Princess Cruises’ newest ship has become one of the stars of a new television series offering viewers a look at what happens both above and below deck.
Cruising Paradise: Above and Below Deck began on E4 at 9pm on Thursday 30 July 2026. The ten-part series follows passengers enjoying life at sea alongside the crew members working behind the scenes to keep each voyage running.
Star Princess features in the opening five episodes, filmed during the ship’s inaugural Caribbean season. The wider series also visits ships operated by Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Passengers and crew share the spotlight
Rather than functioning solely as a tour of the ship, Cruising Paradise follows a mixture of first-time passengers, experienced cruisers and younger members of the onboard team.
The cameras capture friendships, professional challenges and relationships developing during a season at sea. Channel 4 says the programme explores how the personal and working lives of crew members become closely connected while they live aboard for extended periods.
The programme is narrated by Welsh actor Callum Scott Howells, best known for playing Colin Morris-Jones in Channel 4 drama It’s a Sin.
It was produced by Brighton-based Crackit TV, whose other cruise programmes include Cruising to the Ends of the Earth and Supercruising: Life at Sea. WPP Media Motion Entertainment also partnered on the production.
Inside Star Princess’ first Caribbean season
Star Princess provides a substantial setting for the series. The 177,800-tonne ship accommodates up to 4,300 guests, is served by approximately 1,600 crew and contains 2,157 guest cabins across 21 decks.
She began her inaugural cruise from Barcelona on 4 October 2025 before subsequently moving to the Caribbean. The television series was filmed as passengers and crew experienced that first Caribbean season.
One episode follows the ship to Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic while the crew prepares St Patrick’s Day celebrations aboard. Storylines include a massage therapist hoping to DJ at a silent disco, crew members exploring Cozumel and first-time cruise passengers becoming involved in the onboard festivities.
Those individual stories give viewers a sense of the workforce behind a modern cruise holiday. Entertainment, guest services, spa operations and other departments must work together while thousands of passengers dine, explore ports and attend activities across the ship.
A showcase for Princess Cruises’ newest ship
Star Princess is the second vessel in Princess Cruises’ Sphere Class and the sister ship of Sun Princess.
Her most recognisable architectural features include The Dome, a glass-enclosed structure inspired by the terraces of Santorini, and The Sphere, which extends the central Piazza beyond the side of the ship.
The ship also offers new Princess entertainment productions, including Illuminate, Meridian and Viva La Música, alongside restaurants, bars, pools and outdoor spaces intended for Caribbean and Alaska itineraries.
For Princess Cruises, appearing in five hours of primetime television provides an opportunity to introduce both the ship and its crew to people who may never previously have considered cruising. It also gives existing Princess passengers a chance to see parts of the operation normally hidden from guests.
Part of a growing appetite for cruise television
Cruising Paradise arrives as television producers continue to find stories aboard passenger ships. The combination of changing destinations, large international crews and thousands of guests provides a ready-made setting for factual entertainment.
The series differs from programmes concentrating exclusively on destinations or luxury facilities by giving the young crew a central role. Their work, friendships and life away from home are presented alongside the experiences of holidaymakers.
Channel 4 commissioned the programme for E4 as a ten-part series. Star Princess occupies the opening five episodes, while Regent Seven Seas Cruises also features during the series.
When can Cruising Paradise be watched?
Cruising Paradise: Above and Below Deck began on Thursday 30 July 2026 at 9pm on E4. New episodes are scheduled weekly, and the programme is also available through Channel 4’s streaming service.
Schedules can change, so viewers looking for a particular episode should check E4’s current television listings or the Channel 4 streaming platform.
Official information: Channel 4’s series announcement; Princess Cruises’ programme page; and official Star Princess information.