Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is an American cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation and based in Santa Clarita, California. Its 17 ships sail most of the world's cruise regions, from Alaska, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal to Japan, Australia and northern Europe, and the line has run its own rail cars and land tours in Alaska since buying Tour Alaska in 1986.
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About Princess Cruises
The company began in 1965, when founder Stanley McDonald chartered a Canadian Pacific ship for Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles. P&O bought Princess in 1974, folded in the Sitmar fleet in 1988, and in 1998 introduced Grand Princess, then the largest passenger ship afloat. Princess became part of Carnival Corporation in 2003. During the 2020 shutdown and early 2021 it parted with five older ships, and it has since added the LNG-powered Sun Princess (2024) and Star Princess (2025), the largest ships it has operated.
The fleet runs from the roughly 2,000-guest Coral class, built to fit the original Panama Canal locks, through the 3,000-guest Grand family and six Royal-class ships to the 4,300-guest Sphere class. Itineraries range from short Caribbean and Mexico trips to Panama Canal transits, Alaska cruisetours, Antarctica and annual world cruises, and repeat guests earn perks through the Captain's Circle program.
What Princess Cruises is known for
Princess has long traded on its link to The Love Boat, the 1970s and 1980s television series set mostly aboard the earlier Pacific Princess, and it is one of the established names in Alaska, where it pairs cruises with land tours and its own rail cars. The line sails to a wide spread of regions year-round, and its Captain's Circle program rewards frequent guests with perks such as Wi-Fi discounts and, at the top tier, free laundry and priority disembarkation.
The line has also drawn criticism. In February 2020 the quarantine of Diamond Princess at Yokohama, where 712 people were infected with COVID-19, brought scrutiny of how Princess had first assessed the risk, and outbreaks on Ruby Princess and Grand Princess followed. In 2016 Princess pleaded guilty to illegal oil discharges from Caribbean Princess and other ships and paid a $40 million penalty. Norovirus outbreaks, a hazard across the industry, hit Star Princess and Caribbean Princess in 2026.
Who it's for
Premium · smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream
- Couples
- Multigenerational groups
- First-time cruisers
Princess suits travelers who want a large, well-equipped ship without making the ship itself the whole holiday: couples, retirees, and families traveling across generations. It is a natural choice for Alaska, especially for anyone adding a land tour, and for Panama Canal transits, long voyages and world cruises, where its mid-size Coral-class ships and frequent repositioning sailings give plenty of options. Shorter Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico sailings make it easy for first-time cruisers to try.
Travelers who want thrill rides, big water parks or a nightlife-driven atmosphere will usually find more of that on lines that build their newest ships around those features. Those who want small ships, all-inclusive fares or a very high staff-to-guest ratio should look at luxury lines instead.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 4.2/5
- Dining
- 4/5
- Entertainment
- 4/5
- Service
- 4/5
- Pools & decks
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 17 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where Princess Cruises sails
Ships
Best rated
#14.2 ★Discovery Princess2022 · 145,000 GT · 3,660 guests · Mexican Riviera · AlaskaDiscovery Princess is the sixth and final Royal-class ship, delivered by Fincantieri on 28 January 2022 after pandemic delays. She measures about 145,000 gross tons and carries…
#24.2 ★Enchanted Princess2021 · 145,281 GT · 3,660 guests · Caribbean · MediterraneanEnchanted Princess is the fifth Royal-class ship, built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone. Construction delays during the COVID-19 pandemic pushed her delivery to 30 September 2020…
#34.2 ★Star Princess2025 · 177,882 GT · 4,300 guests · Caribbean · AlaskaStar Princess is the second Sphere-class ship and the second LNG-powered ship in the fleet, built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and the third Princess ship of the name…Every ship, by class
Sphere class
2 ships · 2024–2025 · 177,882 GT · avg 4.2 ★
Royal class
6 ships · 2013–2022 · 142,714–145,281 GT · avg 4.1 ★
- Discovery Princess2022 · 145,000 GT · 3,660 guests4.2/5
- Enchanted Princess2021 · 145,281 GT · 3,660 guests4.2/5
- Sky Princess2019 · 145,281 GT · 3,660 guests4.0/5
- Majestic Princess2017 · 144,216 GT · 3,560 guests4.0/5
- Regal Princess2014 · 142,714 GT · 3,560 guests4.0/5
- Royal Princess2013 · 142,714 GT · 3,560 guests4.0/5
Crown class
3 ships · 2006–2008 · 113,561 GT · avg 4.0 ★
Gem class
2 ships · 2004 · 115,875 GT · avg 4.0 ★
Grand class
2 ships · 1998–2004 · 107,517–112,894 GT · avg 4.0 ★
Coral class
2 ships · 2003 · 91,627 GT · avg 4.0 ★
Former ships
