If you’re planning your next cruise vacation, you’ve probably noticed that Royal Caribbean and Princess are two of the more popular cruise lines in the world, but they offer completely different experiences. Founded in 1968, Royal Caribbean focuses on providing in-demand amenities at affordable prices. Princess, founded in 1965, is a premium cruise line known for innovation.
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Below is an in-depth comparison of Princess vs. Royal Caribbean. You’ll learn all about activities, entertainment, dining options, and itineraries, making it easier to choose the right cruise line for your next trip.
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Ship atmosphere and onboard experience
No matter how many shore excursions you plan, you’ll be spending a lot of time on board your ship of choice. Here’s how the two cruise lines differ in terms of ship atmosphere and onboard experience.
Princess
As a premium cruise line, Princess emphasizes sophistication in atmosphere and onboard experience. Many Princess ships offer panoramic views of the ocean, along with elegant decor and multiple stateroom options.
Some ships have interior and ocean view staterooms, while others offer a variety of suite experiences. For example, the Star Princess has four types of suites, a mini-suite, and a balcony stateroom available, giving you more choices in your environment.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean captured about one-fourth of the cruise market by making the onboard experience as attractive as possible. If you’re on a budget, you can save money by booking an interior stateroom, which comes with basic amenities and accommodates up to six guests.
Willing to spend extra for a somewhat luxurious experience? Royal Caribbean also offers balcony staterooms and suite staterooms. You’ll also have the opportunity to book connecting rooms.
Royal Caribbean ships have a lively atmosphere. The exact decor depends on the particular ship you choose, but Royal Caribbean is known for using bright colors in common areas and neutral colors in cabins.
Activities and entertainment
Both cruise lines offer a variety of activities and entertainment options. Here are the highlights:
- Princess cruise highlights: Princess is best suited for solo travelers or couples looking for a romantic getaway. Destination-themed activities include hula dancing in Hawaii, Brazilian samba dancers in South America, and street pan drum lessons in the Caribbean. Passengers can also try their luck in the onboard casino, take cooking classes, participate in wine tastings, or attend art history lectures. Live entertainment ranges from Broadway-style musicals to the Deal or No Deal game show experience.
- Royal Caribbean cruise highlights: Royal Caribbean is ideal for families, as it has plenty of onboard activities for kids. Highlights include the Big Shark Block Party, Royal Escape Room, Seaplex (bumper cars, indoor basketball, and more), and a teen hideout on Icon Class ships. In addition to an onboard casino and music hall, Royal Caribbean offers ice skating shows, Broadway-style musicals, and comedy performances.
Dining options and quality
Princess
Depending on which ship you choose, Princess gives you access to up to nine complimentary dining options while you’re on board. Princess ships also have specialty restaurants, such as an American-style steakhouse and an Italian restaurant called Sabatini’s.
Adventurous travelers can take advantage of several immersive dining experiences. For example, diners at 360 enjoy a seven-course meal in the round, making the experience ideal for large groups. Wine Spectator even recognized Princess with the Award of Excellence for quality in its 15 main dining rooms.
Princess ships generally receive positive reviews for dining quality and variety, with Julia Smith of Delish reporting that she’s “never left a trip so rested or so full.” You can wear jeans or shorts to your favorite casual spots, or dress up for the Main Dining Room, Crown Grill, or any of the specialty restaurants on board a Princess ship.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean ships have both casual and specialty dining options, giving you more control over your time on board. The cruise line’s casual eateries include Café Promenade, Windjammer, Dog House, and El Loco Fresh. If you don’t feel like eating with a group, you can have burgers, sandwiches, and salads delivered right to your stateroom.
Specialty dining options include Chef’s Table, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, and Chops Grille. Craving the tastes of Tokyo? Head to Izumi for teppanyaki prepared tableside. Reviews on Royal Caribbean’s food are mixed, with some travelers reporting inconsistent quality at the cruise line’s casual dining locations.
If you feel like dressing up, head to Chef’s Table or 150 Central Park. You’ll find passengers wearing cocktail dresses, suits, and other formal clothing. Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, Chops Grille, and other specialty restaurants are a little less formal, but they’re still dressy. You can dress down for Windjammer, El Loco Fresh, and other casual eateries.
Destinations and itineraries
Princess
Princess focuses on destinations in Alaska, Europe, and the Caribbean. In fact, U.S. News Travel named Princess Cruises as the best overall cruise line in Alaska (in a tie with the Holland America Line). Despite its focus on three regions, Princess travels to all seven continents, giving travelers access to 170 itineraries and 330 ports of call.
Royal Caribbean
As its name implies, Royal Caribbean focuses on cruising in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Royal Caribbean ships also travel to Asia, Alaska, and Europe. Popular Caribbean destinations include St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Belize, and Honduras.
Price and value for money
Pricing varies widely, but it’s helpful to understand what’s included in each cruise package. Here’s what you can expect from Princess and Royal Caribbean.
Princess
Princess Cruises include accommodations, onboard activities, standard entertainment options, and some meals. The base fare doesn’t cover drinks, specialty dining, gratuities, or shore excursions. While Princess is considered a premium cruise line, it offers a range of pricing options that can make cruising with them surprisingly affordable for many travelers.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean typically bundles the cruise fare, fees, taxes, and port expenses into one transparent price. This price generally includes ocean transportation, ship accommodations, most meals, most entertainment, and some beverages. Additional costs may apply for services like gambling, spa and salon treatments, photographs, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and transfers (unless you purchase a land and sea package).
While Royal Caribbean offers a range of pricing options to fit different budgets, Princess Cruises often include more amenities and services in its base fare, giving it a slight advantage in overall value depending on your preferences.
Best for families, couples, and older travelers
- Families: Royal Caribbean has more kid-friendly activities, such as the Adventure Youth Program and Imagination Studio, making it a good fit for families.
- Couples: Princess is a better match for couples, as its cruises have wine-tasting events, romantic restaurants, and other couple-centric amenities.
- Older travelers: Older travelers might prefer Princess since it offers art history lectures, auctions, and similar activities.
How to choose the right cruise for you
The right cruise for your needs depends on where you’re going, who you’re traveling with, and how much you plan to spend. You also need to think about the type of experience you want.
If you prefer to sit back and relax, look for a cruise with laid-back activities and comfortable staterooms. If you like to stay active and get your adrenaline pumping, use a cruise line that offers rock climbing, ziplining, and other pulse-pounding activities.