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Princess Cruises - Cruise Line Profile

Princess Cruises offers a quality product in a mainstream cruise line. Its ships appeal to all ages, and the interests and incomes of the passengers can vary widely. Most of the ships fall into the large ship category. Princess is the original "Love Boat ", and the company honored "The Love Boat" cast by making them the godparents of the Regal Princess in 2014.

Carnival Corporation is the parent company of Princess Cruises, but each of the Carnival Corporation cruise lines has a distinct style and management.

Princess Cruises Cruise Ships

Princess has 17 ships, ranging in size from 700 passengers (Pacific Princess, and Ocean Princess) to over 3000. The ships are modern and well-maintained.

• Sun Princess (1995)
• Sea Princess (1998)
• Grand Princess (1998)
• Ocean Princess (1999)
• Pacific Princess (1999)
• Golden Princess (2001)
• Star Princess (2002)
• Coral Princess (2002)
• Island Princess (2003)
• Diamond Princess (2004)
• Caribbean Princess (2004)
• Sapphire Princess (2005)
• Crown Princess(2006)
• Emerald Princess (2007)
• Ruby Princess (2008)
• Royal Princess (2013)
• Regal Princess (2014)
• Majestic Princess (2017)

Princess Cruises Passenger Profile

Princess Cruises are well-suited for couples, families, and older singles. Active cruisers who enjoy a large ship atmosphere with clean, pleasant surroundings at an affordable price will enjoy Princess. Princess passengers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and income brackets. Younger passengers tend to be found on the shorter Caribbean itineraries, while the older, more affluent frequent the exotic destinations. All in all, Princess has a very diverse, loyal clientele.

Princess Cruises Cabins

Like other modern cruise lines, most of Princess' cabins are outside, and many have balconies. The numerous categories of cabins range from large suites (almost 600 square feet) to small interior cabins (160 square feet). Storage space is adequate, and all cabins have refrigerators, TVs, and hair dryers. The decor of the cabins is warm and clean.

• Pictures of a Mini-Suite on the Emerald Princess
• Cabins and Suites on the Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess, and Crown Princess
• Cabins on the Regal Princess

Princess Cruises Cuisine and Dining

Princess has both "traditional" fixed-seating, fixed-time dining in one dining room on each ship, and "personal choice" dining in the other dining rooms. Each ship has specialty restaurants that have a small cover charge. The linens and china are of good quality, and the service is better than you might expect for a large ship serving thousands each day.

• More Information on Dining and Cuisine on the Emerald Princess
• Dining on the Royal Princess
• Dining on the Regal Princess

Princess Cruises Onboard Activities and Entertainment

Princess Cruises has an excellent onboard troupe of performers who put on glamorous, Las Vegas-style production shows geared to the North American audience. The Princess cruise ships also have cabaret acts and many audience participation shows. No one should ever get bored on a Princess ship.

Princess Cruises Common Areas

Although Princess is owned by Carnival Corporation, the ships do not have Carnival's brilliant, sometimes garish decor. Princess is much more subdued, with calm colors and neutral tones. Many of the Princess ships have teak deck chairs, which is a nice touch. You will find the ubiquitous "art" for sale at the art auctions lining the walls of most common areas.

Princess Cruises Spa, Gym, and Fitness

The Lotus Spa is operated by Steiner Leisure, and it has all the standard spa treatments, along with some interesting exotic ones. The fitness centers have all the latest equipment. Some fitness classes like Zumba are free, but you will have to pay a fee for kickboxing and yoga. Many of the Princess ships feature the Sanctuary, an adults-only retreat near the spa. It's a wonderful place to get away from the rest of the world. Princess allows you to book spa appointments online before you sail.

More on Princess Cruises

Contact Information Princess Cruises Corporate Headquarters 24844 Avenue Rockefeller Santa Clarita, CA 91355 On the Web: http://www.princess.com

Princess Cruises debuted in 1965, and today is part of the world's largest cruise line -- Carnival Cruises. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015.

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Princess Cruise Lines

From its stronghold on the Pacific, Princess Cruise Lines is the world's third largest cruise line behind Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. At more than 30 years old, Princess is one of the U.S. market's oldest continuously operating passenger ship lines. Its roster of 65 cruises, including a worldwide tour scheduled to set sail in March 1998, docks at more than 225 ports on six continents.

Popularized by the television series "The Love Boat," Princess Cruise Lines is so closely identified with the late 1970s, early 1980s show that it continued to use the tagline "It's more than a cruise, it's the Love Boat" through the late 1990s. Over the course of its more than three decades in business, the Princess fleet has expanded dramatically. In 1965, it operated one converted ferryboat with a 318-passenger capacity, plying the West Coast of Mexico. In 1997 it owned a coterie of eight "floating resorts" that shuttled nearly 500,000 passengers to 230 ports around the globe each year. With the addition of three more "Grand Class" ships, the line expected to have annual capacity for 750,000 passengers by the turn of the 20th century.

Founded in 1965

The Princess line was founded in the fall of 1965 by Stanley MacDonald, a Seattle entrepreneur. It was named for its first ship, the 6,000-ton Princess Patricia, a ferryboat chartered from the Canadian National Railways' fleet. Princess Pat had a 318-passenger capacity. Princess was among the first lines to popularize cruises to the west coast of Mexico--dubbed the "Mexican Riviera." Come summer 1966, the ship returned to its tasks for the railroad in Alaska and Canada. Following a second successful season shepherding snowbirds seaward, MacDonald chartered an Italian-made ship and dubbed it, quite logically, the Princess Italia. Continued high demand for berths led to the charter of the Princess Carla for the 1968 season. In 1971 MacDonald leased the Norwegian vessel Island Venture and renamed it the Island Princess.

But MacDonald did not stay in the cruise business for long. In 1974 he sold Princess to Great Britain's Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), one of the world's oldest and largest diversified shipping firms. With the financial backing of this industry giant, the California-based cruise line purchased the Island Princess as well as its sister ship, the Sea Venture. A retrofit transformed the Sea Venture into the Pacific Princess, a 20,000-ton vessel with room for 640 passengers. P&O also transferred its Spirit of London to Princess, which renamed it the Sun Princess. The line canceled its leases on the Italia and Carla. Within a year of its adoption into the P&O family, Princess had become one of the world's largest passenger cruise lines.

The Love Boat Years

Still, a fiscally fit parent company, nicely appointed ships, and top-notch service might never have brought Princess the fame and growth it earned by becoming affiliated with a television series. Airing for nearly a decade from 1977 to 1986, "The Love Boat" was produced by Aaron Spelling and became one of his longest running projects. Set on the Island Princess and the Pacific Princess, the show featured a core cast consisting of the ship's crew and a revolving cast of well-known celebrities embroiled in a variety of lighthearted plots. The sitcom placed a strong emphasis on romance and exotic destinations.

