Here is everything you need to know about the Sanctuary on Princess Cruises.

Princess Sanctuary Cost - Is It Worth It?

As Princess’s coveted luxury area, the Sanctuary is found onboard the majority of their ships, and is often in high demand. I was able to take a quick look around during my recently voyage on the Sky Princess, and was very impressed with what I found.

This space is designed to be a high-end alternative to the busy pool areas elsewhere on their ships. In this blog post I explain what exactly the Sanctuary provides, how much it costs, and whether it’s worth booking.

Please note that all photographs were taken by myself onboard the Sky Princess, and that the Sanctuary may differ between ships.

What Is The Sanctuary on Princess Cruises?

This is an exclusive paid-for area that’s available on most of Princess’s fleet, providing bookable sun loungers and cabanas for an additional fee. The Sanctuary is incredibly popular and often sells out on embarkation day, meaning that an early embarkation time is a must if you want to book a space.

Guests can opt for either a lounger/cabana for their entire cruise, a single day, or a half day depending on their preference and budget.

This area really does have a luxury feel, providing attentive service and lots of space for a small number of passengers. Guests also have access to an inclusive menu of snacks and refreshments as part of the fee.

What Do You Get at The Sanctuary?

Adults-only environment

While many of the Princess ships have their own adults only areas, the Sanctuary offers a more luxurious, exclusive feel.

Comfortable loungers and Cabanas

After sailing on the Sky Princess I can definitely say that the loungers and relaxation spaces in the Sanctuary are of a higher quality than those in other areas of the ship. The cabanas even have televisions and are available for open air massages.

Serenity Steward service

These expert crew members take care of all the guests in the Sanctuary and can provide you with whatever you need - whether that’s a face towel, a snack, or a cold drink.

Drinks and spa-style food

Cruisers spending time in the Sanctuary have access to a menu of included snacks and refreshments, including wine, liquor and soft drinks.

Open Air Massages and Spa Treatments

These are bookable for guests who have private cabanas, and include deep tissue and Swedish massages for single adults and couples. Note that these do cost an additional fee.

Fantastic Sea Views

The Sanctuary is typically located high up on the Princess ships, offering excellent views both while in port and at sea.

Which Princess Cruise Ships Have The Sanctuary?

The Sanctuary is available on almost all of the ships in the Princess fleet.

Notably the new Sphere Class ships, the Sun Princess and Star Princess, do not offer the traditional Sanctuary experience, instead featuring a new product called the Sanctuary Collection.

Outside of this you will find the bookable Sanctuary area on all of the Princess ships, except for the Majestic Princess. Instead, this ship has the Hollywood Conservatory, which is a free indoor pool, bar and lounge area.

How Much Does The Sanctuary Cost?

Sanctuary passes are usually available per person, costing $20 for a half day and $40 for a whole day. You can also book a spot for the entire cruise if you want access to the Sanctuary every day. Cabanas and spa treatments are also available for an additional fee.

Prices may vary depending on the ship, so make sure you check before booking.

How to Book the Sanctuary on Princess Cruises

Unlike some of the other entertainment and dining spaces on Princess, the Sanctuary is only bookable once you have embarked the ship.

I’d originally hoped to book a day for myself and my partner to enjoy the Sanctuary experience, but as space is limited, we were unfortunately unable to do so. We had a late embarkation time and, as this area sells out extremely quickly on embarkation day and isn’t bookable in advance, we were unable to get a spot on this occasion.

I’d actually heard from another cruiser onboard that the Sanctuary had sold out for our cruise before they even boarded, which is pretty crazy!

Now that I know this information, I would definitely approach booking a Sanctuary lounger differently in the future. I was admittedly quite blase when it came to selecting my embarkation time, and ended up with a late slot.

Instead, it would make more sense for me to complete online check in as soon as possible, and select the earliest embarkation time. Once boarded, I would then head straight to the Sanctuary in order to get my spot while they are still available.

Is The Sanctuary on Princess Cruises Worth It?

Reasons The Sanctuary may be worth it For You

You want a tranquil atmosphere and dislike crowded pool areas
You value attentive service and don't mind paying extra for a more premium experience
You want somewhere to read, nap or relax without loud music
You’re planning either a day of relaxation on a sea or port day

Reasons it may not be worth it For You

Your sailing doesn’t have many sea days and you plan to spend most of your time exploring in port.
You prefer a lively atmosphere with music and entertainment
You're travelling on a budget and trying to keep costs down
You don't expect to spend several hours relaxing in the peace and quiet

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

Available on the Sun and Star Princess, the Sanctuary Collection is a very different offering compared to the standard Sanctuary area on the rest of the fleet.

On these two newest ships, the Sanctuary Collection is only accessible to guests who have booked a Sanctuary Suite, Sanctuary Mini-Suite or Sanctuary Balcony, and is not bookable for other passengers. This is essentially comparable to the ship within a ship concept such as the Yacht Club by MSC or Norwegian Cruise Line's The Haven.

All Sanctuary Collection cabins receive access to the Sanctuary Restaurant, which has a custom menu not found anywhere else on the ship, as well as the Sanctuary Club, which is an exclusive top deck poolside space. Princess Premier is also included in the price.

It sounds absolutely amazing, but is worth remembering that the Sanctuary Collection is a very different product to the usual Sanctuary experience.

Final Verdict: Should You Book The Sanctuary?

Whether of not you should book the Sanctuary really depends on your cruising style and budget.

If you have the money to spend and enjoy a quiet, relaxing atmosphere, then the Sanctuary will be well worth it for you. I know that I would love it, as I like to spend my sea days reading in the sunshine with a drink in hand.

If, however, you prefer live music and plenty of entertainment during the day, then the Sanctuary might not be the right spot for you. Similarly, cruisers who are travelling on a budget may prefer to spend the fee on speciality dining or days in port.

I hope you found this helpful! For more information about Princess Cruises take a look at my other posts below.

Princess Sanctuary Cost - Is It Worth It?