Cruise line comparison
Norwegian vs Princess: which should you choose?
Norwegian Cruise Line is the better fit if you want freedom: no set dinner times, no formal nights, plenty of specialty restaurants, go-kart tracks and nightlife, plus Hawaii inter-island cruises and solo studio cabins. Princess Cruises is the better fit if you want a calm, classic cruise with enrichment, polished main dining, MedallionClass technology and the most complete Alaska cruisetour program. Both sail Alaska from Seattle; NCL feels younger and livelier, Princess more relaxed.
- Norwegian
- Princess
Photo: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Our verdict
Norwegian suits travelers who want flexibility, nightlife and variety, and it offers solo studios and Haven suites that Princess doesn’t match. Princess suits travelers who want a relaxing, classic cruise and the most complete Alaska program, especially if Denali is on the wish list. In Alaska both lines are strong: choose NCL for onboard fun and freedom, and Princess for deeper land touring and a quieter ship.
Norwegian and Princess are most often compared by travelers planning Alaska, since both send big modern ships north from Seattle every summer. They’re also weighed by couples deciding between flexibility and tradition in the Caribbean and on the Mexican Riviera.
NCL’s Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore have wraparound observation lounges for glacier viewing and go-kart tracks on deck, an unusual combination on an Alaska cruise. Princess counters with decades of Alaska experience, naturalist talks, Glacier Bay visits on many sailings and its own wilderness lodges for cruisetours. Away from Alaska, NCL’s Freestyle Cruising and long list of extra-charge restaurants contrast with Princess’s steadier rhythm of main-dining dinners, wine tastings and Movies Under the Stars.
Norwegian vs Princess: head to head
| Feature | Norwegian | Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Casual and flexible, with a busy bar scene and resort wear every night. | Easygoing and traditional, with quieter evenings and a couple of dressier nights per week. |
| Typical passenger | A mixed crowd of couples, groups of friends, solo cruisers and young families who like doing their own thing. | Mostly couples over 50 and retirees, with extended families joining on Alaska land-and-sea trips. |
| Signature ships | The four Prima-class ships, plus Norwegian Bliss and Encore on summer Alaska runs. | Sun Princess and Star Princess, plus Royal-class ships like Discovery and Majestic Princess. |
| Dining | No assigned times anywhere; extra-charge Cagney’s, Le Bistro, Teppanyaki, Q Texas Smokehouse and Ocean Blue seafood. | Traditional or anytime main dining with a refined feel; Crown Grill steakhouse and Sabatini’s Italian for a fee. |
| Entertainment | Musicals, comedy clubs, dueling pianos, go-kart racing and laser tag. | Production shows, Movies Under the Stars, port and wildlife lectures, and aerial shows in The Dome on Sphere-class ships. |
| Kids | Splash Academy (3 to 12), Entourage teen club and aqua parks with multi-story slides. | Camp Discovery youth centers, plus Junior Ranger activities with the National Park Service in Alaska. |
| Drinks and inclusions | Fares on Free at Sea promotions typically layer in an open bar and specialty dinners; daily gratuities are charged separately. | Princess Plus covers drinks, Wi-Fi and crew appreciation, and Princess Premier adds premium extras. |
| Cabins | Studio cabins for solo travelers and The Haven suite complex with private pool and restaurant. | Royal-class ships are balcony-heavy, and Sun and Star Princess add Reserve Collection mini-suites whose guests dine in a separate restaurant. |
| Itineraries | Caribbean, Bermuda, Alaska, seven-night Hawaii inter-island cruises, Europe and Asia. | Alaska cruisetours, the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Japan and Australia. |
| Price positioning | Mainstream fares; the value depends on which Free at Sea perks your fare includes. | Upper mainstream; Princess Plus can make the total competitive. |
| Private islands | Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and Harvest Caye in Belize. | Princess Cays on Eleuthera’s southern tip. |
| Loyalty | Latitudes Rewards, NCL’s nights-based past-guest program. | Captain’s Circle, with tiers by cruises or days. |
Which should you choose?
Choose Norwegian if…
- You want to eat whenever and wherever you like, with no assigned table.
- You want an Alaska cruise with go-kart racing and lively bars between glacier days.
- You’re a solo cruiser who’d rather not pay a hefty single supplement.
- You want to explore Hawaii on a weeklong cruise that never leaves the islands.
Choose Princess if…
- You’d like to extend Alaska with a land tour and stay in Princess’s own wilderness lodges.
- You prefer a calm, classic cruise with lectures, tastings and movies on deck.
- You like MedallionClass keyless cabin entry and drinks delivered to your seat.
- You want to cruise Japan or transit the Panama Canal.
The fleets by the numbers
| Measure | Norwegian | Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean ships in our guide | 20 | 17 |
| Average ship age | 14.4 years | 14.8 years |
| Average ship size | 125,000 GT | 129,000 GT |
| Newest ship | Norwegian Luna | Star Princess |
| Largest ship | Norwegian Encore | Star Princess |
Calculated from the ocean ships in our guide, with build years and tonnage from Wikidata.
Norwegian vs Princess: FAQs
Is Norwegian or Princess better for Alaska?
Princess for land tours, Norwegian for onboard activity. Princess sells cruisetours that use its own wilderness lodges inland. Norwegian Bliss and Encore offer observation lounges, go-kart tracks and a livelier atmosphere on seven-night round trips from Seattle.
Which is better for older travelers, Norwegian or Princess?
Princess, for most. Its calmer ships, traditional main dining and enrichment programs suit travelers who want a relaxing pace. Older travelers who value flexibility and don’t mind more noise can enjoy NCL, especially in The Haven.
Does Princess have flexible dining like Norwegian?
Yes. Princess offers anytime dining in its main dining rooms alongside traditional set seatings. Norwegian has no set seatings at all and more specialty restaurants to choose from.
Which is cheaper, Norwegian or Princess?
They’re usually close. Compare what each fare includes: NCL’s Free at Sea perks can cover an open bar and specialty meals, while Princess Plus covers drinks, Wi-Fi and crew tips. The cheaper line depends on which extras you’d buy anyway.
Read the full reviews
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Norwegian official site, Princess official site.