In addition to putting Princess's "seawitch" logo in front of millions of viewers worldwide each week, the prime time show has been credited with introducing cruising to a younger clientele, thereby broadening the industry's appeal from a core group of wealthy retirees to middle-income people in their 30s and 40s. No longer merely a means of transportation, cruising became a vacation end unto itself. Christopher Boyd of Florida Trend asserted, "'The Love Boat' television series, featuring a Princess ship, helped change the image of cruising. Suddenly, cruising meant romance, intrigue and beautiful people." From 1979 through 1993, the industry grew at a compound annual rate of 9.4 percent. Princess cultivated the "Love Boat" image long after the show was canceled, even using the "Captain Stubing" character, played by actor Gavin MacLeod, in promotions and television ads.

1980s Expansion Culminates in Merger

Princess was one of three cruise lines operating in the United States to seize the growth initiative in the mid-1980s. Princess took delivery of its first custom-built passenger ship, the Royal Princess, in 1984. This vessel, which could transport nearly three times as many guests as the line's first ferryboat, moved all guest cabins to the outside of the ship, thereby giving all its passengers the luxury of an ocean view. The line's fleet grew to five ships with the 1986 adoption of P&O's Sea Princess. It was not long before the tide of cruisegoers rose to meet this capacity; from 1983 to 1994, the passenger count exploded from about a half million to 4.5 million.

Adding vessels to the fleet enabled Princess to expand its roster of destinations, giving its passengers a wider choice of vacation spots. Princess was one of the first to popularize cruises to Alaska, a destination that became an industry hot spot in the late 1980s and early 1990s. And though it concentrated for many years on European, Alaskan, and Mediterranean routes, the line was by the mid-1990s offering cruises to Asia, India, the Holy Land, South America, Hawaii, and the all-important Caribbean.

Princess emerged as one of America's largest passenger fleets in 1988, when P&O acquired Sitmar Cruises, a line headquartered about 300 yards from Princess, for about $210 million and merged it with the existing U.S. operation. James Nolan of the Journal of Commerce and Commercial characterized Sitmar as the "Cadillac of the industry." Travel Weekly's Jerry Brown called the marriage "one of the biggest events in the cruise industry in many years." The union added the Star, Sky, Dawn, and Fair Princesses to the fleet, which by this time totaled nine ships. It also expanded Princess's cruise routes to include New England and South America. At about the same time, P&O consolidated its U.S. cruise, hotel, motorcoach, and rail operations under the Princess name and logo. These included the Denali Princess Lodge, Kenai Princess Lodge, and the Fairbanks Princess Hotel, all in Alaska.

Nonstop Growth in the 1990s

Anticipating the continued expansion of the cruise industry at a rate of ten percent annually through the 1990s, the "Big Three"--Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess--became embroiled in a race to build ever-larger ships with greater capacity for people and amenities. Aside from the obvious ability to carry more passengers, there were several advantages to building larger ships. They generated more than three times the cash flow of their 1,000-passenger predecessors and provided economies of scale in overhead and purchasing by spreading out the cost of running a single vessel among this larger client base. Victoria Hallstrom of Lehman Brothers told Travel Weekly's Ernest Blum that the new "superships" and "megaships" had the potential to "pay for themselves in five years."

Their massive size also made room for an array of activities and amenities that put these ships on a par with vacation destinations like Las Vegas and Walt Disney World. Families were a particular target of these behemoths; on-board distractions included play areas for kids, media rooms and dance floors geared toward teens, and more traditional casinos, bars, health clubs, and Broadway-style shows for adults.

Decommissionings in 1990 and 1991 made room for Princess's $1.5 billion-plus investment in gargantuan new "superships" dubbed the "Grand Class." These massive cruise ships had passenger capacities of more than 1,500 each, yet offered roomier staterooms and more private balconies than their predecessors as well as spacious public areas. The Crown Princess, launched in 1990, and the Regal Princess, introduced in 1991, weighed in at 70,000 tons and had room for 1,590 vacationers. The 1995 launch of the 77,000-ton Sun Princess added room for nearly 2,000 passengers. Its sister ship, the Dawn Princess, was launched in 1997 and dispatched to the waters of Alaska and the Caribbean. In addition to two more 77,000-ton vessels, Princess planned to christen the "grandest of the grand" (to date), the 109,000-ton Grand Princess, by the end of the decade. With a capacity for 2,600 passengers, the ship was too wide to navigate the Panama Canal.

Though the cruise line retired three other ships during this period, it kept the two original "Love Boats," the Island Princess and the Pacific Princess, in operation. The Island Princess, in fact, was scheduled to offer Princess's first-ever world cruise, a 64-day trip from Rome to San Francisco beginning in March 1998.

Princess was not the only leading line building mammoth cruisers in the 1990s. Industry leaders Carnival and Royal Caribbean were also busy ordering 100,000-ton-plus vessels, continually upping the stakes in the battle to build the biggest boats. These across-the-board capacity increases kept the Big Three's market shares fairly constant throughout the 1990s, maintaining a high level of competition among the top rivals. In fact, while Princess doubled its berths in the last decade of the 20th century, Carnival Corp. increased its capacity by more than 450 percent and Royal Caribbean boosted its volume by nearly 370 percent.

Princess distinguished itself among its competitors with technological and marketing innovations during this period. The company developed sophisticated in-house booking, reservation, and management information systems and cooperated in the creation of tourist agency networks like Apollo, Sabre, and Worldspan. In 1997 Princess won praise for its introduction of a unique financing package dubbed the "Love Boat Loan." Though it charged anywhere from 14.9 percent to 26.9 percent interest, the program allowed vacationers to finance the cost of a cruise for up to 48 months.

The cruise line suffered a black eye in 1991, when two passengers videotaped a Princess employee dumping bags of garbage into the ocean off the Florida Keys. Worse than the $500,000 fine was the public relations scandal that followed. Princess was able to redeem itself by inaugurating a comprehensive waste management program dubbed "Planet Princess." Within just a few years, the line had won praise from some of the cruise industry's biggest environmental critics, including the Center for Marine Conservation.

By the mid-1990s only seven percent of Americans had taken a cruise, leading many in the industry--including executives at Princess&mdashø conclude that there remained a large untapped market of potential cruisers. In March 1997 a spokesman for Princess told Travel Weekly, "We [in the cruise industry] are about to enter an era of dramatic prosperity--a great boom and upswing in the economy." Princess appeared amply prepared to accommodate that boom.

