princess cruises more ashore

• Princess Cruises

More Ashore - your opinion, please

By damiross , January 20, 2018 in Princess Cruises

Recommended Posts

What is your opinion on what Princess calls "More Ashore?"

I don't care for it. I cruise to be on a ship. The ports are important but are secondary to being on board. A few hours during the day is nice.

I'd rather have more sea days than more time ashore.

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

Just got off the Royal Princess yesterday and had gone the day before to the future cruise people. Wanted to talk about a cruise in the late fall. Saw that "more ashore thing" and questioned on the cruise what cities would this entail. The cruise person looked at it and couldn't find any city that would be an overnight.

On the chance this is not a wind-up but a serious question :

All "More Ashore" signifies is that the ship stays in port past 8 PM on those evenings.

As you would obviously be disenclined to take an evening excursion, or even dinner on your own ashore...what in God's name is the difference between the ship being moving or still docked while you are in the dining room, or the theater, or elsewhere on the ship--or even already in bed for the night?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

I love being in a great port overnight. Just makes for a more relaxing day not watching the clock to get back on time. I sail for itinerary first. It’s very popular in Europe and Australia.

On the chance this is not a wind-up but a serious question :   All "More Ashore" signifies is that the ship stays in port past 8 PM on those evenings.   As you would obviously be disenclined to take an evening excursion, or even dinner on your own ashore...what in God's name is the difference between the ship being moving or still docked while you are in the dining room, or the theater, or elsewhere on the ship--or even already in bed for the night?   Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Actually you might be surprised at hw many people do eat ashore when the ship is in port overnight or a late departure.

reedprincess

We love later night departures, and overnight stays - depending on the ports.. When a ship is in port later, we're very inclined to eat dinner in port, take in some local nightlife or such, explore further than we can in 6 or 7 hours.. Overnights are even better, getting the chance to really explore more, nightlife, mix and mingle. It's one reason we've done a few more Celebrity sailings than Princess recently - overnights in various ports..

We're strongly considering the Cabo overnight next fall, would fit perfectly with what we want to experience there.

We also enjoy our sea days - so a mix of both is a good fit for us...

Of course they do.

My point was that it makes not a whit of difference to those who choose to remain on board--even though the OP seems to believe that those nights are some sort of conspiracy by Princess against the people who prefer sea time.

stoneharborlady

Of course they do.   My point was that it makes not a whit of difference to those who choose to remain on board--even though the OP seems to believe that those nights are some sort of conspiracy by Princess against the people who prefer sea time.

The OP never said any such thing about a conspiracy by Princess against the people who prefer sea time, those were your words entirely. The OP merely said he prefers more time on the ship.

OK maybe "conspiracy" was over the top. But no more so than the unrelenting negative tone of the OP's statement--which they are representing as fact rather than their personal opinion:

My earlier wondering whether this may be a wind-up stems from the OP's total misunderstanding of what "More Ashore" actually signifies. And their aversion to it being so strong as to think they do not grasp the overall zeitgeist of a cruise vacation in the first place. Perhaps they would be better off chartering a yacht and just bobbing around at sea for the duration.

He can skip the ports and spend all of his time on the ship if he chooses, right?

...what in God's name is the difference between the ship being moving or still docked while you are in the dining room, or the theater, or elsewhere on the ship--or even already in bed for the night?

I like being on the sea, watching the waves, looking for whales, and just being away from the land.

Micahs Grandad

DW has unusual food allergies which make going to dinner in a city with a different language trouble waiting to happen so we typically are back for dinner,

The Royal Princess may not do an overnight but some other ships do.

I've seen in the Cruise Atlas overnights in San Francisco, Cabo San Lucas, and Quebec City.

I have the feeling that Princess does it more to save money than for the passengers. No, I'm not saying there's a conspiracy.

The Royal Princess may not do an overnight but some other ships do. I've seen in the Cruise Atlas overnights in San Francisco, Cabo San Lucas, and Quebec City.   I have the feeling that Princess does it more to save money than for the passengers. No, I'm not saying there's a conspiracy.

While we like being on ships, we pick cruises for the itineraries and an extra night in many ports would be great. We had an overnight in Lima last year (I think all SA cruises porting in Lima do that so folks can take an excursion to Machu Picchu if desired) and it was great. We had two full days of touring ( 9 am to 11 pm and 9 am to 3 pm) that was wonderful. We also overnighted in Quebec City on a cruise from there to Fort Lauderdale in 2013. Again, we appreciated the extra day available for sightseeing - even though we had flown in 2 days early. And in 2009 we had an overnight in St. Petersburg - again there is so much to see in that city that even 2 days seemed too few but was much better than sailing out the same day we arrived.

The Royal Princess may not do an overnight but some other ships do. I've seen in the Cruise Atlas overnights in San Francisco, Cabo San Lucas, and Quebec City. I have the feeling that Princess does it more to save money than for the passengers. No, I'm not saying there's a conspiracy.

We love the overnights in port. Last year we had an overnight in Athens so after a days touring about we were able to have dinner in the Plaka area which was great. Great chance to experience the local lifestyle far more than rushing back to the ship.

I certainly wouldn't want this too often but where it does happen I have found it great. We were looking at a Princess cruise the other day and the ship arrived at a port at 3pm and left at 9pm (I think it was Penang from memory). This is a waste of time so I rather More Ashore than a useless amount of time.

It's so easy to choose a cruise that suits you : more sea days, overnights, late departure, early departure..... The choice is so large, even on quite similar itineraries (Dublin ovenight on Royal Princess or no overnight and Kirkwall as another port of call, on the same ship twelve days later). So, just choose the cruise and cruiseline that suit your own taste and be happy!

Envoyé de mon iPad en utilisant Forums

Casino and shops being open...

Unless there are some special regulations, like the bahamas...

To me, it's a good thing. More people off the ship -- fewer people on the ship.

Less crowding for dinner, etc.

I chose our British isles cruise itinerary last summer because of the overnight in Dublin. I wanted the opportunity to see more than we could in one day. We've also been on cruises with overnight stays in Quebec and in Nassau. The latter was not planned, and we did not venture off the ship at night there. We've had late departures from several ports, but most of the time we want to eat on the ship since it's already paid for. We're more likely to eat lunch away from the ship.

Quebec isn't new, been that way for years because of logistics. Quebec airport is small compared to say, Toronto, Montreal and most times there are land trips by Princess coming to the ship also, out of necessity, overnight for the ship.

I am a sea day person, love those days but don't mind if a ship stays in port longer, sailing away at night seeing the city lights not a bad thing at all.

sunsetbeachgal

While overnights in the Caribbean don’t particularly interest me, we had overnights on a couple of our more recent Europe cruises in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Antwerp and absolutely loved them. Especially in Northern Europe with such long days in the summer, you can pack quite a bit of sightseeing into two days!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Northumberland

I don't see any problem with extended time in certain ports. I haven't done Europe yet, but I've seen Caribbean cruises itineraries with New Orleans in port for 2 days and the same with Hawaii. Nothing wrong with that if you like to explore. If you don't, just stay on the ship and pretend it's a sea day.

Princess is a bit late to the game with their "more ashore" marketing. Consider that HAL has been doing overnights in ports all over the world...and doing it for a few years. And a later departure is even nice in the Caribbean since it allows cruisers the option to stay at the beach later, dine ashore, etc. The only downside (for some) is that they cannot use the Casino of the shops while at most ports. But those that prefer to return to the ship early can certainly do that....and those that prefer to enjoy more port time have that option. Its a win win in nearly all cases.

paradiselivin1

While overnights in the Caribbean don’t particularly interest me, we had overnights on a couple of our more recent Europe cruises in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Antwerp and absolutely loved them. Especially in Northern Europe with such long days in the summer, you can pack quite a bit of sightseeing into two days!]   Agree. I look forward to an overnight in those ports. I was sad that they stopped the overnights in Rio after this year. I was told by a young lady at the Future Cruise desk that people weren't interested and getting the visa was too difficult....what?? This year they're there for Carnival for a few days. Thought that would be a great way to go....sorry to see that they dropped that option and will be looking for a different cruise line to satisfy that need....

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started Thursday at 07:37 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 04:48 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 04:19 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 03:29 PM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 11:57 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

• Sunday, April 7, 2024

CruiseToTravel

Princess cruises reveals the ‘best of the caribbean & panama canal’.

