P&O Cruises Vs Princess Cruises: Which Is Best?

Both P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises are part of the larger Carnival Group, making them part of the same family essentially.

They share some similarities, but also several major differences too, and understanding these will help you decide which is the better cruise line for you.

An early spoiler: there isn’t one that’s definitively better than the other. It all depends on the type of cruise you want to enjoy and your chosen destinations. And with this guide, I’ll help you realise which of these cruise lines is right for you, or if neither is the right fit.

Ships

One of the biggest differences between the two cruise lines is very quickly apparent when you compare the fleet side-by-side.

Princess Cruises has more than double the ships sailing for it than P&O does, with 16 ships in the fleet compared to P&O’s 7.

Both are still dwarfed by the biggest fleets in the world, those of Carnival or Royal Caribbean, which are approaching the 30-strong mark.

P&O Cruises ships

Most cruise lines have ‘classes’ within their fleet, which is how ships are grouped together based on being a similar size. P&O doesn’t really have that, although some of the ships are definitely closely related.

The oldest of these ships is Aurora, which launched in January of 2000.

The newest ship is Arvia, also the largest ship ever built for the British cruise market. She launched in 2022.

Read more: P&O Cruise Ships Compared: Which to Choose?

Princess Cruises ships

The oldest of the fleet is Grand Princess, which was launched in 1998. The newest is Sun Princess, which started sailing in early 2024. Sister ship Star Princess joins the fleet in 2025.

Read more: Princess Cruises Ships by Age

Which to choose?

While there’s a distinct difference between the size of the fleets, the ship sizes and ages aren’t too dissimilar. Both fleets have ships that are over 20 years old, and both have ships launched in just the last couple of years.

And in terms of size (and passenger capacity), you’ve got a range of options with each.

Whether you’re someone who prefers the smaller ships or larger vessels with more to do onboard, then you’ve got options with both. It’s going to be more to do with the itineraries and onboard features when you make your decision on which one to sail with.

If you do prefer an adult-only experience, P&O Cruises’ Arcadia and Aurora offer that. Although realistically, if you cruise in term time, you won’t see many children on Princess ships either.

Destinations

Both P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises offer a range of destination options, but Princess has (by some distance) more variety to choose from. Princess ships sail around the world, whereas P&O’s tend to stick to just a few key regions.

P&O Cruises destinations

The majority of P&O itineraries sail around Europe, but with plenty of variety around the continent.

There’s a wide range of cruises to the Norwegian Fjords, to Northern Europe cities, around the coasts of Spain, France and Portugal, or further into the Mediterranean or south to the Canary Islands.

The other key destination for the cruise line is the Caribbean. Each year some of the ships sail across the Atlantic and offer fly-cruise itineraries around some of the best ports of this tropical region.

There are still 16 embarkation port options available, but that’s because the cruise line does offer world cruises, with segments of those cruises available to book.

As a guide, at the time of writing there were 771 itineraries available – 747 of those embarked from either Southampton, Valletta, Tenerife, Bridgetown or Antigua.

Princess Cruises destinations

Princess Cruises offers a much wider selection of cruise destinations, with regular sailings to Alaska, Hawaii, Australia and more alongside the range of European and Caribbean cruises that you’d expect.

There are also 30 embarkation ports to choose from, including on both the West and East Coast of the US and in Australia for several sailings.

Princess does offer cruises from the UK, primarily from Southampton but with a handful sailing from Dover as well.

Princess sailings in the Caribbean and Bahamas often call at one of two private resorts in the region – Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay. That’s a key advantage over P&O which doesn’t visit any private resorts.

Which to choose?

This is the first key area where you see big differences between the two cruise lines.

If you’re only looking to cruise around Europe or the Caribbean, then P&O will definitely have some good options for you if you’re a UK traveller. If you’re based anywhere else in the world, P&O probably isn’t for you – it’s very much aimed at the British market (more on that later).

With P&O Cruises you’ll either sail from Southampton, or you’ll enjoy a fly-cruise package with chartered flights included. This makes it super-easy for British cruisers.

Princess Cruises is the better choice if you want to sail to places like Alaska, Hawaii, Asia or some other parts of the world. And if you like the idea of sunning yourself on a private island resort, Princess Cruises is the way to go.

However, when you book a Princess cruise you’ll need to arrange flights, or ideally have a travel agent do that. Don’t forget to include a pre-cruise hotel stay as well, because unlike with P&O, if your flight is delayed, the ship won’t wait.

Staterooms and Suites

Accommodation choices are unlikely to be the deciding factor when choosing between P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises, as both offer a fairly standard range of options.

However, there are some key differences that may sway your decision if you have particular preferences.

