princess cruise room for 4

Princess Cruises ship cabin and suite guide: Everything you want to know

Is a balcony cabin a must for you when you cruise? Princess Cruises could be your line.

The California-based brand was a pioneer in adding a large number of balcony cabins to ships, and even its oldest vessels are loaded with balcony cabins — something that can't be said for many of its rivals.

On the flip side, Princess offers relatively few suites on its ships compared to some of the big-ship lines with which it most directly competes, including Celebrity Cruises , Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. Just 46 of the 1,830 rooms on the line's recently unveiled Discovery Princess are suites, for instance. Believe it or not, that's an improvement from earlier vessels in the same series, some of which have as few as 36 suites.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Princess also isn't known for enormous and amenity-filled suites.

What this means is there aren't a lot of ways to live large on a Princess ship or pack a lot of people into a single accommodation. Until the debut of Sky Princess in 2019, the line didn't have a single cabin that could accommodate more than four people.

That said, on Princess ships, you can often create larger living spaces by booking two connecting cabins.

A Princess Cruises cabin primer

As is typical for many cruise ships, Princess vessels offer cabins in four broad categories: Windowless "inside" cabins, ocean-view cabins, balcony cabins and suites.

As noted above, a significant portion of cabins on all Princess ships are balcony cabins — the category of cabin that everyone wants these days. About 80% of the 1,834 cabins on Princess's six-month-old Enchanted Princess are balcony cabins or suites with balconies, for instance. Compare that to the 72% of cabins on Royal Caribbean's four-year-old Symphony of the Seas that are balcony cabins or suites with balconies.

Notably, every single cabin facing the sea on three of the newest Princess ships — Royal Princess, Regal Princess and Majestic Princess — has a balcony. These three vessels are completely devoid of ocean-view cabins (cabins facing the sea that only have a window). That's relatively unusual in the world of big mass-market ships — the niche of cruising in which Princess plays. It's more common with luxury cruise vessels.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships

At the same time, as noted above, Princess vessels have fewer suites than you'll find on the ships operated by such big-ship brands as Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.

Here's a breakdown of the broad cabin categories on Royal Princess, which is typical of the line's newer ships (it's the prototype vessel for the line's new, six-ship Royal Class series):

Inside cabins: 342 (19%) Ocean-view cabins: 0 (0%) Balcony cabins (including mini-suites): 1,402 (79%) Suites: 36 (2%)

On older Princess ships (and, in general, all older cruise ships), there are fewer balcony cabins. However, the ratio of balcony cabins to non-balcony cabins is much higher on older Princess ships than it is on older vessels at many other big-ship lines. An impressive 72% of the 1,000 cabins on Princess's 2003-built Coral Princess, for instance, are balcony cabins.

On Coral Princess, inside cabins and ocean-view cabins only make up 26% of all rooms. A breakdown of the cabin categories on that ship:

Inside cabins: 108 (11%) Ocean-view cabins: 157 (16%) Balcony cabins (including mini-suites): 719 (72%) Suites: 16 (2%)

The takeaway here is that you'll have an easier time locking down a balcony cabin on a Princess ship — even an older Princess ship — than you will when booking many of the ships operated by competing big-ship lines.

Just note that you'll want to book early if you're aiming for a suite on a Princess ship since there are so few of them. Note, also, that suites tend to sell out early on cruise ships in general. An old saying in the cruise industry is that "ships sell from the top and the bottom." That is, the first cabins on any vessel to sell out are the most expensive cabins, which are the suites, and then the least expensive cabins, which typically are the inside cabins. The mid-priced "middle" cabins sell last.

Design-wise, Princess's cabins and suites are fairly basic and comfortable, if not super stylish.

When it comes to rooms, Princess is sort of the Marriott of the big-ship cruise world. Its rooms are comfortable and functional, but a bit bland. Avant-garde style is not a Princess thing.

Inside cabins on Princess Cruises ships

These are the cabins you stay in when you're on a tight budget. On any Princess ship, they are almost always the least-expensive option when you're booking a cabin. You often can save considerable money by booking an inside cabin versus an ocean-view or higher-level cabin.

What you'll give up, of course, is that ocean view. Your room will have four walls and no windows offering a glimpse of the outside world.

You'll also be in a relatively small room. The typical inside cabin on the new Discovery Princess measures 166 square feet, with some as big as 175 square feet. By comparison, the typical balcony cabin on Discovery Princess measures 181 square feet, not including a 41-square-foot balcony (for a total of 222 square feet).

Still, the inside cabins on Princess ships are bigger than the inside cabins on ships operated by some of the line's main competitors.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Princess ship

Inside cabins on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas, for instance, measure just 149 square feet — quite a bit less than the inside cabins on Discovery Princess.

Note that older Princess ships sometimes have smaller inside cabins than newer Princess ships. On the line's 2003-built Coral Princess, inside cabins measure just 156 to 166 square feet. On the line's 1998-built Grand Princess, most inside cabins are 160 square feet (some wheelchair-accessible inside cabins on Grand Princess measure 182 square feet).

