is princess cruises an american company

Princess Cruises

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Cruising with Princess

Princess Cruises' claim to fame may be its starring role in the 1977 hit TV series "The Love Boat," but since its Hollywood debut, the cruise line has continued making waves with enriching onboard activities and versatile itineraries. Princess' 15-ship fleet traverses the globe, with popular sailings covering  Alaska ,  Mexico ,  Europe , Hawaii and the  Caribbean , among other locations. Princess Cruises' fleet, which departs from several U.S. cities, including  Los Angeles  and Fort Lauderdale, Florida , features both midsize ships and larger ships, so you can select your ship according to your style and size preferences.

Whatever ship you choose, you can count on a refined atmosphere and personalized service, with approximately one crew member per every two or three passengers. Cruises last between two and 116 days and feature everything from specialist-guided stargazing to stage shows to "Movies Under the Stars" poolside screenings.

When the ship docks, you can choose from a variety of shore excursions, including guided sightseeing tours in  Barcelona, Spain , and rum tastings in Barbados . Prefer extra time for land exploration? Select sailings offer Cruisetours, vacation packages that allow you to spend a few extra nights in a destination before or after your cruise.

Book a Princess Cruises cruise deal with GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Pros & Cons

Flexible dining times and a variety of culinary options

Wheelchair-accessible cabins available, with special features like lowered closet railings and bath distress alarms

Groups can coordinate their travel plans with Celebration Group packages

Some onboard amenities not covered by cruise rates

High-capacity ships can usher in heavy crowds

Shore excursions can be pricey

• Expert Rating » 3.8
• Traveler Rating » 4.0
• Health Rating » 4.3

Princess Cruises has been ranked based on an expert evaluation of the line's level of luxury, as well as an assessment of user reviews and health ratings.

• # 3 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money
• # 7 in Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean
• # 11 in Best Cruise Lines for Couples

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Princess Cruises Ships

Sky Princess

Regal Princess

Enchanted Princess

Grand Princess

Royal Princess

Discovery Princess

Ruby Princess

Crown Princess

Majestic Princess

Caribbean Princess

Emerald Princess

Coral Princess

Diamond Princess

Island Princess

Sapphire Princess

Before You Book

• Princess Cruises requires a 20% deposit for all cruises. Final payment is due 75 to 90 days before your departure date, depending on your specific cruise.
• Cancellation fees vary by cruise duration and whether or not you purchase the cruise line's Vacation Protection or Platinum Vacation Protection package. For voyages lasting 6 to 24 days, you'll receive a full refund if you cancel and notify Princess at least 90 days prior to your scheduled departure date. For voyages lasting 25 days or longer, you must notify Princess at least 120 days in advance for a full refund. For more information regarding cancellation penalties, visit Princess'  Passage Contract  page.
• With Princess Cruises' EZair program, you can view competitive airfare prices. Princess guarantees that you'll reach your cruise's next port for no additional cost if you miss your original departure port due to a flight delay or disruption. Note: Fees may apply if you change your original flight reservation fewer than 45 days before your scheduled departure date.
• To coordinate medical and special needs services, contact the Health Services Team at [email protected] before your departure date. Requests for special medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and scooters, must be noted when booking your cruise. You can bring your own equipment or reserve it through Special Needs at Sea. Guests should also fill out Princess' mobility questionnaire at least 60 days before departure. This form indicates which device(s) they will need during their cruise.

Before You Board

• For cruises that begin and end in the United States, you must present a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative-compliant document at check-in. Acceptable documents include your passport, a government-issued photo ID and a U.S. passport card. Travelers may also bring an original birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID for these "closed-loop" voyages. Princess strongly recommends you bring your passport in case you decide to disembark the ship before reaching your final destination. You will need a valid passport for international cruises, as well as a visa for select international port destinations.
• Vaccination requirements vary by cruise destination. Check the  World Health Organization (WHO)  and  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  websites for the necessary vaccines and current travel health notices.
• Travelers can check in for their cruise up to 75 days prior to embarkation through the MedallionClass app on their mobile device. From the app, you'll be able to upload all necessary information to help streamline the embarkation process on the day you leave. Cruisers who do not complete check-in through the app will check in on embarkation day (which will be a slower, more manual process). Visit Princess' website for more details.
• No quantity or weight limits apply for baggage, however, if you are arriving to your departure destination by plane, be sure to consult airline luggage policies before your trip.
• Shore excursions may be reserved from the time you book your cruise to five days before departure.  
• Reservations for specialty restaurants are suggested and can be made in advance through the MedallionClass mobile app.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Princess cruise lines.

From its stronghold on the Pacific, Princess Cruise Lines is the world's third largest cruise line behind Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. At more than 30 years old, Princess is one of the U.S. market's oldest continuously operating passenger ship lines. Its roster of 65 cruises, including a worldwide tour scheduled to set sail in March 1998, docks at more than 225 ports on six continents.

Popularized by the television series "The Love Boat," Princess Cruise Lines is so closely identified with the late 1970s, early 1980s show that it continued to use the tagline "It's more than a cruise, it's the Love Boat" through the late 1990s. Over the course of its more than three decades in business, the Princess fleet has expanded dramatically. In 1965, it operated one converted ferryboat with a 318-passenger capacity, plying the West Coast of Mexico. In 1997 it owned a coterie of eight "floating resorts" that shuttled nearly 500,000 passengers to 230 ports around the globe each year. With the addition of three more "Grand Class" ships, the line expected to have annual capacity for 750,000 passengers by the turn of the 20th century.

Founded in 1965

The Princess line was founded in the fall of 1965 by Stanley MacDonald, a Seattle entrepreneur. It was named for its first ship, the 6,000-ton Princess Patricia, a ferryboat chartered from the Canadian National Railways' fleet. Princess Pat had a 318-passenger capacity. Princess was among the first lines to popularize cruises to the west coast of Mexico--dubbed the "Mexican Riviera." Come summer 1966, the ship returned to its tasks for the railroad in Alaska and Canada. Following a second successful season shepherding snowbirds seaward, MacDonald chartered an Italian-made ship and dubbed it, quite logically, the Princess Italia. Continued high demand for berths led to the charter of the Princess Carla for the 1968 season. In 1971 MacDonald leased the Norwegian vessel Island Venture and renamed it the Island Princess.

But MacDonald did not stay in the cruise business for long. In 1974 he sold Princess to Great Britain's Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), one of the world's oldest and largest diversified shipping firms. With the financial backing of this industry giant, the California-based cruise line purchased the Island Princess as well as its sister ship, the Sea Venture. A retrofit transformed the Sea Venture into the Pacific Princess, a 20,000-ton vessel with room for 640 passengers. P&O also transferred its Spirit of London to Princess, which renamed it the Sun Princess. The line canceled its leases on the Italia and Carla. Within a year of its adoption into the P&O family, Princess had become one of the world's largest passenger cruise lines.

The Love Boat Years

Still, a fiscally fit parent company, nicely appointed ships, and top-notch service might never have brought Princess the fame and growth it earned by becoming affiliated with a television series. Airing for nearly a decade from 1977 to 1986, "The Love Boat" was produced by Aaron Spelling and became one of his longest running projects. Set on the Island Princess and the Pacific Princess, the show featured a core cast consisting of the ship's crew and a revolving cast of well-known celebrities embroiled in a variety of lighthearted plots. The sitcom placed a strong emphasis on romance and exotic destinations.

In addition to putting Princess's "seawitch" logo in front of millions of viewers worldwide each week, the prime time show has been credited with introducing cruising to a younger clientele, thereby broadening the industry's appeal from a core group of wealthy retirees to middle-income people in their 30s and 40s. No longer merely a means of transportation, cruising became a vacation end unto itself. Christopher Boyd of Florida Trend asserted, "'The Love Boat' television series, featuring a Princess ship, helped change the image of cruising. Suddenly, cruising meant romance, intrigue and beautiful people." From 1979 through 1993, the industry grew at a compound annual rate of 9.4 percent. Princess cultivated the "Love Boat" image long after the show was canceled, even using the "Captain Stubing" character, played by actor Gavin MacLeod, in promotions and television ads.

1980s Expansion Culminates in Merger

Princess was one of three cruise lines operating in the United States to seize the growth initiative in the mid-1980s. Princess took delivery of its first custom-built passenger ship, the Royal Princess, in 1984. This vessel, which could transport nearly three times as many guests as the line's first ferryboat, moved all guest cabins to the outside of the ship, thereby giving all its passengers the luxury of an ocean view. The line's fleet grew to five ships with the 1986 adoption of P&O's Sea Princess. It was not long before the tide of cruisegoers rose to meet this capacity; from 1983 to 1994, the passenger count exploded from about a half million to 4.5 million.

Adding vessels to the fleet enabled Princess to expand its roster of destinations, giving its passengers a wider choice of vacation spots. Princess was one of the first to popularize cruises to Alaska, a destination that became an industry hot spot in the late 1980s and early 1990s. And though it concentrated for many years on European, Alaskan, and Mediterranean routes, the line was by the mid-1990s offering cruises to Asia, India, the Holy Land, South America, Hawaii, and the all-important Caribbean.

Princess emerged as one of America's largest passenger fleets in 1988, when P&O acquired Sitmar Cruises, a line headquartered about 300 yards from Princess, for about $210 million and merged it with the existing U.S. operation. James Nolan of the Journal of Commerce and Commercial characterized Sitmar as the "Cadillac of the industry." Travel Weekly's Jerry Brown called the marriage "one of the biggest events in the cruise industry in many years." The union added the Star, Sky, Dawn, and Fair Princesses to the fleet, which by this time totaled nine ships. It also expanded Princess's cruise routes to include New England and South America. At about the same time, P&O consolidated its U.S. cruise, hotel, motorcoach, and rail operations under the Princess name and logo. These included the Denali Princess Lodge, Kenai Princess Lodge, and the Fairbanks Princess Hotel, all in Alaska.

Nonstop Growth in the 1990s

Anticipating the continued expansion of the cruise industry at a rate of ten percent annually through the 1990s, the "Big Three"--Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess--became embroiled in a race to build ever-larger ships with greater capacity for people and amenities. Aside from the obvious ability to carry more passengers, there were several advantages to building larger ships. They generated more than three times the cash flow of their 1,000-passenger predecessors and provided economies of scale in overhead and purchasing by spreading out the cost of running a single vessel among this larger client base. Victoria Hallstrom of Lehman Brothers told Travel Weekly's Ernest Blum that the new "superships" and "megaships" had the potential to "pay for themselves in five years."

