Embarkation, the Medallion, and Captain's Circle
Because Majestic moves around, your embarkation experience depends on the port, but the OceanMedallion process is the same everywhere. You complete the Ocean Ready steps in the Princess app before you travel, uploading your photo and documents and choosing an arrival window, then walk a faster green lane at the terminal. The Medallion handles room access, payments, and on-demand food and drink delivery once you are aboard.
For a Southampton sailing, build in time for the drive or train from London and consider a pre-cruise night in the city. For any port-intensive European itinerary, book the marquee shore excursions early since the best small-group tours sell out.
Princess runs the Captain's Circle Loyalty program, which moves you from Gold to Ruby, Platinum, and Elite as your cruise count grows. Higher tiers add priority embarkation, complimentary laundry, a members lounge event, and onboard perks. If you cruise Princess regularly, those benefits stack up, and the program is one reason loyal Princess guests stay loyal.
Pros and Cons of Majestic Princess
Pros: A calm, grown-up atmosphere, refined food with strong specialty venues, the standout SeaWalk and Sanctuary, the seamless OceanMedallion, and a beautiful Piazza. Cons: She predates the newest Sky Suites and Sphere-class touches, her global deployment means homeports move around and need checking, and the quieter pace will feel slow to anyone after thrill rides or constant action.
Who Should Book Majestic Princess?
Cruisers who want a refined, relaxed experience with great service, couples, and anyone doing a scenic itinerary who wants to do it comfortably with glass between them and the weather. Foodies do well here too, since the Harmony and La Mer venues give Majestic a deeper specialty lineup than most of the fleet. She is less right for families chasing waterslides and surf simulators, big party crowds, or anyone who must have the newest forward-facing Sky Suites, which Majestic predates. If you want Princess at a friendlier price on a fixed Caribbean schedule, see my Caribbean Princess review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Majestic Princess good for Alaska? Yes, when she is deployed there. Princess is one of the most experienced lines in Alaska, and the enclosed Hollywood Pool Club, the SeaWalk, and balcony cabins make the scenery especially enjoyable in cool weather. Confirm she is actually sailing Alaska for your year, since her deployment shifts.
Where does Majestic Princess sail in 2026? For 2026 she is positioned in Europe out of Southampton, covering the British Isles and Northern Europe, including longer crossings to New York. In other years she has done Alaska, Asia, Australia, and the Mexican Riviera. Always confirm the region and homeport for your date.
Does Majestic Princess have the Sanctuary? Not the open-air Sanctuary found on her sisters. Majestic has the enclosed, glass-domed Hollywood Pool Club and Hollywood Conservatory as her adults-only retreat, which works better in cool or wet weather.
What is the SeaWalk on Majestic Princess? It is a glass-floored walkway that cantilevers about 28 feet out over the side of the ship, roughly 128 feet above the water, for a clear view straight down to the sea.
What specialty restaurants does Majestic Princess have? Crown Grill and Sabatini's are the anchors, and Majestic adds Harmony for contemporary Chinese cuisine and La Mer, a French bistro, plus rotating concepts like The Catch by Rudi on some sailings. It is a wider lineup than most Princess ships.
What is the OceanMedallion? It is Princess's wearable device that handles boarding, room access, payments, and ordering food and drinks to wherever you are on the ship, one of the smoothest pieces of cruise tech out there.
Is Princess Plus worth it? Often yes, once you add up drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities. At about $65 per person per day for 2026 it usually beats paying for those a la carte. It is exactly the kind of math I run for clients before booking.
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Final Thoughts on This Majestic Princess Review
Majestic Princess delivers relaxed, refined cruising with excellent service, a great Piazza, and the standout SeaWalk. Compare the Princess packages, book a balcony for a scenic itinerary, confirm the homeport for your dates, and enjoy one of the more grown-up big ships at sea.
Want help booking Majestic Princess? Get a free quote. It's free to work with me.
More cruise reads:
- Princess Plus vs Princess Premier: The Drink Package Math
- Princess Gratuities Explained: How Tipping Works on a Princess Cruise
- What's Included on a Princess Cruise (and What Costs Extra)
- How Much Does a Princess Cruise Cost? A Real Budget Breakdown for 2026
- Princess Captain's Circle Explained: Princess Loyalty
- Princess Ships by Size: Classes Explained