Source: International Directory of Company Histories , Vol. 22. St. James Press, 1998.

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Holland America boss to oversee Princess, too

The head of Holland America will begin overseeing sister company Princess Cruises, too, effective Dec. 1.

The parent company of the two lines, Carnival Corp., today announced that Holland America president and CEO Stein Kruse is being appointed CEO of a newly created entity called Holland America Group that will include both Holland America and Princess.

The new group's portfolio also will include Carnival Corp.-owned luxury line Seabourn, which has been under Kruse's oversight since 2011, and Carnival Corp.-owned land operations in Alaska used by both Holland America and Princess.

In addition, as part of his expanded role, Kruse will become chairman of MANCO, a UK-based entity that oversees operations of Carnival Australia including P&O Cruises, the number one cruise line in the Australian market.

The new position for Kruse puts four of Carnival Corp.'s 10 brands and nearly half its ships under his control.

Carnival Corp. today also announced that the current CEO of Princess Cruises, Alan Buckelew, will move to a new position as chief operating officer for the parent company. Princess executive vice president Jan Swartz will become president of Princess, reporting to Kruse.

In another significant change, Carnival Corp. vice chairman and chief operating officer Howard Frank is stepping down from those roles but will remain as an adviser to Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald. Frank, 72, has served as a top lieutenant to Carnival Corp. chairman Micky Arison for more than two decades.

The management shuffle comes four months after Donald stepped in for Arison as CEO of the parent company.

A Carnival Corp. spokesman tells USA TODAY the changes should have little impact on the on-board experience at the company's brands.

"This will be relatively invisible to the consumer since each brand will continue to operate under their respective brand names," Carnival spokesman Roger Frizzell says. "We hope these changes will help drive greater collaboration, coordination and communications in our goal to exceed our customer expectations."

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Princess Cruise Lines and its Parent Company Plead Guilty to Environmental Probation Violations, Ordered to Pay $20 Million Criminal Penalty

Today, Princess Cruise Lines Ltd. (Princess) and its parent, Carnival Cruise Lines & plc (together “Carnival”) were ordered to pay a $20 million criminal penalty and will be subject to enhanced supervision after admitting to violations of probation attributable to senior Carnival management in a case in which Princess had already paid $40 million.

Princess was convicted and sentenced in April 2017, after pleading guilty to felony charges stemming from its deliberate dumping of oil-contaminated waste from one of its vessels and intentional acts to cover it up. While serving 5 years of probation, all Carnival related cruise lines vessels eligible to trade in U.S. ports were required to comply with a court approved and supervised environmental compliance plan (ECP), including audits by an independent company and oversight by a Court Appointed Monitor. Numerous violations have been identified by the company, the outside auditor, and the court’s monitor during the first two years of probation, including “major non-conformities” as defined by the ECP.

Carnival admitted it was guilty of committing six violations of probation. Two of the violations involved interfering with the court’s supervision of probation by sending undisclosed teams to ships to prepare them for the independent inspections required during probation. When this was first discovered in December 2017, U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Seitz directed that the practice cease and ordered additional inspections as a consequence. However, without seeking court approval, a second undisclosed program was started shortly thereafter. Documents filed in court showed that a purpose of the vessel visit programs was to avoid adverse findings during the inspections.

“This case demonstrates the importance of identifying and correcting compliance problems at their source. Carnival sought to avoid the discovery of problems during the audits rather than learn from them. Carnival’s deliberate deception undermined the court’s supervision of probation,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “I want to take this opportunity to thank and commend the Office of Probation and the Court Appointed Monitor for the close attention that they have devoted to this important matter post-conviction.” 

Carnival’s Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer attended the hearing pursuant to court’s order and were asked to personally pledge their commitment to correcting the company’s compliance issues and corporate culture. In addition, senior management of each operating cruise line of Carnival Corporation & plc were present for the court proceedings.

The company admitted to other violations of probation today including:

• Failing to establish a senior corporate officer as a corporate compliance manager with responsibility and sufficient authority for implementing new environmental measures required during probation;
• Contacting the Coast Guard seeking to re-define the definition of what constitutes a major non-conformity under the ECP without going through the required process and after the government had rejected the proposal and told the company to file a motion with the court if it wanted to pursue the issue;
• Deliberately falsifying environmental training records aboard two cruise ships; and
• Deliberately discharging plastic in Bahamian waters from the Carnival Elation and failing to accurately record the illegal discharges. Prosecutors advised the Court that this particular instance was an example of a more widespread problem, identified by the external audits, in failing to segregate plastic and non-food garbage from waste thrown overboard from numerous cruise ships.

Under the terms of the settlement, Carnival will do the following:

• Pay a $20 million criminal penalty;
• Issue a statement to all employees in which Carnival’s CEO accepts management’s responsibility for the probation violations;
• Restructure the company’s corporate compliance efforts, including appointing a new chief Corporate Compliance Officer, creating an Executive Compliance Committee across all cruise lines, adding a new member to the Board of Directors with corporate compliance expertise, and train its Board of Directors;
• Pay up to $10 million per day if it does not meet deadlines for submitting and implementing needed changes to its corporate structure;
• Pay for 15 additional independent audits per year conducted by the third-party auditor and Court Appointed Monitor (on top of approximately 31 ship audits and 6 shore-side audits currently performed annually);
• Comply with new reporting requirements, including notifying the government and court of all future violations, and specifically identifying foreign violations and the country impacted; and
• Make major changes in how the company uses and disposes of plastic and other non-food waste to urgently address a problem on multiple vessels concerning illegal discharges of plastic mixed with other garbage.

The revised sentence imposed by Judge Seitz also requires that Princess remain on probation for a period of three years.

The case is being prosecuted by Richard A. Udell, Senior Litigation Counsel with the Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald, Deputy Chief, Economic & Environmental Crimes Section for the Southern District of Florida, with assistance from Lt. Commander Anton DeStefano of the U.S. Coast Guard.

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Princess Cruises Announces Pacific Princess to Leave the Fleet

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Princess Cruises, the world’s leading international premium cruise line, today announced the sale of Pacific Princess to an undisclosed buyer. The sale of the cruise ship is in line with parent company Carnival Corporation’s plan to accelerate the removal of less efficient ships from its fleet.

Pacific Princess first joined the cruise line’s fleet in 2002, and originally entered service in 1999 as R3 for Renaissance Cruises. The boutique-style ship offered an intimate cruising environment, with a total of just 670 passengers, but incorporated many of the dining and entertainment options available on the cruise line’s larger cruise vessels.

