Princess Royal Class: Six Ships Compared by Pools, Dining and Cabins

Six large ships centered on Piazza activity

Royal and Regal established this generation; Majestic and the later Sky, Enchanted and Discovery developed it further. The design puts much of the social activity around the central Piazza, with a large buffet and pool-deck life higher up. It favors guests who like a substantial resort ship and varied evening options.

Do not expect the broad, continuous covered promenade experience associated with some earlier Princess ships. Inspect the actual outside walking route. A top-deck track, a short outdoor promenade section and a sheltered circuit near the sea are different experiences, especially in wind or cool weather.

Royal, Regal, Majestic, Sky, Enchanted and Discovery

Movies, music and ship-specific sheltered pool areas

Movies Under the Stars, pools, theater productions and smaller music venues provide a varied but generally less ride-focused day than the largest Carnival or Royal Caribbean ships. Families who need slides, climbing attractions or a major waterpark should compare those requirements directly rather than assuming that all large ships provide them.

Majestic’s Hollywood Club has a covered pool, a substantial advantage if swimming in cool weather is a priority. Regal has an aft Terrace Pool, while Sky’s aft pool is the Wake View Pool. These are different outdoor layouts; the Royal-class label does not promise the same sheltered facilities.

Refitted restaurants and casual-dining inclusion rules

Majestic’s 2025 refit replaced Harmony with Sabatini’s and added O’Malley’s Irish Pub, alongside Crown Grill and The Catch by Rudi. Enchanted and Discovery also offer the separately booked 360 experience. Those additions matter more to a dining comparison than the ships’ shared class name.

Poolside pizza by the slice is different from a sit-down meal at Alfredo’s or Gigi’s. The latter is casual dining with a charge unless covered by your package. Compare the eligible meals in Princess Plus and Premier before buying a package chiefly for restaurant visits.

Balcony depth, Reserve categories and Sky Suites

Many standard balconies on this generation are shallower than travelers expect from a generic balcony photograph. Review the dimensions and arrangement of the exact category. Angled, extended and obstructed balconies need their own comparison; more outdoor floor area can come with more exposure to people above.

Mini-Suites provide additional interior living space, while Reserve Collection benefits attach only to qualifying categories. A normal Mini-Suite is not automatically a Reserve booking. Sky Suites on Sky, Enchanted and Discovery introduce a very different level of accommodation and outdoor space; compare their full cost with other large suites rather than an ordinary balcony headline fare.

For food, shows and pools without a major ride complex

Choose Royal class for a large-ship Princess trip centered on food, shows, pools and the itinerary. It can suit multigenerational groups whose interests overlap without requiring everyone to chase thrill attractions.

Choose a smaller Princess design when a more compact footprint or a traditional outside walking routine matters most. Choose Sphere when the newer entertainment spaces or Sanctuary accommodation specifically appeal, after comparing their full price.

Pros and cons

Other ships to consider

Sphere class offers the newer Arena and Dome experience. Grand-class ships are the traditional-layout alternative. Compare Majestic separately when sheltered pool-deck facilities matter; do not treat all six Royal ships as one weather plan.

Official deck plans

Photograph and further reading

The photograph shows Majestic Princess at the date recorded in its credit. It illustrates the vessel, not a guarantee of its current paintwork, cabins or latest refit. Original photograph and attribution; photograph license.