Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean are two of the world’s leading cruise lines – both are very popular with families, and both have a modern fleet that sails all over the world.
So, if you’re not already loyal to a cruise line, you might have some trouble deciding between them. This guide is designed to help – we’ll look at the cruise lines side-by-side so you can easily compare them, and decide which one sounds more suited to your style of cruising.
Are you interested in a slightly more sophisticated style of cruising, or do you want to sample the biggest, boldest cruise ships sailing the oceans? Let’s take a look.
Ships
Princess Cruises has a relatively large fleet of ships compared to many cruise lines, but it is dwarfed by that of Royal Caribbean.
There are 16 ships currently sailing for Princess with one more being built, while Royal Caribbean has almost double that – 28 currently sailing, with four under construction.
Princess Cruises Ships
There are four classes of ship in the Princess Cruises fleet:
- Sphere Class – The newest ships, accommodating 4,300 guests
- Royal Class – Six large ships accommodating 3,560 to 3,660 guests
- Grand Class – Eight mid-sized ships accommodating 2,600 to 3,140 guests
- Coral Class – The oldest two ships, each catering for 2,000 to 2,220 guests
The oldest of the fleet is Grand Princess, which was launched in 1998. The newest is Sun Princess, which started sailing in early 2024.
Read more: Princess Cruises Ships by Age
Royal Caribbean Ships
Royal Caribbean has eight classes of ship:
- Icon Class – the biggest cruise ships in the world accommodating up to 7,600 guests
- Oasis Class – six mega ships that can accommodate around 6,800 guests
- Quantum Ultra Class – two modern ships accommodating 5,500 guests
- Quantum Class – three ships accommodating 4,900 guests
- Freedom Class – three ships accommodating 4,400 to 4,900 guests
- Radiance Class – four ships accommodating 2,500 guests
- Voyager Class – five ships accommodating 4,000 guests
- Vision Class – four ships accommodating 2,400 to 2,700 guests
The oldest Royal Caribbean ship in the fleet is Grandeur of the Seas, which was originally built in 1996. The newest ship is Utopia of the Seas, but in the same year, the cruise line also launched Icon of the Seas, the biggest ship in the world.
Read more: Royal Caribbean Ships By Age
So the eldest ships are Grand and Grandeur – a nice little coincidence!
Which to Choose?
None of the ships sailing for Princess Cruises or Royal Caribbean are small, and both cruise lines have a range of ship sizes to choose from. If you want the biggest ships packed with the most features, then Royal Caribbean is the cruise line to choose, but Princess has some spacious, stylish ships, too.
I’ve been on board several ships across the fleets, including:
- Royal Princess
- Island Princess
- Sky Princess
- Enchanted Princess
- Allure of the Seas
- Mariner of the Seas
- Anthem of the Seas
So I’ve seen the differences first-hand. I’ve loved my cruises on the action-packed Royal Caribbean ships, though I can certainly appreciate the style of the Princess ships, too. I’d be happy on either.
Destinations
With both Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises, you’re going to be able to take your pick from itineraries all over the world, including the popular cruise destinations of the Caribbean and Europe, and also some further-afield locations around Asia and Australia.
Here’s a look at the cruise itineraries offered in each destination. This is distinct itineraries rather than individual sailings – Royal Caribbean has literally hundreds of Caribbean dates you can book.
| Princess Cruises | Royal Caribbean | |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 23 | 96 |
| Australia & New Zealand | 96 | 29 |
| Bermuda | 0 | 7 |
| Canada & New England | 19 | 8 |
| Caribbean & Bahamas | 54 | 47 |
| East Asia | 20 | 36 |
| Europe | 147 | 107 |
| Hawaii | 8 | 7 |
| Mexico & Latin America | 7 | 8 |
| Middle East & South Asia | 0 | 3 |
| Pacific Northwest | 0 | 4 |
| Panama Canal | 22 | 5 |
| South America | 19 | 0 |
| South Pacific | 37 | 14 |
| Transatlantic | 37 | 22 |
| Transpacific | 0 | 5 |
| World | 46 | 0 |
Princess Cruises Destinations
Princess offers cruises from 30 ports of embarkation – as well as many sailings from Fort Lauderdale, there are also numerous dates you can book from Sydney, Yokohama (near Tokyo), and Southampton, which is great for cruises from the UK. There are several ships that sail from the UK, so British cruisers get lots of choice.