Many inside cabins on Princess ships have pull-down bunks that will allow for up to four people to stay in the rooms.

Ocean-view cabins on Princess Cruises ships

With an ocean-view cabin, you get a window looking out to the sea, but not an attached balcony where you can sit outside and enjoy the fresh air.

As noted above, three of Princess's newest vessels — Royal Princess, Regal Princess and Majestic Princess — don't have a single ocean-view cabin. Every outward-facing cabin has a balcony. However, you'll find ocean-view cabins on the line's older vessels and also on the line's three newest ships, Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess.

In general, ocean-view cabins on the Princess ships that have them are a tad bigger than the inside cabins found on the same vessels. On the line's Emerald Princess, for instance, the typical ocean-view cabin measures 178 square feet. The typical inside cabin on Emerald Princess measures 163 square feet.

On many Princess ships that have ocean-view cabins, the rooms are mostly found just above the promenade deck, where the lifeboats hang, and have obstructed views. You'll also sometimes find a few ocean-view cabins at the back of Princess vessels, facing the wake.

Related: The 3 classes of Princess ships, explained

On the line's two Coral Class ships — Coral Princess and Island Princess — there are a few "premium" ocean-view cabins that measure a more spacious 212 square feet. If you're the kind of traveler who needs a lot of space, these rooms can be a good choice.

There also are a handful of "premium" ocean-view cabins on the new Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess that measure 172 square feet and have unusual slanting windows.

Balcony cabins on Princess Cruises ships

Balcony cabins are what everyone wants these days, and Princess is delivering with huge numbers of balcony cabins on all its newest ships. On the line's new Royal Class series of ships, which began debuting in 2013, nearly 80% of rooms are balcony cabins.

On these newer vessels — Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess — the typical balcony cabin has an interior space of 181 square feet plus a balcony that measures 41 square feet (for a total of 222 square feet). However, there also are bigger "premium deluxe balcony" cabins that can measure as much as 233 square feet on the inside (not including the balcony). Some of these have larger-than-normal balconies that can stretch the total square footage to 312 square feet.

In addition, the Royal Class vessels have even larger balcony cabins that Princess calls mini-suites. Including their balcony space, these cabins measure anywhere from 299 to 329 square feet. While these mini-suite cabins have the word "suite" in their name, we are including them in the balcony cabin category as they generally resemble very large balcony cabins vs. true suites.

Related: Everything to know about the Princess Captain's Club loyalty program

The typical Princess balcony cabin has twin beds that can be converted into a queen bed, a built-in desk with a chair and a built-in miniature refrigerator. In addition to beds, a desk and a miniature fridge, premium balcony cabins have a seating area with a sofa bed that can be used for a third passenger in the room. Some also have a pull-down bunk that can accommodate a fourth person.

Suites on Princess Cruises ships

As mentioned above, Princess ships generally have fewer suites than the ships operated by some of its biggest competitors. The line also isn't known for particularly giant suites.

Princess's three newest ships — Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess — have the line's first truly large standalone suites, dubbed Sky Suites. There are two of them on each of the vessels, and they measure a generous 1,792 square feet (though more than half of that space is taken up by a huge wraparound balcony). With two bedrooms plus a living room with a pullout sofa, the Sky Suites are the first Princess accommodations designed for up to five people.

Still, even the Sky Suites on Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess aren't the sort of truly epic suites with huge interior living spaces that you'll find on the latest ships from such competitors as Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. The latest Celebrity vessels, for instance, offer so-called Iconic Suites that have twice as much interior space as the Sky Suites.

If you're the kind of cruiser who is only happy in a cabin of truly giant proportions (and are willing to pay up for it), Princess probably isn't your line.

Still, you'll find at least a few suites of a decent size on every Princess ship. The line's seven Grand Class vessels each offer two "family suites" at their fronts that can be created by connecting a mini-suite with an adjacent inside cabin to create a six- to eight-person complex.

Each of the line's Royal Class ships (the line's six newest ships) has at least 36 suites.

Related: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on a cruise

Bottom line

Princess offers a relatively wide range of cabins on its ships, including lots of the sort of cabins that everyone wants — balcony cabins. If you're a fan of balcony cabins, you'll find plenty of options on Princess ships, including standard size balcony cabins and bigger "premium" balcony cabins. You'll also find a lot of larger "mini-suite" balcony cabins on Princess ships. However, you won't find a lot of truly large suites with multiple rooms.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

