princess cruises cabin facilities

Princess Cruises ship cabin and suite guide: Everything you want to know

Is a balcony cabin a must for you when you cruise? Princess Cruises could be your line.

The California-based brand was a pioneer in adding a large number of balcony cabins to ships, and even its oldest vessels are loaded with balcony cabins — something that can't be said for many of its rivals.

On the flip side, Princess offers relatively few suites on its ships compared to some of the big-ship lines with which it most directly competes, including Celebrity Cruises , Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. Just 46 of the 1,830 rooms on the line's recently unveiled Discovery Princess are suites, for instance. Believe it or not, that's an improvement from earlier vessels in the same series, some of which have as few as 36 suites.

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Princess also isn't known for enormous and amenity-filled suites.

What this means is there aren't a lot of ways to live large on a Princess ship or pack a lot of people into a single accommodation. Until the debut of Sky Princess in 2019, the line didn't have a single cabin that could accommodate more than four people.

That said, on Princess ships, you can often create larger living spaces by booking two connecting cabins.

A Princess Cruises cabin primer

As is typical for many cruise ships, Princess vessels offer cabins in four broad categories: Windowless "inside" cabins, ocean-view cabins, balcony cabins and suites.

As noted above, a significant portion of cabins on all Princess ships are balcony cabins — the category of cabin that everyone wants these days. About 80% of the 1,834 cabins on Princess's six-month-old Enchanted Princess are balcony cabins or suites with balconies, for instance. Compare that to the 72% of cabins on Royal Caribbean's four-year-old Symphony of the Seas that are balcony cabins or suites with balconies.

Notably, every single cabin facing the sea on three of the newest Princess ships — Royal Princess, Regal Princess and Majestic Princess — has a balcony. These three vessels are completely devoid of ocean-view cabins (cabins facing the sea that only have a window). That's relatively unusual in the world of big mass-market ships — the niche of cruising in which Princess plays. It's more common with luxury cruise vessels.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships

At the same time, as noted above, Princess vessels have fewer suites than you'll find on the ships operated by such big-ship brands as Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.

Here's a breakdown of the broad cabin categories on Royal Princess, which is typical of the line's newer ships (it's the prototype vessel for the line's new, six-ship Royal Class series):

Inside cabins: 342 (19%) Ocean-view cabins: 0 (0%) Balcony cabins (including mini-suites): 1,402 (79%) Suites: 36 (2%)

On older Princess ships (and, in general, all older cruise ships), there are fewer balcony cabins. However, the ratio of balcony cabins to non-balcony cabins is much higher on older Princess ships than it is on older vessels at many other big-ship lines. An impressive 72% of the 1,000 cabins on Princess's 2003-built Coral Princess, for instance, are balcony cabins.

On Coral Princess, inside cabins and ocean-view cabins only make up 26% of all rooms. A breakdown of the cabin categories on that ship:

Inside cabins: 108 (11%) Ocean-view cabins: 157 (16%) Balcony cabins (including mini-suites): 719 (72%) Suites: 16 (2%)

The takeaway here is that you'll have an easier time locking down a balcony cabin on a Princess ship — even an older Princess ship — than you will when booking many of the ships operated by competing big-ship lines.

Just note that you'll want to book early if you're aiming for a suite on a Princess ship since there are so few of them. Note, also, that suites tend to sell out early on cruise ships in general. An old saying in the cruise industry is that "ships sell from the top and the bottom." That is, the first cabins on any vessel to sell out are the most expensive cabins, which are the suites, and then the least expensive cabins, which typically are the inside cabins. The mid-priced "middle" cabins sell last.

Design-wise, Princess's cabins and suites are fairly basic and comfortable, if not super stylish.

When it comes to rooms, Princess is sort of the Marriott of the big-ship cruise world. Its rooms are comfortable and functional, but a bit bland. Avant-garde style is not a Princess thing.

Inside cabins on Princess Cruises ships

These are the cabins you stay in when you're on a tight budget. On any Princess ship, they are almost always the least-expensive option when you're booking a cabin. You often can save considerable money by booking an inside cabin versus an ocean-view or higher-level cabin.

What you'll give up, of course, is that ocean view. Your room will have four walls and no windows offering a glimpse of the outside world.

You'll also be in a relatively small room. The typical inside cabin on the new Discovery Princess measures 166 square feet, with some as big as 175 square feet. By comparison, the typical balcony cabin on Discovery Princess measures 181 square feet, not including a 41-square-foot balcony (for a total of 222 square feet).

Still, the inside cabins on Princess ships are bigger than the inside cabins on ships operated by some of the line's main competitors.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Princess ship

Inside cabins on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas, for instance, measure just 149 square feet — quite a bit less than the inside cabins on Discovery Princess.

