Royal Caribbean vs. Princess Cruises: Which Is Better for You?
The first time I sailed Royal Caribbean, I spent 20 minutes in line for a waffle. Not a fancy waffle. A regular buffet waffle, behind what felt like half of Ohio and a little boy who wanted his with “extra extra” syrup. By the time I got to the front, they ran out of batter.
A year later I was on a Princess ship, sitting in a hot tub at sunset with a piña colada and not one other person in sight. I remember thinking, ok, these two cruise lines are NOT the same thing.
And honestly? I loved both trips. I just loved them for totally different reasons.
Thats why the “Royal Caribbean or Princess” question is so hard. Neither one is better across the board. One is a floating theme park, the other is more like a nice resort that happens to move. The right pick depends on who your traveling with and what kind of vacation you actually want.
So I broke it all down below, ships, real costs, food, kids clubs, private islands, the whole thing. I also included the stuff that changed in 2026, because a lot of the comparisons out there are already out of date.
The quick answer if you’re in a hurry:
- Go Royal Caribbean if you have kids under 12, its your first cruise, or you get bored easy.
- Go Princess if your a couple, your 50 or older, your heading to Alaska, or you just want peace and quiet.
- Either one works for teens, Europe, and big family groups (more on that below).
Royal Caribbean vs Princess at a Glance
If you only have two minutes, this table pretty much sums it up.
| Category | Royal Caribbean | Princess Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Loud, fun, always something going on | Calm, classy, slower pace |
| Number of ships | 30 | 17 |
| Biggest ships | Icon, Star and Legend of the Seas (5,610 guests at double occupancy, up to about 7,600 max) | Sun and Star Princess (4,300 guests) |
| Newest ship | Legend of the Seas (July 2026) | Star Princess (late 2025) |
| Who sails | Families, couples, friend groups. Median age is early 40s | Couples, empty nesters, grandparents with grandkids. Skews 50+ |
| Daily tips | $18.50 per person ($21 in suites) | $18 per person ($19 mini suites, $20 suites) |
| All-in package | None. You buy drinks, Wi-Fi and tips separate | Princess Plus $70/day or Premier $105/day |
| Private beach days | Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Beach Club in Nassau | Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key |
| Big thrills | Waterparks, surf simulator, zip lines, ice rinks | The Sanctuary, Movies Under the Stars |
| Best for | Caribbean and Bahamas | Alaska and long trips |
| Keeping track of kids | Find My Kid wristband for ages 3 to 12 (Star of the Seas & Legend of the Seas only) | OceanMedallion shows where your family is on the ship, any age |
| Loyalty program | Crown & Anchor Society | Captain’s Circle |
5 Big Things That Changed in 2026
This is the part most other articles skip. If you read a comparison from last year, some of it is already wrong.
- Princess packages got more expensive. For cruises leaving on or after October 13, 2026, Princess Plus went up from $65 to $70 a day and Premier went from $100 to $105. On Sun Princess and Star Princess, its $5 more on top of that. They also got rid of the four-device Wi-Fi plan and replaced it with a two-device one.
- Princess is moving away from Princess Cays. After about 30 years, most of there Bahamas stops are switching to Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key. Those islands are owned by Carnival Corporation, which also owns Princess. Princess hasn’t said Princess Cays is closing for good, but only a few sailings still list it.
- Royal Caribbean still isn’t going to Labadee. No ships have stopped at the Haiti beach since April 2025. Royal says the pause now runs through at least June 2027. Those stops are getting swapped for places like Nassau, CocoCay, Cozumel and the Dominican Republic.
- Royal opened its first beach club. Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau opened December 23, 2025. You buy an all-inclusive day pass and get two beaches, three pools and 10 bars.
- Both lines got a huge new ship. Royal’s Legend of the Seas started regular cruises July 4, 2026 and heads to Fort Lauderdale for the winter. Princess’s Star Princess showed up on the West Coast this spring.
The Ships: Giant Resorts vs Big But Chill
Royal Caribbean has almost twice as many ships as Princess. Its biggest ones are also about 30% bigger than anything Princess has. That size difference effects pretty much everything else on this list.
Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Royal has 30 ships in seven classes. The stars are the Icon class ships: Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas. Each one holds about 5,610 guests if two people are in every cabin. Legend alone has 28 places to eat and 20 bars.
The Oasis class ships (Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Symphony, Wonder and Utopia) have whole “neighborhoods” like Central Park and the Boardwalk. Quantum ships have North Star, a glass pod that lifts you way above the ship. The older Freedom, Voyager, Radiance and Vision ships are smaller and cheaper, and they do alot of the short Bahamas trips.
Heads up: not every Royal ship has the cool stuff you see on Instagram. A 3-night cruise on Grandeur of the Seas is nothing like a week on Icon. Always look up the exact ship before you book.
