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All 16 Princess Cruises Ships, From Newest to Oldest

Here’s everything you need to know about the Princess Cruises fleet.

Courtesy of Princess Cruises

Sailors of all ages love Princess Cruises for its quality, service, value, and serene style of cruising.  What’s more, the 2023 T+L World’s Best Award-winning mega-ship line   — which is also a WBA Hall of Fame Honoree — tends to steer clear of splashy entertainment (for example, you won’t find go-karts, water slides, or ziplines on board most ships) in favor of more refined activities. Discovery at SEA programming is a standout offering: In partnership with Discovery and Animal Planet, guests can partake in nature-centric onboard activities and shore excursions. Most Princess ships boast a majestic atrium modeled after an Italian piazza, and it’s here where you’ll find some of the best drinking, dining, and shopping venues on board. 

According to travel advisor and cruise specialist Jennaca Boose of Marvelous Mouse Travels , Princess’ fleet of 15 ships — 16 if you count the upcoming Sun Princess , which will make its long-anticipated debut this year — is family-friendly, and each vessel is “equipped to entertain all ages;” however, some cater towards specific age demographics better than others. For example, she says, travelers sailing with younger children will especially love Royal Princess and Regal Princess , which “have even more to offer” beyond the kids club, such as “outdoor play areas with jungle gyms and a separate teen space with a hot tub.” Meanwhile, says Boose, cruisers craving an intimate onboard experience may consider sailing aboard Coral Princess or Island Princess , which are two of the line’s smaller ships. 

Finally, it’s also worth noting that the line ​​offers dozens, if not hundreds, of itineraries across the globe, including Alaska, Mexico, Japan, the Mediterranean, and many more. “Whether you’re looking for a quick getaway or an immersive cultural itinerary,” says Boose, “Princess has a ship for you.” Without further ado, keep scrolling for a breakdown of each ship in the Princess Cruises fleet to help you narrow down which vessels would be best for you. 

Related: 21 Cruise Tips That Will Help Make Your Trip Even Better, According to Experts

Sun Princess

Inaugural Year: 2024

Ship Class: Sphere

Ship Capacity: 4,300 guests

The inaugural ship in Princess' new Sphere class, Sun Princess is the line's largest — and flashiest — vessel to date. Set to sail the Mediterranean and Caribbean, this 20-deck mega-ship is sure to make waves following its early 2024 debut. The Park19 family zone will offer nine fun-filled activities, including the Sea Breeze (the first Rollglider at sea), The Lookout (an open-air observation deck), and Coastal Climb (a climbing structure for adventure enthusiasts of all ages). There’s also a two-deck arena, the multi-level Dome entertainment space, and the brand-new Spellbound, a Victorian-themed bar where guests can watch magicians while sipping theatrical cocktails.

Discovery Princess

Inaugural Year: 2022

Ship Class: Royal

Ship Capacity: 3,660 guests

For an elegant onboard experience complete with world-class specialty dining that’ll entice any gourmand, spectacular live entertainment in the lavish Princess Theater, and the largest balconies at sea (spanning over 1,000 square feet) found in one of the ship’s splurge-worthy Sky Suites, look no further than Princess’ final Royal-class ship. Spend sea days soaking up the sun — and the ocean views — by the infinity Wake View Pool.

Enchanted Princess

Inaugural Year: 2021

The elegant Enchanted Princess is a haven for relaxation-seekers with four sparkling pools (including the infinity-edge Wake View Pool), 10 hot tubs, and a serene spa offering Asian-inspired treatments. For the ultimate splurge, reserve one of the sprawling Sky Suites, best known for their expansive balconies offering 270-degree sea views. Other honorable mentions include the Sanctuary, Discovery at SEA, movie screenings under the stars, and the SeaWalk, a 60-foot-long glass-enclosed hallway with floor-to-ceiling ocean vistas.

Sky Princess

Inaugural Year: 2019

The snazzy Sky Princess made its grand debut in 2019; fast-forward five years later, and the ship has retained its allure. The three-story atrium is the beating heart of the ship, dotted with shops, bars, and restaurants galore. Check out Chef’s Table Lumiere, or try your luck at the casino for the ultimate splurge. Finally, for the best ocean views, book one of the Sky Suites.

Majestic Princess

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Inaugural Year: 2017

Ship Capacity: 3,560 guests

This Royal-class ship was initially designed for cruises from Shanghai, which means passengers can expect Chinese-inspired decor along with the fantastic specialty restaurant, Harmony, which features mouthwatering Asian menu items like wok-fried lobster, spring rolls, and more. Also unique to Majestic Princess is the adults-only Hollywood Pool Club, a perfect spot for grown-ups looking to soak in style. Meanwhile, don’t miss the dazzling casino and incredible SeaWalk, where panoramic ocean views await.

Regal Princess

Inaugural Year: 2014

This 2014 mega-ship definitely delivers in terms of onboard attractions. A few fan favorites include movies under the stars (best enjoyed with popcorn and candy in hand, of course), original productions, an outdoor musical fountain show, and Princess Live!, where passengers will find interactive culinary shows along with late-night comedy and game shows that can be viewed in-person or from the comfort of one’s stateroom. Last but not least, don’t forget to snap a selfie on the SeaWalk.

Royal Princess

Inaugural Year: 2013

Prepare to receive the royal treatment (pun intended) aboard the 3,560-passenger Royal Princess . The ship’s dazzling common spaces, including the grand atrium and the SeaWalk, are sure to impress design lovers, while the drinking and dining options, including the extravagant Chef’s Table Lumiere — available only on Royal-class ships — will delight culinary connoisseurs of all ages. 

Ruby Princess

Inaugural Year: 2008

Ship Class: Crown

Ship Capacity: 3,080 guests

Entertainment options abound on the 19-deck Ruby Princess , from movies under the stars and basketball to golfing and (hopefully) winning big at the casino. While party-going cruisers can dance ‘til the wee hours of the night at Skywalkers, serenity-seeking travelers may choose to hit the sack early before waking up to enjoy the spa or The Sanctuary.

Emerald Princess

Inaugural Year: 2007

Last refurbished in 2019, Emerald Princess features something for families of all ages, including  reimagined Camp Discovery youth and teen centers and the serene Sanctuary, a kid-free slice of paradise in the middle of the sea. Passengers can also perfect their swing at the putting course, enjoy poolside movie screenings, unwind at one of several swanky bars and lounges, including the Speakeasy Cigar Lounge, hit the spa, or dance the night away at the onboard club. In summary, it’s pretty much impossible to be bored on this ship.

Crown Princess

Inaugural Year: 2006

Despite its 3,000-plus passenger capacity , Crown Princess never feels super crowded thanks to abundant onboard amenities and activities. Highlights include three main dining rooms, a three-story atrium, and, of course, ample activities and programming, which run the gamut from basketball courts and pajama movie nights for kids to karaoke and an onboard nightclub.

Diamond Princess

Inaugural Year: 2004

Ship Class: Grand

Ship Capacity: 2,670 guests 

Best known for its Asia itineraries, Diamond Princess is sure to wow cruisers of all ages with its unique onboard features. Wellness-seekers need not miss the Izumi Japanese Bath, where guests can enjoy a traditional Japanese bathing experience coupled with breathtaking ocean views. There’s also the adults-only Sanctuary sun deck, Broadway-caliber entertainment, ample restaurants (including five main dining rooms), a nightclub, and so much more.

Caribbean Princess

Ship Capacity: 3,140 guests

This massive 18-deck ship was last refurbished in 2019 to bring it up to par with the line’s latest vessels. The European-inspired piazza , boasting street performers, eclectic boutiques, restaurants and bars, and a striking spiral staircase, is the beating heart of the ship. Plus, as part of the line’s partnership with Discovery, guests can enjoy nature-filled activities and lectures.

Sapphire Princess

Ship Capacity: 2,670 guests

Those craving a traditional cruising experience need not look further than the 20-year-old Sapphire Princess . With an onboard nightclub, five main dining rooms (plus many other bars and lounges, including a cigar lounge), this 2,670-passenger ship is among the line’s buzziest. After dancing the night away, adults can spend the day relaxing at The Sanctuary, while families will surely appreciate the dedicated spaces for kids, tweens, and teens.

Island Princess

Inaugural Year: 2003

Ship Class: Coral

Ship Capacity: 2,200 guests

Island Princess was purposefully built to sail through the Panama Canal. This 2,200-guest, 20-plus-year-old ship offers a more refined onboard experience compared to the line’s newer, flashier vessels. Sea days are well spent at the spa, in swimming pools, or sipping cocktails in the massive atriums; come nighttime, watch movies under the stars (a Princess staple) or catch live musical performances before hitting the sack — and getting ready to do it all again the following day.

Coral Princess

Ship Capacity: 2,000 guests 

Coral Princess is Princess’ smallest ship; however, there is still plenty to see, do, and experience on board. Guests can make themselves right at home in the piazza-style grand atrium, where prime people-watching awaits. For some R&R, grown-ups can head to the tranquil, adults-only Sanctuary while the kids are at play at the children’s centers.

Grand Princess

Inaugural Year: 1998

Ship Capacity: 2,600 guests

Princess’ oldest ship underwent a major renovation back in 2019, adding fan-favorite restaurants like Alfredo's Pizzeria, Salty Dog Grill, and Coffee & Cones. Catch a Broadway-style show, relax at The Sanctuary, or partake in nature-centric activities as part of the line’s Discovery at SEA programming.

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Princess Cruises

History, review, itineraries, ships, deck plans, news.

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Princess Cruises fleet

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Princess Cruises is a premium travel brand and a subsidiary company of Carnival Group, making it one of the 10 cruise shipping lines and travel brands owned by currently the world's biggest cruise shipowner - Carnival Corporation . As part of the conglomerate, the Princess brand brings ~20% of the Group's revenue.

Company History and Changes

Princess Cruises (princess.com) was founded in 1965 by Stanley McDonald who chartered the Alaskan ship SS Princess Patricia (1948-built/1995- scrapped , IMO 5284924) for roundtrips to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles during the off-season (winter). In 1967, Princess started to charter the ship MS Italia (1967-built/2012- scrapped , IMO 6513994), which had a modern design, numerous innovations, more spacious upper decks, larger public areas (midship/ by placing the engines aft).

In December 2025, the company celebrates its 60th anniversary.

The new "Princess Italia" again operated the Mexican Riviera from LA (the Princess logo on the funnel was placed for the first time in 1967). In 1969 the ship made its inaugural season in Alaska with roundtrips from San Francisco . When the charter ended (in 1973), Princess chartered the "Carla C" ship (from Costa Cruises ) and unofficially renamed it "Princess Carla".

The company's modern-times history commenced in 1974 when it was acquired by P&O UK. The new owner transferred its "Spirit of London" ship (renamed Sun Princess) and 3 more boats bought from "Flagship Cruises" for the Princess brand - "Sea Venture" (Island Princess), Island Venture (Pacific Princess) and MS Kungsholm (Sea Princess). The first newbuild (specifically for Princess) was Royal Princess (1984, also served Princess under the name "Artemis").

A major company asset is "Princess Tours" (Alaska division acquired in 1986) with 10 luxury railcars for scenic tours of Mt McKinley and daily capacity 700+ passengers. With the acquisition of Sitmar Line (1988), P&O added to the Princess brand 3 more vessels (then under construction) - in 1989 (Star Princess/2021-scrapped as Columbus) and in 1990 (Crown Princess, Regal Princess), plus 2 former Cunard liners (renamed Dawn Princess, Fair Princess) and Sitmar's "Fairsky" ship (renamed Sky Princess).

The "P&O Princess Cruises" company was established in 2000 (October 23rd). It subsequently merged with Carnival Corp in 2003 (April 17th) into "Carnival Corporation & plc". The USD 5,4-billion-dollar merger created the largest cruise shipping company in the world ever , grouping 11 different travel brands as subsidiaries.

Currently, Princess Cruise Lines Ltd (USA) is transferred to Carnival's American division (Holland America Group), but the brand's marketing and sales in the UK are under Carnival plc (aka Carnival UK) which also manages Cunard Line.

The company's current President is John Padgett (assigned in October 2021) who reports directly to Holland America Group's President (Jan Swartz). John Padgett was employed by Carnival Corporation (2014-2021, as Chief Experience and Innovation Officer) and by Walt Disney Parks & Resorts (1996-2014).

The company's other top executives include Terry Thornton (CCO/Chief Commercial Officer), Jim Berra (CMO/Chief Marketing Officer), Carmen Roig (VP of Sales), Vicki Johnson (Senior VP of Communications).

The world's most romantic attention the Princess cruise brand received by the participation of its vessels (first Island and Pacific, later Royal, Sun, and Sea) in the onboard filmed TV-series "The Love Boat" (ABC-aired from 1977 until 1986).

• In May 2018, the cast of "The Love Boat" (ABC TV series run 1977-1986) and Princess Cruises was presented a Hollywood Walk of Fame star plaque. The honorary plaque is located in front of Dolby Theater's main entrance on Hollywood Blvd.
• Following the pilot show (May 5, 1977), the cruise ship-themed series continued for 10 seasons (until May 24, 1986).
• The Princess brand became famous and commonly known as "the Love Boat cruise line". In the series were used the Princess-owned ships Island Princess (2017-scrapped as "Discovery"), Royal Princess (now Artania ) and Sea Princess (2016-scrapped as "Veronica") cruising to exotic destinations around the world.

One of the most famous features of Carnival's Princess brand is its "Personal Choice Cruising" program - an unstructured and individualized approach to the ship vacation travel by the innovative "if you want it - when you want it" concept. The brand's travel style provides an exceptional feeling of choice and flexibility giving passengers the opportunity to customize their vacation in a way that most fits their personal interests and desires. Implemented in the mid-90s (on the Sun-class Princess ships), this unique concept of passengers being in control of their voyages and vacation experiences was realized via multiple shipboard dining venues, flexible entertainment options and affordable balcony staterooms.

Company changes 2024

In April was announced that starting September 14 (2024) fleetwide would be introduced 3 distinct main dining /table service options – Traditional, Reservable, and Walk-in Anytime. On each ship will be allocated 3 separate dining rooms - one for traditional dining (offering early and late dinner seating), one with reservable times, and one for open seating. The new options are integrated with the OceanNow service, allowing anything to be ordered anytime, and delivered anywhere onboard.

Company changes 2023

On March 23, 2023, Princess announced the partnership with Luigi Lavazza SpA (1895-founded, Turin Italy-based manufacturer of coffee products) as the brand’s "Official Coffee Partner". By the deal, Lavazza products and services are offered fleetwide and include coffee-themed dinners, Lavazza-based recipes, educational sessions, coffee tastings/samplings and food pairings.

On June 24, 2023, were announced new onboard "Princess Perfect Weddings" packages and the appointment Randy Fenoli (1964-born American TV host and fashion/bridal designer best known for his TV show "Randy to the Rescue and Say Yes to the Dress") as Princess Cruises' Love and Romance Ambassador. Also was announced that he will host a bridal fashion-themed voyage on Regal Princess (leaving from Galveston TX on Dec 3rd) with signature events like meet & greets and wedding gown consultations. As brand ambassador, Fenoli developed the exclusive "Randy Fenoli Weddings" package.

In October 2023, the company announced a shift in its pricing strategy, ensuring that only early bookings get the best-priced deals possible (by eliminating last-minute cruise booking discounts) and also introduced the Best Price Guarantee and Princess Promotions.

Rail & Sail" (train+cruise) program 2024

In April was introduced the "Rail & Sail" (train+cruise) program providing swift and seamless access to Princess' ships homeported in Florida (Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral/Orlando). The program is via a partnership with Brightline/BLFX (high-speed intercity passenger railway in Florida connecting Miami with Orlando).

