Princess Cruises Cruise Guide
Princess Cruises occupies a comfortable premium tier — a step up from mainstream lines in refinement and pace, without the price jump of true luxury cruising. It is best known for one thing above all else: Alaska. Princess owns its own wilderness lodges and rail cars in Alaska, allowing it to combine a cruise with a genuinely well-run land tour in a way few competitors can match, and its MedallionClass wearable technology streamlines everything from boarding to ordering a drink poolside.
Who is Princess best for?
- Travelers planning an Alaska cruise or cruisetour
- Couples and multi-generational families who prefer a calmer, more refined pace
- Guests who enjoy enrichment programming — lectures, culinary demos, and destination experts
- Cruisers who want tech-enabled convenience via the Princess Medallion
Popular Princess destinations
- Alaska's Inside Passage and Gulf of Alaska, often paired with a Denali land tour
- Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale
- Full and partial Panama Canal transits
- Mexican Riviera and California Coastal itineraries
Dining
Princess offers both traditional fixed-time dining and Anytime Dining flexibility across its main rooms. Specialty options include Crown Grill steakhouse, Sabatini's for Italian classics, and the immersive 360 dining experience, a rotating multi-sensory dinner unique to Princess. Alaska sailings often feature regional seafood specials tied to the itinerary.
Entertainment
Signature Movies Under the Stars poolside screenings, Broadway-style production shows, and — especially on Alaska sailings — onboard naturalists and destination lecturers set Princess apart from more activity-driven lines. The pace favors quality programming over sheer volume of activities.
Family cruising
Princess is comfortable for multi-generational families, with supervised youth programs for various age groups, though it leans toward a calmer, more adult-paced onboard atmosphere than lines like Royal Caribbean or Carnival. It works particularly well for family groups where grandparents and grandchildren are cruising together.
Adults-only spaces
Princess does not operate adults-only ships or dedicated adults-only zones in the way some competitors do, but the line's generally quieter pace and enrichment-focused programming make it a natural fit for couples seeking a more relaxed atmosphere without needing a formally designated adult space.
Loyalty program
Captain's Circle
Why is Princess known for Alaska cruises?
Princess owns its own wilderness lodges and domed rail cars in Alaska, allowing it to combine a cruise with a professionally run land tour to destinations like Denali — a level of vertical integration few other cruise lines can offer.
What is the Princess Medallion?
The Princess Medallion is a wearable device that enables keyless stateroom entry, mobile ordering anywhere on the ship, and an app that helps locate traveling companions — designed to streamline the entire cruise experience.
Is Princess good for older travelers or multi-generational families?
Yes. Princess's calmer pace, enrichment programming, and comfortable cabin categories make it a strong fit for older travelers and multi-generational groups, including grandparents cruising with grandchildren.
Does Princess offer flexible dining?
Yes. Princess offers both traditional fixed-time dining and Anytime Dining, giving guests the choice between a consistent table and server each night or the flexibility to dine whenever they choose.