Star Princess Review | Is Princess’ Newest Ship Really 5 Stars? (vs Rotterdam)
February 5, 2026
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Star Princess review and comparison with Holland America’s Rotterdam — real onboard insights, dining, entertainment, Princess Plus value, and who each ship is truly right for.
Is the brand-new Star Princess really five stars — or is the hype getting ahead of reality?
In this episode of RTE-Travel Talk, Ken sits down with Vickie Meeuwsen from Cruise & Travel Experts, who sailed on Star Princess during one of her very first voyages. She shares real-world insights into what the ship actually feels like once you’re onboard — from The Sphere and The Dome to dining, entertainment, stateroom comfort, and the Princess Plus package.
And because many travelers are comparing ships before booking, we also put Star Princess side-by-side with Holland America’s Rotterdam, another premium cruise favorite.
In this episode, we cover:
✔ First impressions of Star Princess
✔ The Sphere & The Dome explained
✔ Dining strategy & specialty reservation tips
✔ Spellbound by Magic Castle (the speakeasy experience)
✔ Princess Plus – is it worth it?
✔ Who Star Princess is best for
✔ Rotterdam vs Star Princess – vibe, demographics & entertainment
✔ Insider booking tips
If you’re researching Princess Cruises, Holland America, or trying to decide between these two premium ships — this episode is for you.
#StarPrincess #PrincessCruises #HollandAmerica #Rotterdam #CruiseReview #PremiumCruise #CruiseTips #RTETavelTalk
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Contact CTE : info@cruiseandtravelexperts.com
Cruise & Travel Experts Website: https://cruiseandtravelexperts.com
Image Video Credits:
Images and Video Courtesy of Princess Cruise Lines and Holland America Line
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:53 Special Guest, Vickie Meeuwsen
01:36 Overview of Star Princess
03:47 The Sphere
05:22 The Dome
06:25 Staterooms
07:34 Dining
09:25 Speakeasy
10:09 Entertainment
11:12 Princess + Package
13:02 Adult focused
14:04 Princess vs HAL vs Celebrity
14:55 On board demographics
15:26 Comparing the HAL ms Rotterdam to Star Princess
19:23 Formal nights
20:07 Who's happiest with Star Princess
20:35 Who's ideal for HAL
21:26 Inside Tips
22:17 Contact Cruise & Travel Experts
22:46 Vickie's future travels