Beloved by many loyal Princess guests, Pacific Princess sailed more than 1.6 Million nautical miles, 11 World Cruises and offered distinctive itineraries to sought-after destinations all over the world. In fact, The Love Boat’s "Captain Stubing" and Princess Cruises Ambassador Gavin MacLeod was on the ship’s navigation bridge as the ship sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time to kick off the inaugural season sailing to Alaska from San Francisco in May 2003.

"Pacific Princess holds so many memories and cherished experiences to all who sailed upon her," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. "Pacific Princess offered a traditional style of cruising to unique destinations. While it’s difficult to say goodbye to our 'Love Boat,' our World Cruise and exotic itineraries continue onboard our Medallion Class-enabled Island Princess and Coral Princess, featuring the best Wi-Fi at sea, allowing guests to keep in touch with loved ones and share vacation memories along the way."

Another historic moment for Pacific Princess was sailing a throwback cruise, recreating the cruise line’s very first itinerary to the iconic Mexican Riviera in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Princess Cruises on December 3, 2015. Attending this special cruise included the cast of "The Love Boat," - Gavin MacLeod ( Captain Stubing ), Fred Grandy ( Gopher , the chief purser), Ted Lange ( Isaac , the bartender), Bernie Kopell ( Doc , the ship’s doctor), Lauren Tewes (cruise director, Julie ) and Jill Whelan ( Vicki , the captain’s daughter). Together with the guests, they celebrated the role the show played in Princess Cruises’ five-decades-long history introducing the cruise line – and cruise vacations – to millions of people around the world.

Guests with bookings will be notified, and along with their travel advisors, will receive information on how to book another Princess Cruise when operations resume. Guests who prefer a refund will be accommodated.

Media Contacts

Contact information for members of the media

Media Relations Department, Princess Cruises 24305 Town Center Drive Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Phone : 1 661 753 1530 Email :  [email protected]

Not a member of the media? 

Contact us at: 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) or 1-661-753-0000

More contact information is available on our Contact Us page

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AIDA Cruises is the market leader in the German-speaking cruise market. Home of the smile, AIDA Cruises is the epitome of a premium-quality, relaxing cruise and operates one of the world’s most state-of-the-art fleets. Visit: www.aida.de

Carnival Cruise Line, also known as America’s Cruise Line, is a leader in contemporary cruising and operates a fleet of ships designed to provide fun and memorable vacation experiences at a great value. Visit: www.carnival.com

Costa Cruises delivers Italy’s finest at sea, bringing modern Italian lifestyle to its ships to provide guests with a true European experience that embodies a unique passion for life through warm hospitality, entertainment and gastronomy. Visit: www.costacruise.com

Cunard is the epitome of British refinement for travelers who relish the line’s impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining, world-class entertainment, and the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. Visit: www.cunard.com

Holland America Line's premium fleet of spacious, elegant mid-sized ships feature sophisticated five-star dining, extensive entertainment and activities, innovative culinary enrichment programs and compelling worldwide itineraries. Visit: www.hollandamerica.com

P&O Cruises (UK) is Britain’s favorite cruise line with a fleet of ships combining genuine service and a sense of occasion and attention to detail, ensuring passengers have the holiday of a lifetime, every time. Visit: www.pocruises.co.uk

P&O Cruises (Australia) provides a quintessential holiday experience for Australians and New Zealanders, taking them to some of the world's most idyllic and hard-to-reach places across Asia and the South Pacific. Visit: www.pocruises.co.au

Princess is the world’s leading international cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of modern cruise ships, renowned for the innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities. Visit: www.princess.com

Seabourn provides ultraluxury cruising vacations in a unique, small-ship style that focuses on genuine, intuitive service, all-suite accommodations, superb cuisine and unique experiences in destinations worldwide. Visit: www.seabourn.com

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Princess Cruise Lines - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Princess Cruise Lines

10100 Santa Monica Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90067 U.S.A.

Company Perspectives:

The Caribbean, Alaska, Europe and the Panama Canal, these are just a taste of the world that awaits you on ships as legendary as the places they visit. You can journey as far north as Norway's North Cape and as far south as Tierra del Fuego's Cape Horn. You can circle the continents of South America and Africa and traverse the Indian Ocean and the North China Sea. Dropping anchor in over 200 ports on six continents, Princess goes to the ends of the earth to bring you an unforgettable cruise.

History of Princess Cruise Lines

From its stronghold on the Pacific, Princess Cruise Lines is the world's third largest cruise line behind Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. At more than 30 years old, Princess is one of the U.S. market's oldest continuously operating passenger ship lines. Its roster of 65 cruises, including a worldwide tour scheduled to set sail in March 1998, docks at more than 225 ports on six continents.

Popularized by the television series "The Love Boat," Princess Cruise Lines is so closely identified with the late 1970s, early 1980s show that it continued to use the tagline "It's more than a cruise, it's the Love Boat" through the late 1990s. Over the course of its more than three decades in business, the Princess fleet has expanded dramatically. In 1965, it operated one converted ferryboat with a 318-passenger capacity, plying the West Coast of Mexico. In 1997 it owned a coterie of eight "floating resorts" that shuttled nearly 500,000 passengers to 230 ports around the globe each year. With the addition of three more "Grand Class" ships, the line expected to have annual capacity for 750,000 passengers by the turn of the 20th century.

Founded in 1965

The Princess line was founded in the fall of 1965 by Stanley MacDonald, a Seattle entrepreneur. It was named for its first ship, the 6,000-ton Princess Patricia, a ferryboat chartered from the Canadian National Railways' fleet. Princess Pat had a 318-passenger capacity. Princess was among the first lines to popularize cruises to the west coast of Mexico--dubbed the "Mexican Riviera." Come summer 1966, the ship returned to its tasks for the railroad in Alaska and Canada. Following a second successful season shepherding snowbirds seaward, MacDonald chartered an Italian-made ship and dubbed it, quite logically, the Princess Italia. Continued high demand for berths led to the charter of the Princess Carla for the 1968 season. In 1971 MacDonald leased the Norwegian vessel Island Venture and renamed it the Island Princess.

But MacDonald did not stay in the cruise business for long. In 1974 he sold Princess to Great Britain's Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), one of the world's oldest and largest diversified shipping firms. With the financial backing of this industry giant, the California-based cruise line purchased the Island Princess as well as its sister ship, the Sea Venture. A retrofit transformed the Sea Venture into the Pacific Princess, a 20,000-ton vessel with room for 640 passengers. P&O also transferred its Spirit of London to Princess, which renamed it the Sun Princess. The line canceled its leases on the Italia and Carla. Within a year of its adoption into the P&O family, Princess had become one of the world's largest passenger cruise lines.