Princess’s fleet. Princess has 17 ships in four classes. The newest are the Sphere class ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess. They hold 4,300 guests and Star Princess has over 1,000 balcony cabins.
The Royal class ships (Royal, Regal, Majestic, Sky, Enchanted and Discovery Princess) hold around 3,600 guests each. The Grand and Coral class ships are older and smaller. Those are usually the ones doing the long, far away trips.
Bottom line: even Princess’s biggest ship feels less crowded than Royal’s mega ships, because their just isn’t as much going on at once.
What a 7-Night Cruise Really Costs
The base fares are usually close enough that they won’t make the decision for you. The extras will. If you like a drink or two, want Wi-Fi, and pay the tips, Princess Plus usually ends up cheapest because it bundles everything into one price. Buying Princess’s extras one at a time can actually cost more then Royal.
Here’s the math for 2 adults on a 7-night cruise. Keep in mind these are just the extras, not the cruise fare itself:
| Extra (2 adults, 7 nights) | Royal Caribbean | Princess (no package) | Princess Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tips | $259 | $252 | Included |
| Alcohol drink package | About $1,388 (Deluxe at about $84/day + 18% tip) | $1,074 (Plus Beverage at $64.99/day + 18% service charge) | Included |
| Wi-Fi, 1 device each | Extra, price changes by sailing | $392 ($27.99/day before you sail) | Included |
| Casual specialty meals | Pay per meal | Pay per meal | 4 per person included |
| Estimated total (not counting casual meals) | About $1,650 + Wi-Fi | About $1,718 | $980 |
Royal’s drink prices go up and down depending on the ship and the date. Most people see somewhere between $56 and $120 a day before the 18% tip. Sales of 20 to 50% off happen alot before you sail, so keep checking your Cruise Planner.
What Princess Plus gets you ($70/day, $75 on Sun and Star Princess): up to 15 drinks a day that cost $15 or less each, all your tips, Wi-Fi for one device, four casual dining meals and free room service delivery.
What Princess Premier gets you ($105/day, $110 on Sun and Star Princess): unlimited drinks up to $20 each, unlimited casual and specialty dining, Wi-Fi for up to four devices, professional photos, reserved show seats, and a shore excursion credit up to $300 on longer cruises.
These are the new package prices for cruises leaving on or after October 13, 2026. If you bought your package before the increase, your original price is honored. They cost about $5 more a day if you wait and buy onboard.
The catch: Plus is only a deal if you’ll actually use it. If you barely drink or your traveling with little kids, paying for things one at a time might be cheaper.
Money tip: on Royal Caribbean, if one adult 21+ in your cabin buys the Deluxe package, everyone 21+ in that cabin usually has to buy it to. So budget for both of you, not just one.
Food: More Choices vs Better Bites
Royal Caribbean gives you more places to eat. Princess usually gives you better food at the free spots. So if you plan to only eat at the included places, Princess wins. If you love trying a new restaurant every night, Royal does.
Eating on Royal Caribbean. The free options are the Main Dining Room, the Windjammer buffet, Sorrento’s pizza, Café Promenade, El Loco Fresh and a few other casual spots depending on the ship. For extra money you can try Chops Grille (steakhouse), Izumi (sushi and hibachi), Giovanni’s Italian, Hooked seafood, and fun ones like Wonderland and Royal Railway on Utopia and Legend. The biggest ships have more than 20 places to eat. Just know the buffet is huge but kinda hit or miss, and lines get long at busy times.
Eating on Princess. The free options include a few main dining rooms with flexible “Dine My Way” times, the World Fresh Marketplace buffet, the 24-hour International Café, Alfredo’s Slice on some ships and the poolside grill. Alfredo’s Pizzeria is now a “casual dining” spot with a $14.99 cover charge, which is free for four meals with Plus and unlimited with Premier. Paid spots include Crown Grill (steakhouse), Sabatini’s Italian and The Catch by Rudi on some ships. The Sphere class ships add even more. Princess’s pizza is some of the best at sea, and the buffet usually stays open later then Royal’s does. My night-owl self appreciates that.
My pick: Princess for food quality. Royal for variety and picky eaters.
Activities, Shows and Nightlife
This is where Royal Caribbean wins by a mile. If you get bored on sea days, book Royal. If a sea day with a good book and a cocktail sounds like heaven, Princess is gonna feel like a gift.
On Royal Caribbean, theres always something to do. You’ve got FlowRider surf simulators, rock climbing walls, zip lines, the Ultimate Abyss slide, ice skating rinks, laser tag, escape rooms and the Category 6 waterpark on Icon class ships. At night there’s Broadway and West End shows on some ships, crazy high-diving shows in the AquaTheater, and ice shows. Legend of the Seas even debuted a brand new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory show. For grown-ups, the Schooner Bar has piano sing-alongs and Bolero’s has Latin music and mojitos. And if you need a break from the chaos, the Solarium is an adults only pool area thats way quieter.
