Island Princess

The 2003-built Island Princess cruise ship is the second of the two Coral-class Princess ships, along with Coral Princess.

The vessel (IMO number 9230402) is currently Bermuda-flagged (MMSI 310384000) and registered in Hamilton.

History - construction and ownership

Princess Cruises is a US-based passenger shipping company headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA. Formerly a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises (founded in 1977), in 2003 the company merged with Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise ship owner. Among Princess Cruise Lines Ltd’s assets is the Caribbean private-island resort Princess Cays (on Eleuthera Island’s southern end, Bahamas), located approximately 80 km (50 mi) from Nassau.

The 2,200-passenger Island Princess and her sister Coral Princess are “outliers” for Princess Cruises. The line built only two vessels of this size before following the industry trend toward larger ships (e.g., the Grand class). Neither among the fleet’s largest ships nor the mid-sized Sun-class vessels, Island Princess sits in the middle and, in many ways, delivers the best of both. She blends the exotic (international crew, stylish Italian dining venues, celebrity-style spa treatments) with the familiar (buffets, poolside umbrella drinks, cocktails, bingo). Public spaces sparkle, and despite her 2003 launch, there’s little sign of wear. Service is strong—especially in the dining venues—and entertainment is top-notch. What truly stands out is the quality of life onboard. Island Princess offers a quintessential Alaska experience highlighted by a lecture series featuring a state naturalist, National Park Service ranger talks, and a presentation by the first woman to win the Iditarod. Guests also receive a Princess travel guide and map to follow the route, locate their position, and reference stories, points of interest, and photos.

Decks and Cabins

Island Princess staterooms (1,107 total, in 34 grades) include 123 Suites, 581 Balcony, 181 Oceanview, and 122 Interior cabins, plus 20 wheelchair-accessible accommodations. Nearly 80% of all outside staterooms have private step-out balconies. The largest are the Balcony Suites (300–470 ft² / 28–44 m², including the terrace).

The boat has 15 decks, of which 12 are passenger-accessible and 9 have cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The two main restaurants on board Island Princess serve traditional five-course dinners. The line offers set seating at 6:00 and 8:15 p.m. in Bordeaux and flexible Anytime Dining in Provence. Menus in both venues are identical and feature favorites such as Executive Chef Martial Diffor’s fettuccine alfredo, beef Wellington, deep-sea cod in coriander butter sauce, and twin broiled lobster tails. All meals are prepared to order. The main-restaurant menus also include vegetarian choices and Lotus Spa innovative dishes, with lighter options like chilled yogurt-and-tamarind soup with grated lemon zest, filet of baby turbot with fennel Pernod sauce, and a tropical fruit smoothie with lime. Guests seeking a more formal experience can opt for sit-down service in the Bordeaux dining room for breakfast and lunch.

Follows the complete list of Island Princess restaurants and food bars.

• Bordeaux Restaurant (ship’s forward dining room; dinner only)
• Provence Restaurant (ship’s forward dining room for Breakfast 7–9 a.m., Lunch 12–1:30 p.m., Afternoon Tea 3:30–4:30 p.m.; “Anytime Dining” for Dinner between 5:30–8 p.m. or 8–10 p.m.; "Chef's Table" private dining)
• Sabatini’s Restaurant (Italian specialty restaurant; reservations recommended)
• Bayou Cafe & Steakhouse (specialty restaurant)
• The Bar & Grill (complimentary fast food)
• Horizon Court (complimentary self-service buffet restaurant)

In 2024, fleetwide were introduced three distinct dining styles: Traditional (early/late seating), Reservable, and Walk-in Anytime (open seating). Each ship designates three separate dining rooms to accommodate these new options, which are integrated with the OceanNow service, allowing guests to order anything, anytime, and delivered anywhere on board.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Flanking the Fiesta and Promenade Decks are the ship’s two grandest venues: Princess Theater and Universe Lounge. Between them are most lounges and bars, including the clubby Explorers Lounge, the more sedate Wheelhouse Bar, the retro Crooners martini bar, Churchill’s cigar lounge, and the casino with table games (blackjack, poker, roulette) and state-of-the-art slots. By day, the ScholarShip@Sea program focuses on enrichment with a wide range of offerings—dance classes, lectures on bridge and fashion, and computer instruction. During Panama Canal voyages, a dedicated lecture explains the canal’s history and operation.

