Holland America vs. Princess: Which premium cruise line must you select?

For those who take pleasure in a big-ship expertise however want that your vessel’s sundeck not resemble a water park, then each Holland America Line and Princess Cruises needs to be in your quick record.

Each manufacturers are thought-about premium cruise strains attributable to their extra refined atmosphere and deal with adult-focused areas and actions. Each Princess and Holland America have fashionable fleets, numerous culinary packages and world itineraries that enchantment primarily to mature {couples}, though you may additionally discover some households and multigenerational teams on board throughout college vacation intervals. The strains are additionally identified for providing good worth, particularly on longer voyages, and embracing a extra traditional type of cruising.

These similarities are juxtaposed in opposition to just a few variations — amongst them the MedallionClass wearable expertise (to unlock cabin doorways, order meals and extra) and app now used on all Princess ships, which vacationers might or might not love relying on their affinity for expertise. Holland America additionally has an app however nonetheless makes use of traditional keycards.

As you weigh reserving a cruise on Holland America versus Princess, here is what you want to know.

Dimension of Holland America vs. Princess ships

Each cruise strains function principally large- and medium-size ships, accommodating between 2,000 and three,600 visitors at double occupancy. In contrast to Holland America, Princess lately entered the megaship class with the February 2024 debut of 4,300-passenger Solar Princess. On common, Princess vessels are bigger than Holland America’s, and the cruise line additionally has extra ships in its fleet than Holland America.

Princess at the moment operates 16 ships, with a seventeenth, Star Princess (the Sphere Class sister of Solar Princess), set to debut in late 2025. Different ship lessons at a look are:

• Six Royal Class ships launched from 2013 to 2022 and carrying 3,560 to three,660 passengers
• Seven Grand Class ships launched from 1998 to 2008 and carrying 2,600 to three,080 passengers
• Two unclassified ships: 2,000-passenger Coral Princess and a pair of,200-passenger Island Princess, each launched in 2003

Holland America’s fleet at the moment numbers 11 ships and consists of:

• Three Pinnacle Class ships launched from 2016 to 2021 and carrying about 2,660 passengers
• Two Signature Class ships launched in 2008 and 2010 and carrying about 2,100 passengers
• 4 Vista Class ships launched from 2002 to 2006 and carrying about 1,900 passengers
• Two R Class ships launched in 1999 and 2000 and carrying 1,432 passengers

Cabins and suites on Princess Cruises vs. Holland America

For those who’re the type of traveler who feels overwhelmed when confronted with too many selections, reserving a cabin or suite on both Holland America or Princess ought to show comparatively stress-free. If, then again, you are a fan of cruise ship suites with designer decor and tantalizing extras, you would be disillusioned. The lodging on each cruise strains’ ships — aside from some newer suite classes on Solar Princess — are comparatively simple.

All Holland America ships supply windowless inside cabins and ocean-view rooms with a window. Most even have cabins that includes non-public balconies, aside from Volendam and Zaandam, which don’t. Cabins in these three normal classes vary from 140 to 228 sq. toes.

All through the lessons, completely different suite varieties, together with Vista Suites, Signature Suites, Neptune Suites and Pinnacle Suites that vary from 260 to 1,290 sq. toes, are discovered. Solely Pinnacle Suites function non-public whirlpools on the balconies. Volendam and Zaandam do have Vista and Neptune suites regardless of missing normal balcony cabins.

Volendam additionally options distinctive Lanai cabins that supply direct entry to the general public Promenade Deck through sliding glass doorways.

Decor all through Holland America’s ships ranges from conventional to up to date or a mix thereof. Cabins and suites on the brand new Pinnacle Class ships function muted impartial hues and well-designed bogs with spacious glass-enclosed showers. Older ships nonetheless principally function smaller nook bathe stalls with bathe curtains within the bogs, whereas some function bathtub/bathe combos with bathe curtains. Suites have separate showers and whirlpool tubs.

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On Princess, cabin and suite classes are fairly normal throughout the fleet — aside from the brand new Sphere Class, which has added a number of new choices. Most Princess vessels function inside (158 to 162 sq. toes), ocean-view (146 to 206 sq. toes) and balcony cabins (214 to 222 sq. toes). Royal Class ships additionally function Deluxe Balcony rooms (223 to 279 sq. toes) and Premium Oceanview rooms (172 sq. toes).