Whether the definition of relaxation means island hopping from one pristine beach to another or experiencing the world’s greatest shortcut sailing through the Panama Canal, the newly announced 2022-2023 cruise season from Princess Cruises offers the best of both sought-after destinations.

Caribbean 2022-2023 

The Caribbean is the ideal cruise destination for relaxation, with six MedallionClass cruise ships including Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, Regal Princess, Caribbean Princess, Island Princess, and Emerald Princess, cruisers have a choice of 21 unique itineraries and 87 departures ranging from four to 21 days. The fall 2022 through spring 2023 season, sailing roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale in Florida, takes guests to 24 Caribbean islands. Highlights include:

• Eastern Caribbean  – Cruises in the Eastern Caribbean include a four-day getaway to Princess Cays with multiple seven- and eight-day itineraries visiting multiple popular islands including St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan, and St. Kitts.
• Western Caribbean  – if ancient ruins and eco-adventures are top of mind, a five- day getaway to Costa Maya with a stop in Cozumel offers visits to Mayan ruins and underwater caves. Multiple seven-day itineraries also feature the friendly spirit of Jamaica and the coral reefs in Belize and Roatan. Port highlights include Belize City, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman.
• Southern Caribbean  – these eight to 16-day itineraries offer a deeper dive into the Caribbean culture, colonial influence, native charms, coral reels, and diving havens. Key ports include Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Antigua, Martinique, Barbados and more.

Princess Cays private island resort, is included as part of the Eastern, Western, and Southern itineraries allowing guests to relax with an exclusive beach day.

Princess offers Discovery and Animal Planet tours that the whole family will love including shore excursions to UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Belize Barrier Reef and Brimstone Hill Fortress in St. Kitts. With “More Ashore” late-night stays in Curacao, St. Maarten and St. Thomas, cruisers can enjoy beautiful sunsets, island life and evening tours.  

The cruise line’s immersive onboard program “Rhythm of the Caribbean,” brings local flavours and cultures to life with vibrant cuisine and tropical drinks, steel drum Caribbean-themed parties, colourful parrots in the Piazza and Discovery at SEA activities.

Panama Canal 2022-2023 

It’s been called the “world’s greatest shortcut” and one of mankind’s most celebrated engineering achievements and Princess Cruises is the #1 Panama Canal cruise line, bringing more guests this historic region than any other cruise line since 1967. For the upcoming 2022-2023 season four MedallionClass ships – Caribbean Princess, Emerald Princess, Island Princess, and Ruby Princess – sail on 26 departures with six unique itineraries, visiting 16 destinations in nine countries. Cruises range in length from 10 to 15 days, program highlights include:

• Panama Canal with Costa Rica & Caribbean (10 days)  – sailing roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale and giving guests the unique experience of transiting the Panama Canal locks with a partial transit while exploring Caribbean ports such as Costa Rica and Grand Cayman.
• Panama Canal Ocean to Ocean (15 days)  – itineraries travel between Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles or San Francisco and vice versa sailing the Panama Canal Locks between the Atlantic and Pacific. These itineraries allow guests a full transit experience while visiting ports in Mexico, South and Central America. 

Panama Canal guests experience unique landscapes and wildlife, like the lush rainforests and Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica on Animal Planet recommended shore excursions. In addition, tour options include travel by a dugout canoe to an Embera village in the heart of Chagres National Park in Fuerte Amador or a ride on the world’s first transcontinental railroad – the Panama Canal Railroad. Plus, live narration from the navigation bridge provides fascinating history and engineering feats of the canal as ships transit through the locks system.

All ships offer the best Wi-Fi at sea, MedallionNet, so guests can stay connected to the things and people they love and share vacation memories with ease. MedallionNet offers unprecedented connectivity that’s fast, unlimited, reliable, and affordable with an access point in every stateroom, so guests can stream favorite movies, shows, games and music; connect to favorite social media sites; and video chat from anywhere on the ship. For more information visit: ‘ Princess Cruises transforms global fleet to feature MedallionClass Experience ‘.

For more details on Princess Cruises’ 2022-2023 Caribbean & Panama Canal Cruises visit princess.com .

Also read : Princess Cruises announces unique sailings to Mexico, the California Coast and Hawaii

Like it share it.

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This is the announcement bar for Poornima to test the Close Button.  It will expire May 31 2024.

• Pre-Cruise FAQ
• Onboard FAQ
• Post-Cruise FAQ
• Cruisetours FAQ
• Special Offers Sign Up
• Cruise Deals

You have been logged out

Your window will update in 5 secs

Tips for Booking a Shore Excursion

One of the best parts about going on a cruise vacation is the variety of available shore excursions . Travelers looking for a fast and easy way to check off a handful of items from their bucket list can rest assured that with Princess Cruises, they will see and experience all the world has to offer. Princess Cruises is the destination expert, and all tours are carefully selected to bring you the highest quality. Here are some useful tips for making the most of your time off the ship.

Plan shore excursions ahead

Passengers who decide to book shore excursions through Princess Cruises can spend more time enjoying their experience and less time stressing about transportation or reservations. Thinking about visiting the Colosseum during a Mediterranean cruise ? With a planned excursion, travelers can avoid the crowds and enjoy the added advantage of sharing their adventures with newfound friends.

Because there are limited seats for some shore excursion programs, passengers should decide what they want to do several weeks before their ship departs. Travelers with special requests such as wheelchair access and dietary concerns should inform their booking agent, cruise vacation planner  or Princess directly to ensure that they can fully enjoy their time on land. Families with small children who may need strollers should take extra consideration when selecting excursions. Many Caribbean shore excursions, for example, involve snorkeling and water sports - some of which may not be suited for youngsters.

Additionally, depending on what passengers decide to do during these fun activities, prices will vary - the details of which are available online.

Independent touring

Passengers who speak multiple languages have an added advantage and can ask locals for advice once they disembark, whether they are looking for a favorite local restaurant or hidden beach.

Most destinations with Princess Cruises have informative tourism offices that travelers can check out before departing. Because many port cities are accustomed to welcoming international travelers, they make it easy for cruisers to book adventures or tours mere minutes after leaving the ship. Explorers should also ask local businesses questions about how long they have been in operation and if they have insurance plans to make sure nothing goes awry during their adventure.

Independent cruise travelers should also keep in mind time constraints. While participants of Princess' shore excursion programs have an optimal and tight schedule, those exploring on their own may lose track of time while immersing themselves in another culture. Booking an excursion through Princess ensures that the ship will wait for any tours that may be running late.

Additional considerations

During a European or  Asian cruise , female passengers may want to research customs and cultural dress codes. In Thailand, for example, women rarely wear shorts or skirts above their knees and tend to wear sleeved shirts, no matter how hot it gets. Even in some parts of the Caribbean, beach-going visitors should cover up when walking to and from the shore so as not to offend locals.

With any shore excursion, passengers should leave their valuables onboard and avoid bringing too much cash. Travelers should always bring proper identification once leaving the ship - including passports and visas - as well as specific information about their ship just in case they get lost.

If a port is cancelled or an arrival delayed, Princess will also refund all shore excursions.

The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries

Call it the cruise line for people who want a big, amenity-filled ship that isn't a floating amusement park.

Princess Cruises operates relatively large, reasonably priced vessels. However, unlike many of its competitors in that space — most notably Royal Caribbean , Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises — it doesn't load them up with sprawling waterparks, go-kart tracks, laser tag courses and other flashy, family-focused 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 gee-whiz attractions.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter.

As Princess executives like to say, the line is all about warm and gracious service in an atmosphere of comfortable elegance designed to spark connections between passengers.

Instead of bustling attractions, its top decks offer 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. Inside, the experience revolves around dining, classic showroom entertainment and a classy bar and music scene — just as it has on Princess ships for years.

This is, notably, just the way Princess customers like it. Popular with middle-aged couples, retirees and multigenerational families, the "Love Boat" line caters to people who like a more traditional type of cruising than you'll find on the vessels of most other big-ship lines.

Related: Which cruise brand is right for you?

3 things TPG loves about Princess Cruises

• The abundance of outdoor pool and lounge areas on its ships.
• Its expansive spas.
• Its far-flung itineraries.

What we could do without

• The lack of big suites on its vessels.

