Island Princess Balcony Cabin Review: What Cruise Lines Don't Tell You About Deck 10
By Tom and Dom Travel | Updated: 13 September 2026
The spacious layout of our Island Princess balcony cabin, featuring a large bed, vanity desk, and balcony access
Is choosing an older cruise ship a recipe for cramped, dated accommodation, or do classic vessels actually offer better living space than modern mega-liners?
When planning a voyage, your cabin is your private sanctuary at sea. Modern ships boast shiny decor, yet their standard staterooms frequently feel narrower, with balconies that seem to shrink with every new build.
After dozens of cruises and hundreds of days at sea across various lines, we have learned that a cruise line's marketing gloss does not always match the reality onboard. Having spent 16 nights living in cabin C302 on Deck 10 aboard Island Princess, we discovered plenty of pleasant surprises, alongside a few distinct quirks that every cruiser ought to know before booking.
An Island Princess balcony cabin provides generous floor space, an expansive walk-in wardrobe, and a larger balcony than newer Royal-class vessels. While older hardware means limited bedside power sockets and a clingy bathroom shower curtain, the superb bed comfort, massive television, and quiet forward location make it a cracking choice for longer itineraries.
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Our BALCONY CABIN C302 TOUR and REVIEW on ISLAND Princess!
This is our cabin tour and review of Island Princess Standard Balcony Cabin C302. We sailed on Island Princess for 16 nights and visited a number of ports in Ireland, Iceland and Greenland. We stayed in an a standard balcony cabin that was located on Deck 10/Caribe.
Using the Princess Medallion sensor and digital screen to unlock our door and request cabin service on Deck 10
First Impressions and MedallionClass Tech
Island Princess joined the fleet in 2003 as a Panamax vessel, purpose-built to glide through the historic Panama Canal locks. While she carries a classic cruising atmosphere, the onboard technology has been brought right into the modern era with the Princess MedallionClass system.
Approaching cabin C302 on Caribe Deck (Deck 10), unlocking the door is completely faff-free. The wall sensor detects your wearable Medallion disc automatically, unlocking the latch before you even touch the door handle.
Right beside the entrance, an interactive touch screen allows you to digitally toggle between "Do Not Disturb" and requesting cabin steward service. It is a neat, seamless touch that eliminates flimsy cardboard door hangers entirely.
Once inside the door, the mandatory safety card and muster station details are posted clearly on the panel. Princess has made the muster drill remarkably simple: watch the safety video on your stateroom television or mobile app, then pop down to your designated muster station to have your Medallion scanned by a crew member.
Storage and Wardrobe Space: A Classic Win
If there is one area where older cruise ships outshine modern new-builds, it is functional storage. Directly opposite a handy full-length mirror sits an open walk-in wardrobe area that left us thoroughly impressed.
Storage space inside cabin C302 includes:
A full-width hanging rail with a generous supply of wooden hangers
Overhead deep shelving running the entire width of the wardrobe recess
Generous floor space below the clothes rail, ideal for tucking away empty suitcases and shoes
A vertical shelving cubby housing the digital personal safe
The safe is nestled inside the shelving column. While it easily accommodates passports, wallets, jewellery, and an iPad, it will not fit a standard full-sized laptop.
Having this dedicated dressing corridor separate from the main sleeping quarters keeps the cabin uncluttered throughout a longer cruise.
The compact bathroom inside our Island Princess cabin, complete with washbasin, toilet, and shower cubicle
The Bathroom: Compact Living and the Dreaded Curtain
While the wardrobe felt palatial, the bathroom brought us back down to earth. Compact is an understatement here. It is fully functional, but space is definitely at a premium.
The vanity unit features a single sink with a mixer tap, a soap dish, hand lotion, two water tumblers, and a dedicated 115V/230V shaver socket. Underneath the counter, you will find a small waste bin and facial tissues, alongside wall shelving for toiletries.
The shower arrangement, however, proved to be our biggest gripe:
Compact footprint: Turning around inside the cubicle without bumping the sides requires genuine care.
Shower curtain cling: Rather than modern glass doors, the shower uses a fabric curtain that loves to drift inwards and stick to you mid-wash.
Water leakage: If the curtain shifts slightly out of place, water escapes onto the linoleum, leaving the entire bathroom floor soaked.
Amenities: Wall dispensers supply combination shampoo and conditioner alongside body wash, accompanied by a small corner shelf and a retractable laundry drying line.
If you value a roomy shower experience, this setup may test your patience, though the water pressure and temperature consistency remained spot-on during our journey.
The Living and Sleeping Area
Moving past the archway into the main bedroom area, the layout opens up into a warm, comfortable space. The climate control panel sits right by the entrance arch, offering straightforward up and down buttons that kept the room reliably comfortable.
The Princess Luxury Bed
Princess Cruises makes a huge fuss about their bespoke beds, developed alongside sleep experts, and we can confirm they are worth every penny.
The plush mattress, crisp linens, and supportive pillows ensured we never struggled to fall asleep after long days exploring ashore. Flanking each side of the bed is a bedside table with two storage drawers and a reading lamp.
One major drawback of the ship's age shows up here: there are no USB ports or electrical sockets anywhere near the bedside tables. If you rely on charging a phone beside you or use a bedside medical device, you will need a long extension lead running from the vanity unit.
