What To Know Before Sailing on Star Princess
Star Princess is the second Sphere-class ship, and she arrived in October 2025 with the same bones as Sun Princess: the Dome, the glass-wrapped Piazza, Park19, and the biggest specialty dining lineup in the fleet. What makes her different is where she sails. Star Princess is the first Sphere-class ship to take on Alaska, sailing 7 night Inside Passage loops from Seattle in summer 2026 and returning for 2027, with Caribbean winters from Fort Lauderdale in between. If you have wanted the newest Princess hardware on a glacier itinerary, this is the ship.
Because she is new and popular, discounts on Star Princess are thinner than on the older fleet. The current Princess Cruises offers page is where the sale fares appear, and the $99 deposit is worth using for the 2027 Alaska dates.
Key Facts on Star Princess
Detail | Star Princess |
Cruise line | Princess Cruises (premium tier) |
Ship class | Sphere class, second of the class |
Maiden voyage | October 2025 from Barcelona |
Size | About 177,900 gross tons, roughly 1,133 feet long |
Guest capacity | About 4,300 at double occupancy |
Staterooms | About 2,160 across ten decks |
Signature spaces | The Dome, the Piazza, Park19, the Sanctuary Collection, Wake View |
2026 season | Alaska from Seattle, late April through September |
Winter 2026 to 2027 | Western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale |
2027 season | Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles in April, then Alaska from Seattle on Sundays through September |
Package pricing | Plus $70 and Premier $105 per person, per day |
Star Princess Itinerary and Homeports
Star Princess opened with a Mediterranean season from Barcelona, crossed the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale for Eastern Caribbean sailings, then transited the Panama Canal in April 2026 to reach the West Coast for her first Alaska season. Those 7 night Seattle roundtrips call at Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway with scenic cruising in Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier and a stop in Victoria. My Dawes Glacier and Endicott Arm guide covers that glacier day.
For winter 2026 to 2027 she returns to Fort Lauderdale on Western Caribbean loops, and in 2027 she adds a short Mexican Riviera stint from Los Angeles in April before a second Alaska season from Seattle. If you are torn between Princess and the other premium option in Alaska, my Princess vs Holland America comparison lays out the differences.
Booking Tips for Star Princess: Plus, Premier, and the Medallion
Star Princess shares Sun Princess's package pricing, $70 a day for Plus and $105 for Premier, both $5 above the rest of the fleet. On an Alaska sailing I lean toward Plus for most couples, because port days are long and you will spend less time at the bars than on a Caribbean loop. Premier earns its keep for foodies who want to work through the specialty restaurants on the sea days. The full breakdown is in my Plus vs Premier comparison.
Pro Tip: For Alaska, book early and book the starboard side for a northbound Seattle loop. The glacier day in Endicott Arm turns the ship, but the Inside Passage scenery on the way in favors the right side.
Things to Do on Star Princess: The Dome, the Piazza, and Park19
The Dome is the space Alaska cruisers will use most. On Sun Princess it is a sunny pool deck; on a Seattle sailing it becomes a heated, glass-roofed viewing lounge where you can watch the Inside Passage with a coffee while it rains outside. The Piazza's floor-to-ceiling windows do the same job midship. Park19 up top has the ropes course, the rollglider ride over the side, and a splash zone, and on a cool Alaska day it belongs to the kids who do not mind the weather.
The Sanctuary Collection is a cabin category with a private sundeck and restaurant, the same setup as Sun Princess, so there are no day passes. Wake View at the stern is the quiet spot for glacier photos with a drink in hand.
Star Princess Entertainment and Nightlife
The Princess Arena hosts the production shows, Spellbound by Magic Castle is the ticketed magic parlor that sells out first, and the Dome's aerial show runs in the evenings. On Alaska sailings Princess layers in its North to Alaska program with naturalists, local speakers, and Alaska seafood in the dining rooms, and that programming is part of why the line owns so much of the market.
Dining on Star Princess: The Named Venues
Star Princess carries the full Sphere-class lineup. Horizons is the three-deck main dining room, The Eatery is the marketplace buffet, and Alfredo's and O'Malley's are included. The specialty list runs Crown Grill, Sabatini's, The Catch by Rudi, Love by Britto, Makoto Ocean, Butcher's Block by Dario, Umai Teppanyaki, and Umai Hot Pot. On Alaska sailings The Catch by Rudi is the one to book first, since the seafood program leans local. My what's included on Princess guide covers which of these come with the fare.
Star Princess Deck Plan and Best Cabins
The cabin mix mirrors Sun Princess: balconies on most of decks 9 through 16, mini-suites and Reserve Collection minis with priority dining, Cabana Mini-Suites with a private cabana deck, and the Signature and Sanctuary Collection suites at the top. For Alaska I steer clients to a midship balcony on a higher deck, because the view from your own balcony on glacier morning is the whole point of the trip. Skip cabins under Park19 or the Dome if you sleep lightly.
Embarkation, the Medallion, and Captain's Circle
Seattle sailings board at Pier 91, and the Medallion keeps the line short if you arrive in your assigned window. Fly in the day before; I put together a Seattle pre-cruise plan on my channel and the city is worth the extra night. Captain's Circle perks apply as they do fleetwide, and crew appreciation of $18 to $20 a day is covered by both packages. My Princess Captain's Circle guide explains the tiers.
Pros and Cons of Star Princess
Pro: the newest Princess ship on the line's best-known itinerary, with a heated Dome that suits Alaska weather.
Pro: the full Sphere-class dining lineup, including The Catch by Rudi on a seafood itinerary.
Pro: Sunday departures from Seattle in 2027 are easy to pair with a weekend in the city.
Con: 4,300 guests in Juneau and Skagway on a peak day means crowded docks.
Con: packages cost $5 a day more than the rest of the fleet.
Con: Seattle roundtrips do not visit Glacier Bay; that itinerary belongs to the Vancouver and Whittier ships.
Who Should Book Star Princess?
Star Princess is for cruisers who want a brand-new ship in Alaska without leaving a premium line, families who need Park19 on a sea day, and Caribbean cruisers who want the Sphere-class experience out of Fort Lauderdale in winter. If Glacier Bay is a must, look at the Vancouver ships instead, which I rank in my best Princess Alaska cruises guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Star Princess the same as Sun Princess? They are sister ships with the same layout and venues. The difference is deployment: Star Princess sails Alaska and the Western Caribbean, Sun Princess sails the Mediterranean and the Eastern Caribbean.
Does Star Princess go to Glacier Bay? No. Her Seattle roundtrips visit Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier. Glacier Bay sailings run from Vancouver and Whittier.
When does Star Princess sail Alaska? Late April through September in 2026, and again in 2027 with Sunday departures from Seattle.
Does Star Princess have the Sanctuary? Yes, as the Sanctuary Collection tied to a set of cabins with a private sundeck and restaurant.
Final Thoughts on Star Princess
Star Princess gives Alaska the newest ship in the Princess fleet, and for a first Alaska cruise on a premium line she is my top pick out of Seattle. The current Princess Cruises offers include her 2027 dates with a $99 deposit, and if you want help picking the cabin side and the package, book with Jackson Jetsetting. There is no cost for the quote and I can often add onboard credit to Alaska sailings.