Their massive size also made room for an array of activities and amenities that put these ships on a par with vacation destinations like Las Vegas and Walt Disney World. Families were a particular target of these behemoths; on-board distractions included play areas for kids, media rooms and dance floors geared toward teens, and more traditional casinos, bars, health clubs, and Broadway-style shows for adults.

Decommissionings in 1990 and 1991 made room for Princess's $1.5 billion-plus investment in gargantuan new "superships" dubbed the "Grand Class." These massive cruise ships had passenger capacities of more than 1,500 each, yet offered roomier staterooms and more private balconies than their predecessors as well as spacious public areas. The Crown Princess, launched in 1990, and the Regal Princess, introduced in 1991, weighed in at 70,000 tons and had room for 1,590 vacationers. The 1995 launch of the 77,000-ton Sun Princess added room for nearly 2,000 passengers. Its sister ship, the Dawn Princess, was launched in 1997 and dispatched to the waters of Alaska and the Caribbean. In addition to two more 77,000-ton vessels, Princess planned to christen the "grandest of the grand" (to date), the 109,000-ton Grand Princess, by the end of the decade. With a capacity for 2,600 passengers, the ship was too wide to navigate the Panama Canal.

Though the cruise line retired three other ships during this period, it kept the two original "Love Boats," the Island Princess and the Pacific Princess, in operation. The Island Princess, in fact, was scheduled to offer Princess's first-ever world cruise, a 64-day trip from Rome to San Francisco beginning in March 1998.

Princess was not the only leading line building mammoth cruisers in the 1990s. Industry leaders Carnival and Royal Caribbean were also busy ordering 100,000-ton-plus vessels, continually upping the stakes in the battle to build the biggest boats. These across-the-board capacity increases kept the Big Three's market shares fairly constant throughout the 1990s, maintaining a high level of competition among the top rivals. In fact, while Princess doubled its berths in the last decade of the 20th century, Carnival Corp. increased its capacity by more than 450 percent and Royal Caribbean boosted its volume by nearly 370 percent.

Princess distinguished itself among its competitors with technological and marketing innovations during this period. The company developed sophisticated in-house booking, reservation, and management information systems and cooperated in the creation of tourist agency networks like Apollo, Sabre, and Worldspan. In 1997 Princess won praise for its introduction of a unique financing package dubbed the "Love Boat Loan." Though it charged anywhere from 14.9 percent to 26.9 percent interest, the program allowed vacationers to finance the cost of a cruise for up to 48 months.

The cruise line suffered a black eye in 1991, when two passengers videotaped a Princess employee dumping bags of garbage into the ocean off the Florida Keys. Worse than the $500,000 fine was the public relations scandal that followed. Princess was able to redeem itself by inaugurating a comprehensive waste management program dubbed "Planet Princess." Within just a few years, the line had won praise from some of the cruise industry's biggest environmental critics, including the Center for Marine Conservation.

By the mid-1990s only seven percent of Americans had taken a cruise, leading many in the industry--including executives at Princess&mdashø conclude that there remained a large untapped market of potential cruisers. In March 1997 a spokesman for Princess told Travel Weekly, "We [in the cruise industry] are about to enter an era of dramatic prosperity--a great boom and upswing in the economy." Princess appeared amply prepared to accommodate that boom.

Source: International Directory of Company Histories , Vol. 22. St. James Press, 1998.

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Princess Cruises Headquarters & Corporate Office

Princess Cruises is an American cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. The company is incorporated in Bermuda and its headquarters are in Santa Clarita, California. As of 2018, it is the second-largest cruise line by net revenue.

Established

Corporate phone number.

(661) 753-0000

Customer Support Phone Number

1-800-774-6237

No of Employees

Headquartered address.

24305 Town Center Dr, Santa Clarita,

CA 91355, USA

Senior Management

Jan Swartz  — CEO / President

Gordon Ho — Chief Marketing Officer & Head of Sales

Anthony Kaufman — Executive Vice President, International Operations

Simeon Waldron  — Senior Vice President / Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

https://www.princess.com/

This website is built to provide the most important contact information about the Corporate Offices & Headquarters including Princess Cruises Address, Corporate Number, and more.

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Sandra Barletta

I think you should be aware of the limitations at your call center. when I called to get my medallions the person spoke English very poorly and was most difficult to understand. Two and on half hours to give my info to him. Today I received my medallions and my husband’s is correct and mine isn’t. Now I’m being told to correct this on the ship which means waiting in line for the change. Today is Friday and we are leaving very early next Thursday. Why can’t the new one be overnighted?

Hans Sparbel

Customer service rep “Angel” could not resolve our issues and refused to connect us to a supervisor – was told after 45 min that a supervisor “Mikaela” would call back within an hour – Customer service does not appear to be a priority. – Princess may loose too clients today – even after multiple previous cruises.

Chris Meisenhalder

Princess off-shore, third party call center are not able to resolve issues. Bring support in-house and employee reps who are well versed in English.

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Table of Contents

About Princess Cruises

What’s included in a princess cruise, princess cruises loyalty program: captain’s circle.

Princess Cruises is a U.S. cruise line owned by Carnival Corp., which also owns and operates other lines including Carnival, Holland America and Cunard.

First launched in 1965, Princess Cruises offers passengers the opportunity to sail all over the world, including to North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia and Antarctica.

Here’s a quick overview of some of Princess Cruises' key features.

Cabin types: Princess Cruises ships feature room types that are standard across most cruise lines. These include interior, ocean view, balcony, mini-suite and suite rooms. Princess Cruises’ inside rooms are contemporary and well-furnished, as are its higher-end offerings. 

Main U.S. routes: You’ll find Princess Cruise ships throughout the U.S., though routes are heavily season-dependent. Look for Caribbean cruises out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and for destinations along the West Coast, out of Los Angeles.  

Loyalty program: Captain’s Circle is the name of Princess Cruises’ loyalty program, which provides elite benefits based on how much you’ve cruised with the line. 

Princess Cruises destinations

Princess Cruise offers a large array of itineraries and destinations. Its sailings range in length from two-day getaways to a 116-day journey that travels around the globe, and it stops in seven continents and 330 ports of call.

» Learn more: Do you need a passport for a Caribbean cruise?

Princess Cruises prices

Princess ships tend to be a little more upscale than some other options, which means it can be more expensive to travel on one. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily be paying luxury prices.

Prices for rooms can vary dramatically based on when you travel. The cost is higher during the holidays. For example, a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise leaving from Fort Lauderdale can cost as little as $548 for an interior room. However, if you’re traveling during the winter holidays, the price skyrockets up to $1,178 for the same room.

What is the best Princess cruise ship?

There are a total of 15 vessels on this cruise line, with two more ships planned for sailings in 2024 or later.

Many of the line’s ships score well with reviewers, including the Discovery Princess ship, which is one of six Royal Class vessels. These vessels feature a larger atrium (the social hub of the ship), private poolside cabanas, a glass-bottomed over-water SeaWalk and more staterooms with balconies.

» Learn more: How to plan a cruise in 6 steps

What is the newest Princess Cruises ship?

The Discovery Princess is the newest ship. It debuted in 2022 and can carry up to 3,660 guests. However, according to Princess Cruises news, the Sun Princess will soon take the title of newest ship with its inaugural voyage in 2024.

While most cruises include many services and amenities with the base fare, not everything comes at that rate. There are some extras that you may need to pay more for.

Here’s what comes with each fare package on a Princess cruise:

The Princess Standard fare includes your cabin, use of facilities, all meals, snacks and entertainment. 

The Princess Plus fare includes all the amenities of the Princess Standard fare but also provides Wi-Fi service to one device, crew gratuities, premium beverages (including most alcoholic drinks), fitness classes, food delivery and two nights of dining at a casual sit-down restaurant.

The Princess Premier package includes all of the above, with Wi-Fi available on multiple devices, a superior drink package, two nights of specialty dining, unlimited casual dining, a photo package and reserved seating at shows. 

» Learn more: The best ways to book a cruise

The Captain’s Circle is the loyalty program for Princess Cruises, and after you complete your first cruise, you’re automatically a member with Gold tier status.

Captain’s Circle levels

The Captain’s Circle levels are Gold, Ruby, Platinum and Elite. Here’s how to reach each tier as well as the benefits you’ll receive.

How to earn: Complete one Princess cruise. 

Best benefits: Preferential pricing, members-only events. 

How to earn: Complete three cruises or 30 cruise days.

Best benefits: Vacation protection upgrade, shoreside access to priority phone line.

How to earn: Complete five cruises or 50 cruise days. 

Best benefits: 50% off Wi-Fi package, priority boarding, early access to dining reservations, exclusive member lounge, 10% discount on spa treatments. 

How to earn: Complete 15 cruises or 150 cruise days. 

Best benefits: Early access to new itineraries, 10% off-shore excursions, complimentary mini-bar setup, complimentary laundry services, priority embarkation and disembarkation.

(Top photo courtesy of Princess Cruises)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

on Bank of America's website

1.5x-2x Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

• Port Overview
• Transportation to the Port
• Uber & Lyft to the Port
• Dropping Off at the Port
• Cruise Parking
• Cruise Hotels
• Hotels with Parking Deals
• Uber & Lyft to the Ports
• Things to Do
• Cozumel Taxi Rates
• Free Things to Do
• Restaurants Near the Cruise Port
• Hotels & Resorts With Day Passes
• Closest Beaches to the Cruise Port
• Tips For Visiting
• Shore Excursions
• Cruise Parking Discounts
• Hotels with Shuttles
• Which Airport Should I Use?
• Transportation to the Ports
• Dropping Off at the Ports
• Fort Lauderdale Airport to Miami
• Inexpensive Hotels
• Hotels near the Port
• Hotels With Shuttles
• Budget Hotels
• Carnival Tips
• Drink Packages
• Specialty Restaurants
• Faster to the Fun
• More Articles
• CocoCay Tips
• Norwegian Tips
• Great Stirrup Cay
• Harvest Caye
• How to Get the Best Cruise Deal
• Best Time to Book a Cruise
• Best Websites to Book a Cruise
• Cruises Under $300
• Cruises Under $500
• Spring Break Cruise Deals
• Summer Cruise Deals
• Alaskan Cruise Deals
• 107 Cruise Secrets & Tips
• Tips for First-Time Cruisers
• What to Pack for a Cruise
• What to Pack (Alaska)
• Packing Checklist
• Cruising with Kids
• Passports & Birth Certificates
• Bringing Alcohol
• Cruising with a Disability
• Duty-Free Shopping
• Cruise Travel Insurance
• Things to Do on a Cruise Ship
• What Not to Do on a Ship
• News & Articles

Explained: Major Differences Between Princess & Other Cruise Lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, & More)

What’s the difference between Princess and other cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian?

