Princess Cruises
The Alaska specialist, and a relaxed classic everywhere else.
Traditional, comfortable and calm.
What Princess is like.
Princess is the Love Boat line, and the brand has aged into something comfortable and well run: mid-to-large ships, a mature crowd, good food, real enrichment programming and the deepest Alaska operation in the business. If you want to see Glacier Bay and then ride a train to Denali, this is the default.
The fleet centers on the Royal class (Royal, Regal, Majestic, Sky, Enchanted, Discovery Princess) and the new Sphere class (Sun Princess, Star Princess) with the Dome, a glass-enclosed pool and entertainment space, and the Piazza atrium that Princess made famous. Grand and Coral Princess handle Alaska and the Panama Canal on smaller hulls. Every ship has the Piazza, Movies Under the Stars and a Sanctuary adults retreat.
The Medallion wearable is the tech story: a quarter-sized disc that opens your cabin, lets you order a drink to wherever you are sitting, finds your kids on the ship map and speeds boarding. Combined with Princess Plus or Premier fare tiers, it makes the ship feel more like a resort than a cruise.
Alaska is where Princess shines. Five ships each summer, Glacier Bay permits on most sailings, and Princess-owned wilderness lodges at Denali, Kenai, Copper River and Fairbanks that turn a seven-night one-way cruise into a ten- to fourteen-night cruise-tour by rail and coach. We add a Ketchikan or Juneau salmon charter timed to the ship.
Ship classes, and which one to pick.
Newer is not always better. The right ship depends on the itinerary, your group and what you want to do on a sea day.
Sun Princess, Star Princess
The Dome, Piazza with the largest glass sphere at sea, Park19 top-deck activity zone, new Signature and Reserve collections.
Royal, Regal, Majestic, Sky, Enchanted, Discovery Princess
SeaWalk glass walkway, the Piazza, Movies Under the Stars, Sky Suites with the largest balconies at sea.
Grand, Caribbean, Crown, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Diamond Princess
Classic Princess ships on Alaska, Mexico, Caribbean and Asia routes.
Coral Princess, Island Princess
Panamax hulls built for the Canal; also do Alaska and longer exotic itineraries.
Where Princess goes, and what it typically costs.
Starting fares per person, double occupancy, before taxes, packages and flights. They move with season and demand; we price your exact dates.
| Itinerary | Nights | Sails from | Ports | Season | Typical fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voyage of the Glaciers (one-way) | 7 | Vancouver to Whittier/Anchorage or reverse | Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, College Fjord | May to September | from about $1,000 to $2,400 pp |
| Inside Passage round trip | 7 | Seattle or San Francisco (10 nights) | Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay or Endicott Arm, Victoria | May to September | from about $900 to $2,200 pp |
| Denali Explorer cruise-tour | 10 to 14 | Vancouver or Anchorage | Seven-night cruise plus Denali, Mt. McKinley and Kenai lodges by rail and coach | May to September | from about $2,400 to $5,000 pp |
| Caribbean | 7 to 10 | Fort Lauderdale, Galveston | Princess Cays, St. Thomas, Cozumel, Grand Cayman by route | Nov to April | from about $800 to $1,800 pp |
| Panama Canal | 10 to 15 | Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles or round trip | Cartagena, Canal transit, Costa Rica, Cabo | Oct to April | from about $1,600 to $3,500 pp |
Which cabin, and who should book it.
Comfortable standard cabins; Princess beds are consistently rated among the best at sea.
Value travelers and Alaska cruise-tour guests who splurge on the land portion instead.
Standard veranda; Alaska cabins on the starboard side northbound get the glacier and shore views.
Alaska, every time.
Mini-suites add a sitting area, bathtub and a second TV; Reserve Collection minis add a dedicated dining room.
Couples on longer cruises who want the sofa and tub.
Suites with priority everything, Club Class dining and, on Sun Princess, the Signature Collection with its own restaurant and sun deck.
