Cruise line comparison
Princess vs Holland America: which should you choose?
Princess and Holland America are the two biggest names in Alaska and both offer classic, unhurried cruising, but they draw slightly different crowds. Choose Princess for bigger, newer ships, MedallionClass convenience, more going on after dark and better facilities for families. Choose Holland America for smaller, quieter ships, a strong live-music program on Music Walk, longer Grand Voyages and a deeply experienced, older crowd. On price they’re close; Holland America often has the edge on longer voyages.
- Princess
- Holland America
Photo: Adamdl06204917, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Our verdict
These lines are closer than most matchups, so focus on ship size, crowd and itinerary. Princess suits travelers who want more going on in the evening and better facilities for families, with Sun Princess and Star Princess as its most modern ships. Holland America suits travelers who want a quieter, more traditional cruise with standout live music and longer, more unusual voyages. For Alaska either is a strong choice; compare cruisetour routes, lodge locations and how many days you’ll spend on land before deciding.
Princess and Holland America Line share a parent company, Carnival Corporation, and often sail the same Alaska routes from Seattle and Vancouver. Both pair cruises with land tours to Denali, and Holland America’s cruisetours also cross into Canada’s Yukon. If you’re planning Alaska, there’s a good chance you’ll end up choosing between these two.
The real difference is energy and scale. Princess’s Royal and Sphere classes carry roughly 3,600 to 4,300 guests and keep the Piazza atrium busy late into the evening. Holland America’s largest ships, the Pinnacle class, top out around 2,650 guests and feel calmer, with evenings built around live music and long, port-intensive itineraries that can run for weeks.
Princess vs Holland America: head to head
| Feature | Princess | Holland America |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Classic but sociable; the Piazza fills at night with street performers, a bar crowd and live bands. | Hushed and gracious; after dinner most guests drift to a music venue or turn in early. |
| Typical passenger | Couples 50 and older, families in summer and big multigenerational Alaska groups. | Seasoned cruisers in their 60s and 70s, plus retirees who sail for weeks at a time. |
| Signature ships | Sun Princess and Star Princess, plus the six Royal-class ships from Royal Princess to Discovery Princess. | Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam lead the fleet, with Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam and the Vista-class ships behind them. |
| Dining | Main dining rooms, the World Fresh Marketplace buffet, Crown Grill, Sabatini’s and Alfredo’s Pizzeria. | The Dining Room and Lido Market, plus Pinnacle Grill steaks, Canaletto’s Italian plates, pan-Asian Tamarind and Rudi’s Sel de Mer. |
| Entertainment | Big-cast theater shows, films on the giant poolside screen and the Princess Live! studio; The Dome on Sphere-class ships. | Billboard Onboard’s dueling pianos, a Rolling Stone-branded rock club on many ships and headline acts on the World Stage. |
| Kids | Camp Discovery youth centers split by age, busiest in summer and on Alaska sailings. | Club HAL is modest and sometimes seasonal; outside school holidays you’ll see few children. |
| Drinks and inclusions | Two add-on bundles: Princess Plus for drinks, Wi-Fi and tips, and Princess Premier for a richer set of extras. | Have It All fares fold in a drinks package, Wi-Fi, at least one specialty dinner and a tour credit. |
| Cabins | Balcony-heavy Royal-class ships; Sphere-class ships add Reserve Collection and Signature Collection suites. | Generous standard cabins for the price and Neptune Suites with a private concierge lounge. |
| Itineraries | Alaska above all, plus Mexico, the Caribbean, the canal, Japan, Australia and Europe. | Alaska and the Yukon, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, the Panama Canal, Grand Voyages and an annual Grand World Voyage. |
| Price positioning | Mainstream to upper mainstream; short Caribbean sailings can be very competitive. | Upper mainstream, often good value per night on longer itineraries. |
| Private island | Princess Cays, a stretch of Eleuthera beach with rentable bungalows. | RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay on Little San Salvador, though the Have It All beverage package doesn’t apply there. |
| Loyalty | Captain’s Circle, which counts both cruises taken and days sailed. | Mariner Society, with star tiers based on days sailed. |
Which should you choose?
Choose Princess if…
- You want a bigger ship with more evening entertainment and more places to eat.
- You’re traveling with kids or grandkids and want a busier youth program.
- You like MedallionClass keyless entry and having drinks brought to wherever you’re sitting.
- You want to explore Japan or Australia on a big, comfortable ship.
Choose Holland America if…
- You prefer smaller, quieter ships and fellow guests who have cruised for decades.
- A night of live music, whether piano sing-alongs or a rock band, is your idea of a perfect evening.
- You want a monthlong Grand Voyage, a South America circumnavigation or a world cruise.
- You want an Alaska land tour that crosses into the Yukon and Dawson City.
The fleets by the numbers
| Measure | Princess | Holland America |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean ships in our guide | 17 | 11 |
| Average ship age | 14.8 years | 18.1 years |
| Average ship size | 129,000 GT | 84,000 GT |
| Newest ship | Star Princess | Rotterdam |
| Largest ship | Star Princess | Koningsdam |
Calculated from the ocean ships in our guide, with build years and tonnage from Wikidata.
Princess vs Holland America: FAQs
Is Princess or Holland America better for Alaska?
Both are excellent. Princess runs one of the largest Alaska fleets and owns wilderness lodges near Denali, on the Kenai Peninsula and by the Copper River. Holland America offers cruisetours into Denali and the Yukon and a quieter atmosphere on board.
Is Holland America for older people?
It skews older, yes. Holland America’s typical passenger is in their 60s or 70s, and its ships are calmer than most mainstream lines. Younger travelers who like live music, good food and port-focused itineraries can still enjoy it, especially on the Pinnacle-class ships.
Which is cheaper, Princess or Holland America?
They’re usually similar. Princess can be cheaper on short Caribbean and Mexico cruises, while Holland America often offers good value per night on long voyages. Compare the bundles too, since Princess Plus and Have It All include different extras.
Are Princess and Holland America owned by the same company?
Yes. Both are part of Carnival Corporation, along with Carnival, Cunard and Seabourn. They run independently, with different ships, styles and loyalty programs, so status doesn’t transfer between them.
Read the full reviews
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Princess official site, Holland America official site.