On Princess, its more laid back. The Sanctuary is an adults only retreat with comfy loungers and great service (it costs extra but its worth it on a busy sea day). The shows are mostly original productions, including some by Stephen Schwartz, the guy who wrote the music for Wicked. You’ll also find magicians, comedians and Princess Live! game shows. Movies Under the Stars plays on a giant screen by the pool, the Royal class ships have the glass-floored SeaWalk, and the Sphere class ships have The Dome. There’s also lectures about the ports, stargazing, dance classes and trivia.
My pick: Royal Caribbean for things to do and big shows. Princess for peace and quiet.
Kids and Families: It Depends How Old They Are
For babies, toddlers and kids under 12, Royal Caribbean is the easy choice. For tweens and teens though, Princess deserves a second look. It’s better than it’s reputation.
Why families love Royal Caribbean. Royal has a nursery called Royal Babies & Tots for kids 6 to 36 months on some ships (it costs extra). Princess doesn’t have a nursery at all. The Adventure Ocean kids club is for ages 3 to 12, and theres a separate teen lounge. Activities are pretty structured with set schedules. The pools have splash zones, waterslides and lifeguards. Royal also has the most family cabin options, from connecting rooms all the way up to the Ultimate Family Suite, which has it’s own slide. Yes, a slide. In a cabin.
Why some families pick Princess. The kids club is called Camp Discovery and it was made with Discovery and Animal Planet. Its split into The Treehouse (ages 3 to 7), The Lodge (8 to 12) and The Beach House (13 to 17). There’s less kids onboard, so the pools aren’t as packed, and teens get more freedom. One mom blogger said her boys liked the Princess kids club way more than Royal’s because it was less strict.
The parent hack: the OceanMedallion lets you see where everyone in your family is on the ship, teens included. Royal has something similar called Find My Kid, but its a $14.99 wristband for kids 3 to 12, and so far its only been on Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas. Stick it in a cheap wristband and it gets a lot easier to find your teenager, as long as location sharing is turned on. Just don’t treat it like a babysitter.. Princess also lets you grab pool towels whenever (no towel cards to keep track of) and has self-service laundry on a lot of decks.
Before you book Princess with kids, know this:
- There are no lifeguards at Princess pools, so little ones need you watching.
- Movies Under the Stars isn’t always kid friendly, and grown-up movies sometimes play during the day.
- There just isn’t as much for kids to do compared to Royal’s waterparks and rock walls.
My pick: Royal Caribbean for kids under 12. Princess is a real option for families with teens or for trips with the grandparents.
Private Islands and Where They Sail
Royal Caribbean has the best private island day in the Caribbean right now. Princess owns Alaska and the far corners of the world.
Royal Caribbean’s beach days. Perfect Day at CocoCay is the big one, with Thrill Waterpark, a giant freshwater pool and the adults only Hideaway Beach. Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is a newer all-inclusive option in Nassau. Labadee is on pause through at least June 2027. Royal Beach Clubs in Cozumel and Santorini are also in the works. Perfect Day Mexico was supposed to open in late 2027, but Mexico rejected the project in May 2026, and right now its just talks about moving it somewhere else.
Princess’s beach days. Most Bahamas stops now go to Half Moon Cay, which Princess shares with Carnival and Holland America, or Celebration Key, which is Carnival’s island. Princess says the Plus drink package works on Half Moon Cay but not on Celebration Key. If you loved how quiet Princess Cays was, you might be a little bummed, but the newer islands have way more to do.
Where each line is strongest:
- Caribbean and Bahamas: Royal Caribbean. More ships, more ports to leave from (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, Galveston, Bayonne and others) and tons of 3 to 5 night trips.
- Alaska: Princess. They had eight ships in Alaska in 2026 and run more than 20 cruisetours that add Denali and there own wilderness lodges to your trip.
- Europe: Kind of a tie. Royal brings mega ships like Legend of the Seas, Princess has more port heavy and longer cruises.
- Australia, Asia, South America, Antarctica and world cruises: Princess. It’s the stronger choice for traditional world cruises and longer trips that focus on the destinations.
- Panama Canal and Hawaii: Princess, with more and longer sailings.
My pick: Royal for an epic beach day. Princess for bucket list places.
Cabins and Suites
Royal Caribbean has more room types for families and groups. Princess has the better balconies and some of the comfiest beds at sea.