Follows the complete list of Island Princess lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• The Piazza Atrium (3-deck open-floor area; features live performances, entertainment, and the lobby Bar Piazza)
• La Patisserie Bar (specialty coffee bar)
• Princess Fine Arts Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop; Photo Kiosk; Platinum Studio
• Library (with Internet stations); Internet Cafe (24-hour); Card Room
• Princess Theater (two-level musical and show productions; hosts workshops, seminars, game shows)
• The Universe Lounge (two-level secondary show lounge; also used for dance lessons)
• Churchill Lounge & Bar (smoking lounge and sports bar)
• Calypso Cove Shop; Essence Shop; Meridian Bay Shop; Facets Shop
• Princess Casino
• Crooners Lounge & Bar (live music; also used for seminars)
• Explorers Lounge & Bar (disco/show lounge; hosts karaoke, comedy, game shows, and art auctions)
• Wheelhouse Bar (piano bar by day; English pub at night)
• Wedding Chapel
• Island’s Lotus Spa complex; Beauty Salon; Fitness Center (with aerobics studio)
• Movies Under the Stars (LED-screen outdoor cinema)
• Video Games Arcade; Teen Center; Youth Center with paddling pool and outdoor play areas
• The Sanctuary (adults-only sundeck/open-air area)
• Lido Pool area; Lotus Pool area
• Central Court (volleyball, basketball, European football); Shuffleboard; Deck Chess; Princess Links/Mini-Golf Course.

Itineraries

Island Princess is best known for Panama Canal transition cruises (through the historic “old” locks). The boat also operates around-the-world voyages.

Due to the coronavirus crisis, Island Princess was paused for more than two years (March 2020 through April 2022). The “World Cruise 2022” (112-day roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale/Port Everglades, Florida, USA) was canceled. Operations were scheduled to restart with Caribbean itineraries (7- and 14-day back-to-back roundtrips from Port Everglades), followed by an 18-day transatlantic crossing, a European season (Baltic–Iceland–Greenland from Southampton, UK), and a mini-Mediterranean season (from Civitavecchia–Rome).

The vessel (STX France/Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard/hull number D32) has a volume of 92,822 GT, a deadweight (DWT) of 8,015 tons, and a maximum draft of 8.3 m. Her powerplant combines 2× Wärtsilä marine diesel engines (model 16V46C) with a gas turbine (General Electric LM2500) for a total output of 62.7 MW (84,055 hp). Propulsion is CODLAG (combined diesel-electric and gas). The registered shipowner is PRINCESS CRUISE LINES LTD, and the registered manager is BRITTANY SHIPPING CORP LTD.

The vessel was ordered in 1999; construction began in 2001, and she was launched on July 2, 2002. The christening ceremony was held dockside at Canada Place Cruise Terminal, Port Vancouver, on July 11, 2003. The naming was led by two godparents—the Canadian pairs figure skaters and 2002 Salt Lake Olympic gold medalists (then spouses) Jamie Rae Sale (born 1977; Olympic Champion 2002; World Champion 2001) and David Jacques Pelletier (born 1974; Olympic Champion 2002). The Maiden Voyage departed Vancouver on July 3, 2003. The inaugural cruise—a 7-day “Voyage of the Glaciers” Alaska itinerary—visited Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, with scenic cruising in Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord. For the inaugural winter season (September–April 2003–2004), the ship was deployed in the Caribbean and homeported at Port Everglades–Fort Lauderdale (Florida, USA).

Note: In 2002, Jamie Sale and David Pelletier shared the Olympic gold medal with the Russian pair Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze—an uncommon outcome in figure skating. The result followed debate over judging assessments; as a diplomatic resolution, both pairs received gold medals.

Princess Cruises’ Island Princess is the fleet’s second CORAL-class liner, with sistership Coral. Her naming ceremony was held in Port Vancouver (BC, Canada).

Island Princess spends autumn, winter, and spring operating 10- to 14-day Panama Canal transit cruises visiting ports in Aruba, Costa Rica, Colombia, and along the Mexican Riviera. During summer, she offers 7-day Alaska itineraries from Vancouver, Canada, to Whittier, Alaska.

The Princess sisterships Island and Coral are the fleet’s only Panamax vessels—meeting all standards for transiting the Panama Canal. In 2017, Caribbean Princess inaugurated Princess Cruises’ Panama Canal season through the new locks (opened June 26, 2016).

Island Princess refurbishments review

The ship’s most recent drydock was September 5–24, 2024, at Fincantieri’s Cantiere Navale di Palermo Shipyard. This routine docking covered scheduled maintenance and classification work, safety inspections, technical overhauls, hull cleaning/repainting, minor interior upgrades (public areas and staterooms), and general hotel upkeep.

Island Princess World Cruise 2025

In April 2023, bookings opened for Island Princess’s 2025 World Cruise.

The 116-night/117-day itinerary featured 33,500+ NM (~62,050 km / 38,550 mi) of cruising, 51 destinations (ports and islands in 26 countries on 6 continents), 11 late-night port calls, and 27 UNESCO sites.

