Princess vs Holland America
Both are premium lines, so the choice comes down to atmosphere, ships and where you want to sail from.
Princess in a sentence
Relaxed, welcoming and dependable; a comfortable middle ground between mass-market buzz and premium polish.
Holland America in a sentence
Gracious and unhurried; live music at night, a good book by day and plenty of ocean views.
| Feature | Princess Cruises | Holland America Line |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Premium | Premium |
| The vibe | Relaxed, welcoming and dependable; a comfortable middle ground between mass-market buzz and premium polish. | Gracious and unhurried; live music at night, a good book by day and plenty of ocean views. |
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| Maybe not for |
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| Fleet size | 17 (as of 2026) | 11 (as of 2026) |
| Founded | 1965 | 1873 |
| Parent company | Carnival Corporation & plc | Carnival Corporation & plc |
| Gratuities | Princess adds an automatic service gratuity of $18 to $20 per person per day, depending on cabin category. Gratuities are included for guests who buy the Princess Plus or Princess Premier package. (as of 2026-10-13) | Holland America adds a crew appreciation charge of $18 per person per day in most cabins and $20 per person per day in suites. (as of 2026-10-13) |
| Dress code | Smart casual most evenings. Most sailings include one or more formal nights (more on longer cruises), when many guests wear cocktail attire, suits or tuxedos, though a jacket is not strictly required. Shorts and swimwear are not appropriate in the main dining room at dinner. | Smart casual most evenings. Holland America calls its dress-up evenings Dressy nights, typically one or two per week, when guests wear cocktail attire, a jacket or a suit. Jeans are fine on other evenings, and the Lido Market is always casual. |
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| Loyalty program | Captain's Circle | Mariner Society |
| US/Canada homeports in our guides | 10 | 7 |
Both sail to: Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada & New England, Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Northern Europe & Baltic, British Isles, Norwegian Fjords, Transatlantic, Australia & New Zealand, Asia.
Both depart from: Fort Lauderdale, Boston, Seattle, Vancouver, San Diego. Pricing the same week on both is the fastest way to decide.
Questions people ask
Is Princess or Holland America better for families?
Princess: Camp Discovery is the included youth program, split by age group, with spaces and activities for younger kids and teens. Holland America: Club HAL offers supervised youth activities for children and teens, mainly during school holiday periods and summer.
Which has higher gratuities, Princess or Holland America?
As of the dates we last checked, Princess: Princess adds an automatic service gratuity of $18 to $20 per person per day, depending on cabin category. Gratuities are included for guests who buy the Princess Plus or Princess Premier package. Holland America: Holland America adds a crew appreciation charge of $18 per person per day in most cabins and $20 per person per day in suites. Lines change these, so we confirm current amounts in every quote.
Do Princess and Holland America sail from the same ports?
Yes. Both sail from Fort Lauderdale, Boston, Seattle, Vancouver, San Diego, which makes it easy to compare the same week on both lines.
Price Princess and Holland America side by side
Tell us your dates and who's going. We'll quote the same trip on both lines with the full price, taxes and fees included.