Princess Cruises Expands Popular Sanctuary Collection to Royal-Class Ships Beginning in 2027

Princess Cruises is significantly expanding its luxury footprint across the fleet, announcing that its highly sought-after Sanctuary Collection will be introduced to five additional cruise ships. This strategic move marks the very first time the premium, nearly all-inclusive concept will be available on the cruise line’s popular Royal-class vessels, bringing an elevated level of high-end service, private amenities, and exclusive spaces to a broader audience of travelers.

The expansion represents a major evolution for Princess Cruises, which first introduced the Sanctuary Collection exclusively aboard its newest Sphere-class vessels, Sun Princess and Star Princess. Building on the overwhelming popularity of the concept on those initial ships, the upcoming rollout will begin in early 2027, starting with the Royal Princess, before extending across additional Royal-class ships.

For travelers who value an intimate, resort-style vacation experience combined with the vast array of entertainment, diverse dining choices, and global destinations offered by a major cruise line, the Sanctuary Collection bridges the gap between large-ship cruising and luxury boutique travel. The concept is designed to offer the highest tier of service, premium staterooms, and a suite of high-end amenities that simplify the onboard experience by wrapping nearly all major inclusions into a single package.

At the core of the Sanctuary Collection experience is access to the exclusive Sanctuary Club. This private onboard enclave features a dedicated pool, tranquil lounge areas, upgraded loungers, shaded cabanas, and highly personalized service from dedicated crew members. While standard access to the Sanctuary Club and its pool areas is included for Sanctuary Collection guests, the enhanced shaded cabanas and upgraded loungers are also available for reservation.

In addition to private outdoor spaces, guests booking within the Sanctuary Collection enjoy exclusive culinary venues. The Sanctuary Restaurant serves as a dedicated, private dining space reserved solely for Sanctuary guests. Featuring an intimate atmosphere, the restaurant offers carefully curated menus inspired by the various global destinations visited by the ship. On the Royal Princess, the Sanctuary Restaurant will directly replace the previously existing Reserve Collection Restaurant, seamlessly transforming the ship’s upper-tier dining infrastructure to align with the new brand standard.

Furthermore, guests who book suites within the Sanctuary Collection gain access to an exclusive Suite Lounge. This private, quiet retreat provides a relaxing environment for passengers to unwind, enjoy complimentary refreshments, and utilize personalized concierge assistance for all their onboard needs.

One of the most appealing aspects of the Sanctuary Collection is its near all-inclusive nature, anchored by the inclusion of the comprehensive Princess Premier package. When guests book a Sanctuary Collection stateroom or suite, the Princess Premier package is automatically included in the fare. This bundle comes with a wide array of high-value amenities, including premium unlimited beverages, specialty and high-end casual dining experiences, high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity for multiple devices, crew appreciation gratuities, complimentary room service, and OceanNow delivery services anywhere on the ship.

The rollout will officially commence on January 4, 2027, aboard the Royal Princess, with that specific ship’s inaugural Sanctuary Collection sailing already open for public bookings. To ensure a smooth transition for loyal past guests, Princess Cruises has implemented a customer-friendly policy regarding existing reservations. Guests who had previously booked specific staterooms on the Royal Princess that are now designated as part of the Sanctuary Collection will automatically receive all the upgraded amenities—including the valuable Princess Premier package—at absolutely no additional cost.

Gus Antorcha, president of Princess Cruises, highlighted the strategic importance and enthusiastic guest response driving the rapid expansion of the luxury tier.

"The Sanctuary Collection has quickly become one of the most distinctive and desirable ways to experience Princess," said Antorcha. "Expanding Sanctuary Collection across five additional Royal Class ships allows more guests to enjoy the privacy, personalized service, and premium amenities they would expect from an intimate luxury resort, while still having the destinations, entertainment, and choices of a Princess cruise just steps away."

Remaining Sanctuary Collection Rollout Schedule

The ambitious fleet-wide expansion means that thousands more passengers will soon be able to experience the elevated offerings. By bringing the Sanctuary Collection to the Royal class, Princess Cruises is successfully bridging its newest ship innovations with the established backbone of its existing fleet.

As the cruise line prepares for the January 2027 launch on the Royal Princess and subsequently rolls out the concept to four more Royal-class ships, industry analysts and cruise enthusiasts alike are watching closely. The move underscores a broader industry trend toward creating "ship-within-a-ship" concepts or dedicated luxury enclaves that cater to travelers seeking higher privacy and personalized attention without sacrificing the scale and variety of a larger cruise ship.

With bookings already live for the pioneering Royal-class sailing in early 2027, demand for these newly converted staterooms and suites is expected to remain high as past guests and new cruisers alike look to secure their preferred dates on the upgraded vessels.