The short version: Princess is where you go when the destination is the point — nobody does Alaska like Princess, the Medallion makes the whole ship feel effortless, and the onboard mood is relaxed refinement: great food, real conversation, no belly-flop contests. We're both Princess-certified, and this is how we explain the line to our own clients.
Book Princess if you…
- Are dreaming about Alaska — Princess owns that trade (more below)
- Cruise for the places, not the waterslides
- Want polished-but-relaxed: excellent dining, live music, quiet corners
- Appreciate clever tech that removes friction (the Medallion is genuinely great)
- Want Hawaii without flying — Princess sails round-trip from the West Coast
Pick another line if you…
- Have thrill-seeking kids or teens — Royal Caribbean is their ship
- Want a party-into-the-night atmosphere — try Carnival or Virgin
- Want adults-only guaranteed — that's Virgin Voyages
- Measure a ship by its waterpark
Why Princess Owns Alaska
Princess has been sailing Alaska for over half a century, and the difference shows everywhere: naturalists narrating Glacier Bay from the bridge, local seafood on the menu, and — the thing no other mainstream line can match — Princess's own wilderness lodges near Denali. That means a "cruisetour": cruise the Inside Passage, then continue by scenic rail into the interior and sleep at a lodge with Denali out the window. If Alaska is your bucket-list trip, this is the version people rave about for the rest of their lives.
The Medallion — Not a Gimmick
Every Princess sailor gets a quarter-sized wearable Medallion instead of a key card. Your cabin unlocks as you walk up, the crew greets you by name, you can locate your spouse on deck 16 from your lounge chair, and food or drinks get delivered to wherever you are. It's the rare cruise-tech feature that actually removes hassle instead of adding an app to fight with. (We'll help you set it all up pre-cruise — the app setup is the one clunky part.)
The Fleet
Sphere Class THE NEW GENERATION
Sun Princess (2024), Star Princess (2025)
Princess's biggest ships ever and a genuine leap: the glass-domed Dome with its indoor-outdoor pool, a three-deck dining and entertainment Piazza, and a noticeably younger, more family-friendly energy without losing the Princess calm. If you want new-ship wow with Princess polish, this is it.
Best for: couples and families who want Princess refinement on a showpiece ship
Royal Class THE CORE FLEET
Royal, Regal, Majestic, Sky, Enchanted, and Discovery Princess
The backbone of Princess — elegant ships around 3,600 guests with the signature Piazza atrium, the adults-only Sanctuary deck, and movies under the stars. Discovery and Majestic anchor the West Coast (including those no-fly Hawaii and Mexico runs); the rest rotate through the Caribbean, Europe, and Alaska.
Best for: pretty much every Princess itinerary — this class is the safe, excellent default
Grand & Coral Class THE EXPLORERS
Grand, Sapphire, Diamond, Crown, Emerald, Ruby; Coral and Island Princess
The senior ships go where the big ones can't: Coral-class was purpose-built to transit the Panama Canal, and the Grand-class veterans cover Alaska round-trips, Japan, and long exotic voyages. Slightly older hardware, but the itineraries in this group are the most interesting in the fleet.
Best for: Panama Canal, Japan, world cruises, and destination collectors
Plus vs. Premier — The Package Question
Princess prices three ways: the bare fare, Princess Plus (drinks, WiFi, and crew appreciation bundled), and Princess Premier (all that plus specialty dining, premium drinks, photos, and more). For most people who'd buy WiFi and a few drinks a day anyway, Plus pays for itself — but not always, and Premier only makes sense for certain habits. This is exactly the kind of math we run for every client before booking. Also: Alfredo's pizza is included in the packages and is, no exaggeration, the best pizza at sea.
Picking Your Cabin
- Balcony — on Alaska sailings this isn't a luxury, it's the whole point: glaciers from your own balcony at 6 a.m. with coffee. Book it.
- Mini-suite — Princess's sweet spot: a proper sitting area and bigger bathroom for a modest step up. Great for longer voyages.
- Reserve Collection — mini-suites with a dedicated dining room section and priority perks; a light-touch taste of suite life.
- Interior/Oceanview — fine for port-intensive itineraries where you're ashore all day.
- Alaska-specific tips: starboard side northbound / port side southbound for coastal scenery on one-way routes, and fully-forward balconies get windy at speed — we'll place you right.
Alaska? Hawaii? The Med?
We're Princess-certified and we'll match you to the right ship, cabin, and package — honestly, including when Plus isn't worth it for you. Same price as booking direct, always free.
Get My Free Princess QuoteQuick Answers
Is Princess really the best line for Alaska?
For the full land-and-sea experience, yes — 50+ years in the trade and their own Denali-area lodges for cruisetours. Holland America is the other Alaska heavyweight; ask us for the honest comparison for your dates.
What exactly is the Medallion?
A wearable that replaces your cruise card: keyless cabin entry, crew who know your name, find-my-family on the ship map, and food delivered wherever you're lounging. It genuinely works.
Is Princess Plus worth it?
Usually — if you'd buy WiFi and a couple of drinks a day anyway, the bundle beats à la carte. Premier is for bigger appetites. We run your real numbers before you book.
Is Princess just for older cruisers?
It skews more mature than Carnival or Royal — that calm is a feature, not a bug. But Sun and Star Princess are pulling in noticeably younger crowds and families. If you want relaxed evenings and destination focus, you'll fit at any age.
Does booking through you cost more than booking direct?
No — same price or better. Princess pays us, not you. We're certified with them, we watch promos and price drops, and we handle everything if plans change.
Still Comparing Lines?
Read our other firsthand guides, or just tell us your dream trip — matching people to the right ship is the part of this job we love most.
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