Princess Cruises · All Princess Cruises ships · Coral Class

Island Princess: ship guide

Princess’s Panama Canal specialist: full Canal crossings and Alaska summers.

Best for: Travelers who want to cross the Panama Canal lock to lock, or see Alaska’s glaciers, on a smaller and quieter Princess ship with a high share of balconies and Mini-Suites. Sails from Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, San Diego, Vancouver, Whittier (Anchorage) in 2026 and 2027.

See every Island Princess sailingDeck plansPrincess Cruises policies
Island Princess
Island Princess
92,822gross tons
2,200guests at double occupancy
900crew
16decks
2003entered service, refurbished 2024
964 ftlong
987staterooms

About Island Princess

Island Princess is the second ship of the Coral Class, built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France and in service since July 2003, christened by Olympic figure skating champions Jamie Salé and David Pelletier. At 92,822 gross tons she carries 2,200 guests at double occupancy in 987 staterooms, three quarters of them with balconies. Like her sister Coral Princess she was built to Panamax dimensions, which is why Princess keeps her on the Canal and why she feels so uncrowded.

A 2015 refit added 121 staterooms, a reworked buffet and La Patisserie, and a routine dry dock in Palermo, Italy in September 2024 refreshed staterooms and public areas. Included dining spans the Bordeaux and Provence dining rooms, the World Fresh Marketplace buffet, La Patisserie, Princess Pizzeria, The Bar & Grill and Swirls, with Crown Grill, Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, the Chef’s Table and the Crab Shack pop-up as specialty options. The Universe Lounge, Lawn Court, Conservatory and adults-only Sanctuary give the ship its character.

From fall 2026 through spring 2027 Island Princess is Princess’s Panama Canal ship, sailing 16 and 17-day Ocean to Ocean crossings between Los Angeles or San Diego and Fort Lauderdale through the full Canal with calls in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Aruba. In summer 2027 she sails 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruises between Vancouver and Whittier plus 14-day Grand Adventure round trips from Vancouver, then returns to the Caribbean for 2027 to 2028. She suits mature travelers who value a smaller ship and long itineraries.

  • Full Panama Canal Ocean to Ocean crossings between the West Coast and Fort Lauderdale
  • Panamax design with long open decks for watching the locks
  • Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers between Vancouver and Whittier in summer 2027
  • Universe Lounge with three revolving stages for shows and enrichment
  • Movies Under the Stars poolside screen
  • The Sanctuary adults-only retreat and the Conservatory
  • Crown Grill steakhouse and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria
  • Lawn Court with putting and lawn games

Staterooms and suites

Interior

Approximately 158 to 162 sq ft with two twin beds or a queen, a refrigerator, TV and shower bathroom, with third and fourth berths in select cabins. Island Princess has only 118 interiors, so they sell out early on the Canal crossings.

Oceanview

Approximately 146 to 206 sq ft with a picture window or porthole; Princess notes some views are partially or fully obstructed, so check the deck plan before choosing.

Balcony

Approximately 214 to 222 sq ft including the balcony, with two chairs and a table outside. About 735 cabins on Island Princess have a private balcony, so this category is plentiful and the right choice for a Canal transit or Glacier Bay.

Mini-Suite and Reserve Collection Mini-Suite

Approximately 323 sq ft including the balcony as Princess lists it, with a separate sitting area, sofa bed, two TVs and a tub with massage showerhead; 192 Mini-Suites give this ship a high suite ratio. Reserve Collection Mini-Suites add nightly Reserve Collection dining in a dedicated section of the main dining room, priority disembarkation and a one-time wine setup.

Suites

Full Suites run approximately 460 to 932 sq ft including the balcony, with a separate sitting area, sofa bed, tub and shower, complimentary mini-bar setup and laundry, Reserve Collection dining and priority tender disembarkation; some suites have windows rather than balconies. Two Bedroom Family Suites sleep up to eight. Island Princess does not carry the Sanctuary Collection, which is on Sun Princess and Star Princess only.

Island Princess deck plans

Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.

Deck 16 - Sports Deck plan

Deck 16 - Sports Deck

Center Court, Deck Chess Set, Shuffle Board, Splash Pool.

  • Splash PoolTake a dip in the sparkling freshwater pools and leave your everyday world behind. Unwind on a padded lounger and soak up the sun, catch up on reading, listen to music, or dream of your next adventure on board or ashore.

Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.

On board Island Princess

Vegas Style Casino
Vegas Style Casino
Ultimate Balcony Dining
Ultimate Balcony Dining
Tree House
Tree House
The Shops of Princess
The Shops of Princess
The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary
The Lodge
The Lodge
The Beach House
The Beach House
The Bar And Grill
The Bar And Grill
The Atrium
The Atrium
Sports Court
Sports Court
Sabatinis
Sabatinis
Room Service
Room Service

Dining on Island Princess

Main Dining Rooms (Bordeaux and Provence)Included

Two main dining rooms with Traditional, Flexible or Walk-in dining, all included in the fare.

World Fresh MarketplaceIncluded

Buffet restaurant with international stations for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

La PatisserieIncluded

Piazza pastry shop and café added in the 2015 refit for croissants, cakes and light bites.

