Princess Ships by Size: Classes Explained
Quick Take
Princess runs a fleet that spans brand-new mega-ships and smaller, older favorites, and the size gap between them is bigger than most people expect. If you want more restaurants, more shows, and a wow-factor atrium, you lean toward the newer classes. If you want a calmer ship that reaches smaller ports, the older vessels earn their keep.
Sphere Class: The Newest and Largest
Sphere class is where Princess is heading. Sun Princess launched in 2024 and Star Princess followed in 2025, and these are the biggest ships the line has ever built at roughly 177,000 gross tons. They carry around 4,300 guests at double occupancy, which is a meaningful jump above anything else in the fleet.
The signature space is the Dome, a glass-topped venue near the top of the ship that flips from a daytime pool lounge to an evening entertainment room. The three-deck Piazza atrium is bigger and more theatrical than what you find on older Princess ships, and there are more specialty restaurants packed into these hulls.
These are also the first Princess ships powered by liquefied natural gas, which is a cleaner fuel than the diesel that runs the older fleet. If you love new hardware, the most dining choices, and a livelier layout, Sphere class is the pick. The trade-off is that a bigger ship means bigger crowds at peak moments and fewer small-port itineraries.
The dining spread on these ships deserves its own callout. Sphere class added new venues you won't find fleetwide, and the buffet was reimagined into a food-hall style setup that feels less like a cafeteria and more like a market. For a lot of my clients, that dining variety alone justifies choosing a Sphere ship over an older one.
Cabins got attention too, with wider balconies on many staterooms and a fresh, brighter interior look. If you tend to spend real time on your balcony, that extra width is a nice upgrade over the older classes. Just book early, because these two ships sell fast on popular dates.
Royal Class: The Large-Ship Workhorses
Royal class is the backbone of the modern Princess fleet. Six ships fall here: Royal Princess and Regal Princess, then Majestic, Sky, Enchanted, and Discovery Princess. They run between roughly 142,000 and 145,000 gross tons and carry about 3,600 guests each at double occupancy.
These ships gave Princess its recognizable modern look, including the over-water SeaWalk on several of them and a wide central Piazza that anchors the ship's social life. You get plenty of dining, multiple pools, a good theater, and the Princess Live venue without the ship feeling as sprawling as a Sphere-class vessel.
Discovery and Enchanted are the youngest of the six and feel the freshest, while Royal and Regal have the same bones but a slightly older finish. For most first-time Princess cruisers who want a big-ship experience with a manageable footprint, Royal class hits the sweet spot.
Because these six ships share a layout, they are easy to learn once you have sailed one. That consistency is a quiet benefit for repeat Princess cruisers, since your favorite bar or dining room tends to sit in a familiar spot from ship to ship. It also means the class shows up on a wide range of itineraries, from the Caribbean to Alaska to Europe.
Grand Class: Classic Princess
Grand class covers the mid-to-large ships that defined Princess for a long stretch, including Grand, Caribbean, Crown, Emerald, Ruby, and Sapphire Princess. They land in the 100,000-plus gross ton range and carry somewhere around 2,600 to 3,100 guests depending on the ship, so they sit clearly below Royal and Sphere in size.
The appeal here is a proven, comfortable Princess experience without the newest bells and whistles. You still get the Movies Under the Stars screen, a solid theater, and the dining rooms Princess fans know well, just in a slightly more traditional layout with a smaller atrium.
Because they are smaller than the flagships, Grand-class ships often work well on Alaska, Panama Canal, and longer repositioning sailings. Pricing on these can also run gentler, which makes them a smart value for cruisers who care more about the itinerary than the newest hardware.
I steer a lot of budget-conscious clients here, and they rarely feel like they missed out. The core Princess experience, the service, the dining rooms, and the entertainment, all carries over. What you give up is the newest venues and the largest atrium, not the quality of the cruise itself.
Coral and Smaller Older Ships: Port Reach and Calm Decks
At the smaller end sit ships like Coral Princess and Island Princess, along with the line's more compact legacy vessels. These run well under 100,000 gross tons and carry roughly 2,000 guests, which changes the whole feel of a sailing.
Smaller ships fit into ports that the giants cannot reach, so they show up on itineraries like Panama Canal full transits, deeper Alaska routes, and long world-cruise segments. Onboard, the decks feel calmer, lines are shorter, and you get to know the crew faster.
