Island Princess Review: Is This Classic Ship Still Worth Booking?
By Tom and Dom Travel | Updated: 03 October 2026
Kicking off our 16-night cruise with the lively top deck sailaway party as we wave goodbye to Southampton
Is Island Princess really showing her age, or does this classic vessel still outshine the mega-ships?
After dozens of cruises and hundreds of days at sea across various lines, we have learned that glossy promotional brochures rarely tell the whole story. When we stepped aboard Island Princess for an extensive 16-night voyage, we set out to see every high point and every flaw first-hand.
Our honest Island Princess review finds a well-proportioned, 2,200-passenger ship offering exceptional traditional service, superb entertainment, and brilliant included dining. While her refit compromised the continuous wraparound promenade and some balconies look tired, her classic charm and manageable size make her a cracking choice for longer voyages.
Smooth Boarding and the Medallion Experience
We arrived at Southampton Cruise Terminal around 10:40 am ahead of boarding starting at 11:00 am.
Princess Cruises no longer offers allocated boarding slots, operating on a first-come, first-served basis instead. Even so, our embarkation was completely faff-free. We cleared security, picked up our Medallions, and were onboard the ship by 11:00 am without waiting in any massive queues.
For those new to Princess, you complete all check-in requirements on the Princess app prior to sailing. Depending on your booking and timing, your Medallion is either posted to your home or collected at the terminal. Once in hand, it serves as your room key, payment method, and security pass for the entire voyage.
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Our FULL REVIEW of Island Princess! The GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY!
We sailed on Island Princess for 16 nights visiting ports in the UK, Ireland, Iceland and Greenland. We have put together this review of our experiences onboard Island Princess so that may give you a better insight
Dropping anchor in Nanortalik, surrounded by rugged Greenland fjords and drift ice on our epic Arctic voyage
Ship Vibe, Layout, and Refit Quirks
At 91,627 gross tons with a passenger capacity of 2,200, Island Princess hits a sweet spot for size. She is large enough to offer plenty of variety, yet small enough that you never feel lost in an overwhelming crowd.
Boarding brings you directly into the central multi-deck Atrium, known as The Plaza. Lined with inviting bars and lounges, it delivers that warm, unmistakable Princess ambience the moment you step foot inside.
Most public venues and outdoor pool decks remain in pristine condition, but her refit brought a controversial structural change. Princess added extra guest cabins aft, which cut off the traditional full wraparound promenade deck. The walking track now comes to an abrupt dead end, although you can still access the open observation decks at the forward bow.
Cabin Realities: Balcony Wear and Tear
We booked a balcony cabin for our voyage. Inside, the stateroom offered the signature comfortable Princess luxury bed and functional storage. Keep in mind that older Coral-class ships primarily feature standard US 110V and European round two-pin 220V plug sockets by the desk, so UK cruisers will need standard travel adapters.
Our primary gripe was the state of the balcony itself. The exterior showed noticeable rust, chipped paint, and dated fittings that clearly needed cosmetic attention. While the interior room was spotless, the outdoor furniture and partition walls definitely betrayed the ship's age.
For a full look inside our stateroom, including storage space, bathroom layout, and deck location pros and cons, check out our in-depth Island Princess Balcony Cabin Review on Deck 10.
Exceptional service every evening: catching up with our brilliant main dining room wait team on Island Princess
Dining: Main Dining Rooms, Buffets, and Room Service
Dining is where Island Princess genuinely shines, particularly across her complimentary venues.
Bordeaux & Provence Dining Rooms
The two main dining rooms on board are Bordeaux and Provence. We reserved our table for 7:00 pm in Bordeaux every evening via the app before sailing, and service was spot-on night after night.
Menus rotate daily with strong vegetarian and dietary options clearly marked, and dinner menus are posted outside the venue by early afternoon. Bordeaux also hosts daily sit-down breakfast, sea day lunches, and classic afternoon tea. On formal nights, smart evening wear or cocktail attire is requested, which passengers on our sailing embraced enthusiastically.
Horizon Court Buffet
Located uniquely forward on Lido Deck directly above the bridge, the Horizon Court delivers sweeping panoramic ocean views. With floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, the space is airy and bright.
Breakfast includes made-to-order omelettes delivered directly to your table, alongside fresh pastries and speciality coffees from the adjoining Amuleto counter. Seating was easy to find throughout our sea days.
Casual Poolside Bites
For daytime snacks, the poolside grill serves up hot dogs, freshly made burgers, tacos, and generous helpings of Princess cheesy chips. Just nearby, the pool deck pizzeria serves freshly baked Margarita, pepperoni, and a daily rotating speciality pizza by the slice. Although Island Princess lacks a sit-down Alfredo’s Pizzeria, the pool deck pizza quality was superb.
OceanNow & Room Service
Room service ordering via the smartphone app was a triumph. For guests who purchase either the Princess Plus or Princess Premier package, all room service delivery charges and OceanNow ship-wide delivery fees are completely waived. Having hot burgers, chips, and drinks delivered directly to our cabin proved fast, reliable, and a massive step up from past voyages.
Speciality Dining & Sweet Treats
Island Princess offers two dedicated speciality dining venues:
Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria: An absolute triumph. The four-course menu features handmade pasta courses, hearty rustic mains, and rich desserts. We reckon it is worth every penny for a special evening.
Bayou Café: Formerly a dedicated Cajun-creole venue, the menu transitioned just prior to our cruise into an abbreviated Crown Grill steakhouse concept. Because the galley team were still settling into the changes, our meal felt a touch disjointed and lacked the polish we have enjoyed at traditional Crown Grill venues on Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess.