Royal Caribbean cabins. Alot of Royal’s cabins sleep 3 to 5 people, and there’s connecting rooms plus the over-the-top Ultimate Family Suite and Townhouse. They also have Virtual Balcony inside cabins, where a big screen shows the real view outside in real time. On Oasis class ships you can get a balcony that faces Central Park or the Boardwalk instead of the ocean. Solo travelers can book studio cabins on some ships. And if you go suite, Royal Suite Class gives you perks like priority boarding and, on the biggest ships, a private suite restaurant.
Princess cabins. Every cabin has the Princess Luxury Bed, and I’m not exaggerating when I say its one of the best nights of sleep you’ll get on any ship. Sky Suites have some of the biggest balconies at sea. The Reserve Collection mini suites are a nice middle ground, with a private dining room just for those guests. Suite guests get free laundry, priority boarding and a specialty dinner the first night. The downside is there aren’t many family cabin options, and the newer ships tend to have slightly smaller standard cabins then the older ones.
My pick: Royal for families of four or more. Princess for couples who want a great balcony.
So Which One Is Better for You?
Find yourself in this table and boom, you have your answer.
| If you are… | Book | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A first time cruiser | Royal Caribbean | Short trips, tons to do, easy to love |
| A family with kids under 12 | Royal Caribbean | Nursery, waterparks, lifeguards, family suites |
| A family with teens | Either one | Royal for thrills, Princess for freedom and Medallion tracking |
| A couple wanting romance | Princess | Quieter decks, The Sanctuary, great balconies |
| 50 or 60 and up | Princess | Slower pace, lectures, longer trips |
| A big group with grandparents and grandkids | Either one | Royal if the kids are calling the shots, Princess if grandma is |
| Traveling solo | Royal Caribbean | Studio cabins and a more social crowd |
| Going to Alaska | Princess | More ships, cruisetours, there own lodges |
| Doing a 3 or 4 night Bahamas trip | Royal Caribbean | CocoCay and lots of trips from Florida |
| Wanting one price for drinks, Wi-Fi and tips | Princess | Princess Plus or Premier |
| Easily bored on sea days | Royal Caribbean | Not even close |
| Dreaming of a world cruise or Antarctica | Princess | Princess offers more established world cruise options |
Still stuck? Try a short Royal Caribbean cruise first. If the crowds and noise are to much for you, a week on Princess will feel like the perfect next step. Thats basically what happened to me.
The Downsides Nobody Tells You About
Every cruise line has trade offs. Here’s the stuff the brochures leave out.
Royal Caribbean downsides:
- Crowds. With up to about 7,600 people on an Icon class ship, expect lines at the buffet, the elevators and the popular stuff on sea days. (See: my waffle story.)
- The extras add up fast. Alot of the coolest things, like specialty restaurants and some of the adventure stuff, cost extra.
- Old ships are a whole different experience. A cheap fare on a 1990s Vision class ship won’t come with the waterparks you saw on TikTok.
- No Labadee. If your itinerary promised it, expect a different port instead.
Princess downsides:
- Less to do. No waterparks, no surf simulator, no ice rink. Kids who need nonstop action might get restless.
- The shows can feel old fashioned to younger travelers and kids.
- Princess Cays is fading out. If you loved that quiet beach, your Bahamas day will probably be at a shared Carnival island now.
- The packages cost more now. At $70 to $110 per person a day, Plus and Premier only make sense if you’ll really use them.
Royal Caribbean vs Princess FAQ
Is Princess more expensive than Royal Caribbean? Not always. Princess is called a “premium” cruise line, but once you add drinks, Wi-Fi and tips, a Princess Plus fare is often cheaper then Royal Caribbean with the same extras.
Is Princess all-inclusive? Only if you add Princess Plus ($70 a day) or Premier ($105 a day). The regular fare covers your cabin, the main dining room, the buffet and the shows, same as most big cruise lines.
Which is better for seniors? Princess. The ships are calmer, the crowd is older, and the trips focus more on scenery and longer sailings.
Are Royal Caribbean and Princess owned by the same company? Nope. Royal Caribbean is part of Royal Caribbean Group, which also owns Celebrity Cruises. Princess is part of Carnival Corporation, along with Carnival, Holland America and Cunard. So there loyalty programs don’t share status.
Do both have formal nights? Both have dressier evenings on alot of sailings, but how many you get and how fancy they are depends on the cruise length and itinerary. Neither one is super strict, and you can always eat at the buffet in normal clothes.
Which is better for Alaska? Princess, hands down. More ships, more ports to leave from, and land and sea cruisetours to Denali.
Can you still go to Labadee on Royal Caribbean? Not anytime soon. Royal has paused all Labadee stops through at least June 2027 and is swapping in ports like Nassau, CocoCay and Cozumel.
Whichever line you pick, you’re still waking up on a cruise ship, so honestly you can’t lose. Just maybe get to the waffle station early.
