Princess Cruises Cruise Guide
Princess Cruises built its reputation on destination-rich itineraries and a relaxed, classic cruise experience. Known as 'The Love Boat' line thanks to the 1970s TV show, Princess today offers premium cruising with excellent food, MedallionClass technology, and some of the best Alaska itineraries in the industry.
What Makes Princess Different?
Princess is the thinking traveller's mainstream cruise line. The ships are elegant without being ostentatious, the itineraries prioritise destinations over ship gimmicks, and the MedallionClass technology (a wearable device that unlocks your cabin, enables touchless boarding, and tracks your onboard spending) is the most innovative tech in cruising.
Their Alaska programme is arguably the best in the industry. Princess operates private rail cars to Denali, owns wilderness lodges along the route, and has more Glacier Bay permits than any competitor. If Alaska is your goal, Princess should be your first call.
How Does Princess Handle Port Days?
Princess excels at varied, port-intensive itineraries. Their world cruises (100+ days) visit destinations other lines skip. Standard sailings pack in plenty of ports with reasonable times ashore. The MedallionClass app provides useful port information, maps, and real-time ship departure countdowns.
Alaska tip: Princess' Glacier Bay cruising day is one of the great cruise experiences — rangers board the ship to narrate as you sail past massive tidewater glaciers. No excursion needed; just find a spot on deck with a hot drink and enjoy.
Who Sails Princess?
Princess attracts experienced travellers aged 50+ who value destinations and dining over waterslides and nightclubs. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. You'll find well-travelled couples, retirees on extended voyages, and multi-generational families (though the kids' programme is smaller than Royal Caribbean or Carnival).
How Lucy Helps on Princess Cruises
Princess visits some of the most culturally rich destinations in cruising — Japan during cherry blossom season, Mediterranean hill towns, New Zealand's Maori heritage sites, and Australian wine regions. Lucy is invaluable for translating Japanese menus and train station signage, reading Italian trattoria chalkboards, and communicating with local guides in countries where English isn't widely spoken. The worldwide itineraries take you to dozens of languages — Lucy handles them all.
Popular Itineraries
Alaska Denali Explorer
Ports: Vancouver, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Anchorage (Whittier) + Denali overland
Mediterranean Grand
Ports: Barcelona, Gibraltar, Livorno (Florence), Rome (Civitavecchia), Kotor, Athens (Piraeus)
Japan Spring
Ports: Tokyo, Mt. Fuji (Shimizu), Kyoto (Kobe), Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Busan (South Korea)
Australia & New Zealand
Ports: Sydney, Melbourne, Fiordland, Dunedin, Akaroa, Wellington, Auckland
Dining On Board
Main Dining
The main dining rooms offer excellent quality with Princess' signature Anytime Dining (no fixed seating). The World Fresh Marketplace buffet is well-organised. Alfredo's Pizzeria serves complimentary brick-oven pizza widely considered the best free pizza at sea. The International Cafe serves free pastries, sandwiches, and coffee drinks.
Specialty Restaurants
Crown Grill (premium steaks and seafood), Sabatini's (Italian fine dining), The Catch by Rudi (seafood), Bistro Sur La Mer (French bistro with Rudi Sodamin), Harmony (Pan-Asian). Cover charges $29-49.
Dietary Accommodations
Princess handles dietary needs well. The OceanMedallion wearable stores your dietary preferences so the kitchen knows your allergies before you sit down. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options are available at all dining venues with advance notice.
How Lucy Helps on Princess Cruises
- •Translate Japanese restaurant menus and train station signage on cherry blossom season cruises
- •Navigate Mediterranean ports independently with real-time translation of Italian, Greek, and Turkish
- •Read and understand Maori cultural information at New Zealand ports
- •Communicate with local vendors and taxi drivers across Princess' worldwide itineraries