The  program significantly reduces pre- and post-cruise travel time compared to conventional road travel options. A Brightline  train with four custom-designed cars displays Princess' signature logo and images of popular call ports. Princess' branding is also prominently displayed within Brightline's five Florida train terminals. 

With the Rail & Sail program was also introduced a luggage express service allowing cruise tourists to check their bags at their Brightline station and find them securely waiting in their stateroom. Princess guests also receive up to 15% discounts when booking "Smart and Premium Rail & Sail" packages through Brightline's website.  Brightline offers Princess cruise passengers access to a comprehensive train schedule (daily departures) providing 16 roundtrip transits between Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.

Brightline's train travel options are two -  Southbound (Orlando to Fort Lauderdale, with stops at West Palm Beach and Boca Raton) and  Northbound (Fort Lauderdale to Orlando, stops at Boca Raton and West Palm Beach). Residents of South Florida can also utilize Brightline's services from downtown Miami and Aventura terminals, with stops in Fort Lauderdale or Orlando.

(NEW) Ship boarding/embarkation system (2023)

On August 1, 2023, Princess Cruises implemented fleetwide a new boarding process aiming to make it easier for tourists to board the ships. As a result, the scheduled arrival times on embarkation day were eliminated.

The new embarkation system requires all passengers to complete the necessary steps (via Princess App) prior to the voyage.

• Green Lane qualified are passengers who have completed all the Travel Checklist's steps and have received their Medallion device by mail (only in the USA and Puerto Rico). Green Lane provides the most streamlined embarkation/fastest boarding. Note: Passengers who are Green Lane-eligible but choose not to have their Medallions shipped to them are classified as Blue Lane.
• Blue Lane qualified are passengers who have completed (some, none or all) Travel Checklist's steps but have opted not to have their Medallions mailed to them. Blue Lane guests still enjoy an expedited check-in but must pick up their Medallion at the cruise terminal.
• Accessibility Lane is for passengers experiencing mobility/accessibility difficulties. They have a separate/dedicated lane for faster check-in, regardless of their color designation.

The new embarkation system no longer requires selecting a specific arrival group time. Instead, guests can arrive within the designated check-in window at a time that suits them. However, Princess Cruises strongly recommends all guests to provide travel arrangement information via OceanReady (MedallionClass app and the Cruise Personalizer). The check-in details can be found in their travel summary.

Since August 2023, the company also improved the Digital Boarding Pass which is available in the Princess app (11 days prior to the ship departure date). The updated boarding pass now includes the deck and stateroom number.

Princess Upgrade (new cabin upgrades program)

In August 2022 was announced the "Princess Upgrade" program that allows passenger cabin upgrades on a regular basis (not as promos) and for all types of staterooms and categories.

The new program was officially launched on September 6, 2022, on just 5x USA-based Princess boats (Caribbean, Discovery, Enchanted, Regal, Ruby). By the end of October (2022) the program was rolled out fleetwide.

"Princess Upgrade" is only for bookings within Final Payment and when the full payment has been made. Then customers receive an invitation to submit a bid on any cabin type and category that is above the currently booked. The bid can be changed or canceled at any time before being accepted.

Shipboard retail shopping

In September 2021, Princess and Harding signed a deal for the entire fleet's onboard retail shopping business to move under Harding’s management.

Harding+ (Bristol UK-based global travel and cruise retail group) in 2020 was acquired by Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP (1983-founded, NYC-based investment management firm with USD 34+ billion in managed assets). Harding has hubs in Bristol (England) , Miami (Florida USA) and Sydney (NSW Australia) .

The existing Princess retail team joined Harding's as part of the transition.

Each of the Princess boats has an onboard shopping arcade named "Shops of Princess".

In April 2016, Princess' owner Carnival Corporation signed a shipbuilding order for 2 new boats scheduled for deliveries in 2019 ( Sky Princess ) and 2020-2021 ( Enchanted Princess ). Sky and Enchanted are 4th and 5th ROYAL-class ships (same-designed as Royal, Regal , Majestic ) all constructed at Monfalcone yard as part of a previous agreement with Fincantieri (shipbuilder). At that time, Carnival Group had a total of 16 shipbuilding orders , with scheduled deliveries between 2016-2020. These 3670-passenger vessels have 80% balconied staterooms and some fleet-first features.

In late-January 2017, Carnival Corporation announced 2 more orders for the fleets of Princess (Royal-class) and Holland America Line (Pinnacle-class). Carnival signed an MoA (memorandum of agreement) with Fincantieri to construct both units, with deliveries in 2021 ( Nieuw Ryndam-Rotterdam for HAL, at Marghera yard) and 2022 ( Discovery Princess , at Monfalcone yard). When both contracts were finalized (February 2017), Carnival Corporation had a total of 19 newbuilds scheduled for deliveries in 2017-2022.

In July 2018 were ordered 2 new-class (larger than Royal-class) liners with GT tonnage/volume 175000 and passenger capacity 4300. These are the fleet's first dual-fuel (MGO and LNG) powered vessels. The contract with Fincantieri (Monfalcone) was signed in March 2019, with scheduled deliveries in 2023 and 2025. Princess in 2018 had 5 newbuilds on order with Fincantieri. The 2023-2025 units were Carnival Group's 10th and 11th LNG-powered ships .

By 2019, during drydock refurbishments (part of the company's USD 450 million fleet renovation program), 45000+ "Princess Luxury Beds" were rolled out fleetwide (to 22000+ staterooms / on all liners). The custom-made "Princess Luxury Bed" implements the latest sleep science technologies and was developed via partnership with Dr. Michael Breus (The Sleep Doctor) and Candice Olson (Canadian designer).

In December 2019, Princess signed with Panasonic Corporation a deal to deliver 4K laser projectors for the entire fleet (first unit was installed on Sky Princess). All liners will be outfitted with Panasonic PT-RQ50KU (4K Laser Projector with Solid Shine technology) to be used for the new 5-Skies production show featuring UHD imagery.

In September 2022 Princess signed with Xponential Fitness Inc (Irvine CA USA-based, 2017-founded company) a 5-year exclusive licensing agreement. Xponential Fitness is currently the world's largest global franchise group of boutique fitness brands. As of 2022, Xponential franchises 10 fitness brands (Club Pilates, pure barre, CycleBar, StretchLAB, Row House, YogaSix, Rumble, AKT Dance, STRIDE Fitness, BFT) and has 2220+ gym studios in 48 American states and 13 countries. The deal with Xponential, together with the partnership with OneSpaWorld (providing gym professionals and wellness staff and services) made Princess the first major cruise company to offer multiple premium fitness brands for personalized and customizable gym/training experiences. During the agreement period (2022-2027), at least 8x Xponential brands are available on each Princess boat (120 licensed gym studios fleetwide).

In 2024 ( Sun Princess ) and 2025 ( Star Princess ) debut the fleet's ever-largest (SPHERE-class) vessels, with GT-tonnage/volume ~175,000 tonnes.

Each boat has 21 floors, 2157 staterooms, and the signature (fleet-first ) facilities The Dome (top-deck entertainment space covered by a glass roof) and Piazza Atrium (3-deck-high, outward-looking midship suspended space with comfortable seating, 360-degree outside views, huge LED screen/movable, to allow live entertainment). Both SPHERE Princess ships also have new for the fleet cabin types - Signature Collection Suites (exclusive access to Signature Restaurant-Lounge & Bar-Sundeck) and Reserve Collection Staterooms (exclusive restaurant).

Princess ships with MedallionNet WiFi Internet

In early-September 2018 was introduced (on Caribbean Princess) Carnival Corporation's OceanMedallion technology - wearable devices allowing passengers access to "virtual concierge" services and amenities, as well as interactive entertainment. The new technology also includes the MedallionNet - (SES Networks-powered) Wi-Fi connectivity via access points installed in all staterooms. Passengers on MedallionClass cruise liners experience land-like Internet connection quality allowing streaming of movies, music, videos, video phone calls, real-time sharing on social media platforms.

All MedallionClass ships (Princess' entire fleet) feature touchless embarkation/disembarkation (homeport), keyless cabin entry, frictionless commerce, contactless capabilities (way-finding, on-demand service delivery), shipboard family and friends locator, interactive entertainment (first-run movies, live TV, events, activities planner).

In 2018, MedallionNet was installed on the Princess liners Caribbean, Regal, Royal and Ruby. In 2019, MedallionNet received the liners Coral (Apr 5), Island (May 15), Crown (Jun 30), Emerald (Aug 3), Sky (Oct 12), Golden (Dec 20). In 2020 were upgraded the liners Grand (Feb 21), Diamond (Mar 15), Majestic (Apr 18), Star (Jun 12), Enchanted (Jun 15) and Sapphire (Jul 27).

In 2021 was introduced "Ocean Sportsbook" (a real-time sports betting option available fleetwide/on all boats) which allows betting on sports like football, basketball, baseball, hockey, cycling, car racing, boxing, martial arts and other competitions.

When the cruise ship is in international waters, passengers can use the MedallionClass app to wager on sports and place bets during live events that occur during the voyage and also place bets on future sports events - that occur after the voyage. With USD 20+ billion in wagers placed with USA's sportsbooks in 2019-2020, online sports betting is expanding and expected to reach USD 155+ billion by 2024.

Ocean Sportsbook is via partnership with Miomni Gaming Ltd (1998-founded software developer) and available on all vessels since 2021. Ocean Sportsbook is part Ocean Casino's digital platform that lets wagers be placed beyond the ship's Casino Lounge (indoor-outdoor venues, sundecks/pool decks, wellness complex, staterooms, etc) on games including slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, bingo, lottery, keno.

In June 2021 the cruise company introduced the industry's first CrewCall. The on-demand service is via the cabin's smart HDTV (and the MedallionClass app) and allows passengers to call a crew (to their current onboard location) for assistance or to request services. The app's "CrewCall Chat" allows texting (via smart devices) a specific question or making requests to the crew member.

Cruisetours / Shore Excursions

Since 2017, Princess Cruises offers "Shore Excursions Best Price Guarantee" for tours in all ports of call. The program was launched fleetwide in Dec 2016 and guarantees if passengers booking through Princess find the same tour/excursion elsewhere at a lower price, they will receive 110% of the difference as non-refundable OBC (onboard credit). In such cases, an email request must be submitted at least 7 days prior to departure (at [email protected]) to be reviewed by the company's Shore Excursion team. Within 2 business days, booked passengers are notified if their request meets the criteria.

• "Best Price Guarantee" applies only to tours/shore excursions that are publicly available (priced online).
• "Best Price Guarantee" applies to all excursions, excepting those in Asia and also excepting private vehicle/driver excursions in all ports.
• Princess Shore Excursions program offers over 4,000 land tours/excursions in 360 destinations and over 150 itineraries.
• "Discovery" and "Animal Planet" themed excursions are also available as part of the new "Discovery at Sea" cruise tour program (via an exclusive partnership with Discovery Communications). These tours are unique, can't be booked independently and are available only through Princess. The program includes over 1,000 such tours worldwide.

The company's most popular/purchased cruise package is "Princess Plus" (cost US$50 per person/per day). The package is inclusive of premium beverages, unlimited WiFi Internet (for 4x devices), selected specialty restaurant dining, digital photos (+ 3x printed/8x10 cm), Princess Prizes, daily crew gratuities.

In 2022 was introduced the "Princess Premier Package" (cost US$75 pp per day) that is inclusive of unlimited WiFi Internet (for 4x devices), premium/top-brand liquors-wines-cocktails-coffees, specialty dining (2x meals per person), digital photos (unlimited, plus 3x printed), crew gratuities.

Princess Alaskan lodges (cruisetour packages)

Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is a 663-room complex located approx 2 km (1 ml) from Denali Park's entrance. The building has an expansive deck overlooking Nenana River and views into the nature park. Accommodations are available exclusively to Princess Cruises customers, offered as optional pre-/post- Alaskan cruise tour packages.

In 2019 (company's 50th year in Alaska), Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge debuted the 180-seat restaurant "Fannie Q's Saloon". The new dining venue serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering locally inspired, authentic dishes (Braised Pork Shoulder, Bison Sliders, Bear-Lard Pie). The modern saloon has indoor and outdoor seating, with live entertainment in the evenings. Outside Fannie Q's Saloon is the Fireside Patio with 3 new BBQ firepits and selling refreshment drinks. Grizzly Burger (formerly Grizzly Bar and Grill) now offers the company's signature "Ernesto" - exclusive ribeye burger created by Ernesto Uchimura (Japanese celebrity chef).

Like outdoor activities, Princess cruise tour passengers can meet mountain climbers (who have conquered Mt Denali) in the Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge (Denali State Park). Outside the lodge, there is a retired airplane.

• Fishing and sledge dog puppies activities are both complimentary. Lodge's Denali show costs USD 20 per person.
• Playing with sledge dog puppies on a cruise ship is probably the last thing one would ever imagine doing. However, it is one of the new activities available on all Princess Cruises Alaska itineraries. The company's "North to Alaska" enrichment program debuted in 2017 and gives passengers the chance to take photos and interact with baby sledge dogs in the ship's Atrium (lobby) area. Dog handlers are on hand to talk about this Alaskan sport.
• The "Puppies in the Piazza" experience is available on all Princess Alaskan cruise ships and roundtrip itineraries. Also new is the chance to taste your own catch of the day for dinner. New fishing excursions allow passengers to select their preferred preparation by ship's culinary team.

During the company's 2018 Alaskan program was inaugurated the custom-designed wilderness treehouse built at Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. The treehouse allows guests to view Mt Denali while enjoying themed activities.

The treehouse was built during Discovery Channel's Animal Planet episode "Treehouse Masters", which premiered in August 2017. It was the first-ever treehouse in Alaska, being designed and built by Pete Nelson. Powered by solar panels, the facility provides Princess cruise ship tourists with a unique "Alaskan land tour" experience. Sized approx 500 ft2 (46 m2), the treehouse can be accessed by hiking the "hill trail loop".

(NEW) Princess cruise gratuities

Since May 21, 2019, the company's daily gratuities (per person/pp) were raised fleetwide as follows:

• USD 14,50 (from $13,50 pp) - interior, oceanview, balcony staterooms, both adults and kids
• USD 15,50 (from $14,50 pp) - mini-suites, Club Class staterooms
• USD 16,50 (from $15,50 pp) - suites

Since January 2023, non-suite passengers pay USD 16 pp per day, while suite passengers pay USD 17-18 (depending on stateroom category).

On ships deployed in Australia and New Zealand, gratuities are not compulsory.

Daily gratuity is an automatic service charge added to the passenger's onboard account each day.

Passengers can prepay gratuities. The amount of gratuities is split between the ship's staff (dining, housekeeping, cabin stewards).

Princess Cruises bear mascot Stanley

Since summer 2017, Princess Cruises ships feature a most special onboard attraction - the company's mascot bear Stanley.

The sensationally cute bear mascot was named in a Facebook contest with over 9,000 entries, Mascot's name honors Stanley McDonald (1920-2014). In 1965 he founded Princess Cruises and expanded it into one of the world's largest cruise ship companies. In 1975, he sold Princess to P&O Cruises (back then named "Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company") and remained its Chairman until 1980.

As the bear fell in love with ship cruising, he decided to skip winter hibernation and became a stowaway. So since 2017 Stanley travels around the world on all Princess ships. Stanley also made "surprise" appearances on the company's "Chinese ship" Majestic Princess in July 2017 during the inaugural festivities in Shanghai China . From China, Stanley the Bear embarked on all Princess itineraries.

During the day, Princess' "cruise ship bear" wears themed apparel, which is tied to the ship's current itinerary destination. On Alaskan cruises that would be his lumberjack outfit. In China, he wears a traditional Tang suit and cap. In Japan, he wears a Yukata outfit. On formal nights, the bear dresses up in the Captain's uniform. The Stanley bear appears on all Princess ships. He interacts with passengers through various entertainment activities with engaging photo opportunities. Stanley also holds storytime hours for kids at the ship's youth facilities.

