What To Know Before Sailing on Princess Cruises for the First Time
Princess Cruises sits in a spot most first-time cruisers skip over. It is not the party line, it is not the luxury line, and it is not the theme park at sea. It is the grown-up middle, with good food, quiet ships, the smoothest boarding technology in the industry, and the best Alaska program afloat. I have sailed Princess several times and I book it for clients every week, and this is the guide I send to anyone considering it for the first time.
Two things before you read further. Princess almost always has a promotion running, so check the current Princess Cruises offers before you price anything. And decide early whether you want the Plus package, because it changes the math on everything below.
Princess Cruises Key Facts for First Timers
Detail | What to expect |
Style | Premium, relaxed, adult-leaning, with families welcome on the newer ships |
Fleet | Around 17 ships from about 2,000 to 4,300 guests |
Signature spaces | The Piazza, the Sanctuary, Movies Under the Stars, the Dome on Sun and Star Princess |
Technology | The OceanMedallion wearable for boarding, room access, payments, and ordering |
Fare bundles | Cruise-only, Princess Plus at $65 a day, Princess Premier at $100 a day |
Gratuities | $18 to $20 per person, per day, included in both packages |
Strongest regions | Alaska, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii |
Loyalty program | Captain's Circle, with perks from the second cruise |
Who Princess Cruises Is For
Princess draws couples in their forties and up, multigenerational families, and anyone who values a comfortable ship over a busy one. Most passengers are in their fifties and sixties, which shifts younger on the Caribbean sailings and on Sun Princess and Star Princess. The vibe is quiet by day, live music in the Piazza at night, and dinner that runs on the later side. If your mental picture of cruising is waterslides and a belly-flop contest, Princess will feel calm. If it is a good steak, a glass of wine, and a glacier on your balcony, Princess will feel right.
What a Princess Cruise Fare Includes
The base fare covers your cabin, the main dining rooms, the buffet, the pizzeria and pub on most ships, the pools, the theater, the shows, and the enrichment programs. It does not cover alcohol, specialty coffee, wifi, gratuities, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, or the spa. That is why the packages exist. My what's included on Princess guide has the full list, and my Princess gratuities guide explains crew appreciation.
Princess Plus and Premier for First Timers
Princess Plus adds drinks up to $15, wifi for one device, crew appreciation, and a few extras for $65 per person, per day. Premier raises the drink cap to $20, adds four devices, specialty dining, and photos for $100. For a first cruise I recommend Plus for almost everyone, because it removes the three things that surprise people at the end of a cruise: the bar tab, the wifi bill, and the gratuity charge. My Plus vs Premier comparison has the 7-night math.
Pro Tip: Buy the package at booking. Princess has raised package prices more than once, and the rate you lock at booking is protected.
The OceanMedallion Explained
The Medallion is a coin-sized wearable that replaces your key card. It unlocks your cabin as you walk up, pays for drinks, tracks your family on the ship map, and lets you order food and drinks to wherever you are sitting. It is the single best piece of technology on any cruise line, and it is why Princess boarding takes minutes instead of an hour. Have it shipped to your home before the cruise if you are in the United States, and download the Princess app to set up your arrival window, dining, and excursions before you board.
How to Pick a Princess Ship
The Princess fleet splits into four groups. Sun Princess and Star Princess are the new Sphere-class giants with the Dome and the biggest dining lineup. The Royal class, which includes Royal, Regal, Majestic, Sky, Enchanted, and Discovery Princess, are the modern mid-size ships with the SeaWalk and the best balance of choice and calm. The Grand class, such as Caribbean, Crown, Emerald, and Ruby Princess, are older, cheaper, and still comfortable. Coral and Island Princess are the small ships built for the Panama Canal. My Princess ships by size guide covers every ship, and my Majestic Princess review is a good look at the Royal class.
How to Pick a Princess Cabin
Interior cabins are the value play and are fine for port-heavy itineraries. Balconies are the most popular and the right call for Alaska and any scenic cruising. Mini-suites add a sofa and a full bathtub and are the sweet spot for couples who want more room without suite prices. Reserve Collection minis add a private dining room. Full suites add a lot of perks and a lot of cost. I recommend midship, a few decks below the pool, with cabins above and below. My balcony vs suite guide goes deeper.
Dining on Princess for First Timers
Princess runs three main dining rooms per ship with the same menu, and you choose a fixed time or a flexible reservation in the app. The food is a step above the mass-market lines. Alfredo's pizzeria and the pub are included and better than they need to be. Specialty restaurants run about $39 to $49 per person for Crown Grill and Sabatini's and more for the newer venues on the Sphere-class ships. Book the specialty dinners in the app before you sail, because the best times go first.
Princess Cruises Mistakes First Timers Make
Skipping the app. Arrival windows, dining, and excursions all live there, and people who wait until the pier lose their choices.
Booking a cabin under the pool deck or over the theater. Both are noisy at the wrong hours.
Assuming gratuities are included in the fare. They are not, unless you buy a package.
Choosing the Seattle Alaska loop expecting Glacier Bay. Those ships visit Endicott Arm; Glacier Bay sails from Vancouver and Whittier.
Paying full deposit when a promotion offers $99. Princess sales run constantly, and the deposit is the easiest place to save.
Five Tips I Give Every Client
Sail Princess for the itinerary first. Alaska, the Panama Canal, and the Mediterranean are where the line is strongest.
Add Princess Plus and stop thinking about the bar tab.
Order the Medallion to your home and set up the app a month out.
Book specialty dining and the Sanctuary before you sail on the older ships.
Join Captain's Circle on the first cruise. The perks start on the second one, and my Princess loyalty guide covers the tiers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Princess good for a first cruise? Yes, if you want a calm, comfortable ship with good food and an easy boarding process. It is a weaker fit for families who want waterslides on every deck.
How much does a Princess cruise cost? Most sailings land between $90 and $300 per person, per night with everything added, and my Princess cruise cost guide walks through the pieces.
Do I need the Princess Plus package? No, but most first timers are happier with it, because it removes the surprise charges.
Which Princess ship is best for a first cruise? A Royal-class ship for the balance of choice and calm, or Sun and Star Princess if you want the newest hardware.
Final Thoughts on Your First Princess Cruise
Princess earns its loyal following by being easy to sail. The Medallion, the packages, and the quiet ships remove most of the friction that trips up first-time cruisers, and the itineraries are among the best on the water. Check the current Princess Cruises offers for your dates, and if you want a second opinion on the ship, the cabin, and the package, book with Jackson Jetsetting. My quotes are free, and I can often add onboard credit to your booking.
