Our verdict

This Princess Cruises review looks at a big-ship line that has stayed deliberately traditional while quietly becoming one of the most technologically advanced at sea. Princess sells relaxed, classic cruising: plenty of balcony cabins, three main dining rooms, adults-only retreats, captain-hosted weddings and polished but unflashy entertainment. It pairs that with MedallionClass, a wearable token that opens your cabin door, pays for drinks and lets crew find you anywhere on board. And in Alaska it is one of the dominant lines, with its own wilderness lodges, rail service and national park concession.

The downsides are the flip side of that style. Families with thrill-seeking kids will find more to do on rival megaships, many Princess vessels are older designs refreshed rather than rebuilt, extras such as Wi-Fi, specialty dining and drinks add up unless you buy a package, and the newest and largest ships can feel crowded at peak times. For couples, retirees and multigenerational groups heading to Alaska or Europe, Princess is one of the strongest mainstream choices.

NerdBible did not sail with Princess for this review. It is an editorial assessment built from Princess's own fleet, package, MedallionClass, Alaska and cancellation pages, the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program, and published coverage from The Points Guy, Frommer's and Fodor's, each credited where used. We do not cover fares or deals, which change constantly; our page lists current offers separately.

What is Princess Cruises and who is it for?

According to The Points Guy's guide to the line, Princess is the world's fifth-largest cruise line by passenger capacity, with 17 ships and roughly 54,000 berths, sailing around 170 itineraries to more than 100 countries in a typical year. Its fleet page lists ships from the large Grand and Coral classes through the Royal Class vessels to the newest and biggest, Sun Princess and Star Princess, each carrying about 4,300 guests.

The Points Guy describes the typical Princess guest as an active traveller in their 50s, 60s or 70s, often a couple, plus many multigenerational family groups. Fodor's calls the atmosphere sophisticated across ship sizes.

Princess suits:

  • Alaska travellers. This is the line's signature region.
  • Couples and retirees who want good food, quiet pool decks and classic shows rather than water parks.
  • Multigenerational groups where grandparents and older children both need to be happy.
  • Travellers with disabilities. Fodor's rates Princess ships among the most accessible at sea.

It suits less well families with young thrill-seekers, travellers who want huge suites, and anyone looking for a party atmosphere.

Key features

MedallionClass

Princess's MedallionClass page describes the Medallion as a quarter-sized wearable that enables touch-free boarding, unlocks your cabin as you approach, and lets crew confirm purchases by matching your photo and location. Through the Princess app you can check in at home, order food and drinks to wherever you are with OceanNow delivery, find family members on board, message your group and reserve dining. Muster drills are handled through a safety video and a quick check-in at your muster station. MedallionNet Wi-Fi is sold in one-device and four-device packages, with Princess noting slower speeds in remote regions such as Alaska.

Dining

The Points Guy reports that every Princess ship has three main dining rooms, now run in three styles: reservable times, walk-in anytime dining and traditional fixed seating with the same table and waiter each night. Buffets and casual outlets are included in the fare. Extra-charge options typically include the Italian restaurant Sabatini's and the Crown Grill steakhouse, and Princess pioneered the chef's table concept at sea.

Cabins

Balcony cabins are widespread across the fleet; The Points Guy credits Princess with pioneering large numbers of balconies among mass-market lines, while noting that suites are relatively few and cabins comfortable but plain.

Alaska

Princess's Alaska page describes round-trip Inside Passage cruises from Seattle, Vancouver and San Francisco, and one-way sailings between Vancouver and Whittier that connect to land cruisetours. The line says it is an authorised concessioner of Glacier Bay National Park, and its cruisetour options include stays at Princess-run wilderness lodges near Denali, Mt. McKinley, the Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The Points Guy notes that Princess typically sends about eight ships to Alaska each summer.

Families

Princess runs youth and teen clubs with age-grouped activities, kids-only dinners and group kidsitting, according to its kids and teens page. The newest ships add more family features, but the offering remains modest compared with family-focused megaships.

How much does a Princess cruise cost?

Fares vary by ship, cabin, season and how far ahead you book, so we describe the structure only. The base fare covers your cabin, main dining rooms, buffet, many casual outlets and most entertainment. Drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty restaurants, shore excursions and crew gratuities are extra unless bundled.

Princess sells bundles on its Princess Plus and Princess Premier page. Plus bundles a drinks package with a daily drink limit, upgraded MedallionNet Wi-Fi, crew appreciation (pre-paid tips) and a set number of casual dining meals. Premier adds unlimited casual and specialty dining, a photo package, reserved theatre seating, and Wi-Fi on four devices per guest, plus a shore excursion credit. Packages can be upgraded through Manage Booking.

Princess's standard cancellation policy charges fees that depend on itinerary length and how close to departure you cancel. Your booking confirmation sets out the schedule that applies to you, and the line recommends travel protection.

