Caribbean Princess
Ship Specifications
Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Ship Class
Grand
Year Built
2004
Gross Tonnage
112,894 GT
Passengers
3,140
Cabins
1,570
Decks
19
Crew
1,200
Choosing a cabin on Caribbean Princess
Drawn from 6 traveler threads about cabins on Caribbean Princess (2016–2026) and 2 about Grand-class cabins generally; only a handful contain location detail, so this note is brief.
The most useful detail for this ship is about its ocean-view cabins. A 2022 reply from a Princess regular explained that on Caribbean Princess (and Crown) the Emerald-deck ocean views, most of which are sold as obstructed, are laid out like the balcony cabins: the bed sits nearer the bathroom and the desk and fridge are at the window, so the window is usable rather than wedged behind the headboard as on some other Princess ships. The armchair has been removed, leaving the desk chair and the bed as the only seating. The same reply suggested pricing the obstructed balcony cabins too, since they are sometimes a bargain. On balcony categories the only specific steer is a 2016 reply, written just before a refurbishment, that the BA and B1 categories are the best balconies on the ship. An April 2026 thread on upgrading a balcony to a Reserve Collection mini-suite drew answers from sister ships rather than this hull: the sofa and the dedicated Reserve dining room with its own wait staff were what made it worthwhile for two posters, one on Sky Princess and one on an Alaska sailing, while a third did not think the upgrade paid off; on Ruby Princess those cabins sit on Dolphin deck close to midship.
Worth booking
Emerald-deck obstructed ocean views
A 2022 reply said these are laid out like the balcony cabins on Caribbean Princess, with the bed nearer the bathroom and the desk and fridge at the window, so the window is actually usable; the armchair has been removed, so seating is the desk chair and the bed. The same poster said to price the obstructed balconies as well, which are sometimes a deal.
BA and B1 balcony categories
A 2016 reply from a poster who knew the ship called BA and B1 the best balconies on Caribbean Princess and advised trying for one of those two categories; the advice predates a refurbishment that year, so check the current deck plan.
Cabin questions
Is a Reserve Collection mini-suite worth it on Caribbean Princess?
Nobody in the April 2026 thread had done it on this ship, but two posters who had on Sky Princess and on an Alaska sailing said the in-cabin sofa and the separate Reserve dining room, with its own wait staff and no waiting, were what justified the price; a third did not think it was worth the upgrade. On Ruby Princess the Reserve cabins were on Dolphin deck near midship.
Are the ocean-view cabins on Caribbean Princess obstructed?
Most of the Emerald-deck ones are sold as obstructed, according to a 2022 reply, but the trade-off is a layout like a balcony cabin with the desk at the window rather than the bed. Look at the deck plan to see what the obstruction is, and compare against the obstructed balcony prices, which the same poster said can be cheaper than expected.
What Travelers Say
Distilled from 124 traveler threads, passenger reviews and travel blogs.
Caribbean Princess is a 2004-built Grand-class ship and one of the most storied vessels in the Princess fleet - she's the ship that pioneered Movies Under the Stars, the poolside big-screen experience now copied across the industry. At roughly 113,000 gross tons and around 3,140 guests, she's a large but pre-Royal-class ship with a mellow, classic-Princess atmosphere. Reviewers tend to either love her intimate, well-worn charm or wish for the newer amenities of her younger fleetmates.
The onboard experience leans on familiar Princess strengths: Crown Grill and Sabatini's anchor solid specialty dining, the poolside pizza earns specific praise, and there's a wide spread of complimentary venues from the World Fresh Marketplace buffet to the 24-hour International Café in the Piazza. Five pools, seven hot tubs, the adults-only Sanctuary, the award-winning Lotus Spa and the Reef Splash Zone kids' area (refreshed in the 2019 refit) round out the amenities. The recurring complaints are about age and staffing - small cabins with dated bathrooms, understaffing on busy sailings, and a newer service charge on food and beverage purchases that landed badly with guests.
Caribbean Princess is best for travelers chasing a classic, good-value Caribbean cruise on a calmer, easier-to-navigate ship who don't need the latest features. She typically prices below the newer Royal-class ships such as Royal, Regal and Sky Princess, trading cutting-edge venues for a more relaxed feel. Standout experiences include a Movies Under the Stars night under the deck where the concept began, a meal at Crown Grill, and downtime in the Sanctuary or Lotus Spa.
What People Love
- Well-maintained for her age with an intimate, classic-Princess feel
- Laid-back, mellow onboard atmosphere that suits relaxed and older cruisers
- Pioneered Movies Under the Stars, still a repeatedly praised family highlight
- Strong specialty dining - Crown Grill and Sabatini's review well
Common Complaints
- Shows her 2004 age - dated decor, small cabins and cramped bathrooms
- Recurring understaffing, with stewards stretched thin
- Overcrowding on sold-out sailings strains bars and pool-deck service
- Repeat cruisers note a post-pandemic decline in food and service
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources: travel.usnews.com, travel.usnews.com, cruiseline.com, princess.com