- Headquarters
- Santa Clarita, California
- Founded
- 1965
- Fleet
- 16 ships (2026)
- Loyalty
- Captain's Circle
Princess Cruises sits at the top of the mainstream market and the bottom of the premium one, which is exactly where most British and American cruisers want to be. Sixteen ships, an unusually wide itinerary book, and the MedallionClass wearable make it the most operationally sophisticated of Carnival Corporation's big brands.
About Princess Cruises
Founded in 1965 with a single chartered ship on the Mexican Riviera, Princess became a household name through The Love Boat and has since grown into a 16-ship fleet spanning three current classes. Carnival Corporation acquired the line with P&O Princess Cruises plc in 2003.
The onboard product is deliberately restrained by American mainstream standards: no waterslides on most ships, a strong theatre and enrichment programme, adult-only Sanctuary sun decks, and dining that leans classical rather than novelty. The Sphere-class newbuilds add a glass-domed Piazza and an arena-style theatre without abandoning that positioning.
MedallionClass is the differentiator. A quarter-sized wearable replaces the keycard, unlocks the stateroom on approach, tracks your party across the ship, and delivers food and drink to wherever you are standing — a genuinely useful piece of operational technology rather than a gimmick.
Fleet
12 published ship profiles — more coverage rolling out.
Launched 2024
Sun Princess
The largest ship Princess has built — a glass-domed Piazza, an arena-format theatre and the debut of the Sanctuary Collection enclave.
Launched 2025
Star Princess
The second Sphere-class Princess ship — the Sun Princess layout with a refined Sanctuary Collection and a stronger speciality dining line-up.
Launched 2013
Royal Princess
The lead ship of the Royal class — the SeaWalk glass walkway, a multi-storey Piazza and the template for six Princess ships.
Launched 2014
Regal Princess
The second Royal-class ship — SeaWalk, a full MedallionClass fit-out and a Caribbean and Baltic deployment pattern.
Launched 2017
Majestic Princess
Built for the Chinese market and now based in Australia — the strongest Asian dining line-up in the Princess fleet.
Launched 2019
Sky Princess
The most refined Royal-class ship — an enlarged Sanctuary, Sky Suites with panoramic terraces and a strong Southampton programme.
Launched 2020
Enchanted Princess
The fifth Royal-class ship — Sky Suites, the Salty Dog Gastropub and a year-round Caribbean and Mediterranean rotation.
Launched 2022
Discovery Princess
The final Royal-class ship — the most polished version of the design, based on the US West Coast for Alaska and the Mexican Riviera.
Launched 2004
Caribbean Princess
A Grand-class workhorse refitted for the modern fleet — Medallion technology, Crown Grill and short Caribbean itineraries year-round.
Launched 2006
Crown Princess
A refurbished Grand-class ship on Gulf and Panama Canal deployment — a proven hull for port-intensive, longer itineraries.
Launched 2007
Emerald Princess
A Grand-class ship kept current through refurbishment — Medallion service, Crown Grill and a broad Caribbean and Alaska rotation.
Launched 2008
Ruby Princess
The last Grand-class Princess ship — a West Coast regular on Mexican Riviera, California Coast and Alaska itineraries.
Ship Classes
Compare the Princess Cruises fleet at a glance — classes, ship highlights, and who each is best suited to.
Showing 3 of 3 classes
| Class | Introduced | Tonnage | Capacity | Ships | Highlight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Class | 2024 | 177,800 GT | 4,300 (double) | Sun Princess, Star Princess | Princess Cruises' largest and newest ships — the glass-domed Piazza, an arena theatre, and the most complete Sanctuary Collection in the fleet. | — |
| Royal Class | 2013 | 143,700 – 145,300 GT | 3,560 – 3,660 (double) | Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess, Discovery Princess | The six-ship backbone of the Princess fleet — SeaWalk glass walkways, the full MedallionClass rollout, and the widest itinerary deployment at the line. | — |
| Grand Class | 2002 | 112,900 – 113,600 GT | 3,080 – 3,140 (double) | Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess | Princess Cruises' proven early-2000s workhorses — Panamax-friendly hulls that unlock the port-intensive itineraries the newer classes cannot reach. | — |
Ship class · 2024
Sphere Class
Princess Cruises' largest and newest ships — the glass-domed Piazza, an arena theatre, and the most complete Sanctuary Collection in the fleet.
View classShip class · 2013
Royal Class
The six-ship backbone of the Princess fleet — SeaWalk glass walkways, the full MedallionClass rollout, and the widest itinerary deployment at the line.
View classShip class · 2002
Grand Class
Princess Cruises' proven early-2000s workhorses — Panamax-friendly hulls that unlock the port-intensive itineraries the newer classes cannot reach.
View classOnboard Experiences
Suite enclaves, fare tiers, and signature onboard products.
Loyalty Programme — Captain's Circle
Captain's Circle recognises guests by cruise count and cruise days across four tiers — Gold, Ruby, Platinum, and Elite. Platinum brings internet minutes and priority embarkation; Elite adds complimentary laundry, a discounted mini-bar setup, and a standing 10% boutique discount.
Elite is genuinely valuable for repeat cruisers because laundry and internet are two of the costlier onboard extras. Status also matches within Carnival Corporation's loyalty reciprocity arrangements on selected sister brands.
Destinations
Alaska is the line's strongest suit: Princess owns five wilderness lodges and runs its own rail cars, making its cruisetours the most vertically integrated land-and-sea product in the market. Japan is a close second, with a locally crewed ship based in Yokohama.
Beyond that the book is broad — Caribbean from Florida and Texas, Mediterranean and Northern Europe in summer, Panama Canal transits, Australia and New Zealand from Sydney, plus an annual World Cruise of 100 nights and above.
Book direct
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