Emerald Princess Cruise Ship Guide

Compare cabins, dining, entertainment, itineraries, reviews, and onboard experiences aboard Emerald Princess so you can decide whether this ship is right for your next cruise.

Compare Cabins, Pricing & Cruise Options

Emerald Princess Overview

Emerald Princess is a classic Princess Cruises ship with a comfortable, traditional cruise feel. It is not one of the newest or flashiest ships in the fleet, but that is part of its appeal for many travelers. Guests choose Emerald Princess for familiar Princess service, spacious public rooms, relaxed sea days, strong dining variety, and itineraries that focus more on the destination than the ship itself.

As part of Princess Cruises, Emerald Princess is a good fit for travelers who want a refined but not overly formal cruise experience. The ship offers the Princess staples many repeat cruisers expect, including the Piazza atrium, multiple main dining rooms, specialty restaurants, adult-friendly lounges, production shows, pools, and quiet areas for reading or relaxing.

Emerald Princess works especially well for couples, mature travelers, multi-generational families, and cruisers who care more about food, service, ports, and comfort than waterslides or theme-park-style attractions. The ship has enough activity to keep sea days interesting, but it is not designed around loud thrills or nonstop nightlife.

If you are comparing Emerald Princess against other ships, start with the full cruise ship guide. It can help you see how Emerald Princess fits beside newer Princess ships, other mid-size ships, and larger resort-style vessels from competing cruise lines.

Emerald Princess Quick Facts

Cruise Line	Princess Cruises
Class	Crown Class
Entered Service	2007
Gross Tonnage	113,561
Passengers	3,090 lower berths
Crew	1,200
Homeport or Signature Feature	Classic Princess Piazza, The Sanctuary, Movies Under the Stars, and destination-focused itineraries

What Makes Emerald Princess Different?

Emerald Princess stands out because it offers a more traditional Princess cruise experience. Newer ships may have larger venues, more modern cabin layouts, and newer technology, but Emerald Princess keeps the focus on comfortable public spaces, familiar dining, live entertainment, and a calmer onboard pace.

Compared with newer ships like Discovery Princess or Enchanted Princess, Emerald Princess feels more classic and easier to navigate. It does not have the newest Princess ship design, but many cruisers like that it feels manageable, familiar, and less overwhelming.

Compared with another Grand-class-style Princess option like Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess offers a very similar style of cruise experience. The biggest reason to choose one over the other usually comes down to itinerary, cabin price, sailing date, and departure port.

Attractions & Public Spaces

Emerald Princess is built around classic cruise spaces rather than large thrill attractions. The ship has pools, lounges, bars, a casino, a theater, spa areas, kids and teen spaces, shopping, and outdoor decks where guests can enjoy sea views without feeling like every moment has to be scheduled.

Popular Public Spaces on Emerald Princess

• The Piazza atrium for music, drinks, coffee, and people-watching
• Princess Theater for production shows and evening entertainment
• Movies Under the Stars for outdoor films and events by the pool
• The Sanctuary for adults who want a quieter retreat
• Lotus Spa and fitness center for wellness, treatments, and workouts
• Skywalkers Nightclub for late-night views and dancing
• Explorers Lounge, Crooners, and Wheelhouse Bar for drinks and live music
• Gatsby’s Casino for slots, tables, and gaming

Cabins & Best Stateroom Choices

Emerald Princess has a wide range of cabin types, including inside cabins, oceanview cabins, balcony cabins, mini-suites, and full suites. The best choice depends on your budget, itinerary, and how much time you expect to spend in the room.

Inside cabins are usually the lowest-cost option and can work well for travelers who mostly use the cabin for sleeping and showering. Oceanview cabins add natural light, while balcony cabins are often the sweet spot for guests who want private outdoor space without paying suite prices. Mini-suites add more room and can be a strong choice for longer sailings.

Before booking, compare the main cabin types in the inside vs oceanview vs balcony vs suite guide. Then look closely at location. A cheaper cabin can become frustrating if it is under a noisy public room, near heavy foot traffic, or far from the areas you use most.

For location strategy, read the guide to the best cabin location on a cruise ship. If you are sensitive to sound, also check the cruise cabin noise guide before choosing your deck and room number.

Dining on Emerald Princess

Dining is one of the stronger reasons to consider Emerald Princess. The ship offers multiple main dining rooms, casual dining, specialty restaurants, poolside food, room service, and coffee shop options. It is a good setup for cruisers who like variety but do not want every meal to feel complicated.

Main dining rooms give guests a traditional cruise dinner experience with rotating menus and table service. Casual options such as the buffet, International Café, pizza, grill items, and quick bites make it easier to eat around your schedule, especially on port days.

Specialty dining may include options such as Crown Grill and Sabatini’s, depending on the sailing and current ship setup. These venues usually cost extra, but they can be worthwhile for a birthday, anniversary, sea day dinner, or one nicer evening during the cruise.

