In the Princess vs Carnival debate, the short answer is this: choose Carnival if you want a lively, budget-friendly getaway with water slides, comedy clubs and casual food, and choose Princess if you want a calmer, more polished cruise with better long-haul itineraries, more enrichment and stronger Alaska programs. Both lines belong to Carnival Corporation, but they are built for very different vacations.
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Below we compare the ships, destinations, food, entertainment, kids clubs, packages and typical prices as they stand in late 2026, so you can match the line to the trip you actually want.
Princess vs Carnival at a Glance
| Feature | Princess Cruises | Carnival Cruise Line |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Relaxed, refined, hotel-like | High-energy, playful, social |
| Fleet size (late 2026) | 17 ships | About 29 ships |
| Newest ships | Sun Princess (2024), Star Princess (2025) | Carnival Jubilee (2023); Carnival Festivale due 2027 |
| Typical cruise length | 7 to 14+ nights | 3 to 8 nights |
| Signature destination | Alaska with cruisetours and lodges | Caribbean, Bahamas and Celebration Key |
| All-in package | Princess Plus / Princess Premier | CHEERS! drinks package (add-ons sold separately) |
| Daily gratuities (standard cabin) | $18 per person | $17 per person |
| Best for | Couples, older travelers, multi-generational trips | Families, groups of friends, first-timers on a budget |
The Ships: Big Fun vs Quiet Elegance
Carnival’s fleet
Carnival runs the largest fleet in its history, at around 29 ships. The headline vessels are the Excel-class trio of Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, each around 180,000 gross tons and carrying well over 5,000 guests. They feature BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, themed zones and a huge choice of casual eateries. Two more Excel-class ships are on the way: Carnival Festivale is scheduled for spring 2027 from Port Canaveral, followed by Carnival Tropicale in 2028.
The fleet also grew in 2025 when two former P&O Australia ships joined as Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter after P&O Cruises Australia was folded into Carnival. Carnival has since said Carnival Adventure will leave year-round Australian service in March 2028 and move to seasonal North American sailings, while Carnival Encounter stays Down Under. Older ships in the Fantasy, Spirit and Conquest classes are smaller and simpler, and often carry the lowest fares.
Princess’s fleet
Princess has 17 ships, and the stars are the Sphere-class Sun Princess (2024) and Star Princess, which debuted in October 2025. Star Princess measures about 177,800 gross tons, carries up to 4,300 guests, and offers more than 1,500 balcony cabins, The Dome entertainment space, a three-level Piazza and The Sanctuary Collection, an adults-only retreat with its own restaurant. The Royal-class ships (Royal, Regal, Majestic, Sky, Enchanted and Discovery Princess) are the backbone of the fleet, and older Grand- and Coral-class ships handle many longer and more exotic voyages.
Even the biggest Princess ships feel less hectic than Carnival’s, with more quiet corners, more wood and marble, and far fewer loud deck parties. If you want to see how Princess keeps refreshing older tonnage, read about Royal Princess’s drydock and new Sanctuary Collection.
Destinations and Itineraries
This is where the two lines differ most. Carnival sails from more US homeports than almost any other line, including Galveston, Miami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans, Long Beach, Seattle, Baltimore and New York. Most of its trips are 3- to 8-night sailings to the Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico, which makes it easy to drive to the port and cruise over a long weekend.
Carnival’s biggest new draw is Celebration Key, its private destination on Grand Bahama, which opened in July 2025. It sits alongside RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay and Isla Tropicale in Roatan in what Carnival calls its Paradise Collection. Carnival also offers Alaska, Hawaii from Long Beach, some Europe seasons and longer Carnival Journeys sailings, but those are a smaller part of the program.
Princess is a global line. It is widely seen as one of the strongest choices for Alaska, where it combines cruises with land tours and its own wilderness lodges, and it also sails extensively in Europe, Japan, Australia, the Panama Canal and on full world cruises. Typical voyages run 7 to 14 nights or more, with more sea days and more ports per trip. If you are comparing Princess with a British-style alternative for Europe, our P&O Cruises vs Princess Cruises comparison is worth a look.
Food and Dining
Carnival: casual favorites done well
Carnival’s complimentary food is a big part of its appeal. Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina for tacos and burritos, deli counters, pizza and a solid Lido buffet keep everyone fed around the clock. Main dining rooms serve multi-course dinners, and the 2026 “Next Course” refresh brought updated menus, pop-up concepts and mobile coffee ordering. Paid options include Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Bonsai Teppanyaki, JiJi Asian Kitchen and Cucina del Capitano.
Princess: more refined, more traditional
Princess puts more emphasis on the main dining room, with traditional multi-course dinners and the option of fixed-time or flexible dining. Free favorites include Alfredo’s Pizzeria, the International Cafe in the Piazza and the World Fresh Marketplace buffet. Specialty restaurants include Crown Grill steakhouse and Sabatini’s Italian, while the Sphere-class ships add extra venues such as Umai Teppanyaki and more Sanctuary Collection dining for suite guests. Many cruisers rate Princess’s ingredients and presentation a step above Carnival’s, though Carnival tends to win on fun, fast casual food.