When it comes to cruise lines, it’s almost like car companies. There are different brands, and each one has its own specialty and personality. Even so, just like cars, there are still a lot of similarities between cruise lines. In fact, for the most part the experience will be largely similar. Expect lots of the cruise to revolve around the pool, dining, and generally having a good time with onboard entertainment.

Still, there are major differences between Princess and other lines that do set it apart. And while the experience overall might feel familiar, these differences could make it the ideal cruise line for you.

Princess Is More Adult-Oriented

First and foremost, if you’re used to sailing mass-market cruise lines like Carnival or Royal Caribbean then the first thing you’ll notice aboard Princess is that there is less focus on children and families

That’s not to say families or kids aren’t welcomed on the ship. In fact, it’s the opposite as Princess has a kids area that can provide supervision while parents go to enjoy the ship. But as opposed to other lines that offer lots of programming and activities geared toward children, that’s not the case on Princess. In fact, we’ve heard other passengers during a trip on Princess mention specifically how they enjoyed having fewer kids on the ship.

Instead, the focus is definitely more on adult vacationers.

Less Focus on “Active” Activities on the Ship

In line with more of an adult focus, another difference with Princess is there is less focus on activities on the ship. Specifically, we’re talking about built-in entertainment options common on many lines like go-kart tracks, roller coasters, rock climbing walls, waterslides, and more.

That’s not to say there isn’t plenty to do. There are a lot of options for entertainment that’s put on by the staff, just as with other cruise lines. But as mentioned, Princess doesn’t focus as much on families, meaning there are fewer options for the sort of active things that have become commonplace on other cruise lines. So if you (or your kids) are expecting to see a pool deck with tons of active things to do like a ropes course or bumper cars, that’s not the case.

This also extends to other areas as well. For example, during our cruise the ship didn’t have an arcade, another staple common on many ships.

More Relaxing Atmosphere & Less Party Vibe

Are you the sort of person that likes to relax on a cruise? If so, then Princess might be right up your alley. In general the atmosphere on the ship is considerably calmer and relaxing than what you find with other lines.

For instance, if you are out by the pool deck, you aren’t going to hear music blaring or have “World’s Sexiest Man” competitions. And around the ship there are fewer announcements from the Cruise Director interrupting the day to tell you about sales on the ship or shows coming up that day. Meanwhile, your other passengers are also less likely to be less looking for a party.

That’s not to say it’s boring or quiet. There’s still that “vacation energy” around the ship where everyone is in a good mood and enjoying themselves. And there’s lots of things to do put on by the staff including stage shows, trivia, karaoke, comedy, and more.

Medallions Instead of Key Cards

One of the first things you’ll notice is that Princess — unlike other cruise lines — doesn’t use a keycard. Instead, Princess uses what it calls the Medallion.

If you’ve cruised before, the Medallion works similarly to the keycard, with some important differences. First, the Medallion uses RF technology, similar to what you see with a credit card that has “tap to pay” service. So when you need to use the card, you simply touch it to one of the readers, like when you are boarding or debarking the ship.

But the wearable item can also be used to unlock your cabin door automatically as you approach. And perhaps the biggest difference is that it can track your location around the ship. So if you step up to the bar, your account information is already pulled up and your identity is confirmed with a photograph. You can also see where your cabin mates are on the ship through the Princess app based on the location of their Medallion.

Cheaper Drinks on the Ship

While we would classify Princess as a more upscale cruise line, that doesn’t mean you have to pay a lot more to sail. In fact, we found 7-day round trip cruises starting at about $400 per person (before taxes and fees).

But even once you’re on the ship you may be surprised by some prices. In particular, we noticed that drinks on the ship seem considerably less expensive than other cruise lines. One of our favorites — mojitos — were priced at just $7.50 on a recent Princess cruise while they are often $10-12 on other lines. In fact, across the board beverages seemed to be less expensive than what you might find elsewhere.

Princess Plus & Princess Premier Packages

While some cruise lines are moving toward more all-inclusive offers like NCL’s “Free at Sea” or Celebrity’s “All Included” that offers extras included in your fare, the norm is still for you to pay your cruise fare and then anything else costs more on the ship.

Princess offers two packages that make the cruise more all-inclusive. This includes Princess Plus and Princess Premier . Depending on which you choose (or you can just book the base fare), you have things like gratuities, wi-fi, and drink package included, along with other perks like specialty dining, and reserved theater seating.

The rates offered for these packages are considerably less than the cost of booking them individually and give passengers a chance to enjoy their cruise without worrying about being nickeled and dimed.

Global Focus on Cruising

Some cruise lines focus heavily on a region such as Europe, North America, or the Caribbean. Princess is truly global in nature.

You can sail from ports in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. There are classic Caribbean trips, Alaska cruises, Mediterranean cruises, and even cruises to Antarctica.

Then there are cruises that last as little as two days all the way to stunning 111-day world cruises (with 50 ports of call) that literally circles the planet.

So no matter what sort of cruise you’re wanting to take, it’s likely that Princess has something that will appeal.

Best Pizza at Sea?

It may seem silly to point out pizza as a way that Princess is different from other cruise lines, but if you think that, it may be because you’ve never eaten the pie on the cruise line.

We’ll be honest, just about every cruise line offers grab and go pizza. And on many lines, it’s just not that good. Princess is completely different.

For one, you have a couple of options. If you just want a slice, you can grab one from the spot near the pool (our favorite). They are large, foldable slices that are unbelievably good and best of all, they are included with your fare.

If you want something a little fancier, there is Gigi’s or Alfredo’s Pizzeria — another included spot that’s a sit-down restaurant and serves up freshly-made pizzas, pasta, and calzones.

A Less Crowded Feel on the Ship

We don’t claim to have sailed every Princess cruise and maybe some ships are different from others. But when we have sailed, one thing we noticed is that the cruise had a less crowded feel. Maybe it’s the actual number of people on the ship, or maybe it’s the layout and design. No matter, the amount of elbow room was definitely noticeable.

To us, it made the cruise much more enjoyable. There was always space by the pool, in the restaurants, and for shows (if you got there just a few minutes early). As well, elevators were relatively quick and weren’t always packed like what’s seen on other ships.

Princess Compared to Other Cruise Lines

The bottom line is that if you’re looking for a cruise experience that’s higher-end than many other lines (without being “stuffy), then Princess is ideal. It offers a more upscale experience that’s focused on adults, with a surprisingly affordable price tag.

This isn’t a wild, party cruise. It’s more of a place to relax and pamper yourself a bit. But it’s also not a bore if you’re someone that likes to have things to do. Our takeaway is that many cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival are similar to theme parks at sea. Princess seems more like “date night” on the ocean.

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My wife and I literally just did a Princess cruise on the Caribbean Princess ship a few days ago. It was our first cruise and we had minimal complaints. It was the perfect mix of what we wanted. We partied hard for a few nights and when we didn’t want to party….we didn’t! We enjoyed the trivia nights, dance classes, informational classes and the production shows were really good. The announcements for excursions/ship events were minimal (twice a day maybe) and we were waited on hand and foot. Buffet food was good but the main dining was really good. We will try other cruise lines but we really enjoyed our first experience with Princess cruises.

I beg to differ. My cruise on Princess was one of the most boring weeks of my life. Also, constant lineups for the dining room, despite having reservations. I won’t do it again.

On our last cruise, 12/22, on princess we stated after 24 cruises on the line it was the last one. Noise was deafening on pool deck and all the seats were saved with no one around. People were rude and inconsiderate. You could not dance on the crowded dance floors and forget finding a seat in the at

We beg to differ on the quiet atmosphere on the pool deck. On our last Princess cruise, (October-November, 2022) movies were shown at the pool area and the sound track was deafening. I asked more the once to have the volume turned down, but that request fell on “deaf” ears. Most of the passengers around the area were ignoring the movie since most of the films were geared to younger cruisers and were simply uninteresting. And this went on every sea day. Plus the pizza was not that great.

The one thing I was disappointed with was not one theatrical show on my cruise on the Majestic not enough variety with the food not a lot of shops and the duties free alcohol shop didn’t have much variety I will not go on the Majestic again but I will go on Princess cruises In the future would like to try a newest ship that sails from Sydney to where ever

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Carnival vs Princess Cruise Lines Compared (Which is Best for You?)

If you’re looking to book a cruise, many options are available. Two of the most popular cruise lines are Princess and Carnival Cruise. Both have pros and cons, so it can be difficult to determine the best fit for you.

In this post, we compare carnival cruise vs princess cruise lines in a head-to-head and help you decide which one is right for you.

Princess vs Carnival Cruises Comparison

Regarding the onboard experience, both Princess and Carnival offer various activities and amenities. Both cruise lines have excellent dining options, pools, spas, gyms, and casinos.

Princess offers a more upscale experience with better quality food and more neutral decor.

Carnival is known for its bright decor and its all-around fun and lively atmosphere. Carnival is the way to go if you’re looking for a party at sea. 

When it comes to price, Carnival is the more affordable option. Carnival is a great choice if you’re working with a tight budget.

Princess cruise prices are typically higher priced, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting less bang for your buck, there are considered very good value for what you pay.

You’ll have to weigh up your priorities to decide which cruise line is the best value for you.

Below we compare the two cruise lines in more detail.

Who Owns Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Lines ?