Mini-Suites, which can be found on all Princess ships, are 304 to 323 sq. toes; every incorporates a separate sitting and sleeping space, in addition to a bigger toilet with a full-size tub and a separate bathe. Reserve Assortment Mini-Suites include a premium location and further facilities reminiscent of a bottle of wine upon arrival, night canapes, precedence specialty restaurant reservations and Reserve Eating in an unique space of the principle eating room with no reservations required and a day by day chef’s particular on the menu.

Princess’ traditional suite choices vary from 440 to 1,500 sq. toes, relying on the ship. The cruise line’s most indulgent suite, the 1,873-square-foot Sky Suite, options an expansive balcony and is obtainable on three Royal Class ships — Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess. A smaller (1,262-square-foot) model is discovered on the brand new Sphere Class ships. Sphere Class ships additionally supply Grand Suites, Signature Suites, Vista Suites and Cabana Mini-Suites.

Cabin and suite decor on Princess ships that predate its Royal Class has a conventional really feel with midtone wooden accents and a beige and blue colour palette. Cabin interiors on Royal Class ships are a bit extra up to date and have floor-to-ceiling tufted headboards and dressing areas/closets off of the bogs.

Commonplace cabin bogs on all Princess ships, aside from Sphere Class, function a considerably comfortable nook bathe with a bathe curtain. Staterooms on Solar Princess, nevertheless, do function bigger showers with glass doorways. A sequence of closets alongside the wall as you enter the cabin have changed the closet/dressing space of Royal Class ships.

Princess additionally debuted a brand new Sanctuary Assortment idea with Solar Princess that provides elevated facilities to visitors who guide a Sanctuary Suite, Sanctuary Mini-Suite or Sanctuary Balcony. These embody unique entry to the adults-only Sanctuary Membership with its pool, bar and wellness lessons, in addition to to an unique Sanctuary Assortment restaurant and Sanctuary Lounge. Sanctuary Membership visitors additionally benefit from the all-inclusive perks of the road’s Princess Premier program (Wi-Fi, crew gratuities and limitless premium spirits and specialty eating).

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Food and drinks on Princess vs. Holland America

Holland America and Princess every supply a mixture of complimentary eating and extra-charge specialty eating places — though Princess has launched a wider choice on its latest ships.

For complimentary meals in the principle eating room, Holland America affords each set-seating eating (at 5:45 and eight p.m.) and versatile open-seating eating (reservations may be made any time between 5:15 and 9 p.m.).

Princess affords Customized Eating, which permits passengers to customise eating instances and venues daily through the Princess Cruises app. Company can select Conventional (early or late seating), Reservable or Stroll-in Anytime. With the app, passengers may use OceanNow to order meals objects from a room-service-style menu (it consists of pizza and drinks, in addition to objects from choose specialty eating places) and have them delivered anyplace on board.

Holland America’s eating venues are pretty normal throughout its 11 vessels, though the road’s older vessels supply fewer choices than its two latest lessons of ships. Complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner are supplied within the Eating Room and buffet-style Lido Market. Company may take pleasure in Dive-In for burgers and scorching canine and New York Pizza for thin-crust private pies.

Holland America affords 5 specialty restaurant ideas: Pinnacle Grill for steaks and seafood, Rudi’s Sel de Mer for French brasserie classics and seafood, Tamarind for pan-Asian specialties, Nami Sushi for Japanese delicacies and Canaletto for Italian specialties. Cowl expenses vary from $35 to $55 per individual.

Two different added-cost venues on the three latest Pinnacle Class ships are Grand Dutch Cafe for savory snacks impressed by the Netherlands and Gelato for Italian ice cream.

Holland America additionally has a World Contemporary Fish program to regionally supply 80 styles of seafood. This system’s ambassador is chef Masaharu Morimoto, who has additionally developed a stand-alone Morimoto by Sea eatery on Nieuw Amsterdam and a pop-up, extra-charge eating idea in Tamarind or Pinnacle Grill on all different ships.

On Princess ships, complimentary eating venues for breakfast, lunch and dinner are the principle eating room and the buffet-style World Contemporary Market (often called Horizon Court docket or The Eatery on choose ships). Different informal eating choices are takeaway pizza by the slice, grilled burgers and scorching canine, and 24-hour sandwiches and pastries at Worldwide Cafe. These searching for a candy deal with will discover The Pastry Store within the buffet venue, in addition to complimentary comfortable serve ice cream on the pool deck.

