Island Princess Cabins: The Best & Worst Rooms on the Ship

Island Princess is one of the older ships in the Princess Cruises fleet, but one that offers a lot of flexibility when it comes to itineraries.

She was built to the old Panamax dimensions, along with her sister ship Coral Princess, meaning she’s the largest possible size to sail the old Panama Canal locks.

Island Princess sails all around the world, with cruises available from ports in North America (on both coasts), Europe, Asia and Australia. And it’s not just itineraries where you have a lot of choice, but cabins to. There are loads of different options on board, including some you won’t find on the larger classes of ships in the Princess fleet.

But which one is right for you? Which are the best cabins on Island Princess and – just as important – which ones are the worst?

In writing this detailed guide, I’ve spent time looking at cruise forums and Facebook groups to see what past guests think. I’ve also looked at common themes across all Princess ships to see which, if any, apply to Island Princess.

Read this guide, including the cabins to avoid section, and you’ll have everything you need to book the best Island Princess cruise holiday.

Island Princess Cabin Types

There are eight main types of cabin on Island Princess. I’ve listed these in a handy table so that you can compare the sizes…

Accommodation	Sleeps	Size (incl. balcony)
Interior	2 to 4	156 to 217 sq. ft.
Oceanview	2 to 4	162 sq. ft.
Premium Oceanview	2 to 4	212 sq. ft.
Balcony	2 to 4	210 to 248 sq. ft.
Premium Balcony	2 to 4	248 sq. ft.
Mini Suite No Balcony	2 to 4	300 sq. ft.
Mini Suite	2 to 4	280 to 302 sq. ft.
Suite	2 to 4	319 to 777 sq. ft.

Not every ship in the Princess fleet has Oceanview rooms, but Island Princess does. In fact, it’s also one of the few ships to have Premium Oceanview rooms and Mini Suites without a balcony, too. Of all the Princess ships, this one has the widest choice of base category.

However, the decision of which room you should book is a lot more than just picking a cabin type. There’s a lot to consider, as within each type, there are different categories, some of which are better than others, and then you also need to think about the location on the ship as well, and how close you want to be to certain facilities (or how far away, if you want a quieter room).

Because there’s a lot to think about, I’ve made a checklist that tells you everything you need to be aware of. And you can get it free here:

Island Princess Inside Cabins

On most cruise ships, the most ‘basic’ accommodation you can book is an interior or inside cabin, and Island Princess is no different. These rooms are on the inside of the ship, as the name suggests, which means you don’t have any windows for natural light. 

They’re normally designed for two people but there are some that can sleep four. Inside cabins tend to be the smallest on a ship, and that’s generally correct with Island Princess, although there are some that are very slightly bigger than some of the Oceanview cabins.

These rooms are ideal for anyone who either doesn’t like to be woken up by sunlight, and thinks they may get a better night’s sleep without any windows. Or for anyone who just isn’t too bothered by having a nice view. After all, there are plenty of open decks where you can go when you do want to see the sea.

And interior cabins are the cheapest available, which frees up more of your budget for onboard activities or even for your next cruise. There are some wheelchair-accessible interior cabins on Island Princess, and they’re some of the most spacious rooms on the ship that aren’t suites.

Beds are flexible – they’re normally twin beds that can be converted into a double – while the cabins that sleep up to four will have Pullman beds that are more suited to children but can support some adults so long as you’re not too heavy.

Pullman beds are either fold-down from the wall, or they’re hidden in the ceiling, and on Island Princess, it’s the fold-down from the wall version. These aren’t as good, because people in the twin beds can bump their heads on the Pullman even when folded up.

I took this photo of a Pullman bed in an inside cabin on Ventura, but it’s the same thing on Island Princess…

Island Princess Inside Cabin Grades

Every cabin on Island Princess has a two-letter code that tells you the grade. The first letter makes clear the cabin type, while the second character (a mix of numbers and letters) tells you where it is on the ship, and what sub-type of room it is.

Inside cabins begin with I, and the second letter runs from A to F. A is considered the best due to the location, while F is the worst. Costs vary, so an IA will cost more than an IF – if you want the best location, you have to pay a little more.