The Princess Cruises fleet

Princess has downsized the size of its fleet considerably over the past few years with the removal of five vessels. However, it's still the world's fifth-biggest cruise line by passenger capacity, with 15 ships that together offer more than 46,000 berths.

In general, Princess operates big ships, though they're not quite as big as the vessels operated by Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and MSC Cruises — the three lines best known for giant ships. The biggest Princess vessels, the line's six Royal Class ships, measure around 145,000 tons. That's about 35% smaller than the biggest ships operated by Royal Caribbean.

The Royal Class ships are the belles of the ball in the Princess fleet. Newer and more amenity-filled than the line's nine other ships, they began rolling out in 2013 and carry about 3,600 passengers a piece at double occupancy.

(In case you're curious, the name of the 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, Duchess of Cambridge. The cruise line's first Royal Princess, which debuted in 1984, was christened by Diana, Princess of Wales.)

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

Still, just as much at the core of the Princess fleet are its seven Grand Class vessels. Unveiled between 1998 and 2008, the ships 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 feature a lot of onboard venues. The Grand Class ships carry between 2,600 to 3,100 passengers at double occupancy.

Princess also has two even smaller vessels that measure around 92,000 tons a piece. Named Coral Princess and Island Princess, they are sister ships that make up the line's small Coral Class of vessels. They each carry around 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.

The downsizing of the Princess fleet over the past few years had a lot to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. Three ships left the line's fleet starting in 2020 as part of an effort to cut costs during the line's coronavirus-caused global shutdown. Another two vessels — Golden Princess and Star Princess — had been scheduled to leave the Princess fleet even before the pandemic began. They were transferred to one of the line's sister companies, P&O Cruises Australia.

The line currently has two more vessels on order that, at around 175,000 tons, will be its biggest ships ever. The first of the vessels (to be called Sun Princess) is due to debut in 2024, followed by an as-yet-unnamed sister due in 2025.

Related: TPG goes on board the new Sky Princess

Destinations and itineraries

Princess Cruises sails to more than 100 countries on seven continents, from North America and Europe to Asia and Australia , and it offers a wide range of itineraries — around 170 in a typical year. The line's ships visit more than 380 different ports and destinations and take passengers to more than 100 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Among the line's voyages, you'll find everything from three-day sampler cruises along the West Coast of the U.S. to 111-day around-the-world voyages.

Princess is particularly known for cruises to Alaska , where it dominates the market for cruises along with sister line Holland America. In a typical year, Princess deploys seven or eight ships to Alaska in the summer — far more than most other lines. It also operates its own wilderness lodges in the state, as well as tourist trains and buses. It uses the lodges, trains and buses to offer a range of 10- to 17-night Alaska "cruisetours" that combine a cruise with land-based touring.

Princess also deploys as many as eight ships to Europe in the summer, and it has a big presence in Australia, where it can deploy as many as six ships for parts of each year. In recent years, it has also become a major player in cruises around Japan that cater to both American and Japanese travelers, as well as Australians.

In North America, Princess ships sail out of Fort Lauderdale; Los Angeles; San Francisco; San Diego; Seattle; Galveston; Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska, with some sailings from New York City, Quebec City and Honolulu.

In Europe, Princess ships mostly sail out of Southampton in the U.K.; Copenhagen, Denmark; Barcelona, Spain ; Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens); and Civitavecchia, Italy (the port for Rome ).

Related: The best Caribbean cruises for every type of traveler

Who sails Princess Cruises

Princess appeals to an older demographic than lines such as Carnival and Norwegian. The average age of passengers is around 57, and you'll usually see a lot of couples on board in their 50s, 60s and 70s.

As noted above, these aren't people necessarily craving go-kart tracks and ropes courses at sea. They're people looking to explore the world in a comfortable, classy sort of way that also is relatively affordable. That last part is key. Princess offers a lot of globe-circling itineraries of the sort often offered by high-end luxury lines. However, it does so at a much lower price.

While not the biggest line for families with young children, Princess does draw a lot of multigenerational family groups. It's the line you take if you want an affordable ship that'll appeal to your 70-year-old parents as much as your 12-year-old kid.

Princess also draws a lot of passengers celebrating milestones. The line markets heavily to people marking birthdays and anniversaries with special packages and programs. It's also a huge player in the market for destination weddings at sea, with a division that will help you arrange a ceremony on board or at an exotic location on land during a port call.

Princess was, notably, the first cruise line to host modern-day weddings on ships, offering ceremonies officiated by the ships' captains hosted in onboard chapels.

It is, after all, the "Love Boat" line.

Cabins and suites

When it comes to rooms, Princess is sort of the Marriott of the big-ship cruise world. Its rooms are comfortable and functional but a bit bland. Avant-garde style is not a Princess thing.

The vast majority of the accommodations on Princess ships fall into one of three broad categories: windowless inside cabins, oceanview cabins and balcony cabins. Balcony cabins, in particular, are widespread on Princess ships. Among mass-market lines, Princess was the pioneer in adding large numbers of balcony cabins to ships.

While balcony cabins are common on Princess ships, you'll find relatively few suites on them. Just 46 of the 1,830 rooms on the line's 3-year-old Sky Princess are suites, and — believe it or not — that's an improvement from earlier vessels in the same series, which had just 36 suites.

What this means is there aren't a lot of ways to live large on a Princess ship or to pack a lot of people into a single accommodation. Until the debut of Sky Princess in 2019, the line didn't have a single cabin that could accommodate more than four people.

That said, the Grand Class vessels each offer two "Family Suites" that can be created by connecting a Mini-Suite with an adjacent inside stateroom to create a six- to eight-person complex.

Sky Princess featured the line's first truly large stand-alone suites, dubbed Sky Suites, when that ship debuted in 2019. Such suites have also been added to the line's new Discovery Princess.

There are two of the suites on each of the ships, and they measure a generous 1,800 square feet (though more than half of that space is taken up by a huge wraparound balcony). With two bedrooms plus a living room with a pullout sofa, they're designed for up to five people.

Still, even the Sky Suites on Sky Princess aren't the truly epic suites with huge interior living spaces that you'll find on the latest Royal Caribbean or Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships. If that's what you're after, Princess isn't your line.

Related: The new, $11,000-a-night cruise ship suite that's bigger than a house

Restaurants and dining

Every Princess vessel has one to three main dining rooms where meals are included in the fare, and these dining rooms are at the heart of the dining experience on Princess ships. Many passengers have all or most of their dinners in a main dining room.

For dinners in a main dining room, you can make a reservation for any time, provided a table at the time you want is available. To ensure the time you want, it's best to reserve a table far in advance of your sailing, which you can do online once you've paid for the cruise in full. But you also can make reservations on board ships during your cruise or even show up to a dining room without a reservation (in which case, you will be seated on a space-available basis).

Note that Princess no longer offers a fixed-time "traditional" seating option where you can request the same table at the same time every night of a cruise.

Every vessel also has a casual buffet eatery where meals are included in the fare. Near the main pool area on ships, it's usually called Horizon Court but is also known as the World Fresh Market or Panorama Buffet on some vessels.

Other included-in-the-fare options on at least some Princess ships include poolside pizza outlets and poolside grills serving burgers. Also, on sea days, Princess transforms a bar or dining venue at lunchtime into an included-in-the-fare English-style pub. It serves traditional pub food such as fish and chips and cottage pie, along with (for an extra charge) Bass Ale or Guinness.

Every Princess ship also has at least a couple of extra-charge eateries. On most ships, you'll find the line's signature Italian restaurant, Sabatini's. It serves homemade pasta, seafood and other Italian specialties in an elegant setting and comes with a flat fee of $35 per person.

Most Princess ships also have a signature steakhouse. On most vessels, it's called Crown Grill and offers premium beef and seafood cooked to order in an open, theater-style kitchen. On two ships — Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess — it's called Sterling Steakhouse, where passengers choose their cut of steak from a tray presented by their waiter.

On two ships — Coral Princess and Island Princess — the steakhouse has a Cajun and Creole twist. In addition to steak dishes, the menu features New Orleans-style peel-and-eat shrimp, alligator ribs and gumbo. On those vessels, it's called the Bayou Café and Steakhouse.

All the steakhouses come with a flat fee of $39 per person.

Princess ships also offer a Chef's Table experience — a concept the line pioneered in the cruise world. Costing $95 to $115 per person, it includes pre-dinner cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the ship's galley with the executive chef before a main dining experience at a private table in the dining room.

