You're standing on the pier in Fort Lauderdale or maybe Whittier, Alaska, looking up at a ship that's basically a floating city. It’s huge. It’s gleaming. But you’re wondering: are Princess Cruises good or am I just paying for a glorified retirement home at sea? Honestly, it's a fair question. The cruise industry is crowded right now, and Princess occupies this weird middle ground between the "party ships" of Carnival and the "sell your kidney to afford it" luxury of Silversea.
Princess has been around since 1965. Most people know them from The Love Boat, that 70s show that basically invented the modern idea of cruising. But TV is fake. Real life involves buffet lines, Wi-Fi that sometimes dies when you're in the middle of a fjord, and the reality of sharing a hull with 3,000 other humans.
If you want a water park with 20-story slides and neon-lit go-kart tracks, stop reading. Princess isn't that. It’s for people who want a glass of decent Cabernet while watching the sunset over the Glacier Bay. It’s for people who actually like their travel to feel, well, like travel.
The MedallionClass Reality Check
Let’s talk about the Medallion. It’s a quarter-sized disc you wear on a lanyard or a wristband. Princess markets this like it’s magic. Is it? Mostly.
It’s basically an RFID chip that replaces your room key and credit card. When you walk up to your cabin door, it unlocks automatically. That feels like living in the future. You can also order a mojito from a lounge chair on Deck 16 using an app, and a crew member will find you because the ship tracks your location. It’s cool, but it also means the ship always knows where you are. Privacy buffs might find it a bit "Big Brother," but for most of us, it just means less time standing in line at the Guest Services desk.
The tech is a major reason why are Princess Cruises good for people who hate friction. You don't have to carry a wallet. You don't have to fumble for cards. But the app can be glitchy. There, I said it. Sometimes it crashes. Sometimes it says your pizza is coming to the Piazza when you’re actually at the pool. Technology is great until it isn't.
Where the Food Hits Different
Cruise food is a touchy subject. Everyone has an opinion. On Princess, the "MDR" (Main Dining Room) is generally solid. It’s not Michelin-star level every night, but it’s consistent. They have a partnership with Chef Rudi Sodamin, and his influence shows in the seafood.
But the real MVP? The pizza.
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Gigi’s Pizzeria (or Alfredo’s, depending on the ship) is consistently ranked as some of the best pizza at sea by actual maritime critics. It's hand-stretched, thin-crust, Neapolitan-style stuff. And it’s usually included in your fare. If you’re judging a cruise solely on whether you can get a world-class margherita pizza at 2:00 PM without paying extra, Princess wins.
Then there’s the Specialty Dining. Sabatini’s is their Italian spot. It’s worth the upcharge. The Crown Grill is their steakhouse. Is it better than a high-end Ruth’s Chris on land? Maybe not quite, but the salt menu—yes, they have a salt menu—is a weirdly delightful touch. You haven't lived until you've debated the merits of Himalayan Pink vs. Smoked Applewood salt with a waiter while sailing toward Skagway.
Is the Crowd Too Old?
This is the "elephant in the room" when people ask are Princess Cruises good for younger travelers.
If you go on a 14-day cruise to the British Isles in the middle of October, the average age is going to be "retired." That’s just math. However, if you’re doing a 7-day Caribbean loop during spring break, you’ll see plenty of families and 30-somethings.
Princess doesn't do the "Hairy Chest Contest" or the "Belly Flop Competition" vibe that you'll find on other lines. It’s more relaxed. Think live string quartets in the atrium rather than a DJ screaming "SHOTS!" at noon. For some, that’s boring. For others, it’s a relief. It’s "adult-lite." Kids are welcome, and the Discovery at SEA program for youngsters is actually quite educational, but the ship isn't built for them. It’s built for adults who might happen to have kids with them.
Alaska: The One Place Princess Actually Owns
If you are looking at Alaska, the answer to "are Princess Cruises good" shifts from "maybe" to "probably the best."
Princess and Holland America basically own the infrastructure in Alaska. They have their own lodges (like the McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge), their own trains with glass-domed ceilings, and some of the best docking spots.
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When you’re in Glacier Bay, Princess almost always has a National Park Ranger on board narrating the journey. That’s a big deal. They’ve been doing Alaska for 50+ years, and it shows in the logistics. If Alaska is your goal, Princess is the gold standard for the "Big Ship" experience. They know where the whales are. They know how to get the permit for the best fjords.