The voyage was bookable as a roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida (departing January 5) or a roundtrip from Los Angeles, California (departing January 20).

It also included first-time calls for Princess Cruises to the popular port cities of Bar, Montenegro; Taranto, Italy; and Greece’s Patmos and Volos (gateway to the Meteora Monasteries).

Prices started from US$20540 per person with double occupancy.

Early Booking promo perks for booking the roundtrip (from Florida or California) by May 31, 2023, included first-class or economy-class roundtrip flights, Princess Plus package (free beverages and WiFI), onboard credit, specialty dining, and Captain's Circle Benefits.

Guests paying in full for the World Cruise by May 31, 2023, additionally received 5% FCC (Future Cruise Credit) on the fare paid.

Island Princess World Cruise 2024

In November 2021 was announced the ship's World Voyage 2024 starting in January. The voyage offers roundtrip departures from two ports in the USA - Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale Florida (January 4th) and Los Angeles California (January 18th). A 97-day segment departs from LA (Jan 18) and ends in Fort Lauderdale.

The full itinerary (112-days) visits 51 ports/islands in 27 different countries (6 continents), 25 UNESCO sites, 12 maiden ports (for a Princess World Cruise), and offers 33000+ nm/nautical miles (~38000 mi / 61200 km) of sea and ocean navigation.

Prices started at USD 21080 (EUR 18170 / GBP 15530) per person with double occupancy.

Early booking perks (full world cruise bookings made by January 31, 2022) included complimentary Specialty Restaurant dining (up to 4 dinners during the voyage), Premier Beverage Package (all onboard drinks/alcohol included), unlimited Wi-Fi, roundtrip flights from either USA or Canada (first-class airfare for Suites, economy-class airfare for balcony cabins), daily crew gratuities, US$ 500 pp OBC(onboard credit).

Island Princess World Cruise 2023

In late-January 2021 was announced a 111-night/112-day "World Cruise 2023" leaving roundtrip from Florida USA (Fort Lauderdale) on January 5, and (alternatively/97-day itinerary) from Los Angeles/Long Beach on January 19. The full itinerary visits 50 ports/destinations in 31 countries (on 6 continents) and total 34500 NM/nautical miles (39700 mi/63900 km) of global cruising.

Signature destinations include South Pacific (French Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand), Asia (Thailand), Europe-Mediterranean-Adriatic, Arabian Gulf (Dubai, Aqaba-Petra), Panama, Costa Rica. The World Voyage 2023 includes a maiden port for Princess (Gythion Greece).

Bookings opened on February 10, 2021, with prices starting from USD 20,000 per person with double occupancy.

Early bookings (made by August 31, 2021 /itineraries from Fort Lauderdale or Los Angeles) receive free beverages, specialty dining, prepaid gratuities, unlimited WiFi, $1000 per person in OBC (onboard credit), free flights (passengers from Canada and USA only).

Island Princess World Cruise 2022 (canceled)

In 2022, Princess Cruises scheduled a 112-day World Cruise on Island Princess. The voyage visited 6 continents and 51 ports/destinations (including 25x UNESCO sites) in 29 countries. Itinerary options included two roundtrip departures from the USA - Fort Lauderdale Florida (January 5 through April 27) and Los Angeles California (January 19 through May 11).

However, due to the ship's extended pause, World Voyage 2022 was canceled. The itinerary featured crossing twice the equator, Panama Canal transition, Suez Canal transition, 11x late-night port visits, 1x overnight, cruising a total of 34000 nm (~63000 km / 39130 mi).

112-days "World Cruise 2022" (roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale) itinerary was copied for 2024.

Prices ranged from USD 21000 per person (double occupancy Inside Cabin) to USD 58,000 pp (Suite). Balcony staterooms were priced from USD 30,000 pp. Pricing excluded taxes and shipboard gratuities.

Island Princess World Cruise 2021 (canceled)

In late-August 2020, due to COVID-related international travel restrictions and port closures were canceled Island Princess' "World Cruise 2021" and Pacific Princess' "Circle South America Cruise 2021". Next is listed the ship's canceled 112-day itinerary planned as a roundtrip from Florida USA. Prices started from USD 18780 per person (with double occupancy).

The voyage was also available for booking as a Los Angeles roundtrip (112-day) and in shorter itinerary segments - 98-day (Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale), 88-day (Fort Lauderdale to Venice), 74-day (Los Angeles to Venice), 71-day (Fort Lauderdale to Dubai), 60-day (Fort Lauderdale to Singapore), 57-day (Los Angeles to Dubai), 46-day (Los Angeles to Singapore).

Travel agents' commissions on all canceled bookings were paid in full.