• Already Booked?
• My Favorites
• 1.800.377.9383
• Email Deals
• Personal Quote

• Advanced Search

• Featured Cruise Deals

• Deals by Destination

• Deals by Cruise Line

• Deals by Departure Port

Last Minute Cruise Deals

Holiday Cruise Deals

Military Cruise Deals

• Family Cruise Deals

Popular Destinations

Australia/New Zealand

• Canada / New England

Popular Int'l Departure Ports

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Barcelona, Spain

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Piraeus (Athens), Greece

Reykjavik, Iceland

Southampton, England

Stockholm, Sweden

Sydney, Australia

Vancouver, British Columbia

Venice, Italy

Popular U.S. Departure Ports

Baltimore, Maryland

Boston, Massachusetts

Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey

Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

Los Angeles, California

Miami, Florida

New York, New York

Port Canaveral, Florida

San Francisco, California

Seattle, Washington

Popular Lines

Luxury Lines

River Lines

AmaWaterways

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Avalon Waterways River Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruises

Holland America Line

MSC Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Oceania Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Princess Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal Caribbean International

Seabourn Cruise Line

Silversea Cruises

Uniworld River Cruises

Viking Expeditions

Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking River Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Land Vacations

• Cosmos Tours
• Globus Journeys
• Kensington Tours
• Tauck Tours

All-Inclusive Resorts

Cruising 101

• Free Consultation

Why Cruise?

Shore Excursions

Cruising Tips

Future Cruise Credits

Photo Galleries

Specialty Cruises

Group Cruises

Business / Incentive Cruises

Events & Meetings at Sea

Private Charters

Theme Cruises

• River Cruises

Cruise Tours

Wedding Cruises

Hosted Cruises

Family Cruises

Senior Living at Sea

News & Media

Press & News

Testimonials

Social Media

Pre-registration

Passports / Visas

Travel Protection

Why Cruise Web?

Our Approach

Low Price Guarantee

Gift Certificates

Customer Service

Not sure where to start?

Talk to a travel consultant.

Expert guidance with no booking fees!

Princess Cruises: up to 35% OFF and Kids Sail FREE

NEW! Choose from 3 Cruise Packages for Princess

Princess: up to $250 Onboard Credit for Military

Princess Cruises Staterooms

Princess Cruises has a variety of stateroom options to help you find a stateroom that is sure to meet your budget and your needs, including everything from extravagant balcony suites to budget-friendly interior cabins. Learn more about the options below and contact one of our expert cruise consultants for help picking the best one for your needs.

We Make Vacation Planning Easy

With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help. Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money.

Expert guidance. No booking fees.

Find a cruise.

• All Cruise Types
• Popular Cruises
• Luxury Cruises

Vacation Deals

Destinations & ports.

• All Destinations

Cruise Lines

• Popular Cruise Lines
• Luxury Cruise Lines
• River Cruise Lines
• All Cruise Lines
• All About Cruising
• Already Booked

Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals.

• Monthly Newsletter

• CruiseMapper

Emerald Princess cabins and suites

Emerald princess staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

Emerald Princess cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by Princess Cruises en-suite amenities and services.

The Emerald Princess cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

2-Bedroom Family Suite

Layout (floor plan), balcony suite, balcony cabin, oceanview cabin, interior cabin, emerald princess cabins review.

Emerald Princess cabins with balconies are 881 (80% of all the 1103 outside rooms). Wheelchair-accessible cabins (for disabled passengers) are 31 (of which 1 suite, 4 mini-suites, 16 balconies, 4 outsides, 6 insides).

Follows the review of Emerald Princess staterooms as amenities, furniture and included (complimentary) services:

Emerald Princess Suites have a walk-in closet (ample storage space), living room (sofa bed, desk), vanity, table, armchairs, bathroom (WC, shower stall, whirlpool bathtub, double sinks).

Family Suites are with 3 connected rooms (the living room is in between). Both bedrooms are with ample closet space, bathroom (shower, bathtub), desk, drawer. The living room has a sofa bed, floor-ceiling sliding doors leading to a large balcony.

Bonus amenities in all Suites are the deluxe mattress/pillows, 2 smart HDTVs, CD/DVD player, upgraded bathroom amenities (massage showerheads, luxury bath products), luxury furniture on the balcony, complimentary services (Spa Thermal Suite, Internet Cafe, laundry/dry cleaning, one-time minibar).

All balcony accommodations feature sliding glass doors (floor-ceiling) opening to a private verandah, equipped with a round table and patio chairs.

Balcony cabins have ample closet space, bathroom (shower), desk, drawer, and some have additional beds for 3rd/4th person.

Oceanview cabins have picture window (category OE have Porthole Window, and category OV are with an obstructed view.

Inside cabins have the same size and amenities as Ocean-View rooms but lack the window.

All Emerald Princess cabins as amenities have living area (vanity, desk, seating), 2 twin beds (convertible to queen), deluxe bedding sets (Egyptian cotton linens), closet, desk, smart HDTV (infotainment system, Internet, on-demand-movies), direct-dial phone, electronic safe box and lifejackets (in the closet), hairdryer, bath products (shampoo, body lotion, conditioner), mini-bar/fridge, individual air-conditioning, evening turndown service, complimentary 24-hour room service.

