Selecting the Type and Location of Accommodations to Suit You

The type and location of accommodations you choose may be based upon the comfort level you seek or what you want to spend. All of the staterooms onboard the Sky Princess have these minimum amenities:

• Comfortable queen or two twin beds * (you choose the configuration you want during booking)

• Refrigerator

• Flat-panel HDTV (infotainment system, Internet, on-demand-movies)

• Private bathroom with shower

• Bath products (shampoo, body lotion, conditioner)

• 100% cotton, high-thread count linens

• Complimentary 24-hour room service ***

• Spacious closet

• Lifejackets

• Desk with chair

• Direct dial phone

• Hair dryer (1875 watts)

• Digital security safe

• Individual Air Conditioning

**3rd/4th berths available in select cabins.

***Charges apply for balcony dinner, pizza delivery and beverages. Subject to change.

* The luxurious beds onboard the Sky Princess feature a scientifically engineered mattress and bed springs, a plush two-inch pillow top, European-inspired duvets and 100% luxurious Jacquard-woven linens-to assure that at the end of your voyage, you come home feeling refreshed and renewed. These luxury beds are so comfortable that some cruisers who have used them also want them in their homes, so they are also offered for sale.

We have found the beds to be SUPER comfortable and even the smallest staterooms provide more than adequate closet and storage space. Hint: A secret we found out after our first cruise, and took advantage of during our second cruise, is that there is an abundance of space underneath your bed to store your suitcases so they are not taking up closet space.

The staterooms are freshened up by your room steward once per day, although you can also request a turndown service. The set-up, cleaning and disinfection will be completed when you’re out of your stateroom. Housekeeping and maintenance staff will wait to enter your stateroom for cleaning and maintenance for at least 15 minutes after you have left it, unless services are required immediately. (Staterooms were freshened up twice per day pre-Covid-19)

Your room steward is there to serve you and they always greet you with a friendly smile and are always ready and eager to satisfy your requests, whether it be for more hangers for your closet, or anything else your stateroom may require. You may request things using the Medallion App.

While you may not spend much time in your stateroom, the TV carries all of the major TV and News Networks, Sports (Major League Baseball, National Football League, and National Hockey League games in season) has information about the ship and upcoming port excursions, and replays the first run movies after they are shown in other areas. Many other cruise lines have a very limited selection of TV programing and often may charge you extra to watch movies. You can also access your personal cruise information by logging into the system. This feature allows you to make dining reservations, etc. via your TV.

If you have never cruised before you might be shocked by how small some of the staterooms may be. They are smaller in size than a small hotel room, typically having minimal room around the bed and very small bathrooms (with shower curtains, not shower doors). However, the rooms do provide adequate closet space and storage areas for your belongings. You will find you spend very little time in your stateroom, apart of sleeping in it, so don't let its small size put a damper on your cruise.

When you do spend time in your stateroom there are also some things you should not do: Such as....

Location, location, location. As with real estate, your stateroom location can also make a difference onboard a cruise ship. The Princess Royal Class ships are more stable with heavier weight and therefore are less prone to rolling motion. The ship is so large and well stabilized that most of the time it doesn't even feel like you're moving, especially in the calmer waters of the Caribbean. However, if you may be prone to motion sickness the middle of the ship tends to have less motion, as it is the natural balance point of the ship. Be aware however, that if you choose a balcony suite stateroom in the middle of the ship you may not have the privacy you may expect on your balcony because of the "Seawalk" located above you and described below.

Decks 8 through 17 house the guest accommodations. Just like locating your stateroom in the middle of the ship may reduce you feeling any "ocean motion", locating your stateroom on a lower deck may also reduce you feeling any ship movement. The higher up you are, the more you may feel any lateral rocking of the ship if the seas became rough. It should be noted that the Caribbean seas are typically not wavy during the time of this cruise. For an article on how to choose the best deck for you click here.

We should point out however, that both my wife and I are prone to motion sickness and while we may have felt the ship movements at times, we have never felt any motion sickness because of it. We tended to notice any movement mostly when in confined spaces, such as using the restroom, etc. In a few days, once you establish your "sea legs" you hardly notice any such movement. However, even after 2-3 days on dry land you will notice that you tend to stand with a wider stance and it may feel like the ground is moving. All of these occurrences are totally normal.