The first thing to establish is who owns each of the cruise lines

Princess Cruises and Carnival cruise lines are owned by the same parent company, the British-American Carnival Corporation & plc, which owns 10 well-known cruise line brands, including Princess, Holland America, and P&O Cruises Australia, Costa Cruises, and AIDA Cruises.

However, each brand is designed to appeal to a different target audience. Princess is marketed as a more upscale and luxurious cruise line, while Carnival is considered more budget-friendly and focuses on fun.

Hence why Carnival cruise ships call themselves the “Fun Ships”!

So, which one should you choose? Let’s take a closer look at each cruise line and compare them.

Below is a table of bullet points to highlight which cruise line is generally more suited for the following categories.

Cruise Ships (Size and Ages of Fleet)

Ship sizes compared.

Carnival offers a wide range of large and mid-sized ships in their current fleet, with 23 in total compared to Princess cruise’s fleet of 18.

If you think larger, the better, Carnival comes out ahead with their newest vessels, Carnival Celebration (2022) and sister ship Carnival Mardi Gras (2020), Both of which come in at up 183,000 tonnes and can hold over 5000 passengers each.

The tonnage of the next largest Carnival ships (Panorama, Horizon, Vista, Breeze, Magic, and Dream)are similar to Princess Cruises’ largest vessels (SkyPrincess, Enchanted, Discovery, Majestic Princess, Royal, and Regal Princess). 

We do this to highlight another size tother factor: there are a lot more passengers on Carnival ships compared to similar size vessels in the Princess fleet. 

Princess has the highest passenger-to-space ratio of not just Carnival but also its other main competitor Royal Caribbean.

Therefore you can expect the Princess cruise experience, in general, to be a lot less crowded.  If you prefer a bit of downtime or quieter moments, you are likelier to find them on Princess.

Carnival cruises can feel cramped for some passengers, especially at busy times.

Carnival cruises’ fleet is, on average, around 14 years old. The newest Carnival ships are the Celebration (2022), Mardi Gras (2020), and Panorama (2019).

The oldest vessels in their fleet include the Carnival Sunshine (1996) (formerly Destiny), Carnival Elation (1998), and Carnival Paradise (1998), (Carnival Elation and Paradise are also the smallest carnival cruise ships ).

When booking an older vessel, it’s always worth checking to see if it has been upgraded in the last 5 years and checking reviews to see what other passengers have thought of their experience.

In contrast, the average age of a Princess cruise ship is 17 years old. The

In contrast, Princess Cruises’ fleet average is around 12 years old.

The newest ships in their fleet are the  Discovery Princess (2022),  Enchanted Princess (2021), and Sky Princess (2019).

Their oldest vessels include the Grand Princess (2019), Coral Princess (2002), and Island Princess (2003).

As of 2022, all Princess cruise ships older than 5 years had been refurbished within the last 5 years.

Regarding decor, the two cruise lines could not be more different. Princess offers a more upscale and luxurious experience with better quality furnishings and materials throughout the ship.

The Princess cruise’s color scheme is very neutral and calming in its tones.

Carnival’s decor is still good quality, but it’s more fun, flashy and much brighter.  It’s often compared to a Vegas-style.

If your onboard experience is affected by the decor, this is a factor worth considering.

If you are superstitious, you’ll be pleased to know that neither Carnival nor Princess cruises have a deck 13.

Here we have covered some of the deck names both Carnival and Princess cruises use.

When it comes to service, you can expect to be treated more like a responsible adult on a Princess Cruise, which offers a more all-around refined experience.

For example, on a Carnival cruise, if you borrow a towel, you are responsible for returning it, or you’ll face a small charge.  On Princess, they’ll just lend you a towel, so if you lose it or someone mistakenly takes it, there’s no problem. They’ll get it back eventually.

Demographics

Carnival cruises are best suited to families and young couples or singles in their 20s and 30s looking for a party atmosphere.

Although whatever your age, if you are older and like to party you’ll like Carnival.

As with any party and the fun, you can also expect to see passengers who have had too much to drink, possibly being sick or even passed out.

If you are a solo traveler, we have some extra information on the best Carnival singles cruises .

On the other hand, Princess cruises are a better choice for an older, more mature crowd between 30 and 70 and families with children of all ages.

Princess cruises are also popular with older solo cruise travelers, typically over 50, who like to socialize and make new like-minded friends on their cruise. Although Princess cruises doesn’t particular cater towards the singles market.

Seasonality Variance

Princess Cruises expects to have many more kids on board during summer vacation. Whereas in January you can expect a lot more older people.

Seasonality doesn’t play such an important aspect on Carnival Cruises, and you can expect to find the same sort of crowd throughout the year.

Passenger Nationalities

Carnival attracts American cruisers, while Princess tends to have a more international flavor with passengers from the US, Britain, and other countries.

Princess Cruises vs Carnival Food and Drinks

Regarding food, Princess offers a more upscale experience with a broader range of better-quality dining options with specialty restaurants from around the world.   So although it mostly caters to the US markets, there are plenty of options for European passengers.

It’s particularly popular for its pizza from Alfredo’s Pizzeria and voted by many for offering the “Best Pizza at Sea.”

Princess, Slice, and Prego Pizzerias are also well worth checking out.

Carnival is still good regarding food, but it is more casual and heavily focused on the US market, offering your typical burger, chicken, and steak-like menus.

Both cruise lines offer buffets.

Some Carnival ships will have extra dining options for the more selective passenger.

Another difference that may appeal to some passengers is how much wine you can bring on cruise ships. Carnival restricts each passenger to just one bottle of wine. In contrast, Princess allows passengers to bring as many bottles of wine and champagne as they want, subject to a $15 fee for each bottle after the first free bottle.

Another difference is the drinking age s for cruises outside the US. Carnival maintains a flat minimum 21 years of age for drinking no matter where you are sailing. However, Princess Cruises allow 18 years to drink alcohol on their rest of the world cruises.

Activities / Pools/ Entertainment

Carnival cruise ships are renowned for their wide range of entertainment facilities, pools, and outdoor activities.

Carnival also offers a variety of stage shows, musicals, comedians, and other live entertainment to keep you entertained during your cruise.

If you’re looking for a more low-key onboard experience, Princess Cruises offers enrichment programs, cooking classes, art auctions, and wine tastings.

Pools on Carnival ships are typically larger and more numerous than those found on Princess’s vessels. 

Carnival offers outdoor activities such as waterslides, minigolf, and sports courts.

If you’re a fan of gambling, then Carnival cruise ships are the way to go as they offer a wide variety of gaming options.

Carnival’s casinos are typically much larger than those on Princess cruise ships.

When it comes to nightlife, you can expect the parties to be in full swing. Expect late-night DJ parties, a range of other decks, and various themed parties to be happening every night.

There’s also:

• Caribbean-themed pubs
• Comedy acts
• Well-known celebrity acts (comedians etc.)

On Princess ships, the nightlife is more subdued, with lower-key bars and lounges that close earlier than those on Carnival.

There’s live entertainment every evening and a range of cafes and bars to choose from to enjoy a cocktail or bottle of champagne.

Destinations / Itinerary in Group

Both Carnival and Princess Cruises offer various destinations to choose from when planning your cruise vacation.

Choose the cruise line that offers ports of call that interest you most.

Both lines also have a wide variety of itineraries, so you can find the perfect one for your needs.

Princess Cruises is considered particularly good for Alaska excursions.

Destinations offered by Carnival Cruises include:

• Australia and New Zealand
• Panama Canal
•  and the Carnival “Cruise to Nowhere”

Princess Cruises sail worldwide and offer cruises to:

• British Isles
• Mexican Riviera
• South Americ
• South Pacific

Private Islands

Carnival Corporation owns two private islands, Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay, which can be visited by certain cruise lines and ships in the fleets.

Princess Cays

Both Carnival and Princess cruises offer access to the privately owned island of Princess Cays.

However, only the Princess Cruise drinks package can be used on the island, whereas the Carnival cruise drinks package cannot be used.

Half Moon Cay

Of the two cruise lines, only Carnival ships offer visits to Half Moon Cayanother, privately owned island by  Carnival Corporation plc. This island is also used by Holland American cruise line.

Ports of Departures

The port’s location is an important factor to consider when choosing a cruise line.

Carnival departs from the following North American ports:

• Baltimore, MD
• Charleston, SC
• Galveston, TX
• Jacksonville, FL
• Long Beach, CA
• New Orleans, LA
• New York, NY
• Norfolk, VA
• Port Canaveral, FL
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA

From the UK, Carnival departs from these ports:

• Southampton

From Australia, Carnival departs from:

Princess cruises depart from the following North American ports:

• Anchorage, AK
• Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Los Angeles, CA
• San Diego, CA

From the UK, you can depart from:

(The same two UK ports as Carnival)

From Australia and New Zealand, you can depart from:

• Auckland (New Zealand) 

For Kids and Families

Both cruise lines have plenty on board to keep the kids entertained.

Both Carnival and Princess cruise ships have several supervised youth clubs and activity programs to keep them entertained. 

Carnival has Camp Ocean which splits into groups into ages:

• Penguins for ages 2 to 5
• Stingrays for ages 6 to 8
• Sharks for ages 9 to 11
• Circle “C” for ages 12 to 14
• Club O2 for ages 15 to 17

Carnival also offers babysitting services for an additional fee so that you can enjoy some time to yourselves.

Princess Cruises also have youth clubs and activity programs for kids. However, they are not as extensive as those offered by Carnival.

On Princess Cruises, kids are split into 3 activity age groups:

• The Treehouse for ages 3 to 7
• The Lodge for ages 8 to 12
• The Beach House for ages 13 to 17

Baby Sitting & Child Minding Services

Carnival cruise offers Camp Ocean for children between 2 to 5 years old.

The evening’s Carnival also offers the Night Owls babysitting service for children aged 6 months to 11 years old.   So parents can enjoy some time to themselves.

Princess Cruises offer group child minding services via Camp Discovery and, for older children, the Beach House Teen Lounge, which is open daily.

From 10 pm to 1 am, they offer group babysitting in the centers for kids between the ages of 3 and 11.

The dress code for a Carnival cruise is more casual than for a Princess cruise. You can expect to see people in shorts and t-shirts during the day, and jeans or nice slacks in the evening.  In short, the Carnival cruise dress code is about as casual as you can get.