On the ship, passengers can participate in the daily contest "Where on the ship is Stanley". The mascot is also present on the special Welcome Aboard shows throughout the voyage. Souvenir Stanley bears plush toys are available for purchase in the onboard shopping arcade "Shops of Princess". The toy's price is USD 25. A portion of the proceeds from the toy's sales goes to "Princess Animal Welfare Sponsor".

Princess cruise ship passengers can share their travel adventures with Stanley using the social hashtag #StanleyAtSea.

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021-2022

Due to the COVID pandemic, Princess suspended its fleet's passenger shipping operations by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 12, 2020, through July 2021.

Next are listed Princess Cruises' first departures by ship/homeport - CARIBBEAN (Nov 28, 2021/Fort Lauderdale), CORAL (June 16, 2022/Sydney Australia), CROWN (May 7, 2022/Alaska from Seattle), DIAMOND (September 1, 2022/West Coast USA and Mexico from San Diego), DISCOVERY (March 27, 2022/ Maiden Voyage /Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles), EMERALD (Oct 15, 2021/Panama Canal from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale), ENCHANTED (Nov 10, 2021/ Maiden Voyage /Fort Lauderdale), GRAND (Sept 25, 2021/Los Angeles), ISLAND (April 27, 2022/Panama Canal from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles), MAJESTIC (July 25, 2021/Alaska from Seattle), REGAL (July 31, 2021/Southampton UK cruises to nowhere ), ROYAL (May 2, 2022/Alaska from Vancouver), RUBY (Oct 31, 2021/San Francisco), SAPPHIRE (Sept 24, 2022/Hawaii and Mexico from Los Angeles), SKY (Aug 30, 2021/Southampton UK cruises to nowhere).

• DIAMOND's Asia 2021 program (roundtrips from Yokohama to Korea and Japan) and South America 2022 program (from Buenos Aires Argentina and San Antonio Chile) were canceled.
• MAJESTIC's Alaska 2021 program (from Seattle) was first canceled then scheduled again (July 25 thru Sept 26).
• SAPPHIRE's Australia 2021 program was canceled and replaced with LA roundtrips to Hawaii-Mexico-California Coast.
• CROWN's Panama Canal 2021-2022 winter season (from Fort Lauderdale) was canceled.
• ISLAND's "World Cruise 2022" (112-day roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale) was canceled.
• CORAL's "World Cruise 2022" (108-day roundtrip from Australia/Sydney-Brisbane) was canceled.
• The 2021-built ENCHANTED's entire inaugural Mediterranean 2021 season (July 3 thru Nov 15/departures from Barcelona and Rome, including the Transatlantic crossing Europe-USA) was canceled.
• DISCOVERY's maiden voyage (Nov 3, 2021/Mediterranean from Rome) was rescheduled for March 27, 2022 (Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles).
• Due to Canada's ban, Princess Alaska 2021 program was entirely canceled, affecting the schedules of 6 ships (Grand, Majestic, Royal, Crown, Coral, Emerald).
• The Princess-operated Alaskan wilderness lodges and transportation (trains and buses) remained closed in 2020 and 2021. Because of Canada's extended travel restrictions, Princess canceled all Alaskan, West Coast USA and Hawaii departures from Vancouver and Seattle.
• Due to port closures and international travel uncertainties, Princess's Australia-New Zealand program was canceled through January 27, 2022. Also were canceled "World Cruise 2021" (Island Princess) and "Circle South America Cruise 2021" (Pacific Princess). Travel agents' commissions on all canceled bookings were paid in full.
• Princess UK 2021 summer program (Southampton roundtrips planned for 3 ships /Island, Regal, Sky) was canceled through July.

In late-January 2021, Pacific Princess was sold to Sycamore Partners and left the fleet to join Azamara .

All affected bookings were automatically canceled and received 125% refunds in FCC (future cruise credit) with rebooking, including full (100%) refund on prepurchased through Princess Cruises packages and services. With rebooking, all the money is transferred to FCCs, any itinerary choice (through December 31, 2022). The rebooking bonus is an additional 25% FCC (applied to the fare automatically) that can be used on any itinerary booked by May 1, 2022. A full (100%) monetary refund was offered to all cancellations made by March 31, 2021. All bookings can be canceled up to 48 hours prior departure (previously 72 hours). You will continue to receive FCC for the amount of your cancellation fee.

The FCC is non-refundable, eligible for the revised cancellation terms and can't be used on the same sailing as the original booking. FCCs are automatically be applied to your Captain's Circle profile on the canceled bookings. FCCs are not available instantly (may take up to 30 business days to be processed).

The fleetwide suspension came after two vessels suffered COVID-19 outbreaks - Diamond Princess (in Japan) and Grand Princess (in the USA). All shipboard employees (fleetwide) remained on the vessels. Each ship was planned to visit Princess Cays (Carnival-owned private island resort) once weekly where its crew can disembark and use the facilities.

Itinerary of Princess Cruises

Princess offers cruise travelers the complete package of comfortable accommodations, comprehensive onboard entertainment, options for families with children and, of course, incredible shore excursions. As it was founded in 1965, the Princess Cruises company has been able to refine their itinerary selection, and now you can sail to destinations all over the world with a vast array of diverse itineraries.

The impressive selection presents 160+ itineraries that reach 300+ ports globally, with sailings ranging from 7 to 100+ days on Princess World tours. The list of Princess cruise destinations includes Alaska, Europe-UK, the Caribbean, Bermuda, regular Panama Canal transition cruises (introduced in 1967), Mexican Riviera, South America and Pacific Islands (Hawaii and Tahiti), Asia, Australia-New Zealand, Canada-New England.

A 14-day "Canada and New England" cruisetour (roundtrip from NYC New York ) includes a 7-day Land Tour followed by a 7-day cruising itinerary. The Land Tour starts in Washington DC (hotel overnight), follows bus travel to Mount Vernon Plantation (George Washington), Virginia's Historic Triangle ( Jamestown Settlement and Williamsburg , hotel overnight in Williamsburg VA), Richmond VA (state's capital), Monticello Plantation (Thomas Jefferson), Staunton VA (hotel overnight), Gettysburg PA (hotel overnight), Philadelphia PA (hotel overnight) and ends in NYC (ship embarkation on Day 8). The segment (7-day NYC roundtrip) visits Newport RI , Boston MA , Bar Harbor ME and in Canada - Saint John NB and Halifax NS .

The company's 2024 program in North America features a maiden port - Yorktown (Virginia USA) , visited in the summer of 2024 by two liners - Island Princess and Emerald Princess. Along with Yorktown, tourists also visit Williamsburg and Jamestown - all grouped in the state's Historic Triangle. These voyages offer the unique opportunity for travelers to participate in Virginia's 250th anniversary commemorating the American Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence.

Alaska 2024-2025 ships (deployment/itinerary changes)

Princess Alaska 2024 season is based on 7 ships (Royal, Grand, Sapphire, Discovery, Majestic, Crown, Ruby), 158 departures (14 itineraries), 17 ports/destinations (including 5 glacier viewing experiences), 4 homeports (Vancouver, Anchorage/Whittier AK, Seattle WA, San Francisco CA), 86 Glacier Bay NP visits.

• 3 ships (Royal and Grand departing Wednesdays, Sapphire departing Saturdays) sail the 7-day "Voyage of the Glaciers" featuring 2 glacier-viewing experiences on each trip. In addition, northbound sailings include a "More Ashore" late-night stay in Juneau.
• 2 ships (Discovery and Majestic) sail from Seattle WA on Saturdays and Sundays the 7-day "Inside Passage" itinerary and offer "More Ashore" late-night stays in Juneau.
• Crown Princess (from San Francisco) operates the 11-day "Inside Passage" voyages.
• Ruby Princess (out of Vancouver) operates the 7-day "Inside Passage" voyages visiting Glacier Bay NP.

In honor of the company's 55th anniversary, in 2024 Princess introduces two new cruisetours - "The National Parks Tour" (15-day, 5x national parks, combines a 7-day cruise with scenic rail travel and stays at four Princess-owned wilderness lodges) and "The Katmai National Park Tour" (9-day, bear-watching experience at Katmai NP's Brooks Falls, includes the 7-day "Voyage of the Glaciers" itinerary).

Princess Alaska 2025 season has 3 roundtrip itineraries and the new "National Parks Cruisetour". Also New for 2025 are two roundtrips - the 22-day from San Francisco CA (Ruby Princess, coinciding with Summer Solstice 2025) and the 17-day from Seattle WA (Grand Princess, with 3 days of scenic glacier cruising). Also new is the 16-day roundtrip "Inside Passage Cruise" from Los Angeles CA (Grand Princess).

The 2024-introduced National Parks Cruisetour offers a 15-night vacation visiting five Alaskan national parks and nature reserves - Glacier Bay NP, Denali NP, Wrangell-St. Elias NP, Kenai Fjords NP, and Klondike Gold Rush NP. The unique travel experience combines a 7-day "Voyage of the Glaciers" cruise with scenic rail travel, and multiple days on land, including stays at 4x Princess-owned wilderness lodges.

The 2024-introduced "Katmai National Park Cruisetour" (9-day) groups an overnight in Anchorage (2-night hotel stay) with the 7-day "Voyage of the Glaciers" itinerary visiting Glacier Bay NP and College Fjord or Hubbard Glacier. Priced from US$2430 per person, the new Alaskan cruisetour also includes domestic flights (to and from Katmai NP) and all land transfers.

Princess Alaska 2025 program is based on 7 ships (including Caribbean Princess (for the first time), 5 homeports (including Los Angeles), 21 destinations, 4 glacier-viewing experiences (88 Glacier Bay NP visits), itineraries ranging from 4 to 22 days:

The 22-day "Ultimate Alaska Solstice with Glacier Bay National Park" roundtrip from San Francisco (Ruby Princess) departs June 6th, 2025.

The 17-day "Ultimate Alaska with Glacier Bay National Park" roundtrip from Seattle (Grand Princess) departs May 6th, 2025.

The 16-day "Inside Passage with Glacier Bay National Park" roundtrip from Los Angeles (Grand Princess) departs August 30th, 2025.

The 7-day "Voyage of the Glaciers" itinerary visits Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and two glacier-viewing destinations (Glacier Bay NP and Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord). Princess ships Caribbean, Coral, and Sapphire offer weekly northbound and southbound departures from Vancouver Canda to Anchorage/Whittier USA and vice versa. The itinerary is operated between May 10th and September 13th, 2025.

The signature 7-day "Inside Passage Cruise " (roundtrips from Seattle and Vancouver) and the 11-day itinerary (roundtrip from San Francisco and Vancouver) include 4 call ports and a day of glacier viewing. All Inside Passage cruises visit Glacier Bay NP.

The ships Discovery and Royal sail from Seattle weekly (May 4-Sept 21, 2025), Grand Princess departs weekly from Vancouver (May 27-Aug 19, 2025), Ruby Princess sails 11-day roundtrips from San Francisco (May 4-Sept 13, 2025).

Three "Alaska Samplers" itineraries (4 to 5 days) offer short breaks to Alaska with the ships Discovery, Royal and Grand. They offer 4-day sailings between Vancouver and Seattle stopping in Ketchikan (departures April 30th, May 13th, May 23rd, 2025). Caribbean Princess sails 4-day roundtrip from Vancouver visiting Ketchikan (Sept 13th) and a 5-day roundtrip from Vancouver stopping in Sitka and Ketchikan (May 5th).

The Alaskan 2025 schedule has 26 cruisetours, including Denali Explorer, On Your Own, Connoisseur Deluxe Escorted, and Off the Beaten Path. The Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service ensures a seamless transition between the ship in Whittier and the Denali area on the same day. Two Alaskan lodges (Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, and Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge) provide unique perspectives for experiencing North America's tallest mountain.

Europe 2024-2025-2026 itineraries (Mediterranean-Baltic-Iceland-Greenland-UK-USA-Transatlantic)

Princess Cruises Europe 2024 season (February to December) is based on 5 ships (Sun, Sky, Island, Regal, Caribbean), a total of 162 departures, and 85 different itineraries visiting 130 destinations in 34 countries.

• Sun Princess operates the 10-day "Grand Mediterranean" and Western Grand Mediterranean voyages (departing from homeports Barcelona or Civitavecchia-Rome ) and 7-day "Mediterranean" voyages (departing from Civitavecchia, Barcelona or Piraeus-Athens ).
• Island Princess offers 10-day Mediterranean voyages combinable into 20-day B2Bs/back-to-backs , including 10-day Holy Land voyages to the Eastern Mediterranean visiting Israel.
• Regal Princess operates 12-day "British Isles" voyages out of Southampton-London . The Sky Princess ship is also homeported in Southampton-London, for various 5- to 31-day itineraries visiting Iceland and Norway, Spain's Canary Islands. A 31-day Transatlantic crossing visits Canada and New England USA.
• Caribbean Princess is deployed in Northern Europe and homeported in London. The ex-UK itineraries include Norway's Arctic Circle (Search for Northern Lights Voyage), as well as a 16-day Iceland and Greenland. Caribbean Princess and Sky Princess will also spend the Summer Solstice at the top of the world on 14- or 16-day "Land of the Midnight Sun" and "Summer Solstice" itineraries.

Princess Cruises' all 5 European liners in spring and fall offer Transatlantic voyages (RepositionCruises.com) between Europe and the USA - Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale (Florida) , Galveston (Texas) , or NYC (New York) and Barcelona, London, or Civitavechia-Rome.

A total of four cruisetours (cruise+land packages) offer more "shore time" for visiting popular tourist sites with expert guides, hotel stays, and traditional regional cuisine. These are titled "Highlights of Spain", "Classic Italy", "Ring of Kerry", and "Best of Greece".

UK and Europe 2026 itineraries

In May 2024, Princess announced its biggest European season to date planned for 2026, with a fleet of 5 ships and a total of 222 voyages.

Running March through November (2026), the program groups 59 unique itineraries, 101 destinations (29 countries), voyages ranging from 5 to 42 nights. The schedule lists the new Sun Princess ship , roundtrips from Copenhagen Denmark , and new itineraries from Civitavecchia-Rome . 

Sun Princess offers 7-, 14-, and 21-night Mediterranean voyages from Civitavecchia, Piraeus-Athens , and  Barcelona . Longer voyages (Grand Mediterranean Adventure) are B2Bs without repeating ports. 

The Sky Princess ship returns to Europe for a 6th year (homeporting in Southampton) offering from 7 to 28 nights Northern Europe, the Canary Islands, and Mediterranean itineraries. Among the new offerings is a 28-night "Northern Europe and Mediterranean" itinerary (roundtrip from Southampton) visiting ports like Skagen ,  Copenhagen ,  Stockholm ,  Helsinki , and  Zeebrugge .

Also making a European debut in 2026 is the Enchanted Princess ship , offering Mediterranean roundtrips from Civitavecchia (5 to 14 nights).

The Majestic Princess ship is homeported in Southampton and scheduled to visit destinations in the British Isles and Northern Europe.

In 2026, Princess returns to Copenhagen (after 6 years) the Sapphire Princess ship , offering 12-night Northern European itineraries.

The company offers 5 unique cruisetours, combining European voyages with extended land tours, including visits to Madrid, Florence, Rome, and destinations in Greece, and Ireland.

Europe 2026 program also features Grand Adventures and Passages, and all the 5 ships has scheduled Transatlantic crossings (RepositionCruises.com) ranging from 14 to 29 nights.

Itineraries 2024-2025 Mexico, California Coast, Hawaii, Tahiti

Los Angeles ’ hometown cruise line Princess is further cementing its West Coast USA heritage with the newly released fall 2024 thru spring 2025 season.

