Crown Princess 2026 – A Short Cruise, and Big Turnaround

After a busy run of cruises, we found ourselves squeezing in a short three-night sailing on Crown Princess, as we wanted to see how she fared after her dry dock last year.

Waiting for our boarding time after flying from Melbourne to Brisbane

So, flights booked from Melbourne to Brisbane, bags packed, and off we went.

We arrived at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal well before our allocated boarding time—almost three hours early—but everything moved quickly, and we were on board just after 2pm.

Our first stop was the Crown Grill, as we’d missed out on a reservation online. As it turns out, they hold some tables back, and we were able to secure a booking for that night.

We dropped our bags, grabbed a quick bite from the buffet, and made our way up for sail-away—something we’d completely missed on our last Princess cruise, as we didn’t depart Melbourne until 10pm.

The music was pumping, people were dancing, and the drinks were flowing. But just as we were waiting for that iconic Princess moment… nothing.

No Love Boat whistle.

A bit of a letdown—but not enough to take away from what was otherwise a genuinely fun sail-away. We later found out that only the newer Princess ships (Royal Class and up) have that installed.

A surprise highlight came shortly after. From our balcony, we spotted Carnival Adventure passing by. Both ships exchanged horn blasts as we sailed past each other—a great, unexpected moment.

Crown Grill, so much food!

Dinner at Crown Grill set the dining tone early. The food was excellent—crab cake to start, rib-eye cooked exactly as requested—and the service matched it. What stood out most, though, was how accommodating they were with vegetarian options. Lee had no issues at all, which isn’t always a given in a steakhouse. They presented her with vegetarian options from all areas of the ship, including the main dining room and Sabatini’s, the Italian specialty restaurant.

Across the cruise, dining was consistently strong. Sabatini’s was another highlight—the food, the service, and one very memorable dessert, the Rocher, easily one of the best things we ate all trip.

Hello old friend

Even the free pizza, which had been a letdown on our previous sailing, was a huge improvement: crispy base, balanced toppings—simple but perfectly done.

The only miss? The disappearance of the Salty Dog chicken tacos.

Day 2 was a sea day, and it started slowly—no surprise after such an early morning and late night the day before. We tested the OceanNow delivery service for coffee and a light breakfast, expecting delays… and got the opposite: quick, efficient, and surprisingly good.

The rest of the day was classic cruise mode, involving trivia sessions, coffee and a light lunch at the International Café, live music in the Piazza, and afternoon tea (good, but not quite Cunard level—Queen Elizabeth still holds that crown for us).

A very special moment

One standout later that night was the Captain’s Champagne Waterfall—something we hadn’t experienced before, and a nice touch of classic Princess tradition.

Rock Opera in the main theatre was another standout, with some genuinely strong performances—particularly The Sound of Silence, which was easily the highlight.

Later that night, we found ourselves at Skywalkers Nightclub for some proper ’80s and ’90s energy, and Lee absolutely made the most of it.

We also somehow managed to win a trivia session and walked away with the highly prestigious Princess backpack. A career highlight, obviously.

We awoke on Day 3 to a stunning arrival into Newcastle, with clear skies and a golden sunrise. It was a relaxed port day for us—more about exploring the ship, filming content, and taking it easy instead of rushing off.

One failed mission was O’Malley’s Irish Pub for lunch, sadly closed for a private function just as we were ready to try it.

Disappointing—but also a convenient excuse to come back.

What about the updates?

On our previous sailing, Crown Princess felt a little tired in places. This time, post-dry dock, she felt completely refreshed. Not a full transformation—but definitely improved.

Updates included:

• A fully digital photo gallery

• Removal of the internet café (now a jeweller?)

• Refreshed venues (with O’Malley’s replacing the Wheelhouse)

• Brighter, more modern lighting throughout

• Cosmetic updates throughout

Also, the vibe on board was a lot more lively than on our last sailing, proving that no cruise is ever the same, depending on length, itinerary, and many other variables.

Superb food at Sabatini’s

Disembarkation in Sydney was quick and painless—exactly how it should be. We even had a slightly surreal moment on the way to Circular Quay, when someone recognised us from YouTube.

Not something we’ll be getting used to anytime soon.

So… has Crown Princess improved?

Short answer: yes. This sailing felt noticeably better than our last, with more energy on board, better food consistency, and a fresher feel post-dry dock.

For us, Crown Princess remains a ship we’d happily sail on again—but we’d like a longer sailing next time to allow us to slow down and enjoy it at a more relaxed pace.

Next up: Anthem of the Seas to Honolulu.

Not a bad way to follow this one up.