Is Princess cruise the same as Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean International: Itineraries, Destinations and Homeports. Having a larger fleet allows Royal Caribbean to offer a wider variety of destinations, itineraries and homeports. However, Princess Cruises offers more itineraries in Alaska and Antarctica.



No, while both are major cruise lines, they cater to very different "vibes" in 2026. Royal Caribbean is the "thrill-seeker's paradise," famous for massive ships with ice rinks, surf simulators, and water parks—perfect for families with teenagers. A supportive peer "atmosphere" comparison: Princess Cruises is a "premium" line that focuses more on relaxation, enrichment, and destination-immersion. You won't find water slides on Princess; instead, you'll find elegant "Piazza" hubs, fine dining (like Sabatini's), and the high-tech "MedallionClass" experience. In 2026, Royal Caribbean is about the ship as the destination, whereas Princess is about a sophisticated journey to the destination. If you want a high-energy party and constant activities, go Royal; if you want a romantic, refined, and tech-forward experience with better food and fewer crowds, Princess is the better fit.

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While both lines offer a varied dining lineup, Princess comes out on top for overall food quality while Royal Caribbean has an edge when it comes to free eateries that kids will love.

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Best Luxury Cruise Lines
  • #1. Viking Ocean Cruises.
  • #2. Seabourn Cruise Line.
  • #3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises.


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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.

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When it comes to luxury cruises, nobody does lavish like Royal Caribbean. Unforgettable adventures call for an unforgettable oasis where you can rest and recharge in between thrills.

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That's why guests and travel experts continually recognize Royal Caribbean as the Top Cruise Line for families, Best Cruises for couples, and Best Cruise Line for first timers. And for 20 consecutive years, we've been voted Best Cruise Line Overall by Travel Weekly readers.

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So which food is included and which cost extra? While not all the food on Royal Caribbean is included, there is enough food and drink for you to enjoy that is included so you will not need to pay extra for food. However, you may feel inclined to pay for drinks or meals anyway as a way to enhance your cruise.

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You should make sure you have a wide array of clothing packed away in your suitcase, as cruises may require everything from a casual swimsuit to a formal tuxedo. Princess Cruises is smart casual, so pack clothing that adheres to that guideline.

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Royal Princess is a large cruise ship with a maximum capacity of 3,560 passengers, but crowds are usually not an issue here.

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Princess Cruise Line Princess has both smart casual and formal dress codes for evening dining. Smart casual options include casual dresses and skirts, or pants and a nice top. Nice jeans (clean and not torn) are permitted in Princess' main dining room and specialty restaurants on smart casual evenings.

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The most stable part of the ship is its lowest point of gravity, so on a lower deck, at the center. You'd feel a lot less motion here than, say, in a stateroom on the upper decks a long way forward or aft (towards the back of the ship).

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Best Decks For Luxury On most cruise ships, the most luxurious accommodation is on the upper decks. Here, you'll find a selection of elegant suites, with generous outdoor space, separate living areas, and amenities ranging from all-inclusive drinks to the service of a concierge.

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Midship staterooms on the lowest passenger deck are the most excellent spot to be on a cruise ship in this instance because you don't feel the vessel sway as much. The front and back of the ship are a no-no.

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The Sanctuary on Princess Cruises is an adults-only sun deck, an exclusive space that does not allow children under age 18. It's nestled on one of the ship's upper decks (forward or aft, depending on the ship), away from the main pools and directly above the Lotus Spa.

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What is the Safest Cruise Line? The CDC gave ships with Disney Cruise Lines a score of 96 or above on their 2016 inspections. According to their voluntary disclosures in Q2 of 2016, there was 1 claim of theft exceeding $10,000 and 2 claims of sexual assault.

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The oldest Princess cruise ship is Grand Princess. Unveiled way back in 1998, it's the namesake vessel for the line's Grand class of vessels, which remain at the core of the Princess fleet. There are seven Grand-class vessels in the Princess fleet in all, making it the biggest grouping of ships at the line.

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