What Is The Sanctuary on Princess Cruises?

The Sanctuary on Princess Cruises is a premium adults-only outdoor retreat with reserved loungers, cabanas, and Serenity Steward service. On ships with the classic Sanctuary, guests typically purchase a half-day, full-day, or select full-cruise pass onboard. On Sun Princess and Star Princess, Sanctuary Collection staterooms include access to the private Sanctuary Club. Whether it's worth the cost depends mainly on how much time you expect to spend relaxing onboard, especially during sea days.

What Is The Sanctuary on Princess Cruises?

Photo Courtesy: Princess Cruises

The Sanctuary represents an adults-only relaxing zone situated on the top deck of the ship, located either at its bow or stern, depending on which ship you are on. The Sanctuary concept was introduced by Princess in 2006 aboard Crown Princess and has since been offered across much of the fleet, with Sun Princess and Star Princess featuring the newer Sanctuary Club experience.

The place will seem more like a boutique resort than an area of a cruise ship deck. The guests will enjoy being in luxurious seats with soft and comfy cushions complete with new towels, small cocktail tables nearby, canopies covering a part of the area, and windowsills that have panoramic sea views. Special "Serenity Stewards" will silently wander around the area offering to replenish the drinks of water flavored with cucumbers or lemon and chilled face towels.

Most often, The Sanctuary is found just above or next to The Lotus Spa, allowing for your sense of comfort and calm to transfer easily from one to the other. In addition to this, on Royal-class vessels like Sky Princess and Discovery Princess, The Sanctuary is adjacent to The Retreat, an adults-only pool area.

The Sanctuary vs. Sanctuary Collection: What's the Difference?

The similar names cause plenty of confusion, but these are two different products.

The Sanctuary is the pay-by-the-day retreat area found on most Princess ships. Any guest aged 18 or older can buy a half-day or full-day pass once onboard, subject to availability.

The Sanctuary Collection is a premium stateroom program available only on Sun Princess and Star Princess, the line's newest Sphere-class ships. It launched with Sun Princess's October 14, 2024 sailing and arrived on Star Princess with her October 4, 2025 debut, replacing the former Signature and Reserve Collection categories on those two ships. Booking a Sanctuary Collection stateroom — a Sanctuary Suite, Sanctuary Mini-Suite, or Sanctuary Premium Deluxe Balcony — unlocks a bundle of exclusives: access to the private Sanctuary Club sun deck, a dedicated Sanctuary Restaurant with a custom chef's menu and no reservations required, the all-inclusive Princess Premier package, reserved theater seating, and priority specialty-dining reservations. Sanctuary Suite guests additionally enjoy a private two-story lounge with sweeping aft views.

The crucial difference: on Sun and Star Princess, you cannot buy a day pass to the Sanctuary Club — it comes only with a Sanctuary Collection booking. On every other ship, the reverse is true: there is no Sanctuary Collection to book, and daily passes are the only way in.

How Does The Sanctuary Work? (Access, Reservations & Passes)

Photo Courtesy: Princess Cruises

On ships offering the classic Sanctuary, access works on a simple pass system managed onboard:

• Half-day passes cover a morning or afternoon block and suit guests who want a few quiet hours without committing to the whole day.
• Full-day passes reserve your lounger from morning until early evening.
• Full-cruise packages are offered on select sailings at a discounted daily rate, ideal for sea-day-heavy itineraries.

Passes are sold first-come, first-served at the Sanctuary podium, and demand is intense on popular sailings — seasoned Princess cruisers head straight there the moment they board on embarkation day. Your Medallion handles charges and lets stewards deliver orders directly to your lounger.

Two special cases are worth knowing. First, on scenic-cruising days — think Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, College Fjord, the Panama Canal, or the Suez Canal — standard passes are suspended and Princess sells a separate Scenic Sanctuary Package, priced by itinerary; it is the only way to access the space on those days. Second, booking an alfresco massage through the Lotus Spa includes one complimentary hour in The Sanctuary after your treatment, a clever way to sample the space before paying for a full pass.

On Sun Princess and Star Princess, there is nothing to reserve onboard: your Medallion opens the Sanctuary Club's private entrance automatically if you are booked in a Sanctuary Collection stateroom.

Which Princess Cruises Ships Have The Sanctuary?