During drydock 2019 refurbishment, all Emerald Princess staterooms were upgraded with the company’s new signature “Princess Luxury Bed”. The new “cruise bed” was developed in collaboration with PhD Michael Breus (commonly known as “The Sleep Doctor”) and the designer Candice Olson. The new beds feature a luxury pillow-top mattress, individually wrapped coils (reducing surface sway) and hypoallergenic duvets.

“Club Class Mini-Suite” is a new cabin category to be rolled out across the entire fleet through September 2017. The new (VIP-guest) Mini-Suite cabins include the following complimentary services and amenities – “Club Class Dining”, Elite Lounge exclusive access, complimentary in-cabin dining (hours d’ oeuvres), priority embarkation/disembarkation/tendering. Club Class Dining includes a separate area part of the MDR (main dining room) reserved for Club Suite guests only. The exclusive dining experience includes expedited seating, dedicated waiter staff service, exclusive menu (featuring chef’s specials) and tableside preparation of some dishes. Club Class Dining is available for breakfast and dinner every day, plus for lunch on sea days only. The new suites replace a number of existing mini-suites. Their cabin size and layouts remain the same as the other mini suite grades.

Emerald Princess cabin and suite plans are property of Princess Cruises . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

Premium Oceanview

A room with an expansive view

Whether the calm of the deep blue sea or the adventure 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 and the added benefit of ocean views that bring an airy openness to the space.

• Approx. 212 sq. ft.
• Stunning ocean-view window
• Comfortable queen or two twin beds ▲
• Refrigerator
• Flat-panel television
• Private bathroom with shower
• 100% cotton, high-thread count linens
• Spacious closet
• Desk with chair
• Hair dryer & bathroom amenities
• Digital security safe

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

Photos, floor plan diagrams, and amenities represent typical arrangements and may vary by ship. Certain stateroom categories may vary in size and configuration by ship. Square footage varies based on stateroom category and deck location.

• Princess Cruises

How do four people fit in a balcony stateroom?

By Fritzie , June 18, 2007 in Princess Cruises

Recommended Posts

We're a family of 4 sailing on the Island next month. We have a balcony stateroom--not a mini--and for the life of me, I cannot figure where the two extra beds go! My TA says there's a fold-out couch, but I've been looking at the floorplans and don't see any.:confused: I do see there is a note that says my room may accommodate 3 or 4 people. Just wondering how exactly that's done, short of one of us sleeping on the balcony!

Anyone with pictures/explanations?

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

Toto2Kansas

I would get a new TA to start with! ;)

There are NO fold out couchs in a balcony cabin on the Island.

There will be two lower single beds and two upper type bunks that fold out of the wall or drop from the ceiling. No sitting area at all to speak of during the day but one upholstered small chair and a desk chair.

I sure wish these TA's would look into some of this stuff before they pass along the wrong information to their clients. ARGH!

The two extra beds are located in the ceilings. They are actually the most comfortable beds I've ever slept in. They fold down, which creates a somewhat cramped quarters when all 4 beds are in use, but it's a convenient way to keep everyone in the same room.

Hope this helps, and hope you have a great cruise!!!

You should also know that they will generally not configure the 2 lower berths to a queen if you are using the upper berths.....for safety reasons.

Toto...sounds like they need more "Commodore" TAs! :D Perhaps they'd hire you and me!.....Nah...they couldn't pay me enough!

MaryPoppinz

Invite your TA to come with you -- there's room for her on the fold out couch. ;)

Just amazes me that a TA would not know the configuration of a balcony cabin on Princess. This person must be brand new; can't think of any other reason to not know this. He/she should at least have researched this before giving out incorrect information.

Beryl, sometimes I read stuff like this that travel agents put out and it explains why some passengers return from their cruise and it has not at all met their expectations. Well heck, if you are told the wrong info, that could really make you unhappy once you get to your stateroom, I know it would me.

I still remember a guy on our cruise on the old Crown Princess to Tahiti, you could hear him yelling all the way down the hall. The poor room steward took the blunt of his anger when the man opened the door to his balcony cabin and yelled "wait a minute, this can't be my room, I didn't pay for a closet, I was told there would be a sofa in there". The guy was so angry knowing he had 12 days ahead of him with the Princess type balcony cabin. I was pretty sure the man had also been misinformed and trusted whoever he booked with and had not researched his cabin on his own. I mean, if you can't trust your TA, especially new cruisers, who can you trust? Back then, there wasn't internet for research like there is today.

I also agree, no thanks, they couldn't pay me enough!

We do it all the time as a family of four. It's not fun, but we manage. We spend little time in the room and lots of time on our balcony (we call the Promenade deck our balcony!). Saves us money for excursions.

Some people may use brick and morter TAs who sell all types of vacation packages and may not sell many cruises. While I agree with the above that they should have checked it out before answering the question - I think those of us who use Cruise Only agents are lucky to book with specialists as my guess is the majority of people out there book with agents whose cruise sales make up only a small fraction of their sales. While we know Princess inside and out - those who sell a lot of Disneyworld/Las Vegas vacations probably do not. I do have to commend the agent - they did recommend Princess :)

DrivesLikeMario

The beds that come down from the ceiling are very comfortable. I just wouldn't want to squish that many people in a regular balcony cabin.