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The dedicated vanity desk and getting-ready area, featuring a large wall mirror, hairdryer, and drawer storage
Vanity Desk and Power Sockets
Opposite the bed sits an expansive vanity table topped with a massive wall mirror, flanked by an integrated wall-mounted hairdryer, a desk chair, and additional storage drawers.
Power provision is the cabin's main operational weakness:
There are only two standard US 110V plug sockets in the entire stateroom, both located on the vanity unit.
Because these two sockets are placed close together, using a bulky UK-to-US travel adapter will physically block the second socket.
We recommend packing a compact adapter or an approved cruise-safe power strip (without surge protection) to keep your devices charged.
On embarkation day, the vanity desk held our Princess Plus package information, excursion tickets, and ship guides.
Television and Amenities
Directly mounted on the corner wall is a massive flat-screen television. Compared to the smaller screens found on many older vessels, this display is brilliant, offering complimentary on-demand films, live news, and voyage navigation tracking.
Below the screen, you will find:
A small corner worktop with drinking glasses and breakfast room-service door cards
A mini-fridge concealed inside the lower cabinetry (ideal for chilling bottled water, though showing some cosmetic wear)
A small occasional table and waste bin
Take note: because the large television extends outward from the corner wall, take care when bending down to open the fridge door so you do not knock your head on the edge of the screen.
In keeping with traditional American-style cruising, there is no kettle provided in the cabin as standard. However, a polite word with your friendly stateroom steward on day one will usually secure an electric kettle and tea mugs for your stay.
The Balcony: Size Matters
Stepping outside via the sliding glass door reveals why booking an Island Princess balcony cabin on Deck 10 remains such a popular choice.
Unlike the relatively narrow balconies on newer Royal-class ships, the balcony on C302 is deep and roomy. It easily accommodated:
Two outdoor chairs with supportive mesh seating
A small outdoor drinks table
Freshly updated deck flooring
While the balcony chairs and table exhibited some minor paint wear and rust spotting from the salt air, the space itself was fantastic for watching scenic sail-aways in comfort.
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Our Deck 10 balcony on Island Princess, complete with two outdoor chairs and a drinks table for sea days
Location Benefits: Deck 10 Forward
Cabin C302 sits in a prime forward position on Caribe Deck (Deck 10). Being just a few paces from the forward lift lobby made navigating the ship effortless.
Quick theater access: A swift journey down to Deck 7 brings you directly to the Princess Theater.
Direct route to food: Taking the lift straight up to Deck 14 lands you right at the Horizon Court buffet and open pool decks.
Minimal footfall: Because C302 is tucked into a forward passenger corridor, corridor noise was virtually nonexistent throughout our 16-night cruise.
Was It Worth It?
Without question, yes. An Island Princess balcony cabin represents solid value for money, particularly for travellers who prioritise interior room volume, storage capacity, and genuine bed comfort over ultra-modern bathroom hardware.
Who this cabin suits best:
Cruisers embarking on longer, destination-intensive itineraries (such as transatlantic sailings, Alaska, or Northern Europe) who require extensive wardrobe storage.
Passengers aged 45+ who appreciate quiet corridors, effortless lift access, and a proper night of restorative sleep.
Travellers who enjoy spending time reading outside on a genuinely spacious balcony.
Who may want to look elsewhere:
Anyone who cannot tolerate a compact bathroom with a fabric shower curtain.
Gadget lovers who demand modern USB charging ports directly at the bedside.
Our Top Cabin Takeaways
We thoroughly enjoyed our time in C302. Having that brilliant walk-in wardrobe meant our living area remained completely clutter-free, and the exceptionally comfortable bed proved a welcome sight every evening.
Our single top piece of advice for anyone booking this stateroom is simple: bring a slimline UK-to-US plug adapter and a long charging cable. Power outlets are sparse and clustered together at the vanity desk, so a little forward planning will save you plenty of charging headaches.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are there tea and coffee facilities inside an Island Princess balcony cabin?
Tea and coffee facilities are not placed in standard cabins by default. However, British cruisers can simply ask their stateroom steward on embarkation day, and they will happily provide an electric kettle, cups, and tea bags free of charge.
What plug sockets are available in cabin C302 on Island Princess?
The cabin features only two 110V American two-pin sockets located on the vanity desk, alongside a dual-voltage shaver socket in the bathroom. There are no European sockets, UK three-pin sockets, or USB ports near the bed.
Does the balcony on Caribe Deck have an overhang?
Caribe Deck (Deck 10) balconies on Island Princess are largely sheltered by the deck overhang above, providing decent privacy and shelter from the wind or rain, whilst remaining open enough to enjoy sweeping sea views.
Are bathroom toiletries provided on Island Princess?
Yes. Princess Cruises provides fixed dispensers of combination shampoo and conditioner, as well as body wash in the shower. Hand soap, body lotion, face cloths, and towels are supplied on the vanity counter.
Is cabin C302 on Island Princess noisy?
No. Cabin C302 is located in a quiet residential corridor on Deck 10, sandwiched between passenger staterooms above and below. Because it is near the forward lift lobby, it avoids heavy thoroughfare foot traffic.
About the Authors
We’re Tom and Dom, the creators behind Tom and Dom Travel. Through our ship reviews, cabin tours, port guides, and cruise tips, we share honest, experience-led advice from our travels around the world. Everything we publish is designed to help you cruise with confidence.
Thanks for reading, and happy cruising.
