Crown Princess emerges from refit and refurbishment with refreshed public spaces

Crown Princess has returned to service following a scheduled drydock in Singapore, rejoining the Princess Cruises fleet with a series of onboard upgrades and refurbished public areas ahead of her upcoming deployment to Australia and 2026 World Cruise programme.

The 113,561-ton vessel, which carries up to 3,080 guests, has undergone a programme of general refurbishment alongside the introduction of several new venues and redesigned spaces intended to refresh the onboard experience.

Among the most significant changes is the introduction of O’Malley’s Irish Pub, now occupying the former Wheelhouse Bar location.

The venue adopts Princess Cruises’ established Irish pub concept, offering classic pub-style dining including burgers, fish and chips, and late-night bites, supported by an expanded beverage menu featuring curated beer and whiskey flights.

O’Malley’s seats 134 guests, including 12 at the bar, and is designed to function as a central social space, with live music as a regular feature.

Another key enhancement is the complete redesign of Gatsby’s Casino, introducing an updated layout focused on improving guest flow and comfort, alongside a new casino bar, upgraded gaming equipment, and the latest slot machine themes.

The cashier area has also been modernised as part of the works, with the overall space reconfigured to better support high guest volumes during peak periods.

In addition, the ship now features a new EFFY Lounge, together with a high-end jewellery vault showcasing pieces from the New York City-based brand EFFY, known for its craftsmanship and gemstone collections.

The space replaces the former Internet Café, representing a shift in the use of prime interior real estate towards retail and experiential offerings.

“Every drydock is an opportunity to elevate the guest experience, and Crown Princess’ latest enhancements reflect our ongoing commitment to evolve and modernise our onboard offerings,” said Lorna Warren, Princess Cruises Vice President Hotel Operations and Guest Experience.

“From introducing guest-favourite venues like O’Malley’s Irish Pub to refreshing our casino experience, these updates ensure Crown Princess is perfectly positioned to deliver an unforgettable season as she sails Down Under for our upcoming Australia season and World Cruise,” she added.

The refurbishment programme also included general upgrades across the ship’s public spaces and accommodations, aligning the vessel more closely with contemporary fleet standards as Princess Cruises continues to extend the service life of its mid-sized ships through phased modernisation.

Following the completion of the Singapore drydock, Crown Princess has now resumed operations will arrive in Sydney on January 4th, 2026, where it will commence a series of Australia-based itineraries running through May 2026.

These sailings form part of Princess Cruises’ wider seasonal deployment in the region, serving both domestic and international markets.

On May 10th, 2026, Crown Princess will depart Sydney on a 114-day World Cruise, operating a roundtrip itinerary that will take the ship across multiple regions before returning to Australia later in the year.

The vessel’s refurbishment has been timed to ensure that Crown Princess enters both its Australian season and the extended world voyage with updated venues and refreshed guest spaces.