9 Huge Changes Coming to Princess Cruises in 2026

Princess Cruises has quite a lot going on in 2026! From bigger cruise programmes and new destinations to changes in pricing and onboard tech, there are plenty of updates worth knowing about if you’re planning a Princess cruise soon.

Some of these changes are already in place, while others will roll out throughout the year. Either way, it’s clear Princess is tweaking quite a few things behind the scenes while still trying to keep that familiar, relaxed style the line is known for.

But not all of these are changes you’ll welcome…

1. Caribbean Cruises Are Now Sailing in the Summer

One of the biggest changes for 2026 is the expansion of Princess’s Caribbean programme.

Traditionally, Princess has focused its Caribbean cruises during the winter months. But in 2026 the cruise line is running Caribbean sailings throughout the summer as well, giving travellers far more flexibility when it comes to planning a warm-weather cruise.

Ships including Regal Princess and Caribbean Princess will operate more than 90 departures between them, sailing from Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral. These itineraries cover the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean, with a mix of week-long cruises and shorter getaways.

Many of the seven-night itineraries can also be combined into longer 14-night cruises, which is a nice option if you want to see more islands without changing ships.

2. Princess Is Having Its Biggest Alaska Season Ever

Alaska has always been one of Princess Cruises’ headline destinations, but in 2026 the cruise line is going bigger than it ever has before.

This year marks Princess’s largest Alaska deployment to date, with eight ships sailing the region and more than 180 departures scheduled throughout the season. The itineraries visit some of Alaska’s best-known ports including Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Icy Strait Point, alongside scenic cruising through places like Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm Fjord and the Inside Passage.

One of the most exciting additions this year is the cruise line’s newest ship Star Princess, which is making her Alaska debut. She’ll be sailing seven-night roundtrip itineraries from Seattle starting in May, bringing one of the line’s newest ships to the region for the first time.

Princess is also continuing its popular cruisetours in Alaska. These combine a cruise with a land journey into the interior, often including visits to Denali National Park and stays at Princess-owned wilderness lodges. It’s a great way to see more of Alaska beyond the coastline.

And because the United States will soon be celebrating its 250th anniversary, guests on some sailings will also find special commemorative souvenirs onboard, including limited-edition pins and themed blankets inspired by Alaska.

3. A New (For Princess) Bahamas Destination Is Coming

Later in 2026, Princess cruisers will get a brand-new stop in the Bahamas.

The destination is Celebration Key, a purpose-built private resort area on Grand Bahama Island created for cruise guests from Carnival Corporation brands. It’s designed to be a beachy, laid-back stop with big lagoon-style pools, wide white-sand beaches and plenty of food and drink spots dotted around the island.

While the island was opened in 2025 for visitors from Carnival ships, Princess ships are expected to start visiting Celebration Key towards the end of the year, with Star Princess scheduled for the first call in November 2026.

Guests will be able to spend the day swimming, relaxing on the beach, booking water activities or reserving private cabanas. From the early plans that have been shared, it looks like a mix between a beach club and a tropical resort.

4. Princess Plus and Premier Packages Have Been Updated

Princess has also made some changes to its bundled cruise packages.

The Princess Plus and Princess Premier options have both been updated ahead of the 2026 season. Prices have gone up slightly, but the packages now include a bit more value as well.

Depending on which package you choose, benefits can include things like additional casual dining meals, upgraded WiFi access and shore excursion credits. For example, guests with the Premier package on a seven-night cruise can now receive up to $100 per person in excursion credit.

Princess has also simplified how extras are bundled together, which should make it easier to understand what’s included rather than piecing together lots of separate add-ons.

5. Some Important Booking Terms Have Changed

Alongside the package updates, Princess has also made some changes to the booking process itself.

Most fares now come with non-refundable deposits as the default option. Refundable deposits are still available, but they usually come with slightly higher prices or stricter conditions.

Princess has also moved final payment deadlines earlier for many cruises, particularly longer voyages. So if you’re booking a big itinerary, you’ll likely need to pay the balance sooner than you might have done in previous years.

In short, the cruise line is clearly encouraging guests to commit earlier in the booking process.

6. Onboard Fees Have Increased Slightly

There have also been a couple of fee increases across the fleet in 2026.

The automatic service charge added to drinks, specialty dining and certain onboard purchases has increased from 18% to 20%. This fee is applied to optional purchases like cocktails, specialty restaurants and some dining room orders.

At the same time, the daily crew appreciation gratuities have gone up by $1 per person, per day across all cabin categories.

The new daily rates are:

• $20 per person for suites
• $19 per person for mini suites and Club Class cabins
• $18 per person for standard staterooms

These charges can still be adjusted onboard through guest services if needed. And for guests who book Princess Plus or Premier packages, these costs are already included.

While this is probably the main negative change for 2026 for the cruise line, it is inevitable – all cruise lines raise their prices over time.

7. Faster WiFi Across the Fleet

Princess has also finished rolling out its fastest internet service yet across the fleet.

The upgraded system, called MedallionNet Max, uses multiple satellite networks including Starlink to deliver faster and more reliable internet speeds at sea. That means things like video calls, streaming and uploading photos should work much better than they used to.

It’s especially useful in remote destinations like Alaska where connectivity has traditionally been patchy.

The cruise line’s MedallionClass system is also still expanding. Guests receive a small wearable device called the OceanMedallion which acts as a cabin key and allows for contactless boarding, onboard purchases and even food and drink delivery to wherever you’re sitting on the ship.

But, on the downside, the cost for getting the Medallion shipped to your home in advance of your cruise has increase. This service is only available to guests in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, and it now costs between $20 and $25 USD depending on where you live. It’s completely optional though – guests can collect their Medallion for free at the cruise port on the date their cruise begins.

The Princess app has also improved, making it easier to book dining, reserve activities and check what’s happening around the ship each day.

8. Dining Options Are Expanding Across the Fleet

Princess continues to expand its dining choices as ships receive updates and refurbishments.

One of the newer venues rolling out to more ships is Makoto Ocean, a sushi restaurant created in partnership with chef Makoto Okuwa. The venue debuted on the newest ships and has since been added to vessels like Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess.

The menu includes dishes such as yellowtail sashimi, miso sea bass and truffle salmon, along with a range of cocktails inspired by Japanese flavours.

At the same time, long-time favourites like Crown Grill are continuing to appear on more ships as the fleet evolves.

9. A Huge World Cruise Was Just Announced

While it doesn’t depart until 2028, Princess also made headlines this year with the announcement of a massive world cruise.

The 115-night sailing aboard Coral Princess will depart in January 2028 and travel around 36,000 nautical miles across five continents. Along the way the ship will visit 49 ports in 24 countries, including destinations across the South Pacific, Australia, Africa, Europe and the Mediterranean.

The itinerary includes overnight stays in places like Cape Town and Auckland, as well as late departures in cities such as Barcelona and Sydney so guests can experience destinations after dark.

Guests can book the full voyage or shorter segments ranging from around three weeks to several months.

Bookings for the sailing opened in 2026, giving long-term planners plenty of time to secure their spot.

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Final Thoughts

Overall, 2026 is shaping up to be a busy year for Princess Cruises.

Between the biggest Alaska season the line has ever had, Caribbean cruises expanding into the summer, a new private island destination and improvements to onboard technology, there’s quite a lot changing across the fleet.

There are a couple of small price increases to be aware of as well, but many of the updates also add extra perks or improved experiences.

For cruisers, it mostly means more options, better connectivity at sea and a few new places to explore along the way.

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