My concern is not simply that Princess sells a premium product. It is what happens to passengers who chose a ship for spaces they expected to use—and then learn access is changing after they booked.
What Princess has announced
Princess’s October announcement expands Sanctuary Collection to Royal, Regal, Discovery, Sky and Enchanted Princess. It describes exclusive club and pool spaces, dedicated dining and selected accommodations, with Princess Premier included in eligible new bookings.
The announced onboard starts are January 4, 2027 for Royal; April 17 for Regal; April 24 for Discovery; May 29 for Sky; and June 12 for Enchanted. These are phased introductions, not a change already completed on every ship.
Day passes and existing bookings: check the details
Princess’s current Sanctuary FAQ says day passes will no longer be sold once the venue becomes the exclusive Sanctuary Club. It also lists Royal Princess preview sailings from October 30, 2026, before its January launch.
Guests already booked in a cabin becoming Sanctuary Collection receive the added benefits at their booked fare, but Premier is not automatically added to bookings predating that ship’s on-sale date. Princess says standard fare rules apply to changes.
Always check your own ship, date and cabin category. Benefits for guests whose cabins are reclassified do not mean every existing passenger gains Sanctuary access.
Why the reaction is about more than a day pass
In my video, I discuss complaints about losing the previously included Retreat Pool option as the premium area expands, alongside the loss of the separately paid Sanctuary day-pass option. Those are different things: the Sanctuary itself was not previously a free venue.
I have seen passengers describe these changes as another reduction in what their fare buys. Some say they are looking elsewhere or canceling refundable bookings. Those are reactions I discuss in the video—not a measured count of cancellations or evidence that all Princess guests feel the same way.
I understand the frustration. Someone buying a premium cabin today can weigh the inclusions before paying. Someone already committed to a cruise may feel they were not given that same choice.
What I think Princess should offer
My proposal is a short decision window—say ten days—for affected guests before final payment to recover otherwise non-refundable deposits if they no longer want the changed experience. For affected guests already beyond final payment, I suggested a $100 stateroom credit as a goodwill gesture.
A credit would not fix everything. The bigger point is acknowledgment: explain the change, recognize why people are disappointed and give them meaningful options where possible.
Loyalty should not make the decision for you
I have been loyal to a fault myself. It is easy to keep booking the familiar line and hope the next experience will match what you loved before. But I think we should compare the vacation we are buying now—not just the one we remember.
If the revised product suits you, great. If it does not, compare other lines and decide where your money delivers the experience you want. That is not being disloyal. It is making an informed choice.
Sources: Princess’s expansion announcement, official Sanctuary FAQ and my video above. Checked October 28, 2026. Passenger reactions and my proposed response are identified separately from announced benefits.
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