Another dining option that recently began popping up on Princess ships is a French eatery called Bistro Sur La Mer. The restaurant is only on Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, Majestic Princess and Discovery Princess. It offers dishes created by star chef Emmanuel Renaut, whose restaurant in the French Alps boasts three Michelin stars. Like the Princess steakhouses, it has a $39 per person cover charge.

Related: The 7 best meals you can have at sea

Entertainment and activities

Princess ships are loaded with entertainment that ranges from Broadway-style theater shows to "street entertainers" who appear in each vessel's central piazza. They're not floating amusement parks, though. Unlike some big-ship lines, Princess isn't topping its vessels with waterslides, go-kart tracks, ropes courses and other family-focused attractions.

Theaters and shows

There's no shortage of theater and lounge entertainment on Princess ships. On a typical night, you might find a flashy, fast-paced production show playing in the main theater, a comedian performing in a secondary lounge and live music on offer in several more venues.

In many cases, the main theaters on Princess ships are quite elaborate, with Broadway-show-level lighting and special effects, and the productions housed within the theaters are elaborate, too.

Princess has upped its game with its theater productions in recent years through a partnership with Stephen Schwartz, the Tony Award-winning composer of "Wicked," "Godspell" and "Pippin."

Among new productions that Schwartz has worked on is "The Secret Silk," which features life-size puppetry from Jim Henson's Creature Shop, dance and special effects. It was created and directed by John Tartaglia, a star of Broadway's "Avenue Q" and "Beauty and the Beast."

Schwartz also provided the score for "Magic to Do," a musical revue paired with onstage illusions that features many of his best-known songs, as well as an original number he created just for Princess.

Princess is also known for its karaoke nights, and it recently began holding a new "The Voice of the Ocean" competition during cruises that is a spinoff of the TV show. Passengers compete in a live performance after karaoke auditions and rehearsal sessions with the shipboard band and backup singers. A team of coaches sits in giant "I Want You" chairs just like on the show, and passengers vote to choose the winner.

Other interior attractions and activities

In addition to entertainment spaces, the interiors of Princess ships are filled with other venues where passengers can kick back and let loose day and night, including a range of bars, lounges and nightspots.

On many ships, the hub of activity is the Piazza, a sprawling, multilevel space designed to resemble a square in Italy. The configuration of the Piazza varies by ship, but the area typically offers several shops, a coffee bar called International Cafe, a wine bar called Vines and (on some vessels) additional bars and eateries. The Piazza is also home to roving "street performers."

Every Princess ship also has a casino, often just off the Piazza, and spas are big on Princess ships. The Lotus Spa complexes on the line's Royal Class ships offer nearly two dozen treatment rooms, an extensive beauty salon and a thermal suite with a hydrotherapy pool, heated stone beds, Turkish-style steam bath and other steam chambers.

The recently unveiled Sky Princess was home to the first jazz club on a Princess ship (called Take 5), and a similar venue has since been added to Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess.

In addition to such venues, Princess offers a lot of enrichment activities on its ships. The line has partnered with Discovery to offer a Discovery at Sea program on vessels that includes activities like stargazing with a specialist from a top deck. The program also brings destination specialists and naturalists on board in places such as Alaska to offer insights.

Inspired by Discovery's popular Shark Week, Princess has also created Shark Week at Sea programming that runs on select sailings in the summer with activities and games designed to challenge both adults and kids on the myths and interesting facts about sharks.

Culinary demonstrations, wine tastings and dance classes also are big on Princess ships.

Top-deck attractions

The top decks of Princess ships are notable for what they don't have: There are no pedal-powered sky rides or ropes courses like you'll find on Carnival ships or the go-kart tracks that top some Norwegian vessels . There are no surfing simulators, sky diving simulators, rock climbing walls or zip lines of the sort found on Royal Caribbean vessels. For the most part, there aren't even waterslides or watery splash zones (one vessel, Caribbean Princess, now offers the Reef Splash Zone for families).

Princess executives long ago decided not to engage in what they call the "amusement park arms race" taking place between lines operating big, resort-like ships.

Instead, the line has stuck to the basics with its top decks. They are covered with relaxing pool and lounge zones — and lots of them.

On the last three Royal-class ships, for instance, there's a main pool area at the center of the top deck with two full pools and three hot tubs, and a secondary pool area at the back of the ship with another pool. There's also an adults-only pool area toward the front of the vessel, along with an extra-charge, adults-only relaxation area called the Sanctuary.

Between all these pool and lounge areas, running along the sides of the ship, are additional sunning areas with lounge chairs and four more hot tubs.

In short, there is a ton of space for relaxing on the top deck of these newest Princess vessels — more than you'll find on any other ship of comparable size, save for their earlier sisters in the Royal class.

The one big "attraction" that you will find on the top deck of Princess ships, always at the main pool area, is a giant Movies Under the Stars movie screen. A growing number of cruise ships now have movie screens on their pool decks, but Princess pioneered the concept.

The screens show movies, concerts and sporting events during the day, but at night they really shine. In a longtime Princess tradition, the line turns the main pool areas of its ships into outdoor movie theaters at night by reconfiguring lounge chairs to face the screen and bringing out blankets to ward off the evening chill. They even serve popcorn.

Some ships also feature basketball courts, miniature golf putting courses, shuffleboard games and ping-pong tables tucked into corners of their top decks.

Children's programs

While it doesn't draw as many families with young children as Carnival or Royal Caribbean, Princess offers an extensive children's program that gets high marks from parents.

The Princess Youth and Teen centers were recently rebranded "Camp Discovery" as part of the line's partnership with Discovery Communications, and offer free, supervised activities daily for children ages 3-17.

The line splits children in the program into three age groups: the Treehouse (ages 3 to 7 years), the Lodge (ages 8 to 12 years) and the Beach House (ages 13 to 17 years). Each age group often has its own separate facilities on ships. On some ships, the age groups may be further divided based on available space.

Each group has its own age-appropriate activities, with newly revamped experiences designed to "help young Princess explorers learn, play and create fun memories."

While the free programming for children ages 3 to 12 ends at 10 p.m., you can pay extra to leave your kids at shipboard Youth and Teen centers past 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. During those hours, they're supervised in what is essentially a group child-sitting service.

The Youth and Teen centers also welcome children under the age of 3 if they are accompanied by an adult.

Related: The 12 cruise ships with the most spectacular attractions at sea

What to know before you go

Required documents.

A passport is required for all international itineraries, including sailings to Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, India, Central and South America, Panama Canal (partial and full transit), Caribbean voyages that visit Martinique or Guadeloupe, South Pacific, Tahiti and World Cruises.

If you're a U.S. citizen, you don't need a passport for many domestic itineraries (including Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico sailings). You can instead travel with an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification. A few other forms of identification, such as a passport card, are also acceptable. That said, Princess strongly recommends that all travelers bring a passport.

Passports must be valid for at least six months. The name on your reservation must be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality.

Princess adds an automatic service gratuity of $16 to $18 per person per day to final bills, depending on your cabin category. If you are unhappy with the service you receive, you can adjust this amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking. (You can also increase the tip amount if so desired.) Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bills at bars, dining room wine accounts and spas.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on a cruise ship

Princess has been rolling out faster Wi-Fi systems with land-like speeds across its fleet in recent years, such that you now can stream video on some ships. Pricing changes over time, but the line recently charged $9.99 per day to hook up a single device. In February 2023, the rate for a single device is scheduled to rise to $15.

The faster Princess Wi-Fi system is called MedallionNet, and it's one of several technological upgrades that Princess is rolling out to ships under an umbrella called MedallionClass. MedallionClass also brings expedited embarkation, keyless cabin entry, on-demand food and beverage delivery, and the ability to locate friends and family on board — all via several apps for mobile devices and a Princess-issued medallion that passengers carry while traveling.

Related: Wi-Fi on ships really is getting better

Carry-on drinks policy

Princess allows you to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne per person onto ships at boarding at no charge (for consuming in your room; you'll be charged a $15 corkage fee if you want to bring it to an onboard restaurant or bar to drink). You can bring even more bottles of wine on board, but you will pay a $15 corkage fee per bottle.