The trade-off is fewer restaurants, fewer bars, and a more classic entertainment lineup. For cruisers who prioritize the destination and a quieter ship over the biggest-ship extras, these vessels are exactly right, and they still carry the same MedallionClass tech as the newest ships.
MedallionClass Across the Whole Fleet
One thing that levels the playing field across Princess ships by size is MedallionClass. Every ship in the fleet uses the wearable Medallion, which handles keyless stateroom entry, contactless payments, and order-to-you food and drink delivery anywhere on the ship.
That means the day-to-day tech experience feels similar whether you sail a brand-new Sphere-class ship or an older Grand-class one. The app lets you book dining, message your travel party, and locate people you are sailing with, and it works across the fleet.
So when you are choosing, you are choosing size, dining variety, and itinerary, not whether you get the modern conveniences. Those come standard now, which is a clear plus for the older ships.
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Best Princess Ship for Which Traveler
First-time cruisers and families who want the most to do usually love Sphere or Royal class. The Dome, the bigger Piazza, and the deep bench of restaurants keep a wide range of ages busy across a full sea day.
Value-focused couples and repeat cruisers often do best on Grand class, where the itineraries are strong and the fares tend to run friendlier. If your priority is Alaska glaciers, the Panama Canal, or a long, slow voyage, the smaller ships put you closer to the places you came to see.
Solo travelers and anyone who dislikes crowds tend to prefer the older, smaller ships for the calmer decks and shorter lines. There is no single best Princess ship, only the best one for how you like to sail, which is exactly the conversation I have with clients.
How to Pick Your Princess Ship
Start with the itinerary, not the ship. Decide where and when you want to go, then see which class serves that route, since Alaska, the Caribbean, and Europe each pull from different parts of the fleet.
Next, weigh how much variety you want against how much calm you want. More restaurants and bigger venues mean more people, so be honest with yourself about which side of that trade you fall on before you fixate on a specific hull.
Finally, compare fares across a couple of ships on the same route. It is common to find a newer, larger ship and an older, smaller one sailing similar dates at different prices, and that gap is where a good match hides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest Princess ship?
The Sphere-class ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess, are the largest at roughly 177,000 gross tons and around 4,300 guests each. They top the fleet by a clear margin over the Royal-class ships.
What is the smallest Princess ship?
The line's older, more compact ships such as Coral Princess and Island Princess sit at the smaller end, well under 100,000 gross tons and carrying roughly 2,000 guests. They favor port reach and calmer decks over big-ship variety.
Do all Princess ships have MedallionClass?
Yes. The entire Princess fleet runs MedallionClass, so keyless entry, contactless payments, and order-to-you delivery work whether you sail a brand-new ship or an older one.
Which Princess class is best for families?
Sphere and Royal class give families the most to do, with more dining, more pools, and larger entertainment venues. Grand class still works well and often costs less if you want a calmer big-ship feel.
Are the older Princess ships worth booking?
Often, yes. They tend to price friendlier, reach smaller ports, and offer quieter decks, and they carry the same MedallionClass tech as the newest ships. The trade-off is fewer restaurants and a more classic layout.
How do I decide between two Princess ships on the same route?
Compare the fare, the ship's age, and the dining lineup, then match those to your priorities. A newer ship gives you more variety, while an older one may cost less and feel calmer.
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Final Thoughts
Princess ships by size run from the towering Sphere-class flagships down to compact ships built for port reach and long voyages, and each class earns a spot for a different kind of traveler. The newest ships pack the most dining and the biggest wow moments, while the smaller ones trade variety for calm and access.
Since MedallionClass now runs fleetwide, the choice comes down to size, itinerary, and price. Pick the ship that fits how you want to spend a sea day, and the rest tends to fall into place.
More cruise reads:
- Caribbean Princess Review: A Grand-Class Workhorse That Still Delivers
- Majestic Princess Review: A Royal-Class Ship Built for Comfort
- How Much Does a Princess Cruise Cost? A Real Budget Breakdown for 2026
- Princess Plus vs Princess Premier: The Drink Package Math
- Princess Gratuities Explained: How Tipping Works on a Princess Cruise
- Princess Captain's Circle Explained: Princess Loyalty
