Positioned as a premium cruise line, Princess Cruises is known for its elegant, relaxing style and destination-rich itineraries in places like Alaska and Europe. The line uniquely blends this classic cruise feel with innovative MedallionClass technology, creating a seamless and personalized vacation experience for travelers. This focus on service and destination immersion defines their approach to helping guests "come back new" from hubs like Ft. Lauderdale and Vancouver.
Princess Cruises was founded in 1965 by Stanley McDonald, initially chartering the Princess Patricia for voyages to the Mexican Riviera. The company quickly established its own fleet, focusing on providing a premium cruise experience from the West Coast. This early focus on upscale service and desirable itineraries laid the groundwork for its future success.
The line's most significant milestone came in 1977 when its ship, the Pacific Princess, became the iconic backdrop for the television show *The Love Boat*. This exposure brought mainstream fame to both the brand and the concept of cruising, making Princess Cruises a household name. Another major step was its 2003 merger with Carnival Corporation, which positioned it as a leading brand within the world's largest cruise company.
Today, Princess Cruises operates a global fleet of fleet_size ships, including modern vessels like the Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess. The line is known for sailing worldwide itineraries to destinations like Alaska and the Caribbean from key departure ports such as Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles. It remains a major player in the premium cruise sector, carrying millions of passengers annually.
Princess Cruises is widely recognized for its iconic role in the television show "The Love Boat," which established its brand as a welcoming and romantic gateway to cruising for millions. This legacy continues today, with Princess offering a premium, mainstream experience that appeals to couples and multi-generational families seeking a classic yet refined voyage. The line balances large-ship amenities with a more relaxed atmosphere, focusing on destination immersion and enrichment over the high-energy, party-centric vibe of some competitors.
Among its most significant features are its destination leadership and groundbreaking technology. Princess is a dominant force in Alaska, offering extensive "Cruisetour" land-and-sea packages that include exclusive rail service and stays at company-owned wilderness lodges. A second key specialty is the line's MedallionClass experience, available across the fleet on ships like the Discovery and Caribbean. This wearable technology streamlines the entire cruise from embarkation to onboard payments and on-demand service, creating a uniquely personalized and seamless vacation departing from major ports like Ft. Lauderdale and Vancouver.
Princess Cruises primarily attracts a mature demographic, consisting largely of couples and solo travelers aged 50 and older who are often retired. While shorter sailings from ports like Los Angeles might see some families, the core passenger base is predominantly North American. These travelers appreciate a more traditional and refined cruising environment.
The typical Princess passenger has a relaxed travel style, prioritizing destination immersion and comfort over high-energy, resort-style activities. They value the classic elements of cruising, including quality dining, enrichment programs, and sophisticated entertainment on ships such as the Discovery Princess or Royal Princess. These cruisers seek enriching itineraries to destinations like Alaska and Europe, often embarking on longer voyages that allow for in-depth exploration.
Christened by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, the Royal Princess is famous for introducing the line's signature SeaWalk. This dramatic glass-bottomed walkway extends 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship, offering incredible views 128 feet above the waves.
As the newest ship in the fleet, Discovery Princess showcases the latest evolution of the Princess MedallionClass experience and elegant design. It primarily sails the line's most popular itineraries, including Alaska from the West Coast and the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles.
The Island Princess is one of two ships in the fleet specifically built with "Panamax" dimensions, meaning it's custom-sized to fit through the historic locks of the Panama Canal. This unique design makes it a celebrated vessel for trans-canal voyages, a signature Princess itinerary.
The Caribbean Princess is notable for being the first ship in the fleet to feature the now-ubiquitous "Movies Under the Stars" giant poolside screen. It remains a workhorse of the fleet, primarily sailing its namesake destination on itineraries from Ft. Lauderdale.
Princess cruise fares typically include your stateroom accommodation, meals in main dining rooms and buffet restaurants, and access to many onboard entertainment options and activities like pools and fitness centers. Drinks other than basic beverages like water, tea, and some juices, as well as specialty dining, usually cost extra.
Princess ships offer a variety of dining options, including traditional main dining rooms with set seating times or anytime dining, casual buffet restaurants, and poolside grills. They also feature specialty restaurants, such as steakhouses or Italian trattorias, which usually require an additional fee and reservations.
Onboard Princess, guests can enjoy a wide array of entertainment, including Broadway-style production shows, live music, comedians, and Movies Under the Stars® at the poolside theater. Activities often include enrichment programs, casino gaming, spa services, and various themed parties.
Princess's cancellation policy varies depending on the cruise length, fare type, and how far in advance the cancellation is made. Generally, penalties increase closer to the sailing date, potentially resulting in a loss of the full cruise fare, so it's crucial to check the specific terms and conditions for your booking.
Princess automatically adds a daily gratuity to your onboard account for crew members, which can also often be prepaid before your cruise. This amount is shared among dining, stateroom, and other hotel service staff, though you can adjust it at Guest Services if service doesn't meet expectations.
For most Princess cruises, infants must be at least 6 months old on the first day of the cruise; for transatlantic, transpacific, and other select voyages, infants must be at least 12 months old. Passengers under 21 must generally be accompanied by an adult over 21 in the same stateroom, though specific policies can vary.
Yes, Princess Cruises can accommodate various special dietary needs, including vegetarian, gluten-free, low-sodium, and diabetic diets, among others. It is best to advise Princess or your travel agent of any dietary requirements at the time of booking, or at least several weeks before sailing, to ensure they can make appropriate arrangements.
Required travel documents for a Princess cruise depend on the itinerary and your nationality. Generally, a valid passport is required for international travel; for some closed-loop cruises (starting and ending in the same U.S. port), U.S. citizens may be able to travel with an original birth certificate and government-issued photo ID, but a passport is always recommended.
Princess operates a fleet of eighteen cruise ships, encompassing five distinct classes. The most seasoned vessel has been sailing for 27 years, and the most recent addition was launched in 2025.
Overall Princess is rather affordable compared to other cruise lines. Princess sailings during the the peak season of summer are considerably more expensive than the low months of winter, spring, and fall. See the diagram below for the average cost per day by month.
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