Featuring 75+ voyages visiting Hawaii, Mexico, and the California Coast from 3 convenient homeports - San Francisco CA , Seattle WA , and Los Angeles - West Coast USA voyages are now open for booking.

West Coast USA 2024-2025 season features 75+ voyages (21 different itineraries) visiting 28 destinations (7 countries), 4 ships (Discovery, Grand, Majestic, Ruby) and roundtrip departures from 3 homeports (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle).

Discovery Princess sails 7-day Mexican Riviera voyages visiting Mazatlan , Puerto Vallarta , and Cabo San Lucas .

Weeklong California Coast cruises (Discovery Princess) visit San Diego , Santa Barbara , and more.

Grand Princess and Majestic Princess operate 10-day Baja Peninsula & Sea of Cortez itineraries.

Grand Princess' 16-day roundtrips from LA to the Hawaiian Islands visit the Big Island/Hawaii, Kauai , Maui , and Oahu .

Grand Princess and Sapphire Princess have longer (32- and 33-day) Transpacific itineraries to the South Pacific and the Hawaiian Islands (RepositionCruises.com), also visiting Tahiti isles.

The San Francisco-homeported Ruby Princess offers roundtrips to Hawaii, Mexico, California and Pacific Northwest USA. The liner also offers a 16-day "Hawaiian Islands" roundtrip from Vancouver BC Canada .

Majestic Princess operates the Classic California Coast itinerary out of Seattle. The 11-day roundtrip visits San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Diego (late-night stay).

Itineraries 2024-2025-2026 Americas, Australia and New Zealand

The company's 2024-2025 South Pacific (Australia and New Zealand) schedule also lists the longest world voyage ever to sail from Australia. The program is based on 3 liners: Royal and Crown (both homeported in Sydney NSW ) and Diamond (alternating between Brisbane - Melbourne ). It offers visiting 14 countries across 112 departures and 72 itineraries.

Crown Princess ship's "World Cruise 2025" is the longest-ever leaving from Australia. It visits 25+ UNESCO sites and features 8 late-night port stays. The ex-Australia itinerary continues to Southeast Asia, then via Suez Canal to Europe (Mediterranean and Northern Europe), follows a Panama Canal transit , then via the South Pacific back to Australia. The voyage also includes 9 maiden for Princess ports.

The AU-NZ program is based on 7 homeport cities, including Hobart (Tasmania) which is a departure port for Princess for the first time. Other departure ports are Adelaide , Auckland NZ , Fremantle/Perth .

There are also two relocation voyages between Australia- Japan/Tokyo (RepositionCruises.com) with stops in Hong Kong China, Tawain, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines.

Out of Sydney NSW are offered 13- to 15-night long roundtrips to South Pacific islands.

Princess' Australia 2025-2026 summer season was initially based on 3 ships (Crown and Discovery/from Sydney, and Grand/from Brisbane). Grand Princess' winter 2025-2026 (October-April) deployment in Australia-New Zealand was canceled in 2024 (May) and replaced with 7-day Southern Caribbean itineraries leaving roundtrip from San Juan Puerto Rico .

South America & Antarctica 2024-2025-2026 Itineraries

Sapphire Princess embarkя on 4 journeys to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands , Elephant Island , Antarctic Sound, and Gerlache Strait. The Sapphire ship also visits South American destinations, accompanied by the fleetmate Majestic Princess .

Season 2024-2025 boasts 15 departures, 11 distinct itineraries, 26 destinations, 14 countries. A 17-day Antarctic voyage (roundtrip from Buenos Aires ) offers an overnight stay in Argentina's capital.

The 51-day "South America Grand Adventure" on Majestic Princess ( Los Angeles  to  Fort Lauderdale ) includes overnight stays in Callao/Lima , Buenos Aires, and  Rio de Janeiro .

Highlights 2024-2025 season include:

• Antarctica – 17 days – Four Voyages (Buenos Aires roundtrip s) to Antarctica (four days of cruising, visits Elephant Island, Antarctic Sound, Gerlache Strait), departures in December 2024 and January 2025.
• Cape Horn & Strait of Magellan – 14 or 15 days – Four Voyages ( Cape Horn Strait of Magellan ), departures in December 2024 and February 2025.
• Andes & South America – 18 days – Two Voyages: Discover the Andes and South America's beauty, featuring visits to  Puerto Vallarta , Lima, and other destinations. Departures in December 2024 and March 2025.
• Brazilian Adventure – 18 days – Two Voyages, departures in November 2024 and January 2025.
• Grand Adventures – 32-51 days – Five Voyages, departures in December 2024 and March 2025.

Passengers also have the option to enhance their voyage with two cruisetours:

• Iguazu Falls Adventure: Immerse in the grandeur of the world's largest waterfall system, Iguazú Falls, and explore the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro.
• Machu Picchu Explorer: Embark on a train journey through picturesque valleys to the ancient marvel of  Machu Picchu , coupled with a tour of historic Cusco.

Princess 2025-2026 South America & Antarctica program (November 2025-January 2026, ship  Sapphire Princess ) groups diverse 5 unique itineraries (7 departures) visiting 20 destinations across 11 countries.

The program's highlights are:

• Antarctica Adventures: Enjoy 17-day cruises featuring 4 days exploring Antarctica, including a special festive voyage celebrating Christmas and New Year's at sea with an overnight stay in Buenos Aires.
• Cape Horn & Strait of Magellan: Experience a 16-day journey with scenic cruising past the Amalia Glacier and an overnight in Buenos Aires.
• Ultimate Adventure: Embark on a 53-day voyage from Los Angeles to Buenos Aires, with overnight stops in Lima (Callao) and Buenos Aires, connecting South America and Antarctica.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Visit 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Lima's Historic Centre and the Church of Atlantida in Montevideo.

Caribbean 2025-2026 Itineraries

In 2025, in the Caribbean will be deployed the fleet's latest  and  largest ships of the SPHERE class - Sun Princess  and  Star Princess . Homeported in Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale Florida , both liners offer 7-day roundtrips to Eastern and Western Caribbean destinations.

Both sisterships start service in Europe/Mediterranean - Sun Princess in February (2025), followed by Star Princess in August (2025).

Princess Cruises' 2025-2026 itinerary program encompasses 278 voyages across the USA, Caribbean, Mexico, and Pacific Islands.

The program features a Mexican Riviera cruise (Royal Princess) celebrating the company's 60th anniversary (brand's inaugural cruise started in December 1965 on SS Princess Patricia ship).

Sky Princess will be the first ROYAL-class liner homeported in Port Canaveral/Orlando Florida , offering 8-day Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings, as well as 6-day roundtrips to the Eastern Caribbean.

The Caribbean deployment (also including the ships Caribbean ,  Emerald ,  Enchanted ,  Island ,  Majestic ,  Regal , and  Sapphire ) encompasses 29 ports/destinations in 22 countries, and 178 departures with 25 different itineraries (ranging from 4 to 20 days).

Japan 2025 Itineraries

Princess Cruises' 2025 Japan season (March through August) groups 35 voyages (durations between 7- and 22 days) scheduled for the ship Diamond Princess homeported in Tokyo (Yokohama) .

The program offers visits to 36 different destinations (across three countries) with key highlights:

• Spring Flowers Voyages: These 10-day and newly introduced 11-day cruises in March and April cover Japan's four main islands, following the predicted blooming season from south to north.
• Southern Islands Itineraries: Featuring 9 days of exploration with two stops in the Okinawan islands and two calls to Taiwan, including a return to  Hualien .
• Sea of Japan Voyages: These 9-day and 10-day voyages trace the historic Kitamaebune trading route, showcasing various ports along the way.
• Hokkaido Voyages: The 10-day cruises include visits to  Otaru (for Sapporo) ,  Hakodate , and  Kushiro .
• Japan Explorer Voyages: Covering iconic destinations such as  Shimizu  (for Mt. Fuji),  Osaka or Kobe  (for Kyoto),  Hiroshima , and more in a 10-day itinerary.
• Scenic Cruising: Passengers have the opportunity to experience the picturesque Kanmon Straits, the waterway separating Honshu and Kyushu.

Additionally, Princess' Japan 2025 season coincides with several traditional summer festivals, including the Aomori Nebuta Festival, Kochi Yosakoi Dance Festival, Tokushima Awa Dance Festival, and Kumano Fireworks Festival in August. Guests can revel in the unique festivities during their voyage.

To enhance the shore experience, Princess is offering late-night and overnight port stays allowing tourists to immerse themselves in the local culture and lifestyle. The lists includes four late-night "More Ashore" ports - Aomori  (for Nebuta Festival),  Kochi (for Yosakoi Festival), Shimizu (for Mt Fuji) and Tokushima  (for Awa Odori Festival).

For travelers seeking a more comprehensive exploration of Japan, Princess Cruises offers the Japan Cruisetour option. This includes a combination of a cruise and a land tour, allowing guests to delve deeper into the cultural treasures of Kyoto and Tokyo. Highlights of the tour include visits to Kyoto's intricate gardens, Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, bustling Tokyo, and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mt. Fuji, with breathtaking views from Togendai and Lake Ashi.

Fleet deployment/concise review

Princess cruises panama canal itineraries.

Princess was the first line to cruise through Panama Canal locks - back in 1967. Caribbean Princess was the first big-sized liner to pass through the new Agua Clara locks in 2017. Regular crossings are scheduled for the liner Emerald Princess (maiden season in 2019) which passes through the Agua Clara Locks (canal's Atlantic side) and the Cocoli Locks (canal's Pacific side). The new locks were opened in June 2016, as part of a 10-year, USD 5,4 billion "Neo-Panamax" canal expansion.

Princess Panama Canal program is based on 5 ships, with 10- to 21-day itineraries also visiting ports in Mexico, Caribbean, Central-South America. Each Princess cruise ship transit of the Panama Canal features live narration (from the Navigation Bridge) and a day of scenic sailing through Gatun Lake. Full transits additionally feature coastal cruising (wildlife and rainforests) along Panama and Costa Rica, as well as top-rated Caribbean beaches.

Australia and New Zealand itineraries

Princess' 2022-2023 Australia and New Zealand season is based on 4 ships - Majestic Princess and Royal Princess (from Sydney NSW ), Grand Princess from Melbourne , Coral Princess from Brisbane .

The program features 121 departures, 68 different ports/islands in 14 countries, 76 itineraries (ranging 2- to 36 days).

• homeports Adelaide , Auckland , Brisbane, Melbourne, Fremantle-Perth , Sydney.
• 10- to 19-day NZ itineraries roundtrip from Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney.
• Circumnavigation of Australia (roundtrips) visiting Cairns ( Great Barrier Reef ) and Kuri Bay ( Kimberley) .
• 5- to 10-day Tasmania (roundtrip from Brisbane or Sydney)
• 7- to 14-day Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef (roundtrips from Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney)
• 4 Transpacific Crossings (RepositionCruises.com) between North America and Australia in fall 2022-spring 2023 on Grand Princess and Majestic Princess
• 35-day "Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific" roundtrips from Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney
• (Royal Princess) 12- to 20-day "Asia and Australia" voyages (August 2022/from Hong Kong to Sydney) and 16-to 18-day from Sydney to Hong Kong (March 2023).

Princess AU & NZ 2022-2023 program offers 8 ports/islands with late-night departures, 10 UNESCO sites (including Tasmanian Wilderness, Greater Blue Mountains, Te Wahipounamu), 2 optional cruisetours (Australian Outback, Ultimate Australia) visiting Uluru’s Ayers Rock and the Great Barrier Reef.

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Grand Princess® Cruise Ship

Expect the extraordinary as you step aboard and discover the captivating possibilities, all true to her name.

• Inaugural Cruise: May 26, 1998
• Christener: Olivia de Havilland
• Guest Cabins: 1,301
• Number of Decks: 17
• Tonnage: 107,517
• Length: 949 feet
• Height: 188 feet

With top deck dining venues, Slice Pizzeria, The Mix, Salty Dog Grill and Coffee & Cones you’ll have even more options to choose from during your stay on board Grand Princess. Relax at The Sanctuary, a tranquil haven reserved for adults, enjoy Movies Under the Stars® poolside or see an award-winning Broadway-style production show in the Princess Theater, showcasing an even more immersive audio experience.

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Make your vacation truly yours on a Princess MedallionClass® cruise that features next-level technology, now on all ships. Enjoy fast, reliable Wi-Fi, TrulyTouchless™ experiences, food and drinks delivered wherever you are and so much more.

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Accommodations

From the moment you step aboard, we want you to feel welcomed and right at home. And with attentive service from a friendly staff that knows what hospitality means, you’ll find your Princess® ship truly is your home away from home.

Photos, floor plan diagrams, amenities, and furnishings represent typical arrangements and may vary by ship and stateroom.

Truly Luxurious Accommodations at Sea

Mini-suite with exclusive vip touches, add an element of luxury to your stay, front row seat for beautiful scenery, a room with a view, our most affordable option, perfect for large groups, for guests with limited mobility, dining options.

Indulge your appetite whenever you wish on board Princess®. Every hour, our chefs are busy baking, grilling and sautéing great-tasting fare from scratch. Princess offers unparalleled inclusive dining options throughout the ship with a wide range of culinary delights to suit any palate, from endless buffet choice to gourmet pizza, frosty treats, decadent desserts and much more. 1

Dine My Way℠

Dine when, how and where you like.

A (Seafood) Fan Favorite Returns!

Alfredo’s Pizzeria

Hand-tossed pizza, hot out of the oven.

International Café

Sip and snack around the clock.

Horizon Court

An ever-changing selection of favorites.

The Salty Dog Grill

Coffee & Cones

Specialty dining.

Dining on board a Princess® cruise ship is a joyful celebration and our specialty restaurants always deliver an extraordinary experience. They are among the best at sea – or anywhere. We serve dishes made with the freshest ingredients, and our menus reflect regional flavors from around the world. You'll find our specialty restaurants are the perfect place to celebrate any occasion. 1

Timeless Steakhouse Traditions

Exclusive glimpse into the princess kitchen, wines from around the world, a private breakfast with a view.

On every Princess ship, you'll find so many ways to play, day or night. Explore The Shops of Princess, celebrate cultures at our Festivals of the World or learn a new talent — our onboard activities will keep you engaged every moment of your cruise vacation. 1

Discovery at SEA Programs

Discover even more with discovery™.

Vegas Style Casino

For novices, casual players, or high rollers.

Take a Stroll into the European-style Piazza

The Shops of Princess

Tax and duty-free shopping.

Art Gallery & Auctions

Art lovers rejoice—enjoy exquisite art aboard.

Photo Gallery

Take home a unique photo keepsake.

Freshwater Pools & Hot Tubs

Soak in a world of relaxation.

Sports Court

Get in the game with a variety of activities.

Princess Links

Practice your putt and play like a champion.

MedallionNet® Wi-Fi

The best wi-fi at sea.

Afternoon Tea

Celebration of tasty teas and divine desserts, entertainment.

Original musicals, dazzling magic shows, feature films, top comedians and nightclubs that get your feet movin’ and groovin’. There’s something happening around every corner; luckily, you have a whole cruise of days and nights to experience it all. 1

Movies Under the Stars®

A reel treat day or night.

Original Musical Productions

Great venues large and small.

Music & Dancing

Dazzling entertainment every day and night.

Featured Guest Entertainers

At night, the stars shine bright on our stages.

Princess Theater

Broadway-style productions at sea.

Vista Show Lounge

Sip cocktails and watch top entertainment.

Explorers Lounge

One of the ship’s coolest hangouts.

A Prime Spot for Party-minded People

Joyful rejuvenation.

Revitalize and refresh body, mind and soul with Princess®. From rejuvenating spa treatments and the tranquility of a top-deck retreat reserved just for adults to our state-of-the-art fitness centers, you’ll find all the elements to come back new.