The cruise line offers some excellent cruises around South America and some longer world itineraries, whilst also specialising in Australia and New Zealand cruises – there are seven embarkation ports in this part of the world alone.
There are also Alaska cruisetours that can be booked, which include time at sea, a train journey and three or more nights in a Princess Wilderness Lodge – a really special vacation experience.
Some Princess cruises will visit Princess Cays, a private resort area on Eleuthera in the Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean Destinations
Royal Caribbean has even more embarkation ports to choose from – 35 in total worldwide – with the vast majority of those being in North America. Most Royal Caribbean cruises depart from one of the big 3 Florida ports (Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Port Canaveral).
Cruises from Southampton are available for UK guests, but only ever during the summer and on one ship – Anthem of the Seas for 2024 and Independence of the Seas for 2025.
Many Royal Caribbean cruises around the Bahamas and Caribbean include visits to Royal’s private destinations, either Labadee or Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Which to Choose?
For cruises around the Caribbean or Europe, both cruise lines offer a wealth of choice, and your decision will likely come down to the ship you’re sailing on instead.
The only exception may be for Caribbean or Bahamas cruises that include a private island – Princess Cays is a relaxing location, whereas Perfect Day at CocoCay is much more action-packed, so you may choose your sailing based on your preference for port day.
Princess Cruises also has a wider variety of cruises in Australia and some fantastic South America and World itineraries that Royal Caribbean doesn’t offer, so choose Princess if you want to explore more unique destinations.
Staterooms and Suites
As with any cruise line, your choice of staterooms and suites is going to depend on not just the line but also the individual ship – very few cruise lines have uniform accommodation options across their entire fleet.
You’ll of course have the options of choosing inside, ocean view or balcony cabins, or opting for a suite if you want something a little more luxurious.
Neither cruise line particularly caters to solo travellers well. Royal Caribbean does have some newer ships with a selection of solo cabins, but not many. Princess Cruises only has solo cabins on Sun Princess, the newest ship in the fleet, and numbers are very limited.
Princess Cruises Staterooms and Suites
Here’s a look at some of the more unique accommodation options on a Princess cruise.
Sky Suites
Available on the newest Royal and Sphere-class ships, Sky Suites are exceptional. The rooms themselves are spacious and luxuriously furnished, but it’s all about the balcony – over 1,000 square feet of space on some ships, including an outdoor TV and various decking furniture. These are great for relaxing or for entertaining.
Reserve Collection
Debuting on the Sphere Class, the Reserve Collection includes Mini Suites and Cabana rooms in the best locations on the ship, giving you a fantastic place to unwind. You also get access to a private restaurant area, which normally would be something only offered to full suite guests on most cruise lines.
Signature Collection
The Signature Collection also debuts on the Sphere Class and includes the finest suites on the ship. As well as amazing accommodations, guests have access to a Signature Restaurant, a Signature Lounge and the Signature Sun Deck for relaxing – the perfect place to unwind in total tranquility.
Royal Caribbean Staterooms and Suites
Royal Caribbean’s unique staterooms and suites are less about opulence and more about offering innovative experiences.
Virtual Balcony Staterooms
Virtual Balcony staterooms help to elevate the experience of anyone choosing an Inside stateroom. These rooms are available on many of the newer Royal Caribbean ships, and include a full digital screen on one wall, which acts as – you guessed it – a virtual balcony, with a live feed from the outside of the ship. While it’s no replacement for natural light, it is nice to enjoy a view (and know whether it’s daytime or still night!)
Interior Balcony Staterooms
The bigger Oasis-class and Icon-class ships offer interior balcony options, which are rooms with a balcony facing the inside of the ship, either overhanging the Central Park or Boardwalk areas.
These are good if you want your own outdoor space but want to pay less than an ocean-facing balcony, though you do have to bear in mind that you’re then facing another balcony directly opposite, so you do get less privacy.