Activities and Entertainment
Carnival is built for action. Expect WaterWorks water parks, SkyRide on some ships, mini golf, ropes courses, the Punchliner Comedy Club, Playlist Productions shows, karaoke, deck parties and themed events like the Dr. Seuss Green Eggs and Ham breakfast. The ships stay busy late into the night, and the casinos and bars are central to the experience.
Princess focuses on quality over quantity. Highlights include production shows in the Princess Theater, Movies Under the Stars on giant poolside screens, live jazz and string trios in the Piazza, enrichment talks, and Discovery at Sea programming with Discovery and BBC Earth. On Sun Princess and Star Princess, The Dome hosts acrobatic shows, while Spellbound by Magic Castle offers close-up magic. You will find a casino and nightlife, but they are not the focus.
Kids Clubs and Family Facilities
Both lines welcome children, but Carnival is more family-focused. Camp Ocean caters to ages 2 to 11 in three groups, Circle “C” is for ages 12 to 14 and Club O2 for 15 to 17. Night Owls offers late-evening group babysitting for a fee, and the water slides, Dr. Seuss activities and casual food keep children busy.
Princess runs Camp Discovery, split into The Treehouse (ages 3 to 7), Shockwaves (8 to 12) and Remix (13 to 17). Activities lean towards science, nature and outdoor learning, including Junior Ranger programs in Alaska. Princess ships have fewer slides and thrill features, so active kids and teens may prefer Carnival, while families traveling with grandparents often find Princess a happier middle ground.
Price and Packages: Is Princess More Expensive Than Carnival?
On base fares, Carnival is usually cheaper. Short Bahamas trips can start from a few hundred dollars per person, and 7-night Caribbean cruises in an interior cabin are often among the lowest prices at sea; see our guide to the cheapest 7-day cruises out of Florida. Princess fares for a similar week typically start higher, and Alaska or Europe pricing rises further in peak season. Prices change constantly, so treat these as ballpark guides rather than quotes.
The gap narrows once extras are added. Here is how the main add-ons compare as of November 2026:
- Princess Plus: $70 per person per day ($75 on Sun and Star Princess). Includes up to 15 drinks a day valued up to $15 each, four casual specialty meals, crew appreciation (gratuities) and Wi-Fi for one device.
- Princess Premier: $105 per person per day ($110 on Sun and Star Princess). Adds unlimited drinks up to $20 each, unrestricted specialty dining, Wi-Fi for up to four devices and up to $300 in shore excursion credit.
- Carnival CHEERS!: around $69.95 per person per day pre-cruise plus a 20% service charge, covering alcoholic drinks only. Gratuities ($17 per person per day in standard cabins) and Wi-Fi are extra. From December 1, 2026, Carnival is moving to dynamic pricing for drinks packages and Wi-Fi, so prices will vary by sailing length, itinerary and season.
The useful takeaway many comparisons miss: if you plan to drink, use Wi-Fi and want gratuities covered, a Princess Plus fare can end up closer to a Carnival fare than the brochure prices suggest. If you drink little and skip specialty dining, Carnival is almost always the better value.
Princess or Carnival: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Carnival if you:
- Want a short, affordable break from a nearby US port
- Are traveling with active kids, teens or a group of friends
- Love water slides, comedy, deck parties and casual food
- Want to visit Celebration Key
Choose Princess if you:
- Are planning Alaska, Europe, Asia or a longer voyage
- Prefer a quieter ship, traditional dining and enrichment
- Like the idea of bundling drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities into one package
- Are cruising as a couple or with several generations
Whichever line suits you, compare current fares before you book. Our roundup of cruise deals for 2027 is a good place to start, and you can check live itineraries on the Princess Cruises and Carnival websites.
FAQs
Is Princess better than Carnival?
Neither is better overall. Princess suits travelers who want a calmer, more refined cruise and longer itineraries, while Carnival is better for budget-friendly, high-energy trips with plenty for kids.
Is Princess more expensive than Carnival?
Usually, yes, on base fares. However, Princess Plus bundles drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities, so the total cost difference can be smaller than it first appears.
Are Princess and Carnival owned by the same company?
Yes. Both are brands of Carnival Corporation, along with Holland America Line, Cunard, P&O Cruises, Costa, AIDA and Seabourn.
Which line is better for families with kids?
Carnival generally wins for families thanks to water parks, Camp Ocean, teen clubs and casual dining. Princess’s Camp Discovery is good for younger children and multi-generational groups who want a quieter ship.
What are the newest Princess cruise ships?
The newest Princess cruise ships are the Sphere-class Sun Princess, launched in 2024, and Star Princess, which entered service in October 2025.
