Grand Princess: Ultimate Guide

The Grand Princess may be one of the older voyages in the Princess Cruises fleet, but the cruise ship still has plenty to offer. After wrapping up her time sailing in Australia, she’s now charting a new course through the Caribbean and Alaska for the 2025/2026 season.

With space for around 2,590 guests, Grand Princess is smaller than the newer mega-ships, which means less crowding and a more laid-back onboard vibe. She’s got the classic Princess touches with elegant dining rooms, Movies Under the Stars, and plenty of balcony cabins for sea views.

If you’re after a mid-sized cruise ship that still ticks all the boxes (solid dining, decent entertainment, and a mix of warm and wild destinations) Grand Princess might just be your pick for the year ahead.

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2025/26 Itineraries and Destinations

Grand Princess won’t be making her usual rounds in Australia this season. Instead, she’s heading north for a mix of Alaska and Caribbean itineraries in 2025/26.

Starting in April 2025, she’ll sail a one-way cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, stopping at places like Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Astoria and Victoria. From there, it’s a full Alaska season and passengers will get to see Glacier Bay, Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan on classic 7-day roundtrip itineraries from Vancouver.

After wrapping up the Alaska run, Grand Princess is off to the Caribbean in early 2026. She’ll be cruising out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 7-night Southern Caribbean trips with stops in sun-soaked spots like St. Kitts, Dominica, Grenada, and Barbados.

So if you’re chasing glaciers or island time, she’s got both covered this season, just not anywhere near Sydney.

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Dining and Culinary Experience

Grand Princess has three main dining rooms: Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli. Michelangelo is designated for Anytime Dining. Da Vinci offers both set-seating and Anytime Dining, and also serves waiter-assisted breakfast. Botticelli is reserved for set-seating dinners. All three main dining rooms share the same dinner menu.​

Guests preferring casual dining can visit the Horizon Court buffet, which offers a diverse selection of international dishes. Notably, Indian cuisine is particularly recommended.​

The previously featured Café Caribe, which transformed Horizon Court at night to serve Caribbean flavors, is no longer available.​

For those seeking freshly baked croissants and light meals, the 24/7 International Café located in the Piazza provides an ever-changing array of small-bite meals, treats, and gourmet beverages.

Alfredo’s Pizzeria is an Italian specialty restaurant that caters to passengers craving hand-tossed pizza. With an open kitchen design, the staff prepares fresh dough daily, offering a selection of pizzas. Each Princess ship features a signature pizza; on Grand Princess, it includes buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, Parma ham, and shaved Parmesan.​

In addition to complimentary dining, guests may opt for specialty dining experiences reflecting regional flavors from around the world.

Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria is renowned for its handmade pasta and risotto, inspired by the culinary expertise of Chef Angelo Auriana, executive chef of Los Angeles’s The Factory Kitchen.​

Crown Grill is acclaimed as one of the “Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses,” offering premium aged beef. Here, chefs prepare top-notch cuts of beef, chops, and seafood to order.​

Chef’s Table provides a multi-course dinner accompanied by champagne for special occasions. Guests receive a personalized autographed copy of the Princess’s best-selling cookbook, a handwritten copy of the special menu, and a complimentary photo.​

Ultimate Balcony Dining offers a private dining experience with a view. Guests enjoy a multi-course meal, including succulent lobster tail and juicy steak, their choice of beverage, and hors d’oeuvres, all served on their own balcony by the ship’s dedicated waitstaff.

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Onboard Activities (Family, Kids, and Couple)

Families

Whether you’re travelling with little ones or teens who think they’ve seen it all, Grand Princess has plenty to keep families busy. From Movies Under the Stars by the pool to group trivia, game shows, and friendly table tennis matches, there’s always something going on. The International Café and Horizon Court are solid pit stops when the whole crew needs a snack break.

There’s also a library, board games, live music, and deck parties that work for all ages. And if you want to do your own thing for a bit, the kids have their own supervised spaces (more on that below).