Most Princess ships offer the classic Sanctuary, while Sun Princess and Star Princess offer the Sanctuary Club exclusively to eligible Sanctuary Collection guests. Here is how it breaks down:

• Royal-class (Sanctuary plus the adjacent Retreat pool): Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess, Discovery Princess
• Grand-class: Grand Princess, Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess, Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess
• Coral-class: Coral Princess, Island Princess
• Sphere-class (Sanctuary Club, Sanctuary Collection guests only): Sun Princess, Star Princess

Cabana counts and layouts vary by ship. Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess stand out with eight private cabanas apiece — double the number found on the other Royal-class ships — while newer vessels feature beach-house-style bungalows with couches and televisions.

The Sanctuary Price & What's Included

Pricing for The Sanctuary varies by ship, itinerary, and type of access. Classic Sanctuary passes may be sold as half-day, full-day, or full-cruise options, while cabanas and specialty services cost extra. Check the current price onboard because availability and rates can change.

A standard pass includes your reserved padded lounger with fresh towels, chilled face towels, fruit-infused water, attentive Serenity Steward service, and the priceless guarantee of a quiet, child-free setting. Extras — smoothies, cocktails, personal water misters, certain menu items, cabanas, and massages — are billed separately or covered by your beverage package where applicable.

For Sanctuary Collection guests on Sun and Star Princess, there is no separate Sanctuary charge at all: Club access is bundled into the stateroom fare together with the Princess Premier package, which Princess values at more than $600 per person on a seven-night cruise.

The Sanctuary Amenities & Services

Expect the following throughout the space:

• Plush loungers and daybeds arranged with generous spacing, including prime perimeter seats along the glass railing
• Shaded canopies over part of the deck, with full-sun sections for dedicated sunbathers
• Private cabanas, from classic curtained retreats to beach-house-style bungalows with sofas and TVs on newer ships
• Serenity Stewards providing near-resort-level service throughout the day
• Complimentary touches such as chilled face towels, infused water, and relaxation music players on select ships
• A strictly enforced quiet atmosphere — this is a phones-on-silent, voices-low zone

Cabana guests on Royal-class ships enjoy an elevated package: a television with noise-reducing wireless headphones, plush robes and slippers, a welcome cocktail, healthy snacks, and a stocked minibar with waters, sodas, and a choice of beer or wine.

The Sanctuary Food, Drinks & Spa Services

You never need to leave your lounger for lunch. Serenity Stewards take orders from a dedicated Sanctuary menu that ranges from spa-style bites — fruit skewers, lettuce-wrapped spring rolls, melon with cottage cheese — to comfort favorites like burgers and hot dogs, with sweet treats passed around in the afternoon. Smoothies carry a small charge, and cocktails, wine, and beer are billed at standard bar prices unless you hold a Plus or Premier beverage package.

The spa connection is one of The Sanctuary's biggest draws. On select ships, the Lotus Spa offers alfresco massages — including couples treatments — inside dedicated cabanas with ocean views, and every treatment includes an hour of Sanctuary access afterward. High-end options such as the Royal Indulgence package combine all-day cabana use with massages, gourmet food, and beverages.

In the Sanctuary Club on both Sun Princess and Star Princess, the level of experience goes even higher: handcrafted cocktails, champagne wall, personalized bites menu, morning yoga classes, wellness sessions, and sail away parties with premium cocktails included for free within the Premier package.

The Sanctuary Age Requirements & Guest Policies

Classic Sanctuary is open for patrons above the age of 18 with no exceptions even for accompanying teenagers. The threshold age for the Sanctuary Club in Sun Princess and Star Princess is set at 16 years or above for Sanctuary Collection.

There are some house rules which help maintain the ambience of the place: passes are based on a person's reservation of loungers, phone must be kept on silent mode, conversation should be kept down, and no smoking in the club. Swim wear with cover up is required to visit the club.

