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Is Princess Cruises owned by Royal Caribbean?

Princess Cruises is part of Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL and CUK), one of the largest vacation companies in the world.



No, Princess Cruises is not owned by Royal Caribbean; it is a prominent brand within the Carnival Corporation & plc portfolio. Carnival Corporation is the world's largest leisure travel company and owns several other famous lines, including Holland America Line, Costa Cruises, and Cunard. Royal Caribbean Group, its primary rival, owns and operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. Princess Cruises, headquartered in Santa Clarita, California, was famously the setting for the 1970s television show The Love Boat, which helped cement its brand identity as a leader in premium, destination-focused cruising. As of 2026, Princess remains a key player in the "premium" market segment, often serving as the direct competitor to Celebrity Cruises. While both Carnival and Royal Caribbean dominate the global cruise industry, they remain separate, publicly-traded entities that compete fiercely for market share in regions like Alaska, the Caribbean, and Europe. Knowing which "parent company" owns your line is helpful for understanding loyalty program partnerships and onboard service styles.

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Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, which are sister cruise lines operated by Royal Caribbean Group, are known for offering abundant dining options and engaging nightlife but have different onboard vibes and target different types of cruise travelers.

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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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TUI Cruises is a cruise line based in Germany. It was formed in 2007 as a joint venture between the German tourism company TUI AG and the American cruise line operator Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., both of whom hold a 50% stake in the company.

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Princess Cruises is part of Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL and CUK), one of the largest vacation companies in the world.

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The best cruise lines in 2023 Norwegian Cruise Line ranked as the best cruise line in the world, according to Condé Nast Traveler. Norwegian Cruise Line ranked as the top cruise line this year. It is the third-largest cruise line in the world by passengers, according to Cruise Market Watch.

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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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More Relaxing Atmosphere & Less Party Vibe Even on a busy day at sea, the atmosphere on Princess is not a party vibe. Instead, it's much more relaxed.

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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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The Wonder of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship and weighs 236,857 Gross tonnes. It is owned by Royal Caribbean International and was delivered in January 2022.

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This is Celebrity Cruises®. The entertainment and activities on board our fleet is just as revolutionary as the ships themselves.

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The 'jewel in the crown' of the Royal Caribbean Group, Silversea is the leading ultra-luxury and expedition cruise line—acclaimed for both its all-inclusive lifestyle offering and its global destination portfolio.

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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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