Ultimate Family Accommodations
The Ultimate Family Suites and Ultimate Family Townhouses on select Quantum-class, Oasis-class and Icon-class ships are truly incredible. These suites are designed with families in mind, including a host of features including karaoke machines, games tables, and even a slide from the upper floor to the living area.
Which to Choose?
You have more varied options for your accommodation if you book with Royal Caribbean, but do you need those extra options? On a Princess cruise, you still have plenty of comfortable cabin options, and some of the suites offer a truly premium experience.
Choose Princess if you want the most spacious balcony suites, or choose Royal if you want unique family accommodations or something a little more innovative.
Food
The food experience on both cruise lines shares similarities, though there are some differences. As a guide, Princess is a better choice if you prefer sophistication, while Royal Caribbean tends to offer more variety for casual meals.
Princess Cruises Food
A lot of the Princess Cruises food philosophy is about bringing authenticity to its menus, with restaurants that offer flavours and dishes inspired by the regions you’re sailing in.
The best dining options are in the Main Dining Room and the speciality restaurants, though don’t worry – you can still enjoy plenty of more casual venues if that’s more your thing, including the buffet and various snack stops.
Indeed, a lot of people believe that Princess offers the best pizza at sea from its casual pizzerias.
Royal Caribbean Food
Royal Caribbean is a better choice if you prefer variety – the sheer range of dining options on even the smallest ships is enough to cater to every palate, even the very fussiest of eaters.
That’s not to say you can’t enjoy a sophisticated meal, though. The speciality restaurants, such as Chops Grille and Izumi, are high-quality experiences. Wonderland, which offers unique and creative dishes to please all your senses, is also very exciting to try.
However, the focus is very much on bringing a wider range of options to you across casual and speciality venues, with candy stops, ice cream, burger joints, seafood and so many more.
Which to Choose?
You aren’t going to be disappointed with either cruise line when it comes to dining. If you think you’ll spend more time enjoying formal dining then Princess Cruises has the slight edge, while Royal is slightly better for its wider range of casual venues.
Onboard Activities
Both Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean have ships that are great fun during the day, though Royal Caribbean takes things to a whole other level.
Princess Cruises Activities
There’s a wide range of traditional cruise activities you can enjoy on a Princess cruise, such as dancing lessons, art auctions, and of course gambling in the casino.
The more modern ships are adding new unique features too, such as the Sea Breeze Rollglider on Sun Princess, taking you on an exciting trip around the top deck.
Also, this isn’t a fun activity but it is a facility worth pointing out – Princess ships have self-service laundry facilities, which you won’t find on Royal Caribbean. This can be a lot cheaper than using the other laundry services onboard.
Royal Caribbean Activities
Royal Caribbean ships are almost unrivalled for the range of activities you can enjoy onboard. As well as the dance lessons, casino gambling, art auctions and more, you can also (depending on your ship), look forward to:
- Ice skating
- Escape rooms
- FlowRider surfing simulators
- Skydiving simulators
- Rock climbing walls
- Epic dry slides across multiple decks
- Dodgems at sea
- Thrill-seeking water slides
- Zip lines
- Bungee trampolines
Which to Choose?
There’s a clear winner here if you’re looking for ships packed with activities. Royal Caribbean has some outstanding modern ships with loads to see and do – it’s impossible to try everything on a single cruise.
However, many people would prefer the more relaxing nature of a Princess cruise, with more space to unwind and soak up the sun by the pool.
Entertainment
Evening entertainment is similar in style between Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises, though it depends on whether you prefer to see new things or experience classic favourites.
Princess Cruises Entertainment
On a Princess cruise, you’ll enjoy Broadway-quality shows, including original musicals from the composer of epics such as Wicked. There’s plenty of variety in the theatre performances, while you can also enjoy live music, magic and comedy around the ship.
Royal Caribbean Entertainment
The entertainment on Royal Caribbean ships isn’t just Broadway-level, it includes actual Broadway shows. If you love famous musicals, you can catch shows like Cats, Grease, Hairspray and more on a Royal Caribbean ship.
