Sky Princess Review: What It Is Really Like Onboard
By Tom and Dom Travel | Updated: 13 September 2026
Dom taking in the sea air above the bustling main pool deck aboard Sky Princess
Does Sky Princess live up to the promise of seamless, premium ocean cruising?
After dozens of cruises and hundreds of days at sea across various cruise lines, we have learned that glossy promotional videos rarely tell the whole story. You only uncover how a ship truly operates once you unpack your cases and spend a fortnight living onboard.
Our Sky Princess review finds that while the 3,660-passenger Royal-class ship delivers exceptional crew service, outstanding included dining at the International Cafe and genuine value through the Princess Plus package, it faces drawbacks with peak-time Wi-Fi drops, repetitive evening entertainment and an obstructed promenade deck.
First Impressions: Ship Design, Vibe and Layout
Sky Princess entered service in late 2019 as the fourth vessel in Princess Cruises' popular Royal Class, measuring roughly 145,281 gross tons. Despite carrying over 3,600 passengers at double occupancy, the ship handles crowds remarkably well thanks to smart passenger flow across the public decks.
The central social hub is the Piazza, a dramatic three-deck atrium stretching across Decks 5, 6 and 7. It is constantly buzzing with live acoustic musicians, impromptu gatherings and casual dining spots. The overall aesthetic is warm, contemporary and refined, avoiding garish gimmicks while retaining the classic maritime charm that British cruisers love.
Getting your bearings on Sky Princess is straightforward, with clear interactive digital wayfinders positioned beside every lift lobby. If you wander right aft on Deck 16, you will find our personal favourite spot on the entire ship: the Wake View Bar. Grabbing an afternoon drink and watching the churning white wake stretch out behind the stern is an absolute treat.
For cabin comfort, staterooms feature comfortable Princess Luxury Beds and generous open wardrobe storage. Power outlets include standard US 110V sockets, European round two-pin 220V sockets and bedside USB-A ports. UK travellers should make sure to pack continental or American adaptors for three-pin plugs.
Wondering if an inside cabin on Sky Princess is worth booking? Take a look inside stateroom C317 on Deck 10 as we share our honest thoughts on space, storage and sleep quality.
More from Tom and Dom Travel
In our final VLOG of the series we look at the DISEMBARKATION process in Southampton, unfortunately it did not go smoothly! These are some of the highlights from Day 15 and our disembarkation in Southampton. We also look at our Top and Bottom highlights of the cruise.
Spot the difference: ordering the exact same red wine on Sky Princess, served in two entirely different glasses
The Bottoms: 5 Things That Frustrated Us Onboard
We always believe in calling things as we see them, so let us start with the aspects of the sailing that left room for improvement.
1. Painfully Slow Wi-Fi Speeds
Princess markets its connectivity under the MedallionNet banner, but during our 14-night cruise, the real-world performance was dreadfully slow. Connection speeds frequently collapsed into kilobits per second, reminiscent of old dial-up internet.
Web pages failed to load, apps constantly timed out and staying in touch with family back home was an exercise in patience. Princess has since rolled out SpaceX Starlink hardware fleetwide and introduced MedallionNet Max, which prioritises bandwidth for guests on Princess Plus and Premier packages. However, when thousands of passengers jump online simultaneously on sea days, speeds can still drop noticeably.
2. A Compromised Promenade Deck
One of our favourite cruise rituals is taking a long, uninterrupted morning walk around the outdoor promenade deck.
Unfortunately, Deck 7 on Sky Princess is not a traditional wrap-around promenade. Large sections of the ocean view are completely blocked by tenders and lifeboats, reducing the space to narrow corridors. Furthermore, one of the few open sections serves as a designated outdoor smoking area. If you want continuous, panoramic sea views during a walk, you have to head up to the top jogging track on Deck 18 instead.
3. A Lack of Production Shows
The resident singers and dancers in the Princess Theater are wonderfully talented, which made the evening theatre schedule feel underwhelming.
Across our entire 14-night sailing, the ship staged just two full cast production shows: Rock Opera and 5-SKIES. Both productions featured fantastic staging and high-energy vocals, but receiving only two full shows over a two-week holiday felt sparse. Guests on a one-week cruise see the exact same lineup.
Outside of brief two-minute pop-up appearances at sailaway parties, the main production cast was rarely seen during the second week. We would love to see Princess make greater use of their cast rather than relying so heavily on visiting solo acts.
4. Overbooked Evening Karaoke
We do not mind a bit of karaoke, but Sky Princess took it to another level.
By the middle of the second week, it felt as though the entertainment team had run out of programming ideas. Princess Live was scheduled with two-hour karaoke sessions almost every single night, including four consecutive evenings towards the end of the cruise. Unless you enjoy listening to amateur singalongs every night, evening lounge options felt repetitive.
5. Inconsistent Wine Glassware
This is admittedly a minor pet peeve, but consistency in food and beverage presentation matters.
On several evenings, we ordered identical glasses of red wine at the same bar, only for them to arrive in completely different glasses. One drink would arrive in a large red wine goblet, while the other sat in a small white wine glass. It is a tiny detail, but on a premium vessel, standard service touches should be spot-on.
Tom putting our Princess Plus drinks package to good use inside the Princess Live lounge
The Tops: 5 Things That Made Our Cruise Brilliant
Despite those minor niggles, our time on Sky Princess had plenty of cracking highlights that made the holiday memorable.