Since the ship activities tend to be focused on the Piazza, dining, shops, and entertainment areas of decks 5 - 7 or the upper decks of 16 - 19 which house the pools, buffet, fitness center, etc, we try to select our stateroom location on decks halfway between these two prime areas. Although there are elevators near the bow, middle, and stern of the ship they can be slow or busy at times so we tended to use the stairs a lot to avoid the elevators and also as exercise to burn off some of the calories we consumed each day. Selecting our stateroom location on decks 10, 11, or 12 puts us right in the middle of most activities. (please note, there is no deck 13)

You must also consider what areas your stateroom location is adjacent to, both alongside, above, and below. On our first cruise we did not think about this and we found our interior stateroom to be above the Princess Theater stage area which had a high ceiling area which protruded through several decks. While we were seldom in our room when productions were being held in the theater below at 7pm and 9pm, we did hear the the band practicing a couple of times during the day when we happened to be in our stateroom. Therefore, when you book your stateroom location, be aware of what is around you. Elevators, kitchens, and entertainment areas can be very noisy area and also have increased traffic flow at times. Stateroom locations above the Piazza area would tend to be more noisy as there always seems to be some activity going on there, day or night. Locations immediately below pool decks may be noisy during the day but quiet in the evenings. Interior staterooms are more likely to be located below, above, or adjacent to noisy areas. This website has a "deck-drag" feature which allows you to drag each deck plan and lay it on top of other deck plans so you can see what is located directly above or below you! The site also has photos and videos of the various staterooms on the Sky Princess to give you an idea of what each category is like.

Of course, you never know what type of neighbors you may have in adjacent staterooms but we never did hear any sounds from our adjacent rooms. Of course, we do normally sleep with ear plugs and they may be a wise thing to pack for your cruise.

Click here or here to view detailed deck plans for the Sky Princess to give you an idea of room locations and layouts and adjacent areas you may want to avoid. Each deck has a name and number assigned to it, and room numbers have a letter which corresponds to the deck name, such as A613 which is located on the Aloha deck (12). The even numbered rooms are on the port (left) side of the ship and the odd numbered rooms are on the starboard (right) side of the ship.

Even for specific stateroom types (interior, balcony, etc) the size and cost of the room may vary depending upon its size and location. You can attempt to visualize what may be above, below, or next to various staterooms by looking at the image below which shows all of the accessible decks of the Sky Princess.

You can also do research on specific rooms and locations on various ships by visiting the research page on the Cruise Critic website and seeing how former passengers rated certain rooms on the ship.

If you want to read more detail about the Sky Princess (or similar Royal class ships) staterooms and some advise about specific staterooms to consider or avoid click here.

When you book your cruise you will be given the option to have your stateroom bed configured as a queen or two twin beds. Some select staterooms also have the option of being configured with a 3rd or 4th berth arrangement allowing you to add multiple guests to your stateroom at a fraction of the cost. However you should be aware that these are essentially bunk beds that hang from the walls and can make for very tight quarters within the stateroom. Do NOT choose a stateroom that offers this configuration option unless you plan to use it. From what I understand, the extra beds are folded up against the wall making the stateroom feel tight.

Some staterooms also have a connecting door, making traveling with family or close friends an option to consider. If you do not plan on utilizing a connecting door, you may want to consider avoiding these staterooms because noise from the adjacent staterooms travels more easily through this door than through the walls. Handicapped staterooms are also available. The location of staterooms with extra berths, connecting doors, or handicapped accessible will be shown on the deck plans and when you book your cruise. Also, 80% of the staterooms on the Sky Princess will have a balcony.

Selecting your exact accommodation location is also not always possible, depending upon who you book the cruise with. That is something to consider when choosing a booking option.

Click here for a video showing the accommodations available on the Sky Princess for an idea of what these staterooms may look like.

I have not included costs for staterooms due to how the prices can vary depending upon how many individuals may be sharing the room and depending upon who you book your cruise with.

The videos shown below are not exactly like the rooms on the Sky Princess but will give an idea of their size and design. (Beds on the Sky Princess do not have mirrors on the at head of the bed, nor is there a flower arrangement on the desk)

Decorating Your Stateroom Door

A popular and creative idea is to decorate the exterior of your stateroom door. When you walk into the long hallways filled with muted palettes and hundreds of identical doors it can become difficult to find exactly which door is yours, especially at the beginning of the cruise when you may not yet know your way around the ship. Decorating your stateroom door could be the perfect answer to identifying the stateroom as yours. For some tips on dos and don'ts about decorating your door click here.