You're more adventurous than I! :eek:

I would get a new TA to start with! ;) There are NO fold out couchs in a balcony cabin on the Island. There will be two lower single beds and two upper type bunks that fold out of the wall or drop from the ceiling. No sitting area at all to speak of during the day but one upholstered small chair and a desk chair.   I sure wish these TA's would look into some of this stuff before they pass along the wrong information to their clients. ARGH!

I always tell folks to check your facts before you open your mouth.

The two extra beds are located in the ceilings. They are actually the most comfortable beds I've ever slept in. They fold down, which creates a somewhat cramped quarters when all 4 beds are in use, but it's a convenient way to keep everyone in the same room.   Hope this helps, and hope you have a great cruise!!!

Thanks--your response was most encouraging, given that this is our first cruise as a family. :o

And our TA is with an agency that specializes in Alaskan cruises... Hmm....

Well, we'll make lemonade out of it all if we need to! And we plan to spend a lot of time on our balcony and in the rest of the ship! (I guess we don't really have a choice now, do we?!)

Thanks for all the responses.

We had 3 in a balcony cabin, and was originally booked for 4. If you go into it with the right attitude, then you will do fine. The one thing that our cabin steward pointed out is that when both beds are down, it is more difficult to view the TV by the person in the farthest pullman and the person under it. If we did have the 4 people, we still would have been ok with it. We aren't there to watch TV. We did book a Caribe Deck balcony so we had more room out there and it didn't seem cramped at all. I think we would have done well if our other daughter had decided to come after all. And this was a 15-day cruise.

And even with the one pullman used, we were still able to use the queen below. We just put the ladder at the end and she moved it out of the way after she crawled up there. No issues at all.

Cruise Gypsy

Does anyway have a picture of the bunk beds? I am having trouble picturing it in my head?

Thanks--your response was most encouraging, given that this is our first cruise as a family. :o And our TA is with an agency that specializes in Alaskan cruises... Hmm....

Well - I called that totally wrong. I thought it would be a local agency.

Thank you, Suziehmkr!

I'm obsessed with having all the details before we sail. Ultimately, I'm not going to be able to change anything, so it is all about the attitude! And a week on a cruise beats just about anything else, anyway! :D

Sure - and now that I think about it, the other person in the pullman closest to the TV wouldn't be able to see either because I think they pull down facing each other... I am not making any sense. But needless to say - any tv watching will need to be done when the beds are up.

But it is Alaska! Who needs tv? You have be BEST scenery out on your balcony. Have a GREAT time. While we weren't thrilled with certain aspects of Princess, we did LOVE the Island Princess herself. She is easy to navigate and very pretty! Enjoy Alaska, spend alot of time on your balcony and drink in that view! I am jealous... we were supposed to be in Alaska next week on the Radiance and cancelled several months ago due to some conflicts. I wish you beautiful weather when you get there. :)

A number of folks here say "how could a TA give wrong info" but I think there is room for confusion. We are booked on the Dawn C629 which is a balcony cabin. Most of the info we have seen says that these cabins do not have a sofa but if you go to the Princess online booking for our cruise and say you want to book a balcony cabin the descriptive text says "Twin beds that make up into a queen-size bed. Separate sitting area with sofa bed and desk. Spacious closet and bathroom with shower. Approximately 179 square feet including balcony.". Although we would really like to have this sofa bed in our cabin, I'm not holding my breath. [And I'm hoping that our waitlist request for a mini comes through.]

Again, totally confused on Princess describing this cabin like this. Here is the description copy and pasted from the Dawn Princess section on the Princess website as to that room:

On Dawn Princess, Room C629 represents the Oceanview Double With Balcony stateroom and is located on the Caribe Deck.

Two lower beds, which make up into a queen-size bed. Sitting area with desk. Balcony. Television. Refrigerator. Spacious closet. Approximately 179 square feet including balcony.

I can't find any description for that cabin on the Dawn on Princess which describes it with a sofa bed. Just a sitting area with a desk, which is all that is offered in all of the balcony cabins. Only thing they are leaving out is that there is one small upholstered chair next to the desk also.

We're a family of 4 sailing on the Island next month. We have a balcony stateroom--not a mini--and for the life of me, I cannot figure where the two extra beds go! My TA says there's a fold-out couch, but I've been looking at the floorplans and don't see any.:confused: I do see there is a note that says my room may accommodate 3 or 4 people. Just wondering how exactly that's done, short of one of us sleeping on the balcony! Anyone with pictures/explanations? Thanks!

V E R Y C A R E F U L L Y!.....lol...... Sorry, couldn't pass that up.......

