Island Princess Guide: Cabins, Dining, Sanctuary & Activities

Island Princess Overview

Island Princess is a midsize Princess Cruises ship designed around a more traditional and destination-focused cruise experience than the line's newest and largest vessels.

The ship entered service in 2003 and is 92,822 gross tons and approximately 964 feet long. Princess lists capacity for 2,200 guests at lower berths, 1,107 staterooms, approximately 895 crew members, and 16 decks.

Those numbers make Island Princess substantially smaller than many modern resort-style cruise ships. For travelers who want Princess dining, entertainment, pools, spa facilities, and adult relaxation areas without sailing with 4,000 or 5,000 other passengers, that can be an important advantage.

Island Princess also has a particularly high percentage of outside accommodations. Princess lists 989 outside cabins among the ship's 1,107 total staterooms.

If you're deciding whether the vessel or destination should drive your booking decision, see our Cruise Ship vs Itinerary Guide.

What Makes Island Princess Different?

Island Princess comes from an era of cruise-ship design that places more emphasis on traditional cruising and the destinations being visited than on enormous onboard attractions.

You won't find the sprawling waterparks, racetracks, roller coasters, or massive entertainment districts associated with some of today's newest ships. Instead, Island Princess focuses on dining, lounges, pools, live entertainment, Movies Under the Stars, Lotus Spa, The Sanctuary, and outdoor spaces for enjoying the voyage.

That can make Island Princess particularly attractive on scenic and destination-intensive itineraries where the ship complements the ports rather than competing with them for your attention.

The ship's size can also make it easier to learn the layout and move between major venues than aboard today's largest megaships.

Cabins & Suites on Island Princess

Island Princess has 1,107 guest staterooms. Princess lists 31 Suites with private balconies, 192 Mini-Suites, 581 Balcony cabins, 185 Oceanview cabins, and 118 Inside cabins.

That means the overwhelming majority of accommodations have some form of outside view, and more than half of all cabins are Balcony staterooms.

A balcony can be particularly valuable on scenic itineraries because it provides private outdoor space for watching the coastline and scenery without needing to remain on a public deck.

That doesn't automatically make a balcony the best value for every passenger. Travelers who expect to spend most of their waking hours around the ship or ashore may be perfectly comfortable in an Inside or Oceanview cabin.

Before choosing a room, also consider what's directly above and below the cabin and its distance from elevators, dining, pools, entertainment, and other areas you expect to use frequently.

Compare your options with our Cruise Balcony Cabin Guide, Inside vs Oceanview vs Balcony vs Suite Guide, and Best Cabin Location Guide.

Dining on Island Princess

Island Princess combines traditional main dining with specialty restaurants and casual options throughout the ship.

The two main dining rooms are Bordeaux and Provence. Specialty dining includes Sabatini's Italian Trattoria and Bayou Cafe & Steakhouse.

Casual choices include Horizon Court, Princess Pizzeria, The Bar & Grill, Swirls, and La Patisserie, giving passengers alternatives when they don't want a full dining-room meal.

The combination is well suited to Island Princess's more traditional cruise style. Passengers can have a formal sit-down dinner one evening and choose pizza, buffet dining, or something casual the next.

Specialty restaurants generally carry an additional charge, so review what's included with your fare or Princess package before making reservations.

For more help planning meals at sea, see our Cruise Dining Guide.

Bayou Cafe & Steakhouse

Bayou Cafe & Steakhouse is one of the dining experiences that helps distinguish Island Princess from many other ships in the Princess fleet.

The specialty venue combines steakhouse dining with New Orleans-inspired influences, providing an alternative to the ship's main dining rooms and Italian specialty restaurant.

For passengers planning only one or two specialty meals during a sailing, comparing Bayou Cafe with Sabatini's gives you two very different dining experiences without needing a large collection of premium restaurants.

Reservations are worth considering early if specialty dining is an important part of your cruise.

Sabatini's Italian Trattoria

Sabatini's Italian Trattoria brings Princess Cruises' Italian specialty-dining concept to Island Princess.

The restaurant provides a more intimate dinner option than the ship's main dining rooms and is well suited to date nights, celebrations, or simply adding variety during a longer sailing.

You don't need to book specialty dining every evening to enjoy Island Princess. Bordeaux, Provence, Horizon Court, poolside food, and other casual venues provide plenty of alternatives throughout the cruise.

The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary is Princess Cruises' adults-only relaxation area and provides a quieter alternative to the ship's busier public spaces.

For adults who value relaxation on sea days, The Sanctuary can be particularly appealing on longer itineraries where there is plenty of time to enjoy the ship between ports.

Access and pricing can vary, so check the arrangements for your particular sailing rather than assuming Sanctuary access is included with the standard cruise fare.