Smoking policy

On all ships, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas and in cigar lounges, designated sections within nightclubs and at designated slot machines within casinos (for those who are playing). It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies. Passengers caught smoking in their cabins will be charged a $250 fine per occurrence. One exception to the above rule is that e-cigarettes are allowed in cabins (but not on cabin balconies).

Princess ships have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. There's a $3 per load charge to use a washer or dryer. The launderettes also have vending machines that dispense small boxes of detergent and water softener at $1.50 per box. In addition, vessels offer extra-charge laundry and dry cleaning services.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry services

Electrical outlets

All vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets in rooms, and some also have European-style, 220-volt outlets and USB ports in cabins.

The currency used on most Princess itineraries is U.S. dollars. The exceptions are select sailings on ships based in Australia, where pricing is listed in Australian dollars. All vessels operate on a "cashless system," with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. You'll receive a medallion that you can use to make charges. This same card or medallion also is what lets you into your cabin.

Drinking age

You must be 21 to consume alcohol on many Princess itineraries. The exceptions include sailings between ports in Europe, China, Australia and New Zealand, and Singapore, where the drinking age is 18. For cruises between Japan ports, the drinking age is 20.

During the day, there is no specific dress code, and people dress casually. If it's a sea day in a warm-weather destination, and you're bound for the top deck, that means looking like you're going to the beach — T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside) are just fine.

During the evenings, there is an official dress code that is enforced when entering restaurants. Most nights are designated "smart casual," which Princess takes to mean pants and an open-neck shirt for men and skirts and dresses or slacks for women.

Beach attire, shorts, baseball caps and casual jeans (think the fraying kind or those with holes) are not allowed. One or more nights per cruise, depending on the cruise length, will be designated as a "formal" night when men are expected to turn out in dark suits with a tie or even a tuxedo. The suggested attire for women on such nights is evening gowns or cocktail dresses.

Related: What to pack for your first cruise

Princess Cruises' loyalty program

Princess has a four-tier frequent cruiser program, the Captain's Circle, that is worth joining for the perks — if you're willing to bear with its convoluted tier qualifying structure.

You reach the first tier, Gold, by taking a single cruise. However, from there, you move to each successive tier either by accruing a certain number of "cruise credits" (which aren't necessarily the same as the number of cruises you've taken) or by sailing a certain number of days.

To reach the Ruby level, for instance, requires three cruise credits (more on those in a moment) or 30 days on Princess ships. Platinum status kicks in after five cruise credits or 50 days on ships.

Related: The Princess loyalty program in detail

In most cases, members earn one cruise credit for every cruise they take. However, members who book a suite or travel solo in a cabin meant for two will receive two cruise credits for the voyage. The number of cruise credits you have earned is thus often the same as the number of cruises you have taken, but not always.

As is typical with cruise line loyalty programs, lower tiers don't bring all that much in terms of truly valuable benefits. You'll receive things like an invite to a private party (at the Gold tier) and a free upgrade to your travel insurance package when buying it through the line (at the Ruby tier). However, higher levels of the program start to be enticing.

The second-to-highest tier, Platinum, brings such perks as priority check-in and boarding, and a free internet package.

The top Elite level (15 cruise credits or 151 cruise days) adds such things as an exclusive window to preview and book new itineraries, priority ship-to-shore water shuttle service, complimentary laundry and a complimentary minibar setup.

Members at all tier levels get access to special pricing on certain cruises. They also receive a monthly newsletter and membership pin.

Note that, in contrast to airline frequent flyer programs, cruise line loyalty programs do not require you to requalify for status every year. So, yes, the perks with lower tiers aren't great. However, it's not as difficult as it might at first seem to hit the more rewarding higher-level tiers in just a few years if you're cruising a lot.

A Princess passenger staying in suites will hit the Platinum level after just three cruises. The top Elite level is reachable within just eight cruises for someone staying in suites.

Related: The TPG guide to cruise line loyalty programs

How much does a Princess cruise cost?

Princess ships are very reasonably priced. They're not the least expensive vessels out there, but they're not pricey by any means. It's possible to find Princess voyages to the Caribbean, Bahamas or Mexico starting under $100 per person, per night, including all taxes and fees — at least in the offseason.

As of the date of this story's posting, for instance, seven-night sailings from Fort Lauderdale to the Eastern Caribbean in May started at just $571 per person, not including taxes and fees of $140. That works out to just $102 per night, per person, with taxes and fees for a package that includes your lodging, transportation and meals.

As you might expect, pricing for ships will generally be lower during offseason periods such as September, October, November (not including Thanksgiving week) and parts of December.

When you book can also matter. Cruises book up much further in advance than airplanes or hotels. Many cruisers will tell you that the best pricing for any given sailing is often available when cruises first go on sale (which can be a good two years before a departure). Booking far in advance also gives you the best chance of getting your preferred cabin type and location on a ship.

Once on board a Princess ship, you'll pay extra for most drinks, extra-charge restaurants, spa services, shore excursions, internet service and a few other things — unless you've bought a package for some of these items in advance.

Specifically, the line recently unveiled new bundle pricing for extra-charge items such as gratuity fees, Wi-Fi fees and a few other fees for onboard items if passengers pay for them in advance.

The line's new Princess Plus plan gives passengers pre-paid gratuities, a single-device Wi-Fi plan and a basic beverage package for a bundled price of $50 per person per day.

The line also recently launched an enhanced version of the above plan called Princess Premier, which adds a photo package and two free meals at restaurants that normally have an extra charge. The Princess Premier plan costs $75 per person per day.

Most onboard activities, such as theater shows, are included in the fare.

Related: 15 ways that first-time cruisers waste money on a cruise

How to book

If you're sure you know what sort of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary — and about a dozen other things — you can head over to Princess.com to make a booking directly.

That said, given the complexity of booking a cruise — there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process, trust us — we recommend that you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises.

A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences, and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. They can also help you if something goes wrong just before, during or after your voyage.

If you're sure that Princess is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand. You want someone who understands all the little quirks that are unique to Princess cabin categories and, preferably, has done ship inspections to see the cabins first hand.

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your credit card points when paying for the cruise by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases . This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve , which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and dining (excluding the annual up-to-$300 travel credit). There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining.

Bottom line

Princess offers big, amenity-filled ships that are comfortable and classy, at an affordable price.

If you're looking for a lot of deck-top pizzazz — waterslides, go-kart tracks and the like — it's probably not the line for you. However, if you're on the hunt for not-too-expensive vessels that will take you to the farthest corners of the world in comfort, the ships of Princess should be on your shortlist.

It's also a great line if you're trying to put together a multigenerational trip, as its ships are designed to appeal to a wide range of age groups.

Deployment Preview: Princess Cruises’ 2025-26 Americas Season at a Glance

• December 16, 2023

Princess Cruises will offer its largest ever program in the Americas for the 2025-26 season. With record capacity in the Caribbean and other destinations , the program will feature a total of 278 cruises, departing from seven different homeports, including San Francisco; Los Angeles; Galveston; Port Everglades; Port Canaveral; New York City; and Vancouver.

Cruise Industry News takes a closer look at the ships and itineraries being offered by the company during the season.

• 10 ships – the largest deployment ever – including the Star Princess sailing its maiden season from North America, joining its sister ship Sun Princess, as well as the Caribbean Princess, the Emerald Princess, the Enchanted Princess, the Island Princess, the Majestic Princess, the Regal Princess, the Sapphire Princess and the Sky Princess.
• 29 destinations in 22 countries throughout the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean.
• 178 total departures of 25 unique itineraries, ranging from four to 20 days.
• The Star Princess and the Sun Princess sail seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises on Saturdays and Sundays
• The Majestic Princess sails a new program including eight-day Southern Caribbean sailings to the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao), eight-day Eastern Caribbean and six-day Western Caribbean voyages
• The Enchanted Princess continues her popular, longer 10-day Southern Caribbean with Martinique or Eastern Caribbean with Tortola or St. Kitts
• The Regal Princess returns to Galveston for a third season of seven-day Western Caribbean voyages with Mexico.
• The Sky Princess sails her first season from Port Canaveral with eight-day Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings and six-day sailings to the Eastern Caribbean.
• The Enchanted Princess departs on a 12-day New York to Ft. Lauderdale voyage visiting the ABC Islands – Aruba, Barbados and Curaçao.