On a Princess cruise, you’ll see people dressing up more for dinner, especially on formal nights when people might wear dinner jackets and tuxedos for men and elegant cocktail dresses, evening gowns, or pantsuits for women.

Carnival is the more affordable option. Carnival is a great choice if you’re working with a tight budget.

Princess cruise prices are typically higher, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting less bang for your buck. They are considered very good value for money.

You’ll have to weigh your other priorities to decide which cruise line is the best value for you based on the other criteria set out above and then work out which fits your budget.

Carnival or Princess First-Hand Video Comparision

Tony and his wife Jenny give an in-depth, honest, and thorough comparison breakdown across a wide range of categories with some great insights as to whether they think Carnival or Princess Cruises is the best cruise line of the two.

In Short : Carnival or Princess Cruise

In short, it quickly covers how a passenger might describe either a Carnival or Princess cruise in just one of two words to give you a quick impression of the comparable experiences to one another.

Carnival Cruise Pros :

• Fun, fun, fun

Princess Cruise Pros

• Comfortable
• Neutral colors

Is Princess Cruises owned by Carnival?

Princess Cruises is owned by the British-American Carnival Corporation & plc. This is the parent company that owns a total of 10 cruise lines, including both Carnival Cruise line and Princess Cruises.

Carnival Cruise line does not, therefore, own Princess Cruises, both are subsidiaries of Carnival Corporation, which does own Princess Cruises.

What is the difference between Princess and Carnival?

Princess is marketed as a more upscale and luxurious cruise line, while Carnival is considered more budget-friendly and focuses on fun.

Does Carnival own Princess Cruises?

Yes, Carnival owns Princess Cruises. They are both subsidiaries of the British-American Carnival Corporation & plc. 

Carnival or Princess Cruise for Alaska?

When it comes to a cruising to Alaska,  Princess comes out as a clear winner offering one of the best and largest cruise experiences in the region.  They offer more and wider itineraries;

Some Princess cruise ships have permission to sail in the Glacier Bay National Park.

While Carnival does offer cruises to Alaska, it’s not what they are best known for.

Carnival or Princess Cruises for Formal Nights

If you enjoy dressing smart for formal nights and like to see other guests dressing up too, then Princess would suit you better.  Carnival has a more relaxed dress code on formal nights, and some passengers may not dress up.

Is Princess Better Than Carnival for Families?

Both cruise lines are ideal for families. If you are a large family group who likes to enjoy yourself and not be conscious of whether you are making too much noise, then Carnival is the better option as the ships are generally a lot louder and crowded with other people also in fun mode.

Princess cruises are great for families, but they are generally calmer and quieter. 

Is Princess Cruise Better Than Carnival for Seniors?

In general, Princess cruises, passengers are typically a lot older than those sailing with Carnival, especially outside of the summer vacation months when there will be many more passengers in the 50 to 70 years of age range.

Carnival or Princess Cruises for the Caribbean?

The majority of the Carnival cruise itineraries are well known for Caribean cruises, especially with their affordable budget prices. 

Princess or Carnival – Which is Best for You?

Out of Carnival and Princess Cruises, there is no definite winner. It depends on your personal preferences and what you’re looking for in a cruise, including factors we have covered above, where you want to go, your budget, food tastes, and the level of partying you are looking for.

However, if I had to summarize a Carnival Princess Cruise line comparison:

Princess is probably a better fit if you want a more luxurious experience .

Carnival is the way to go if you’re looking to save money and party hard.

Either way, rest assured you are in good company with both cruise lines.

Have you traveled on Carnival and Princess cruises? 

If so, feel free to share your opinions and insights in the comments.

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Princess Cruises Unveils Exclusive New Sanctuary Collection

• April 24, 2024

Princess Cruises announced an exclusive Sanctuary Collection aboard the Sun Princess, which is sailing now, and the Star Princess to debut in 2025.

Guests reserving in the Sanctuary Collection enjoy exclusive access to the ship’s top-deck retreat area and high-end amenities such as exclusive private dining and relaxation areas and the Princess Premier bundle.

“Our new Sanctuary Collection offers guests those ultra-private, tucked away spaces that rival any high-end resort and surpasses the offerings of comparable cruise lines featuring similar ship-within-a-ship amenities,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “With spacious and well-appointed accommodations, along with an array of premium extras and its exclusivity, our new Sanctuary Collection delivers the ultimate in access and indulgence to deliver an unparalleled experience.”

On the Sun Princess, the top-deck Sanctuary Club is now reserved exclusively for Sanctuary Collection guests who access the private entry via their Princess Medallion. In the adults-only area, guests will find lounge furniture, private cabanas, a pool and jacuzzi, refreshing beverages and more. The Club also features exclusive programming, including sunrise yoga classes and sail-away receptions.

Other Sanctuary Collection amenities include priority specialty restaurant reservations and premium stateroom amenities.

The new Sanctuary Collection aboard the Sun Princess includes three levels of stateroom types: Signature Collection Suites, Mini Suites and Premium Deluxe Balconies.

Sanctuary Collection staterooms on the Sun Princess and Star Princess open for sale on April 23. Guests who book as of April 23, 2024 and reserve Sanctuary Collection staterooms on either ship will enjoy extra amenities at no additional cost, excluding the premier bundle.

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Princess Cruises welcomes its biggest ship ever with help from a star

It took a star to welcome the sun.

The Sun Princess , that is.

Princess Cruises on Tuesday officially hailed the arrival of its newest megavessel — at 177,882 tons, its biggest ever —with the help of "Ted Lasso" star Hannah Waddingham.

The Emmy Award-winning actress and singer presided over a star-studded 19-minute christening ceremony in the ship's Princess Arena theater that included a traditional bottle breaking, with a twist.

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Serving as the ship's godmother, Waddingham placed a triangular "sun ray" representing Sun Princess into a sun sculpture on stage to trigger the smashing of a huge bottle of Veuve Cliquot Champagne — a nebuchadnezzar that holds the equivalent of 20 traditional bottles — against the ship's hull.

"As much as theater ripples through my bloodstream, I have the strongest history of maritime in my family," a clearly proud Waddingham said moments before triggering the bottle smash.

She noted that her still-living, 107-year-old grandfather served on convoy ships crossing the Atlantic during World War II. She also grew up boating.

"It's in my blood and in my bones," she added.

Built at the giant Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, Sun Princess is the most notable new Princess ship to debut in more than a decade. Capable of holding up to 5,189 passengers (a record for a Princess ship), it's not only significantly bigger than previous Princess ships but packed with more onboard venues.

The naming celebration came two months after Sun Princess began sailing for the first time with paying passengers, a debut that was unexpectedly delayed by 20 days due to construction issues.

"Sun Princess is incredible. It's the largest, most luxurious love boat ever," John Padgett, Princess president, said at the event, harking back to the line's long-standing tie to the hit television show "The Love Boat" that ran in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Three stars from the show — Ted Lange, Bernie Kopell and Jill Whelan, who played bartender Isaac Washington, ship's doctor Adam Bricker and captain's daughter Vicki Stubing, respectively — were in attendance at the event.

The "Love Boat" stars were seated just a couple rows behind Carnival Corporation chairman Micky Arison and CEO Josh Weinstein.

Carnival Corporation is the parent company of Princess Cruises.

Makoto Okuwa, a James Beard Foundation honoree who designed a sushi eatery for Sun Princess, and Dario Cecchini, a celebrity Italian butcher who created a meat-focused restaurant for the ship, were also in attendance. So was the Brazilian artist Romero Britto, who sat to the right of Arison. Britto's colorful, upbeat art is the theme for the ship's high-end restaurant, Love by Britto.

Other celebrities at the event included model and television personality Tyra Banks, wildlife show host Jeff Corwin, fashion designer and television host Randy Fenoli and mixologist Rob Floyd. British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield performed her smash hit "Pocketful of Sunshine" among other hit songs on the top deck of the ship after the ceremony.

The biggest Princess ship ever

Under development for more than six years, Sun Princess is the first of the new Sphere Class of Princess vessels. The ships have been designed to be significantly bigger than previous Princess vessels and offer several new-for-the-line features.

First look: Inside Sun Princess, the giant new ship from Princess Cruises

Sun Princess is the first Princess ship with suites that come with exclusive access to a private restaurant, lounge and sun deck — part of an effort to draw more upscale customers to the brand.

Additionally, Sun Princess offers an innovative new type of "cabana cabin" on the ship's extra-wide 10th deck that features exclusive access to a private deck area. The top deck of the ship also received some unusual-for-Princess sizzle. Passengers will find a glass-dome-topped pool area that transforms into a nightspot after the sun goes down.

Other differences between Sun Princess and earlier Princess ships include the lack of a buffet restaurant on its main pool deck. But don't worry, buffet lovers: There still is a buffetlike venue on the ship. Called The Eatery, it's eight decks below the pool deck, closer to the ship's central piazza and just off its outside promenade.

The ship's main theater, the Princess Arena, also has a new look. Its new-for-Princess, in-the-round shape can be converted into a more traditional proscenium-type theater or a keyhole-type theater to allow for different types of productions.

Among other standout venues, Sun Princess features a secret hideaway for magical performances designed in partnership with the Magic Castle performance venue in Los Angeles.

Related: My strange night out at Princess's new magic-infused night spot

Princess also has revamped its main dining room program with the debut of Sun Princess. It now offers three distinct options for cruisers in its main dining rooms, ranging from a traditional fixed seating experience to a casual, come-when-you-want option that includes quick-served meals and even breakfast for dinner .

The arrival of Sun Princess marks the first time Princess has launched a new class of ship in nearly 11 years. With its debut, Princess now has 16 vessels in its fleet that collectively have room for about 50,000 passengers. That makes Princess the world's fifth-biggest cruise line, behind Royal Caribbean , Carnival Cruise Line , MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line .

Related: The 4 types of Princess ships, explained

Sun Princess is initially sailing in Europe through the fall. It'll then reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for voyages to the Caribbean. Fares start at $577 per person, not including taxes and fees, for a seven-night Caribbean sailing.

A second ship in the new Sphere Class series, to be called Star Princess, is on order from the Fincantieri shipyard for delivery in 2025. Its first voyage is scheduled for Aug. 4, 2025, and will take place in the Mediterranean.

