Cruise line comparison
Carnival vs Princess: which should you choose?
Carnival is the pick for a lively, inexpensive cruise with comedy, deck parties and free casual food, especially on short Caribbean trips. Princess Cruises is the pick for a calmer, more traditional cruise with better main-dining meals, strong enrichment and the best Alaska program in mainstream cruising, including its own wilderness lodges. Both belong to Carnival Corporation; Princess usually costs a little more and attracts an older, quieter crowd.
- Carnival
- Princess
Photo: kees torn, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Our verdict
Carnival is the better choice for families, groups and anyone who wants a fun, affordable vacation in warm water. Princess is the better choice for couples and older travelers who want a classic cruise, more enrichment and a smoother overall experience, and it’s the stronger of the two for Alaska by a wide margin. Since both belong to Carnival Corporation, the decision is about atmosphere, not quality control: loud and cheerful versus calm and classic.
Carnival and Princess are corporate siblings, but they’re built for different trips. Carnival is about energy: a pool deck with music, water slides, comedy shows every night and cruise-length options as short as three nights. Princess is about comfort: a classic cruise with Movies Under the Stars, wine tastings, afternoon tea and a focus on the destination, particularly Alaska, the Panama Canal and Japan.
Princess also leads on technology. Its MedallionClass system uses a small wearable disk for keyless cabin entry, contactless boarding and ordering food and drinks anywhere on the ship. Its newest ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess, introduced a glass-domed venue called The Dome.
Carnival vs Princess: head to head
| Feature | Carnival | Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Upbeat, informal and social, with a party atmosphere on short cruises. | Relaxed and traditional, quieter in the evenings, with more lectures and fewer pool parties. |
| Typical passenger | Families, young adults, friend groups and first-time cruisers. | Couples from their 50s up, retirees, multigenerational families in Alaska. |
| Signature ships | Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, plus the Vista class. | Sun Princess and Star Princess (Sphere class), the Royal class (Royal, Regal, Majestic, Sky, Enchanted, Discovery Princess). |
| Dining | Great free casual options like Guy’s Burger Joint; main dining is solid, simple fare. | Main dining feels more refined; Crown Grill steakhouse, Sabatini’s Italian and The Catch by Rudi on Sphere-class ships for a fee. |
| Entertainment | Punchliner Comedy Club, Playlist Productions shows and the BOLT coaster on Excel-class ships. | Theater revues, poolside Movies Under the Stars, Princess Live! game shows and, on Sphere-class ships, acrobatics in The Dome. |
| Kids | Camp Ocean, Circle C and Club O2 with plenty of slides and splash zones. | Camp Discovery clubs split by age, with nature and science activities; far fewer kids outside summer. |
| Drinks and inclusions | CHEERS! alcohol package for every adult in the cabin. | Princess Plus and Princess Premier bundles add drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities, with Premier adding more perks. |
| Cabins | Spacious standard cabins and family-focused options like Family Harbor. | Lots of balconies on the Royal class; Sphere-class ships add the Signature Collection and Reserve Collection mini-suites. |
| Itineraries | Mostly Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico, with Alaska in summer. | Alaska cruisetours, Caribbean, Mexico, Panama Canal, Japan, Australia and Europe. |
| Price positioning | Usually the lower fare on comparable routes. | A step up in price, though Princess Plus can make it competitive. |
| Private islands | Celebration Key on Grand Bahama, plus RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. | Princess Cays at the southern tip of Eleuthera, which Carnival ships also visit. |
| Loyalty | Carnival Rewards, earning points and status from spending since 2026. | Captain’s Circle, based on cruises and days sailed. |
Which should you choose?
Choose Carnival if…
- You want a high-energy cruise with comedy clubs, pool parties and late nights.
- You’re traveling with kids who want slides, splash zones and a roller coaster at sea.
- You want a short getaway from a port you can drive to.
- Price is the main factor in your decision.
Choose Princess if…
- You want to cruise Alaska and add a land tour to Denali using Princess-owned wilderness lodges.
- You prefer a calmer ship with better main dining and fewer crowds at the pool.
- You like the convenience of MedallionClass keyless entry and order-anywhere service.
- You’re planning a Panama Canal crossing or a cruise in Japan.
The fleets by the numbers
| Measure | Carnival | Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean ships in our guide | 29 | 17 |
| Average ship age | 18.1 years | 14.8 years |
| Average ship size | 117,000 GT | 129,000 GT |
| Newest ship | Carnival Jubilee | Star Princess |
| Largest ship | Carnival Celebration | Star Princess |
Calculated from the ocean ships in our guide, with build years and tonnage from Wikidata.
Carnival vs Princess: FAQs
Is Princess more upscale than Carnival?
Somewhat. Princess offers more refined main dining, quieter public spaces and more enrichment, and it targets an older crowd. Both are mainstream lines, but Princess sits closer to premium.
Which is better for Alaska, Carnival or Princess?
Princess, clearly. Princess has sailed Alaska for decades, operates its own wilderness lodges near Denali and other parks, and offers cruisetours that combine the cruise with rail and land travel. Carnival offers simpler Alaska cruises at lower fares.
Is Princess good for families?
Yes, especially in summer and in Alaska. Princess runs Camp Discovery youth programs with Discovery and Nat Geo activities, but there are no big water parks. Families with active kids may prefer Carnival in the Caribbean.
Do Carnival and Princess share a private island?
Yes. Princess Cays on Eleuthera in the Bahamas is used by both lines. Carnival also has its own Celebration Key on Grand Bahama.
Read the full reviews
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Carnival official site, Princess official site.