Panama Canal

• Five ships – the Caribbean Princess and the Island Princess spend a full season taking guests to see the Panama Canal and are joined by the Coral Princess, the Emerald Princess and the Sapphire Princess as they transit the region in fall and/or spring.
• 27 destinations in 13 countries throughout Central America and the Caribbean.
• 28 total departures on eight unique itineraries.
• Roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale with partial transits of the Panama Canal – 12-day voyages from Ft. Lauderdale
• Ocean to ocean with full transits of the Panama Canal – 16-day voyages between Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles or San Francisco; 18-day cruises between New York and Los Angeles; 23-day itinerary from Vancouver to Ft. Lauderdale
• Three ships – the Emerald Princess, the Royal Princess and the Ruby Princess
• 31 total departures on four unique itineraries departing from Los Angeles or San Francisco with voyages from seven to 14 days.
• In honor of Princess Cruises’ 60th anniversary, the Royal Princess departs on a 14-day Mexican Riviera sailing December 6, 2025, the same month the 6,000-ton, 90-passenger Princess Patricia first departed Los Angeles in 1965. Commemorative events will be held onboard this sailing and feature overnight stays in Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, as well as stops in Loreto and Manzanillo.
• The Royal Princess also sails seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles.
• The Emerald Princess departs on 10-day Baja Peninsula & Sea of Cortez cruises from Los Angeles, including an overnight in Cabo San Lucas on every sailing.
• The Ruby Princess offers 11-day Mexico cruises roundtrip from San Francisco with a late-night stay in Cabo San Lucas on every voyage.

California Coast

• Seven ships – the Caribbean Princess, the Coral Princess, the Discovery Princess, the Grand Princess, the Royal Princess, the Ruby Princess and the Sapphire Princess.
• 21 total departures on nine unique itineraries from Los Angeles, San Francisco or Vancouver.
• The Royal Princess returns for a West Coast season including seven-day Classic California Coast voyages from Los Angeles, with More Ashore late-night stays in San Francisco and San Diego. The ship also sails four- and five-day West Coast Getaways featuring late-night stays in either San Diego or San Francisco.
• The Ruby Princess returns to San Francisco with five- and seven-day cruises along the California Coast, plus a seven-day Pacific Northwest Coast cruise with late-night stays in Victoria, Vancouver and Seattle.
• The Coral Princess takes guests on an 11-day California Coast roundtrip cruise from Vancouver with late-night stays in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
• Wine lovers delight with five, seven-day Pacific Wine Country cruises between Vancouver and Los Angeles on the Royal Princess, the Coral Princess and the Caribbean Princess.

Hawaii & South Pacific

• Five ships – the Coral Princess, the Emerald Princess, the Island Princess, the Ruby Princess and the Sapphire Princess.
• 23 destinations in 11 countries, on 20 total departures and five itineraries, from 16 to 54 days.
• 16-day Hawaiian Islands sailing roundtrip from Los Angeles, San Francisco or Vancouver with a late-night stay in Honolulu on every cruise
• 32-day South Pacific Islands & Hawaii cruises from Los Angeles with late-night stays in Honolulu and Tahiti
• Island Princess sails a new ultimate adventure roundtrip from Los Angeles on a 54-day South Pacific, Australia & New Zealand voyage, visiting 16 islands including Fiji, Samoa, Tasmania and the island continent of Australia with late-night stays in Honolulu, Tahiti, Sydney and Brisbane

Cruise Industry News Email Alerts

• Breaking News

Get the latest breaking  cruise news .  Sign up.

54 Ships | 122,002 Berths | $36 Billion | View

Highlights:

• Mkt. Overview
• Record Year
• Refit Schedule
• PDF Download
• Order Today

• 2033 Industry Outlook 
• All Operators
• Easy to Use
• Pre-Order Offer
• Advertising
• Cruise News
• Magazine Articles
• Quarterly Magazine
• Annual Report
• Email Newsletter
• Executive Guide
• Digital Reports

Privacy Overview

Protect Your Trip »

The 8 best alaska cruises for families.

Plan your next family vacation to explore the boundless beauty of the 49th state.

The Best Alaska Cruises for Families

Courtesy of Princess Cruises

A cruise to Alaska is a once-in-a-lifetime family or multigenerational vacation. With unique opportunities for wildlife viewing and outdoor adventures that you won't find anywhere else in the world – not to mention scenic cruising days on the ship to spend time together – this special experience will stay with you forever.

For an extended vacation in the 49th state, consider booking a cruisetour. This combined cruise and pre- or post-cruise land tour option is offered by many of the larger cruise lines. The tours visit some of the top attractions in the state , such as Denali National Park and Preserve, and often include picturesque rides into Alaska's remote wilderness aboard the Alaska Railroad. Some tours also head north to Fairbanks and visit Kenai Fjords National Park or Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (or both, in some cases). You can choose between fully escorted adventures or laid-back options to explore on your own, depending on what works best for your family.

Ready to book your Alaska adventure? These eight cruise lines offer excellent family-friendly excursions ashore , plus plenty of onboard activities to keep both kids and parents entertained during days at sea.

Find your perfect cruise

Princess Cruises: 7-Day Voyage of the Glaciers with Glacier Bay

Departure city: Vancouver, British Columbia

The 2024 cruise season brings Princess' 55th-anniversary sailing to The Great Land, and the line is offering more than 150 Alaska voyages between April and September. The popular Voyage of the Glaciers with Glacier Bay itinerary northbound from Vancouver to Anchorage (Whittier), Alaska , is available on dozens of dates this season on Grand Princess , Royal Princess or Sapphire Princess . The sailing includes stops in the ports of Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, as well as scenic cruising in beautiful Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and College Fjord in Alaska. If you prefer a smaller ship, choose Grand Princess or Sapphire Princess, which hold 2,610 and 2,680 passengers (double occupancy), respectively. Meanwhile, Royal Princess accommodates 3,560 guests at double occupancy.

The Princess Cruises North to Alaska program features immersive, family-friendly opportunities to learn about the history and traditions of the 49th state. Guests can sample fresh local seafood and meet famous Alaskans such as Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the 1,100-mile Iditarod dog race. In Skagway, families can meet some of the newest sled dogs and their handlers during Puppies in the Piazza on the ship. Younger cruisers and teens can participate in the Alaska Explorers Youth Program in partnership with Glacier Bay National Park and the Discovery Channel, which includes activities like the "Deadliest Catch" Crab Sort Challenge.

The North to Alaska program also partners with Discovery and Animal Planet to feature onboard exhibits about Alaska, as well as curated excursions like the White Pass Rail Bennett Lake & Yukon Adventure in Skagway, which was created by a train historian. Back on the ship, kids and teens can hang out with other young cruisers their age at Camp Discovery's Treehouse (ages 3 to 7), Lodge (8 to 12) or Beach House (13 to 17). In addition, be sure to keep an eye out for Princess Cruises' Alaska mascot: Stanley the Bear. You might even find him during story time at the kids clubs wearing a captain's uniform or destination-themed costumes, such as lumberjack gear in Ketchikan.

Norwegian Cruise Line: Alaska – Dawes Glacier, Juneau & Ketchikan

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Departure city: Seattle, Washington

This seven-day round-trip voyage from Seattle is available on Norwegian Bliss from April to September during the line's 2024 Alaska season. The sailing includes the ports of Sitka, Juneau , Icy Strait Point and Ketchikan (Ward Cove), plus scenic cruising in Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier in Alaska. There's also an evening stop in Victoria, British Columbia , before disembarking in Seattle. Norwegian Bliss can carry 4,004 passengers at double occupancy and 4,266 passengers at maximum capacity.

The entire family will enjoy excursions like the Whale Watching & Bear Search tour in Icy Strait Point, while thrill-seekers of all ages will want to book an adrenaline-pumping ride down the mountain on the massive ZipRider zip line. In Ketchikan, take a hike through Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the U.S., where you might catch glimpses of wildlife like black bears or bald eagles. You can also head offshore from Ketchikan aboard the Aleutian Ballad, the famed ship from Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch," to pick up the day's bounty of king crab and search for marine wildlife along Alaska's Inside Passage.