Ok, on a serious note..... Get your travel agent involved.... Not all rooms sleep 3 or 4 people. I almost made a mistake on one of my cruises of booking for 2 (the 3rd was iffy) with the assumption that I could just "add on" a 3rd person later. Not so.... Thank god I checked on it early...... We were fine but it could have been a problem. With that said, we were 3 women in the cabin and did fine. It will be easier with if you have small kids space wise.... But 4 adults, that would be tough..... There are often 2 bunks that come out of the wall..... I personally don't care for that..... It doesn't seem stable for me...... lol...... good luck

Again, totally confused on Princess describing this cabin like this. Here is the description copy and pasted from the Dawn Princess section on the Princess website as to that room:   On Dawn Princess, Room C629 represents the Oceanview Double With Balcony stateroom and is located on the Caribe Deck. Two lower beds, which make up into a queen-size bed. Sitting area with desk. Balcony. Television. Refrigerator. Spacious closet. Approximately 179 square feet including balcony.   I can't find any description for that cabin on the Dawn on Princess which describes it with a sofa bed. Just a sitting area with a desk, which is all that is offered in all of the balcony cabins. Only thing they are leaving out is that there is one small upholstered chair next to the desk also.

Toto - the quad balcony cabins on the Sun class are a totally different beast. They have a bench (couch) that makes into a bed and a bed on the other side of the wall. They have 2 beds that come out of the wall. The 1 lower bed and one bench are anchored to the wall. Imagine walking into a closet with 2 beds on either side. They are the most undesireable cabins on the Sun class ships. If 2 people have this room - the beds can not be made into one.

So, technically there is a couch but I would call it a sitting bench that is soft. It is not a couch in the traditional sense.

If you go to the Princess site and pretend you want to book the Dawn 24Sep08 cruise and follow the steps to book a balcony you will get to the description I posted. I know that does not describe the actual room (in fact, except for the sq. ft. it sounds like the room we were just in on the Royal).

On the Dawn Princess our outside balcony had 1 chair and 1 stool in the cabin plus the beds and 2 chairs on the balcony. I can't imagine 4 people in that stateroom.

We have booked a mini suite on the Coral P for our next trip.

Toto - the quad balcony cabins on the Sun class are a totally different beast. They have a bench (couch) that makes into a bed and a bed on the other side of the wall. They have 2 beds that come out of the wall. The 1 lower bed and one bench are anchored to the wall. Imagine walking into a closet with 2 beds on either side. They are the most undesireable cabins on the Sun class ships. If 2 people have this room - the beds can not be made into one.   So, technically there is a couch but I would call it a sitting bench that is soft. It is not a couch in the traditional sense.

Coral, I remember those pics someone (might have been you) posted for the quads, very tiny space from what I saw. I just couldn't understand where Princess was listing this balcony cabin on this ship with a sofa bed, as I could not find it no matter how hard I looked. Thanks for the reminder on the quads though. ;)

cruzinchris

On Dawn Princess, Room C629 represents the Oceanview Double With Balcony stateroom and is located on the Caribe Deck. Two lower beds, which make up into a queen-size bed. Sitting area with desk. Balcony. Television. Refrigerator. Spacious closet. Approximately 179 square feet including balcony.   Only thing they are leaving out is that there is one small upholstered chair next to the desk also.

DH and I were in C601 that is along the same part of the alleyway and same category as C629. We definitely didn't have a bench/sofabed - there's barely room for the "comfy" chair - and the space between the corner closet and foot of the bed is a little tight ;) .

I know that C629 was exactly the same as our stateroom because there was a small fire in that cabin during our cruise. The doors were kept open while the room was being aired/cleaned following the mishap. Anyone who was in their stateroom in that section of the alleyway was asked to leave until the situation was under control. We went walking on Promenade deck and had barely made it halfway around when the "all clear" was announced by Captain Tony.

We loved the Dawn and would sail her again in a heartbeat.

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 18 hours ago

LauraS · Started 19 hours ago

LauraS · Started Thursday at 03:31 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 02:21 PM

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 10:25 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

• Princess Cruises

How do the beds configured for 4 persons in a balcony cabin on the Discovery Princess?

By screenname2004 , April 9, 2022 in Princess Cruises

Recommended Posts

screenname2004

I was looking for a balcony cabin on the Discovery Princess and noticed some balcony cabins allow up to 4 people. When I searched the web, I found images of interior cabins with 4 beds but can't find any picture of balcony cabin with 4 beds. Anyone has a picture how they arrange the beds?

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

1 hour ago, screenname2004 said: I was looking for a balcony cabin on the Discovery Princess and noticed some balcony cabins allow up to 4 people. When I searched the web, I found images of interior cabins with 4 beds but can't find any picture of balcony cabin with 4 beds. Anyone has a picture how they arrange the beds?

Two drop down from the ceiling (they are recessed when not in use) and for best access, the lower bed is split into twins.  One of the uppers will block the balcony door, but is normally only left down in the evenings.  Princess should have a photo somewhere.

In a balcony category cabin the upper berths allow access to the balcony sliding door. In mini suites the sliding door is pretty much blocked.