The Love Boat Years

Still, a fiscally fit parent company, nicely appointed ships, and top-notch service might never have brought Princess the fame and growth it earned by becoming affiliated with a television series. Airing for nearly a decade from 1977 to 1986, "The Love Boat" was produced by Aaron Spelling and became one of his longest running projects. Set on the Island Princess and the Pacific Princess, the show featured a core cast consisting of the ship's crew and a revolving cast of well-known celebrities embroiled in a variety of lighthearted plots. The sitcom placed a strong emphasis on romance and exotic destinations.

In addition to putting Princess's "seawitch" logo in front of millions of viewers worldwide each week, the prime time show has been credited with introducing cruising to a younger clientele, thereby broadening the industry's appeal from a core group of wealthy retirees to middle-income people in their 30s and 40s. No longer merely a means of transportation, cruising became a vacation end unto itself. Christopher Boyd of Florida Trend asserted, "'The Love Boat' television series, featuring a Princess ship, helped change the image of cruising. Suddenly, cruising meant romance, intrigue and beautiful people." From 1979 through 1993, the industry grew at a compound annual rate of 9.4 percent. Princess cultivated the "Love Boat" image long after the show was canceled, even using the "Captain Stubing" character, played by actor Gavin MacLeod, in promotions and television ads.

1980s Expansion Culminates in Merger

Princess was one of three cruise lines operating in the United States to seize the growth initiative in the mid-1980s. Princess took delivery of its first custom-built passenger ship, the Royal Princess, in 1984. This vessel, which could transport nearly three times as many guests as the line's first ferryboat, moved all guest cabins to the outside of the ship, thereby giving all its passengers the luxury of an ocean view. The line's fleet grew to five ships with the 1986 adoption of P&O's Sea Princess. It was not long before the tide of cruisegoers rose to meet this capacity; from 1983 to 1994, the passenger count exploded from about a half million to 4.5 million.

Adding vessels to the fleet enabled Princess to expand its roster of destinations, giving its passengers a wider choice of vacation spots. Princess was one of the first to popularize cruises to Alaska, a destination that became an industry hot spot in the late 1980s and early 1990s. And though it concentrated for many years on European, Alaskan, and Mediterranean routes, the line was by the mid-1990s offering cruises to Asia, India, the Holy Land, South America, Hawaii, and the all-important Caribbean.

Princess emerged as one of America's largest passenger fleets in 1988, when P&O acquired Sitmar Cruises, a line headquartered about 300 yards from Princess, for about $210 million and merged it with the existing U.S. operation. James Nolan of the Journal of Commerce and Commercial characterized Sitmar as the "Cadillac of the industry." Travel Weekly's Jerry Brown called the marriage "one of the biggest events in the cruise industry in many years." The union added the Star, Sky, Dawn, and Fair Princesses to the fleet, which by this time totaled nine ships. It also expanded Princess's cruise routes to include New England and South America. At about the same time, P&O consolidated its U.S. cruise, hotel, motorcoach, and rail operations under the Princess name and logo. These included the Denali Princess Lodge, Kenai Princess Lodge, and the Fairbanks Princess Hotel, all in Alaska.

Nonstop Growth in the 1990s

Anticipating the continued expansion of the cruise industry at a rate of ten percent annually through the 1990s, the "Big Three"--Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess--became embroiled in a race to build ever-larger ships with greater capacity for people and amenities. Aside from the obvious ability to carry more passengers, there were several advantages to building larger ships. They generated more than three times the cash flow of their 1,000-passenger predecessors and provided economies of scale in overhead and purchasing by spreading out the cost of running a single vessel among this larger client base. Victoria Hallstrom of Lehman Brothers told Travel Weekly's Ernest Blum that the new "superships" and "megaships" had the potential to "pay for themselves in five years."

Their massive size also made room for an array of activities and amenities that put these ships on a par with vacation destinations like Las Vegas and Walt Disney World. Families were a particular target of these behemoths; on-board distractions included play areas for kids, media rooms and dance floors geared toward teens, and more traditional casinos, bars, health clubs, and Broadway-style shows for adults.

Decommissionings in 1990 and 1991 made room for Princess's $1.5 billion-plus investment in gargantuan new "superships" dubbed the "Grand Class." These massive cruise ships had passenger capacities of more than 1,500 each, yet offered roomier staterooms and more private balconies than their predecessors as well as spacious public areas. The Crown Princess, launched in 1990, and the Regal Princess, introduced in 1991, weighed in at 70,000 tons and had room for 1,590 vacationers. The 1995 launch of the 77,000-ton Sun Princess added room for nearly 2,000 passengers. Its sister ship, the Dawn Princess, was launched in 1997 and dispatched to the waters of Alaska and the Caribbean. In addition to two more 77,000-ton vessels, Princess planned to christen the "grandest of the grand" (to date), the 109,000-ton Grand Princess, by the end of the decade. With a capacity for 2,600 passengers, the ship was too wide to navigate the Panama Canal.

Though the cruise line retired three other ships during this period, it kept the two original "Love Boats," the Island Princess and the Pacific Princess, in operation. The Island Princess, in fact, was scheduled to offer Princess's first-ever world cruise, a 64-day trip from Rome to San Francisco beginning in March 1998.

Princess was not the only leading line building mammoth cruisers in the 1990s. Industry leaders Carnival and Royal Caribbean were also busy ordering 100,000-ton-plus vessels, continually upping the stakes in the battle to build the biggest boats. These across-the-board capacity increases kept the Big Three's market shares fairly constant throughout the 1990s, maintaining a high level of competition among the top rivals. In fact, while Princess doubled its berths in the last decade of the 20th century, Carnival Corp. increased its capacity by more than 450 percent and Royal Caribbean boosted its volume by nearly 370 percent.

Princess distinguished itself among its competitors with technological and marketing innovations during this period. The company developed sophisticated in-house booking, reservation, and management information systems and cooperated in the creation of tourist agency networks like Apollo, Sabre, and Worldspan. In 1997 Princess won praise for its introduction of a unique financing package dubbed the "Love Boat Loan." Though it charged anywhere from 14.9 percent to 26.9 percent interest, the program allowed vacationers to finance the cost of a cruise for up to 48 months.

The cruise line suffered a black eye in 1991, when two passengers videotaped a Princess employee dumping bags of garbage into the ocean off the Florida Keys. Worse than the $500,000 fine was the public relations scandal that followed. Princess was able to redeem itself by inaugurating a comprehensive waste management program dubbed "Planet Princess." Within just a few years, the line had won praise from some of the cruise industry's biggest environmental critics, including the Center for Marine Conservation.

