Princess vs. Holland America: Which Cruise Line Is Your Next Vacation?

Step onto a Princess ship and you’ll feel a lively energy. The decks hum with families and couples immersed in conversation, while the nights often culminate in grand stage productions. A Holland America cruise, on the other hand, moves to a quieter beat. The experience includes mellow notes of a string quartet and conversations that center on the history or art of your next port. 

In this guide, you’ll learn how to choose which cruise is best for your next vacation at sea. 

Princess Cruises targets travelers who love the feeling of a grand resort at sea, where the experience is about a constant, joyful pulse of activity. A multi-generational family can begin a day together and happily split up, which is why it is one of the best cruise lines for kids and families. The line’s blend of high-energy fun and relaxing spaces also makes it one of the best cruise lines for couples seeking both excitement and connection.

Holland America targets a different kind of traveler, often a couple or solo voyager whose vacation goals are more about the destination. Their perfect day involves quiet enrichment, perhaps attending a morning lecture about the Alaskan glaciers just outside their window. An afternoon might be for reading on a tranquil deck, followed by an evening of live classical music, which is why it is often considered one of the best cruises for seniors. 

The decision between them comes down to the pace you want for your vacation. Both are consistently named among the best cruise lines for adults, yet they serve two different versions of an adult getaway. 

The Princess pricing model is a good choice for travelers who prefer predictable costs. A bundled approach makes your final cost clearer from the start and minimizes surprise charges on board. You can add optional packages like Princess Plus or Princess Premier to your base fare. These bundles include valuable extras such as Wi-Fi, crew gratuities and the main drink package.

For a family of four, a seven-day Caribbean cruise on Princess might cost anywhere from $3,500 to $6,000, but that price can change a lot depending on the specific ship, the time of year and the type of cabin you choose.

Holland America’s pricing follows an à la carte model, starting with a strong base experience and allowing you to add extras. The main upgrade, the Have It All package, bundles a shore excursion credit, a beverage package and a specialty dining credit into the fare. Adding the package to your base fare creates a competitive and inclusive final price.

A similar seven-day cruise on Holland America might cost between $3,200 and $5,500 for a family of four, but just like with Princess, the final cost really depends on the itinerary, the time of year and the cabin category.

Neither line is strictly a budget or luxury option. While travelers can apply other strategies for budget-friendly cruising, the best pricing choice between them depends on how you match the pricing model to your personal habits. Booking through AAA Travel can help you determine which pricing model fits your style and you often have access to exclusive discounts and deals you wouldn’t find on your own.

The Princess fleet consists of a 15-ship fleet that includes newer vessels like the Royal-class ships (Discovery Princess), which host over 3,600 guests. Their newest and largest Sphere-class ship, the Sun Princess, holds over 4,000 guests. The “Sphere” name points directly to the class’s most defining structure, a massive, multi-story glass dome on the top deck.

The massive size of each ship means there’s enough room for elegant additions like the glass-bottomed SeaWalk that juts out over the ocean and the multi-story Piazza. Princess also has a high percentage of balcony cabins, which give guests a private retreat from the public decks. 

Step aboard a Holland America ship and enter a world of classic maritime elegance. Surprisingly, their largest Pinnacle-class vessels, like the Koningsdam, host a more intimate 2,650 guests. The smaller scale creates a higher passenger-to-space ratio, giving you more room for yourself and a noticeably uncrowded atmosphere. 

The ships themselves feel like floating art galleries, filled with polished brass, teak deck chairs and millions of dollars in maritime art. Nothing captures this dedication to classic cruising better than the wide, wrap-around teak promenade deck.

Matching that onboard energy to your personal travel style can help you decide how to choose a cruise line.

Princess Cruises got its reputation by perfecting itineraries in the world’s most popular destinations, particularly Alaska and the Caribbean. In Alaska, the cruise line’s huge network of exclusive wilderness lodges near parks like Denali National Park and its private Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service make seeing the most popular sights remarkably easy. 

In the Caribbean, Princess specializes in flawless seven-day escapes from major hubs such as Fort Lauderdale, frequently including a stop at their private Bahamian resort, Princess Cays. Their MedallionClass technology also helps speed up processes like boarding the ship in these busy regions.

Holland America Line focuses on deeper exploration. A 75-year legacy in Alaska allows the line to secure more sailing permits for Glacier Bay National Park than most competitors and to visit smaller, less-crowded ports like Sitka. Onboard “Alaska Up Close” programming further connects passengers to the region. 

Holland America’s commitment to in-depth exploration also goes global with famous Grand Voyages, which include incredible journeys like a “74-Day Grand Africa Voyage” or a “94-Day Grand Australia and New Zealand Voyage.” They often sail these from less common North American ports, such as San Diego, Boston or Montreal.

The Holland America vs. Princess itineraries debate, then, boils down to a choice between a perfectly executed vacation or a longer, more immersive exploration.