Grade	Sleeps up to	Average size (sq ft)
IA	2	156
IB	4	156
IC	2	156 – 166
ID	2	156
IE	2	156 – 166
IF	4	156

Island Princess Oceanview Cabins

If you want to enjoy a view from your room, or the thought of no natural light leaves you feeling a bit cramped, then an Oceanview is the next step up. Cheaper than a Balcony, you tend to get just a little more space than an Interior cabin, but more importantly some view of the ocean.

Bear in mind that some of the Oceanview cabins on Island Princess have an obstructed view, either caused by the lifeboats or other obstructions at the aft of the ship. These are cheaper, so if you’re not so worried about the view and just want some sunlight, these could be ideal.

There are also Premium Oceanview cabins available on Island Princess, which are larger rooms situated towards the front of the ship. There are only a handful of these available, but if you want a better view (being higher) and more space, they’re a good option without having to upgrade to a Balcony.

Island Princess Oceanview Cabin Grades

This table shows the different grades of Oceanview rooms on Island Princess:

Grade	Type	Sleeps up to	Average size (sq ft)
O5	Premium Oceanview	2	212
O6	Premium Oceanview	2	212
OB	Oceanview	2	162
OC	Oceanview	2	162
OE	Oceanview	2	162
OV	Oceanview Obstructed	4	162
OW	Oceanview Obstructed	2	162
O	Oceanview Obstructed	2	162
OZ	Oceanview Obstructed	2	162

Note that families only have the option of the obstructed view with this room type. Interestingly, the larger, Premium OceanView rooms are just for couples. I suppose that’s because if you are a couple, you wouldn’t want to pay extra and the have to contend with the awkward Pullman beds that you would likely bash your head on in the night.

Island Princess Balcony Cabins

Looking for a little more space again, and the chance to soak up some fresh air from the comfort of your own room? That’s when you want a Balcony cabin. These have sliding doors opening onto your own miniature veranda where you’ll have a couple of chairs and you can sit and relax with a view.

Within the Balcony category, there are a couple of different options available – Balcony and Premium Balcony. Premium Balconies have more space and are in some premium locations, although Island Princess does have regular Balcony cabins that have aft views too.

There are also obstructed view Balcony cabins on Island Princess, so if you don’t mind the lack of view and just want a private space to enjoy the sea air, these are the cheapest Balcony cabins on the ship.

Island Princess Balcony Cabin Grades

Grade	Type	Sleeps up to	Average size (sq ft)
B1	Premium Balcony	4	248
B2	Premium Balcony	4	248
BA	Balcony	4	248
BB	Balcony	4	210 – 248
BC	Balcony	4	210
BD	Balcony	3	210
BE	Balcony	2	210 – 248
BF	Balcony	2	210
BY	Balcony Obstructed	2	210
BZ	Balcony Obstructed	2	210

Island Princess Mini Suites

The Mini Suites on Island Princess are a middle step between a Balcony stateroom and a full-size suite.

This has some plusses and some drawbacks – you get more space, and you get a few extra benefits, but not as many as if you were to make the step up all the way to a full suite. However, you’re also not paying the same price as you would be for a Suite, so there is that to consider as well.

There are some Mini Suites on Island Princess that don’t have a balcony, but instead are oceanview only. Obviously, these don’t come with any balcony chairs.

They’re a good choice if you want the benefits that come with a Mini Suite, but your budget doesn’t quite stretch to one with a balcony.

Island Princess Mini Suite Grades

Grade	Type	Sleeps up to	Average size (sq ft)
M1	Club Class Mini Suite	3	280 – 302
MB	Mini Suite	4	280 – 302
MD	Mini Suite	4	302
ME	Mini Suite	4	302
MY	Mini Suite No Balcony	4	300

Club Class Mini Suites

If Mini Suites are a halfway house between Balcony cabins and Suites, then Club Class are a two-thirds house…in that they’re a premium subclass of Mini Suites that have some additional perks, despite not being any larger.

If you’re thinking about making the step up to a Mini Suite or a Club Class Mini Suite, it’s worth taking the time to consider whether these extra benefits are worth it to you. And if they are, then you might also want to pay a little more for a full-sized Suite.

If the perks aren’t something you want to pay more for, then it’s not worth booking a Club Class Mini Suite, although you may prefer the extra room that a regular Mini Suite gives you compared to a Balcony cabin.