Plenty of family activities and entertainment options are offered on this Norwegian Cruise Line ship, including the Bliss Speedway, a two-level racetrack at sea; laser tag; mini-golf; an interactive aqua park with waterslides that zip above the side of the ship; a video arcade; and live entertainment. You'll also find kids clubs designed for younger children and teens , as well as adults-only escapes like Vibe Beach Club and Spice H2O. When it comes to dining, there's no shortage of casual fare for hungry kids at venues like the Garden Café buffet, American Diner and The Local Bar & Grill.

Disney Cruise Line: 7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver

Matt Stroshane | Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

This seven-night itinerary aboard Disney Wonder departs round-trip from Vancouver on several voyages throughout the 2024 Alaska season, which runs from May to September. The weeklong Disney Cruise Line sailing includes glacier viewing along the Stikine Icecap and stops in Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. Plus, you'll enjoy plenty of Disney fun on board, with character meet-and-greets, Broadway-quality shows, and entertaining activities and venues for kids and adults alike.

Many of the ship's nautical-themed staterooms are designed with families in mind and feature a "split bath" concept and extra under-bed storage for suitcases. Disney Wonder can hold 1,750 passengers at double occupancy and 2,700 passengers at maximum capacity. The ship's unique rotational dining venues include an "under the sea" adventure at Triton's, a dinner show with Disney characters at Animator's Palate and Southern specialties with jazz music at Tiana's Place. For a night out sans kids, adults can savor a quiet evening with northern Italian cuisine at Palo or nosh on casual pub fare at Crown & Fin Pub. Younger sailors will find age-appropriate spaces at Disney's Oceaneer Club and Lab, tween venue Edge, and teen club Vibe.

Disney's excursions also offer family fun ashore – especially in Skagway. Try panning for gold with Disney characters like Donald Duck, then feast on baked Alaska salmon at Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp. You can also take an extended six-hour tour by boat into Alaska's deepest fjord, Lynn Canal, then hike through the rainforest to reach your canoe for a wilderness safari at Glacier Point. For a bucket list splurge, reserve a spot on the helicopter flightseeing tour that includes dog mushing on the Denver Glacier with a team of Alaska sled dogs.

Holland America Line: 7-Day Alaska Inside Passage

Courtesy of Holland America Line

Holland America's Koningsdam will sail the line's seven-day Inside Passage itinerary more than 20 times between April and September in 2024. This round-trip voyage embarks in Vancouver and includes multiple days of scenic cruising. You'll sail through the Inside Passage for two days; through Tracy Arm Inlet, where you can disembark for a shore excursion; and through Glacier Bay, where the Junior Ranger Program is a highlight for kids. The ports of call on this itinerary are Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan in Alaska.

Koningsdam features dedicated family staterooms with beds for up to five guests, two bathrooms and extra closet space. The ship carries 2,650 guests at double occupancy and 3,194 passengers at maximum capacity. A wildlife expert on the ship helps guests spot Alaska's incredible marine and land animals through announcements and during daily programs. Keep an eye out for humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, moose, brown bears and other wildlife. While in the Tracy Arm Wilderness Area, you'll want to take the Tracy Arm Fjord & Glacier Explorer excursion to explore glacier-covered mountains, jagged cliffs and the largest temperate rainforest in the U.S. surrounding the fjord. On a high-speed catamaran, you'll get up-close views of the Sawyer Glaciers and have potential sightings of harbor seals, bears, mountain goats and more.

Back on board, Holland America Line 's kids club offers supervised, age-appropriate activities for young cruisers ages 3 to 17 – including children who may need certain accommodations. You'll also find plenty of family-friendly options for dining on Koningsdam, including Lido Market, New York Pizza and the poolside Dive In grill. During the cruise, look for themed evenings in the Lido Market like salmon bakes or seafood boil pop-up dinners, which are in line with Holland America's commitment to serving certified sustainable and traceable Alaska seafood. An Alaska brunch is also offered once during the voyage in the main dining room; you'll enjoy dishes highlighting ingredients from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Royal Caribbean International: 7 Night Alaska Adventure Cruise

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Hop aboard Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas for the seven-night Alaska Adventure Cruise, sailing round-trip from Seattle . This itinerary is available on several dates between May and August 2024 and features stops in the towns of Ketchikan, Sitka and Juneau, plus scenic cruising in Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier in Alaska. There's also an afternoon call in the Canadian city of Victoria. While there, book an off-roading excursion through the coastal rainforest that includes a zip line adventure. Or, take a self-guided tour through Victoria's famed Butchart Gardens and the tropical Butterfly Gardens filled with wildlife.

Quantum of the Seas – which holds 4,180 passengers at double occupancy and 4,905 passengers at maximum capacity – is one of the two larger Royal Caribbean ships sailing in Alaska in 2024 (Ovation of the Seas is the other). As such, it offers abundant activities and entertainment for families at sea. On board, guests can experience Ripcord by iFly (the only skydiving simulator at sea) and take in snow-capped mountain views from the FlowRider surf simulator or atop the ship's rock climbing wall. Other onboard activities include bumper cars, an escape room, an arcade, pickleball and The Silent Party (a dance party where everyone wears headphones).

At mealtime, kids will have plenty of choices for casual and quick bites, from carefully crafted hot dogs at the Dog House and specialty pies at Sorrento's Pizza to around-the-clock snacks at Café Promenade and grab-and-go fare at The Café@Two70. When the little ones want to play or chill out with kids their age, Adventure Ocean offers activities for children 3 to 12 years old. Meanwhile, teens can meet other 13- to 17-year-olds at the Hideout Hangout.

Carnival Cruise Line: 7-Day Alaska from Seattle, WA

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line

Departure city: Juneau, Alaska

Carnival's 2024 Alaska season runs from May to September, with the 7-Day Alaska from Seattle itinerary available every month during that time. The round-trip sailing aboard Carnival Luminosa stops in Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia. You'll enjoy scenic cruising in Victoria and through Tracy Arm Fjord. You'll also have one "fun day at sea" to check out the activities and entertainment on the ship, which offers a double occupancy capacity of 2,260 passengers and a maximum capacity of 2,826 passengers.

Younger sailors ages 2 to 11 can join in on ocean-themed games, songs and programming at Camp Ocean, while tweens and teens (ages 12 to 17) can participate in destination-focused activities at See the World. Club 02 is a designated space for guests ages 15 to 17 to watch movies, play sports and video games, and more. Families can enjoy Dive-In Movies together at Carnival Seaside Theater and watch live musical productions at Playlist Productions. When it comes to dining on Carnival , families will have a choice of several casual restaurants to satisfy finicky eaters, including Pizzeria del Capitano, The Carnival Deli, Lido Marketplace and Swirls for soft serve ice cream. For a special night out, make reservations at the Steakhouse, which costs extra but offers reduced prices for children 11 and younger.

When going ashore, Juneau offers many family-friendly excursions – some of which you may not have the chance to experience anywhere else in the world. The Taku Lodge Feast & 5-Glacier Seaplane Discovery takes guests airborne by bush plane over the five glaciers in the Juneau Icefield. After the ride, you'll land in the Taku River at the historic Taku Lodge, which sits across from Juneau's largest glacier, the Taku Glacier. At the lodge, you'll feast on a bountiful meal featuring homemade side dishes and one of the best-known local seafood specialties, Alaska king salmon.

Celebrity Cruises: 7 Nights Alaska Hubbard Glacier

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity's seven-night Alaska Hubbard Glacier itinerary is available on nine voyages between May and September 2024. The Celebrity Solstice (which holds 2,852 guests at double occupancy) sails round-trip from Vancouver and stops in the ports of Icy Strait Point, Juneau and Ketchikan in Alaska. You'll have two days of scenic cruising in the Inside Passage and around Hubbard Glacier. While in Icy Strait Point, book a guided nature walk excursion along the "Trail of the Bears" in the bush country of the Spasski River Valley. During your search for Alaska's coastal brown bears, you'll also learn about the Tlingit culture and community in Hoonah, and perhaps even see Sitka black-tailed deer and bald eagles.

Back on the ship, Celebrity's Camp at Sea program entertains children, tweens and teens ages 3 to 17 with four different age-appropriate programs: Shipmates (ages 3 to 5), Cadets (ages 6 to 9), Captains (ages 10 to 12) and Teens (ages 13 to 17). The customizable activities change every cruise and are based on the interests of the participants. Celebrity also offers autism-friendly activities and services for families on board.