A Princess ship is a moving festival of shared fun and grand-scale entertainment. The energy on the top decks pulses around the iconic poolside Movies Under the Stars screen, which makes it stand out as one of the best kid-friendly cruises. The festive atmosphere is magnified by lively, themed deck parties like the “Festivals of the World” celebrations. It’s due to this high-energy festival experience that it’s also one of the best cruises for singles who want to meet people.

Amid all that energy, you can also find quiet personal sanctuaries. The Lotus Spa is a serene space and on many ships, it contains The Enclave, an exclusive thermal suite with a hydro-therapy pool and heated stone beds. One of the reasons Princess is frequently compared to the best luxury cruise lines is its private space. 

Evenings on a Holland America ship feel like a stroll through a music district. The line’s unique “Music Walk” concept on its newer ships gives you a variety of live, world-class performances in intimate venues. You can enjoy classical music at Lincoln Center Stage, authentic Memphis blues at B.B. King’s Blues Club or listen to dueling pianists play chart-topping hits at Billboard Onboard. 

The daytime experience is about personal growth, with unique hands-on workshops designed to teach a new skill. At the BLEND venue, created with Washington’s famed Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, you can learn the art of winemaking and create your own bottle. In the Microsoft Studio, you can attend complimentary classes on digital skills like photo editing and movie making. The intellectual journey includes destination-focused talks of their Explorations Central (EXC) programming, which connect you to your next port of call.

Princess Cruises uses OceanMedallion, a small, waterproof disc about the size of a quarter that you can wear on a wristband or simply carry in a pocket. The first thing you’ll notice about this system is that your door unlocks when you approach due to the keyless stateroom entry.

The system’s real power is in personalizing your day. The OceanNow function in the ship’s app allows you to order a cocktail or snack for delivery to your exact location. You can also locate family and friends on the ship map and all onboard payments are automatic and touch-free.

Holland America’s approach to technology is more traditional and guest-directed. It combines a powerful app with the familiar stateroom keycard. The experience is built around the Holland America Line Navigator app, while the classic keycard still functions as your room key and your main method for onboard charges.

Like Princess, the Navigator app has all the features you need to plan your day on your phone. You can browse the full daily schedule of activities, make reservations for specialty dining, book shore excursions and monitor your onboard account balance in real-time. The app also includes a useful chat feature, so you can easily coordinate plans with your travel companions while on the ship.

The dining experience on a Princess ship is a delicious tour of culinary choices. Their versatile “Dine My Way” system makes booking reservations in the main dining rooms easier, while a variety of other venues cater to specific cravings. You can find authentic Neapolitan-style pizza at Gigi’s Pizzeria or settle in for an evening of classic fine dining at their signature steakhouse, the Crown Grill.

Beyond the many restaurants, the attention to quality ingredients and creating a lively, social atmosphere is top-notch. The line makes all its pasta fresh daily across the fleet, a small detail that speaks to a larger commitment to quality. The atmosphere in their specialty venues feels like a busy, upscale restaurant in a major city.

Holland America’s dining program is a direct extension of its exploratory spirit, where tasting the destination is part of the journey. The commitment to regional cuisine means you might enjoy dishes made with fresh-caught Alaskan salmon while cruising through the Inside Passage. 

Their specialty restaurants celebrate specific culinary traditions with precision, from the exotic pan-Asian flavors of Tamarind to the classic Parisian seafood brasserie, Rudi’s Sel de Mer. Their most refined dining room, the Pinnacle Grill, is a superb homage to the classic steakhouse experience. At the Culinary Arts Center, you can watch live cooking demonstrations from talented chefs. To top it off, the renowned wine critic James Suckling curates the line’s excellent wine programs.

Even after comparing all the details, a few questions often remain that can help finalize the decision.

Both lines occupy the premium space, but they express their high-end qualities in completely different ways. Princess’s premium feel comes from the scale and modernity of its amenities. It’s a premium mega-resort experience. Holland America’s premium quality comes from its refinement, spaciousness and enrichment. The high passenger-to-space ratio, the quality of its live music partnerships and its art-filled ships create a classic, premium hotel experience.

The service on both lines is excellent, but it feels entirely different. Princess service is efficient, friendly and powered by technology. Holland America service is more traditional, gracious and formal. With a higher crew-to-guest ratio on smaller ships, the service often feels more personal and attentive, in the style of classic European hospitality.

Yes, Princess Cruises and Holland America Line are owned by the same parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc. However, the traveler should always consider them two entirely separate and distinct choices, as shared ownership has no real bearing on the vacation experience itself.

The final decision between Princess Cruises vs. Holland America rests on which one feels like it was made for you. It’s a principle that holds true for any voyage, from planning a grand family adventure to finding the perfect cruises for solo travelers. 

Turning that personal insight into a real vacation is where an expert AAA Travel advisor can help best. They can match your unique travel style to the right ship and itinerary, while an AAA Membership can unlock exclusive deals and other benefits to make the journey even better.