Note that older Princess ships sometimes have smaller inside cabins than newer Princess ships. On the line's 2003-built Coral Princess, inside cabins measure just 156 to 166 square feet. On the line's 1998-built Grand Princess, most inside cabins are 160 square feet (some wheelchair-accessible inside cabins on Grand Princess measure 182 square feet).

Many inside cabins on Princess ships have pull-down bunks that will allow for up to four people to stay in the rooms.

Ocean-view cabins on Princess Cruises ships

With an ocean-view cabin, you get a window looking out to the sea, but not an attached balcony where you can sit outside and enjoy the fresh air.

As noted above, three of Princess's newest vessels — Royal Princess, Regal Princess and Majestic Princess — don't have a single ocean-view cabin. Every outward-facing cabin has a balcony. However, you'll find ocean-view cabins on the line's older vessels and also on the line's three newest ships, Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess.

In general, ocean-view cabins on the Princess ships that have them are a tad bigger than the inside cabins found on the same vessels. On the line's Emerald Princess, for instance, the typical ocean-view cabin measures 178 square feet. The typical inside cabin on Emerald Princess measures 163 square feet.

On many Princess ships that have ocean-view cabins, the rooms are mostly found just above the promenade deck, where the lifeboats hang, and have obstructed views. You'll also sometimes find a few ocean-view cabins at the back of Princess vessels, facing the wake.

Related: The 3 classes of Princess ships, explained

On the line's two Coral Class ships — Coral Princess and Island Princess — there are a few "premium" ocean-view cabins that measure a more spacious 212 square feet. If you're the kind of traveler who needs a lot of space, these rooms can be a good choice.

There also are a handful of "premium" ocean-view cabins on the new Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess that measure 172 square feet and have unusual slanting windows.

Balcony cabins on Princess Cruises ships

Balcony cabins are what everyone wants these days, and Princess is delivering with huge numbers of balcony cabins on all its newest ships. On the line's new Royal Class series of ships, which began debuting in 2013, nearly 80% of rooms are balcony cabins.

On these newer vessels — Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess — the typical balcony cabin has an interior space of 181 square feet plus a balcony that measures 41 square feet (for a total of 222 square feet). However, there also are bigger "premium deluxe balcony" cabins that can measure as much as 233 square feet on the inside (not including the balcony). Some of these have larger-than-normal balconies that can stretch the total square footage to 312 square feet.

In addition, the Royal Class vessels have even larger balcony cabins that Princess calls mini-suites. Including their balcony space, these cabins measure anywhere from 299 to 329 square feet. While these mini-suite cabins have the word "suite" in their name, we are including them in the balcony cabin category as they generally resemble very large balcony cabins vs. true suites.

Related: Everything to know about the Princess Captain's Club loyalty program

The typical Princess balcony cabin has twin beds that can be converted into a queen bed, a built-in desk with a chair and a built-in miniature refrigerator. In addition to beds, a desk and a miniature fridge, premium balcony cabins have a seating area with a sofa bed that can be used for a third passenger in the room. Some also have a pull-down bunk that can accommodate a fourth person.

Suites on Princess Cruises ships

As mentioned above, Princess ships generally have fewer suites than the ships operated by some of its biggest competitors. The line also isn't known for particularly giant suites.

Princess's three newest ships — Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess — have the line's first truly large standalone suites, dubbed Sky Suites. There are two of them on each of the vessels, and they measure a generous 1,792 square feet (though more than half of that space is taken up by a huge wraparound balcony). With two bedrooms plus a living room with a pullout sofa, the Sky Suites are the first Princess accommodations designed for up to five people.

Still, even the Sky Suites on Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess aren't the sort of truly epic suites with huge interior living spaces that you'll find on the latest ships from such competitors as Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. The latest Celebrity vessels, for instance, offer so-called Iconic Suites that have twice as much interior space as the Sky Suites.

If you're the kind of cruiser who is only happy in a cabin of truly giant proportions (and are willing to pay up for it), Princess probably isn't your line.

Still, you'll find at least a few suites of a decent size on every Princess ship. The line's seven Grand Class vessels each offer two "family suites" at their fronts that can be created by connecting a mini-suite with an adjacent inside cabin to create a six- to eight-person complex.

Each of the line's Royal Class ships (the line's six newest ships) has at least 36 suites.

Related: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on a cruise

Bottom line

Princess offers a relatively wide range of cabins on its ships, including lots of the sort of cabins that everyone wants — balcony cabins. If you're a fan of balcony cabins, you'll find plenty of options on Princess ships, including standard size balcony cabins and bigger "premium" balcony cabins. You'll also find a lot of larger "mini-suite" balcony cabins on Princess ships. However, you won't find a lot of truly large suites with multiple rooms.

