Princess Cruises
This line may have been made famous by the TV show “The Love Boat,” but it isn’t just for honeymooners and singles looking to make connections. Instead, while Princess does try to offer a romantic experience for couples, these large mainstream ships also aim to appeal to the widest range of age groups. The demographic does vary depending on the time of year; in the summertime and on holidays, the number of kids on board soars, and the number of teens and tweens running around the pool deck and lining up for soft serve seems to skyrocket. And while there's little that's innovative here, everything from food to service and even design is well executed and tasteful on board.
The ships themselves — especially the six Royal Class vessels: Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess, and Discovery Princess — are quite pretty, with plenty of light, modern decor, and activities that range from computer classes to wine tastings. With the debut of its largest ship ever, the 4,300-guest Sun Princess, in early 2024, the cruise line is introducing not only a new class of ships but also a host of new onboard features. Among them is The Dome, a Santorini-inspired enclosed pool and nighttime entertainment venue. Princess has also transformed the Princess Theater into the multi-configuration Princess Arena and has upped its suite game by creating two tiers of accommodations, the Signature Collection and the Reserve Collection, featuring exclusive onboard spaces and amenities.
Ships
What We Love
Impressive Original Entertainment: Princess guests can expect to be entertained in a variety of ways, but especially in the evenings as the Princess Theater springs to life with high-energy production shows. These vary by ship and include Spotlight Bar (a mix of singing, dancing, and storytelling amid the backdrop of a local bar) and 5-Skies (set in the world or virtual reality gaming) as well as The Voice of the Ocean singing competitions and a live Deal or No Deal game show.
Movies Under the Stars: Princess Cruises invented the concept of a drive-in movie at sea, and it’s a great one. Don’t miss the opportunity to snuggle under a blanket on a lounge chair (with a soda and a bucket of hot popcorn, of course) and watch a movie on the giant outdoor screen as you sail to the next port.
The Piazza: This glittering, three-deck central atrium is the setting for cocktails accompanied by evening music or acrobatic performances as well the place to be for Puppies in the Piazza, a popular activity featuring local husky puppies during Alaska port calls.
Italian-Style Pizza: The line outshines the competition with its delicious Neapolitan-style pizza made with hand-tossed dough, house-made marinara sauce, and fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese. The pies at poolside Slices are complimentary, and you can also get yours delivered to your cabin for a small additional fee. However, the made-to-order personal pizzas at Alfredo’s and Gigi’s, the sit-down eateries located on the Piazza, are no longer free for everyone on board. Guests who book Princess Plus or Princess Premier packages (which include a beverage package, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and more) can enjoy these pizzas for free, but those who just book a basic cruise fare will be required to pay a $14.99 fee for a three-course meal ($7.49 per child) at Alfredo’s or Gigi’s.
Best Known For
Dining-Style Choices: Princess offers guests the option of two different types of dining experiences via Dine My Way. You can choose the traditional way, at the same table at a set time every night with the same wait staff. Or, you can customize your dining for each day of your cruise and eat whenever you want and with whomever you choose.
The Sanctuary: This beautiful top-of-ship sun area is reserved for adults and is as quiet as the main pool deck can be boisterous. Sanctuary Collection guests (on Sun Princess and Star Princess) have access included in their cruise fare, while other guests on ships featuring the Sanctuary can also pay a fee to enjoy a cushy, quiet space in the shade while a butler serves you snacks and cucumber water.
MedallionClass: Guests who book MedallionClass receive a quarter-size, medallion-shaped wearable device, which replaces a key card and allows for everything from touch-free boarding and stateroom entry (your door unlocks as you approach) to having food and drinks delivered to wherever you are on board. The device is waterproof, and guests can purchase accessories (sports bands, pendants, bracelets) that incorporate the Medallion.
Who It's Good For
Couples, Young and Old: The ships aren’t as party-focused as some mainstream competitors, but there’s just enough action for thirtysomethings to be entertained and seniors to find the scene not too loud or too overwhelming.
Families with Kids: The creative kids programming (including nature-focused activities and partnerships with Discovery and Animal Planet) and playrooms attract multigenerational families.
Couples Looking to Marry: Princess works harder than some other lines to help couples tie the knot, whether on board or while in port. You can choose from predesigned packages, making the whole process easy to plan from start to finish.
Don't Say We Didn't Warn You
There Are No Waterslides: Your fun in the sun will not include a daring plunge down a corkscrew waterslide because Princess ships do not have them