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Princess is the cruise line that quietly does the most things right without shouting about any of them. No roller coasters, no gimmicks, just a calm, well-run premium cruise that older travelers adore.
It’s best known for two things. First, the best Alaska cruise program in the business. Second, the Medallion: a wearable disc that opens your cabin, orders drinks to wherever you’re standing, and finds your travel companions across the ship. The tech actually works, which is rare.
Founded in 1965 and part of Carnival Corporation, Princess sits in the premium tier, just below Celebrity on polish but with broader, more relaxed appeal. Our verdict up front: if you want a comfortable, destination-focused premium cruise, especially to Alaska, Princess is one of the safest bets at sea. If you want buzz and energy, it’ll feel sleepy.
Quick Facts
| Fleet size | 16 ships |
| Newest ship | Star Princess (2025), Sun Princess (2024) |
| Capacity range | 2,200 to 4,300 guests |
| Home ports | Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Southampton, Sydney |
| Destinations | Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Asia, Australia, Panama Canal |
| Starting price | From $499 per person for a 7-night Caribbean sailing |
| Loyalty program | Captain’s Circle |
| Age policy | 6 months minimum (12 months for some sailings) |
| Dress code | Smart casual, with formal nights |
| Our rating | 4.3 out of 5 |
Want to see what a Princess sailing costs in your dates? Check live Princess prices and sailings first. The figures below are accurate for 2026, but fares move with season, especially in the Alaska months.
Who Princess Is For
Princess is for the traveler who cares more about where the ship goes than what’s bolted to the top deck. It’s a destination-led premium line with a calm, comfortable feel and an older, loyal following.
It’s the default recommendation for a first Alaska cruise, full stop. Princess has sailed Alaska longer than almost anyone, owns wilderness lodges for land-and-sea trips, and its naturalist programming and viewing decks are built for it.
Best for:
- Couples and travelers over 50
- first-time Alaska cruisers
- destination-focused travelers
- anyone who wants relaxed premium comfort without fuss
Not ideal for:
- Families wanting big kids’ facilities
- travelers who want a lively party scene
- anyone who finds a calmer pace boring
If you want more energy at a similar price, compare Princess and Royal Caribbean side by side.
The Fleet
Princess runs 16 ships, and the new Sphere-class ships mark a real generational jump.
Sphere Class (the flagships): Sun Princess (2024) and Star Princess (2025), around 4,300 guests. These are the largest Princess ships ever, with a dramatic glass-domed Piazza, the Sphere geodesic dome venue, and a fully reimagined layout. They’re a clear step up in design for the line.
Royal Class: Ships like Royal, Regal, Majestic, Sky, Enchanted, and Discovery Princess, around 3,600 guests. These are the modern workhorses, comfortable and consistent, with the SeaWalk glass walkway extending over the ship’s side on some.
Grand and Coral Classes: The older, smaller ships around 2,200 to 3,100 guests. These handle the more far-flung itineraries, including the smaller ships ideal for Panama Canal and Asia routes where size matters.
Dining
Princess dining is solidly good premium fare, reliable rather than flashy. The main dining rooms serve a well-executed rotating menu, and the line is known for a few signature touches.
Standouts include the International Cafe (a genuinely good casual spot open long hours, much of it included), the Salty Dog gastropub, and afternoon offerings that fit the relaxed crowd. The buffet, World Fresh Marketplace on newer ships, is above average.
Specialty dining includes the Crown Grill steakhouse, Sabatini’s Italian, and the Catch by Rudi seafood venue on newer ships, running roughly $35 to $65 per person. The Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages bundle drinks, WiFi, gratuities, and more into a per-day add-on, and they’re usually the smart way to buy if you drink at all.
Entertainment & Activities
Princess entertainment is comfortable and well-produced, aimed squarely at its audience. The production shows are professional, and Princess has partnerships that bring named talent and quality music to the theaters.
Movies Under the Stars on the big poolside screen is a Princess signature. The line also leans into enrichment: guest lecturers, cooking demonstrations, and the Discovery and Animal Planet partnership programming. That programming shines on Alaska sailings with naturalists onboard.
Daytime skews toward the relaxed: the Sanctuary adults-only retreat, the spa, trivia, and dance classes. It’s not a line for thrill-seekers, and it doesn’t pretend to be. The MedallionClass app makes the whole ship easy to navigate.
Cabins & Accommodations
Princess cabins are comfortable and well-sized for the tier, with the Medallion technology woven through the experience.
Standard Interior, Oceanview, and Balcony cabins are competitive, with balconies typically $170 to $280 per night. The Medallion opens your door hands-free and has drinks or food delivered to your exact spot anywhere onboard. It sounds gimmicky, but it genuinely changes how you use the ship.