Both cruise lines provide the usual selection of Inside, Oceanview, Balcony, and Suite accommodations. Inside cabins are the most affordable, while Oceanview cabins provide a glimpse of the outside world.

Balcony staterooms add private outdoor space, and Suites come with various extra perks, making them the most luxurious option available.

But it’s worth highlighting some of the specialist options on each cruise line, as these may (or may not) appeal.

P&O Cruises staterooms

Most P&O cabins fit into one of the standard categories, but there are two cabins worth shouting out:

Single Cabins

P&O Cruises is one of the best mainstream cruise lines for solo cruisers, offering a significantly higher number of Single Cabins across multiple ships.

These are smaller rooms designed for solo occupancy, allowing individual travellers to enjoy their cruise without paying the often hefty supplement required for a double stateroom.

Not only that, but most ships have a range of options too – Single Inside, Single Outside, and even Single Balcony.

Suggested read: How To Book P&O Cruises With No Single Supplement

Promenade Balcony Cabins

P&O Cruises newest ships, Iona and Arvia offers a limited number of Promenade Rooms, which are technically Balcony cabins or Conservatory Mini Suites but with an unusual twist – they open directly onto the ship’s promenade deck.

While this means you get easy access to fresh air, it also means that passengers walking on the deck outside can pass right by your room.

Some cruisers enjoy the proximity to outdoor space, but most find the lack of privacy a little bit off-putting.

Princess staterooms and suites

Princess Cruises offers a more modern take on accommodations, especially with its newer ships, featuring some premium stateroom categories:

Sky Suites

Sky Suites are exclusive to the newest Royal and Sphere Class ships and offer one of the most spacious balconies at sea, with over 1,000 square feet of private outdoor space.

Positioned at the top of the ship, these suites provide panoramic views, making them ideal for those who love to host private gatherings or simply enjoy an expansive open-air retreat.

Reserve Collection

For those who prefer a balance between luxury and affordability, the Reserve Collection is an excellent choice.

Available on newer ships, these Mini-Suites offer premium furnishings and access to an exclusive private restaurant – an uncommon perk for non-suite guests.

P&O Cruises does have Mini-Suites, but they don’t come with the wider range of extra perks that Princess’ Mini-Suites do.

Signature Collection

Making its debut on Sun Princess, the Signature Collection consists of the most premium suites on the ship.

Guests enjoy a range of exclusive perks, including access to the Signature Collection Restaurant, Signature Lounge, and Signature Sun Deck, all of which provide a more intimate and upscale cruising experience.

Take a look at the Signature Sky Suite floor plan. It’s insane!

Which to choose?

If you’re a solo traveller, P&O Cruises is the better choice thanks to its significantly larger number of single cabins. You won’t have to pay double occupancy fares as you might with Princess.

For those looking for private luxury, Princess Cruises leads the way. The Sky Suites, Reserve Collection, and Signature Collection offer some of the most premium accommodations at sea, with exclusive dining and relaxation areas that really elevate the experience.

Ultimately, both cruise lines offer comfortable and well-appointed accommodations, but Princess Cruises tends to excel when it comes to premium options, while P&O Cruises is more accommodating for solo travellers.

Food

Dining is an integral part of any cruise experience, and both P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises offer a variety of dining options to suit different tastes and budgets. However, they have distinct approaches to their culinary offerings.

P&O Cruises food

P&O Cruises focuses heavily on British dining preferences, reflecting its core market. Guests will find familiar dishes across the fleet, often inspired by traditional pub classics and fine-dining favourites.

There’s still international cuisine woven into the menus – but the typical options that are most enjoyed by British travellers.

There’s always a mix of dining options, including your standard main restaurants and buffets. Snacks are always available too at poolside (or close by) locations, and there will be several speciality restaurants to choose from – the bigger ships offering more variety.

Common options across the fleet include Sindhu, offering authentic Indian cuisine, and The Glass House, which pairs lighter bites with delightful wines as handpicked by the cruise line’s partner wine expert Olly Smith.

Princess Cruises food

Princess Cruises has a little more of an international flair to its cuisine, appealing to a broader range of cruisers.

Again you’ll be able to pick between a wide range of dining options, but it gets a little more complicated with Princess as there are four different categories: Included, Casual, Speciality, and Experiential.

Suggested read: Princess Cruises Dining Explained

Included dining venues are exactly that – included. Casual options have a small fee attached but may be included depending on the fare you pay – I’ll cover that more in the pricing section later.

Speciality and Experiential are similar, in that they offer a more elevated experience – the differences mainly come down to what’s included with your chosen fare.

Which to choose?

You’ll always have a range of dining options on both P&O and Princess sailings, with bigger ships offering more choice.

