Cruise line comparison
Celebrity vs Princess: which should you choose?
Celebrity Cruises is the choice for a modern, design-led premium cruise: chef-driven restaurants, Infinite Veranda cabins and the cantilevered Magic Carpet on its Edge-series ships, and a stylish adult crowd. Princess Cruises is the choice for a traditional, comfortable cruise with the strongest Alaska land-and-sea program, MedallionClass convenience and Movies Under the Stars. Celebrity usually costs a little more and feels younger; Princess is more relaxed and classic.
- Celebrity
- Princess
Photo: Tunestoons, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Our verdict
Celebrity edges ahead on food, design and service polish, and it’s the better fit for couples who want a cruise that feels stylish and contemporary. Princess is the stronger choice for Alaska, especially if you want to combine the cruise with Denali, and its traditional style and slightly lower fares suit travelers who value comfort over flair. Neither is a party ship, and both handle first-timers and veterans well, so let your destination and your taste in atmosphere decide.
Celebrity and Princess sit at the upper end of big-ship cruising and court the same couples and empty nesters. Both sail Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe and Australia, and both sell fare bundles that fold in drinks and Wi-Fi. What separates them is style and focus.
Celebrity’s five Edge-series ships look like boutique hotels, with cabins styled by Kelly Hoppen and outdoor spaces like the Rooftop Garden. Princess’s Sun Princess and Star Princess are its most modern ships, with a glass-domed pool and show venue, but the Princess experience stays traditional: afternoon tea, wine tastings, naturalists aboard in Alaska and a night at the movies on the pool deck.
Celebrity vs Princess: head to head
| Feature | Celebrity | Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Contemporary and sophisticated, with cocktail lounges and a calm pool deck that never feels like a theme park. | Warm and unhurried; a gentle daily rhythm of lectures, tastings, trivia and shows. |
| Typical passenger | Couples and professionals from their 30s up, plus some families in summer. | Couples 55 and older, retirees and multigenerational groups on Alaska cruisetours. |
| Signature ships | The five Edge-series ships, from Celebrity Edge to Celebrity Xcel, plus Solstice-class ships topped by a real-grass Lawn Club. | Sphere class (Sun Princess, Star Princess) and the Royal class, led by Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess. |
| Dining | A choice of four main dining rooms on the Edge series, with Fine Cut Steakhouse, the animated Le Petit Chef and Eden’s tasting menu for a fee. | Comfortable main dining, Crown Grill steakhouse, Sabatini’s Italian and, on Sphere-class ships, The Catch by Rudi seafood. |
| Entertainment | Theater productions, after-dark performances in Eden and flair bartending at the Martini Bar. | Production shows, Movies Under the Stars, Princess Live! tapings and aerial shows in The Dome on Sun and Star Princess. |
| Kids | Camp at Sea for ages 3 to 17; welcoming to families but not built around them. | Camp Discovery youth centers with Discovery and Nat Geo activities, plus Junior Ranger programs in Alaska. |
| Drinks and inclusions | Pick the All Included fare and Classic-tier drinks plus basic Wi-Fi come with it; Premium tiers cost more. | Princess Plus adds drinks, Wi-Fi and crew tips; Princess Premier layers on premium drinks, faster Wi-Fi and more perks. |
| Cabins | Infinite Verandas, AquaClass with spa access and the Blu restaurant, and Retreat suites with Luminae dining. | Plenty of balconies on Royal-class ships; Reserve Collection mini-suites with their own dining room on Sphere-class ships. |
| Itineraries | Caribbean, Alaska, Mediterranean, Asia, Australia and small-ship Galápagos cruises. | Alaska cruisetours, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal, Japan, Australia and Europe. |
| Price positioning | Premium; typically a bit above Princess on comparable sailings. | Upper mainstream; packages can make the all-in price attractive. |
| Private island | None of its own; selected sailings visit Perfect Day at CocoCay. | Princess Cays on Eleuthera, with beach bungalows and water sports. |
| Loyalty | Captain’s Club, with tier recognition at sister line Royal Caribbean. | Captain’s Circle, with tiers earned by cruises or days aboard. |
Which should you choose?
Choose Celebrity if…
- Food is a priority and you want inventive specialty restaurants without a luxury-line fare.
- You want an Infinite Veranda, AquaClass spa perks or a Retreat suite with private dining.
- You’d like a Galápagos expedition sailing from a brand you already know.
- You want a younger-feeling premium cruise in the Mediterranean or Caribbean.
Choose Princess if…
- You want an Alaska cruisetour that adds nights at Princess-owned lodges near Denali.
- You prefer a classic cruise with afternoon tea, trivia and Movies Under the Stars.
- You like MedallionClass keyless cabin entry and having drinks delivered wherever you sit.
- You want to cruise around Japan or along the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles.
The fleets by the numbers
| Measure | Celebrity | Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean ships in our guide | 15 | 17 |
| Average ship age | 13.9 years | 14.8 years |
| Average ship size | 111,000 GT | 129,000 GT |
| Newest ship | Celebrity Xcel | Star Princess |
| Largest ship | Celebrity Xcel | Star Princess |
Calculated from the ocean ships in our guide, with build years and tonnage from Wikidata.
Celebrity vs Princess: FAQs
Is Celebrity better than Princess?
For dining and design, usually yes. Celebrity’s Edge-series ships and restaurants are more contemporary and refined. Princess delivers a more traditional, relaxed cruise and has the stronger Alaska program.
Which is better for Alaska, Celebrity or Princess?
Princess, for most travelers. It deploys a large Alaska fleet, runs Princess-branded lodges in Denali country and on the Kenai Peninsula, and runs cruisetours that combine rail and land travel. Celebrity’s Alaska sailings are excellent, but its menu of land tours is much shorter.
Is Celebrity or Princess better for older travelers?
Princess suits travelers who want a gentle pace and traditional style. Celebrity draws a slightly younger premium crowd but is also popular with retirees who care about food and design.
Do Celebrity and Princess include drinks in the fare?
Only through their bundles. Choosing Celebrity’s All Included fare gets you the Classic drinks package plus basic Wi-Fi. Princess Plus and Princess Premier add drinks, Wi-Fi and crew gratuities, with Premier including more perks.
Read the full reviews
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Celebrity official site, Princess official site.