Princess and Holland America, both owned by Carnival Corporation, offer similar Alaska itineraries with key differences. Princess provides younger crowd appeal, larger ships, and more onboard activities. Holland America caters to older travelers with refined service, enrichment programs, and culinary excellence. Princess offers better value, while Holland America emphasizes traditional elegance and cultural immersion.
Quick Facts Comparison
| Feature | Princess | Holland America |
|---|---|---|
| Average Passenger Age | 50-60 | 60-70 |
| Ship Size | 2,000-3,600 passengers | 1,400-2,650 passengers |
| Price Point | Moderate | Moderate to Premium |
| Dress Code | Relaxed (1-2 formal nights) | Traditional (2-3 formal nights) |
| Onboard Atmosphere | Casual and flexible | Refined and structured |
| Specialty Dining Surcharge | $29-49 per person | $35-59 per person |
Want to know more about Alaska cruise lines and their unique offerings?
Ship Size and Passenger Experience
Princess operates some of the largest vessels in Alaska waters. The Royal Princess and Majestic Princess carry over 3,000 passengers and pack in amenities like multiple dining venues, theaters, and the signature Movies Under the Stars poolside screen. If you’re considering different vessel options, understanding the ship size guide for Alaska cruises helps clarify what to expect.
Holland America takes a different approach with mid-sized ships that feel more intimate. The Noordam and Koningsdam accommodate fewer passengers, which means shorter lines for disembarkation and less crowded viewing decks when a humpback whale suddenly breaches next to the ship. The debate between small versus big ship Alaska cruises often comes down to personal preference for space versus intimacy.
Insider Tip on Ship Selection
Princess passengers often gravitate toward the aft cabins for the wake views, but here’s what most don’t know: Holland America’s Vista-class ships have a unique wrap-around promenade deck that’s partially enclosed with floor-to-ceiling windows. On rainy Alaskan days, you can still walk laps and watch for wildlife without getting soaked.
Onboard Activities and Entertainment
Princess delivers variety with their North to Alaska program featuring local experts, naturalists, and the Glacier Bay National Park rangers who board the ship. You’ll find active options like fitness classes, trivia contests, and the Princess Watercolor art program where you can paint Alaskan landscapes.
Holland America distinguishes itself through BBC Earth Experiences with immersive documentaries and expert-led talks about glaciers, marine ecosystems, and indigenous cultures. Their Explorations Central (EXC) program offers cooking demonstrations by culinary council chefs and Digital Workshop powered by Windows where you can learn photo editing to enhance those glacier shots.
Entertainment Differences
- Princess features Broadway-style production shows and recent movie releases under the stars
- Holland America offers Lincoln Center Stage classical performances and Billboard Onboard musicians
- Princess has casinos with more slot machines and table games
- Holland America emphasizes the Music Walk with dedicated venues for different genres
Dining Experience Breakdown
Both lines include main dining room meals, buffet options, and specialty restaurants for an upcharge. Princess keeps things straightforward with Anytime Dining or Traditional Fixed Seating. Their Crown Grill steakhouse and Sabatini’s Italian restaurant offer solid choices without breaking the bank.
Holland America elevates the culinary game with their Culinary Council featuring renowned chefs who design menus. The Pinnacle Grill steakhouse sources premium ingredients, and their Indonesian Rijsttafel dinner showcases the line’s Dutch heritage. The Dining Room service on Holland America feels more formal with attentive waitstaff who remember your preferences after the first night.
Hidden Dining Gems
Princess’s International Café serves complimentary specialty coffees and pastries all day, which most passengers overlook while heading to the buffet. Holland America’s Explorations Café offers similar treats but with a more curated selection of Dutch stroopwafels and Indonesian snacks that you won’t find on other lines.
Shore Excursions and Port Experience
Both cruise lines visit the same popular ports like Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. Princess typically offers more budget-friendly excursion options and works with larger tour operators, which means bigger group sizes but lower prices. You’ll find everything from $50 wildlife viewing tours to $500 helicopter glacier landings.
Holland America partners with more boutique tour operators and limits group sizes. Their Explorations Ashore (EXC) tours focus on deeper cultural immersion, like spending time with Tlingit artisans or visiting family-run fishing operations. These experiences cost more but deliver a less rushed, more personal connection to Alaska. For travelers weighing options, comparing budget versus luxury Alaska cruise experiences clarifies where money is best spent.
Value and Pricing Considerations
Princess generally offers better overall value for your Alaska cruise dollar. Their base fares run lower and promotional deals appear more frequently. The Princess Plus package bundles WiFi, beverages, and gratuities for a reasonable flat rate. When planning expenses, reviewing the full breakdown of Alaska cruise costs prevents budget surprises.
Holland America positions itself slightly higher on the pricing spectrum. You’re paying for that refined atmosphere, smaller ship experience, and elevated service standards. Their Have It All package includes similar perks but at a premium price point. If you value traditional cruise elegance and don’t mind spending extra, Holland America delivers on that promise.