Experience the Ultimate Night of Sleep at Sea

Relax in a tranquil retreat just for adults, go ahead, be pampered – you deserve it, a host of ways to get an energizing workout, kids, teens & family.

From family-friendly stateroom options to enriching youth and family programs, quality time is time well spent. Onboard activities spark curiosity and fuel creativity while excursions ashore engage and inspire!

Explore the Treehouse

Step into the lodge, hang out in the beach house, quality time together.

1 Activities, dining and entertainment options vary by ship and are subject to change. Photos represent typical arrangements and may vary in detail or configuration.

Princess Cruises Fleet

Princess cruise line ship fleet information. Cruisedeckplans.com shows the different classes of ships in the Princess fleet. On this page you can also compare features and dining options for each Princess ship. You will find daily service charge information, number of cabins, and gross tons for each ship. You can CLICK ON any ship to go to the ship page for that ship. Check out our unique stateroom capacity trend chart showing the changes in the size of the Princess cruise line ship fleet over the past few years. Check out our Master Ship List . You can filter and sort by cruise line or ship.

CLICK on a ship below to go to the ship decks and cabins page. Princess Cruises has 17 ships in the fleet. You can filter the Princess fleet by ship class using the box below. Typically Princess Cruises will build or buy several ships sharing similar features. They define the different types of ships as classes. Ships of the same class may be almost identical to each other.

Caribbean Princess

CLASS: Grand Tons 113k Built 2004 Cabins 1569

Coral Princess

CLASS: Sun2 Tons 92k Built 2002 Cabins 1000

Crown Princess

CLASS: Crown Tons 114k Built 2006 Cabins 1531

Diamond Princess

CLASS: Grand Tons 116k Built 2004 Cabins 1353

Discovery Princess

CLASS: Royal Tons 141k Built 2022 Cabins 1834

Emerald Princess

CLASS: Crown Tons 114k Built 2007 Cabins 1533

Enchanted Princess

CLASS: Royal Tons 141k Built 2020 Cabins 1834

Grand Princess

CLASS: Grand Tons 108k Built 1998 Cabins 1301

Island Princess

CLASS: Sun2 Tons 92k Built 2003 Cabins 1107

Majestic Princess

CLASS: Royal Tons 141k Built 2017 Cabins 1780

Regal Princess

CLASS: Royal Tons 142k Built 2014 Cabins 1780

Royal Princess III

CLASS: Royal Tons 143k Built 2013 Cabins 1780

Ruby Princess

CLASS: Crown Tons 114k Built 2008 Cabins 1530

Sapphire Princess

CLASS: Grand Tons 116k Built 2004 Cabins 1339

Sky Princess

CLASS: Royal Tons 141k Built 2019 Cabins 1834

Star Princess

CLASS: Sphere Tons 176k Built 2025 Cabins 2162

Sun Princess

CLASS: Sphere Tons 176k Built 2024 Cabins 2162

About Princess Cruises

One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises first set sail in 1965 with a single ship cruising to Mexico. Today, the line has grown to become the third largest cruise line in the world, renowned for innovative ships, an array of onboard options, and an environment of exceptional customer service. No matter where Princess ships sail, passengers enjoy warm and gracious service in an atmosphere of comfortable elegance. Princess crew members are dedicated to providing exceptional service to ensure guests can escape the everyday with an unforgettable vacation. Public spaces on Princess ships are designed to feel intimate, even on the largest vessels, and feature contemporary decor, allowing passengers to enjoy themselves in an informal, relaxed onboard atmosphere that mirrors today's lifestyles. Princess operates under the umbrella of Carnival Cruise Lines.

SELLING POINTS: Princess Cruise Line is best known from the Love Boat TV show. Princess offers excellent dining experience, outstanding shows, adult only outside lounge area. The ships are beautiful. You will find large outdoor movie screen and hot tubs. Check out the International Cafe for good coffee and food at any time during the day. If you have a balcony or suite, be sure to try the ultimate balcony dining option. Princess was also one of the first Cruise Lines to offer the Chef's Table dining experience.

Stateroom Capacity Trend Chart

Watch growth and decline rates. Rapid growth may lead to quality and service issues.

Princess Cruises Ship Features

The following is a listing of some of the features that Princess Cruises offers. You can use the search box to filter the ships. You can also click on the columns to sort the table.

Princess Cruises Specialty Dining

Alfredos pizzeria, catch by rudi, crown grill, harmony chinese restaurant, international cafe, sterling steakhouse.

CRUISEDECKPLANS.COM Use the input buttons above to go to the main page for a Cruise Ship or Cruise Line.

Princess Cruises Ships by Size, Age and Class (2022)

Princess Cruises has an active fleet of fifteen cruise ships with a further two ships on order (due 2023 and 2025).

In this guide, we will cover all the different ships in the Princess Cruises fleet and how they compare to each other.

Introduction to Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is an American cruise line which is part of the Carnival Corporation and sister to other brands such as Cunard Line , P&O Cruises and Holland America Line .

Its headquarters are based in Santa Clarita, California, however, some marketing activities are also carried out at Carnival House in Southampton, England.

The company itself was made famous by the television series, The Love Boat, however, it was founded in 1965 when Stanley McDonald chartered the original ship Princess Patricia to sail Mexican Riveria cruises when traditionally the ship would have been laid up for the winter.

Eventually, P&O Cruises acquired Princess in 1974, at that point the line had two ships – Island Princess and Pacific Princess .

Much later on, in 2003 when Carnival acquired P&O Princess Cruises (as it was then called) Carnival transferred operations of Princess Cruises over to America back from the UK.

Princess Cruises operate cruises worldwide – with many of their ships offering Alaskan itineraries and more recently several more of their ships now sailing from Southampton to Northern Europe, the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean.

Princess Cruises Ships Frequently Asked Questions

What is the newest princess cruise ship.

Discovery Princess is the latest Princess cruise ship, she took her maiden voyage in March 2022

What is the oldest Princess cruise ship?

Grand Princess is currently the oldest Princess cruise ship. She was delivered in 1998.

What is the biggest Princess cruise ship?

Discovery Princess is the biggest Princess cruise ship. She is 145,000 GRT and can carry 3,660 passengers. Her sister Enchanted Princess is identical in size.

What is the smallest Princess cruise ship?

Coral Princess is the smallest Princess cruise ship. She weighs 91,627 GRT and can carry 2,000 passengers.

Where are the Princess cruise ships registered?

All of the Princess cruise ships are registered in the Bahamas. (Bermuda)

Can you smoke on Princess cruise ships?

You can only smoke in the designated areas on Princess ships. This is usually some bars, an area on the outside deck and various other venues. Smoking is not allowed on your balcony, in cafes or in restaurants.

How many Princess cruise ships are there?

There are fifteen Princess cruise ships currently in the fleet, with a further two ships on order.

Who owns Princess cruise ships?

Carnival Corporation owns Princess Cruises. It was originally part of P&O Cruises (who Carnival also now own).

Where do Princess cruise ships dock in Australia?

Princess cruise ships commonly dock in Sydney, Australia. More specifically they dock at the White Bay Cruise Terminal of the Overseas Passenger Terminal (Circular Quay West). Princess also sails out of Melbourne.

Which Princess ships go to Alaska?

Discovery Princess , Sapphire Princess , Majestic Princess and Crown Princess regularly sail to Alaska.

Are Carnival and Princess the same company?

Yes. Carnival Corporation is the parent company of Princess Cruises. Carnival Cruises is a brand of Carnival Corporation!

Princess Cruises Ships by Size (from largest to smallest)

What does ‘tonnage (grt)’ mean.

GRT (Gross Registered Tonnage) is a term used to calculate the volume inside a ship. It is a measure of cubic capacity and is calculated by the total volume from inside the hull and decks of the ship. 1 GRT = 100 cubic feet of space. In essence, the bigger the GRT – the more ‘space’ the ship has for passengers, cargo, etc.

How are ‘Passengers (Max)’ calculated?

You’ll see multiple numbers for passengers on ships – this is because many ships include extra beds in cabins (such as the sofa/couch can convert to a pull-out bed) – but the majority of cabins usually have 2 people in them. the ‘Max’ number is if every cabin used their additional pull-out bed, etc. This number is unlikely to be reached very frequently.

Princess Cruises Ships by Age (from newest to oldest)

Are all of princess cruises ships new builds.

Yes. All of the Princess ships are built specifically for the line. However, two of the design classes (Grand-class and Royal-class) have been used across sister brand P&O Cruises .

These include:

• Ventura and Azura for P&O Cruises (Grand-class)
• Britannia for P&O Cruises (Royal-class)

Princess Cruises Ships by Class (from newest to oldest)

Final thoughts.

Princess Cruises is a family-friendly cruise line with a reputation for great service and beautiful looking ships. Out of all the Carnival brands, Princess generally is first with new technologies (such as the Sea Medallion – a small device you wear that allows you to enter your cabin, pay for services and locate your family anywhere on the ship).

Princess has proved very popular in their Alaskan itineraries and also cruises from Australia and New Zealand. Recently, they have been offering near year-round cruises from Southampton over multiple ships as the market for new cruisers hots up in Europe.

Enjoyed this guide? Try reading about MSC Cruises , Disney Cruise Line , Royal Caribbean or Cunard Line !

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Sky Princess

Debuted in October 2019, Sky Princess can accommodate 3,660 passengers and 1,346 crew members. With so much space, you'll find plenty of things to do on board. Spend your days playing ball at the sports court or swimming in one of three pools, or shop until you drop at the onboard boutiques. Nightfall brings deck parties, movie screenings under the stars and live performances at the theater by musicians, comedians and magicians. Kids won't be bored, either, as there are clubs designed specifically for three different age groups.

Sky Princess features traditional Interior, Oceanview and Balcony staterooms, as well as a number of Suite-category cabins – some of which are equipped with the largest balconies at sea. Every room comes fitted with a queen-sized bed or two twin beds, a refrigerator, a flat-screen TV and complimentary 24-hour room service.  The biggest accommodation on board are the Sky Suites. They are approximately 1,873 square feet and provide guests with 270-degree panorama views while cruising. The suite also comes with additional amenities such as complimentary balcony breakfast and dinner, luxury balcony furniture and a deluxe telescope for stargazing at night. 

When it's time to chow down, cruisers will have their choice of nine inclusive dining venues and five specialty options. In the main dining room, passengers can choose between a set dinner time every evening or the line's Anytime Dining option, which will allow them to dine whenever – and with whomever – they want. You'll also find a complimentary buffet, a pizzeria, a seafood bar, a gelateria and afternoon tea. For a specialty dining experience, consider the intimate Chef's Table Lumiere or Bistro Sur La Mer by Emmanuel Renaut, a three-starred Michelin chef.

Sky Princess sails throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe and the Mediterranean. The ship also completes some transatlantic sailings.

Regal Princess

Unique features – including a glass walkway extending 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship – make Regal Princess stand out among competitors. Guests can expect quality service on the 3,560-passenger, 1,346-crew-member ship, which debuted in 2014 and was most recently updated in 2017.

Regal Princess offers plenty of onboard activities, from an indoor driving range to a photography studio to educational programming through Discovery at SEA events. While adults sip cocktails at one of the onboard lounges, kids and teens can enjoy age-appropriate youth clubs. Come mealtime, the whole gang can choose between the main dining rooms, a number of specialty restaurants (including Sabatini's Italian venue) and multiple laid-back eateries.

All cabins come appointed with minifridges and flat-screen TVs. While Interior cabins measure between 158 and 162 square feet, larger Balcony staterooms occupy 214 to 222 square feet. The ship also features Mini-Suite category cabins, which offer two flat-screen TVs, bathtubs and furnished balconies. Each guest aboard Regal Princess receives an OceanMedallion wearable device to unlock his or her stateroom, make onboard payments, track down friends and family and more.

Regal Princess sails to Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and beyond.

Grand Princess

First launched in 1998, the 2,600-passenger Grand Princess underwent a renovation in March 2019 that added new top-deck dining venues like Alfredo's Pizzeria, Salty Dog Grill and Coffee & Cones. The Princess Theater was also refreshed to provide a more immersive audio experience. Other onboard amenities include the adults-only Sanctuary, duty-free boutiques and educational programs through the Discovery of SEA program.

The ship houses numerous dining venues, including one main dining room, two specialty venues and a variety of casual eateries serving classics like burgers and pizza. Come nightfall, passengers can enjoy cocktails at their pick of lounges.

The recently refurbished accommodations are outfitted with amenities like flat-screen TVs and minifridges. Though only 76% of exterior cabins offer private balconies – a lower percentage than other ships in the fleet – guests describe cabins as comfortable and spacious. Plus, thanks to a nearly 2-to-1 guest-to-crew ratio (the ship features 1,150 crew members), past cruisers describe the onboard service as attentive and friendly. What's more, each guest aboard Grand Princess receives an OceanMedallion wearable device to unlock his or her stateroom, make onboard payments, track down friends and family and more.

Grand Princess sails to destinations worldwide, including Alaska, Hawaii , Australia, the California coast and the South Pacific.

Royal Princess

Like its sister ship,  Regal Princess , unique features like a top-deck pool and the SeaWalk (a glass-paneled walkway that stretches 28 feet beyond the ship's edge) make Royal Princess stand out among competitors.

The 3,560-passenger ship debuted in 2013 and was last refurbished in December 2018. Onboard activities include an indoor driving range, duty-free boutiques and educational programming through Discovery at SEA. Younger passengers can participate in age-appropriate youth clubs while adults play games in the casino or sip cocktails at one of multiple lounges.

When it's time to dine, passengers can choose from the main dining rooms, six specialty restaurants or several casual eateries. In terms of lodging, all cabins are appointed with minifridges and flat-screen TVs. While Interior cabins measure between 158 and 162 square feet, larger Balcony staterooms offer 214 to 222 square feet. Each guest aboard Royal Princess receives an OceanMedallion wearable device to unlock his or her stateroom, make onboard payments, track down friends and family and more.

Royal Princess offers itineraries throughout Alaska, Canada, California, Mexico, Asia, Australia, Hawaii and the South Pacific.

Enchanted Princess

The 3,660-passenger, 1,346-crew member Enchanted Princess made its debut in November 2021. Part of the cruise line's MedallionClass, the ship features new technology and each cruiser is given an OceanMedallion wearable device. Cruisers can expect things like keyless cabin entry, contactless boarding, speedy Wi-Fi access (for a fee), food and drink delivery to anywhere on the ship and more.

With one main dining room, several casual eateries and four specialty dining venues – ranging from Italian to steak – guests will have no problem finding suitable spots to eat. As for entertainment, the Enchanted Princess offers musical productions, movie screenings under the stars, comedians, singers, magic acts, a casino, bars and more. Daytime activities might include playing a game of basketball or volleyball at the sports courts, relaxing in two deep tank pools and several hot tubs, or indulging in spa treatments at the Lotus Spa. The ship also has kids club offerings for youths ages 3 to 17.

When it comes to cabins, all Enchanted Princess staterooms are outfitted with flat-panel televisions, desks and minifridges. The lowest (and most affordable) cabin class, Interior, ranges from 158 to 162 square feet, while the roomiest option, Sky Suite, sprawls across 1,873 square feet of space. Several stateroom options also include balconies.

The Enchanted Princess is expected to sail around Mexico, the Caribbean, northern Europe and Canada and New England on its upcoming voyages.

Discovery Princess

The newest ship in the Princess fleet, Discovery Princess launched in March 2022. The ship is equipped with Princess Cruises' signature MedallionClass technology, which allows cruisers access to Wi-Fi, touchless experiences (such as contactless payment) and food and beverage delivery anywhere on the ship. Discovery Princess holds 3,660 passengers and 1,346 crew members. Overall, the new ship gets positive reviews from recent cruisers, with many complimenting the staff and the modern, clean spaces.

