Princess Cruises · Planned around you
Places to discover.
Time to enjoy
the journey.
A glacier coming into view. A long lunch after exploring a new port. Dinner and a show with your favorite people. Princess is worth considering when the places you visit and the time aboard both matter.
I’ll help you choose the itinerary, ship, cabin and fare that bring your version of that vacation together.
Couples, friends, families and solo travelers. Start with the experience you want.
Picture your vacation
What would make
this trip feel like yours?
My recommendation starts with how you want to spend the trip. These are useful reasons to put Princess on the shortlist.
Enjoy the whole day.
Exploring ashore, lingering over dinner and finding an evening show can make a satisfying rhythm. Tell me which parts you want to share and where you’d like room for separate interests.
Let the route lead.
A particular port, glacier or longer journey may be the reason for the trip. We’ll compare the actual itinerary, including time ashore and the travel needed to reach your must-see places.
Plan for your people.
Princess offers youth programming alongside the broader ship experience. Share ages, care needs and the activities everyone enjoys so we can judge the fit for your family.
Choose the actual ship
The name on the ship
is part of the decision.
Princess ships differ in layout, restaurants, venues and accommodation products. Match the features you want to the vessel you’ll actually board.
Explore a different design.
These ships have distinctive spaces such as the Princess Arena and glass-enclosed Dome, along with Sanctuary Collection accommodations.
Compare: the individual ship’s venues, dining experiences and category benefits.
Look at the whole experience.
Another ship may offer the route, departure date or room arrangement that suits you best. Its restaurants and private-area products deserve their own review.
Compare: deck plans, walking distances, dining lineup and the spaces you’ll use.
Make it part of the shortlist.
If a specific venue or accommodation is the reason you’re interested, tell me early. We’ll connect that preference with an available ship and sailing.
Start with: your destination, dates and the onboard experience that matters most.
Find your dinner rhythm
A familiar table.
Or a different plan tonight.
Main dining is included in the cruise fare. Princess describes three table-service approaches, with arrangements and availability to review for your sailing.
A regular dinner routine.
Early or late seating, with the same table and dedicated waitstaff, can appeal when you enjoy a familiar evening plan.
Put dinner on your calendar.
Choose available reservation times that work with your days. Plan priority dinners around excursions, shows and celebrations.
Decide as the day unfolds.
Open seating gives you another option within dining hours. Allow for a possible wait, particularly at popular times.
Compare the complete vacation
A useful budget goes
beyond the starting fare.
Start with comparable cabins and itineraries. Then include the purchases and travel arrangements you expect to use.
Build from the essentials.
- Your booked accommodation.
- Meals at designated included dining venues.
- Included entertainment and selected onboard activities.
- The itinerary and ship experience for your chosen sailing.
Add what matters to you.
- Drinks, internet and paid dining beyond fare coverage.
- Crew appreciation unless already included.
- Excursions, spa services and other optional purchases.
- Flights, hotels, transfers and any land-tour expenses.
Choose your inclusions
Standard, Plus
or Premier?
Compare what you’ll use. The package attached to your reservation determines the benefits; purchase date, sailing date, ship and booking market can affect the terms.
Buy extras selectively.
Start with the included cruise experience and budget separately for your chosen extras. This can suit guests happy with main dining and limited additional purchases.
Bundle everyday extras.
The current 2026 version includes eligible beverages, one-device Wi-Fi per guest, crew appreciation, covered delivery access and four qualifying paid casual meals per guest per voyage.
Those four meals are for the whole voyage. They aren’t specialty restaurant dinners.
Compare broader benefits.
The current version adds higher beverage coverage, four-device Wi-Fi per guest, qualifying specialty and casual dining, eligible excursion credit, specified photos and reserved seating for production shows.
Coverage, reservations and exclusions still apply.
Choose the room you’ll enjoy
Space, location
and the right benefits.
Start with sleeping arrangements and how you’ll use the room. Then compare the view, layout and privileges attached to the exact category.
Set your priorities.
Compare the room itself with what you’d like to spend on the rest of the vacation. An oceanview adds natural light; check the actual view and any obstruction.
Your own outdoor break.
Morning coffee, fresh air or watching the coastline can make a balcony appealing. Compare its size, enclosure, view and location on the ship.
More room to settle in.
Mini-Suites offer a separate seating area and additional space. Layouts differ, and an ordinary Mini-Suite doesn’t automatically include Reserve or Sanctuary privileges.
An enhanced category.
Eligible Reserve accommodations offer specified extras, including Reserve Dining. Check that the booked category explicitly carries those benefits.
Sanctuary Collection
A retreat within
Sun or Star Princess.
This collection combines designated accommodations with Princess Premier and access to exclusive spaces. It deserves its own comparison when those benefits are part of your getaway.
Choose the category deliberately.
Sanctuary Collection includes designated suites, Mini-Suites and balcony categories. The Sanctuary name needs to appear on your booked category; an ordinary balcony or Mini-Suite doesn’t automatically qualify.
Make the benefits count.
Collection guests receive access to the Sanctuary Restaurant and eligible Sanctuary Club spaces. Suite-specific privileges can differ from those attached to other collection categories.
MedallionClass & your first day
A little preparation.
