Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises markets itself as a leader in the Alaska cruise market, so I booked a sailing to see for myself whether or not it was worth the hype.

Despite cruising to Alaska every summer, I had never cruised with Princess Cruises before, but I had heard amazing things about the cruise line’s Alaska itineraries.

Princess Cruises puts a bigger focus on the Alaska cruise experience compared to other mainstream cruise lines, offering Alaska-specific programming, guest lecturers, and cuisine.

Earlier this summer, I cruised to Alaska on the Royal Princess, a 10-year old cruise ship by Princess Cruises. I almost always book a tiny inside cabin when I cruise, and this 7-night sailing was no exception.

I paid $2,294 for my interior stateroom on the Royal Princess. The cost of my cabin was for two adults and included all taxes, fees, and gratuities, bringing it to $1,147 per person, or around $164 per night.

After 19 cruises with Royal Caribbean, I booked a 7-night Alaska cruise with Princess Cruises, and here’s what I liked better.

Ever since I started cruising, I’ve almost exclusively sailed with Royal Caribbean. Like most cruisers, I tend to stick to the same cruise line in order to rack up loyalty points, which can lead to exclusive benefits like complimentary drinks and private lounge access.

Booking a cruise on a new-to-me cruise line is always exciting, as I never know exactly what to expect. Whether the food, entertainment, or activities, it’s always interesting to see the good and the bad of what other cruise lines have to offer.

I recently returned from my first-ever Princess cruise, a 7-night Alaska sailing on the Royal Princess. Princess Cruises is one of the most popular American cruise lines, and they are most well known for their Alaska itineraries, in which they are a market leader.

Unless you are sailing on a luxury cruise line, your cruise fare is not going to be all-inclusive. 

Outside of complimentary food and beverage options, accommodations, entertainment, and transportation between ports of call, you will be responsible for paying for cruise add-ons. These range from specialty dining experiences to drink packages, shore excursions, spa treatments, and more. 

Some cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises, have begun to roll out different types of fares meant to make your cruise more inclusive. 

With fifteen cruise ships currently in service and two more scheduled for delivery by the end of 2025, Princess Cruises is one of the smaller mainstream cruise lines at sea. The cruise line rose to prominence in part due to the television series The Love Boat, which was a fictional show about the crew and different passengers onboard MS Pacific Princess that ran from 1977 until 1986. 

Princess Cruises will offer several sailings to Alaska in 2023, adding the Sapphire Princess this season, for a total of seven ships.

No matter which Princess ship you pick, each offers onboard activities, signature attractions, and specialty dining options that will be a perfect complement to a vacation to the Last Frontier.

In addition, the cruise line offers a number of add-on tours, giving guests a chance to stay at the cruise line's wilderness lodges and explore the natural beauty and wildlife of the region.

Princess Cruises broke into the cruise industry in 1965 with the debut of the Princess Patricia, the original Princess Cruises Love Boat. 

Since then, they’ve welcomed 38 other ships to their fleet. Today, however, Princess operates a fleet of 15 ships in three different classes – Coral, Grand, and Royal – that sail all over the world, from the Caribbean, to Japan, and even Antarctica. They pride themselves on carrying “more than a million passengers each year to more worldwide destinations than any other major line.” 

Holland America Line and Princess cruises will be requiring guests onboard their ships to wear face masks during sailings to Alaska.

“Out of an abundance of caution due to the rise in positive COVID-19 cases throughout Alaska, all guests will be required to wear face masks at all times while onboard, except when eating or drinking or in their own staterooms,” stated Holland America Line about the recent change.