Cabins range from interior rooms and ocean view accommodations (158 to 172 square feet) to balcony cabins and suites (214 to 1,873 square feet). There are a variety of dining options on board as well, serving everything from pizza and American classics to sushi and seafood. Specialty dining venues include the French Bistro Sur La Mer, Sabatini's Italian Trattoria, The Salty Dog Gastropub and Crown Grill steakhouse. Or, for an extra special experience, enjoy a meal on your balcony or snag a reservation for a multicourse dinner at the Chef's Table Lumiere. (Note: Specialty venues incur an additional fee and some require reservations.) When it comes to entertainment, Discovery Princess boasts a casino, a show lounge, a jazz club and a theater that puts on Broadway-style shows.

Other amenities cruisers can enjoy on this ship include several pools, movies under the stars, a spa and an art gallery. Meanwhile, traveling families will appreciate the kids clubs, which offer programming and activities for youths ages 3 to 17.

The only major complaint from recent cruisers was that the internet connection was fairly slow and sporadic.

Discovery Princess sails mostly in California, Mexico and Alaska, with stops at ports like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico , and Juneau, Alaska .

Ruby Princess

With offerings like movie screenings beneath the stars and massages at the adults-only Sanctuary, Ruby Princess is a good choice for couples. Debuted in 2008, the ship was most recently refurbished in October 2018 to add top-deck dining options like Slice Pizzeria and Coffee & Cones. Ruby Princess holds 1,200 crew members and 3,080 guests.

In terms of lodging, 80% of exterior cabins are appointed with balconies, and all rooms come equipped with flat-screen TVs and minifridges. While Interior cabins range from 158 to 162 square feet, Balcony category cabins offer more space and Pullman beds to accommodate extra guests. Each guest aboard Ruby Princess will receive an OceanMedallion wearable device to unlock his or her stateroom, make onboard payments, track down friends and family and more.

Reviewers are complimentary of the ship's onboard programming and amenities. Activities include a nine-hole putting course, duty-free shopping boutiques and enrichment opportunities through the Discovery at SEA program. Dining is just as diverse, with a total of eight venues to choose from. Come nightfall, travelers can try their luck at the casino, see a show in the theater or dance until the wee hours at the top-deck nightclub.

Ruby Princess offers itineraries in California, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and more.

Crown Princess

Debuted in 2006 and last refurbished in April 2018, the 3,080-passenger Crown Princess features some megaship amenities like a casino, a kids clubs and a 300-square-foot poolside theater. The ship also features quiet nooks, like a library and the Sanctuary (an adults-only area that requires an extra fee). Updates for 2018 included new luxury beds in every room, new dining venues and an upgraded spa. 

Past cruisers were satisfied with the ship's relaxing atmosphere, describing public areas as pleasant and rarely overcrowded. Another main selling point for previous guests is the ship's versatile dining choices. Cruisers can choose from seven eateries, including the main dining room and three informal restaurants. For specialty dining, guests can choose between Italian at Sabatini's, or steak at Crown Grill or burgers at The Salty Dog Gastropub.

In terms of lodging, 80% of Crown Princess' exterior cabins feature private balconies. All staterooms are appointed with minifridges and satellite TVs, but guests who opt for Mini-Suite and Suite cabins can enjoy extra amenities like bathtubs, multiple TVs and 57-square-foot balconies. The Reserve Collection cabins feature all the amenities of Mini-Suites, plus access to an exclusive dining venue with expanded menu options, priority boarding and a complimentary one-time wine setup. What's more, each guest aboard Crown Princess now receives an OceanMedallion wearable device to unlock his or her stateroom, make onboard payments, track down friends and family and more.

Crown Princess cruises through Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Australia, Mexico and the California coast.

Majestic Princess

Welcoming 3,560 guests and 1,346 crew members, Majestic Princess touts new features not available on any other Princess ship, including two specialty restaurants with dinner menus created by Michelin-starred chefs. Beyond the ship's specialty restaurants, passengers can dine in three main dining rooms and grab snacks and beverages at a handful of casual eateries, including lobster and wok-style noodles.

Similar to the rest of the Princess fleet, this ship houses the Lotus Spa, a casino, a fitness center, a sports and pool deck, and the SeaWalk – a glass-paneled walkway that stretches 28 feet beyond the ship's edge. Majestic Princess also features several bars, lounges and theaters. One of the ship's most noteworthy performances is the Watercolor Fantasy Show, a choreographed water show set to music.

Majestic Princess offers a variety of lodging types, with Interior cabins measuring between 158 and 162 square feet and Suites spanning 323 to 1,500 square feet. Though cabin sizes vary, all feature flat-screen TVs, minifridges and desks. 

This ship sails to destinations in Alaska, Australia, Mexico, California, Hawaii  and the South Pacific.

Caribbean Princess

Launched in 2004, the 3,140-passenger Caribbean Princess was last refurbished in May 2019, which updated the ship's staterooms, added new dining options, reimagined the Reef Splash Zone for kids and more. Grown-ups will enjoy the adults-only Sanctuary, where they can sip craft cocktails in private cabanas.

Guests can choose from a variety of dining venues, including a main dining room, a fresh marketplace, a pizzeria, two specialty restaurants and more. Lodging options are just as varied; travelers have the choice of Interior, Oceanview, Balcony, Mini-Suite, Club Class and Suite category staterooms. Standard amenities include minifridges, flat-screen TVs and refreshed decor, and more than half of the exterior cabins offer balconies. 

Onboard activities and entertainment range from sports courts and mini-golf to more enriching pursuits, like educational programs in partnership with Discovery Communications. Thanks to the ship's 1,200 crew members, Caribbean Princess ensures that service is a priority. What's more, each guest on all Caribbean Princess sailings now receives an OceanMedallion wearable device to unlock his or her stateroom, make onboard payments, track down friends and family and more.

Caribbean Princess departs from a variety of ports for sailings in the Caribbean, Canada, New England, Mexico and Europe.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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List of Princess Cruise Ships Newest to Oldest

Listed below is every cruise ship with Princess Cruises in order from newest to oldest.  This list will be updated as new ships are added to the fleet.  So feel free to bookmark this page to stay up to date on the newest ships.

Future Princess Cruise Ships:

Star Princess will enter service in 2025 and will be the cruise line’s second Sphere class ship. The vessel will be powered by LNG.

Below is the complete list of current Princess ships from newest to oldest.

Sun Princess (2024)

Sun Princess is the cruise line’s first Sphere class ship debuting in February 2024. It is the largest class of ships in Princess’ fleet at more than 175,000 gross tons and can carry 4,300 passengers. It is the first Princess cruise ship to be powered by LNG.

Discovery Princess (2022)

This ship enjoyed her maiden voyage in March of 2022 out of Los Angeles.  The 6th Royal class vessel is 1,080 feet long with a gross tonnage of 145,000 and a capacity of 3,660 passengers.

Enchanted Princess (2021)

The fifth Royal Class ship with the cruise line, Enchanted Princess had its maiden voyage in November of 2021.  The vessel is 1,082 feet long with a gross tonnage of 145,281.

Sky Princess (2019)

Sky Princess is the 4th Royal-class ship with the cruise line and is the 2nd ship to sail under this name in Princess Cruise Line’s history.    The 145,281 ton ship is 1,080 feet long and has a double capacity of 3,660 passengers.

Majestic Princess (2017)

Majestic Princess debuted as the third Royal Class ship in 2017.  The 143,000 ton ship is one foot longer than Royal Princess at 1,083 feet.  The cruise ship was originally built to sail around China but now sails to Alaska in the summer and from Australia during the winter months.

Regal Princess (2014)

The 2nd Royal Class ship with Princess, Regal Princess is a 139,000 ton vessel which was launched in 2014.  The ship has a guest capacity of 3,560.  Read a review of Regal Princess here .

Royal Princess (2013)

When first launched in 2013, Royal Princess was the largest ship in the fleet.  The 142,229 ton ship was the first Royal Class ship with the line and is able to carry 3,600 passengers.  See our Royal Princess review and video tour .

Ruby Princess (2008)

Before the arrival of Royal Princess, Ruby Princess was the largest ship in the fleet.  Debuting in 2008, Ruby Princess is a 113,561 ton ship and is part of the Grand class.  Passenger capacity is 3,080.  See our Ruby Princess review here .

Emerald Princess (2007)

Emerald Princess debuted in 2007 as a 113,561 ton ship.  With a capacity of 3,114, the ship was refurbished in 2015.

Crown Princess (2006)

Debuting in 2006, Crown Princess is a 113,000 ton ship in the Crown Class that has a capacity of 3,080 guests.

Diamond Princess (2004)

Formerly a Gem Class ship in 2004 when it was launched, Diamond Princess is a 115,875 ton Grand Class ship that has a guest capacity of 2,670.

Caribbean Princess (2004)

As a modified Grand Class cruise ship Caribbean Princess is marginally larger than other ships in her class.  The 113,00 ton ship was launched in 2004 and has a capacity of 3,142 guests.  See our impressions of Caribbean Princess here .

Sapphire Princess (2004)

Sapphire Princess is a Crown Class cruise ship which debuted in 2004.  The 113,000 ton ship has a capacity of 3,080.

Island Princess (2003)

Island Princess is a Coral Class ship and the sister ship of Coral Princess.  The 91,627 ton ship was launched in 2003 and has a guest capacity of 2,214.

Coral Princess (2002)

Having debuted in 2002, Coral Princess is a 91,627 ton ship with a capacity of 1,970.  This is the sister ship to Island Princess.

Grand Princess (1998)

At the time Grand Princess was built in 1998 she was the most expensive and largest cruise ship in the world.  The Grand class ship is a 107,517 ton ship with a capacity of 3,100.

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Cruises Altered Due to Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean

Royal caribbean’s newest cruise ship heads to north america for the first time, cruise ship enters dry dock to transition to new cruise line, newest cruise ship specialty restaurant finally opens, $70 cheaper than originally announced, related articles, first impressions of sun princess, newest cruise ship from princess cruises, why i can’t wait to cruise on sun princess, next new ship from princess cruises, princess cruises alaska review: what i loved about the cruise and ship.

Majestic, Sun, Sea, the old Dawn, Sapphire, Ruby next month, next year Island and Regal. Years ago wouldn’t have thought I would cruise so much.

Been on Majestic, Pacific, Coral, Sapphire, Emerald, Golden, Royal, Ruby, Sea, Grand and Crown. Sky in December. Twenty -three cruises on Princess, but who’s counting?

Sky Princess sets sail shortly. Then the Enchanted Princess.

I’ve been on the Diamond, Caribbean, Ruby x4, next up Star next week, then Grand next year, and Coral in 2021

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The 4 classes of Princess Cruises ships, explained

Of the seven big cruise lines that account for the majority of cruises taken by North Americans, Princess Cruises has the simplest fleet.

The vast majority of the line's 16 ships fall into one of just two groups, known as "classes" in cruise industry lingo: The Royal Class and the Grand Class.

Each of these two groups is made up of ships that were constructed around the same time to the same basic design. If you know one member of the group, you know them all.

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In total, the Princess fleet has six Royal Class ships and seven Grand Class ships, and the line operates just three ships that are not part of these two groups: Sun Princess , Coral Princess and Island Princess.

Sun Princess is the line's newest and biggest vessel, and the sole ship in the line's new Sphere Class of vessels. Coral Princess and Island Princess are the line's oldest and smallest vessels and part of what's called the Coral Class.

An introduction to Princess Cruises ships

Princess downsized its fleet considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic with the removal of five ships. But it's still the world's fifth-biggest cruise line by passenger capacity, with 16 vessels that together offer roughly 50,000 berths.

In general, Princess operates big ships. But they're not quite as big as the vessels operated by Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises — the two lines best known for giant ships. The biggest Princess vessel, the line's new Sun Princess, measures around 177,000 tons. That's about 29% smaller than the biggest ship operated by Royal Caribbean. The line's Royal Class vessels are more than 40% smaller than the biggest Royal Caribbean ships.

Sun Princess is, without a doubt, the belle of the ball in the Princess fleet. Newer, bigger and more venue-filled than the line's other ships, it debuted in early 2024 and carries 4,300 passengers at double occupancy.

Also relatively new and chock-full of lots of venus are the line's five Royal Class ships, which measure between 142,229 and 145,281 tons. These vessels began rolling out in 2013 and carry about 3,600 passengers apiece at double occupancy.

Still, the biggest cohort of ships in the Princess fleet are its seven Grand Class vessels. Unveiled between 1998 and 2008, the vessels in this class are smaller than the Royal Class vessels at around 107,000 to 116,000 tons in size. This smaller size allows them to operate a wider range of itineraries than the Royal Class ships. However, they're still big enough to offer a lot of onboard venues. The Grand Class ships carry between 2,600 to 3,100 passengers at double occupancy.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises

Rounding out the Princess fleet are its two Coral Class ships which, at around 92,000 tons, are the smallest of the line's ships. They each carry around 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.

Sphere Class

Ships in class: Sun Princess (2024); Star Princess (2025)

Size: 177,882 tons

The Sphere Class is just starting to debut at Princess — for now, just one of the ships is sailing. But it's already making waves as a class of Princess ships that's a significant evolution from what came before.

Notably, the one ship in the series so far, Sun Princess, is more lively, more kid-friendly and offers more dining, drinking and entertainment options than any other Princess ship at sea.

That's in part because Sun Princess is a much bigger ship than is typical for Princess, giving it room for more venues. At 177,882 tons, it's a whopping 21% bigger than the next biggest Princess ship and nearly double the size of the line's smallest ships.

Related: TPG's take on the new Sun Princess

It also carries far more passengers than earlier Princess ships — 4,300 at double occupancy and 5,189 with every berth filled.

In short, if you're in the "bigger is better" camp when it comes to cruise ships, this is the Princess ship for you.

Among the most significant differences between Sun Princess and earlier Princess ships is that it has a far more diverse array of eateries — a conscious effort by the line to offer its customers more options.

In addition to the two specialty restaurants found on almost every Princess ship (the Crown Grill steakhouse and Sabatini's Italian Trattoria), Sun Princess is home to the Butcher's Block by Dario, a new meat-focused grill designed in partnership with celebrity Italian butcher Dario Cecchini (if you've seen Netflix's "Chef's Table," you know who he is).

Related: New Princess ship is serving breakfast for dinner

It also has three new Asian dining options: Makoto Ocean, a sushi eatery designed by James Beard Foundation honoree Makoto Okuwa; teppanyaki-serving Umai Teppanyaki; and hot pot venue Umai Hot Pot (the latter two outlets share the same space). There's also a new restaurant called Love by Britto, designed in partnership with artist Romero Britto, and a version of The Catch by Rudi, a seafood restaurant designed by Princess head of culinary arts Rudi Sodamin that is on a handful of Princess vessels.

The wider range of eateries is complemented by the most diverse array of entertainment venues ever on a Princess ship. They include an innovative main theater that can be reconfigured three ways for performances; a secondary performance venue for comedy shows and karaoke nights; a central atrium that houses musical performances, game shows and other lively events throughout the day; and a covered-by-a-glass-dome nightspot atop the ship rigged for aerial shows.

In addition, Sun Princess is home to a clubby, magic-infused nightspot called Spellbound by Magic Castle, which is a first-of-its-kind venue at sea. Open to just 90 passengers a night (who pay for the exclusive access; the cost currently is $149 per person), it's a floating version of Magic Castle, the iconic, private club for magicians and their guests in Los Angeles.

Related: My strange night out at Princess Cruises' new magic-infused nightspot

Sun Princess also has a large family-friendly play zone on its top deck called Park19, a first for a Princess ship. Park19's marquee attraction is Sea Breeze, a hang gliding-like ride experience; it also features a ropes course and a climbing wall.