A more settled start.
Princess’s wearable Medallion supports features such as keyless cabin entry and onboard payment. The Princess app helps with preparation, dining reservations and viewing activities.
Get the basics ready.
Complete the required check-in steps and review documents, arrival instructions and Medallion pickup or shipping arrangements. I strongly recommend arriving the day before, especially when flying, to allow room for delays.
Finish before sail-away.
Princess currently uses an onboard safety video plus a physical muster-station visit and crew check-in. Complete every required step within the hours given by your ship.
Get to know your ship.
Walk around, check dining plans, register eligible children and ask about excursions. Then find a departure-viewing spot or join the scheduled sail-away festivities.
Plan for every age
Shared adventures.
Activities of their own.
Share each child’s age on embarkation day and your care needs. Princess’s established youth groupings are below; venue names can differ on newer ships.
Activities for younger kids.
Age-appropriate supervised programming. Independent participation requires children to be at least three and toilet trained.
Space to explore together.
A youth setting with activities for this age group. Review registration, sign-in arrangements and the actual daily schedule.
A place for teens.
Teen programming offers opportunities to socialize and join activities alongside your family’s shared plans.
Give Alaska its own plan
The coastline.
Or a land-and-sea journey?
Princess is worth investigating for both Alaska cruises and cruisetours. First, tell me what “seeing Alaska” means to you.
Make the route count.
Compare ports, scenic cruising and the listed glacier experience. Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier and other glacier areas are different itinerary choices; a Princess Alaska cruise doesn’t automatically visit Glacier Bay.
Add time inland.
A cruisetour combines the cruise with a land itinerary that can include rail travel, lodges and inland touring. Compare the actual locations, nights and included experiences.
Choose the effort that fits.
More places can mean more transfers, hotel changes and early starts. Look at travel time and free time alongside the highlights, especially if a restful pace matters.
Start with an idea
Where would you
like this journey to take you?
These are conversation starters. We’ll compare available ships, dates and itineraries when you’re ready to plan.
Put the scenery first.
Start with your glacier and port priorities. Then decide whether a cruise alone or an inland extension gives you the trip you want.
Make room to unwind.
Compare beaches, time ashore and sea days. The departure port and travel arrangements can help shape a comfortable getaway.
Build around exploring.
Look at the places you most want to visit and how much time each stop allows. Consider a stay before or after the cruise to enjoy the departure city.
Your trip, thoughtfully planned
Let’s connect the details.
I’m Travis. Share your dates, budget and who’s coming. I’ll help compare the itinerary, accommodation, fare benefits and travel arrangements that fit together.
A few useful answers
Before you
choose your cruise.
Bring me the questions that matter to your party. We’ll connect the answers to the actual ship, itinerary and booking terms.
Who should consider Princess?
My shortlist starts with travelers who value destinations, dining choices and time enjoying the ship. Princess can be worth comparing for couples, friends, solo travelers and families whose ages and care needs fit the available programs.
Do I need Plus or Premier to enjoy the cruise?
No. Standard includes the core cruise experience. Compare package costs with your expected extras, including drinks, internet and paid dining, then choose the approach that suits you.
Does Plus include specialty dining?
The current 2026 Plus version includes four qualifying paid casual meals per guest per voyage. Specialty restaurant dining is a separate benefit associated with eligible Premier coverage or individual purchases.
Does every Mini-Suite include Reserve Dining?
No. The booked category must carry the relevant Reserve Collection benefits. Sanctuary Collection on Sun and Star Princess is a separate product, with its own accommodations and privileges.
Is Princess an adults-only cruise line?
No. Princess welcomes families. Particular spaces have age restrictions, including the 16+ Sanctuary Club on Sun and Star Princess. Confirm access for everyone in your party.
Does every Alaska cruise visit Glacier Bay?
No. Compare the specific itinerary and listed glacier experience. Tell me if Glacier Bay is essential so we can make it part of the sailing search.
Are land meals included in an Alaska cruisetour?
Only when the itinerary or a purchased meal plan specifies them. Review the land portion separately from the cruise, including meals, optional touring and gratuities.
Can Princess accommodate dietary or access needs?
Share the actual requirements before booking so we can request and confirm arrangements through the line. Accessible cabin features, land transport and dietary provisions each need review. Dietary requests don’t establish an allergen-free kitchen.
Planning notes & official Princess sources
Reviewed October 4, 2026. This guide uses primarily U.S. booking guidance. Benefits and policies can change; the terms attached to your reservation govern. Destination cards are inspiration rather than live offers.
- Plus and Premier overview
- Package terms and versions
- Included main dining and seating choices
- Mini-Suites and Reserve distinctions
- Sanctuary Collection
- Cabin types and Sanctuary Club age threshold
- Star Princess ship features
- MedallionClass and required safety steps
- Kids, teens and families
- Youth, dietary and onboard FAQs
- Accessibility and dress guidance
- Alaska glacier options
- Alaska rail and land travel
- 2026 Alaska cruisetour answer book
Let’s make it your trip
Ready to explore
a Princess cruise?
Tell me where you’d like to go, who’s coming and what matters most. I’ll help turn the possibilities into a plan you can feel good about.