By the mid-1990s only seven percent of Americans had taken a cruise, leading many in the industry--including executives at Princess&mdashø conclude that there remained a large untapped market of potential cruisers. In March 1997 a spokesman for Princess told Travel Weekly, "We [in the cruise industry] are about to enter an era of dramatic prosperity--a great boom and upswing in the economy." Princess appeared amply prepared to accommodate that boom.

Additional Details

• Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Pacific and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.
• Founded: 1965
• Employees: 8,500
• Sales: $1 billion (1996 est.)
• SICs: 4480 Water Transportation of Passengers

Further Reference

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Princess Cruise Lines pleads guilty to probation violation

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MIAMI (AP) — Princess Cruises pleaded guilty Wednesday to violating its probation related to previous environmental crimes.

Company officials signed a plea agreement in Miami federal court, according to court records. The company must pay a $1 million criminal fine and undertake remedial measures to ensure that it and its parent company, Carnival Corporation, establish and maintain an independent internal investigative office.

“Just like individual defendants, corporate defendants must also comply with court orders. They are not above the law,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Juan Antonio Gonzalez said in a statement. “The corporate defendant here ignored the court, choosing instead to thwart the compliance plan that was put in place to protect our environment.”

Princess was fined $40 million in 2017 after pleading guilty to felony charges stemming from its deliberate dumping of oil-contaminated waste from one of its vessels and intentional acts to cover it up. As part of its probation, all Carnival-related cruise ships that used U.S. ports were required to comply with a supervised environmental compliance plan. Princess was convicted of six probation violations in 2019 and fined an additional $20 million.

A joint factual basis for Wednesday’s guilty plea said Princess admitted that internal investigators had not been allowed to determine the scope of their investigations, and that draft internal investigations had been impacted and delayed by management.

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Which Company Owns Your Favorite Cruise Line? (Infographic)

Head to the grocery store and you might be surprised that a number of your favorite brands are actually owned by much larger companies.

For instance, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is actually owned by Unilever. Tide laundry detergent is owned by Procter & Gamble. Kool-Aid is owned by Kraft.

It’s the same thing for automobiles. Acura is part of Honda. Lexus is part of Toyota. And Audi is part of Volkswagen.

Believe it or not, it’s a similar model in the cruise business. Three major companies: Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD., and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings LTD., own the majority of lines out there.

Below, we’ve put together an infographic that shows exactly which cruise lines are owned by which companies. Check it out:

Cruise Line Ownership Infographic

Cruise lines owned by carnival corporation & plc..

Many people know that Carnival Corporation is big, but don’t realize quite how large they are. Carnival Corp. of course owns the famous Carnival Cruise Line, but they also own luxury brands like Princess and Holland America.

Want even more luxurious offerings? Carnival Corp. is the owner of Cunard (with the famous Queen Mary 2) and the ultra-luxury line Seabourn. It also owns lines that aren’t heavily promoted in the United States, including Costa, P&O Cruises, and AIDA.

Cruise Lines Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD.

Like Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD. is most famous for its own namesake: Royal Caribbean International. The company also own Celebrity Cruises and the ultra-luxury line Silversea, along with the immersive Azamara.

In addition to these lines, Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD. owns partial stakes in both Pullmantur and TUI Cruises.

Cruise Lines Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings LTD.

Of the “Big Three” cruise companies, the smallest is Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings LTD. Even so, it still owns several lines under its umbrella.

First is the namesake Norwegian Cruise Line, which has soared in popularity as it has continually launched new and bigger ships like the Norwegian Encore .

Also within the parent company are two luxury lines known for their smaller ship experience: Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises.

Yes, just how Toyota has its namesake Toyota brand and then the luxury Lexus brand, Norwegian offers both “mass-market” and luxury offerings in its lines.

Independent Cruise Lines

There are a handful of cruise lines that are independent, or at least they are independent of other major cruise line operators.

For instance, Disney Cruise Line is part of Disney, but not part of another line. Meanwhile, Virgin Voyages and MSC Cruises (part of the MSC Group that also has container ships around the world) operate as independent cruise lines that aren’t under the umbrella of another major cruise company.

Note: Company logos shown above are property of their respective owners and not affiliated with Laisman Publishing, LLC or Cruzely.com.

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These Are The 10 Cheapest Cruise Lines In The World That You Can Sail With

• MSC Cruises offers affordable cruises to various destinations, including the Mediterranean and the Bahamas. With their Kids Sail Free program, they are one of the best cheap cruise liners.
• Carnival Cruise Lines provides accessible pricing for US-based customers, especially those close to ports like Miami. They offer three to four-day cruise deals starting as low as $199/person.
• Royal Caribbean also offers some of the world's cheapest cruises, including affordable journeys to Alaska, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Their lowest prices start at $199/person for four-day cruises and $419/person for seven-day deals.

Relaxing with a drink in hand and a view as someone else carries the burden of navigation is something all travelers yearn for at some point, which is just one more reason why cruises remain one of the most bustling sectors of the travel industry. However, the path from researching cruise options at home to finally feeling that point of relaxation (or perhaps, for travelers looking for love, an opportunity to mingle at sea on one of the many superb singles cruises ) can be a rather daunting one.

Cruise-seekers can take online reviews by storm simply to find some of the top-rated cruise lines in the US , while others may have a specific vibe in mind like island hopping cruises in the Caribbean or seeking peace on board one of the many excellent adults-only cruises . The one thing that all travelers alike will seek is a way to book their chosen experience without breaking the bank. Fortunately, fantastic cruise deals can be plentiful when one knows where to look. Here are some of the cheapest cruises in the world currently sailing the seas.

Related: These Are The Best Cruise Lines In The U.S. (Ranked By Rating)

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises has expanded in recent years and is becoming one of the foremost affordable cruise lines out there. Aside from offering cruises in places like Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, or Egypt, the company now provides cruises through New England, Canada, and, of course, the Caribbean.

Select destinations and packages include Wi-Fi, drinks, and $200 onboard credit. The addition of their Kids Sail Free program (minors under 18 in the same cabin as a parent sail free) is the final cherry on top, which makes MSC Cruises one of the best cheap cruise liners in the world.

• Most affordable destinations: the Mediterranean and the Bahamas
• Pricing: Some two-day cruises start as low as $49/person

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines is another one of the top cheap cruises in the world. The brand is certainly a name already known by any cruise connoisseur, and the accessible pricing combined with global destinations continues to be a big reason for this.

This cruise line is particularly beneficial to US-based customers, as the majority of Carnival's ports are found across major coastal states like Florida, New York, and Texas. Travelers fortunate to live close to these ports, especially Miami, can easily snag some wonderful deals with no worry of high travel costs to reach the point of disembarkation.

