The Princess Cruises Inside Cabin Secret: Why Sideways Cabins Are the Best Hidden Gem at Sea

If you’ve sailed Princess before, you already know inside cabins offer unbeatable value. But there’s a special subset of inside cabins that long-time Princess cruisers quietly snatch up the moment new sailings open:

Sideways Inside Cabins.

They aren’t common. They aren’t advertised. They aren’t labeled any differently on the website.
But if you know how to find them — and why they’re better — you can grab a cabin that feels noticeably larger without paying anything extra.

This is one of the most overlooked secrets in the entire Princess fleet.

What Is a Sideways Inside Cabin?

A standard inside cabin is arranged like a hallway:
You open the door, walk down a narrow entryway, and the room sits straight ahead.

A sideways inside cabin is rotated 90 degrees, so you enter along the long wall instead of the short one.
This small architectural difference completely changes how the cabin feels and functions.

It’s still the same square footage on paper, but the layout makes a huge difference in daily comfort.

Why Sideways Cabins Feel Bigger (Even Though They Aren’t)

Princess doesn’t categorize these as larger rooms, but every cruiser who has stayed in one knows the truth: they feelsignificantly more spacious.

Here’s why:

1. No more “bowling alley” entrance.

Regular inside cabins have a tight corridor from the door to the bed.
Sideways cabins eliminate that constricted feeling entirely.

2. Better furniture placement.

You usually get a more open central space because the beds and closet sit along different walls than in normal layouts.

3. The room reads wider to the eye.

Turn any room 90 degrees and your perception of width changes — it simply feels more open.

For an inside cabin, that difference is huge.

Where to Find Sideways Inside Cabins on Princess Ships

Sideways inside cabins appear on both Royal Class and Grand Class ships.

Royal Class

Royal Princess
Regal Princess
Majestic Princess
Sky Princess
Enchanted Princess
Discovery Princess

Grand Class

Crown Princess
Caribbean Princess
Emerald Princess
Ruby Princess
Diamond Princess
Sapphire Princess

They’re typically located toward the forward section, often clustered together.

Princess doesn’t label them as sideways, so you have to recognize them by layout.

What These Cabins Actually Look Like

Here’s a real sideways inside cabin on Majestic Princess (Cabin L214), photographed on mycruisecabin.com:
👉 https://mycruisecabin.com/cabin/Majestic%20Princess/L214

This is one of the clearest visual examples of the sideways layout — note how the door opens into the main room instead of a narrow hallway.

Pros & Cons of Sideways Inside Cabins

Pros

Feel more spacious and open
Better flow when moving around
Often located in quiet sections of the ship
Same price as standard inside cabins
Layout makes the room feel less “tight” than typical inside categories

Cons

Limited availability — only a handful per ship
Often forward-located, which can mean more motion in rough seas
Some may have slightly less flexible bed arrangements
The main cabin entry door is closer to the bed

Still, the pros usually win, especially if you prefer inside cabins.

How to Identify a Sideways Cabin When Booking

Princess won’t tell you it’s sideways, but the deck plans will.

Here’s what to look for:

Standard inside cabins are long rectangles.
Sideways cabins look much more square or rotated compared to the others.

When you browse the deck plan and suddenly see a cluster of inside cabins turned at a different angle, you’ve found them.

Grab one fast — experienced Princess cruisers know these are the hidden gems.

Bottom Line: The Best Value Inside Cabins on Princess

Inside cabins already offer fantastic value, but sideways inside cabins take that value even further.
They feel more open, more comfortable, and more livable — with zero difference in price.

Once you stay in one, you’ll probably start doing what many Princess regulars do:
seek them out every time.