Celebrity Cruises vs. Princess Cruises: Which Premium Line To Book
Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises sit in the same premium tier, a step above the mass-market lines in service and food, without the fares of a luxury line. Couples and grown-up families shortlist both all the time, and the right choice usually comes down to where you want to sail and how you like to spend a sea day.
My quick take is this. Celebrity is the more modern, design-forward line, strongest in the Caribbean and Europe, with the Edge Series as its calling card. Princess is the more traditional, relaxed line, and it is the one I would pick first for Alaska. I book these ships for clients every week, and the details below are what I walk them through before they choose.
Celebrity vs. Princess at a Glance
| Category | Celebrity Cruises | Princess Cruises |
| Flagship class | Edge Series: Edge, Apex, Beyond, Ascent, Xcel (Celebrity Xcite due 2028) | Sphere class: Sun Princess and Star Princess |
| Bundled fare | All Included: Classic drinks and Basic Wi-Fi | Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages |
| Gratuities, standard cabins (as of October 2026) | $19.50 per person per day | $18 per person per day |
| Top suite program | The Retreat (fleetwide) | Sanctuary Collection (Sun Princess and Star Princess only) |
| Strongest regions | Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos | Alaska, Mexico, long voyages |
| Loyalty program | Captain's Club | Captain's Circle |
Celebrity Edge Series vs. Princess Sphere Class Ships
Celebrity's newest ships all belong to the Edge Series. Celebrity Edge entered service in November 2018, followed by Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Xcel, which debuted in November 2025. Each carries roughly 2,900 guests at double occupancy, which is modest for a ship of about 130,000 to 141,000 gross tons, and a sixth ship, Celebrity Xcite, is under construction for 2028. My post on things to know before sailing Celebrity Ascent gives a good feel for the class.
Princess answered with the Sphere class: Sun Princess and Star Princess, the largest ships the line has built, centered on a glass-domed piazza called The Dome. My Sun Princess review covers the class in detail. The rest of the Princess fleet is the Royal and Grand classes, which feel more classic.
If you want the sleekest ship, Celebrity's Edge Series has five to choose from. Princess has only two Sphere-class ships, so the itinerary you want may land you on an older Princess ship.
Celebrity All Included vs. Princess Plus and Premier
Both lines push bundled fares, and this is where most quotes get confusing.
Celebrity's All Included fare bundles the Classic Drink Package, which covers liquors, cocktails, beers, and wines priced under $10 on the menu, along with Basic Unlimited Wi-Fi for messaging, browsing, and email. Celebrity notes that the onboard crew gratuities are charged separately. You can upgrade to the Premium drink package for $20 per person per day or to Premium Wi-Fi for $9.99 per person per day, according to Celebrity's All Included FAQ. My guide to what Celebrity includes goes deeper.
Princess sells two add-on packages. Princess Plus covers drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and more. Princess Premier moves up to premium spirits and wine, unlimited specialty dining, multi-device Wi-Fi, reserved theater seating, and other extras. Daily package pricing changes by sailing and length, so price it on the specific cruise you want. My Princess Plus vs. Premier breakdown does the math on which one pays off, and you can check current Princess Cruises offers to see which sailings include a package as a promotion.
The key difference is gratuities. Princess Plus and Premier include them; Celebrity's All Included does not. When Celebrity raised its rates on July 29, 2026, standard staterooms went to $19.50 per person per day, Concierge Class and AquaClass to $20.50, and The Retreat to $24.50. As of October 2026, Princess charges $18 for standard staterooms, $19 for mini-suites, and $20 for suites.
Pro Tip: Add Celebrity's crew gratuities to an All Included quote before comparing it with a Princess Plus quote. On a seven-night sailing for two, that is $273 at the standard rate, and it often flips which line looks cheaper.
Celebrity vs. Princess Dining
Celebrity's dining is the more contemporary of the two. On Edge Series ships the main dining is split into four themed restaurants, Cosmopolitan, Tuscan, Normandie, and Cyprus, rather than one large room, and specialty venues like Le Petit Chef and Fine Cut Steakhouse cost extra. Food lovers who care about menu variety tend to lean Celebrity.
