Royal Princess has completed a two-week drydock in Singapore with a substantial collection of updates that will be immediately noticeable to returning guests. Princess Cruises has added the Sanctuary Collection, introduced O’Malley’s Irish Pub, expanded Bellini’s, added 20 cabins, reworked the casino and refreshed onboard retail spaces.

The Oct. 16-30, 2026 drydock is part of Princess Cruises’ broader effort to bring the Sanctuary Collection to five Royal-Class ships. Royal Princess will now head to Sydney for a season of Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific cruises with the updated spaces in service.

Sanctuary Collection arrives on Royal Princess

The largest change is the introduction of Princess Cruises’ premium Sanctuary Collection. The experience includes elevated amenities, personalized service and access to Sanctuary-focused spaces for guests booked into eligible accommodations.

Royal Princess now has newly constructed ocean-view staterooms that can be reserved as part of the Sanctuary Collection, alongside eligible suites, mini-suites, deluxe balcony cabins and balcony staterooms.

A dedicated Sanctuary Restaurant has also opened on deck 6 next to the Concerto Dining Room. The restaurant is available only to guests booked in the Sanctuary Collection.

The Sanctuary Club will become part of the Royal Princess Sanctuary Collection beginning April 22, 2027. Until then, Princess says adult guests age 16 and older may preview the space, which was previously known as the Retreat Pool and The Sanctuary.

Royal Princess adds 20 new cabins

The drydock also increased the ship’s accommodation inventory with 20 additional guest cabins.

The new staterooms include:

• Six mini-suites.
• Seven ocean-view cabins.
• Two interior cabins.
• Five single interior cabins.

The addition of single interior accommodations gives Royal Princess a new cabin option specifically designed for individual travelers, while the remaining additions increase inventory across several accommodation categories.

O’Malley’s Irish Pub joins the Piazza

The Piazza received one of the most visible changes during the drydock. O’Malley’s Irish Pub has taken over the former Vines location on deck 5, bringing an established Princess venue to Royal Princess for the first time.

The pub combines Irish-inspired food and beverages with a casual neighborhood-pub atmosphere and adds another dining and social option directly around the ship’s central Piazza.

Nearby, Bellini’s has also grown. The cocktail bar has expanded into the former Photo Gallery space, creating a larger venue overlooking the Piazza.

The expanded Bellini’s continues to focus on Bellini-inspired cocktails along with champagne, sparkling wines and other specialty beverages. Together, O’Malley’s and the larger Bellini’s give the Piazza additional places for guests to dine, drink and gather throughout the day and evening.

Princess Casino gets more space

Royal Princess’ casino has been reconfigured to create a more open gaming floor and make room for additional slot machines.

As part of the redesign, Princess removed the staircase that previously connected decks 6 and 7 within the area. That change allowed the casino floor to expand and provides space for a broader selection of gaming options.

Retail areas receive updates

Shopping spaces were also refreshed during the drydock. The Effy jewelry boutique has been revitalized with an updated setting for the brand’s fine jewelry collections.

The Shops of Princess have also been upgraded as the ship transitions to new onboard retail partner Starboard.

Royal Princess heads to Sydney after drydock

With the work in Singapore complete, Royal Princess is heading to Australia for its 2026-27 season from Sydney.

The ship will offer voyages visiting Australia and New Zealand along with South Pacific destinations and shorter coastal getaways. Royal Princess is one of three Princess ships scheduled to sail in the region during the 2026-27 season.

Across the regional program, Princess says the season includes 42 unique itineraries and 62 departures.

What the changes mean for Royal Princess guests

For returning Royal Princess passengers, this drydock changes several important parts of the onboard experience rather than simply refreshing finishes. The ship now has a new premium accommodation and dining program, additional cabins, a new pub, a larger cocktail venue, an expanded casino floor and updated shopping spaces.

The timing also means guests sailing Royal Princess from Sydney during the upcoming season will be among the first to experience the new configuration. One important distinction is the Sanctuary Club timeline: although the broader Sanctuary Collection has arrived, the Sanctuary Club itself will not formally become part of the collection until April 22, 2027.

Source: Princess Cruises