Princess Cruises vs Carnival: which sister line should you book?

Princess vs Carnival scorecard

Both lines belong to Carnival Corporation, but they sell different holidays. Carnival wins on price and fun; Princess wins on calm, inclusions and destinations. That puts Princess well above Carnival in our cruise line rankings, even though Carnival is our best budget line.

Strengths

Carnival: price, ports and fun. Carnival is usually the cheapest of the big U.S. lines and sails from more U.S. ports than anyone else. Burgers, tacos and pizza are free, and the Excel-class ships, such as Mardi Gras, have the BOLT roller coaster, water slides and six themed zones. The atmosphere is relaxed and party-friendly, with no pressure to dress up.

Princess: calm, packages and Alaska. Princess ships carry a mostly adult and multi-generation crowd and run quieter than Carnival’s. Its Plus package bundles drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities, and Premier adds specialty dining, photos and an excursion credit, so the real cost is easy to see. The Medallion wearable handles boarding, cabin doors and payments. In Alaska it sends eight ships in 2027, has 85 Glacier Bay calls scheduled and runs its own lodges near Denali.

Weaknesses

Carnival: crowded, noisy ships on popular sailings, more upselling and a fleet that ranges from 2023 back to 1996. Dinner is simple rather than memorable.

Princess: higher fares than Carnival, few thrills for kids and teens, and a fleet that ranges from the 2025 Star Princess back to the 1998 Grand Princess, so check which ship you’re booking. Without a package, drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities add up.

Who should pick which

• Couples and retirees: Princess, for a quieter ship and more varied itineraries.
• Multi-generation groups led by grandparents: Princess. It is our pick for multigenerational trips in the best family cruises.
• Families with kids who want slides: Carnival, our best-value family line.
• Friend groups and celebrations: Carnival, for the casual, party-friendly feel.
• Short breaks: Carnival. It dominates our 3-5 night cruise picks.
• Alaska: Princess, for Glacier Bay and land tours. Carnival is the cheapest Seattle round trip, but it doesn’t go into Glacier Bay.
• Europe: Princess. Carnival rarely sails there.

Price and what’s included

Carnival is usually the cheaper line. Princess is priced as a premium line but often sits close to the mainstream lines, and its packages close more of the gap than the headline fare suggests. Both include the main dining room, a buffet, shows, pools and kids’ clubs.

Carnival’s included casual food is more generous, but drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and the daily gratuity are all extra, and there’s no bundle that covers everything. Princess Plus bundles up to 15 drinks a day, Wi-Fi for one device, crew gratuities and four casual dining meals per cruise; if you’d buy those anyway, it usually works out cheaper than paying separately. Premier raises that to unlimited drinks, Wi-Fi for four devices and unlimited specialty dining, and adds photos, reserved theater seating and a shore excursion credit. Both are priced per person, per day. Compare totals, not fares. Our all-inclusive cruise guide explains how bundles compare.

Ships

Carnival has 29 ships, from about 2,100 to 5,300 guests. The Excel class (Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee) is the newest and biggest; Vista-class ships are the value pick. Carnival Festivale arrives in 2027 and Carnival Tropicale in 2028.

Princess has 17 ships, from about 2,000 to 4,300 guests. The Sphere-class Sun Princess and Star Princess are the newest and largest, and the six Royal-class ships, such as Regal Princess, are the modern core of the fleet. Princess ships have kids’ and teen clubs, Sun Princess has Firefly Park for toddlers and Star Princess a splash pad, but there are no water slides.

Food

Princess has the better sit-down dining: a solid main dining room and plenty of casual venues, with the most choice on Sun and Star Princess. Carnival’s strength is its free casual food, which families and groups love. On both, the best meals are in specialty restaurants that cost extra. See our guide to eating healthy on a cruise for either.

Itineraries and home ports

Caribbean and Bahamas: Carnival sails from many U.S. ports, with year-round options from Baltimore and New Orleans as well as trips from New York, and many Bahamas trips call at Celebration Key. Princess sails the Caribbean mostly from Fort Lauderdale from October to April.

Alaska: Princess is the stronger choice by far. It is one of six lines the National Park Service authorizes to enter Glacier Bay and runs cruisetours to its own Denali lodges; see our Princess Alaska guide. Carnival’s 2027 Seattle sailings visit Tracy Arm Fjord instead. Both appear in our best cruise lines for Alaska: Princess first, Carnival as the cheapest option.

Mexico: both sail from Southern California: Carnival from Long Beach and Princess from Los Angeles.

Europe, Hawaii and Canada: Princess sails the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, Hawaii round trips from California and fall Canada and New England cruises from New York and Boston. Carnival’s program is mostly closer to home.

Families and adults

Carnival is the better line for families with kids who want slides, a coaster and lots of noise. Princess works for families when the grandparents set the pace. For adults, Princess is calmer, and on ships such as Sun Princess The Sanctuary gives adults a quiet deck; Carnival is the pick for groups who want to party.

Princess Cruises vs Carnival FAQ

Is Princess better than Carnival?

For couples, retirees and Alaska, yes: calmer ships, better packages and stronger itineraries. For budget families and groups who want fun and low fares, Carnival is the better fit. Our Princess review and Carnival review grade each line in full.

Is Princess more expensive than Carnival?

Usually, yes. The gap narrows if you’d buy drinks, Wi-Fi and tips anyway, because Princess Plus bundles all three.

Are Princess and Carnival the same company?

Both are owned by Carnival Corporation & plc, which also owns Holland America Line, Cunard and others, but they run separate fleets with very different styles.

Is Princess or Carnival better for families?

Carnival for families with kids who want slides and a roller coaster; Princess for multi-generation trips where the adults want a calmer ship.

Is Princess or Carnival better for Alaska?

Princess. It goes into Glacier Bay, has eight ships in Alaska in 2027 and runs its own Denali lodges. Carnival is cheaper but doesn’t enter Glacier Bay.