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Royal Princess cabins and suites

Royal princess staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

Royal Princess cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by Princess Cruises en-suite amenities and services.

The Royal Princess cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

Balcony Suite

Layout (floor plan).

Standard Suite cabins offer the following amenities and complimentary services:

• private (step-out) balcony furnished with 2 loungers, 4 chairs, 1 small table, 1 ottoman chair
• en-suite bathroom (hottub, massage shower head, hairdryer, upgraded bath amenities)
• veranda access from the lounge area via 2 floor-ceiling sliding glass doors
• separate sitting / lounge area with double sofabed and 2 coffee tables
• mirrored vanity / writing table with chair
• complimentary glass of Champagne (embarkation day welcome amenity)
• 24-hour room service (complimentary)
• luxury mattress topper and pillows
• 2x flat TVs
• 1 queen or 2 twin beds
• mini-fridge, direct-dial phone, complimentary mini-bar, free bottled water (supplied daily)
• premium bedding (100% Egyptian cotton, high-thread count linens, duvets), bedside cabinets with lamps
• spacious walk-in wardrobe (electronic safe in the closet)

Upgraded Suite cabin amenities and services include:

• "Princess Luxury Bed" includes a custom-made premium mattress and bed springs, plus a plush pillow-top (2-inch / 1,6 cm).
• priority services (embarkation, tendering, disembarkation, specialty restaurant reservations, shore excursion reservations)
• in-cabin dining (evening canapes / available upon request)
• premium quality terry shawl bathrobes
• (complimentary amenities) Lotus Spa Thermal Suite access, laundry and professional cleaning, specialty restaurant dinner (embarkation day only, on 6+ days long cruises)

Standard Mini Suite cabins offer the following amenities and complimentary services:

• private (step-out) balcony furnished with 2-4 chairs, 1 small table, 1 ottoman chair
• veranda access from the lounge area via floor-ceiling sliding glass door
• separate sitting / lounge area with double sofabed and coffee table
• mini-fridge, direct-dial phone
• spacious wardrobe (electronic safe in the closet)

Upgraded Mini Suite cabin amenities and services include:

• priority services (embarkation, disembarkation)
• complimentary wine set-up (on embarkation day welcome amenity) - 1/2 bottle of red wine and 1/2 bottle of white wine

"Club Class" (VIP Dining) includes:

• dinner (every evening), breakfast and lunch (seadays only)
• exclusive Main Dining Room area
• expedited seating (minimal to no wait time)
• expanded food menu options
• dedicated wait staff
• premium table linens
• table-side food preparations

Deluxe Balcony Cabin

Deluxe Balcony Cabin amenities and complimentary services include:

• private (step-out) balcony furnished with 2 chairs, 1 small table
• en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, single-sink vanity, hairdryer, luxury bath amenities)
• flat TV, mini-fridge, direct-dial phone
• 1 queen or 2 twin beds ("Princess Luxury Bed"), premium bedding (100% Egyptian cotton, high-thread count linens, duvets), bedside cabinets with lamps

Balcony Cabin

Standard Balcony Cabin amenities and complimentary services include:

• en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, single-sink vanity, hairdryer, bath amenities)
• sitting area (armchair, coffee table, mirrored vanity / writing table with chair)
• 24-hour room service (complimentary) - charges apply for ordering balcony dinner, pizza delivery and drinks
• wardrobe (electronic safe in the closet)

Interior Cabin

Interior Cabin amenities and complimentary services include:

• sitting area (mirrored vanity / writing table with chair)
• 24-hour room service (complimentary) - charges apply for pizza delivery and drinks

Royal Princess cabins review

Royal Princess cabins with balconies are 1438 (80% of all staterooms). Wheelchair-accessible cabins (for disabled passengers) are 36 (of which 29 Balcony, 7 Inside). The number of all cabin categories is 38. Just like the sisterships and NCL Epic , the Royal Princess ship lacks Oceanview cabins (has no outside staterooms with Picture- or Porthole windows).

Follows the review of Royal Princess staterooms as amenities, furniture and included (complimentary) services:

All staterooms are quads (accommodating max 4 passengers). All balcony cabins are with sliding glass doors (floor-ceiling) opening to a private step-out veranda. Most cabin balconies are relatively small (sized 40 ft2 / 4 m2) and narrow, furnished with footstools, 2 patio chairs and a round table. Balcony railings are either of toughened glass or solid steel. Balcony staterooms have ample closet space, bathroom (WC-shower), double sofabed, desk-chair, chest of drawers.