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Princess Cruises Vs Holland America – Everything You Need to Know

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Are you planning a cruise and wondering which cruise line is best for you, Princess Cruises or Holland America?

Since both Princess and Holland America are popular and well loved cruise lines, this is a great question.

Both cruise lines are good quality, premium cruise lines and they do have some similarities. However, there are some key differences to be aware of so you can decide if Holland America or the Princess cruise line is for you.

I’ve cruised recently on Princess and Holland America cruise ships, so I know first hand that both of these cruise lines have a lot to offer.

With that being said, here’s everything you need to know about Princess Cruises and Holland America.

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Why Cruisers Like Princess Cruises

Ship Size and Design

Princess is known for having elegant and beautiful ship designs. The “sea witch” Princess logo is one of the most recognizable and iconic logos in the cruise market.

On most Princess cruise ships, you’ll find a grand atrium, the Piazza, which is the central hub of the cruise ship .The Piazza is a gathering place where passengers can eat at the International Cafe shop, sit in a bar with new friends, shop in the boutiques or relax while listening to live music.

If you like the traditional cruise ship layout, then you’ll love the Princess cruises ship design. Their ships have a traditional feeling, while incorporating modern details and technology.

Princess has both smaller cruise ships as well as larger vessels. The all new Sphere class is going to be Princess’s largest ships to date. The Sun Princess and Star Princess will be 175,500 tons.

Whether you prefer a medium size cruise ship or a larger one, Princess offers a variety of choices.

Related: 10 Big Changes Coming to Princess Cruises Newest Ship – Sun Princess

Princess has some of the best designed cruise cabins at sea. Princess Cruises’ unique cabin layout provides a lot of storage, which is great for longer cruises and anyone who doesn’t pack light.

Like most cruise lines, Princess cruise cabins have two twin beds that can be made into a queen bed, a desk with drawers and night tables next to the bed.

However, where Princess’s staterooms differ from Holland America and most other cruise lines, is that inside cabins , balcony staterooms , and mini suites feature a large open closet design which faces the bathroom. This open closet and shelving provides the perfect amount of storage space for your cruise outfits , shoes and essentials.

Traditional Cruise Experience

For those who enjoy a traditional cruise experience, Princess cruises is the right cruise line for you. Princess is a modern cruise line which still values the traditional cruising experience.

For instance, Princess Cruises has dress codes in its dining rooms, which include casual and formal nights. There are also options for early dining, late seating and open seating in the main dining room (Dine my Way).

Private Island

Princess Cays is Princess’s private island which is located in Eleuthera, Bahamas. If you’re taking a Princess cruise in the Caribbean, there’s a good chance that Princess Cays will be on your itinerary.

This gorgeous private island is the perfect place to grab a drink, relax and tan on the beach. There is water sports, a banana boat ride, snorkeling, private bungalow rentals, a stingray excursion and a beach barbecue.

One nice benefit for Princess cruise passengers is that both Medallion Net wifi and the beverage package are able to be used when in Princess Cays.

Since most of Princess fleet are mid-size to large cruise ships, you might be wondering what to expect in regards to service. As someone who has cruised with Princess for over a decade, I can say that they have some of the best service out of all the major cruise lines.

The crew members are always professional, friendly and happy to help. Whether it’s by the pool, in the main dining room or in your stateroom, the service on Princess is always fantastic.

Food & Dining

Main Dining Room

One of the highlights about cruising with Princess is their main dining room. Princess cruise ships have elegant main dining rooms, with classic decor and good quality menus and dining options.

In the main dining room, you’ll find a variety of dishes including meat, chicken, fish, pasta and vegetarian options. One of Princess’s most famous dishes is the popular and delicious Fettuccini Alfredo.

Specialty Restaurants

Princess also has some fantastic specialty restaurants that are available at an additional cost. If you want to have an enhanced dining experience, check out Crown Grill, Sabatinis, The Catch by Rudi, Sterling Steakhouse, Crab Shack or Chef’s Table. Specialty restaurants may vary by cruise ship.

Casual Dining

Princess Cruises has some of the best casual dining at sea. Beyond the cruise ship buffet, you’ll find the International Cafe, which serves delicious breakfast, lunch and snacks. Princess Cruises is also known for having some of the best pizza at sea, great poolside burgers and a very nice room service menu.

Tip: Room service is included on Princess Cruises

Variety of Itineraries

Princess offers many cruise itineraries from the Caribbean and Bahamas, Alaska, British Isles, South America, Asia, South Pacific and more. Princess Cruises prides themselves on going to over 300 cruise destinations in over 100 countries around the world.

When it comes to the variety of itineraries that a cruise line offers, it’s hard to compete with Princess. If you love to travel and meet like minded cruisers, Princess attracts many loyal cruisers and well traveled guests.

Princess is the one of the leading cruise lines in Alaska. Princess’ Alaska cruise tours, give you exclusive access to railway services and Princess Wilderness Lodges near national parks.

Cruising to Alaska is a great opportunity to see wildlife and visit national parks and glaciers. Cruising to Alaska with Princess is a wonderful experience and a great way to experience the natural beauty of Alaska.

Related: What to Wear on an Alaska Cruise (outfit ideas with photos)

Demographic

You might be wondering who cruises with Princess. Princess’s shorter cruises, 7 days or less, attract passengers of all ages, including younger travelers. However, Princess generally attracts mature cruisers that appreciate travel.

It’s not uncommon to see families young children and teens cruise with Princess during the Christmas holidays and school breaks. Princess has an excellent kid’s club and family orientated activities. However, you won’t find waterslides and rollercoasters on Princess cruise ships.

Princess tends to target a demographic of well travelled guests and like minded cruise travelers. This means that the atmosphere on a Princess ship will be relaxed and enjoyable, but don’t expect a boisterous crowd.

Multigenerational Travel

Princess Cruises have something for everyone. In recent years, Princess Cruises has been a popular cruise line for multi-generational travel . In fact, our own family has cruised with 3 generations for a 50th anniversary cruise. Everyone, from ages 7 to 77 had a great time!

During the Alaska season, summer months and school breaks, you’ll find families with kids on board.

Related: 7 Best Cruise Lines for Families with Kids

Entertainment & Activities

Princess has great entertainment options, such as Broadway-caliber production shows, live music, magic shows, performances by comedians and more. There are also fun interactive shows such as Deal or No Deal and The Voice of the Ocean.

If you’re a fan of large scale production shows, then you will really enjoy the entertainment onboard Princess cruises.

When it comes to activities onboard a Princess cruise, there are dance classes, art auctions, basketball courts, pools and hot tubs. Throughout the day, there is music by the pools and on sea days there are poolside activities.

A unique experience that Princess offers is Movies Under the Stars, and outdoor movie experience.

Imagine this, you can relax on your lounge chair under the big screen and stars above. Princess makes the experience special by providing blankets and popcorn for the best movie night at sea ever.

MedallionClass Experience

Most cruisers agree that the Princess Medallion experience is pretty fantastic. The Medallion replaces the function of a traditional cruise key card, and more! The Medallion wearable device is used to unlock your cabin door, offering hands-free convenience.

You can also order food and drinks from your Medallion app or stateroom TV, and a crew member will deliver your items wherever you are. If you’re trying to find your way, you can use your phone or the portals on Princess Cruise ships to help you find your way.

The Love Boat

If you’ve ever watched or heard of The Love Boat TV show, then you know that Princess cruises is synonymous with romance and celebrations at sea.

Princess cruises offers some different romantic experiences including the ultimate balcony breakfast and ultimate balcony dinner. They also offer some nice vow renewal packages, weddings at sea and more.

Princess does a great job at incorporating the Love Boat TV show into their cruising experience. Princess incorporates the Love Boat TV show into their sail away party, muster drill and boat horn.

Princess Plus and Princess Premier Packages

If you like an all inclusive cruise experience, with drinks, wifi and gratuities included, you’ll want to check out Princess Plus and Princess Premier Packages. These packages are a great value and definitely popular with cruisers!

Princess Plus

Princess Plus includes a beverage package (drinks up to $15 each), wifi (1 device per guest), crew gratuities, premium desserts (2 per day), fitness classes (2 per cruise), unlimited juice bar. The cost is $60 US per person, per day.

Princess Premier

Princess Premier includes the Premier beverage package (drinks up to $20 each), wifi (up to 4 devices per guest), crew gratuities, specialty dining (2 meals), photo package, Princess prizes, premium desserts (2 per day), fitness classes (2 per cruise), unlimited juice bar, new Medallion accessory, reserved theater seating for production shows. The cost is $80 US per person, per day.

While the prices of Princess cruises vary by cruise ship, date and itinerary, Princess cruises are generally well priced and a good value. Considering the quality of food, service and entertainment, Princess Cruises are worth the cost.

Why Cruisers Like Holland America

One of the biggest pros for Holland America, is that this cruise line offers comfortable cruising on mid-size and smaller cruise ships. For or cruise passengers who prefer a more traditional cruise experience, Holland America cruise ships fit the bill.

In contrast to Princess Cruises, which is building larger ships, Holland America’s newest cruise ships, including the Rotterdam are proudly mid-sized cruise ships. The Pinnacle class cruise ships (Rotterdam, Koningsdam and Nieuw Stantendam) are popular, modern ships with many venues, lounges and pool areas.

The smaller ship size puts the focus on destination, dining and overall cruise experience.

Ship Design

Holland America has beautiful and elegant cruise ship designs. When it comes to the public spaces, outdoor areas and cabins, Holland America has thought of every detail.

On Holland America cruise ships, you’ll find a strong Dutch influence incorporated into their ship design. Blue and white is the color combination you’ll see most often, from the Dutch Cafe, to the table wear used in the main dining room.

You’ll also find a timeless ship design, with classic wood and brass elements. That said, Holland America’s latest cruise ships are modern and include unique artwork ranging from paintings to sculptures displayed throughout the ship.

The food and dining on Holland America is top notch. Everything from the main dining room, to the casual dining venues and specialty restaurants are delicious.

A personal favorite of mine is Dive-In, their pool-side burger and hot dog restaurant. The burgers, fries and hot dogs are amazing!