Princess Pizzeria and The Bar & GrillIncluded

Poolside pizza by the slice and burgers and hot dogs from the grill.

Swirls Ice Cream Bar and Afternoon TeaIncluded

Soft-serve cones by the pool and a traditional afternoon tea service.

Crown GrillSpecialty

Princess’s signature steakhouse with premium aged beef, chops and seafood.

Sabatini’s Italian TrattoriaSpecialty

Handmade pasta and Italian classics in a sit-down trattoria setting.

Chef’s TableSpecialty

Limited-capacity multi-course dinner hosted by the executive chef, reservations required.

Crab ShackSpecialty

Casual pop-up seafood boil on select nights for an additional charge.

Ultimate Balcony DiningSpecialty

A served multi-course dinner on your own balcony.

Entertainment and activities

  • Production shows, comedians and guest entertainers in the Princess Theater
  • Universe Lounge shows, lectures and demonstrations on three revolving stages
  • Movies Under the Stars poolside screen
  • Live music in the Piazza, Crooners martini bar, Wheelhouse Bar and Explorers Lounge
  • Princess Casino
  • Three pools, five hot tubs, the Conservatory and the adults-only Sanctuary
  • Lotus Spa and Fitness Center
  • Lawn Court lawn games and Center Court sports deck

Families and who it suits

Princess youth centers run by age: The Treehouse for ages 3 to 7, The Lodge for 8 to 12 and The Beach House teen lounge for 13 to 17, all included, with connecting staterooms and Two Bedroom Family Suites for up to eight. The long Canal crossings draw a mature crowd, so the Alaska summer sailings are the better fit for families.

Best for: Travelers who want to cross the Panama Canal lock to lock, or see Alaska’s glaciers, on a smaller and quieter Princess ship with a high share of balconies and Mini-Suites.

Sails from: Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, San Diego, Vancouver, Whittier (Anchorage) · Regions: Panama Canal, Alaska, Caribbean

Island Princess questions we answer every day

How big is Island Princess?
Island Princess is 92,822 gross tons and 964 feet long with 16 decks. She carries 2,200 guests at double occupancy in 987 staterooms, with a crew of about 900. She is a Panamax ship built to fit the original Panama Canal locks, which makes her long, narrow and noticeably less crowded than the bigger Princess ships.
Where does Island Princess sail in 2026 and 2027?
From fall 2026 through April 2027 she sails 16 and 17-day Panama Canal Ocean to Ocean cruises between Los Angeles or San Diego and Fort Lauderdale, transiting the full Canal with calls in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Costa Rica, Panama and Aruba. Summer 2027 is Alaska, with 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruises between Vancouver and Whittier and 14-day Grand Adventure round trips from Vancouver, then the Caribbean for 2027 to 2028.
When was Island Princess last refurbished?
Island Princess had a routine dry dock at Fincantieri’s Palermo yard in September 2024 with class inspections, technical work and minor updates to staterooms and public areas. Her last major refit was in 2015, when Princess added 121 staterooms, remodeled the buffet, added La Patisserie and reworked several public rooms, which is why she carries more guests than her sister Coral Princess.
Which staterooms are best on Island Princess?
A Balcony stateroom is the obvious choice for the Canal and for Glacier Bay, and about 735 cabins have one. The ship also has an unusually high count of 192 Mini-Suites, so an upgrade to the extra sitting area and tub is often easy to find, and the Reserve Collection Mini-Suites add their own dining section. With just 118 interiors, budget cabins go first on the long Canal crossings.
What is included in the fare on Island Princess?
The Bordeaux and Provence dining rooms, World Fresh Marketplace, La Patisserie, Princess Pizzeria, The Bar & Grill, Swirls ice cream, afternoon tea, theater and Universe Lounge shows, Movies Under the Stars, pools and the youth centers are included. Specialty restaurants, drinks, Wi-Fi and crew appreciation are extra unless you add a Princess Plus or Premier package. SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on sailings where Princess allows it, which you will not get booking direct.
Does Island Princess go all the way through the Panama Canal?
Yes. Her Ocean to Ocean itineraries are full transits from the Pacific to the Atlantic or the reverse, passing through the Miraflores, Pedro Miguel and Gatun locks on the original canal in a single day, with a Panama Canal expert narrating from the bridge. Partial-transit cruises that enter Gatun Lake and turn around are a different product, so check the itinerary name before booking.

Facts checked against Princess Cruises: Island Princess, Princess Cruises: Island Princess fact sheet, Princess Cruises: 2027 Alaska season news release, Cruise Industry News: Island Princess enters drydock in Italy (September 2024) on October 13, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.

Live from the cruise line

Every Island Princess sailing, priced all-in

Every Island Princess departure the cruise line is selling, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. SmartCruiser picks at the top are sailings where booking with us gets you something extra. Stack the filters, then sort by lowest price, best value per night or sail date.

Every Island Princess sailing

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Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. Onboard credit shown on a sailing is per stateroom and applies to the lowest category offered unless stated otherwise.