Royal Princess Suites are in 2 types - Balcony Suite (S2-Owners, S3-S4-Penthouse, S5-Premium) and Mini-Suite (MA, MB, MC, ME, MF, M1-M6-Premium). Bonus amenities offered in all Suites include deluxe mattress/pillows, 2 TVs, upgraded bathroom amenities (massage showerheads, luxury bath products, luxury bathrobes, terry towels), luxury furniture on the balcony. Balcony Suites have additional perks: choice of 3 deluxe mattresses, iPod docking station, sun loungers on the balcony, bathroom with separate shower stall, complimentary services (Internet Cafe, laundry/dry cleaning), exclusive access to Concierge Lounge (located on Deck 14).

All Royal Princess cabins as standard/complimentary amenities offer living area (vanity, desk, seating), 2 twin beds (convertible to Queen-size), deluxe bedding sets (Egyptian cotton linens), wardrobe, desk, smart HDTV (infotainment system, Internet, on-demand-movies), direct-dial phone, electronic safe box and lifejackets (in the closet), hairdryer, bath products (shampoo, body lotion, conditioner), minibar/fridge, individual air-conditioning, evening turndown service, complimentary 24-hour room service.

All staterooms are fitted with the signature "Princess Luxury Bed". The new "cruise bed" was developed in collaboration with PhD Michael Breus (commonly known as "The Sleep Doctor") and the designer Candice Olson. The new cabin beds feature a luxury pillow-top mattress, individually wrapped coils (reducing surface sway) and hypoallergenic duvets.

Passenger-use launderettes (laundromats) are located on decks 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16. These are self-service laundry facilities with ironing boards and detergent being provided.

"Club Class Mini-Suite" is a new cabin category that was rolled out fleetwide in 2017. The new (VIP-guest) Mini-Suites offer the following complimentary services and amenities - "Club Class Dining", Elite Lounge exclusive access, complimentary in-cabin dining (hors d'oeuvres), priority embarkation/disembarkation/tendering. Club Class Dining includes a separate area part of the MDR (main dining room) reserved for Club Suite guests only. The exclusive dining experience includes expedited seating, dedicated waiter staff service, exclusive menu (featuring Chef's specials) and tableside preparation of some dishes. Club Class Dining is available for breakfast and dinner every day, and also for lunch on sea days only. The new suites replaced some existing mini-suites. Their cabin size and layouts remained the same as the other mini suite grades.

Royal Princess cabin and suite plans are property of Princess Cruises . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

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Princess Cruises expands Wi-Fi speeds on cruise ships and hosts UGC game competition

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Princess Cruises has launched MedallionNet Max, a new level of faster on-board Wi-Fi service for travelers on its cruise ships. It can deliver hundreds of megabits a second in some cases.

The aim is to meet the growing demands of today’s intensively digitally-connected travelers and continue to expand the market for cruise vacations. And, yep, we’ll probably see a lot more videos from influencers showing us how great a time they’re having on cruise ships. The speeds are available via premium packages.

Since 2018, Princess has led the industry on high-performance, onboard Wi-Fi aggressively adopting service new satellite constellations, including a Wi-Fi access point in every stateroom on every ship and ensuring that Wi-Fi service access is simple and hassle-free. It launched its Medallion wearables so you could locate your family members on a big cruise ship.

Princess is the only cruise operator that has adopted every source of bandwidth spanning the globally deployed fleet including LEO (Starlink), MEO, GEO satellite constellations as well as 5G terrestrial. The tech is helping to make the ships seem like less of an island, and they’re putting away the bad memories of when the ships were docked because of the pandemic .

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As for the post-COVID recovery, Padgett said, “It’s really been remarkable. We have great demand. We have great demand. We have great ratings, our guests are happy, and the business is going fabulous. We couldn’t be more happy. COVID was a very tough time. But the industry showed how resilient it was, and it is now really back to where it was before, if not better.”

Cruise ship tech

Cruises used to be desert islands for tech, but the tech has moved fast lately. I’ve been writing about Carnival’s Princess cruise ships since 2017, ever since they started adding mobile games for vacationers and launching the Ocean Medallion wearables and fast Wi-Fi on cruises. I’m old enough to remember when you had to pay $10 or more for 15 minutes of slow internet service on a cruise. I paid when I was desperate for some connectivity.

Back in 2017, John Padgett was chief experience and innovation officer for Carnival, which owns Princess Cruises. Now he is president of Princess Cruises. I liked the story because it was a story about technology created by a non-technology company to help ordinary folks have a better vacation experience. The tech faded into the woodwork while the services took the limelight. During the pandemic, cruise ships were grounded for a while. And so Princess Cruises accelerated the modernization of its fleet, retrofitting them with the satellite antennae to capture the broadband signals.

