Majestic Princess

Majestic Princess is the odd sibling of the Royal class - built in 2017 for the Chinese market, then a long-time Australia and Alaska favorite - and travelers talk about her differences as features, not bugs. In place of the fee-based Sanctuary and SeaWalk found on sisters like Discovery Princess, she has the free Hollywood Conservatory, a glass-walled indoor garden with cabanas, and the dome-covered Hollywood Pool Club. That indoor real estate makes her one of the best-suited big ships for cool-climate cruising, and the vibe is classic Princess: calm, service-led, and more about food, wine, and live music in the Piazza than deck-top thrills.

The practical experience is anchored by MedallionClass, which most reviewers now describe as genuinely useful rather than gimmicky - hands-free cabin entry, drinks delivered to your deck chair, fast embarkation - though when the app misbehaves it becomes the top complaint. Food is a high point if you venture beyond the three main dining rooms: Harmony's Cantonese menu and Bistro Sur La Mer's French cooking both come from Michelin-starred chefs and cost far less than land equivalents. The Enclave thermal suite and a 2025 refurbishment round out a ship that feels newer than her age. The trade-offs are a too-small theater, small standard cabins, and pools that concentrate crowds because so much deck space is enclosed.

She's best for couples, foodies, and travelers over 40 who want a premium-feeling big ship without megaship chaos; families with teens who need waterslides should look at Royal Caribbean instead. Versus sister ships Discovery and Royal Princess, Majestic trades the SeaWalk and Sanctuary for the Conservatory and Harmony - reviewers in cooler regions consistently call that a win. Fares typically sit slightly above Celebrity's Solstice class and below Discovery Princess for equivalent itineraries, and her 2026 program (Southampton Europe summers, fall Canada & New England from New York, winter Caribbean) makes her Princess's most varied deployment.