Princess Cruises Review: A Tom and Dom Travel Perspective

By Tom and Dom Travel | Updated:

14/07/26

Enchanted Princess docked in Flåm, Norway

When we talk about cruising as a whole, there are very few cruise lines that come up as often in conversation as Princess Cruises. It is a brand that sits right in that sweet spot between mainstream cruising and something that feels just a little more premium. We have now sailed with Princess multiple times across different ships, including Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess, and what becomes clear quite quickly is that Princess Cruises offers a very consistent experience across the fleet. It is the overall "product" rather than the individual ship layout that really defines the holiday.

In this article, we are going to focus on Princess Cruises as a whole: what you can expect, what is included, what works brilliantly, and what still needs a bit of attention. No ship by ship breakdowns, just our real experience of cruising with Princess.

History

Princess Cruises, founded in 1965 by Stanley McDonald, started with a single ship chartered to sail the Mexican Riviera. The line gained global fame in the 1970s when its ship, the Pacific Princess, starred in the hit TV series The Love Boat, boosting its popularity and transforming cruising into a mainstream holiday choice.

Based in Santa Clarita, California, Princess Cruises expanded its fleet and itineraries, becoming known for innovation in the cruise industry. It introduced features like affordable balcony cabins, onboard wedding chapels, and the popular "Movies Under the Stars" outdoor theatres.

Today, Princess Cruises operates a diverse fleet of modern ships, offering voyages to destinations worldwide, including Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. The line emphasizes personalized service, culinary excellence, and immersive experiences, often partnering with local experts to provide enriching shore excursions.

As a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, Princess Cruises continues to evolve, focusing on sustainability, technological enhancements like the MedallionClass experience, and enhanced guest experiences, maintaining its legacy as a leader in the global cruise industry.

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Our FULL REVIEW of Island Princess! The GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY!

We sailed on Island Princess for 16 nights visiting ports in the UK, Ireland, Iceland and Greenland. We have put together this review of our experiences onboard Island Princess so that may give you a better insight. If you find any of the information useful please like, subscribe and comment.

The Grand Piazza aboard Sky Princess, featuring its grand staircase and elegant décor

Ship Design and Layout

Across the fleet, Princess ships follow a very similar design language. The Piazza, the central atrium, is the absolute heart of the ship, and it really does feel like it. You will find live music, pop up entertainment, coffee shops, bars, and guest interaction happening there throughout the day and night.

The ships are generally very easy to navigate, with clear deck plans and sensible layouts. One of the biggest strengths is that everything feels connected and centralized around key social spaces.

That said, one of the most common criticisms we have found is the promenade deck. On Royal class and Sphere class ships, it exists but can feel quite limited or fragmented. If you enjoy long, uninterrupted scenic walks around the very edge of the ship, you may find it a little restrictive compared to some other cruise lines.

Overall though, Princess ships feel modern, clean, and well designed, particularly in public areas like the atrium, pool decks, and aft facing bars which are standout spaces.

Dining on Princess Cruises

Food is one of the strongest areas for Princess Cruises. Across the fleet you will typically find:

A main dining room (or multiple themed dining rooms sharing the same core menu)
A buffet restaurant (World Fresh Marketplace style)
The 24 hour International Café
Casual dining venues included in your fare
Specialist restaurants (available for an extra charge)

The main dining rooms offer a traditional cruise experience with rotating menus and table service. In our experience, the service is consistently very good, especially on longer cruises where staff really get to know your preferences.

The buffet is solid rather than spectacular, but it does offer plenty of variety for breakfast and lunch. It is easy, convenient, and reliable.

One of the absolute standout features of Princess Cruises is the International Café. This is genuinely one of the best value included venues onboard. Open 24 hours, it offers coffee, snacks, pastries, paninis, and light bites. If you have a drinks package, it becomes an absolute go to spot throughout the day and night.

Specialty dining varies by ship but usually includes premium steakhouses and elegant Italian restaurants. These are generally high quality, though service can occasionally feel stretched during peak dining periods.

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Tom from Tom and Dom Travel in the main dining room on Island Princess, holding up a menu

Drinks Packages: What is Included and What has Changed

This is where a lot of confusion has crept in recently, so it is worth clarifying based on current Princess Cruises offerings. Princess typically offers two main bundled packages which represent excellent value for money compared to buying items individually onboard.

Princess Plus

This package is widely regarded as fantastic value for the average cruiser. It usually includes:

The Plus Beverage Package (covering a wide selection of cocktails, wine, beer, and specialty coffees up to a set daily limit and individual drink value)
Crew appreciation (onboard gratuities)
Single device Wi-Fi
Two casual dining meals per cruise
Complimentary room service delivery and OceanNow activation

Princess Premier

This is a full upgrade package designed for guests who want the highest level of inclusions. It usually includes:

The Premier Beverage Package (covering premium spirits and wines up to a higher individual drink value)
Multi device Wi-Fi
Crew appreciation (onboard gratuities)
Multiple specialty dining meals
Unlimited casual dining meals
A photo package and reserved theater seating

From our experience, Princess Plus offers brilliant value if you are a regular drinker or love your barista coffees. It removes a lot of the onboard budgeting stress and makes the cruise feel far more all inclusive. Princess Premier is a much larger investment but still offers good value for guests who fully utilize the specialty dining and premium perks. The key takeaway is that Princess Cruises has moved firmly towards bundled pricing, and for most British cruisers, these packages are much better value than paying as you go.

