Princess Cruise Room Types: Balcony, Suite & Interior Cabin Guide

When booking a cruise with Princess Cruises, one of the first choices you will be making will be among the Princess stateroom categories (or cabin category on Princess Cruises). Princess cabins are divided into various room types or staterooms, each featuring different amenities, views, and price points. Becoming aware of what are the categories of Princess staterooms assists you in choosing the best cabins on Princess cruise ships for your requirements.

Explore the Princess Cruise room types listed below

1. Inside Cabins

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Inside cabins are considered to have the lowest category among Princess staterooms and are basic and usually inexpensive. They have no window or view of the ocean. If saving money is the priority, then inside cabins are an ideal choice. On most newer Princess ships like Discovery Princess, inside cabins measure approximately 166 sq ft, sometimes up to ~175 sq ft.

Usually, these inside cabins have the additional feature of pulling-down bunks that come in handy for accommodating up to four guests in one cabin. Although smaller than the balcony cabins, inside cabins of Princess Cruises are larger than in many competitors.

2. Ocean-View Cabins

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If you want natural light and a view without paying for a balcony, ocean-view cabins are the middle choice on a Princess Cruise. They give you a window looking out to the ocean but no balcony.

Not all ships have ocean-view cabins. For instance, some of the newest Princess ships Royal Princess, Regal Princess, and Majestic Princess — have no ocean-view cabins; every outward-facing cabin is a balcony. Ocean-view cabins, on ships where they exist, tend to be ever-so-slightly larger than inside cabins. On Emerald Princess, for instance, ocean-view staterooms are about 178 square feet, compared to inside cabins at 163 sq ft.  Premium ocean-view cabins, such as on Coral Class ships, may offer more space (e.g. ~212 sq ft).

3. Balcony Cabins (Including Mini-Suites)

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These balcony cabins rank among more highly rated Princess cabins. They offer the great privilege and bliss of a little private balcony to enjoy the fresh breeze and views of the sea. Newer Royal Class cruise ships, whereby the Princess Line includes Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess, and Discovery Princess, have about 80% of their cabins as balcony cabins or suites with balconies.

Standard balcony cabins on these ships usually have 181 square feet of inside space plus a balcony of around 41 square feet (~222 sq ft in total), though some are slightly different.There are premium deluxe balcony cabins which are bigger inside (~233 sq ft, excluding balcony), or just have larger balconies thereby giving more weight to the total usable area.

Mini-suites belong here and are basically big balcony cabins with some extra space and sometimes more amenities, but they are not full suites. The balconies in the mini-suites on Royal Class ships (interior + balcony) can go up to ~299-329 sq ft.

4. Suites

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Within Princess Cruises, suites represent the most luxurious and spacious of all Princess cruise staterooms. However, there are comparatively fewer suites on each ship compared to many other large cruise lines, so these are premium options that often sell out early. 

One of the more exclusive accommodations is the Sky Suites, aboard Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess, and Sky Princess. Real stand-alone suites, these span approximately 1,792 square feet, though more than half of that space is taken by the wrap-around balcony. They have two bedrooms plus a living room with pull-out sofa, or for five persons.

Also, family suites are often made available on Princess vessels, especially the Grand Class ones. They are built by connecting a mini-suite and an inside cabin next door, thereby creating a suite complex that sleeps six to eight.

Princess Stateroom Category Codes & Which One is Best

Albeit not always publicly quoted in the form of a simple alphanumeric code (i.e., “IB,” “BA,” etc.) in the guide we have included here, the concept of the Princess stateroom category codes exists in the booking systems. Codes designate cabin types, i.e., inside, ocean-view, balcony, suite, and quite often sub-types, i.e., premium, deluxe, mini-suite, so on and so forth. While booking, pay close attention to detailed definitions the codes provide: square footage, balcony or no balcony, the number of guests, etc such that whoever is reading knows exactly what sort of room they are supposed to be getting.

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Regarding the best cabins on Princess cruise ships really depends on one's priorities:

• Inside cabins are great if budget is a major concern.
• Ocean view cabins are better if you want a bit of scenery but are still moderate in cost.
• Balcony cabins or premium deluxe balcony cabins offer a lovely value for the fresh air and ambience.
• For space, exclusivity, and paramount amenities, mini-suites or full suites (like Sky Suites or family suites) take the crown.

Summary

Inside, ocean-view, balcony (including mini-suites), and suites: Princess Cruises clearly gives the "what line" for different Princess Cruise rooms types. In turn, each Princess stateroom category offers varying degrees of comfort, views, and space. Getting into the differences between Princess cabins and Princess stateroom category codes will allow a traveler to better make an informed decision. Whether it's plain cheapest or full luxury with the best view of the ocean, perhaps there is a Princess cruise stateroom category that suits one's needs.