The main dining room menus on the fleets reflect the guests a little more, with slightly more British influences on P&O Cruises.

One thing to note – many people believe that Princess Cruises offer the best pizza at sea. I’ve not tasted pizza on every cruise line (and as I’m vegan I can’t comment on every type of slice), but if you ever want to make your cruising decisions purely based on pizza quality then perhaps Princess is right for you!

But what’s also worth mentioning is the “kids’ tea” on P&O Cruises – a dedicated buffet section for kids. They can eat a meal at 5 pm and then head off to the kids club at 6 pm so parents can have a more relaxed dining experience.

Onboard activities

If you’re someone who loves the idea of roller coasters on cruise ships, or rock climbing walls, or other big flashy attractions, then neither P&O or Princess is the right cruise line for you.

Both cruise lines are more relaxed during the day, offering more traditional experiences.

P&O Cruises activities

With P&O, you’ll still have plenty of options to keep you entertained during the day, just at a more relaxed pace.

There’s always a couple of pool options for you to sunbathe by, or a cinema to watch the latest movies. There’s a spa for relaxation and treatments, and sports courts and a gym when you want to burn off that third plate from the buffet.

Quizzes are always popular and there’ll be a range of classes you can take, such as art or photography.

The newest ships, Iona and Arvia, have the fanciest features with mini golf and a high ropes course.

Princess Cruises activities

Princess Cruises is much the same as P&O when it comes to activities, including your pools, spa options, dancing lessons, sports and more.

One thing you’ll find on some Princess ships, that you won’t get on P&O, is an arcade. If your kids (or you) love playing video games or trying claw machines, then you might find Princess to be a better option.

Which to choose?

There’s not really too much between the cruise lines when it comes to onboard activities. The vibe is much more relaxed during the day than it is on some of the more family-oriented American cruise lines.

Pools are designed for relaxing – there aren’t waterslides here. But it’s hard to be bored, as there’s always something going on if you don’t want to just relax.

Entertainment

After a day spent relaxing by the pool or exploring ashore, you’ll want to unwind in the evening with some exciting entertainment – and neither cruise line will disappoint.

P&O Cruises entertainment

P&O Cruises leans towards British-style entertainment, with West End-style productions and variety performances. The theatres host musical tributes, dance shows, and comedy nights, often featuring well-known UK comedians.

For those who enjoy live music, P&O ships offer piano bars, acoustic sets, and themed music nights. On rare occasions you might even get to enjoy concerts from Gary Barlow onboard. On New Year’s Eve, I watched Ronan Keating perform, which was incredible!

The Headliners Theatre Company produces original performances, and guests can also enjoy game shows and pub quizzes for a more interactive experience.

Princess Cruises entertainment

Princess Cruises offers spectacular evening entertainment, including Broadway-style productions. Some of their original musicals are created by composers behind hit shows like Wicked, ensuring high-quality performances.

Beyond the theatre, guests can enjoy live music across various venues, with everything from jazz to contemporary hits. There are also magic shows, comedy performances, and themed parties throughout the voyage.

Which to choose?

This is another category where it’s hard to draw too many contrasts between the two cruise lines. The quality of the entertainment is very similar on both.

With P&O it’s a little more relaxed in style, though there are still bombastic shows if you want to enjoy something thrilling.

Princess has broad appeal too and whether you want a quieter night or something spectacular, you won’t be left feeling unsatisfied.

Kids’ facilities

If you’re planning on travelling with the kids in tow, then it’s important to know what facilities are on offer to keep them happy.

P&O Cruises for kids

Of the seven ships in the P&O fleet, five are family-friendly and have kids clubs onboard that are split into different age categories.

The clubs run a range of activities, with more unstructured time for the older kids who just want their own space to relax, play games and make new friends.

Popular characters such as Shaun the sheep and Wallace & Gromit are often on the cruises, perfect for a photo with the kids. Though I’m sure you’ll want to jump in too!

Princess Cruises for kids

Every Princess ship welcomes kids and has its own Camp Discovery kids clubs onboard, again segmented into different age groups.

Princess is partnered with Discovery and Animal Planet, and so a lot of the educational content in the clubs is themed around the natural world – but of course, it’s a cruise, so fun is always top priority.

Which to choose?

Similar to the onboard activities, the kids’ facilities on both P&O and Princess are a little more relaxed than they are on big family-first cruise lines such as Disney or Royal Caribbean, but they aren’t lacking either.

My kids have cruised on both and enjoyed the kids’ clubs pretty much equally.

Demographics

Demographic is one area where the cruise lines can vary – but it always depends on where you’re sailing.