Which to Choose?
You’ll be wowed by the entertainment on both Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises, so it really comes down to whether you are excited to see shows you already know and love, or if you’re happy to experience original shows from Princess that are just as thrilling.
Kids Facilities
Families are very welcome on both cruise lines, with excellent kids’ clubs to keep younger guests entertained.
Princess Cruises Kids’ Facilities
The Princess Cruises kids’ clubs, named Camp Discovery, have an educational angle to them. They still always prioritise fun, but thanks to partnerships with Discovery and Animal Planet, kids will find each day to be engaging and packed with exciting themed activities.
Princess also hosts exclusive dining events for children, including pizza and ice cream parties, so your kids will no doubt have a great time.
Royal Caribbean Kids’ Facilities
Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean clubs are similar in style to Princess Cruises, although there are no big educational partnerships involved. Activities vary and still encourage discovery alongside fun, including an Adventure Science Lab and an Imagination Studio.
Kids even get their own Adventure Theater on some ships, showing age-appropriate movies.
Which to Choose?
There’s not a lot to choose between the kids’ facilities on Royal Caribbean and Princess, at least when comparing the actual kids’ clubs. Royal Caribbean arguably has ships that are more tailored to families, with its unique accommodations and various activities, but both are popular family cruise lines.
Cruiser Demographics
There’s a lot of crossover between the people who enjoy Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean:
Princess Cruises Demographics
Typically, the Princess Cruise demographic is quite broad. While you will find some younger families on the ships, the average age is a little higher than on Royal Caribbean, with a lot of guests in their 50s, 60s and 70s enjoying the slightly more sophisticated feel of the ships.
Because the Princess ships have good family facilities, they’re a popular choice for multigenerational cruisers, with lots of fun-loving grandparents taking their families on a relaxing getaway.
Royal Caribbean Demographics
The typical Royal Caribbean cruise passenger is younger than on Princess Cruises, with most guests being between their 30s and 50s. There are some younger families too, though Royal Caribbean’s cruises aren’t cheap, often ruling out the average parent in their 20s.
You’ll find a range of families and couples on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as well as some solo travellers, but it’s definitely more of a family-oriented cruise line.
Price
Neither Royal Caribbean nor Princess Cruises offer the most expensive sailings at sea, but they aren’t cheap options either. You can get good value with both, but as a guide, the newer the ship you book, the more you’ll pay.
Princess Cruises Prices
The basic cruise fare for a trip with Princess Cruises tends to be either similar to Royal Caribbean, or a little lower. You can get a 7-night cruise in the Caribbean on Sky Princess – one of the newer ships in the fleet – for as little as £70/$90 per person, per night.
However, that’s not the end of the story with Princess – fares get a little more complicated as you start looking at Plus and Premier cruise fares. These have more inclusions, but can almost double your cruise fare. You need to decide how many of the included benefits you would use before deciding whether it’s good value to pay for a Plus or Premier fare, or just book a basic cruise-only fare and then pay for extras individually.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
See the latest Princess Cruises offers…
Royal Caribbean Prices
The price of Royal Caribbean’s cruises vary greatly depending on which ship you choose – the newer Icon-class and Quantum-class ships are a lot more expensive than the older, smaller ships.
Wonder of the Seas – one of the newest ships in the fleet – offers 7-night Caribbean cruises from between £100/$130 and £130/$165 per person, per night for an Inside Stateroom. That’s a little more expensive than with Princess Cruises, but the ships are very different in scale, even if they both launched within a relatively similar time.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…
The Verdict
Whether Princess Cruises or Royal Caribbean is the cruise line for you depends on a number of factors.
If you want your cruise to be a contemporary upgrade on classical, sophisticated vacations then I’d recommend Princess – the ships are beautifully appointed, and the dining is very high quality.
Whereas, if you like to be constantly busy, enjoying a cruise where fun is more of the focus on bold, colourful ships then I’d be looking at Royal Caribbean, especially if travelling with very active kids.
Destination will play a part too, as will price, and I honestly think most people would love either cruise line – but consider the differences I’ve explained and you might find yourself leaning towards one over the other.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