Bidding to Upgrade Your Stateroom

Recently Princess Cruise Line started a program, similar to what is done on many other cruise lines, that gives guests the opportunity to bid for a stateroom upgrade at a price you're willing to pay. So far, this cruise is not eligible but I will keep you updated if this changes.

Click here for more details about this new program.

Interior Staterooms

The most affordable option for cruising is an interior stateroom. While small, they are adequately sized and accommodating. Since we realized we would be spending very little time in our stateroom we have selected an interior stateroom for the three previous cruises we have sailed on and we also booked one for this cruise. They offer everything we need except access to direct sunlight and open air. The size of the interior stateroom is approximately 158 to 175 square feet.

On our first and last third cruise our interior stateroom was situated perpendicular to the length of the ship while on our second cruise it was located parallel to the length of the ship. We found the parallel layout to be a bit more crowded around the closet/bathroom area and chose the perpendicular arrangement for our 2022 cruise. However the parallel arrangement often offers you an additional 10 square feet of floor space, so although it may seem more crowded, you actually do have more space! You may also hear more hallway noise with the parallel layout due to the stateroom door being closer to the desk and bed area (however we always wear earplugs when we sleep). The perpendicular layout put the bed farther away from the hallway. We have booked a parallel interior stateroom for this cruise.

Most of the perpendicular arrangements are located at the bow or stern of the ship, while the parallel arrangements tend to be located more mid ship. Interior staterooms are also more likely to be located below, above, or adjacent to noisy areas since most of the ship's active and mechanical areas are located in the interior portion of the ship. It is therefore wise to carefully look what is below, above, and next to your stateroom.

While we would really like to book a balcony stateroom, we find we spend very little time in our room. We wake up, get dressed and go to breakfast. After that we are spending time on the upper decks or on a shore excursion. We get back, shower, and change for dinner and then spend the evening enjoying entertainment on the ship. We get back to our stateroom and fall exhausted on the comfortable bed to sleep. Next day - repeat. A balcony stateroom will cost about an extra $100+ per day which we feel would be more wisely spend on excursions and other things. However, to each their own and if you can afford a balcony stateroom it would be nice to have!

You should shop around for the best price before booking your cruise.

Max passengers: 4

Staterooms number: 342

Cabin size: IA-IB-IC (175 ft2 / 16 m2), ID-IE-IF (165 ft2 / 15 m2)

Balcony size: none

Location (on decks): 8-Emerald, 9-Dolphin, 10-Caribe, 11-Baja, 12-Aloha, 14-Riviera, 15-Marina, 16-Lido

Type (categories): (IA, IB, IC, ID, IE, IF) Interior / Inside cabins

Premium Oceanview

The Premium Oceanview staterooms are very rare on this ship and are only found at the bow of the ship on some decks. This stateroom design offers a stunning wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Loads of natural light brings an airy, openness to the space, however it does not provide a balconcy. Whether the relaxed view of the deep blue sea, or inspired scenery of a new city on the horizon, the Premium Oceanview stateroom ensures picture-perfect snapshots from the comfort of your room. This stateroom includes all the amenities of an interior room.

The size of the Premium Oceanview stateroom is approximately 172 square feet. You should shop around for the best price before booking your cruise.

If you book your cruise yourself, you may discover that some cruise sites do not offer this room for consideration. For example, Costco Travel does not offer this room as a cruising option.

*Due to some cabin configurations, the two twin beds may not convert to a queen size bed.

Balcony Staterooms

This stateroom option offers the added indulgence of a balcony which gives you more space than a standard interior stateroom. You will enjoy your own private outdoor space with a table, two chairs, floor to ceiling glass doors, and a relaxing view of the inspiring scenery surrounding you, whether it be a beautiful sunset or sunrise over the ocean, or of a new port to explore. It is also the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely breakfast or unwind after a busy port excursion day.

For most balcony staterooms, the balcony space isn't that large. There are some staterooms with larger outdoor space, but in general the balcony space is quite small - enough for a couple of chairs and a small table. In other words, if you are picturing a grand balcony with large French doors and enough space to lay out in privacy, than think again. These types of balconies are available, but they are also priced accordingly.

The size of the Balcony Stateroom is approximately 214 to 222 square feet, including balcony. The Balcony Stateroom itself is around the same size as an interior room with the added square footage being the balcony area. You should shop around for the best price before booking your cruise.

In addition to a bit more space a balcony also provides light and fresh air to your stateroom. The extra light can make the stateroom much more inviting than a darker interior stateroom. For some people this isn't a big deal. After all, you are out and about the ship most of the cruise and you can head to the pool deck or promenade to get some fresh air.

