Princess Cruises Will Debut New Sanctuary Collection Aboard Sun Princess and Star Princess

Premium cruise line Princess is set to roll out its new ship-within-a-ship concept, Sanctuary Collection, on its newest ship in October 2024.

Princess Cruises is introducing the exclusive, next-level Sanctuary Collection aboard Sun Princess and the upcoming Star Princess, as the cruise line prepares to debut an all-inclusive oasis in October 2024.

The new Sanctuary Collection on Princess

Many cruise lines are now offering an upscale “ship-within-a-ship” experience, including Norwegian’s The Haven and MSC’s Yacht Club. Sanctuary Collection will be Princess Cruises’ foray into the popular concept, with exclusive spaces reserved for guests staying in select staterooms and suites.

The new Sanctuary Collection aboard Sun Princess will include three levels of stateroom types: 80 Signature Collection Suites, 123 Mini Suites, and 12 Premium Deluxe Balconies.

Sanctuary Collection aboard Sun Princess will include Signature Collection Suites, Mini Suites, and Premium Deluxe Balconies (image courtesy of Princess Cruises)

“Our new Sanctuary Collection offers guests those ultra-private, tucked away spaces that rival any high-end resort and surpasses the offerings of comparable cruise lines featuring similar ship-within-a-ship amenities,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises.

“With spacious and well-appointed accommodations, along with an array of premium extras and its exclusivity, our new Sanctuary Collection delivers the ultimate in access and indulgence to deliver an unparalleled experience,” Padgett continued in a press release.

The new Sanctuary Collection will combine the two exclusive stateroom collections recently rolled out on Sun Princess—the Reserve Collection and the Signature Collection—into one. Cruisers sailing in Premium Deluxe Balcony staterooms, Mini Suites, and Full Suites will all share access to Sanctuary Collection perks.

Exclusive Sanctuary Collection perks

Cruisers booked in the Sanctuary Collection will enjoy exclusive access to the ship’s top-deck retreat area and a range of inclusions designed to enhance their voyage.

These amenities include exclusive private dining and relaxation areas, a luxurious stateroom experience, and a complimentary Princess Premier bundle.

Princess Premier offerings include:

Premier Beverage Package (covering drinks up to $20, champagne by the glass, specialty coffees, smoothies, and bottled water, as well as 25 percent off bottles of wine)
Unlimited MedallionNet 2.0 Wi-Fi with Starlink and 5G for up to 4 devices
Daily crew appreciation (gratuities)
Two nights of specialty dining
Unlimited prix fixe meals at any casual dining location
Free OceanNow delivery service activation
Complimentary room service
Green Lane express boarding (Medallion device delivery included)
Reserved seating in the Princess Theater
Unlimited boutique fitness classes per voyage (Pure Barre, YogaSix, StretchLab)
Unlimited premium crafted desserts
Unlimited premium fresh juices
Unlimited digital photo package
Princess Prizes

The Sanctuary Club is exclusive to Sanctuary Collection guests

The luxe Sanctuary Club, located on Sun Princess‘ upper deck, is reserved exclusively for Sanctuary Collection guests. The private entry to the spa-inspired outdoor area will be accessible via the Princess Medallion.

Guests can enjoy luxurious lounge chairs, private cabanas, a pool and jacuzzi, attentive service, calming music, cool drinks, and light meals in the adults-only (16 and up) section. Additionally, the Club offers special programs like sail-away celebrations and sunrise yoga.

Other Sanctuary Collection amenities include priority specialty restaurant reservations and premium stateroom amenities.

What this means for non-Sanctuary Club cruisers

Since Sun Princess is already in service, I wondered how the cruise line plans to carve out the exclusive enclave reserved only for Sanctuary Club guests.

According to the Princess’ published deck plans for before October 14th and for October 14th and beyond, it looks like The Sanctuary and the Signature Sun Deck will be combined to create the retreat. I created a side-by-side graphic showing the before and after of Sun Princess‘ deck 18 aft:

The new Sanctuary Collection will combine Sun Princess’ Sanctuary and Signature Sun Deck into one exclusive retreat (deck plan images courtesy of Princess Cruises)

The ship’s small Signature Sun Deck is currently reserved for Signature Collection suite guests, while the larger adults-only Sanctuary is an extra-cost area on Princess ships.

With the combination of the two venues into one, accessible only to Signature Collection cruisers, guests staying in inside through standard balcony cabin categories won’t have access to the popular Sanctuary at any price.

Since Sun Princess and the upcoming Star Princess don’t feature the free adults-only Retreat Pool found on other ships, those not cruising in Sanctuary Club accommodations apparently won’t have access to any kid-free pools or lounge areas on these two ships.

Booking a Sanctuary Collection cruise on Princess

Sanctuary Collection staterooms are on sale now, starting with the October 14, 2024 voyage on Sun Princess and the October 4, 2025 voyage on Star Princess.

Guests who have already reserved staterooms in Sanctuary Collection categories on either ship will receive the additional amenities at no additional cost, excluding the Princess Premier bundle.

About Sun Princess and Star Princess

Princess Cruises’ newest ship Sun Princess entered service in February 2024. The ship is the first of Princess’ Sphere class vessels, introducing an innovative new ship platform for the brand.

Sun Princess debuted brand new venues including The Dome at the top of the ship, a geodesic, glass-enclosed structure inspired by the terraces of Santorini.

The 177,500-ton, 4,300-guest Sun Princess features new dining and entertainment options and boasts the most balconies and sun decks on any Princess ship.

Coming in September 2025, Star Princess is currently currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. This second Sphere Class ship will also offer new food and beverage concepts, an expanded casino, and a two-story Lotus Spa.

More news about Princess Cruises

What do you think about the new Sanctuary Collection on Sun Princess and Star Princess? Have you booked a cruise on one of these ships in October or after? I’d love to hear your thoughts on how these changes might affect your experience. Sound off in the comments!

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Carrie Ann Karstunen

Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

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