Money-Saving Secrets
- Princess frequently runs “free upgrades” promotions where interior bookings get bumped to oceanview
- Holland America’s past passenger Mariner Society benefits kick in faster than Princess’s loyalty program
- Both lines offer reduced deposits during Wave Season but Princess discounts tend to be deeper
- Booking shore excursions independently in ports like Skagway can save 30-40% on both lines
Who Should Choose Which Line
Choose Princess Cruises for Alaska if you:
- Want more onboard activity options and entertainment variety
- Prefer flexible dining times and casual dress codes
- Travel with multiple generations including teenagers
- Value getting the most amenities for your budget
- Like larger ships with more public spaces to explore
Choose Holland America for Alaska if you:
- Appreciate traditional cruise formality and refined service
- Enjoy enrichment programs and cultural deep dives
- Prefer smaller ships with less crowded venues
- Want elevated culinary experiences worth the upcharge
- Don’t mind spending more for a polished, elegant atmosphere
Stateroom and Accommodation Differences
Princess balconies tend to be slightly larger, and their Mini-Suite category offers excellent value with a sitting area and extra storage. The beds are comfortable but standard cruise fare.
Holland America cabins feel more European in design with rich wood tones and nautical touches. Their Signature Suites include Explorations Bed by Sealy, premium mattresses that actually make a difference after a long day of excursions. The bathrooms on Holland America ships feature better lighting and slightly more counter space, which matters when two people are getting ready for formal night.
Bonus Tips Most Cruise Guides Won’t Tell You
- Both lines restrict certain balcony cabins during glacier viewing in Glacier Bay due to safety regulations, but nobody mentions this when booking
- Princess’s Sanctuary adults-only retreat costs $20-40 per day but includes attendant service, light bites, and the best unobstructed views during scenic cruising
- Holland America’s Explorations Speaker Series includes National Park Service rangers on certain sailings, offering insights you can’t get on shore excursions
- The best whale watching happens from Deck 7 forward on Princess ships and Deck 4 promenade on Holland America vessels
- Both cruise lines allow you to bring two bottles of wine per stateroom at embarkation with no corkage fee in the main dining room
- Princess tends to sail closer to shore during Inside Passage transits, offering slightly better wildlife spotting opportunities
- Holland America’s thermal suite in the Greenhouse Spa is less crowded than Princess’s and maintains a more peaceful atmosphere
Common Questions and FAQ
Do both cruise lines visit Glacier Bay National Park?
Yes, but not every sailing includes Glacier Bay. Both Princess and Holland America require special permits from the National Park Service, which limits daily entries. When comparing itineraries, verify Glacier Bay is specifically listed rather than just “scenic glacier viewing” which might mean Hubbard Glacier or other alternatives. Glacier Bay sailings command higher prices but deliver the most dramatic ice formations and wildlife encounters.
How do the Kids Clubs compare for families?
Princess operates more robust youth programs with dedicated counselors and age-appropriate activities for kids 3-17. Holland America offers Club HAL but with fewer staff and limited hours, clearly signaling their preference for adult travelers. If you’re bringing grandchildren, Princess makes more sense unless the kids are mature teenagers who enjoy enrichment activities over typical cruise kids’ programming.
Which line handles Alaska’s unpredictable weather better?
Both cruise lines have experienced captains who navigate Alaska waters regularly, but Holland America’s smaller ships can sometimes access narrower fjords and waterways that larger Princess vessels cannot. During rough weather in the Gulf of Alaska, mid-sized Holland America ships experience less motion than Princess’s mega-ships. That said, both lines sail the same basic routes and deal with identical weather patterns, so stabilizers and your personal seasickness tolerance matter more than cruise line choice.
Can I switch ships between the same cruise line mid-itinerary?
No, you cannot switch ships mid-cruise. However, both Princess and Holland America offer back-to-back sailings where you can book consecutive cruises, sometimes with a discount. These longer combinations let you see more of Alaska but require you to disembark, handle your own luggage transfer, and re-board following the next cruise’s embarkation procedures.
Do loyalty program benefits from one line transfer to the other?
Despite both belonging to Carnival Corporation, Princess’s Captain’s Circle and Holland America’s Mariner Society remain separate programs. Your status and benefits do not transfer between lines. This frustrates frequent cruisers who split their Alaska trips between both brands, but each program offers distinct perks tailored to that line’s passenger preferences.
Personal Experience
When I was planning my Alaska cruise, I spent weeks going back and forth between Princess and Holland America. Both lines had incredible itineraries through the Inside Passage, but the differences became clear once I dug into the details. Princess felt more relaxed and family-friendly, with flexible dining times and excursions that ranged from budget-friendly to splurge-worthy. Holland America had this refined, traditional vibe that appealed to me too, though their pricing ran a bit higher across the board. What really helped me decide was comparing the shore excursions – Princess offered more variety at different price points, while Holland America’s tours felt more curated and intimate, with smaller group sizes.
After talking to friends who’d sailed both lines, the dining experiences stood out as another key difference. Princess gave me options – whether I wanted a casual buffet or a sit-down dinner, everything was pretty straightforward. Holland America’s cuisine had more of a gourmet touch, especially in their specialty restaurants, but you’re paying extra for most of those premium experiences. In the end, I went with Princess because the overall value matched what I wanted to spend, and the onboard atmosphere felt more easygoing. Both lines will get you to those stunning glaciers and charming ports, so it really comes down to whether you prefer a more laid-back adventure or something with a touch more elegance.