Balcony staterooms, in their many configurations, carry a premium price tag on them, and the difference in cost between two stateroom types can often be significant, measuring into hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Considering that either staterooms will give you access to the same amenities on the rest of the ship, swallowing the price difference may be hard to do.

Having a balcony stateroom would be very nice to have on a cruise but do remember some important tips about things not to do on your balcony. A balcony can be a nice secluded spot for you to enjoy the ocean or port views but they are not always as private as you may think. As explained previously, people may be able to see your balcony from the Seawalk and the larger extended balconies on the stern of the ship are tiered so each balcony area is visible from above. The extra balcony space is nice, however it is not very private. There are however some larger balconies offered but they are also priced accordingly.

Max passengers: 4

Staterooms number: 724

Cabin size: 180 ft2 / 17 m2

Balcony size: 40 ft2 / 4 m2

Location (on decks): 8-Emerald, 9-Dolphin, 10-Caribe, 11-Baja, 12-Aloha, 14-Riviera, 15-Marina, 16-Lido

Type (categories): (BA, BB, BC, BD, BE, BF, BV, BW, BY) Balcony cabins

Deluxe Balcony Staterooms

Choose this enhanced version of a Balcony stateroom with more space plus a comfortable sofa bed. You will enjoy a larger balcony with floor to ceiling glass doors and more room to view the beautiful scenery as you sail from destination to destination and take in the ocean breeze for a wonderful and romantic evening or morning. This stateroom also includes some of the amenities offered in a Mini-Suite stateroom.

The love seat style sofa bed does fold out into a bed so you could have one extra guest in this suite. However, I have read the the size is smaller than a queen, but larger than a twin bed. Flip a coin to see who gets the bed. The sofa bed also blocks access to the balcony when folded out. The fare for an additional 3rd guest is substantially less than the base fare paid by the first two guests in the stateroom. However, the additional guest may not always be eligible for additional perks that may be offered.

The size of the Deluxe Balcony stateroom is approximately 233 to 279 square feet, including balcony. The actual price of the stateroom depends upon its actual size and location. You should shop around for the best price before booking your cruise.

Max passengers: 4

Staterooms number: 364

Cabin size: DZ (225-250 ft2 / 21-24 m2), DA-DV (210 ft2 / 20 m2), DB-DC-DD-DE-DF-DW (195 ft2 / 19 m2)

Balcony size: 40 ft2 / 4 m2

Location (on decks): 8-Emerald, 9-Dolphin, 10-Caribe, 11-Baja, 12-Aloha, 14-Riviera, 15-Marina, 16-Lido

Type (categories): (DA, DB, DC, DD, DE, DF, DV-DW-DZ-Obstructed, D4-Premium) Deluxe Balcony cabins

Mini-Suite

Choose a luxurious Mini-Suite with balcony which is substantially larger than a Balcony stateroom (it also includes a complimentary welcome glass of Champagne). Mini-Suites include a separate sitting area with a sofa bed and two flat-panel televisions. For families, groups, or perhaps two couples needing a little extra space, the Mini-Suites offer an appealing and affordable option. The balcony has floor to ceiling glass doors, 2 - 4 chairs, table, and an ottoman. The bathroom has a tub and a massage shower head. The Mini-Suite features a separate sitting area (separated by a drawn curtain) with a sofa bed and coffee table. The bed has a luxury mattress topper and pillows.

The sofa bed does fold out into a bed so two couples could share the cost of this suite. This sofa bed is wider than what is provided in the Deluxe Balcony stateroom. Flip a coin to see who gets the bed. The sofa bed may also block access to the balcony when folded out.

The size of the Mini-Suite is approximately 323 square feet, including balcony. The actual price of the stateroom depends upon its actual size and location. You should shop around for the best price before booking your cruise.

You should also be aware that the fares for the 3rd and 4th guests in staterooms are substantially less than base fare but these additional guests may not always be eligible for additional perks that are being offered. You should take this into consideration when pricing staterooms if these additional perks are wanted by everyone in the stateroom. It is up to you to decide how the cost of this stateroom choice should be split up. Either the guests using to sofa sleeper pay less, or the total fare cost is divided equally among the 4 guests in the stateroom. At times, 3rd and 4th guests fares are offered for free or $99 each which makes it nice for families cruising together.