The vessel is also the first Princess ship with a separate suite complex aimed at the growing number of big-ship-loving vacationers willing to pay big bucks to be pampered while at sea.

Royal Class

Ships in class: Discovery Princess (2022); Enchanted Princess (2020); Sky Princess (2019); Majestic Princess (2017); Regal Princess (2014); Royal Princess (2013)

Size: 142,229 to 145,281 tons

The six Royal Class ships in the Princess fleet aren't as big as Sun Princess. But they're still significantly bigger than the rest of the line's vessels and, like Sun Princess, offer more of everything — more lounge space, more restaurants, more bars and more entertainment — than you'll find across most Princess ships.

On the Royal Class ships, you'll find all of the things for which Princess is known: lively, piazza-like central atriums surrounded by bars and restaurants that serve as central gathering points; lots of entertainment venues for live shows, comedy acts and more; and relatively uncluttered pool decks with lots of space for sunning.

You'll also find some "extras" not found on the other ships including, on some of the vessels, a glass-floored "seawalk" that extends over the side of the ship.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Princess ship

Each of the Royal Class ships has at least half a dozen eateries, including main restaurants and a casual buffet where meals are included in the fare. Extra-charge restaurants on the vessels include versions of the line's signature steakhouse, Crown Grill, and Italian restaurant, Sabatini's.

Some of the ships also have the seafood restaurant The Catch by Rudi that is on Sun Princess, serving up the likes of Dover sole, mussels Provencale and lobster. Plus, you'll find pizzerias on the vessels and the gourmet hot dog- and taco-serving Salty Dog Grill.

Royal Class ships also have some of Princess' most elaborate spas with large thermal suites. If you're a spa lover, you'll revel in the hydrotherapy pools, Turkish-style steam baths and other spa features found on these vessels.

The most recent vessels in the series — Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess — also have more suites than is typical for Princess, which has never been known for high-end accommodations (though not as many suites as you'll find on Sun Princess). If you're looking to live it up on a Princess cruise, these three ships as well as Sun Princess probably are the ships for you.

Sky Princess, notably, was the first Princess ship ever to have truly big suites — a pair of so-called Sky Suites that measure more than 1,800 square feet and lord over the main pool area. They were also the first cabins at the line that could accommodate more than four people. With two bedrooms plus a living room with a pullout sofa, they're designed for up to five people.

As noted above, the Royal Class ships can carry about 3,600 passengers apiece, based on double occupancy (two people per cabin). However, it's possible you'll find even more people than that on these ships when you sail on them. When additional berths from pull-down bunks and pull-out sofas are factored in, the total capacity of the ships jumps to around 4,600 passengers.

In case you're curious, the name of the Royal Class series ties to the godmother of the initial Royal Class vessel. Dubbed Royal Princess, it was famously christened by a royal, the U.K.'s Catherine, Princess of Wales (known as the Duchess of Cambridge at the time). The cruise line's first Royal Princess, which debuted in 1984, was christened by Diana, Princess of Wales.

Grand Class

Ships in class: Ruby Princess (2008); Emerald Princess (2007); Crown Princess (2006); Caribbean Princess (2004); Sapphire Princess (2004); Diamond Princess (2004); Grand Princess (1998)

Size: 107,517 to 115,875 tons

The Grand Class ships have long been at the core of the Princess fleet, and they continue to be highly popular with Princess fans. About 20% smaller, on average, than the line's Royal Class ships, the seven vessels in the series offer a more intimate feel than the Royal Class ships while still being big enough to offer a lot of features and activities.

Like the Royal Class ships, the Grand Class vessels have interiors that revolve around lively, piazza-like atriums with cafes that serve as central gathering places. They also have big theaters that are home to production shows, comedy clubs and multiple restaurants and bars spread across their interiors.

On their top decks, they feature lots of quiet and relaxing pool and lounge areas where you can enjoy the experience of being at sea without a lot of hustle and bustle — a notable difference from the vibe on a lot of big ships at competing lines.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess cabins and suites

Indeed, what you won't find on the Grand Class ships (or any Princess ship other than the new Sun Princess, for that matter) are a lot of family-focused deck-top attractions. Unlike many of its competitors in the big-ship market — most notably Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises — Princess hasn't been known to load up the tops of its vessels with sprawling water parks, go-kart tracks, laser tag courses and other flashy diversions.

Compared to most of its big ship-operating rivals, Princess is known for a more serene, almost "old school" sort of cruising that isn't about a lot of attractions.

While all of the Grand Class ships are roughly similar, you'll find a fair amount of variation from ship to ship, as they were built in clusters with some design changes along the way.

Among the biggest differences is that the three oldest of the Grand Class vessels — Grand Princess, Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess — each have one fewer deck than the rest of the ships in the class.

You'll also find some variation in restaurant choices on the seven Grand Class vessels. All have a signature Princess steakhouse (either called Crown Grill or Sterling Steakhouse), and a Sabatini's Italian eatery. But two of the ships — Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess — also have a gastropub called Salty Dog that isn't found on the other vessels. Some of the vessels have a seafood outlet called Steamers.

In addition, one of the Grand Class ships — Diamond Princess — has been specially overhauled to appeal to the Japanese market with extensive Japanese baths, a sushi restaurant and cabin bathrooms retrofitted with Japanese-style bidets. This ship often sails around Japan on voyages that target the local market, but also Americans and Australians.

Three of the Grand Class ships — Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess and Caribbean Princess — have more elaborate spas than the others with thermal suites. Additionally, one of the vessels, Caribbean Princess, features a family-focused pool deck with a splash pool — a nod to family vacationers that's unique among ships in the class. As a result, Caribbean Princess makes for a top choice for Princess fans who will be cruising with small children.

Coral Class

Ships in class: Island Princess (2003); Coral Princess (2002)

Size: 91,627 tons

The Coral Class ships are even smaller than the Grand Class ships — about 15% to 20% smaller — and have a more cozy feel. Because of their smaller size, they also have somewhat fewer features and amenities than the ships in the other Princess classes.

In general, these are ships that appeal to cruisers looking for a more intimate experience on a cruise than what you'll find on the big Royal Class ships. They also draw cruisers who care more about the destinations that they visit on a cruise than onboard attractions.

Along those lines, Princess often deploys the Coral Class ships on its more far-flung, destination-rich itineraries, including lengthy around-the-world cruises.

For the coming year, for instance, Island Princess is sailing a 116-day world cruise out of Los Angeles (starting Jan. 20, 2025) and will also offer lengthy trips to the Arctic and the Baltic.

Related: Everything to know about the Princess Captain's Circle loyalty program

Coral Princess will spend much of the coming year based in the Australian ports of Sydney and Brisbane for sailings to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. These sorts of itineraries mostly draw local Australians, but Americans are welcome, too. Coral Princess will also sail a 110-day, around-the-world voyage out of Sydney that will begin April 30.

As is typical for Princess ships, both Coral Class vessels have a restaurant scene that revolves around main restaurants, a casual pool deck buffet, a steakhouse (in this case, one with a New Orleans theme called Bayou Cafe and Steakhouse) and an Italian eatery called Sabatini's.

The casual pool deck buffet on each of the ships is, notably, located at the bow, which allows for great views over the water and what some Princess fans say is a better flow than buffets located further back on pool decks.

Entertainment venues on the ships include a relatively large main theater for production shows, secondary lounges that offer comedy shows and other entertainment, and a casino. Like other Princess ships, the top decks of the vessels are mostly devoted to pool areas with hot tubs and lounge chairs. Both ships also have spas.

Bottom line

The Princess fleet is relatively easy to understand. There are just four types of ships in the Princess fleet and for the most part, they aren't wildly different from each other.

Princess believes strongly in offering a consistent product from ship to ship, and it generally doesn't make revolutionary changes with each class of vessels it unveils (though the newest Sphere Class has relatively more differences from earlier classes). The big difference among the line's four classes of ships is the size of the vessels in the classes. If you're a fan of big ships, you'll want to gravitate to the new Sphere Class and Royal Class vessels. If you like your cruise ships more intimate, you'll probably want book the Grand Class or Coral Class vessels.

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Princess Cruises currently has a fleet of 15 cruise ships in service in 2024 with more under construction. If you’re planning a Princess cruise and are wondering about the older and newer ships and which is the best, then you should find this article useful.

List of Princess Cruises Ships By Age

As one of America’s most beloved cruise lines, Princess Cruises introduced a generation of kids and adult’s to the idea of a cruise vacation from watching, The Love Boat TV Show.

Princess Cruises, a name synonymous with elegance, adventure, and world-class hospitality.  Offering cruise travelers a MedallionClass® experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. The line features multicourse meals to remember, Broadway-style shows, comedy acts and bands, and comfortable staterooms featuring the Princess Luxury Bed. As they promise, The Love Boat® promises something for everyone.

Princess Cruises has been a leader in Alaska cruises and been a part of Alaska’s incredible journey, showcasing its natural beauty and cultural richness to millions of travelers from around the globe. A Princess cruise in Alaska allows you access to the untamed beauty from the comfort of world-class ships, exclusive rail service and Princess Wilderness Lodges near national parks. We hope you enjoy our comprehensive list of Princess Cruises ships:

Star Princess – 2025 *

Star Princess will be the second ship in the Sun Class and will make her debut in 2025. She is actually the third ship to the hold the Star Princess name and will be the second Princess Cruises ship that will be powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). She will also offer more than 29 bars & restaurants to her guests onboard.

Sun Princess – 2024 *

Sun Princess is the first ship in the incredible new Sphere Class cruise ship  of cruise ships  currently under construction that will enter service in 2024. Sun Princess will be the largest ship built for Princess Cruises and the company’s first ship powered by  liquefied natural gas  (LNG).

Discovery Princess – 2022

Discovery Princess is the sixth and final Royal Class of ship to be built for the Princess Cruises fleet. She has a passenger capacity of 3,660 (based on two per cabin) and entered service on March 27, 2022. The ship was named by Godparents Randy Fenoli , Alex Guarnaschelli, Adam Savage and Page Turner.

Enchanted Princess – 2021

Enchanted Princess is the fifth Royal Class ship by Princess Cruises and entered service on November 10, 2021. She carries 3,660 passengers (based on two per cabin). The ship was named by Godparents Captain Lynn Danaher, Dr. Vicki Ferrini, and Jenifer Austin.

Sky Princess – 2019

Sky Princess is the fourth ship in Princess Cruises popular Royal Class of ships and began service in February of 2019. The ship carries 3,660 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was named by Godparents who happen to be two notable women of NASA, Captain Kay Hire and Engineer Poppy Northcutt on December 7, 2019 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Majestic Princess – 2017

Majestic Princess is the third Royal Class ship and began service in March of 2017. The ship carries 3,560 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was named by Godparents Yao Ming and his wife, Ye Li on July 9, 2017 in Shanghai, China.

Regal Princess – 2014

Regal Princess is the second Royal Class ship and began service in 2014. The ship carries 3,560 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was named by Godparents Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Gavin McLeod, Cynthia Lauren Tewes, Jill Whelan (Cast of “The Love Boat” ) on November 5, 2014 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Royal Princess – 2013

Royal Princess is the first Royal Class ship, but is the third Princess ship to have been given the Royal Princess name. The ship carries 3,560 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was named by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge on June 13, 2013 in Southampton, UK.

Ruby Princess – 2008

Ruby Princess is a Crown Class ship and began service on in November of 2008. The ship carries 3,080 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was christened by Godparents Trista and Ryan Sutter (Stars of the “The Bachelorette”) on November 6, 2008 in Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Emerald Princess – 2007

Emerald Princess is a  Crown Class  cruise and begand service in April 2007. The ship carries 3,080 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was christened by Godparents Florence Henderson, Marion Ross, Erin Moran, Susan Olsen (Cast of “The Brady Bunch” and “Happy Days”) on May 13, 2007 in Athens (Piraeus), Greece.

Crown Princess – 2006

Crown Princess is a  Crown -class   cruise ship  and begand service in June of 2006. The ship carries 3,080 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was christened by Godmother Martha Stewart.

Diamond Princess – 2004

Diamond Princess began operation in March 2004 and is a subclassed  Grand -class  ship, which is also known as a  Gem -class ship. The ship carries 2,670 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was christened by Godmother Yoshiko Tsukuda (wife of Kazuo Tsukuda, president of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) on February 26, 2004 in Nagasaki, Japan. Both Diamond Princess  and  Sapphire Princess  were built in  Nagasaki, Japan , by  Mitsubishi Industries .

Caribbean Princess – 2004

Caribbean Princess modified  Grand -class  cruise ship and was launched in April of 2004. The ship carries an impressive 3,149 passengers (based on two per cabin). Caribbean Princess  is larger than the other ships in her class ( Grand Princess ), due to an additional deck of cabins called the “Riviera” deck She also was initially designed to cruise the  Caribbean  year-round, so she was not given a sliding roof over the pool area for shelter in poor weather. She was christened by Godmother actress Jill Whelan (“Vicki” on “The Love Boat”) on April 2, 2004 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Sapphire Princess – 2004

Sapphire Princess is the second ship in the  Gem Class and debuted in May of 2004. She carries 2,600 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was christened by Nancy Gore Murkowski, the former First Lady of Alaska on June 10, 2004 Seattle, WA.

Island Princess – 2003

Island Princess is the second ship in the  Coral Class and debuted in July of 2003. She carries 2,200 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was christened by Godparents by Gold Medalists Jaime Sale and David Pelletier.

Coral Princess – 2002

Coral Princess is the first ship in the  Coral Class and debuted in March of 2002. She carries 2,000 passengers (based on two per cabin). The ship Coral Princess features more than 700 balcony staterooms and was custom built to navigate the historic Panama Canal . She was christened by the President of Panama, Mireya Moscoso on January 17, 2003 In Gatun Locks, Panama Canal .

Grand Princess – 1998

Grand Princess is the first ship in the  Grand Class and debuted in 1998. She carries 2,600 passengers (based on two per cabin). Grand Princess was the largest and most expensive passenger ship ever built at the time.

Grand Princes s was the  flagship  in the  Princess Cruises  fleet until the new  Royal Princess  took that title in June 2013. She was christened in New York by Godmother Olivia de Havillard.

List of Princess Cruises Ships Newest to Oldest

The different classes of princess cruises ships (biggest to smallest).

Princess Cruises currently has four unique classes of cruise ships. Each class of ship is a different architectural design and has it’s very own layout and features onboard. Most ships in a particular class have an almost identical layout with minor changes.

The table below shows the Princess Cruises ship classes from largest to smallest, based on ship volume.

Princess Cruises Ships FAQ

What are the newest Princess Cruises ships?

The newest ships in the Princess Cruises fleet are the Royal-class ships, including the Enchanted Princess and the Discovery Princess. However, The brand-new Sun Princess and Star Princess in the new sphere class are scheduled to begin service in 2024 and 2025, respectively. 

How many ships are in the Princess Cruises fleet?

Currently, Princess Cruises has 16 ships in its fleet. With Sun Princess to join in 2024 and Star Princess in 2025.

What are the oldest Princess Cruises ships?

The older Princess ships include the Grand Princess, the Coral Princess, and the Island Princess.

What is the next Princess Cruises ship scheduled to begin sailing?

The next Princess Cruise is set to be the Sun Princess sailing in February 2024, and Star Princess in 2025.

Which ships are considered as the biggest in the Princess Cruise line?

The new Sphere-class ships, such as the Sun Princess and the Star Princess, are among the biggest ships in the Princess Cruise fleet.

What are some of the sister ships in the Princess Cruises fleet?

Some sister ships in the Princess Cruises fleet include the Royal Princess and the Regal Princess, as well as the Crown Princess and the Emerald Princess.