New service levels

Princess Cruises (AKA The Love Boat) will now offer two-tiers of Wi-Fi service – MedallionNet Classic and MedallionNet Max. MedallionNet Classic will offer the same service performance, reliability and global coverage that Princess guests enjoy today.

MedallionNet Max will now be the highest-performing service tier with prioritized access to the highest quality and highest performance bandwidth available anywhere in the world which is typically Starlink. MedallionNet Max will only be available in the brand’s industry-leading bundles – Princess Plus and Princess Premier. These packages are engineered to give guests the maximum experience with the maximum value.

A la carte pricing for MedallionNet Classic remains $15 per day for a single-device plan and $40 per day for a multi-device plan. Consistent with the cruise brand’s relentless focus on personalized and hassle-free service, guests will not have to do anything different onboard to access the different services.

The appropriate service level will be assigned based on each guest’s package, as indicated on the Princess app. A single guest network will remain, reduce guest confusion related to network names or any complications being added to the onboard experience.

To preview the new service tier, Princess Cruises will host the first-ever land/sea custom UGC competition, leveraging its own dedicated game – Princess Cruises Nautical Quest.

“Just like we did when we launched MedallionNet Classic almost seven years ago, Princess continues to ensure guests have access to highest performing connectivity available at industry leading value,” said Padgett. “By including MedallionNet Max in our incredible bundles we are guaranteeing the best possible onboard experience with the best value anywhere in the world as our guests explore over 330 destinations via our world-class globally deployed fleet.”

Minecraft on a Princess cruise

Meanwhile, branded game maker Moonrock is working with Princess Cruises on a first-ever Minecraft user-generated content event with 32 of the top influencers on the platform. Eight of them will be on the Enchanted Princess using the brand-new satellite Internet that’s being announced today. They will play a custom puzzle game map featuring the ship they’ll be on, said John Gaudiosi, cofounder of Moonrock.

The August 7 match up will feature 32 of the world’s most popular UGC players, with eight of the gamers — Shubble, Krinios, Fruitberries, vGumiho, Sneegsnag, JimmyHere, Smajor, and Hannahxxrose — competing aboard Enchanted Princess in the Caribbean against 24 others who will play from home as millions of fans tune in to watch online.

Padgett is aware of how many Americans play games and how many billions of games there are worldwide, especially among children. Adult gamers are now the majority of the population of gamers, and they are concerned about having enough connectivity wherever they are.

“We’re doing this event to demonstrate to the world that gamers can continue their gaming experiences any place, anytime, anywhere in the world, on any Princess ship, and be confident they can do it, not only from a performance standpoint, but also an affordability standpoint,” Padgett said. “Our objective here is to show the gaming community that Princess is a great platform for both their gaming and entertainment.”

“We’re really focused on rejuvenating it with experiences like this Minecraft event,” he said. “Demand for premium-level experiences continues to increase in the world. This is a premium brand, but it is also a big market. That’s where we’re playing, and that’s why we embrace the hundreds of millions of Americans that play games and welcome them on our ship.”

With eight of the 32 Minecraft competitors coming aboard, the Minecraft UGC event is sure to generate a lot of videos that will be viewed by the followers of the influencers, and that will help Princess Cruises.

“It introduces the concept of a cruise vacation to people who absolutely would likely have never considered cruising as a vacation option,” Padgett said.

Padgett said that native gamers would likely rate cruises pretty low as a vacation experience because they would be concerned about connectivity.

A history of upping the connectivity ante

In early 2018, Princess established a new standard of connectivity for guests on its cruise ships by beating the bandwidth-at-sea world record with the initial launch of its MedallionNet connectivity service aboard Regal Princess. At a time when the industry average was 10 megabits a second to 20 Mbps per ship, Regal Princess reached 2.25 Gbps, demonstrating there were no practical limits to progressing shipboard connectivity.

Since that time, the connectivity landscape has changed dramatically with Starlink, with onboard Wi-Fi increasingly becoming a commodity. However, Princess will continue to ensure connectivity experience differentiation by making it the best value and most hassle-free experience possible. The ships all have big domes like golf balls on a tee on top of their decks now; those are the satellite receivers. Starlink satellite’s, however, don’t need quite as much infrastructure.

While MedallionNet Max will only be available within the inclusive Princess Plus and Princess Premier bundles, guests opting to sail with the standard Princess vacation package still will be able to purchase MedallionNet Classic connectivity with no change to pricing.

In addition to premium connectivity, guests opting for the inclusive Princess Plus and Princess Premier will also enjoy popular amenities like beverages, casual dining, desserts, complimentary room service, fitness classes, crew gratuities and more at an even greater savings of up 65% than when the inclusive package amenities are purchased separately.