The Cost of the "Add-Ons"
Nothing in life is free, especially not on a cruise ship. This is where people get grumpy. You see a base fare that looks cheap, but then the "nickel and diming" starts.
Princess has tried to fix this with "Princess Plus" and "Princess Premier" packages.
- Plus usually includes Wi-Fi, drinks, and gratuities.
- Premier adds specialty dining and photos.
Honestly? Just buy the package. If you plan on having more than three cocktails a day and you want to check your email, the math works out in your favor. If you try to pay for everything individually, you will spend the last morning of your vacation staring at a $1,200 bill in a state of pure shock.
Entertainment and the "Love Boat" Legacy
The entertainment is... fine. It’s good. It’s professional. The production shows are high-energy, and the singers are talented. They’ve started doing "Rock Opera" shows which are visually stunning.
But the best "show" on a Princess ship is usually the "Movies Under the Stars." They have a massive LED screen over the pool. They give you a fleece blanket and popcorn. Watching a blockbuster movie while floating in the middle of the Atlantic with the sea breeze hitting your face is a core memory kind of experience.
Is it groundbreaking? No. Is it comfortable and deeply pleasant? Absolutely.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People think Princess is "fancy." It’s not fancy; it’s premium.
There’s a difference. Fancy is white gloves and stuffy tea service (though they do have afternoon tea). Premium is just... better than the basic version. The linens are a bit higher thread count. The service is a bit more personal. The staff-to-guest ratio is better than the budget lines.
One thing that might surprise you: the beds. Princess spent millions developing the "Princess Luxury Bed" with Dr. Michael Breus (the "Sleep Doctor"). It’s genuinely one of the most comfortable mattresses you’ll ever sleep on. I’ve known people who tried to buy the mattress for their homes after a cruise. That sounds like a marketing gimmick until you’ve spent eight hours being rocked to sleep on one.
The Downside: What Sucks?
Let's be real for a second.
- The Elevators: On the larger ships like the Enchanted Princess or Discovery Princess, the elevators can be a nightmare at peak times (like right after a show). You'll be waiting. And waiting.
- The Piazza Crowds: The central atrium (the Piazza) is beautiful, but it's the hub for everything. It gets loud. It gets crowded. If you want a quiet coffee at the International Cafe at 10:00 AM, good luck finding a seat.
- The Layout: Some of the older Grand-class ships have a confusing layout where you can't get from one end of the ship to the other on certain decks because the dining room is in the way. It’s a literal maze.
Practical Steps for Your First (or Next) Trip
So, are Princess Cruises good for your specific needs? Here is the move-by-move breakdown of how to handle this.
- Check the Ship Age: Not all Princess ships are equal. The newer "Royal-class" and "Sphere-class" (like the Sun Princess) have way better amenities and tech than the older ships. If you want the modern experience, stick to ships built after 2013.
- Evaluate Your Drinking Habits: Don't buy the drink package if you only drink water and the occasional coffee. But if you want wine with dinner and a few poolside coladas, the "Princess Plus" bundle is almost mandatory to keep your sanity.
- Book Alaska Early: Princess Alaska cruises sell out fast, especially the "Land and Sea" journeys. If you want a balcony (and you do want a balcony in Alaska), book 10–12 months out.
- Use the MedallionClass App Early: Download the app the second you book. Get your "OceanReady" status done at home. If you wait until you're at the terminal, you’ll be the person holding up the line, and nobody wants to be that person.
- Seek Out the Sanctuary: If you want a child-free zone, pay the extra fee for "The Sanctuary." It’s a private deck area with plush loungers, better snacks, and absolute silence. It’s the best money you’ll spend if you value peace.
Princess isn't a rollercoaster at sea, and it's not a stuffy museum. It’s a well-oiled machine designed to make you feel like a guest rather than a passenger. If you can handle a slightly slower pace and a crowd that knows how to use a salad fork, you’ll probably find that Princess is actually quite a bit better than "good." It’s reliable. And in the world of travel, reliability is worth its weight in gold.
Decide what you value most. If it's a quiet balcony, a great bed, and a decent slice of pizza while watching a glacier calve into the sea, you're in the right place. If you need a zipline to feel alive, maybe look elsewhere. It's your vacation; don't spend it on the wrong boat.