1. 24-Hour Room Service Convenience
Having food delivered directly to your cabin is a brilliant luxury after a long day exploring ashore.
Ordering breakfast, light snacks or late-night hot meals was completely faff-free using the stateroom phone or the OceanMedallion mobile app. The crew quoted a 30-minute delivery window every time, and our food consistently arrived hot and well within schedule.
Keep in mind that while room service delivery is completely complimentary if you book the Princess Plus or Princess Premier fare, guests on the unbundled Princess Standard fare now incur a $5 delivery charge per phone order, or a one-off activation fee for OceanNow shipwide delivery.
2. The Value of the Princess Plus Package
Opting for the Princess Plus fare package proved to be a sensible financial move.
The package covers alcoholic drinks up to $15 each (including wine, draught beer and freshly made cocktails), alongside unlimited barista coffees, premium teas, fountain soft drinks and bottled water. Although alcoholic drinks have a daily limit of 15 beverages, non-alcoholic speciality drinks are unlimited. Bundling your drinks, Wi-Fi and daily crew appreciation gratuities upfront saves substantial money compared to paying per item.
3. Beautiful Ship Architecture
Sky Princess strikes an appealing balance between contemporary styling and spacious, comfortable surroundings.
The multi-deck Piazza feels vibrant without being chaotic, the main pool decks provide ample sun loungers, and the aft outdoor seating areas are exceptionally well designed. The ship is spotless, modern and easy to navigate from bow to stern.
4. Attentive, Personable Crew Members
On a longer two-week voyage, the onboard staff genuinely shine.
From our stateroom steward to the bar team in the International Cafe, the crew took time to learn our names, remember our morning coffee preferences and offer thoughtful recommendations. Their warmth, attentiveness and professional work ethic genuinely elevated our holiday experience.
5. The 24-Hour International Cafe
Situated on Deck 5 right off the Piazza, the International Cafe is an absolute gem.
Whether you fancy a morning flat white, a warmed ham-and-cheese croissant for lunch, or a midnight sweet treat, it never closes. All counter food items, including fresh salads, paninis and pastries, are fully included in your cruise fare. If you have Princess Plus, barista-made speciality coffees are covered without counting towards your daily 15-drink alcoholic limit.
Get Your Free Printable Cruise Packing Guide
Take the stress out of preparing for your next sailing. Grab our comprehensive cabin checklist, tried and tested to make sure you never leave an essential behind.
You will also receive our latest honest ship reviews, practical cruise tips, and destination guides delivered straight from Tom and Dom to your inbox.
Whether it is your first cruise or your fiftieth, travel smarter with Tom and Dom. Unsubscribe at any time.
Dom taking in the lively Piazza atrium atmosphere beside the iconic balloons on Sky Princess
Disembarkation Reality and Southampton Travel Advice
Disembarkation morning aboard Sky Princess is usually very well organised. Guests receive luggage tags and an allocated waiting area the evening before departure.
On our final morning, we enjoyed a relaxed sit-down breakfast in the Estrella Dining Room (Deck 6 aft) before heading to our waiting zone. You can also use the World Fresh Marketplace buffet if you prefer a quicker bite.
However, external travel logistics at the Port of Southampton can cause sudden disruption. On our arrival day, an early terminal fire alarm created an unprecedented traffic bottleneck. Vehicles could neither enter nor leave the docks, leaving disembarking passengers in long queues while incoming cruisers tried to reach the terminal.
Top Practical Tip: When Southampton port roads gridlock on turnaround day, ride-hailing apps like Uber often cancel bookings due to traffic delays. Walking out of the port estate into Southampton city centre to catch a train or taxi can save hours, but pulling heavy luggage across town is hard work. Always schedule generous buffers between leaving the terminal and booking return trains or flights.
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
Cruise Director Andi bringing brilliant energy to the Yes No game in Princess Live on Sky Princess
Was It Worth It?
Without hesitation, yes.
Sky Princess provides a relaxing, polished cruise experience that hits the sweet spot for travellers aged 45 and over who appreciate good food, comfortable cabins and a classic cruising atmosphere.
While the slow Wi-Fi and lean production show schedule were disappointing, the superb crew, excellent complimentary food at the International Cafe and the overall value of the Princess Plus package far outweighed the negatives. We would happily book another cruise aboard her in future.
Before you go... check these out next:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sky Princess suitable for first-time cruisers?
Yes. The ship offers an accessible balance of traditional cruise elegance and modern technology, making navigation and daily life on board very straightforward.
What food is included for free in our Sky Princess review?
All meals in the three main dining rooms (Estrella, Cielo and Soleil), the 24-hour International Cafe counter, the World Fresh Marketplace buffet, Slice Pizzeria and complimentary stateroom dining for Princess Plus and Premier guests are covered in the fare.
Is the Princess Plus package worth the extra cost?
For most passengers, yes. Bundling your drinks package, daily crew gratuities, room service delivery and upgraded MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi into a single upfront daily fee offers clear value over paying separately on board.
Does Sky Princess have a full wrap-around promenade deck?
No. Deck 7 features exterior walking paths, but they are partially blocked by lifeboats, interrupted by a smoking area and do not form a complete 360-degree circuit.
What plug sockets are fitted in Sky Princess cabins?
Staterooms are equipped with US 110V sockets, European round two-pin 220V sockets and USB-A charging ports by the bed. British cruisers must pack adaptors for UK three-pin plugs.
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.