“It’s amazing how far things come,” Padgett said. “Everything we shared with you is still around. A lot of good companies label something innovative, but they don’t stick around. Unlike most, our Medallion Class stuck around.”

With the MedallionNet Max, for the first time, the cruise line is introducing a higher level of connectivity from a guaranteed performance standpoint, which the gamers will most appreciate, Padgett said. Yet it’s both affordable and reliable.

In the president’s role, Padgett said he has enjoyed moving Princess from really one of the most iconic brands in the world, with its history as the Love Boat, into modern, contemporary pop culture where the brand was born.

Universal access on board

Princess Cruises took time to retrofit each ship in its fleet. Before the pandemic, there were four or five ships ready with the broadband tech. Post pandemic, the company had 15 ships with Medallion Class service, Padgett said. The Sun Princess, the biggest ship ever built in Italy, has even more experiential content built into the ship thanks to the technology.

“Connectivity is, obviously, fundamental on land or sea, and from a Princess standpoint, we continue to be a leader in that space,” Padgett said.

The company has added Starlink low-earth orbit (LEO) broadband service, and now every ship in the fleet leverages it.

“It’s impressive. It brings essentially no latency. It brings global footprint, and it brings actually more affordable capacity. So it’s truly a trifecta from a connectivity standpoint,” Padgett said.

But no satellite connection is flawless, so the company has multiple broadband technologies running at the same time, includig Leo, Geo and 5G services as the sources for the bandwidth on the ships. At any given time, the highest-quality solution is used on the ships.

“It’s accessed by our ship infrastructure, all invisible to the guests themselves,” Padgett said. “They’re just getting great connectivity at a very affordable price so they would never know the difference of what particular bandwidth they’re using.”

There are hiccups like the Crowdstrike global outage, so the company stays diversified to make sure that its broadband sources are also coming from different providers.

A platform for more engagement

But the baseline is pretty good now. Gigabits of data can come into a ship, and then it is sliced and diced up among the passengers.

Princess has a Wi-Fi access point in every stateroom, and it has 100% coverage in every public area on a ship. The access is pretty universal.

The data rates are dynamic and vary throughout the ship based on the type of connection. But Padgett said, “You’re talking about hundreds of megabits a second.”

“We were able to finish our fleet at an expedited pace, changing out the compute infrastructure, the network infrastructure, all the antennae, embedding all the sensors and staging all our experiences, and we were able to do that very efficiently during the pause in service,” Padgett said. “So we came back stronger than ever before.”

There are 16 ships in the fleet now, with the Star Princess arriving in the fall of 2025 as the 17th ship. Princess Cruises has about 35,000 people working for it.

The cruise ship customers are more engaged. The demographic is skewing young, and the ships fit in with the mobile lifestyle that these people have, Padgett said.

“We are seeing a lot of the benefits,” he said. “Our ratings for your experience are higher than ever before.”

The Minecraft event is an example of how the ships now have “amazing platforms to stage experiences,” said Padgett. They have advantages in fun, food and entertainment.

“But what’s unique is, since we control the whole ship, we can stage unique experiences in a high-quality way. What I think is some of the pedestrians in the world as an example. Right now we have the 1900s Porsche enthusiasts on the Majestic Princess sale in Alaska. And so what do the Porsche enthusiasts love? What’s unique to them is we can stage what a Porsche owner loves talking about. It makes us a very amenable platform for whatever special interest group wants to sail. We would love to have many more events like the Minecraft one.”

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Deluxe Balcony

Spectacular Views from Your Room

Choose this enhanced version of a Balcony stateroom with more space and a comfortable sofa bed. Enjoy a larger balcony with more room to view the beautiful scenery as you sail from destination to destination and take in the ocean breeze for a wonderful and romantic evening or morning. 

• Approx. 233 to 279 sq. ft., including balcony
• Balcony with 2 chairs and table
• Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
• Comfortable queen or two twin beds ▲
• Refrigerator
• Flat-panel television
• Private bathroom with shower
• 100% cotton, high-thread count linens
• Spacious closet
• Desk with chair
• Hair dryer & bathroom amenities
• Digital security safe

▲3rd/4th berths available in select cabins.

Photos, floor plan diagrams, and amenities represent typical arrangements and may vary by ship. Certain stateroom categories may vary in size and configuration by ship. Square footage varies based on stateroom category and deck location.

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The 10 Best Alaskan Cruise Lines to Set Sail and Watch Some Whales

Glaciers galore.

I’ve been a Caribbean cruise gal for years. I’m very familiar with the scorching sun and sandy beaches, so I never thought about venturing out into colder climates for vacation . But when my friend recently told me she booked a cruise to Alaska, I was intrigued. What on earth persuaded her to choose this anthesis of a tropical destination , especially for her first cruise destination, especially as her first cruise? As we chatted more about her upcoming excursions of whale watching and stunning views of icy glaciers, I was ready to book my own adventure to the largest peninsula in the Western Hemisphere. If you’re also ready to plan your next vacay, here are the ten best Alaskan cruise lines to check out. 