How to Reserve The Sanctuary on Princess Cruises

You cannot pre-book the classic Sanctuary before your cruise; reservations open onboard. Follow this playbook:

• Board as early as your group allows and go directly to the Sanctuary podium — before lunch, before your cabin, before anything else on high-demand sailings.
• Decide your format in advance: half day, full day, specific sea days, or the full cruise.
• Ask about cabanas immediately if you want one; they routinely sell out on day one.
• Request the Scenic Sanctuary Package at the same time if your itinerary includes Glacier Bay, the Panama Canal, or similar scenic days.
• Sailing Sun Princess or Star Princess? Skip the podium entirely — Sanctuary Club access must be secured when you book your cruise by choosing a Sanctuary Collection stateroom, so compare fares carefully on CruiseBooking.com before you sail.

The Sanctuary vs The Retreat vs Lotus Spa (Comparison Table)

Princess ships offer three distinct relaxation spaces, and it is easy to mix them up. Here is how they compare:

In short: The Retreat is the free adults-only pool, the Lotus Spa is where you pay per treatment, and The Sanctuary is where you pay for reserved time, space, and service.

Pros and Cons of The Sanctuary

Pros

• Genuine, enforced tranquility that is nearly impossible to find elsewhere on a large ship
• Excellent value at roughly $40* for a full day compared with $100+* resort daybed rentals on land
• Attentive Serenity Steward service, from infused water to lounger-side dining
• A guaranteed padded lounger — no towel wars or dawn chair-hogging
• Direct access to Lotus Spa treatments and alfresco massages
• The Scenic Sanctuary option turns glacier and canal days into premium viewing experiences

Cons

• Sells out quickly; missing the embarkation-day rush can mean missing out entirely
• Fully outdoor, so cold or wet weather can wipe out the value of a prepaid day
• An added cost on top of your fare, with food and drink extras billed separately
• Suite status earns no free access on most ships
• Scenic days require a separate, pricier package even if you already hold passes
• Not available at any price on Sun and Star Princess without a Sanctuary Collection booking

Is The Sanctuary on Princess Cruises Worth It?

For the right cruiser, definitely. Priced at approximately $40 for the entire day – lower than many treatments available at the ship’s spa facility or even a one-time port tour experience – The Sanctuary is among the cheapest luxury add-ons offered by cruising. It works best on itineraries that include many sea days, like those to Hawaii, transatlantic voyages, and the Mexican Riviera, where you can really make use of your time. Newlyweds or couples commemorating anniversaries, and those cruising during school holidays to avoid the poolside vibe, will see its worth right away.

However, it doesn't make sense for itineraries that require you to be ashore more often; if you are on a Royal class ship and you are happy with the complimentary adults-only Retreat pool available next door; or on colder trips where you might not use an outdoor deck anyway. Do the math on your trip: add up your sea days, see what the weather will be like, and think about how much you can get out of a day pass on one or two days.

The Sanctuary is worth it if:

• You have multiple sea days.
• You prefer quiet, adults-only spaces.
• You want a reserved lounger instead of competing for pool chairs.
• You plan to spend several hours relaxing onboard.
• You're traveling on a busy sailing when complimentary pool areas may be crowded.

The Sanctuary may not be worth it if:

• You spend most days in port.
• You rarely use outdoor deck areas.
• You're happy using complimentary relaxation spaces such as The Retreat, where available.
• Cold, rainy, or windy weather could limit your time outdoors.

Bottom line: The Sanctuary is most worthwhile when you have several sea days and expect to spend a significant amount of time relaxing onboard. If you're mainly using the ship as a base between port visits, the extra cost may not provide enough value.

Expert Tips Before Booking The Sanctuary

• Make the Sanctuary podium your first stop after boarding; on sea-day-heavy sailings, passes and cabanas can be gone within the hour.
• Book the full cruise upfront if your itinerary is loaded with sea days — the discounted daily rate on select sailings beats piecing together individual days.
• Try a half-day pass first; an afternoon block is often enough to know whether a longer commitment suits you.
• Targeting a cabana? Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess double your odds with eight apiece.
• Book an alfresco massage through the Lotus Spa to earn a complimentary hour in The Sanctuary — a smart low-cost trial run.
• Budget separately for the Scenic Sanctuary Package if your itinerary includes Glacier Bay, College Fjord, or the Panama Canal.
• Pack a light layer; top-deck breezes run cooler than the main pool deck, even in the Caribbean.
• Confirm current pricing at the podium, as rates vary by ship and itinerary.
• Sailing Sun or Star Princess? Decide before you book your cruise — the Sanctuary Club cannot be added onboard at any price.