Island Princess Suites

If you want to really live the high life, or you just want the most space to be able to relax in the privacy of your own room, then a Suite is the way to go. Island Princess has some fantastic Suite options, giving you all of the perks of a Club Class Mini Suite, as well as a long list of additional extras as well.

Island Princess Suite Perks:

• Priority queues for embarkation and disembarkation, and for shore excursions/tenders
• Priority lines for booking shore excursions and for guest services desks
• Priority booking for the speciality dining venues
• Access to the Club Class Dining area of the Main Dining Room with its extra menu choices
• Access to the exclusive Lotus Spa Thermal Suite
• An upgraded room service menu to choose from
• Your boarding drink is upgraded to Champagne
• A free mini bar in you room, a fruit bowl (topped up on request) and a fresh vase of orchids in your suite for your arrival
• A free mimosa served at breakfast every day
• A twice-daily ice service
• Tea served in your suite
• A cruise card wallet
• Complimentary use of umbrellas as necessary
• Free laundry, dry cleaning and shoe-shining
• One free private portrait photograph taken by the ship’s photographer

Island Princess Suite Grades

Here are the different suites you can choose on Island Princess…

Grade	Type	Sleeps up to	Average size (sq ft)
S4	Penthouse Suite	3	533
S5	Premium Suite	3	568
S6	Vista Suite	3	460 – 495

So, which is the best? Read on to find out…

Penthouse Vs. Premium Vs. Vista

There are just three types of Suite on the Island Princess, which is a more limited range than there are on other Princess Cruises ships.

When comparing the suites, the best are the Penthouse Suites, but only those on Deck 14 with a wraparound balcony.

After that, it’s a little less clear. The other Penthouse Suites are situated towards the aft, but still with balconies facing the port or starboard sides.

There are various Vista Suites, some of which have aft views, while the Premier Suites occupy the aft corners but not on the highest decks.

So, if the aft-facing Penthouse Suites are already booked, then you need to decide whether you value the aft view or the extra space more. Just make sure you check the location of your suite you’re booking before you commit.

Special Cabin Types

Island Princess Aft Rooms

Most people covet an aft room because of the views you can enjoy. Looking out of the wake is pretty exciting, and you’re sheltered from a lot of the winds that stream past the ship while you’re sailing too. Plus the rooms tend to be larger, so you’re getting more space and a wonderful view every morning.

Island Princess Connecting Rooms

Connecting rooms are designed for any groups that are travelling together that either can’t fit into one cabin, or that want a little more space.

They’re two cabins side-by-side that have a door between them. This door is locked by default, so that any guest can book these rooms without a stranger wandering in. But if you book both rooms you can have this connecting door unlocked so that you can wander between the two rooms freely.

On Island Princess, there are a lot of choices when it comes to connecting rooms:

• Two Interior Cabins
• Two Oceanview Cabins
• Two Balcony Cabins
• Two Mini Suites

Island Princess Accessible Rooms

While the public areas of the ship are fully accessible for wheelchair users, not every cabin is really suited. There are a selection of dedicated accessible cabins though, which have wider doorways, more floorspace around the bed to allow a chair to manoeuvre, and a wet room.

These are really popular and will often book up quickly, so if you’re interested then you should definitely try to book in advance. And if you don’t need an accessible cabin, try not to book them so that those who do require the space don’t miss out.

The accessible cabins on Island Princess include:

• Interior Cabins – Decks 5
• Oceanview Obstructed Cabins – Deck 8
• Balcony Cabins – Decks 7, 10
• Premium Suite – Deck 7
• Penthouse Suite – Deck 10

Island Princess Cabins to Avoid

Now that we’ve run through every type of accommodation you can book on Island Princess, it’s time to pick out those individual cabins that maybe aren’t the best choice.

Obviously, I haven’t stayed in every room on Island Princess. I mean, who has? But, what I have done is spent many hours scouring cruise forums and Facebook groups. I’ve found the rooms on Island Princess that people haven’t been too happy with, and made a note of them for you here.

But remember that a lot of this is subjective, and some of these might actually be a good choice for you. None of the recommendations here are down to a ‘bad’ room. These are all tips based on the location of the rooms, and what surrounds them.