Best Alaskan Cruise Lines at a Glance

Best Overall

Holland cruise line.

Best for Glacier Viewing

Princess cruise line.

Best for Wildlife

Norwegian cruise line.

Best for Adults Only

Cunard cruises.

Best Route Options

Celebrity cruises.

Most Luxurious

Silversea cruises.

Best Culinary Experiences

Regent seven seas.

Best for Families

Royal caribbean .

Best for Long Voyages

1. Holland Cruise Line

I recently came across a Reddit post that asked readers for the best Alaskan cruise line recommendations. As I took time scanning the thread, I found the majority suggested Holland Cruise Line. One commenter raved, “Definitely Holland America…75 years in Alaska and [it] just won the Best Service Award from Cruise Critic.” While the cruise line sails through many destinations, they are known for their Alaskan voyages. Whether you go on a seven-day or two-week cruise, you can explore the glaciers, marine wildlife and national parks . According to their site, they claim to have more port departures than any other cruise line in Alaska. They also offer an Alaska Cruisetour, an ocean cruise  that provides a closer look inside the state along a scenic train ride with a three nights at Denali National Park.  

• Ships: Koningsdam, Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Volendam, Westerdam, Zuriderdam
• Departure Cities: Anchorage (Whittier), Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, Vancouver, Seattle
• Price Range: $809 to $5,514

2. Princess Cruise Line

I had the best experience on a Princess ship , so I can only imagine the Alaskan cruises are just as fun. They give a front-row seat to some of the largest glaciers in the world through their Voyage of the Glaciers cruise. You can spend a week sailing from Anchorage, Alaska to Vancouver, B.C. while popping into three historic ports (Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau). Also, consider adding an excursion to your itinerary, where you’ll get the best views of the ice. One more thing: Princess will be introducing longer voyages (I’m talking 22 days) in 2025, so you can have the full experience of being in the open sea starting in San Francisco. 

• Ships: Caribbean Princess, Coral Princess, Grand Princess, Royal Princess, Sapphire Princess
• Departure Cities: ( Anchorage/Whittier) Alaska, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver
• Price Range: $398 to $3,298

3. Norwegian Cruise Line

My friend picked Norwegian for her first Alaskan cruise and here’s what I learned about her top choice. Yes, the cruise provides spectacular views, but it’s the excursions that have her excited. She’ll have the opportunity to see wildlife in their IRL habitats, from orcas to grizzlies to bald eagles. You can watch them from the ship, balcony stateroom or you can book a closer view and schedule a trip to the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center. Did I mention there’s an excursion around hanging out with dogs at a dog sled camp? Yeah, I’m definitely jealous of my friend. 

• Ships: Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Spirit
• Departure Cities: Seattle, Vancouver, (Seward) Alaska, Honolulu, (Anchorage/Whittier) Alaska
• Price Range: $731 to $3,981

4. Cunard Cruises

One of the oldest cruise lines on the list, Cunard Cruises is praised for its Alaskan experience and being a great option for adults . Although it has one ship in its fleet—Queen Elizabeth—it has plenty of activities and amenities. Yes, you can take in the wildlife and open sea, but Cunard takes it a step further by having special guests, like writers, explorers and scientists come on board to teach you about the history and culture of Alaska. One redditor shared their experience writing: “A couple of folks already mentioned Cunard and I would recommend the same as well, especially if you are looking for the quintessential cruise experience. We went there this June [and visited] the Glacier Bay National Park with the rangers on board all day with lectures and Q&A. The food and service are excellent and [the ship has] very few children. Overall, classic and classy.”

• Ships: Queen Elizabeth
• Departure Cities: Seattle, Vancouver
• Price Range: $1,059 to $1,869

5. Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity offers three different types of cruises to explore Alaska. Admire the Dawes Glacier, a 600-foot tall wall of ice, as well as visit ports like Juneau and Skagway. Or, experience Hubbard Glacier, the biggest glacier spanning seven miles wide from Vancouver to North America, where you just might spot a whale or two. There’s also a one-way sail option that takes off from Vancouver or Seattle and cruises through ports like Ketchikan and Talkeetna—along with an option to extend your stay to explore even more of the greener areas of Alaska. 