• Cheapest departure points: Miami, New Orleans, and Galveston
• Lowest prices: Three to four-day cruise deals as low as $199/person

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers cruises spanning 6 continents and just as the name might imply, some of their best deals are often for Caribbean cruises. This line is also particularly lauded for its Royal Caribbean cruise ships tailored to adult passengers .

This line, which is historically innovative, as it is the first to introduce things like ice skating rinks and bumper cars onto cruise ships, also offers European and Alaskan cruise packages ranging from $371 - $400.

• Most affordable destinations: Alaska, Mexico, and the Caribbean
• Lowest Prices: Four-day cruises as low as $199/person, with some seven-day deals starting at $419

Norwegian Cruise Line

This line offers a variety of packages including perks like free or discounted drinks, specialty dining options, excursions, and even free flights.

Some of its fantastic deals include three-day Caribbean cruises starting at $169/person, seven-day cruises in Saudi Arabia and the UAE for $299/person, and Asian destinations like Singapore or Thailand for as low as $319/person.

• Notable perks: Free at Sea package includes benefits like unlimited open bar, 3rd and 4th guests cruise for free, and free airfare
• Activity highlights: Voted as "Best Family Experience" by Travel Weekly

Related: 10 Tips For Minimalist Packing Before Taking A Cruise

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is known as a mid-range line of somewhat higher quality than most budget lines, and therefore, the brand tends to come with a higher cost, but some very nice deals can be found.

Princess Cruises can be found operating in almost any part of the world that a cruise ship could be found in and has a reputation for being particularly enjoyable for romantic couples cruises, including weddings and vow renewals. Finding the bargains can take some work, but it can pay off big time.

• Most affordable destinations: Pacific Northwest at $169 and Australia for $138
• Highlights: Rated "Best Shore Excursions" by Cruise Critic, Affordable Wi-Fi packages

Holland America Line

Holland America Line offers many incredibly cheap cruises to destinations across the globe and also has a Kids Cruise Free perk in which minors under 18 cruise for free when booked as a third or fourth passenger for trips in Europe, Alaska, and the Caribbean.

Similar to Princess Cruises, Holland America Line is relatively more upscale than some prominent budget lines. However, anything is possible with a bit of online detective work.

• Best deals discovered: full-week getaway cruises in the Caribbean as low as $564
• Notable perks: some packages include kids cruise free deals and $500 airfare credit

Related: Cargo Ships, Catamarans, & More: 10 Unique Alternatives To Regular Cruising

P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises is a British line with ships both new and old and cruises that can vary greatly in price. Finding great deals is quite easy as their official website regularly updates a dedicated page with the latest offers. Many three-to-five-day European tours appear particularly low with this line.

Major value can also be found with this line for some select cruises in which a third and fourth adult can cruise for free if staying in the same cabin as the primary two passengers.

• Most affordable destinations: Destinations like Belgium, Amsterdam, and Netherlands for as low as $329/person
• Fun features: Christmas cruises, Solo traveler oriented cruise experiences

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises is an ambitious line that travels to all seven continents and has some trips that stop at as many as eight countries in one journey. This company regularly provides great deals on Alaska and Galapagos tours, and a variety of multi-day Caribbean destinations can be found in the mid-$200 - $400 range.

There are also options like the All Included package , which can help passengers save hundreds on board.

• Fun features: Specialty cruises like culinary cruises and LGBTQ+ cruises
• Free perks on board: Free ice cream, live theater shows, fitness center

Costa Cruises

Costa Cruises is a consistently affordable yet positively reviewed line that is based in Italy and therefore mostly Euro-centric in its cruise offerings but also does not neglect the perpetually hot market in destinations like the Caribbean.

Some multiple-day outings in Western Europe, the Caribbean, and even South America can be found in the $200 - $400 range, with some as low as $209.

• Most affordable destinations: Italy, Spain, Brazil, the Caribbean
• Fun features on board: Disco, piano bar, library and card room

Margaritaville At Sea

Some may not know that Margaritaville is not only a hit of a restaurant but it also hosts a 3-day getaway cruise from Palm Beach, Florida to Grand Bahama Island . The cruise comes with activities for all members of the family including live entertainment and buffets.

Deals get even better with their Heroes Sail Free program in which military veterans, first responders, and teachers can cruise for free.

• Price: Packages start at $169/person
• Standout excursion options: Swim with the famous pigs of Grand Bahama, kayaking, and jeep tours

Princess Cruises ships ranked by size from biggest to smallest — the complete list

Are you looking for the most venue-packed, resort-like Princess Cruises ships at sea? If so, you'll want to get on one of the biggest Princess cruise ships.

The biggest Princess cruise ships are, by their very nature, the Princess ships with the most onboard restaurants, bars and showrooms, as well as the most sprawling decktop pool and lounge areas. The biggest Princess ships have the biggest casinos and spas among ships in the Princess fleet and the most cabins and suites — as well as the most variation in cabin and suite types.

With room for 4,000 passengers or more, the biggest Princess ships are truly large resorts of the sort you find at the biggest vacation destination on land. If you're in the "bigger is better" camp when it comes to a resort experience, these are the Princess ships for you.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Still, Princess doesn't just operate large vessels. The Los Angeles-based cruise giant — the fifth largest cruise line in the world — also has several relatively small cruise ships in its fleet that carry just 2,000 or 3,000 people and have a more intimate feel. In some cases, these vessels are nearly 50% smaller than the size of Princess Cruises' biggest ships. These smaller ships, notably, have less deck-top pool space and fewer interior venues than the biggest Princess cruise ships. However, with fewer people on board, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The smallest Princess cruise ships are best for vacationers who like a more intimate, less crowded resort experience.

Related: The 4 types of Princess Cruises ships, explained

To make sure you end up on the right Princess ship for you, it pays to study which Princess ships are the biggest and which are the smallest before booking.

Here, every Princess ship currently in operation is ranked from biggest to smallest.