The new Sphere-class ships add cabana-style and premium balcony options, plus more suite variety. Suites include access to the Concierge Lounge and priority everything, though Princess’s suite product is less of a sealed enclave than Celebrity’s Retreat or Norwegian’s Haven.
The Sanctuary, a paid adults-only deck retreat, is one of the best-value relaxation add-ons in premium cruising for a quiet sea day.
Destinations & Itineraries
Princess is destination-first, and Alaska is its crown. It runs one of the largest Alaska programs at sea, with round-trip Seattle and one-way Vancouver-to-Anchorage sailings, plus Princess-owned wilderness lodges for cruise-and-land tours deep into Denali.
Beyond Alaska, Princess sails the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Asia, and Australia. It’s also one of the strongest operators for the Panama Canal and long, exotic world-cruise segments that suit its older, time-rich audience.
Princess doesn’t run a private island in the way the mass-market lines do, leaning instead on real ports. You can build your Princess itinerary by region, and for Alaska especially, see where to stay before or after your cruise in Seattle, Vancouver, or Anchorage.
Pricing & Value
A 7-night Caribbean cruise on Princess starts around $499 per person, making it one of the better-value premium lines, often a touch below Celebrity.
Here’s a realistic all-in for two in a Balcony cabin on a 7-night 2026 sailing. The fare for two runs around $2,400. Gratuities at about $17 per person per day add $238. The Princess Plus package (drinks, WiFi, gratuities bundled) runs around $60 per person per day, so factor that if you take it.
With Princess Plus, a couple’s realistic all-in lands around $3,200 to $4,000 for the week, and the bundle usually beats buying drinks, WiFi, and tips separately. Alaska sailings price higher in peak summer. Watch the current Princess deals for shoulder-season Alaska value in May and September.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The best Alaska program in cruising, with owned wilderness lodges
- MedallionClass tech that genuinely works and adds convenience
- Relaxed, comfortable premium feel at a fair price
- Strong destination focus and long exotic itineraries
- The Sanctuary adults-only retreat is excellent value
- Princess Plus bundle usually delivers real savings
- New Sphere-class ships are a genuine design upgrade
Cons
- Quiet pace can feel sleepy to younger or high-energy cruisers
- Limited facilities for kids and teens
- Suite product is weaker than Celebrity’s or Norwegian’s enclaves
- Older ships feel dated next to the Sphere class
- Not a strong choice if you want buzz and nightlife
The Verdict
Princess is one of the most quietly competent lines at sea. It rarely tops a single category, but it does almost everything well, and for Alaska it’s genuinely the best in the business. For couples and older travelers who want comfortable, destination-led premium cruising, it’s a near-perfect fit.
Book Princess if you want a relaxed premium cruise focused on the destination, especially Alaska, with smart technology and fair pricing. Skip it if you’re traveling with young kids who need big facilities, or if you want a lively, high-energy ship. In those cases, Royal Caribbean fits better.
Rating: 4.3 out of 5. The best Alaska line at sea, and a safe, comfortable premium choice everywhere else.
Ready to look at real sailings? See this week’s Princess deals or compare Princess against another line before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Princess a good cruise line for Alaska?
Yes, it’s the best. Princess runs one of the largest Alaska programs at sea, owns wilderness lodges for cruise-and-land tours into Denali, and carries naturalists onboard. For a first Alaska cruise, it’s the safest, most complete choice.
What is MedallionClass on Princess?
MedallionClass is Princess’s wearable disc and app system. The Medallion opens your cabin hands-free, lets you order food and drinks to your exact location anywhere on the ship, and helps you locate travel companions. It genuinely works and adds real convenience.
Is Princess Plus worth it?
Usually, yes. Princess Plus bundles a drink package, WiFi, and gratuities into one per-day price (around $60 per person in 2026). If you drink even moderately and want WiFi, it typically costs less than buying those separately.
What’s the difference between Princess and Holland America?
Both are relaxed premium lines under Carnival Corporation with older crowds. Princess is larger, more tech-forward (Medallion), and the stronger Alaska operator. Holland America is smaller, more traditional and classic in feel, with a strong music and culinary program.
Does Princess have a dress code?
Smart casual most evenings, with one or two formal nights per sailing where many guests dress up, though it’s optional. Daytime is fully casual. It’s more traditional than Norwegian’s anything-goes approach but less strict than Cunard.
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Related Reading
- Princess vs Holland America: Which Relaxed Premium Line Wins?
- Princess vs Celebrity: The Honest Comparison
- Best Princess Ships for Alaska
- Alaska Cruise Guide: When to Go and What to Expect
- This Week’s Cruise Deals
- First-Time Cruise Tips: Everything You Need to Know