If you are new to Princess or still comparing cruise food options, start with the full cruise dining guide. You should also compare drink costs before sailing using the cruise drink package guide. If you receive credits from a promotion or travel offer, the onboard credit guide can help you decide whether to use that credit toward drinks, specialty dining, shore excursions, or other onboard purchases.

Entertainment & Activities

Emerald Princess focuses on classic cruise entertainment rather than high-tech attractions. Guests will find production shows, comedians, live musicians, game shows, enrichment programs, movies under the stars, themed parties, and plenty of opportunities to relax between ports.

The Princess Theater anchors the evening entertainment lineup with stage productions, guest performers, and special events. Throughout the ship, lounges host live music ranging from piano performances to dance bands and solo musicians. Many guests appreciate that entertainment on Emerald Princess feels more relaxed and social than the nonstop activity found on some larger ships.

Sea days are especially enjoyable on Emerald Princess because the ship offers a balance of activity and downtime. Guests can spend the morning at trivia, attend destination lectures, enjoy the spa, watch a movie outdoors, participate in enrichment programs, or simply relax with a book and ocean views.

First-time cruisers can learn more about onboard activities in our cruise entertainment guide, plan better sea days with the sea day guide, and prepare for their first sailing using the first-time cruiser guide.

Itineraries & Destinations

Emerald Princess typically sails a variety of destination-focused itineraries throughout the year. Depending on the season, the ship may operate cruises in Alaska, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Mexico, Europe, and longer repositioning voyages.

Alaska remains one of the ship's most popular deployments thanks to Princess Cruises' long history in the region. Travelers considering an Alaska sailing should review our Alaska cruise guide before booking.

Caribbean sailings remain popular with cruisers seeking warm weather, beach destinations, and relaxing sea days. Learn more in our Caribbean cruise guide and Eastern Caribbean cruise guide.

Emerald Princess also frequently operates Panama Canal voyages, one of cruising's most unique experiences. If that itinerary interests you, visit our Panama Canal cruise guide. Other seasonal deployments may include Europe, Mexico, and repositioning cruises between regions.

Who Should Sail on Emerald Princess?

• Couples looking for a traditional cruise experience
• Princess Cruises loyalists who enjoy destination-focused travel
• Travelers who prefer relaxed sea days over thrill attractions
• Mature cruisers seeking a quieter atmosphere
• Multi-generational families traveling together
• First-time cruisers who want an easy-to-navigate ship
• Guests interested in Alaska, Caribbean, and Panama Canal itineraries

Emerald Princess Pros & Cons

Pros

• Classic Princess Cruises atmosphere
• Excellent destination-focused itineraries
• Strong dining variety
• Comfortable public spaces with easy navigation
• The Sanctuary adult retreat
• Good balance of entertainment and relaxation
• Often priced lower than newer Princess ships

Cons

• Older ship compared with newest Princess vessels
• Fewer high-tech attractions than modern mega-ships
• Cabins may feel less contemporary than newer designs
• Limited appeal for travelers seeking waterslides and thrill attractions
• Some public areas can feel busy during peak times

Emerald Princess Reviews

Reviews of Emerald Princess are generally positive and often highlight the ship's friendly service, comfortable atmosphere, destination-focused itineraries, dining quality, and overall value. Many repeat Princess guests appreciate the ship's familiar layout and traditional cruise experience, while first-time guests often comment on how easy the ship is to navigate.

Individual experiences vary by itinerary, cabin location, sailing date, and personal expectations. Reading recent passenger reviews can provide valuable insight into current onboard experiences before booking.

Emerald Princess Frequently Asked Questions

When was Emerald Princess built?

Emerald Princess entered service in 2007 as part of Princess Cruises' Crown Class of ships.

How many passengers does Emerald Princess carry?

Emerald Princess carries approximately 3,090 passengers at double occupancy along with roughly 1,200 crew members.

Does Emerald Princess have balcony cabins?

Yes. Emerald Princess offers a large selection of balcony cabins, mini-suites, and suites in addition to inside and oceanview staterooms.

Is Emerald Princess good for families?

Yes. While it is not designed around thrill attractions, Emerald Princess offers youth programs, pools, entertainment, and family-friendly dining options that appeal to multi-generational groups.

What destinations does Emerald Princess visit?

Depending on the season, Emerald Princess may sail to Alaska, the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, the Panama Canal, and other destinations.

Does Emerald Princess have specialty dining?

Yes. Guests typically have access to specialty restaurants in addition to the ship's main dining rooms, buffet, and casual dining venues.

Who is Emerald Princess best suited for?

Emerald Princess is best for travelers seeking a traditional cruise experience focused on service, dining, entertainment, and destination-rich itineraries rather than onboard thrill attractions.