1. Sun Princess

Maiden voyage: 2024 Size: 177,882 gross tons Passenger capacity: 4,300

2. Discovery Princess

Maiden voyage: 2022 Size: 145,000 gross tons Passenger capacity : 3,660

3 (tied). Enchanted Princess

Maiden voyage: 2020 Size: 144,650 gross tons Passenger capacity : 3,660

3 (tied). Sky Princess

Maiden voyage: 2019 Size: 144,650 gross tons Passenger capacity : 3,660

5. Majestic Princess

Maiden voyage: 2017 Size: 143,700 gross tons Passenger capacity : 3,560

6 (tied). Regal Princess

Maiden voyage: 2014 Size: 142,229 gross tons Passenger capacity : 3,560

6 (tied). Royal Princess

Maiden voyage: 2013 Size: 142,229 gross tons Passenger capacity : 3,560

8 (tied). Ruby Princess

Maiden voyage: 2008 Size: 113,561 gross tons Passenger capacity : 3,080

8 (tied). Emerald Princess

Maiden voyage: 2007 Size: 113,561 gross tons Passenger capacity : 3,080

8 (tied). Crown Princess

Maiden voyage: 2006 Size: 113,561 gross tons Passenger capacity : 3,080

11 (tied). Sapphire Princess

Maiden voyage: 2004 Size: 115,875 gross tons Passenger capacity : 2,670

11 (tied). Diamond Princess

13. Caribbean Princess

Maiden voyage: 2004 Size: 112,894 gross tons Passenger capacity : 3,149

14. Grand Princess

Maiden voyage: 1998 Size: 107,517 gross tons Passenger capacity : 2,600

15. Island Princess

Maiden voyage: 2003 Size: 92,822 gross tons Passenger capacity : 2,200

16. Coral Princess

Maiden voyage: 2002 Size: 91,627 gross tons Passenger capacity : 2,000

What is the biggest Princess cruise ship?

The biggest Princess cruise ship is the 4,300-passenger Sun Princess , which is also the line's newest vessel. It just debuted in February.

Sun Princess is the first vessel in Princess Cruises' new Sphere Class of ships, which have been designed to be much bigger and more venue-packed than the vessels in the line's last new series of ships, the Royal Class.

Sun Princess measures 177,882 gross tons, which is about 22% bigger than the biggest ship in the Royal Class (the 145,000-ton Discovery Princess). Royal Class ships range in size from 142,229 to 145,000 gross tons.

Note that gross tons is a size measurement referring to interior space, not weight.

A second ship in the Sphere Class series, Star Princess, is under construction at a shipyard in Italy and will debut in October 2025 .

For more details on Sun Princess, including what venues are on board and what it's like to sail on the vessel, see TPG's comprehensive first look at Sun Princess after an early sailing.

What is the smallest Princess cruise ship?

The smallest Princess cruise ship is the 2,000-passenger Coral Princess. Measuring just 91,267 gross tons, it's about 36% smaller than Discovery Princess, making it a significantly smaller vessel.

Coral Princess dates to 2002, a time when cruise ships were built far smaller than they are today and with far fewer venues. At 21 years old, it's also one of the two oldest vessels in the Princess fleet and will probably be phased out sometime in the next decade.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises

While significantly smaller than the newest Princess ships, Coral Princess still has many of the signature spaces and venues found on new Princess vessels, including an Italian eatery called Sabatini's and a steakhouse.

Entertainment venues on Coral Princess include a relatively large main theater for production shows, a secondary lounge that offers comedy shows and other entertainment, and a casino. Like other Princess ships, the top deck of the vessel is mostly devoted to pool areas with hot tubs and lounge chairs. There's also a spa.

While smaller and older than the typical Princess ship, Coral Princess has a loyal following among Princess fans who prefer smaller and more intimate ships.

Are bigger Princess cruise ships coming?

It's not clear yet. Princess currently has one new ship on order, Star Princess. But the final size of Star Princess won't be known until the vessel debuts in late 2025.

Star Princess will be the second vessel in the new Sphere Class of ships at Princess. It's likely to be very similar in size to the first vessel in the series, the new Sun Princess. But it's not uncommon for each new vessel in a series to be slightly bigger than the one before.

Star Princess is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard near Monfalcone, Italy.

Note that this isn't the first time Princess has named a ship Sun Princess or Star Princess. Both are recycled names from past Princess ships. Princess operated smaller vessels under the Sun Princess and Star Princess names up until 2020.

Related: Everything to know about Princess cabins and suites

What's the difference between bigger and smaller Princess ships?

The biggest Princess cruise ships have room for more onboard venues and attractions than smaller Princess ships. That makes them more alluring for vacationers who prefer a big resort experience with lots of options as compared to a stay at a smaller resort.

On the biggest Princess vessels, the Sphere Class and Royal Class vessels, you'll find the largest piazza-like central atriums in the Princess fleet surrounded by lots of bars and restaurants; multiple entertainment venues for live shows, comedy acts and more; and expansive pool decks with more space for sunning than you'll find on smaller Princess vessels.

You'll also find some only-on-the-Royal-class-ships extras, including, on some of the Royal Class ships, a glass-floored "SeaWalk" that extends over the side of the vessel.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Princess ship

Princess' smaller cruise ships also are generally its older cruise ships and lack some of the above features, which are more typical of newer ships. These smaller Princess ships have a more intimate feel, at least in the pantheon of relatively big, mass-market ships, and they hold fewer people.

While Sphere Class and Royal Class ships can hold more than 4,500 passengers with every berth full, the line's smaller vessels (particularly the relatively small Island Princess and Coral Princess) often sail with just 2,000 or so passengers on board.

That makes the smaller Princess ships a good choice for someone who wants to try Princess but isn't eager to travel with huge crowds. The smallest ships in the Princess fleet thus appeal to a subset of Princess fans who prefer more intimacy in a cruise vessel and don't mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. They are also often less expensive to sail on, on a per-day basis.

Related: Don't miss out on these Princess loyalty perks

In addition, because of their size, the smallest ships at Princess Cruises are able to operate itineraries to places that aren't as easy for big ships to visit. Not all ports in the world can handle a ship the size of Sun Princess.

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Princess Partners Launches ‘Love Line Premium Liquors’ Collection

• May 31, 2024

Princess Cruises, in collaboration with celebrities Pitbull, Jason Aldean and Romero Britto,  launched its all-new “Love Line Premium Liquors” collection. 

Debuting on the Sun Princess, the “Love Line Premium Liquors” collection features select wines and spirits, from premium vodka to organic notes of crafted wine, according to a statement.

“We are proud to partner with esteemed celebrities like Pitbull, Jason Aldean and Romero Britto to introduce the ‘Love Line Premium Liquors’ collection and deliver an exceptional selection of spirits that reflect the diverse tastes and preferences of our guests,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “The Love Line Collection is a natural extension of the elegance and sophistication found throughout our Princess ships and makes every sip a journey worth savoring.”

Highlights of the premium spirits collection include:

• Voli 305 Vodka by Pitbull
• Love Prosecco by Britto
• Melorosa Sauvignon Blanc, Red Blend and Cabernet Sauvignon by Jason Aldean

Guests booked on a Princess Premier package will enjoy the exclusive collection as part of their beverage options. 

The “Love Line Premium Liquors” collection is now available aboard the Sun Princess and will be available across the Princess fleet this summer.

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54 Ships | 122,002 Berths | $36 Billion | View

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