Royal Princess Exits Singapore Drydock With Sanctuary Collection

Princess Cruises has completed a 14-day drydock in Singapore that adds the Sanctuary Collection, its premium resort-style tier at sea, to the 3,595-guest Royal Princess — the first of five Royal-class ships slated to receive the product.

The ship spent October 16–30 in drydock, and the line confirmed the upgrade package in a statement. For sellers of travel, the change matters because it creates a new bookable premium category with its own inventory: new ocean-view staterooms plus 20 added guest cabins — six mini-suites, seven oceanview, two interiors and five single interiors.

"The enhancements aboard Royal Princess introduce new accommodations, distinctive venues for entertaining, dining and socializing, and thoughtfully refreshed spaces designed to elevate every aspect of the guest experience," said Rodrigo Llaguno, Princess Cruises' chief operating officer.

"These updates build on the ship's enduring appeal and our commitment to creating memorable vacations through exceptional experiences and the signature Princess touches our guests have valued since her debut," Llaguno added.

What does the Sanctuary Collection include?

Guests who book the all-inclusive Sanctuary Collection get access to the Sanctuary Club, a private top-deck adults-only retreat with its own pool. Full availability begins April 22, 2027. Until then, all adult guests aged 16 and older can preview the club, which occupies the space formerly known as the Retreat Pool and The Sanctuary.

The package also covers the newly opened Sanctuary Restaurant on deck 6, next to the Concerto Dining Room. That gives agents a dining-inclusive premium bundle to sell against competing luxury-tier products at sea.

The takeaway: Princess now has a defined premium tier on Royal Princess with dedicated cabins, dining and deck space, and it's rolling out across five Royal-class ships.

Which venues changed?

The drydock reshuffled several revenue-generating spaces on board:

• O'Malley's Irish Pub at the Piazza took over the former Vines location on deck 5
• Bellini's expanded into the former Photo Gallery space
• The Princess Casino removed the staircase between decks 6 and 7 to enlarge the gaming floor for an enhanced selection of gaming options
• The Effy jewelry boutique was refreshed and other shops were upgraded as the ship transitions to new onboard retail partner Starboard

The Starboard switch is the quiet commercial detail here: onboard retail concessions shift spend share between operators, and Starboard now takes the inventory. In plain terms, the ship's shops and casino now carry more selling space than before.

Where does the ship sail next?

After debuting in Southeast Asia earlier this month, Royal Princess heads to Australia for a season of cruising from Sydney, covering Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. It is one of three Princess ships sailing in the region during the 2026-27 season, a program that spans 42 itineraries and 62 departures.

That gives Australia-NZ sellers a freshly upgraded hardware product with a new premium tier to sell into a season that's already carrying substantial capacity — and the Sanctuary Collection rollout continues across the rest of the Royal-class fleet from there.