Anniversary trips and multi-generation groups celebrating.
- Two or three main dining rooms
- World Fresh Marketplace buffet
- Alfredo's or Gigi's Pizzeria (some ships include a portion)
- International Cafe in the Piazza
- Slice pizza and the Salty Dog Grill on deck
- Room service
- Crown Grill steakhouse
- Sabatini's Italian Trattoria
- The Catch by Rudi seafood
- Salty Dog Gastropub
- Chef's Table Lumiere
- Bistro Sur La Mer, Harmony, O'Malley's by ship
- Butcher's Block by Dario and Love by Britto on Sun Princess
What a sea day looks like.
What is in the fare, what is extra, and which packages pay off.
Names and inclusions change by sailing. We confirm the current terms before you buy anything.
- Main dining rooms and buffet
- Shows, Movies Under the Stars, enrichment
- Pools and hot tubs
- Camp Discovery kids programs
- Coffee, tea, water, juice
- Drinks unless Plus or Premier
- Wi-Fi unless Plus or Premier
- Specialty dining unless Premier
- Excursions
- Crew appreciation (~$17 to $19 per person per day; included with Plus/Premier)
- Sanctuary, spa, casino, photos
Bundles the Plus beverage package, Wi-Fi for one device, crew appreciation, two casual dining meals, fitness classes and more. The upgrade most guests take.
Higher drink cap, unlimited specialty dining, four Wi-Fi devices, photos, reserved theater seats and the Sanctuary on some ships.
Crown Grill, Sabatini's, The Catch and the Chef's Table, per-person surcharge or included with Premier.
The wearable Medallion for keyless entry, ordering drinks to your deck chair, finding your group and faster boarding. Included.
Alaska sailings joined with rail and Princess-owned wilderness lodges at Denali, Kenai and Copper River, three to seven land nights.
Deep Alaska catalog including flightseeing, glacier landings, dog sledding and the salmon charters we can also book independently.
- Plus is the sweet spot for most couples; Premier pays off only if you want specialty dining most nights.
- Alaska one-way: fly into Anchorage and cruise southbound so the land tour comes first while you are fresh.
- Book a starboard balcony northbound (port southbound) for the Inside Passage shoreline.
- Glacier Bay day: be on deck early with the naturalist; the ship turns so both sides see Margerie Glacier.
- Sun Princess: the Dome pool is the quiet spot on a sea day.
Our take How we plan Princess.
For Alaska, Princess is our default recommendation for anyone who wants Glacier Bay plus a few days inland. We build the cruise-tour, add a Ketchikan or Juneau fishing day with a charter we trust, and choose Plus or Premier based on how you actually drink and stream.
Before you book Princess.
Princess Plus or Premier?
Plus covers most couples: drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Premier pays off if you want unlimited specialty dining and premium wines. We do the math on your sailing.
What is a cruise-tour?
A seven-night one-way Alaska cruise joined to three to seven nights on land by rail and motorcoach, staying at Princess lodges near Denali. It is the easiest way to see the interior.
Can we fish in Alaska ports?
Yes. Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka all have half-day salmon and halibut charters that return well before all-aboard. We book them and time them to your ship.
What does an Alaska cruise-tour cost?
A ten-night Denali cruise-tour for two in a balcony typically lands at $7,000 to $11,000 with Plus, plus flights and excursions. The seven-night cruise alone is roughly half.
When is the best month for Alaska?
July for warmth and salmon runs, June for long days and fewer crowds, late August and September for lower fares and northern lights chances. May is cheapest and coolest.
Is Princess too quiet for a family?
It is calm by design. Camp Discovery is good and the Alaska scenery keeps everyone busy, but for water slides and ropes courses look at Royal or Norwegian.
Compare with the rest.
Ready to sail Princess?
Tell us who is going and when. A person who has sailed it replies with the right ship, cabin and ports. No fee to you.