Is Princess Cruises a family-friendly cruise line?

Yes, Princess Cruises is known for being a family-friendly cruise line, with activities and amenities suitable for all age groups.

What are the Island Princess and Coral Princess known for?

The Island Princess and Coral Princess are well-known for their Panama Canal cruises and their luxurious onboard amenities.

What is the significance of the Royal-class ships in the Princess Cruises fleet?

The Royal-class ships are considered significant for incorporating the latest innovations and technology in the cruise industry, providing a modern and luxurious cruising experience

What are the key features of the newest ships in the Princess Cruises fleet?

The newest ships in the Princess Cruises fleet, such as the Sun Princess and the Star Princess, feature state-of-the-art amenities, spacious accommodations, and a wide range of entertainment options to enhance the cruising experience.

What is Princess MedallionClass?

This innovative technology offers a personalized and seamless cruise experience for guests, allowing them to access their staterooms, make onboard purchases, locate their friends and family on the ship, and unlock interactive experiences through a small wearable device called the Ocean Medallion. Additionally, the Ocean Medallion allows for expedited embarkation and disembarkation processes and the convenience of ordering food and drinks to any location on the ship.

Which Princess ships have Ocean Medallion?

The Ocean Medallion technology is currently available on all Princess Cruises ships. This innovative technology offers a personalized and seamless cruise experience for guests, allowing them to access their staterooms, make onboard purchases, locate their friends and family on the ship, and unlock interactive experiences through a small wearable device called the Ocean Medallion. Additionally, the Ocean Medallion allows for expedited embarkation and disembarkation processes and the convenience of ordering food and drinks to any location on the ship. With the Ocean Medallion, guests can enjoy a more convenient and personalized cruise experience, complete with a variety of interactive entertainment options and customized recommendations based on their preferences.

What is Princess Cruises’ biggest ship?

Princess Cruises’ biggest ship is the soon to be launched Sum Princess. This magnificent vessel is part of the new Sphere class of ships and is 175,500 GRT’s. She measures 1,133 feet in length and holds 2150 guests cabins with a total capacity of 4,300 passengers.

Which is the smallest Princess cruise ship?

The smallest Princess cruise ship is the Grand Princess, which is part of the Grand-class ships in the Princess fleet. She was the largest and was the largest and most expensive passenger ship ever built when she began service in 1998.

Are newer Princess Cruises ships better?

With the latest advancements in cruise ship design, newer Princess Cruises ships offer passengers a more comfortable and convenient experience. From sleek and sophisticated interior spaces to cutting-edge recreational facilities, these newer ships are better equipped to cater to modern travelers’ evolving needs and preferences. Whether for a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a solo adventure, passengers can expect a truly exceptional experience on board the newer Princess Cruises ships.

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10 Luxury Cruise Lines That Will Make You Want to Ditch Plane Travel Forever

Explore cruise lines that embody the VERANDA spirit, offering luxury and well-appointed design around every corner.

Silversea is the “jewel in the crown” of the Royal Caribbean Group, not to mention the original luxury cruise line, first entering the space in 1994. The company touts 12 all-inclusive ships with destinations all over the world. Whether you want to explore the American West Coast, South America, Northern Europe and the British Isles, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, or even Antarctica, Silversea has a cruise to fit your fancy.

Speaking of fancy, the most luxurious cruise that Silversea offers is its 125-Day Chile to Norway sail, which rings up at $94,700. You don’t have to invest that much to enjoy a Silversea cruise, though. No matter which type of suite you book, you can expect butler service, optional 24/7 in-suite dining, endless access to premium beverages and craft cocktails, and complimentary caviar around the clock.

Paul Gauguin

Paul Gaugin stands out for its single-ship escapade into the luxury cruise space. With a variety of cruises that explore French Polynesia and the South Pacific, Paul Gauguin is a small-ship cruise line with 7-, 10-, 11-, and 14-night itineraries that focus on intimate experiences, delectable cuisine, stunning stateroom balcony views, butler service, and more. With a 1:1.5 crew-to-guest ratio, you can rest assured knowing that all of your needs will be met aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin.

Explore Paul Gauguin Cruises

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Scenic is unique in that it not only offers luxury ocean cruises but river cruises, too. The brand prides itself on operating and innovating with guest experience in mind. As such, all of its cruises have so much to offer voyagers, from extensive dining, leisure, and wellness options to striking design elements that will make you want to stay aboard for much longer than your itinerary.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has nine ships with oceanic destinations spanning from the Arctic and Europe to the Caribbean and Australia. Meanwhile, if you find yourself in France, you may want to check out Scenic’s beloved river cruises, in which you can tour the Seine in the utmost style.

Explore Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Ponant has a fleet of 13 luxury cruise ships with destinations dotting the globe. The award-winning French cruise line is beloved for its tailor-made voyages, in which guests have access to myriad bespoke experiences both on and off board, from in-room dining to once-in-a-lifetime immersive excursions.

Since Ponant ships offer smaller capacity—more akin to a private yacht experience—they’re able to navigate private ports and preserved locations that large-scale cruise ships are unable to access. While aboard Ponant’s all-inclusive ships, you can anticipate exceptional French cuisine, delicious fine wines, complimentary Champagne and spirits, room service, and more.

Of course, if you need further inspiration to look into the cruise line, perhaps the fact that three-mast yacht, Le Ponant, is part of the Relais & Châteaux portfolio will do the trick.

Explore Ponant Cruises

Crystal is renowned for its personalized voyages all over the world, not to mention its palatial suites that will leave you picking your jaw up off the floor. In addition to well-appointed design, the cruise line offers an impressive dining experience, with authentic cuisines from all over the world. So whether you’re in the mood for American, Italian, Peruvian, or Japanese food, you’ll have ample options to choose from.

It’s also worth mentioning that the luxury cruise line took it to the next level with its spa, Aurora Spa. The gorgeous, sea-view spa offers a variety of face, body, salon, and healing treatments, including massages, facials, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and even IV drip therapy—so you won’t have to worry about feeling hung over at sea (especially considering the cruise line offers complimentary Champagne, fine wines, and premium spirits).

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Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises operates a six-ship fleet dedicated to extraordinary sailing experiences. With small ships that carry less than 350 passengers, Windstar prides itself on offering guests intimate, aesthetic, unforgettable voyages spanning from Asia and Australia to Italy and Iceland.

While the staterooms and suites are stunning and the shore excursions are aplenty, it’s the food that really stands out aboard Windstar. As the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar offers a number of themed culinary cruises with food and bev from some of the most notable chefs of today, including Maxime Bilet (The Cooking Lab) and Jose Mendin (Pubbelly Noodle Bar, Habitat, Baja Bao).

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The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

The Ritz-Carlton is synonymous with luxury, so it’s no surprise that the company extended into oceanic adventures with a fleet of three superyachts. Where the Evrima was built in 2021, the Ilma and Luminara yachts are forthcoming in 2024 and 2025.

While classic cruise lines have a capacity in the thousands, often edging upward of 4,000, the Ritz-Carlton superyachts offer a more curated experience to 500 passengers or less. From the outside, the yachts are sleek and serene, fitting in beautifully with the sea. Within Evrima’s walls, though, moody modern interiors with magnificent ocean views await.

Guests can look forward to soaking tubs, expansive private balconies complete with sun beds and a whirlpool, walk-in wardrobes, and more. As far as destinations are concerned, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection embarks on oceanic adventures in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

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Seabourn is a luxury cruise line that speaks to our soul—and for more reasons than the simple fact that it touts a “Veranda Suite Upgrade.” The luxury cruise line sets sail in the Arctic, Canada and New England, the Amazon, Arabia, Africa, and India, and more.

Each of the fleet’s yachts, which carry between 458 and 600 guests, is outfitted with ocean-view suites only, so no matter what excursion you book, you can anticipate traveling in luxury style with a picturesque backdrop. You can also look forward to mouth-watering cuisine courtesy of renowned chef Thomas Keller.

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Cunard is known for its iconic black funnels, yes, but more so for its unparalleled large-scale onboard experiences. Although each of the cruise line’s ships carries upwards of 1,500 passengers, the four-ship fleet is adored for its luxury itineraries, stylish design, tranquil spa offerings, delectable cuisine, and unmatched comfort at sea.

Truly, if your goal is to book an unforgettable, Instagram-worthy cruise, Cunard is the way to go. From the stunning suites (decked out in pops of rich color, sumptuous textiles, and spectacular lighting) to the picturesque destinations, Cunard has it all.

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Regent Seven Seas Cruises

If you want to get the most bang for your buck when booking a luxury cruise, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is a prime pick. The all-inclusive cruise line crafts a new definition of the category with complimentary roundtrip airfare, free unlimited shore excursions, include 2- to 3-night land programs, on-the-house bar and lounge experiences, and more.

The six-fleet cruise line is also known for its gorgeous interiors, complete with modern aesthetics, Art Deco embellishments, stunning chandeliers, and more. When traveling with Regent Seven Seas Cruises, guests can traverse the seven seas, with destinations in Africa and Arabia, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the Caribbean and more. And if you don’t want to pick a single destination, there’s always the option to book a grand voyage or world cruise, which can last up to 168 days and cost upwards of $100,000.

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These 3 lesser-known cruise lines offer amazing voyages on sail-powered ships

There is nothing quite as magical — or romantic — as a cruise on a sailing ship.

To stand on the deck of a vessel topped with dozens of billowing sails, propelled through the waves by the power of the wind alone, is to go back in time to an earlier age of travel, when crossing the world's oceans was as adventurous as it was challenging.

It's an experience that's all about the feeling of the wind in your hair, the lean of the vessel (known as the heel) as it's pushed by the wind and the sway from the waves (which is actually smoother than what you get on a motor ship).

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In contrast to what you'll find on so many motor-powered ships, cruising on a masted ship is about the simple thrill of traveling across the sea and not about all the many attractions you'll find on board.

Only a handful of small cruise brands — so small that you might never have heard of them — offer trips on sailing ships. Here, we look at the three biggest players in this niche subset of the cruise industry.

Sea Cloud Cruises

If it's an authentic, old-style sailing experience you want, then Sea Cloud Cruises is the line for you. The Germany-based company operates three large sailing ships where the sails are unfurled by hand, just as they were on sailing ships centuries ago.

On the biggest of these three vessels, the 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit , 18 deckhands scurry high into the rigging on sea days to manually untie and prepare the sails, an amazing sight. Unveiled in 2021 , it's a full-rigged, three-masted sailing ship of the sort that hasn't been common on the world's oceans for more than a century.

Related: Why Sea Cloud Spirit is a sailing vessel you'll want to try

Sea Cloud Cruises' two other vessels — Sea Cloud 2 and Sea Cloud — are smaller but offer a similar show as the sails are set by hand the old-fashioned way. The former is a 23-year-old, three-masted barque propelled by 23 sails (five fewer than Sea Cloud Spirit); the latter is a 93-year-old, four-masted barque with 30 sails and a storied past.

Now configured to carry 64 paying passengers, Sea Cloud was originally the private yacht of Postum Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her husband, the famed financier E. F. Hutton. At the time, the vessel was the largest private yacht in the world. It later served the U.S. Navy as a weather ship during World War II, after which it became the presidential yacht for the Dominican Republic. It only began sailing as a cruise vessel in the 1980s.

If you have money to spare, you can still book Post's opulent private quarters on Sea Cloud, now its owner's suite. It'll set you back around $5,000 per day per couple. Her husband's slightly smaller quarters are also available to book at a similar rate.

Post, the wealthiest woman in the U.S. during her lifetime, notably also built Mar-a-Lago, the massive estate in Florida that is now the official residence of Donald Trump.

Sea Cloud Cruises is the most all-inclusive and upscale of the three brands listed in this story, with pricing to match. Expect to pay nearly $1,000 per person per day or more for many sailings.

Sea Cloud Cruises' three vessels offer a diverse array of sailings in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Canary Islands and Morocco, the Caribbean or along the west coast of Central America.

Related: Cruising Costa Rica, Panama with Sea Cloud Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Founded in the 1980s, Windstar Cruises got its start as a sailing ship line. While it now operates traditional motor-powered ships, too, voyages on sailing ships are still a big part of its business.

Three of the Seattle-based brand's six vessels — Wind Spirit, Wind Star and Wind Surf — are sailing vessels, and they all offer a similar yacht-like, small-ship experience.

Two of the three vessels (Wind Spirit and Wind Star) are particularly intimate, measuring 5,407 tons and carrying just 148 passengers with every berth full.

Related: The 2 types of Windstar ships, explained

The line's third sailing vessel, Wind Surf, is nearly three times the size at 14,745 tons. It's one of the biggest sailing ships in the world (only a sister vessel that sails for Club Med is bigger). Wind Surf carries 342 people, an enormous number for a sailing ship.

Unlike on the vessels operated by Sea Cloud, the sails on Windstar's sailing ships aren't unfurled by hand in the old-fashioned way but by the push of a button from the bridge. It's a fully automated system that is much more modern, if less dramatic.

Still, the experience of slicing through the waves by the power of the wind alone on Windstar ships is as glorious and romantic as it is on the Sea Cloud ships.

Windstar Cruises is less all-inclusive and pricey than Sea Cloud but still offers a relatively upscale experience. Its dining program is done in partnership with the food-focused James Beard Foundation, which also brings James Beard Award-winning chefs to the ships regularly for food-themed itineraries.

For an extra $89 per person per day, passengers can also make the experience more all-inclusive with included Wi-Fi, unlimited beer, wine and cocktails, and gratuities (three things that aren't included in regular fares).

The line's three vessels typically spend nearly all of their time sailing in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean or along the west coast of Central America.

Related: Read more about Windstar's itineraries

Star Clippers

Like Sea Cloud and Windstar, Star Clippers operates three sailing vessels that are among the biggest and most elegant sailing vessels in the world.

The belle of the ball at the line is Royal Clipper, a stunning five-masted ship that is billed as the largest square-rigged ship in the world. Its enormous array of 42 sails has a sail area of 56,000 square feet — significantly more than the sails atop any of the Sea Cloud or Windstar vessels. (Only Sea Cloud Spirit comes relatively close with a sail area of 44,100 square feet spread across 28 sails.)

Built to resemble Preussen, a legendary tall ship of the 19th century, the 24-year-old Royal Clipper shares the spotlight at Star Clippers with two smaller sister vessels, Star Flyer and Star Clipper.

Carrying 166 passengers apiece, the smaller vessels were designed to resemble the speedy clipper ships of the 19th century, which were known for their narrow profile and large sail area. Each vessel has a sail area of 36,000 square feet spread across 16 sails, a large amount for the size.

When it comes to the setting of sails, Star Clippers vessels offer a level of old-style authenticity that is in between the ships of Sea Cloud and Windstar. Like on Sea Cloud vessels, the sails are pulled into position by a team of deckhands using hand power and winches to tighten the "sheets," or ropes.

Unlike on Sea Cloud vessels, the deck hands don't climb high into the rigging to untie and prepare the sails for winching. That part is done automatically at the push of a button from the bridge, as it is on Windstar vessels.

In one key difference, though, Star Clippers lets passengers harness up and climb into the crow's nest of its vessels — a thrilling experience. Just be prepared for your knees to go a bit wobbly as you get to the top; it's way up there.

Star Clippers sailings are the most affordable option among the three sailing brands, in part because the onboard experience is less all-inclusive and upscale.

The three Star Clippers vessels mostly operate sailings in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean and along the west coast of Central America.

Bottom line

It's still possible to get a taste of what traveling the world's oceans was like in the days before motor power. Three small cruise companies — Sea Cloud Cruises, Windstar Cruises and Star Clippers — offer voyages on large sailing ships that are as majestic as anything that has sailed the seas in centuries past.

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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.