• Ships: Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Edge
• Departure Cities: (Seward) Alaska, Vancouver, Seattle 
• Price Range: $564 to $4,158

6. Silversea Cruises

I said it before and I’ll say it again: Silversea is by far the most luxurious cruise line. If you’re heading to Alaska, expect an all-inclusive package and an intimate setting. Whether you board Silver Moon or Silver Muse, the guest capacity is around 1,000—and that’s guests and crew combined. Expect only suites on board, so you can get your own private viewing of mountains, glaciers, whales and more. Plus, the package you choose includes shore excursions like a trail hike to watch cascading waterfalls and Mendenhall glaciers or a culinary experience where you’ll try Alaska-themed food on a small expedition vessel and hopefully catch a glimpse of a humpback whale. 

• Ships: Silver Moon, Silver Nova, Silver Muse
• Price Range: $3,300 to $20, 400

7. Regent Seven Seas

Similar to Cunard, this cruise line has only one ship, but it’s all about Alaska. The Seven Seas Explorer features food, entertainment and accommodations that are oh-so luxurious. Take in the Mendenhall Glacier or the Tongass National Forest right from the comfort of your own balcony. Or, get a closer look and join a shore excursion like an ATV expedition, where you’ll drive around a remote island and take in the scenery on land. But if you’re a foodie, the Epicurean Explorer Tours offered by the cruise line combine travel and the culinary arts. One popular attraction is the George Inlet Lodge Crab Cake Expedition in Ketchikan. You’ll watch a chef prepare crab cakes and give you the chance to taste their creation. You’ll also have the opportunity to eat Dungenuss crab, learn about the area’s fishing and crabbing history and take in the surrounding views. 

• Ships: Seven Seas Explorer 
• Departure Cities: Vancouver, Seattle, (Seward) Alaska
• Price Range: $5,599 to $12,999

8. Royal Caribbean 

Royal Caribbean is by far the best cruise line for families , so why not take your kiddos on a trip they’ll never forget. The cruise line offers a great view of the landscape, like the Hubbard Glacier and Denali National Park. But it’s the ships themselves that take sightseeing to new heights. Step into the North Star, available on the Quantum of the Seas or Anthem of the Seas, an observation deck that soars 300 feet above sea level and provides a 360-degree view of your surroundings. It’s considered the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship, and as long as you’re at least 42 inches tall, the whole family can enjoy this unique experience. 

• Ships: Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas
• Departure Cities: (Seward) Alaska, Seattle, Vancouver
• Price Range: $666 to $3,778

9. Viking  

Interested in a longer voyage? Viking has long sail times, so you can take your time exploring Alaska and beyond. While most ships depart from Seattle or Vancouver, Viking is currently offering a Far East & Alaska trip. This cruise leaves out of Hong Kong, China, and makes its way through Japan, before stopping at multiple ports in Alaska. You’ll spend about 37 days in the Pacific, so be prepared to become a world traveler and an experienced explorer by the time you disembark. 

• Ships: Viking Sea, Viking Orion
• Departure Cities: (Seward) Alaska, Seattle, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Australia
• Price Range: $4,799 to $36,495

Best Expeditions

10. uncruise adventures.

Here’s for the fearless cruisers out there. Uncruise Adventures has all-inclusive expeditions for daredevils. Explore waterfalls at Red Bluff Bay, hike an abandoned coastal cannon at George Island, go brown bear searching in Chichagof Island or kayak in Keku Islands Park. Unlike a regular cruise, their ships host under 100 passengers, so it’s a much more intimate type of cruise. Just don’t forget to pack a good pair of hiking boots or sneakers. 

• Ships: Safari Voyager, Safari Endeavour, Safari Quest, Safari Explorer, Wilderness Discoverer, Wilderness Explorer, Wilderness Adventurer, Wilderness Legacy
• Departure Cities: Seattle, Alaska
• Price Range: $3,600

The 10 Best Cruise Lines for Adults, According to a Kid-Free Cruiser

Frequently Asked Questions

What month is the best time to cruise alaska.

According to Travel Alaska , the best time to cruise Alaska is May through September. If you want to narrow it down even further, they report July and August are the sunniest months, while May and June are the best time for whale watching. If you want to explore the Midnight Sun—where you can experience over 20 hours of sunlight during the day— Norwegian recommends booking around June through August. What about seeing the Northern Lights ? Consider cruising Alaska in September. Honestly, there’s no right or wrong answer here. It’s all about figuring out what you are interested in checking out. 

Where Is the Best Place to Start an Alaskan Cruise?

The most popular places to start an Alaskan cruise are Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia. These two locations provide an easy route to get to Alaska quickly. There are also options to start directly in Alaska, specifically Seward, Whittier or Anchorage. Just take a direct flight and start exploring right away. 

How Many Days Are Best for An Alaskan Cruise?

Most cruise lines offer seven to 28 day cruises. It really depends on how much you want to pay, how many ports you want to visit and how many excursions you want to try out. 

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