One of the unique restaurants onboard Holland America is the Grand Dutch Cafe. The Grand Dutch Cafe is a great casual restaurant to enjoy a sweet or savory Dutch snack with coffee or tea.

The specialty restaurants include the Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind, Canaletto, Nami Sushi and Rudi’s Sel De Mer. All of the specialty restaurants are very tasty and a fantastic culinary experience.

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If you enjoy specialty coffees and alcoholic beverages, then you will enjoy cruising with Holland America. Onboard Holland America, there are some amazing and talented bartenders and fantastic drinks.

One of my personal favorites is the Foggy Boulevardier. This is a variation of an Old Fashioned and it is presented with real smoke.

Holland America has some great drinks on the menu that were created as part of a celebration of HAL’s 150th anniversary. You can order a special edition beer, the HAL Pils or have a Dutch 150, a delicious cocktail made with sparlking wine, lemon juice and its own exclusive De Linj Gin .

Other great drinks that Holland America introduced on our recent Alaska cruise on Koningsdam, are cocktails which use glacier ice. They are so tasty and unique!

Itineraries

Holland America is known for having unique and longer itineraries geared for experienced travellers. In fact, on Holland America’s website, you can easily search for cruises that are 17 days and longer.

Holland America even has a bucket list 133-day Pole to Pole cruise called the “Grand Voyage”.

Holland America has been going to Alaska longer than any other cruise line. With Holland America, you can cruise through the Inside Passage and into the Glacier Bay National Park, which is absolutely stunning.

Glacier Bay is a National Park and only 2 cruise ships are allowed to visit per day. Holland America has priority, since it has been sailing to Alaska for so many years.

If you are interested in going on an Alaska cruise , then Holland America is the cruise line for you. Holland America stops in ports including Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Anchorage, Valdez, Sitka and even in the Yukon!

One of the great parts about cruising to Alaska with Holland America, is that they bring wildlife experts, park rangers and Alaskan natives on board. You will be able to attend their presentations, ask them questions and participate in activities like wildlife spotting.

Half Moon Cay is a private island located in the Bahamas and it is owned by Holland America. At Half Moon Cay you will find a beautiful beach, lounge chairs, a beachside barbecue, cabanas and a bar.

There are activities and excursions like horseback riding, glass-bottom boat tours, nature trails and water sports. Overall, Half Moon Cay is a beautiful private island, which many cruisers love.

Unfortunately, the cruise ship beverage package and wifi are not transferable to Half Moon Cay.

Since Holland America has small to mid-size cruises, you can expect great service. The staff are always helpful, friendly and kind.

When I cruised with Holland America, I found that multiple crew members went above and beyond and this really enhanced my cruising experience.

Holland America takes pride in having an accommodating and friendly crew, exceptional dining and personalized service.

When it comes to the entertainment and activities onboard Holland America cruises, there is a strong focus on enrichment. This includes, shows such as BBC Earth, Holland America: Origins and talks by renowned experts.

You’ll also find shows featuring Holland American dancers, singers, and occasional guest entertainers.

There are many interesting activities such as art classes, mixology classes and trivia happening in the popular Crow’s Nest and lounges.

The Music Walk is one of the highlights of Holland America’s Pinnacle Class and a few other ships in the fleet. Compared to other cruises, the Music Walk is a totally different concept.

Instead of having one main dance club or bar, Holland America has several different music rooms which have live performances. When you’re at the Music Walk, you can listen to different genres of music, while having a drink or dancing.

The Music Walk is composed of B.B King Kings Blues Club, Billboard Onboard, Rolling Stone Rock Room and Lincoln Center Stage. There are amazing live performances each and every night of your cruise vacation.

You can find the Music Walk on the following Holland America ships:

• Nieuw Statendam
• Nieuw Amsterdam

Pickleball is currently the fastest growing sport in the world and cruisers love to play! in 2022, Holland America became the Official Cruise Line of the Professional Pickleball Association. All Holland America cruise ships now have a pickleball courts with amazing top-deck views.

On Holland America cruises, you can sign up for beginner lessons, tournaments, and even purchase Holland America pickleball starter kits in the cruise ship retail shops.

Whether you’re new to Pickle Ball or an avid player, there is nothing like playing a Pickleball from the top deck of a cruise ship!

Mature Travellers

Most people who cruise Holland America, tend to be older and more well travelled. This means that the pace of the ship may be slower than other cruise lines.

The majority of the entertainment and activities will be catered towards more mature travellers as that’s what the cruise lines primary demographic is. If you’re a mature traveller, then you will fit in on a Holland America cruise.

Holland America is a great cruise line for multigenerational travel. On Holland America, you will see plenty of multi generational families.

Typically, Holland America has the reputation of being a cruise line for an older demographic. However, when I cruised with HAL, there were quite a few kids and teenagers who were travelling with their grandparents.

Cruising is a great family vacation, which is why Holland America is perfect for multigenerational travel.

Holland America has been sailing since 1873 (over 150 years!). When it comes to cruising, Holland America has a rich history and a very interesting story.

Many people don’t realize that Holland America has been cruising from the Netherlands to New York City since since the late 1800’s.

Holland America quickly gained the reputation of having high-quality service, reliable transatlantic crossings and good accomadations.

In recent years, Holland America has developed a database of all of their passengers starting in 1900s. Now, people can track their ancestors by searching their family name in the database.

There are plenty of story’s of cruisers finding out that their relatives travelled with Holland America from Europe to the United States of America.

Holland America cruises are a very good value for a premium cruise line. Holland America offers standard pricing as well as an all inclusive type package, the Have It All promotion.

This add-on package includes a beverage package, a wifi package, a specialty restaurant and a shore excursion credit.

Which Cruise Line is Best for You? Princess Cruises or Holland America

Overall, Princess and Holland America are both very good cruise lines with quite a few similarities. It’s likely that you’ll enjoy a cruise on either of these premium cruise lines. However, there are some differences that may be a factor for you.

Princess Cruises is Best For:

Those who enjoy a relaxed approach to cruising, big production shows and are destination focused will like cruising with Princess. Princess Cruises has great food, service and their ships are absolutely stunning.

The atmosphere is perfect for cruisers who love the relaxed but fun vibe onobard.

Holland America is Best For:

Cruisers who prefer a more low key vibe and smaller cruise ships will enjoy Holland America. If you value good service, great food and a relaxing atmosphere, a HAL cruise is probably a good fit. Holland America offers a unique experience, with great entertainment and enrichment activities, the Music Walk and plenty of lounges to relax onboard.

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Final Thoughts on Princess Cruises VS Holland America

Well there it is, Princess Cruises vs Holland America!

Comparing Princess and Holland America is interesting as they are similar cruise lines. Both Princess and Holland America are known for the more traditional cruise experience.

When it comes to choosing which cruise line is better, it really comes down to what you’ll enjoy most on your cruise vacation. Both cruise lines have a big fan base and get a lot of repeat cruisers!

In this post, I shared everything you need to know about Princess Cruises and Holland America.

Have you cruised with Holland America or Princess Cruises or are you planning to? Please let me know what you like best in the comments below.

Happy Cruising!

If you found this article helpful, please pass it along. Please feel free to share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

Thank you for your comparison between Holland America and Princess. For the most part, we have cruised on Princess, but taking our first HAL cruise in August. We wanted a smaller ship, an itinerary that included Sitka, left out of Seattle and close to a specific date. So we cruise on the Westerdam, August 6th through 13th. I’m interested to learn more about their “database of travelers” since 1900.

Thank you for your very informative You Tube channel and Blog. We have your cruise planner and refer to it often.

Have an amazing cruise! I love both cruise lines, but do think you’ll enjoy your HAL cruise and that amazing itinerary!

So glad you’re enjoying the channel & cruise planner. Thanks for your purchase 🙂

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Princess Cruises Unveils Exclusive New Sanctuary Collection Aboard Sun Princess and Star Princess

New Category Offers Unprecedented Level of Exclusivity and  Premium Extras Aboard Newest Ships from Princess

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. , April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Elevating the art of relaxation and serenity, Princess Cruises is introducing exclusive, next-level Sanctuary Collection aboard Sun Princess and Star Princess, as these newest ships prepare to debut with this select, all-inclusive oasis in early 2024.

As the name suggests, guests reserving in the Sanctuary Collection enjoy exclusive access to the ship's top deck retreat area, along with a host of additional and high-end amenities designed to enhance their voyage. These indulgences include exclusive private dining and relaxation areas, a luxurious stateroom experience, as well as the Princess Premier bundle to round out the all-inclusive allure of the Sanctuary experience.

Aboard Sun Princess, the luxurious, spa-inspired, top-deck Sanctuary Club , is now reserved exclusively for Sanctuary Collection guests who access the private entry via their Princess Medallion. In the adults-only (16 and up) area, guests enjoy plush lounge furniture, private cabanas, pool and jacuzzi, attentive service, soothing music, refreshing beverages, and light fare. The Club also features exclusive programming, including sunrise yoga classes and sail-away receptions.

Other Sanctuary Collection amenities include priority specialty restaurant reservations, and premium stateroom amenities.

The new Sanctuary Collection aboard Sun Princess includes three levels of stateroom types – Signature Collection Suites (80), Mini Suites (123), and Premium Deluxe Balconies (12).

"Our new Sanctuary Collection offers guests those ultra-private, tucked away spaces that rival any high-end resort and surpasses the offerings of comparable cruise lines featuring similar ship-within-a-ship amenities," said John Padgett , president of Princess Cruises . "With spacious and well-appointed accommodations, along with an array of premium extras and its exclusivity, our new Sanctuary Collection delivers the ultimate in access and indulgence to deliver an unparalleled experience."

Sanctuary Collection staterooms on Sun Princess and Star Princess go on sale today. Guests who have booked as of April 23, 2024 already have reserved Sanctuary Collection staterooms on either ship will receive the additional amenities outlined at no additional cost, excluding the premier bundle.

The 177,500-ton, 4,300-guest Sun Princess offers an array of exciting new culinary and entertainment offerings, as well as luxurious staterooms and suites across a broad spectrum of categories. With the most balconies and sun decks on any Princess ship, guests can take in the sunshine and crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean and Caribbean from the comfort of their stateroom. 

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com .