Combined with Lotus Spa, pools, lounges, and outdoor deck space, The Sanctuary gives adults several options for building a quieter cruise experience.

Pools & Outdoor Areas

Island Princess offers multiple outdoor areas for swimming, relaxing, and enjoying the scenery.

The ship's pool areas include Lido Pool and Terrace Pool, while additional outdoor spaces provide places to relax away from the busiest parts of the ship.

Because Island Princess is often used for itineraries where scenery is an important part of the experience, outdoor deck space can matter just as much as traditional onboard attractions.

Explore the ship early in the cruise and identify several viewing locations rather than relying on one crowded section of the upper deck when scenic cruising begins.

Movies Under the Stars

Island Princess features Movies Under the Stars, one of Princess Cruises' signature entertainment experiences.

The outdoor poolside screen is used for feature films, concerts, sporting events, and other programming. Evening movie screenings traditionally combine outdoor seating with complimentary popcorn.

It's a relatively simple attraction compared with the elaborate entertainment complexes on today's newest cruise ships, but it fits Island Princess well. The experience emphasizes relaxing outside and enjoying the ship rather than moving constantly between high-adrenaline attractions.

Lotus Spa & Fitness

Island Princess features Lotus Spa and fitness facilities for passengers interested in wellness, exercise, and relaxation during the cruise.

Spa services can include massages, beauty treatments, and other services that generally carry an additional charge.

Passengers who prefer an active cruise can use the fitness facilities and sports areas, while those looking for a quieter vacation can combine spa time with The Sanctuary, lounges, pools, and scenic outdoor spaces.

Entertainment & Nightlife

Island Princess offers traditional cruise entertainment through Princess Theater, Explorers Lounge, live music, bars and lounges, casino gaming, Movies Under the Stars, and organized activities around the ship.

Wheelhouse Bar and Crooners provide additional places for drinks and evening entertainment, while Princess Casino offers gaming for passengers who enjoy spending part of their evening in the casino.

The entertainment style is considerably more traditional than the experience found on many newer megaships. Island Princess emphasizes production shows, live performers, music, dancing, lounges, movies, casino gaming, and social activities rather than major thrill attractions.

For passengers who enjoy that classic cruise rhythm, the absence of huge attraction complexes may be a benefit rather than a drawback.

Is Island Princess Good for Families?

Island Princess can work well for families who don't need giant waterslides and amusement-park-style attractions to enjoy a cruise.

The ship offers dedicated children's and teen facilities along with pools, entertainment, sports activities, movies, casual dining, and family programming.

It can be particularly practical for multigenerational trips because family members don't need to remain together all day. Children and teens can participate in youth activities while adults choose the spa, Sanctuary, lounges, dining, entertainment, casino, or outdoor decks.

Families traveling with grandparents, parents, teens, and younger children can use our Multi-Generational Cruise Guide to coordinate cabins, dining, accessibility, activities, and shore time across different age groups.

Who Should Cruise on Island Princess?

Island Princess can be a strong choice for travelers who want the destination to remain a major part of the vacation.

The ship is particularly suited to couples, destination-focused cruisers, multigenerational groups, and passengers who prefer a midsize ship over today's largest resort vessels.

Travelers who enjoy traditional dining, live entertainment, lounges, pools, outdoor scenery, spa time, and a less attraction-driven cruise experience may find Island Princess particularly comfortable.

On the other hand, passengers whose top priority is waterslides, racetracks, elaborate waterparks, giant entertainment districts, or the newest ship technology may prefer a newer and larger vessel.

The right comparison isn't simply whether Island Princess is older than another ship. It's whether the experience aboard Island Princess matches the kind of vacation you want.

Best Tips for Sailing on Island Princess

Study the deck plan before choosing your cabin. At 964 feet long, cabin location can still affect how much walking you do even though Island Princess carries fewer passengers than many modern ships.

If your itinerary includes significant scenic cruising, think carefully before dismissing a balcony cabin. Having private outdoor space can be particularly useful when scenery is one of the reasons you're taking the cruise.

Explore the outdoor decks early and identify several good viewing areas. Don't wait until the most scenic day to figure out where you want to be.

Reserve specialty dining early if Bayou Cafe or Sabatini's is important to your plans, particularly if you want a specific evening or dining time.

Start with our Cruise Packing List and adjust it to the weather and destinations on your particular sailing.

If you're flying to the embarkation city, arriving before embarkation day gives you protection against delays, cancellations, and missed connections. Review our Cruise Embarkation Guide before departure.

More Ways to Plan an Island Princess Cruise

If Island Princess is on your short list, explore our Princess Cruises Guide and compare fare inclusions with Princess Plus and Princess Premier. You can also use the Cruise Ship Comparison Tool to compare Island Princess with another ship side by side.