P&O Cruises demographics

P&O Cruises is squarely aimed at the British market, so you’ll always find the ships to be full of British guests – even when you’re cruising on the other side of the world.

The cruise line doesn’t advertise outside of the UK and pricing’s always in £ – it’s a British cruse line for British people. The ships even have British flags on the hulls!

Most people onboard will be between 40 and 70, though you may get some younger guests, especially on the bigger ships like Iona and Arvia. While many of the ships are family-friendly, the ships never feel overrun with kids.

Princess Cruises demographics

Princess Cruises has a similar age profile to P&O for guests, with the average age of guests sitting between 50 and 70.

The main difference is that it’s much more of an international crowd. Even on cruises from the UK, you’ll often get Americans and other nationalities who’ve flown over to experience the best that Europe’s ports have to offer.

And if you cruise from the US or Australia, the nationalities onboard are going to be mainly American or Australian.

It’s still very much an English-speaking cruise line so there’s no concerns about language barrier or anything, as there might be on some international cruise lines.

Price

It’s not super-simple to compare the pricing between P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises. If only it were as simple as browsing for your cruise, seeing the price and then comparing that side-by-side with a similar cruise for the other cruise line!

Let me explain:

P&O Cruises pricing

P&O Cruises is not a cheap cruise line, but it doesn’t charge super-premium prices either. It’s very ‘average’ in the fares that it charges – expect to pay £70 to £90 per person, per night for cruises from the UK. Packages that include flights will cost more, of course.

With P&O you’ve a choice of three fares – Early Saver, Saver, and Select. Though you won’t be able to pick between Early Saver and Saver, it’ll just depend on how far in advance you’re booking.

The Saver fares are your basic fare. You don’t get to choose your cabin number with these fares, but otherwise you get everything you should with the standard cruise fare, including your dining.

Select includes a few extra benefits, including letting you pick your cabin number and getting first priority for cabin upgrades and tables in the main dining restaurants.

Most importantly, it also includes a choice of either some onboard credit for your cruise, free coach travel to the ship, or free parking in Southampton.

The cost to upgrade to Select varies, but expect to pay between £100 and £500 per person extra, depending on the length of the cruise and the dates.

I often choose the Select for just for the coach. It’s the easiest way to get to Southampton for many. And because P&O Cruises charter the coaches, you don’t need to worry about being late and missing the ship.

Read more: The Best Ways To Get a Coach to Southampton Cruise Terminal

Being a British cruise line, P&O Cruises doesn’t charge gratuities, so you can relax knowing there’s nothing extra to pay for tips. Although if you do want to leave some cash for your room attendant that’s always appreciated.

Princess Cruises pricing

In terms of cruise costs, Princess is relatively comparable to P&O for standard fares. Again it’s not cheap, but you can find some fares starting at around £70 per person, per night. Typically it’ll cost £80 to £100 per person, per night for cruise-only fares.

Just like P&O, Princess offers three different types of fare as well, but with a lot more benefits included if you pay the higher rates. Also, your choice of cabin isn’t tied to the fare – you can get a basic Princess Standard fare with Princess and still pick your cabin.

Princess Plus is the next step up and it costs £50 per person, per day extra. That’s a hefty additional fare but it does include a lot – WiFi for one device, a Plus Beverage Package, premium desserts, some casual dining meals and more.

Princess Premier is even more – £75 per person, per day more than Standard fares. It includes an upgraded drinks package, speciality dining (but not ‘Experiential’ venues), reserved theatre seating and more.

Crucially, both Plus and Premier fares also include your gratuities, which would normally cost between $17 and $19 per person, per day – so around £14-16 extra. With Princess Standard, you need to pay those. On P&O Cruises, there are no gratuities to pay.

Read more: Princess Premier Vs Princess Plus

Verdict

Ultimately, whether P&O Cruises or Princess Cruises is the better choice for you depends on what you’re looking for in a cruise experience.

P&O Cruises is an excellent option for British travellers who prefer a home-away-from-home experience, with familiar cuisine, entertainment, and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s also a standout choice for solo travellers, thanks to its great range of single-occupancy cabins.

Princess Cruises, on the other hand, offers a more international experience, with a slightly broader variety of dining, entertainment, and destinations. It’s a great choice if you want a premium feel without stepping into luxury territory, and if you prefer a mix of traditional cruising with some modern innovations.

If you’re traveling as a family, Princess Cruises may offer more variety. But if you want a quieter, UK-focused cruise with traditional charm, then P&O Cruises could be the better fit.

For a lot of people, the cruise lines will be fairly close, so price may be the deciding factor. Just take the time to compare all of your fare options, as there are so many, and remember that P&O doesn’t charge gratuities – which, depending on the itinerary, may make it a cheaper option.

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