About Princess Cruises Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world's most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that offer elite service personalization and simplicity customary of small, yacht-class ships. Well-appointed staterooms, world class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless activities blend with exclusive Princess MedallionClass service to create meaningful connections and unforgettable moments in the most incredible settings in the world - the Caribbean , Alaska , Panama Canal , Mexican Riviera, Europe , South America , Australia / New Zealand , the South Pacific, Hawaii , Asia , Canada /New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises . The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).

SOURCE Princess Cruises

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Princess Cruises vs Holland America

Sunday, April 28th

2024 Cruise Line Reviews

• Princess Cruises
• Best for retirees
• 16 ships in the fleet
• Sails to destinations worldwide
• Choose between Standard (cruise-only) and Princess Plus (includes drink package, Wi-Fi, and "Crew Appreciation" gratuities) fares

Princess Cruises tends to attract older guests on its sailings to destinations around the world. The 16 ships on this cruise line range from intimately-sized to large, from the petite Pacific Princess to the super-sized Royal Princess. The company offers Standard and Princess Plus fares, with the latter including a drink package, Wi-Fi, and gratuities. Princess Cruises is known for its excellent food and beverage offerings, with a variety of dining options to suit all tastes and preferences. While families with children are certainly welcome on Princess sailings, the onboard activities are definitely geared towards the more "seasoned" guests. However, this cruise line is still a reliable option with many desirable itineraries to choose from.

• Holland America
• Best for older guests (50+)
• 11 ships in the fleet
• Mid-size ships (1,400-2,600 passengers, depending on the ship)
• Over 500 itineraries with stops in 100+ countries

Holland America Line is a premium cruise line with a fleet of 11 mid-sized ships, offering over 500 itineraries with stops in 100+ countries. The line is known for its exceptional service, exquisite cuisine, and sophisticated onboard experience, making it a popular choice for older travelers seeking luxury and elegance. Overall, Holland America Line offers a relaxed and classy vacation experience to the world's most sought-after ports of call, especially for those ages 55+.

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• Viking Cruises

• Regent Seven Seas

• Norwegian Cruise Line

• MSC Cruises

• Carnival Cruises

The 15 Best Cruise Lines

Which cruise line is the best.

Cruising is a popular way of traveling for many people, offering a unique experience that combines the convenience of a floating hotel with the excitement of visiting multiple destinations in one trip. In an average year, over fifteen million people say "all aboard" and set sail on an amazing vacation.

There are many different cruise lines to choose from, and each one offers a different type of experience. Some are geared towards families, while others are more focused on luxury or adventure. What would you like to see and do while you're onboard? Is a casino a must-have or a rather-avoid? Would a Broadway-caliber show tip the scales for you? Do you need a wide range of activities to keep the kiddos happy while the adults live it up or relax? The onboard activities and amenities can really make or break your vacation, so be sure you know what you're getting.

Cruise Line FAQ

Which cruise line is the best, what is included in the cost of a cruise, what is the minimum age to cruise, what are the dining options on a cruise ship, are cruise ships crowded, do i have to dress up, are activities included at destination ports, can i bring my own alcohol onboard.

Continued from above...

Another factor that can influence which cruise line you choose is the itinerary. Cruise ships travel all over the world, but some cruise lines may not have destinations available where you're hoping to go. You should also consider the size of the ship: larger ships offer more amenities, but smaller ships can access ports that bigger ships can't.

Speaking of amenities, make sure you understand what you'll get as part of your fare and which extras will come with an additional cost. For example, most cruises offer drink packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but a few have drink stations where you can get complimentary lemonade, coffee and tea. Other amenities that might be important to you are Wi-Fi, spa services, babysitting, fitness classes, and upgraded dining experiences. You can usually get a decent discount if you sign up for an amenities package before you sail, so keep an eye out for promotions in the months leading up to your sailing.

When you take a cruise, it's almost always expected that you'll tip the crew members who have attended to your needs while onboard: your cabin steward ( who probably leaves your towels folded into fun shapes every night ), your servers at your nightly meals, and the head waiter. Cruise lines have a recommended gratuity to cover all three of those staff members, usually $15-$20 per traveler, per day; the total gratuity amount may be charged automatically to your account, or you may be given envelopes to make cash payments.

While it usually isn't mandatory to pay those gratuities - you can ask to have them removed if they're applied automatically, especially if you've received poor service - it's typically considered in poor taste not to tip at the suggested levels (because crew members' salaries, much like servers at your local restaurant, are based on the expectation of tips paid by guests). And, if you receive service that goes above and beyond, adding to the recommended gratuity is always appreciated. Be aware that tips for bartenders, poolside servers, and professional services provided in the spa or elsewhere are not included in the daily suggested gratuity and may be charged automatically at the time of service.

Now that you have a good overview of the cruising experience, which cruise line should you choose? Beyond the points we already covered, here are a few additional criteria that might make it easier to pick:

• Embarkation port. You could get a great deal on a cruise, but what will it cost you to get to the port? That could involve airfare, an overnight stay or two in a nearby hotel (so that you're less likely to be affected by travel delays), and transportation from the airport or hotel to the port. This is especially true if you're taking a cruise that departs from an international destination.
• Perks for repeat cruisers. Like frequent flyer programs on airlines, most cruise lines offer benefits the more you sail. If you find yourself absolutely loving cruise vacations, it can be advantageous to put all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak. Rewards programs can include casino benefits, complimentary meals at the upgraded dining experiences, exclusive sail-away parties with free cocktails and tchotchkes, early-access booking on future cruises, and much more.
• Reputation. It's a really smart idea to see what other travelers have said about their overall experience with a cruise line before booking your trip. The ads on TV may make that private island look amazing, but someone who's been there might point out that you'll pay extra to get on that waterslide. Or, previous cruisers could tell you that despite having several formal nights on the schedule, a particular cruise line has no problem with people showing up to dinner in flip-flops and swimsuit coverups. Find out if the cruise line you're considering lines up in reality with what they advertise.

Here at Top Consumer Reviews, cruising is one of our favorite ways to travel and experience new things. And with so many different cruise lines to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But, don't worry: take a look at our in-depth analysis of today's most popular options, find the one that's the best match for your vacation ideas and your travel party, and book that trip you've been dreaming of. Bon voyage!

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Nearly 200 people sick in norovirus outbreaks on Princess, Royal Caribbean ships

Nearly 200 people got sick in norovirus outbreaks on Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International ships.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 94 of the 2,532 guests on Sapphire Princess reported being ill during its April 5 cruise, along with 20 crew members. The round-trip cruise, which left from Los Angeles with stops in Hawaii and the South Pacific, will end on May 7, according to CruiseMapper .

On Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas, 67 of its 1,993 guests reported being ill in addition to two crew members during a cruise that ended April 22, according to the CDC . The two-week voyage sailed from Tampa, Florida to Los Angeles with stops in countries like Colombia and Panama, according to CruiseMapper .

In both outbreaks, the guests and crew members’ main symptoms were diarrhea and vomiting.

Princess, Royal Caribbean and the ships’ crews implemented heightened cleaning and disinfection measures and isolated those who were sick, among other steps, the health agency said.

"At the first sign of an increase in the numbers of passengers reporting to the medical center with gastrointestinal illness, we immediately initiated additional enhanced sanitation procedures to interrupt the person-to-person spread of this virus," a Princess spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. "Our sanitation program, developed in coordination with the CDC, includes disinfection measures, isolation of ill passengers and communication to passengers about steps they can take to stay well while onboard."

Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The CDC has logged six outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships that met its threshold for public notification since the beginning of the year. Norovirus was listed as the causative agent in five, while one was unknown.

The illness is often associated with cruise ships but outbreaks occur in communities on land as well, according to Dr. Sarah E. Hochman, a hospital epidemiologist and the section chief of infectious diseases at NYU Langone Health’s Tisch Hospital.

“There's not something special or unique about cruise ships,” she said. “It's really any type of congregate setting, but it's also happening out in the community on a much smaller scale among households and household contacts. It just doesn't come to the attention of public health as much as it does for larger congregate settings.”

Hochman said the virus is “incredibly infectious” and congregate settings tend to have many shared surfaces, such as handrails in cruise ship stairwells or elevators. “And so, if you just have one person who's shedding the virus and touches the surface and then someone else touches it and then touches their mouth, that's how it can spread in those types of settings.”

Cruise ship medical facilities: What happens if you get sick or injured (or bitten by a monkey)

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer isn't as effective against norovirus, and Hochman emphasized that washing hands with soap and water “will do a lot to prevent the spread.”

The news comes after more than two dozen Silversea Cruises guests got sick in a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on the luxury line’s Silver Nova ship during a sailing that began in late March.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

Princess Cruises Cancels 9 Sailings on Its Newest Ship After Inaugural Voyage Gets Delayed

What to know if you've booked a trip that's now been canceled.

Princess Cruises has pushed back the inauguration of its newest ship and canceled several sailings for next year in the process.

The cruise line delayed the delivery of its next ship, the Star Princess , by about two months, pushing the start date from July 29, 2025, to Sept. 26, 2025, according to the company . The setback means Princess has been forced to cancel nine different cruises.

“Despite our collective dedication and relentless pursuit to deliver the ship in late July, it has become evident that additional time is required to ensure the Star Princess is delivered to the highest standards expected by our guests,” John Padgett, the president of Princess Cruises, said in a statement.

Travelers who were set to sail with the company on the brand-new ship can either receive a full refund of the cruise fare or choose to rebook on a future cruise and receive an onboard credit, which will depend on the cruise they choose. 

Passengers can rebook on any Princess cruise, including a future cruise on the Star Princess or on the Sun Princess , which launched this year.

Going forward, Princess will schedule its new inaugural voyage for the Star Princess on Oct. 4, 2025, sailing an 11-day route along the Mediterranean roundtrip from Barcelona. That will be followed by a 7-day trip on the Mediterranean on Oct. 15 and a 14-day transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 22. The ship will then spend time in the Caribbean.

These cruises open for sale on April 30.

When finished, the Star Princess will feature room for 4,300 guests across 21 decks, and come complete with more than 29 different bars and restaurants, a multi-level glass-enclosed covered deck called The Dome, a two-story spa, an infinity pool, and more. The ship will be the second in Princess’ Sphere Class of ships, joining the Sun Princess .

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