Kids and Teens

You’ve got three main zones for kids and teens onboard, each part of the Camp Discovery Youth & Teen Program, developed in partnership with Discovery™:

• The Treehouse (Ages 3–7) – Bright, colourful, and packed with games, crafts, and storytelling.
  
• The Lodge (Ages 8–12) – Think science experiments, scavenger hunts, and video games.
  
• The Beach House (Ages 13–17) – A more laid-back hangout spot with dance classes, movies, sports competitions, and late-night events.

The staff are trained, the spaces are safe, and the programs are age-appropriate, so parents can relax knowing the kids are looked after.

Couples

If you’re travelling as a couple, Grand Princess offers plenty of ways to unwind and enjoy each other’s company. You can book a day at The Sanctuary, the adults-only retreat where it’s all peace and quiet, padded loungers, and waiter service. For something more indulgent, there’s the onboard spa and salon, with massages, facials, and couples’ treatments available. 

In the evening, you’ve got live entertainment across the ship—from Broadway-style shows in the Princess Theater to live music in the lounges. And of course, there’s Movies Under the Stars for a poolside film night, complete with blankets and snacks. When it’s time to eat, you can keep it classic with a formal night in the dining room or book a table at one of the specialty restaurants like Sabatini’s for something a bit more intimate.

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Accommodations Details

Grand Princess has a total of 1,303 cabins, including 37 Suites, 502 Balcony Rooms, 218 Oceanview Rooms, and 366 Inside Cabins. Additionally, it also has 26 accessible or wheelchair-friendly staterooms.

The ship’s only Grand Suite measures approximately 68 square metres and has a balcony of around 11–17 square metres, in an area that can accommodate four passengers. It is located at the portside aft on Deck 12. It’s the ship’s largest accommodation and includes some additional perks like a queen-sized bed. Guests will also get a complimentary mini-bar set-up and an enhanced turn-down service.

The 24-stateroom Balcony Suite is divided into several sub-categories, namely: S2-Owner’s, S3-Penthouse, S4-Premium, S5-S6-Vista. Additionally, Balcony Suite staterooms measure from 28 to 38 square metres. The Balcony Suite can accommodate up to 4 passengers.

On the other hand, the 7-stateroom Window Suite can accommodate 3 guests. It measures approximately 30 to 32 square metres.

Furthermore, the ship’s Mini Suite accommodation has a total of 180 staterooms with a uniform area of around 30 square metres and a balcony that measures 5–6 square metres.

Grand Princess also has 502 Balcony Cabins that measure around 20–24 square metres, including the balcony. Each stateroom has a total room capacity of four passengers. The Oceanview, on the other hand, has 218 staterooms distributed across 4 decks. Oceanview staterooms range from 15 to 18 square metres in area.

The vessel’s most budget-friendly accommodation is the Interior Cabin, which has 366 staterooms. Interiors can accommodate up to four guests in twin beds or bunk beds and range from 15 to 17 square metres in area.

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Deck Plan

Grand Princess deck plan showcases a total of 1,301 staterooms, 14 restaurants and bars, 7 lounges, 4 swimming pools, 8 outdoor jacuzzis, and 14 elevators.

The Piazza, the International Café, Vines Bar, and Alfredo’s Pizzeria are all located on Deck 5, along with Interior (IC, IF) and Oceanview (OC, OF) accommodations.

One deck up, on Deck 6, are the Shops of Princess, the Grand Casino, and two of the three main dining rooms: Da Vinci and Botticelli.

Deck 7 houses specialty dining restaurants like Sabatini’s and Crown Grill, as well as the Explorer’s Lounge and the Vista Lounge.

Decks 8 through 12 are primarily staterooms, with the Terrace Pool located on Deck 12.

Deck 14 is home to the Horizon Court, Calypso Reef and Pool, Neptune’s Reef and Pool, along with some staterooms.

For partygoers, fun seekers, and spa enthusiasts, Deck 15 caters to their needs with the Lotus Spa, the amphitheater where Movies Under the Stars takes place, and the One5 Lounge.

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FAQs