Is Princess Cruises safe?

Ships that call at US ports are inspected by the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program, which helps the industry prevent and control illness on board and publishes inspection results for individual ships. Before you book, it is worth looking up your specific ship's most recent score. The CDC notes that close contact with many travellers is the most common route for illness at sea, so frequent handwashing and following crew instructions during any outbreak matter.

For travellers with health or mobility needs, Fodor's points to Princess's strong accessibility record. Anyone with a medical condition should still check the line's requirements, port accessibility and medical facilities with Princess and their doctor before sailing.

What could be better

  • Older hardware. Much of the fleet is made up of the Grand and Coral classes, which are refurbished but not new designs.
  • Crowding on the newest ships. Frommer's found theatres and The Dome too small for a full Sun Princess, and the buffet congested at peak times.
  • Noise and smoke. Frommer's also reported a noisy central Piazza and casino smoke drifting into public areas on Sun Princess.
  • Add-ons. Wi-Fi, drinks and specialty dining raise the real cost unless you buy a bundle.
  • Limited suites. The Points Guy notes there are few ways to live large on a Princess ship.

Who should choose something else?

Families whose children want water slides, go-karts and big kids' shows will be happier on a line built around those attractions. Travellers chasing a lively party scene or a very young crowd should look elsewhere too. At the other end, if you want small ships, an all-inclusive fare or very large suites, a premium or luxury line will fit better. And if you are short on time, Fodor's warns that disembarking a large ship can be slow.

What other reviewers found

  • The Points Guy characterises Princess as a calmer, classier alternative to the attraction-packed megaship lines, and compares its cabins to a dependable but plain hotel chain.
  • The Points Guy also highlights Princess's dominance in Alaska, its own lodges and trains there, and its growing role in Japan and Australia.
  • Frommer's praised Sun Princess's design, dining and fast Wi-Fi and found the Medallion worked flawlessly, but reported that popular shows filled up and turned guests away.
  • Fodor's credits Princess with several industry firsts, including poolside movies and the adults-only Sanctuary, and rates the line highly for accessibility, while warning that large ships can mean waits for tables and disembarkation.

Where reviewers agree and disagree

The outlets agree that Princess offers a refined, relaxed experience at mainstream prices, strong dining and leading-edge onboard technology, with Alaska as a standout. They differ on the newest ships. The Points Guy and Frommer's both see Sun Princess and Star Princess as a leap forward in design, but Frommer's argues the push for livelier, more family-friendly ships has brought noise and crowding that loyal guests may dislike. For buyers, this means choosing the ship matters as much as choosing the line: pick a Royal or Grand Class ship for the classic Princess feel, and the newest ships for more variety, accepting busier public spaces.

Is Princess Cruises worth it? Bottom line

Princess earns its place among the best cruise lines by doing classic cruising well and backing it with genuinely useful technology. For Alaska in particular, its lodges, cruisetours and Glacier Bay access are hard to beat, and its Mediterranean and European programmes are broad. Budget for extras or compare the Plus and Premier bundles, check your ship's age and CDC inspection score, and choose the ship by the atmosphere you want. If your group is older, mixed in age or simply wants to relax at sea, Princess is a safe, well-run choice.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Princess Medallion?

The Medallion is a quarter-sized wearable device used on Princess ships. It enables touch-free boarding, unlocks your cabin door as you approach, lets you pay for purchases without a card, and works with the Princess app so you can order food and drinks to your location, find companions on board and manage reservations. You can collect it at the port or have it shipped home for a fee.

Is Princess Cruises good for Alaska?

Alaska is Princess's signature destination. The line offers round-trip Inside Passage cruises and one-way sailings between Vancouver and Whittier, says it is an authorised concessioner of Glacier Bay National Park, and runs its own wilderness lodges for land cruisetours near Denali, Mt. McKinley, the Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, so you can combine sea and land in one trip.

Is Princess Cruises good for families?

Princess is a good fit for multigenerational families and children who enjoy organised clubs, with youth and teen programmes, kids-only dinners and group kidsitting. It is less suited to families who want water parks, go-kart tracks and other big attractions, which rival megaships emphasise. The newest ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess, add more family features, but the overall focus remains relaxed cruising.

What is included in a Princess cruise fare?

The base fare covers your cabin, the main dining rooms, the buffet, many casual food outlets and most entertainment. Alcoholic and specialty drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty restaurants, shore excursions and crew gratuities usually cost extra. Princess Plus and Princess Premier bundle many of these, including drinks, Wi-Fi and pre-paid tips, with Premier adding specialty dining, photos and reserved theatre seating.

Can I cancel a Princess cruise?

Yes, but fees may apply. Princess's standard policy sets cancellation charges based on the length of the itinerary and how close to departure you cancel, and the exact schedule that applies to your booking appears in your confirmation email and the passage contract. Princess also sells optional travel protection, which follows its own terms for covered reasons.

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