When it comes to dining options on the ship, families will find kid-friendly selections on the in-room dining menu and at the main restaurant. For quick casual fare, head to the buffet-style Oceanview Café or to the Mast Grill for burgers and other grab-and-go bites. If you want healthier dishes, the Spa Café offers homemade energy bars, acai bowls, turkey wraps and other light choices.

UnCruise Adventures: Glacier Bay Adventure Cruise

Courtesy of UnCruise Adventures

If you prefer a small-ship cruise experience without the bells and whistles of some larger vessels, UnCruise offers adventure-style cruises to Alaska on its fleet of safari- and expedition-style ships. With these intimate cruises, you and the kids (ages 8 and older) can get up close to glaciers, wildlife and Alaska's vast wilderness directly from the ship via Zodiacs and kayaks. You may even see wildlife from a short distance away along the shoreline, as UnCruise vessels are able to sail into smaller waterways that are inaccessible to larger ships.

The line's Glacier Bay Adventure Cruise features two full days in pristine Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve aboard the Wilderness Discoverer, which holds a maximum of 76 passengers. Here, guests can hike along remote coastlines amid old-growth forests, view sea life up close and go birding at South Marble Island. You'll also have the opportunity to see several tidewater glaciers, go kayaking in the Keku Islands and explore Neka Bay on Chichagof Island. Another highlight is a visit to Glacier Bay Lodge at Bartlett Cove, the only hotel accommodations in the 3.3 million-acre national park. The seven-night itinerary departs round-trip from Juneau and is offered between April and September 2024.

The full itinerary includes stops in Icy Strait and Neka Bay; Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve; Chichagof Island (which boasts the world's largest population of brown bears per square mile); Frederick Sound; and Tracy Arm and the Sawyer Glaciers. During the weeklong cruise, you'll have narration by expert onboard guides and embark on some of the most memorable adventures your kids will ever have in Alaska's remote wilderness.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has sailed on nearly every type of cruise ship, including the newest megaships, traditional masted sailing ships, river ships in Europe and a small luxury expedition vessel in Antarctica. She has cruised to Alaska and visited The Great Land in the summer, fall and winter, and journeyed to remote areas by bush plane above the Arctic Circle. She used her knowledge of Alaska cruises and extensive research to write this article. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• Alaska Cruise Packing List: Must-Have Items
• The Best Time to Cruise to Alaska
• The Most Affordable Alaska Cruises
• The Best Alaska Cruise Lines
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

Top All-Inclusive Family Resorts

Tags: Travel , Cruises

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

The best charleston tours.

John Rodwan April 4, 2024

The Best Napa Valley Wine Tours

Amanda Norcross April 4, 2024

The 10 Best Denver Tours

Lyn Mettler April 4, 2024

Top Memorial Day Weekend Getaways

Nicola Wood April 3, 2024

The Best Way to Renew a Passport

Amanda Norcross April 3, 2024

The Best Checked Luggage

Erin Evans , Rachael Hood , Catriona Kendall , Sharael Kolberg , Amanda Norcross and Leilani Osmundson April 3, 2024

The Best Venice Tours

Lyn Mettler and Marisa Méndez April 2, 2024

The Best Travel Toiletry Bags

Amanda Norcross April 2, 2024

U.S. News Best Bed & Breakfasts Rankings

U.S. News Hotels Editors April 2, 2024

The Best Carry-on Backpacks

Rachael Hood , Erin Evans , Catriona Kendall , Amanda Norcross and Leilani Osmundson March 29, 2024

Australia & New Zealand / Aotearoa Cruises

Explore the wonders down under on a cruise to new zealand and australia.

Why Cruise to Australia & New Zealand?

Epic landscapes, colorful cultures and laid-back charm – experience it all on board an Australia & New Zealand / Aotearoa cruise with Princess the #1 cruise line in Australia. We’ll take you to golden beaches, rugged outback, world-class cities and beyond. And on board, delight in  local food and entertainment as our Across the Ditch immersive program brings the very best of New Zealand to you.

Watch our Australia & New Zealand Cruise Videos: Australia & New Zealand

Australia Cruises

Your choice of Australian cruise ports is as grand as the continent itself. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge for a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the Sydney Opera House. Trek through one of the world’s last temperate rainforests in Tasmania, sample award-winning wine in Margaret River and snorkel in the crystalline waters of the Great Barrier Reef or ride camelback on a beach in Broome / Rubibi .

Find Cruises   Learn More

New Zealand / Aotearoa Cruises

Marvel at the spectacular scenery of Fiordland National Park / Piopiotahi , voted one of the 7 Cruise World Wonders by Condé Nast Traveler . Immerse yourself in Māori culture, see glowworms twinkle in underground caves outside Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau , stroll the famed Art Deco city of Napier / Ahuriri, and peek into moviemaking magic with The Lord of the Rings tour in Wellington .

The wonders of Australia and New Zealand are like no other! From iconic cruises from Sydney to the coastal beauty of Brisbane / Meeanjin , the rich culture of Melbourne , the famed wine country of Perth (Fremantle) / Boorloo (Walyalup) and Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau , the land of the Māori, more departures to and from Adelaide / Tarndanya than ever before – each city possesses a vibrant spirit and a unique personality worth discovering.

Princess® MedallionClass®

Explore destinations easily on a MedallionClass vacation. Taking in balcony or top deck views, and don’t want to move? Order drinks that find you. Want to make the most of your time away? Design each perfect day with our interactive activity planner. Hate to wait when boarding or disembarking in port? Choose your preferred arrival window and make gangway reservations. Enjoy more time to connect with the places you sail.

Learn more about Princess MedallionClass | Learn more about MedallionNet® Internet  

Soak in Local Flavors and Revel in Rich Traditions

Princess® brings the joy of discovery on board Australia & New Zealand cruises. Experience the sights, sounds and flavors of Australia & New Zealand. Learn a traditional Māori war dance, indulge in authentic Kiwi cuisine, and sip fine wines and spirits from each region.

Food & Beverage on Australia & New Zealand / Aotearoa Cruises

• Enjoy delicious new culinary experiences that highlight the region created exclusively for Princess.
• Our beverage menus include popular regional beer, wine and whisky selections for a taste of local flavors.

Activities on Australia & New Zealand / Aotearoa Cruises

• Watch feature films with a local twist – such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Piano – on deck at our Movies Under the Stars® outdoor theater.
• Join the performers as you learn the legend of the haka, an ancient Māori war dance.
• Celebrate Matariki, a Māori festival marking the start of the Māori New Year, with ceremonial offerings and homage to whakapapa (ancestors), and revel in exciting on-deck parties during our “ Festivals of the World ” celebration.

Discover More Ashore on a Princess® Cruise to Australia & New Zealand / Aotearoa

Australia & New Zealand / Aotearoa Cruise Shore Excursions

Princess Cruises offers a vast array of award-winning excursions, including several Discovery™ and Animal Planet™ Recommended and Exclusive tours that provide unique experiences you’ll never forget, such as snorkeling in the turquoise waters of the Great Barrier Reef or bushwalking in the Blue Mountains.

Australia Cruisetour Vacations

For the ultimate adventure, choose an in-depth Princess Cruisetour Vacation that combines your cruise with a multiple-night land tour. Venture into Australia’s rugged outback for a look at fabled Uluru (Ayers Rock), and later dive into the brilliant underwater colors of the Great Barrier Reef.

Find Cruisetours   Learn More

Australia and New Zealand / Aotearoa Cruise Articles

Australia & New Zealand Cruises

Visit iconic landmarks in Australia, strikingly diverse landscapes in New Zealand, and the palm-fringed islands of the South Pacific.

Things to Do in Brisbane Cruise Port for Couples, Singles & Families

Find things to do in Brisbane, Australia, while you're in port.

5 Things to Bring Back from Your Australia Cruise

Wondering what to bring back from your Australia cruise?

Tauranga Shore Excursions: Maori Culture and History Comes Alive

Explore foreign lands when you embark on a Tauranga shore excursions.

10 Melbourne Travel Tips to Help Cruisers Fit in with Locals

These 10 Melbourne travel tips from Princess Cruises will help you experience the best of this iconic Australian city as only a local would.

Fiordland National Park Excursions: Experience the Majesty of New Zealand

Witness the majestic beauty of New Zealand on Fiordland National Park cruise excursions.

See all Australia and New Zealand / Aotearoa articles and videos

Let Princess Get You There