JF - retired RRT

3 hours ago, Steelers36 said: Princess should have a photo somewhere.

More likely on YouTube.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 18 hours ago

LauraS · Started 19 hours ago

LauraS · Started Thursday at 03:31 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 02:21 PM

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 10:25 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

Princess is launching an all-inclusive, 4-month, around-the-world cruise for $20,000— see what it'll be like

• Princess Cruises announced a 114-day  world cruise to 52 destinations in 2026, starting at $20,000 per person. 
• Guests who book early would get a free, all-inclusive package, a first for Princess' global itineraries.
• Extended and all-inclusive cruises have emerged as big trends in the vacation industry.

Princess Cruise's new around-the-world voyage will hit two vacation trends in one itinerary.

In January 2026, the company says its Coral Princess will embark on a 114-day cruise to 52 ports in 28 countries and six continents — more destinations than any of its previous global sailings .

It's the Carnival Corp brand's latest appeal to the extended cruising trend . But it's not the only fad this four-month vacation is targeting.

The sailing, which starts at $20,000 per person, also marks the first time Princess is offering a complimentary all-inclusive package as a way to entice early bookings.

Ultra-long and all-inclusive cruises have emerged as big trends in the industry.

Regent Seven Seas, Azamara, and Oceania's 2024 around-the-world cruises all sold out before departing in January. The former was fully booked within three hours, while every cabin on the latter was called for in 30 minutes.

Besides being high-end, these three companies share one commonality: some level of all-inclusiveness , as is common with premium cruise lines.

Mass-market cruise companies rarely go the all-inclusive route.

Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian are generally beloved for their affordability.

But if you want to experience all their ships have to offer, be prepared to face a list of up-charged amenities like pay-to-play rides and specialty restaurants . After all, there's a reason their base fares are much cheaper than their increasingly popular ultra-luxury, all-inclusive counterparts.

But Princess has been increasingly vying for a slice of the luxury cruiser pie.

The cruise line says guests who book its 2026 world cruise early (that is, by the end of October) will receive its most inclusive Princess Premier package for free. The perk — launched two years ago — covers amenities that typically have a fee, like WiFi, premium drinks, some specialty restaurants, and workout classes.

Travelers who reserve one of the ship's high-end cabins by the same deadline would also receive complimentary airport transfers and airfare, services normally exclusively offered by luxury cruise lines .

The itinerary would have two roundtrip embarkation options: Fort. Lauderdale, Florida, on January 5, 2026, or Los Angeles 16 days later.

From there, the 2,000-guest Coral Princess would sail more than 35,000 nautical miles to ports in North America, the Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia, Asia, the Mediterranean, Europe, and Central and South America.

It wouldn't be Princess' longest voyage — that title goes to its 116-day world cruise in 2025 — but it would be one of its most destination-heavy.

While two days longer, next year's around-the-world cruise would hit six fewer ports and four fewer countries than its 2026 counterpart.

According to the itinerary, about half of the 2026 voyage consists of sea days.

That's a lot of time on the water with no land in sight. Luckily, travelers can keep themselves entertained by attending lectures and programs related to the destinations, leisuring around the adult-only lounge, or taking a dip in Coral Princess' four pools.

The 21-year-old ship also has 10 places to grab a bite, although the Italian and steakhouse restaurants are considered specialty. Premier is the cruise line's most inclusive package, but it only includes 16 free dinners at these upcharge restaurants, paced once a week.

Princess is still a mass-market cruise line, after all.

The company has been increasingly dangling its inclusive package as a big perk.

The company says its two-month-old Sun Princess will debut in the US in October with its first-ever Sanctuary Collection . Travelers who splurge on these expensive and luxurious accommodations would be rewarded with two major benefits: a private lounge and Princess Premier.

• Main content

I've stayed in 3 types of rooms on cruises, and the cheapest was never worth it. Here's what to book instead.

• I'm a frequent cruise traveler who's stayed in a variety of onboard accommodations.
• The least expensive rooms have no view and are usually cramped, especially if shared by a family.
• Splurging on a higher-category cabin on my last cruise was the best decision I made.

Automatically booking the cheapest room on a cruise ship without doing proper research first can ruin a trip. 

As someone who's been going on cruises for over 10 years, I've learned that the price tag for these vacations can vary based on a number of factors — from cruise line to trip duration to room category.

Staying in the most standard-level cabin seems like an obvious way to keep costs down. But after trying out three different room categories, both with and without my kids, I've found that a ship's least expensive option is almost never worth it.

Based on my experience in three different cruise-room categories, here are the ones I recommend skipping and the ones I recommend splurging on.

Interior staterooms are limited in space and privacy

The standard (and least expensive) room on any cruise ship is typically called an inside or interior stateroom.

These cabins often sleep three to four people and are located in the middle of the ship, with no exterior view of the vessel's surroundings. 

I've stayed in interior staterooms on a Carnival Cruise Line ship and a Disney Cruise Line ship . Aside from different decor styles and a few small touches, this room category is fairly standard across the board. 