With that clarified, here are the Island Princess cabins you might want to avoid.

1. Cabins That Are Under the Lido Deck

A312 to A633 (Deck 12)

A common thread you see on forums and Facebook groups about cruise ships is problems with the noise from pool decks. There are a lot of rooms that are situated directly underneath the wooden decking of the pools, and when guests wake up nice and early to secure themselves and deck chair, they will often scrape it along the floor to get it into position.

And that sound carries through the floor.

What was interesting was that it wasn’t just complaints about the passengers in the morning that I read about, but also about crew working late to clean the Lido, scraping the deck as they cleaned it as late as almost midnight.

When the guest in question complained they did get an apology, as well as a credit to their onboard spend account, so that should show it’s not a super-regular thing. But if you are someone who appreciates a lie-in then definitely consider booking a room that isn’t underneath the scraping deck chairs.

2. Balcony Cabins Near the Front of the Ship

A209 & A214, B205 & B206, C205 & C206, D205 & D206, E207 & E208

A few cruise lines have balcony cabins situated in a forward position on the ship, but they’re rendered completely unusable while the ship is sailing because of the high winds – barring some that have special reinforced panels in place.

While Island Princess doesn’t have forward-facing balconies, it does have some that are situated close to the front of the ship. These balconies may be out of bounds during particularly high winds, but even when you are allowed to use them I saw a couple of people saying that it wasn’t a pleasant experience – it was too breezy to be able to relax.

If your idea of a balcony is one where things are peaceful, a mid-ship location may be a better choice.

The good news is that, on Island Princess, there are only a few of these rooms. The ones on deck 12 (Aloha) are certainly the worst because other balconies near the front of the ship on lower decks are sheltered by either Oceanview rooms or Mini-Suites with ocean views.

3. Cabins That Can Be Worse for Seasickness

L701 to L726, A209 to A321 and A618 to A729, B201 to B310 and B618 to B745

If you’re someone that’s worried about potentially getting seasick, then you’ll want to avoid cabins where you will feel the motion the most. Those are the cabins on the higher decks towards the front and aft of the ship.

Aim for a mid-ship room on a lower deck if you are concerned, as you’ll feel the rocking of the ship less.

4. Cabins Directly Adjacent to the Laundry

B711, C714, D720, E717, P623

There are a handful of laundry rooms on Island Princess, meaning guests don’t have to cart their dirty clothes up many floors in the elevator. However, there are a couple of staterooms that are directly adjacent to these rooms, and you may want to avoid them.

And there are two reasons – firstly, the obvious noise of the machines. This isn’t terrible but it can also cause vibrations in the room. This is less of an issue for B711 and E717 as while they are next door to the laundromat, they run perpendicular and so the machines aren’t all sharing a wall with the rooms – unlike the other cabins I’ve listed above.

The other issue is just traffic – you may have a lot of noise from people coming and going, especially as each of the cabins I’ve listed is between the laundromat and the lift.

5. Obstructed View Rooms if a View Is Important to You

Any OV, OW, OY or OZ Oceanview cabin or any BY or BZ Balcony cabin

There are a number of Oceanview cabins and Balcony cabins that have an obstructed view. Most of the obstructions are caused by the lifeboats but others are just due to the layout of the ship.

This isn’t a problem if you don’t want a view and only want some natural sunlight – you’ll still get that, and you can save money. But if you want a good view, it’s best to book an unobstructed room since you don’t know just how much you’ll be able to see.

In this video, my friends Richard and Helen from Visit With Us discuss whether booking an obstructed view on a Princess cruise ship is a good idea or not.

6. Connecting Cabins if You Don’t Need Them

Various

The connecting cabins are great for travelling families, but if you aren’t planning on booking both connecting rooms then it’s a good idea to avoid booking one of them at all.

The connecting door will always remain locked, so you don’t have to worry about a stranger wandering in. But that door is not as well insulated for sound as an actual wall, and so you may hear your neighbours a lot – and they might hear you.

If you like privacy, then avoid a connecting room unless you need it.

While most cruise lines mark the interconnecting rooms with arrows, Princess Cruises doesn’t do this. So, on the Island Princess deck plan, be sure to click in to that cabin number to check the details if you’d rather avoid those pesky interconnecting doors.