Swirls Ice Cream Bar: Offers standard soft-serve alongside enormous, highly decadent premium sundaes. While delicious, they are exceptionally sweet, and the handcrafted preparation meant service queues here were consistently long on sea days. Keep in mind that while these giant desserts were previously bundled into package perks, package revisions have removed them from both Plus and Premier, meaning they are now charged à la carte.
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Dressed to the nines for formal night with great friends and cracking cocktails in the Explorers Lounge
Bars, Lounges, and Evening Atmosphere
Island Princess leans towards a relaxed, mature evening vibe, with most venues emptying out by 11:30 pm.
Good Spirits at Sea: Specialises in destination-inspired artisan cocktails created with theatrical flair during twice-daily demonstrations. Regrettably, because only one certified mixologist was rostered on board, the signature menu was frequently unavailable during regular evening hours.
Wheelhouse Bar: A handsome maritime-themed lounge that proved to be the most popular venue on the ship. It hosts nightly live music and wildly competitive trivia sessions. If you want a seat for afternoon quizzes, arrive at least 20 minutes early or prepare to stand.
Crooners: The central atrium piano bar. Known for its extensive martini menu, this is a cracking spot for sophisticated pre-dinner or post-dinner drinks, though seating is at a premium.
Explorers Lounge: The spacious venue on Deck 6 hosts game shows, karaoke, and the late-night disco. The bar staff here were hands-down the friendliest crew on the entire ship.
Drink packages work seamlessly across all these bars. The Plus package covers drinks up to $15 each (with a 15-drink daily limit that excludes speciality coffees and water), while Premier covers top-shelf spirits, fine wines, and cocktails up to $20 with no daily beverage cap.
Entertainment: Theatre Productions and Sea Days
The two-deck Princess Theater provided exceptional entertainment throughout our 16 nights.
The standout highlight was the full production show The Secret Silk, featuring brilliant puppetry, striking visuals, and top-tier vocal arrangements. It ranks among the best production shows we have ever seen at sea. We also enjoyed a varied roster of guest performers, from soul singer Janine Johnson and pianist Antonio Sal to guest vocalists and stand-up comedians.
Seating Tip: Guests holding the Princess Premier package have reserved seating in the centre stalls. These reserved rows are released to all passengers exactly 5 minutes before showtime, making it prime real estate if you are struggling to find a free seat.
On sea days, daytime programming was relentless. Between galley tours, golf putting challenges, guest lectures, bingo, Deal or No Deal, craft sessions, and live atrium music, the days flew past. If you prefer quiet downtime, the ship maintains a well-stocked onboard library on Deck 8.
Sail with Us! Our First Ever Group Cruise 🚢
After years of sharing our adventures on YouTube, we’re hosting our very first group cruise, and we want you there!
Join us aboard Cunard’s stunning new ship, Queen Anne, for a 7-night Spain & Portugal voyage sailing roundtrip from Southampton on 24 October 2027.
Expect exclusive Tom & Dom Travel events, beautiful ports, and the chance to cruise with fellow channel fans.
Tom and Dom at Lisbon's iconic Portas do Sol viewpoint, with Queen Anne anchored on the glittering Tagus
Stepping into the hot seat: lucky enough to be invited up to the Island Princess bridge during our sailing
Was It Worth It?
Island Princess offers exceptional value for money for cruisers who prioritise destination-rich itineraries, friendly service, and a manageable ship size over flashy waterslides and bumper cars.
Who This Ship Suits Best:
Travellers aged 45+ who appreciate traditional cruise elegance, live lounge music, and enriching daytime lectures.
Cruisers seeking mid-sized ships that can easily access smaller ports without feeling overwhelmed by 5,000 other guests.
Guests who appreciate high-quality main dining room meals and sit-down theatre productions.
Who Should Consider Alternatives:
Night owls looking for bustling dance clubs past midnight.
Traditionalists who must have a full 360-degree continuous wraparound promenade deck for daily walking miles.
Travellers who expect pristine modern hardware and state-of-the-art interactive cabin technology.
Our Top Tip for Sailing Island Princess
What we enjoyed most on Island Princess was the sheer warmth of the crew, particularly our dedicated dining room servers and the fantastic bar team in Explorers Lounge.
Our single top piece of practical advice: secure your dining times early in the Princess app. Reserving a set dinner slot in the Bordeaux Restaurant eliminates the evening queue entirely and ensures you reach the Princess Theater with ample time to claim a decent seat.
Before you go... check these out next:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an Island Princess review still positive despite the ship's age?
Yes. While certain external fixtures such as cabin balconies show cosmetic rust, the public lounges, dining rooms, and pool areas are wonderfully maintained and spotlessly clean.
Does Princess Premier cover speciality dining on Island Princess?
Yes. Princess Premier includes unlimited speciality dining (one speciality meal per day), covering the cost of venues like Sabatini’s and Bayou Café throughout the cruise.
Are premium desserts included in the Princess Plus and Premier packages?
No. Under the updated package terms, perks with lower usage such as premium desserts, juice bar access, group fitness classes, and Princess Prizes have been removed from both Plus and Premier in favour of benefits like additional casual dining meals and shore excursion credits.
Does Island Princess have a wraparound promenade deck?
No. Past refits added extra passenger cabins towards the aft, meaning the promenade deck cuts off and no longer loops continuously around the stern.
What plug sockets are inside Island Princess cabins?
Staterooms are equipped with standard North American 110V (two-prong) sockets and European 220V round pin outlets. British passengers will need standard plug adapters to charge devices.
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.