| Ship | Sailed | Gross tons | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Princess | 2002–2021 | 30,277 | January 2021 |
| Sea Princess | 1998–2020 | 77,499 | November 2020 |
| Star Princess | 2002–2020 | 108,977 | October 2020 |
| Golden Princess | 2001–2020 | 108,865 | October 2020 |
| Sun Princess | 1995–2020 | 77,000 | September 2020 |
Where to fly in
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL)4 Princess Cruises ships sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida3 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Los Angeles International (LAX)2 Princess Cruises ships sail from Los Angeles, California21 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Tokyo Haneda (HND)2 Princess Cruises ships sail from Yokohama, Japan16 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Brisbane Airport (BNE)1 Princess Cruises ship sails from Brisbane, Australia9 lounges on Lounge Frog
- London Heathrow (LHR)1 Princess Cruises ship sails from Southampton, England40 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Orlando International (MCO)1 Princess Cruises ship sails from Port Canaveral, Florida6 lounges on Lounge Frog
- San Francisco International (SFO)1 Princess Cruises ship sails from San Francisco, California18 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)1 Princess Cruises ship sails from San Juan, Puerto Rico4 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD)1 Princess Cruises ship sails from Sydney, Australia15 lounges on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is Princess Cruises known for?
Princess has long traded on its link to The Love Boat, the 1970s and 1980s television series set mostly aboard the earlier Pacific Princess, and it is one of the established names in Alaska, where it pairs cruises with land tours and its own rail cars. The line sails to a wide spread of regions year-round, and its Captain's Circle program rewards frequent guests with perks such as Wi-Fi discounts and, at the top tier, free laundry and priority disembarkation.
Who is Princess Cruises best for?
Princess suits travelers who want a large, well-equipped ship without making the ship itself the whole holiday: couples, retirees, and families traveling across generations. It is a natural choice for Alaska, especially for anyone adding a land tour, and for Panama Canal transits, long voyages and world cruises, where its mid-size Coral-class ships and frequent repositioning sailings give plenty of options. Shorter Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico sailings make it easy for first-time cruisers to try.
Where does Princess Cruises sail?
Princess Cruises's ships in service sail Caribbean (8 ships), Alaska (8 ships), Northern Europe (4 ships), Panama Canal (4 ships), Mediterranean (3 ships), Mexican Riviera (3 ships), Hawaii (3 ships), Pacific Coast (3 ships), Asia (2 ships), Australia and New Zealand (2 ships), South Pacific (2 ships), Norwegian Fjords (1 ship), South America (1 ship), Antarctica (1 ship) and World cruises (1 ship).
How is Princess Cruises rated?
Princess Cruises's fleet averages 4.0 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 17 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is Discovery Princess at 4.2.
How many ships does Princess Cruises have?
Princess Cruises has 17 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Caribbean Princess, Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Diamond Princess, Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess, Enchanted Princess and Grand Princess, and 9 more.
What ship classes does Princess Cruises sail?
Princess Cruises sails 6 classes of ship in service: Sphere class (2 ships), Royal class (6 ships), Crown class (3 ships), Gem class (2 ships), Grand class (2 ships) and Coral class (2 ships).
Who owns Princess Cruises?
Princess Cruises is part of Carnival Corporation & plc.
Where is Princess Cruises based?
Princess Cruises is headquartered in Santa Clarita, California, United States. It has operated since 1965.
What is Princess Cruises's loyalty program called?
Princess Cruises's past-guest loyalty program is Captain's Circle.
What is the largest Princess Cruises ship?
Star Princess is Princess Cruises's largest ship at 177,882 gross tons, carrying 4,300 guests.
Cruising with children
Princess offers distinct spaces for younger and older children. Match the child to the right group and check the ship’s program before building a daily schedule around it.
Read the Princess Cruises family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
Thinking about a drinks package on Princess Cruises? The average drink starts at what a glass of house wine costs on board, about $11; change it to what you usually order, and enter the package price Princess Cruises quotes.
A glass of house wine costs about $11. Prof. Cruise (Princess menus, 2025) ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A glass of house wine on Princess Cruises.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
7drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 6.8 drinks at $11. Over 7 days that's $525, or 48 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $140 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $385
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
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