Earlier this year, Princess Cruises launched their largest ship, Sun Princess. Measuring over 177,000 gross registered tons, the brand-new Sphere Class ship offers countless new experiences, ranging from the mesmerizing Dome to the artistic-inspired Love by Britto specialty restaurant. Another new concept that made its debut is The Sanctuary.
While not a traditional "ship-within-a-ship" concept, The Sanctuary offers high-paying guests an exclusive outdoor retreat with a private pool, bar, comfortable lounges, and more. Also, passengers staying in Sanctuary Collection cabins can dine at The Sanctuary Restaurant on Deck 8 and grab a pre-dinner drink in the elegant and tranquil Signature Lounge.
With suites within The Sanctuary Collection costing far more than traditional cabins, the price is justified by the exclusivity of Sanctuary-only amenities, offering passengers an escape from the hustle and bustle of the other areas onboard, as well as the personalized service and lavish accommodations.
Here's a sneak peek at what guests can expect when staying in The Sanctuary Collection.
Read more: 8 signs you're ready to move up from a cruise ship balcony to a suite
The Sanctuary Club
Located on Deck 18, The Sanctuary Club is a top-deck retreat available only to those staying in Sanctuary Collection cabins. This exclusive space offers a serene escape with stunning panoramic views. Passengers can relax in one of the plush loungers or take a dip in the pool before ordering from the Club's custom food menu.
The Sanctuary Club also has ocean-facing private cabanas for those seeking to further elevate their experience. These cabanas aren't included and must be purchased in advance. They start around $499 per day and are only available to guests staying in Sanctuary Collection cabins. Those in standard staterooms cannot rent a cabana for access to The Sanctuary Club.
The price includes a fruit basket, a bottle of champagne, a mini-bar setup, and specially designed amenities like flip-flops and bathrobes. The cabanas are equipped with a television and can accommodate up to 4 people.
There's no shortage of luxurious lounge chairs on the wrap-around deck. Pro tip: head to the very back for amazing wake views while at sea.
The Sanctuary Club has its own bar that serves cocktails, mocktails, sodas, and more—all included! Not only that, but the attentive crew is always on hand to ensure every need is met, from drink orders to towel service.
You don't have to venture far for the restroom, either. The conveniently located bathrooms are easily accessible, adding to the comfort of the space by making sure passengers can enjoy their time in The Sanctuary Club without interruption.
Perhaps the most unique aspect of The Sanctuary Club is the bell where you can ring for a glass of champagne!
After ringing the bell, a freshly poured glass of bubbly will appear from the lush greenery, handed over by a crew member in elegant white gloves. While minor, this touch adds a playful element to the experience, and, personally, I think it's a great spot for pictures!
The Signature Lounge is another exclusive venue suite guests can access. Located on Deck 15 and 16, the floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views of the ocean and the ship's wake. The upscale space features plush seating, a stylish bar with light bites, and concierge services.
The Sanctuary Restaurant
Because The Sanctuary's amenities are scattered throughout the ship—from Deck 18 to Deck 8—it doesn't feel like other line's "ship-within-a-ship" concept that keeps the suite-only areas condensed to one section of the vessel.
The Sanctuary Restaurant, for example, is on Deck 8. This walk-in restaurant is complimentary and is open for breakfast and dinner daily, as well as lunch on sea days. It's also available to passengers staying in Reserve Collection Mini-Suites.
During breakfast, you can expect menu items like Banana Bread French Toast, Lobster Eggs Benedict, Smoked Salmon Omelettes, Vegetable Frittatas, and more.
Read more: How 25,000 meals a day are made on Princess' largest cruise ship
The lunch menu features upscale options compared to traditional cruise ship dining. Select menu items have a surcharge, such as the Lobster Roll, which costs $18. Likewise, the Seafood Salad with jumbo lump crab, shrimp, and lobster meat is priced at $24.
Finally, when it comes to dinner, the menu is similar to the Main Dining Room; however, there are a few elevated options. For instance, the Main Dining Room may offer a Whole Roasted Turkey, while the Sanctuary Restaurant features Veal Scallopini Milanese. Similarly, in lieu of the Garlic-Herb Roasted Chicken, passengers at the suite-only restaurant can order a juicy Filet Mignon.
Of course, with unlimited specialty dining, Sanctuary Collection guests may dine at Sabatini's Italian Trattoria, Makoto Ocean, Umai Teppanyaki and Hot Pot, Crown Grill, The Catch by Rudi, and Butcher's Block by Dario as much as they'd like.
Princess Premier
All guests staying in a Sanctuary Collection stateroom can enjoy the benefits of Princess' Premier Package. From unlimited specialty dining to included gratuities, Wi-Fi, professional photos, fitness classes, and alcoholic beverages valued at up to $20 each, it's the line's most inclusive cruise fare.
Princess Premier isn't exclusive to the Sanctuary Collection. In fact, any guest—even those staying in standard inside cabins—can add the package to their cruise fare for just $90/day. Sanctuary Collection passengers don't have to worry about the upcharge.
If that seems like too much, consider Princess Plus. For $60/day, you'll receive Wi-Fi for one device, up to 15 alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks per day (including cocktails, beer, specialty coffees, and glasses of wine valued at up to $15 each), gratuities, two fitness classes per voyage, and two casual meals at one of the ship's relaxed specialty restaurants.
On Sun Princess, the two casual restaurants are O'Malley's Irish Pub and Alfredo's Pizzeria. Outside of these venues, restaurants like Umai, Crown Grill, and The Catch will incur a charge of $45 per person.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