When I'm on a cruise, I like to wake up and open my curtains to look at the ocean or the port where the ship is docked , which isn't an option in these inward-looking cabins.

Apart from having no view, interior staterooms are very small. The exact square footage varies but, for reference, the Disn ey Fantasy cruise ship's interior stateroom is 169 square feet and a Royal Caribbean ship's version is around the same size at 164 square feet .

To put those numbers into perspective, standard hotel rooms in the US are, on average, around 330 square feet , almost double the size of the entry-level cruise accommodation.

I want to be able to maneuver around without tripping over luggage, accent furniture, or my own family members. And because of the lack of space in interior staterooms, that's a challenge.

This category is definitely the most economical option, making it ideal for travelers on a budget .

However, if families, especially ones traveling with teens, can swing an alternative, they should steer clear of cramming into an interior stateroom and opt for a category with more space and privacy.

Ocean-view staterooms provide slightly more space but can still feel cramped

The next category up is usually an ocean-view stateroom.

With an outward-facing window, ocean-view staterooms are a solid mid-tier option for travelers who want more space than an interior stateroom offers but don't want to spend extra for a balcony room.

Their exact size and capacity range from ship to ship, but Disney Fantasy's ocean-view staterooms are 204 square feet , and Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas' version is 179 square feet .

Many of these accommodations fit up to five people. If you have more than four family members (yes, infants who are six months and older are part of the headcount), making the jump from an interior stateroom to an ocean-view stateroom is absolutely worth the extra money.

Some cruise lines sell ocean-view rooms as the entry-level category for families of five or more travelers , simply because many interior staterooms can only accommodate a maximum of four guests.

My top pick is balcony staterooms, which offer privacy and plenty of space 

Balcony staterooms, also known as veranda staterooms, are usually the largest accommodation option you can get without concierge service or extras.

I recommend this category to all travelers setting sail in the future for one reason: the private balcony.

You can open your curtains and enjoy the sights outside, similar to the experience of staying in an ocean-view stateroom. But in this room type, you can step out onto a balcony and take in the sounds and smells, too. 

The rooms' sizes and capacities depend on the ship, but balcony staterooms are usually larger than ocean-view staterooms and tend to sleep up to five guests . Even if the rooms' living spaces aren't substantially bigger, they have the added space of the veranda. 

Including the terrace, balcony staterooms on the Disney Fantasy are 246 square feet and are between 214 square feet to 279 square feet on Princess Cruises' fleet.

When my family stayed in a balcony stateroom on a seven-night cruise, we made great use of the outdoor space. On a shorter cruise, where the balcony itself might not get as much use, I would still book this category for my family.

The upgrade was completely worth the price increase, especially because we were traveling with two sets of grandparents .

To make the most of the balcony staterooms, we even turned our individual verandas into one large terrace by having our steward remove the partitions between rooms. 

This story was originally published on May 25, 2022, and most recently updated on February 5, 2024.

28 countries for $25K? Princess' World Cruise will offer 'more all-inclusive experience'

On Princess Cruises’ 2026 world cruise, the line will one-up itself.

The 114-day sailing will visit 52 ports, the most destinations for any of the line’s world cruises.

Terry Thornton, the line’s chief commercial officer said the voyage “addresses a growing interest in longer voyages that make stops at more exotic destinations, and the urge to do it as part of a more all-inclusive experience,” according to a news release .

“Our 2026 World Cruise offers our most destination-rich itinerary ever so guests can immerse themselves in a global experience rich with landmarks, ancient ruins, unique landscapes, wildlife, gastronomy, cultures and heritage,” he added.

What is a world cruise? It's not a 'shoot-from-the-hip decision'

When is Princess’ 2026 world cruise?

The cruise will sail round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Jan. 5, 2026, on the line’s 2,000-guest Coral Princess ship.

 Guests can also opt to sail round-trip from Los Angeles on Jan. 21 instead.

Where will the cruise go?

Guests will sail to 28 countries on six continents, and the stops will give passengers access to 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The itinerary also features late departures from more than a dozen ports, including Honolulu, Hawaii, Singapore, and Sydney, Australia. Guests will also stay overnight in Hong Kong.

The cruise will include the line's first-ever stop in Boracay, an island in the Philippines, and Coral Princess will make new world cruise calls to Puerto Chiapas, Mexico and Ponta Delgada in Portugal’s Azores Islands . Guests can enjoy destination-specific programming on board, such as themed deck and sail-away parties, lectures on Mediterranean history and art, World War II and more.

How much does the cruise cost?

The round-trip Fort Lauderdale departure currently starts at $25,214 per person based on double occupancy, while the Los Angeles option starts at $24,004, according to the line’s website .

Guests who book by Oct. 31, 2024, will get a complimentary Princess Premier package that includes Wi-Fi, premium alcoholic drinks, specialty coffee and more; $500 in onboard credit each for two passengers; and transfers from local airports, among other perks.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].