Entertainment and Activities

Entertainment on Princess is a mixed but generally positive experience.

The headline production shows are high quality: typically polished, professional, and well performed. However, one recurring criticism is the number of unique production shows per cruise. On longer sailings, there are often fewer main theater productions than you might expect.

Instead, Princess leans heavily into guest entertainers, live music, game shows, and interactive events. Venues like Princess Live! and the Vista Lounge are busy hubs of activity, especially in the evenings. You will find karaoke, quizzes, game shows, and comedy style events filling much of the schedule.

Karaoke in particular is something that appears frequently, perhaps a little too frequently on some sailings. While fun in moderation, it can feel repetitive over longer cruises if you are looking for varied evening entertainment.

Overall, entertainment is varied and engaging, but it is not always as heavily production focused compared to some of the mega ships found on rival lines.

Tom from Tom and Dom Travel enjoying a glass of red wine in the main dining room on Enchanted Princess

Service and Crew

One of the strongest, most consistent positives across Princess Cruises is the staff. Across every sailing we have done, the crew have been exceptional: friendly, attentive, and genuinely invested in the guest experience.

On longer cruises especially, the personal touches really stand out. The crew excel at remembering names, favourite drinks, and small preferences. It is this level of service that often elevates Princess Cruises above expectations. Even when ships are busy, the crew still manage to deliver a high standard of British hospitality standard.

Value for Money: What You Get

Princess Cruises sits in a strong mid premium category. It is not the cheapest option on the market, but it is also a long way off ultra luxury pricing. What you get for your standard fare typically includes your accommodation, main dining venues, buffet dining, theatre entertainment, and basic onboard activities.

When you add packages like Princess Plus, the experience becomes much closer to an all inclusive holiday, which is where Princess really shines in terms of value for money. Where the value can dip slightly is if you choose to pay individually onboard for your drinks, gratuities, and Wi-Fi, as these individual charges can add up rapidly.

Dom from Tom and Dom Travel enjoying a drink on the promenade deck of Island Princess as the sun sets

Final Thoughts

After multiple sailings, our view of Princess Cruises is very clear: it is a consistently high quality cruise line that delivers a relaxed, well run, and enjoyable holiday experience. It may not be the most extravagant or entertainment heavy cruise line, but it excels in service, food quality, ship design, and overall ease of cruising.

The Medallion system adds a fantastic modern touch, the dining is reliable and varied, and the crew are genuinely some of the best in the industry. Would we cruise with Princess again? Absolutely. In fact, we already have.

Princess Cruises is not about constant thrills or over-the-top entertainment; it is about a smooth, enjoyable, and comfortable cruise experience that you can rely on. And for many travellers, that is exactly what makes it such a strong choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Princess Medallion and how does it work?

The Medallion is a wearable device about the size of a ten pence piece that replaces the traditional cruise ship card. It automatically unlocks your cabin door as you approach, allows you to order food and drinks to your exact location via an app, and speeds up the embarkation process. It is completely free for all guests and works brilliantly.

Is it worth buying the Princess Plus package?

Yes, for the vast majority of standard cruisers, Princess Plus represents excellent value for money. Because it bundles together daily gratuities, Wi-Fi, and your drinks, it usually works out much cheaper than paying for those items separately onboard.

Are the specialty restaurants worth the extra charge?

We find them to be good value for a special night out. While the included main dining rooms and the International Café are excellent, the specialty steakhouses and Italian restaurants offer an elevated menu and a more intimate atmosphere that justifies the cover charge.

What is the dress code like on a Princess cruise?

Princess Cruises offers a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. During the day, the dress code is entirely casual. In the evenings, it transitions to "smart casual" for most nights, with one or two "formal nights" on typical week long sailings where many guests enjoy dressing up in evening gowns and smart suits.

Is the Princess Medallion wearable actually useful, or is it just a gimmick?

It is a genuine game-changer. The quarter-sized disc replaces the traditional cruise ship cabin card completely. It unlocks your stateroom door automatically as you walk up to it, lets you order drinks directly to your deck chair via an app, and makes getting on and off the ship in port incredibly fast. It eliminates almost all the usual queues, making the entire experience feel smooth and effortless.

About the Authors

We’re Tom and Dom, the creators behind Tom and Dom Travel. Through our ship reviews, cabin tours, port guides, and cruise tips, we share honest, experience-led advice from our travels around the world. Everything we publish is designed to help you cruise with confidence.

Thanks for reading, and happy cruising.