Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises was founded in 1965 and is part of Carnival Corporation & plc. It is a mid-to-upper mainstream line with a broad global itinerary list, and it has long been one of the biggest names in Alaska, where it pairs cruises with land tours. Its newest ships are the Sphere class: Sun Princess, which debuted in 2024, and Star Princess, which followed in 2025. The rest of the fleet is mostly Royal-class and Grand-class ships.

The onboard experience is calmer and more traditional than the big family brands: comfortable lounges, a central Piazza atrium with live music, a respected main dining program and Movies Under the Stars on the pool deck. Princess runs on MedallionClass, a wearable OceanMedallion that handles keyless cabin entry, contactless purchases and food delivery to wherever you are on the ship.

Princess suits couples, retirees, multigenerational families and anyone who wants good value on a wide range of itineraries, from the Caribbean and Mexico to Alaska, Japan, Australia and Europe. It is less suited to travelers who want waterslides and thrill rides, or those looking for a cutting-edge nightlife scene.

The vibe: Relaxed, welcoming and dependable; a comfortable middle ground between mass-market buzz and premium polish.

What Princess does best

Sphere-class ships

Sun Princess and Star Princess are the line's largest ships, centered on the Dome, a glass-roofed entertainment and pool space, and a three-deck Piazza.

Alaska expertise

Princess runs an onboard North to Alaska program and pairs cruises with land tours that include its own wilderness lodges and railcars.

MedallionClass

The OceanMedallion wearable unlocks your cabin, pays for drinks and lets crew deliver food and drinks to you anywhere onboard.

Princess Plus and Premier

Optional bundles that combine drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities and more; Premier adds extras like specialty dinners.

Movies Under the Stars

An outdoor big screen on the pool deck, with blankets and popcorn in the evening.

Dining

Included dining covers the main dining rooms (fixed or flexible seating), the World Fresh Marketplace buffet, and casual favorites like pizza and the International Café in the Piazza. Extra-cost restaurants include The Crown Grill steakhouse and Sabatini's Italian on many ships, with more specialty concepts on the Sphere-class ships. The Premier package includes a set number of specialty dinners.

Entertainment and activities

Production shows in the Princess Theater, live music in the Piazza, comedians, a casino and Movies Under the Stars by the pool. Sphere-class ships add the Dome, a glass-roofed space used for pool time by day and shows and acrobatics by night. Enrichment talks and the North to Alaska program with naturalists and local guests are standouts on Alaska sailings.

Families and kids

Camp Discovery is the included youth program, split by age group, with spaces and activities for younger kids and teens. Princess is family-friendly in a low-key way: good pools, movies under the stars and lots of space, but no waterslide parks on most ships.

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.

Gratuities and drinks

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. (Published rates as of 2026-10-13; source. Lines change these, so we confirm the current amount in every quote.)

Water, coffee, tea and juice at breakfast are included. Princess sells drink packages on their own (Plus, Premier and Zero-Alcohol levels) and as part of the Princess Plus and Princess Premier bundles that add Wi-Fi, gratuities and other extras. Packages are per person and not shareable, alcoholic drinks are limited to 15 per day, and drinks above the cap require paying the difference. They are usable at Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay but not at Celebration Key.

Loyalty program: Captain's Circle. Tell us your number when you request a quote so past-guest offers and status perks are applied.

Private destinations

• Princess Cays
• RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
• Celebration Key

Specialist tips for booking Princess

• Set up the MedallionClass app before sailing, upload your security photo and finish check-in. A completed profile is what makes the Medallion-based boarding process quick at the terminal.
• Do the math on Princess Plus: if you will drink a few cocktails a day and want Wi-Fi, the bundle (which also covers gratuities) often beats buying items separately.
• For Alaska, consider a cruisetour that adds Denali. Princess's land program and lodges make the logistics simple, but book early for the best lodge dates.
• Princess ships start calling at Celebration Key in November 2026, but drink packages do not work there, so plan to pay for drinks ashore.
• Movies Under the Stars is free; grab a lounger early for popular films on sea-day evenings.