Max passengers: 4

Staterooms number: 314

Cabin size: 245-335 ft2 / 22-31 m2

Balcony size: 40 ft2 / 4 m2

Location (on decks): 8-Emerald, 10-Caribe, 11-Baja, 12-Aloha, 14-Riviera, 15-Marina, 16-Lido

Type (categories): (MA, MB, MC, ME, MF, M1-M6-Premium) Mini Suites

Club Class Suite

The Club Class Suite includes all of the amenities of the Mini-Suite with the addition of some exclusive VIP touches. This premium stateroom category features the best located Mini-Suite staterooms, as well as the great amenities found in all Mini-Suites — plus premier dining benefits and luxurious perks. Each night, you will enjoy Club Class Dining, an exclusive dining area featuring expedited seating with no wait, expanded menu options, dedicated wait staff and tableside preparations. Other amenities include priority embarkation and disembarkation, and so much more! Learn more about Club Class

The size of the Suite is approximately 323 square feet, including balcony. I am unsure of the cost upgrade for the VIP extras.

Suite

Some of the most luxurious accommodations at sea can be found in a Suite. Surrounding you with deluxe accommodations, a spacious Suite with balcony includes all the amenities of a Club Class Mini-Suite, plus incredible premiums. You will enjoy more living space, a sofa bed and separate seating areas, and wonderfully enhanced amenities that range from priority embarkation and disembarkation and so much more. Learn more about the Suite experience

Luxury balcony furniture including 2 loungers, 4 chairs, table, and ottoman. Two floor to ceiling sliding glass doors. A separate sitting (separated by a drawn curtain) area with sofa bed, chair and 2 tables. A separated bathroom, one with a tub, shower, and sink, and the other with a toilet and sink. Complimentary Lotus Spa® Enclave access. Complimentary laundry and professional cleaning services. Complimentary dinner in a specialty restaurant on embarkation day. Priority specialty dining and shore excursion reservation. Priority disembarkation at tender ports

The size of the Suite is approximately 440 to 1500 square feet, including balcony. You should shop around for the best price before booking your cruise.

You should also be aware that the fares for the 3rd and 4th guests in staterooms are substantially less than base fare but these additional guests may not always be eligible for additional perks that are being offered. You should also be aware that the 3rd and 4th guests in staterooms may not always be eligible for additional perks that are being offered. You should take this into consideration when pricing staterooms if these additional perks are wanted by everyone in the stateroom. It is up to you to decide how the cost of this stateroom choice should be split up. Either the guests using to sofa sleeper pay less, or the total fare cost is divided equally among the 4 guests in the stateroom. At times, 3rd and 4th guests fares are offered for free or $99 each which makes it nice for families cruising together.

Max passengers: 4

Staterooms number: 36

Cabin size: S2 (470 ft2 / 44 m2), S3-S4 (330 ft2 / 31 m2), S5 (445 ft2 / 41 m2)

Balcony size: S2 (210 ft2 / 20 m2), S3-S4 (70 ft2 / 7 m2), S5 (120 ft2 / 11 m2)

Location (on decks): 8-Emerald, 9-Dolphin, 10-Caribe, 11-Baja, 12-Aloha, 14-Riviera, 15-Marina

Type (categories): (S2-Owner’s Suite, S3-S4-Penthouse, S5-Premium) Balcony Suites

Sky Suite

Unparalled service and the largest balcony at sea. Exclusive doesn’t begin to describe the experience of these accommodations. Inclusive amenities, attentive service and a dedicated Suite Experience Manager to deliver your every desire are just the beginning. Crowning the heights of the ship, each Sky Suite hosts up to five guests, dazzling you with a 270-degree panorama throughout your voyage. Complementing the exquisitely appointed interior living spaces, a luxuriously furnished over 1,000-square-foot continuous balcony – the largest at sea – invites you to relax privately or host your own celebrations or catered events. There are only 2 of these Sky Suites available. Book yours before they are gone!

Watch the Sky Suites reveal video

Cost? If you have to ask, you probably can't afford it. I have found no advertised prices for these two suites but it is rumored to be between $500 to $1000 per day per person, which I assume would be with full occupancy. That equates to $17,500 to $35,000 for a 7 day cruise.

Max passengers :5

Staterooms number: 2

Cabin size: starboard (1010 ft2 / 94 m2), portside (950 ft2 / 88 m2)

Balcony size: 700 ft2 / 65 m2

Location (on decks): 18-Sports

Type (categories) :(SO) Sky Suite / Top Deck Suite

The video below shows cabin tours for the Sky Princess