7. Overlooked Balconies

C311 to C415, C505 to C633, D311 to D415, D505 to D623

Decks 9, 10 and 11 of Island Princess have a tiered design. This means that if you book certain cabins on Deck 9 (Dolphin Deck) or Deck 10 (Caribe Deck), then your balcony will be overlooked from above.

This isn’t a problem for everyone. But, if you book one of these rooms then be sure that you’re fully dressed before heading out onto the veranda!

These overlooked balconies do have their advantages though, as they tend to be much larger than those on higher decks. So you may decide that the compromise in terms of privacy is worth it for the extra space.

Island Princess has ‘bump outs’ in the design – wider points where the cabins stick out more. This location doesn’t have the same issues as the recessed areas – but you also won’t get the extra balcony space.

8. Aft Cabins if You Don’t Want to Risk Soot

PR726, PR727, B738, B740, B741, B743, A728-729, L721-724, L726

Some guests have reported that when they’ve booked an aft balcony room, there have been some soot build-ups coming from the stacks.

It’s not something that you’ll always have to deal with, but it is a risk for the cabins that are higher up. You may notice a fine dusting of soot on the deck and if you leave any clothes out there, they may get a coating too.

Booking a lower balcony will minimise the risk, but will sacrifice some of the view, so it’s something you need to balance.

9. Cabins Near Crew Doors

D201

There aren’t many cabins next to crew doors, and they’re hard to spot on the deck plans too. But a reader did email me to let me know of the bad experience they had with cabin D201.

They explained how the door was frequently slammed by crew while in use (day and night) and that the room was close enough to the engines so that, when docking, the noise of the thrusters and ropes (and then the cooling fan for the thrusters) was particularly noisy.

And to top it all off, the theatre was two decks below and could still be heard as well!

The Best Cabins on Island Princess

1. Aft-Facing Penthouse Suites

The aft corner Penthouse Suites on the Lido deck are the best accommodations on Island Princess. You get all the perks of booking a suite, and you get a wrap-around balcony with amazing views over the wake of the ship.

Of course, they come at a price, and many people won’t be able to afford them, or would rather book two or three cruises in a Balcony cabin instead of just one in a Penthouse Suite, and that’s the right thing to do. But, if you do have the budget, then the Penthouse Suites on Island Princess are pretty special.

2. The Cheapest Cabins

The cheapest cabins on Island Princess are some of the inside cabins, especially those situated towards the front of the ship. They’re not the biggest, and they’re a decent walk from many of the amenities, but for someone who plans on spending a very small amount of time in their room they are ideal.

You’ll save a lot of money – often paying half of what a guest in a Premium Balcony or Mini Suite may be paying – which can go towards all your onboard experiences or even your next cruise holiday.

Take a look at this video for a closer look at one of the cheapest rooms on Island Princess…

3. Lido Deck Rooms if You Enjoy the Pool

There are a handful of cabins situated at the rear of the Lido deck towards the aft, including Balcony cabins, Vista Suites and the aforementioned Penthouse Suites right in the aft corners. They are very close to the swimming pools on the Lido Deck, and adjacent to the Lotus Spa.

So if you’re planning on booking spa treatments or you’re likely to spend a lot of time sat by the pool, this is the place to be. You’ll never be more than a minute from your cabin if you want to get changed or grab something, and as long as you don’t have a long lie-in, you’ll have first dibs on the best loungers.

To Conclude

There really aren’t any bad cabins on the Island Princess cruise ship, but depending on your preferences for noise, location and how prone you are to feeling seasick, there may be some that are better for you than others.

I took a lot of this feedback from Facebook groups and forums, so it’s always a good idea to check those out yourself too, and read the real Island Princess reviews. You can even ask about a specific cabin – someone on the groups will normally be able to tell you about their own experiences.

• Princess Cruises Cabin Info Page
• Princess Cruises Information Page
• Island Princess Ship

Island Princess Accommodation FAQs

Related Posts:

• Princess Premier Vs Princess Plus
• Princess Cruises Ships by Age: Newest to Oldest
• Princess Cruises Vs Carnival: Which is Better?

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