Princess focuses on comfortable, consistent dining with flexible times, plus specialty venues such as Crown Grill and Sabatini's. The Sphere class adds more casual options around The Dome and the piazza. If you plan to buy Princess Premier, unlimited specialty dining is already covered, which is a strong reason to pick it on a longer sailing. My Celebrity drink package guide is useful if you are deciding whether to upgrade from Classic.
Celebrity vs. Princess Entertainment and Onboard Style
Celebrity's style is modern and polished, with design-led spaces like the cantilevered Magic Carpet on Edge Series ships and a lively evening bar scene. Princess is quieter and more traditional, known for Movies Under the Stars on the pool deck, enrichment talks, and production shows. Neither line is built around water slides or thrill rides, and both draw an older crowd on longer sailings.
Celebrity vs. Princess in Alaska
Alaska is where Princess pulls ahead. Princess has one of the largest Alaska programs of any line, with Gulf of Alaska sailings that connect to its own land tours and wilderness lodges, so a cruisetour with Denali is easy to package. Celebrity sails Alaska too, mainly round trips from Seattle and Vancouver, but with a smaller presence. My best Princess Alaska cruises post and Princess vs. Holland America for Alaska comparison are the next reads if Alaska is your trip.
Celebrity's The Retreat vs. Princess Sanctuary Collection
The Retreat is Celebrity's suite program, available across the fleet. Suite guests get a private lounge, a private sundeck on newer ships, an exclusive restaurant, and All Included pricing upgraded automatically to the Premium Drink Package and Premium Wi-Fi.
Princess's Sanctuary Collection is newer and only on Sun Princess and Star Princess. It includes the adults-only Sanctuary Club with a private pool, the Sanctuary Restaurant with a dedicated chef's menu, the Princess Premier package, a suite experience manager, and priority disembarkation at tender ports. It covers Sky Suites, Sanctuary Mini-Suites, and Sanctuary Balcony rooms, so you can get the club access without paying for a full suite. For suite travelers, I think The Retreat is the more complete program today, while Sanctuary is the smarter value on the two Sphere ships.
Celebrity Captain's Club vs. Princess Captain's Circle
Both lines reward repeat cruisers mainly by the nights they sail, with higher tiers unlocking onboard perks and priority services. If you already have status with one line, that is often the deciding factor.
Who Should Book Celebrity vs. Princess
Book Celebrity if you want a modern ship, a design-focused experience, varied dining, a Caribbean or Europe itinerary, or a fleetwide suite program in The Retreat.
Book Princess if you are heading to Alaska, want gratuities folded into a package, prefer a calmer and more traditional atmosphere, or like the idea of club-level perks in a Sanctuary Balcony without a full suite fare.
If you want both lines priced for the same week, send me your dates and I will compare them with packages and gratuities included, so you see the real difference. My best cruise lines for couples ranking is a helpful companion.
Celebrity vs. Princess Cruises: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Celebrity more upscale than Princess? Celebrity's newer ships feel more modern and design-led, and many travelers see it as slightly more upscale. Princess offers similar service in a more traditional style.
Does Celebrity All Included cover gratuities? It covers gratuities on the drink package but not the daily crew gratuities, which are $19.50 per person per day in standard staterooms as of October 2026. Princess Plus and Premier include crew gratuities.
Which is better for Alaska, Celebrity or Princess? Princess, for most travelers, because of its larger Alaska program and its land tours and lodges for cruisetours.
Which Princess ships have the Sanctuary Collection? Only Sun Princess and Star Princess, the two Sphere-class ships.
Are Celebrity and Princess good for families? Both have kids' programs, but neither is built for families the way the larger mass-market lines are. They work best for families with older kids and teens.
Booking Celebrity or Princess With Jackson Jetsetting
Bundled fares make these two lines hard to compare on your own. When you book with me, my pricing matches booking direct, I can often add group rates or promotions that are not on the cruise line's website, and you have a person to call when plans change. Send me your dates and I will lay out both options side by side.