Specialty eating venues on Princess ships embody Crown Grill for steaks and seafood, Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria for contemporary pasta and genuine Italian specialties, The Catch by Rudi for sustainable seafood, Churrascaria for Brazilian-style grilled meats, Chef’s Desk for a multicourse dinner with wine pairings, O’Malley’s Irish Pub for informal pub fare, Alfredo’s or Gigi’s Pizzeria for made-to-order Neapolitan pizza, Crab Shack for informal seafood (on Alaska sailings) and Kai Sushi for conventional Japanese sushi.

Not each ship has each specialty restaurant, however most function Crown Grill, Sabatini’s and Alfredo’s or Gigi’s Pizzeria together with one or two extra extra-cost eating venues.

Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess each function 360: An Extraordinary Expertise (a seven-course, wine-paired dinner with a wraparound LED display and interactive tabletops), whereas Solar Princess debuted a number of new restaurant ideas. These embody Umai Teppanyaki, Makoto Ocean with sushi by Makoto Okuwa, The Butcher’s Block by Dario for family-style grilled favorites, Spellbound for experiential eating in partnership with The Magic Citadel, and Love by Britto for an imaginative prix-fixe menu created by chef Rudi Sodamin in partnership with artist Romero Britto.

Cowl expenses for Princess specialty eating places vary from $15 to $149 per individual; Princess additionally affords Princess Premier cruise fares that embody limitless specialty eating and limitless premium drinks.

Questioning about drinks? Each strains supply loads of bars and lounges to order cocktails and drinks and socialize with different visitors. Commonplace cruise fares on each strains don’t embody soda, beer, wine, blended cocktails and spirits, however beverage packages can be found.

Children actions on Holland America vs. Princess

Whereas neither Holland America nor Princess goes after the household cruise enterprise the best way its mainstream rivals do, each do welcome households — with Princess having fairly a bit extra to supply children and youths, particularly on its newer ships.

All Holland America ships function Children Membership, a supervised youth actions program for kids ages 3 to 17. Actions for teenagers ages 3 to six embody video games, crafts and theme events. Tweens (ages 7 to 11) can take part in gaming occasions, sports activities competitions and theme events, whereas packages for teenagers (ages 12 to 17) deal with sports activities challenges and online game tournaments.

In relation to children, Princess mixes schooling and enjoyable. Its ships function Discovery at SEA, a partnership with the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet that provides onboard programming impressed by all the things from “Shark Week” and “Deadliest Catch” to “MythBusters.”

There is a Camp Discovery youth program with devoted areas for teenagers ages 3 to 7 and eight to 12 and a Seashore Home teen lounge for these ages 13 to 17.

Daytime actions focus on discovering and studying about wildlife and the planet, in addition to arts and crafts, studying challenges and sports activities occasions. Princess ships additionally supply family-friendly nighttime actions reminiscent of stargazing and Films Underneath the Stars.

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Onboard sights on Princess Cruises vs. Holland America

For those who’re trying to be dazzled by innovation or excited by an adrenaline rush, Holland America and Princess ships will probably be a letdown. That is to not say that every cruise line would not have onboard sights price bragging about.

All of the ships in each cruise strains’ fleets have at the very least two swimming pools (together with some vessels with swimming pools that includes retractable roofs), a on line casino, spa and health areas, and quite a lot of leisure areas, from piano bars and jazz golf equipment to multimedia theaters.

Holland America ships are identified for his or her multimillion-dollar artwork collections that vary from museum-quality work and sculptures on its older vessels to a daring fashionable artwork assortment valued at $4.1 million on its latest ship, Rotterdam.

Holland America can also be the official cruise line accomplice of the Skilled Pickleball Affiliation, and every of its ships options pickleball courts and affords newbie classes in addition to tournaments. Water lovers can take pleasure in a swim whether or not the climate is cooperating or not since all ships function swimming pools with retractable roofs.

The star sights on Princess ships are primarily its social gathering spots. A lot of its ships have a grand centerpiece atrium often called the Piazza (impressed by the piazzas of Italy), the place passengers will discover bars and eateries, shimmering decor, a spiral staircase and glass-walled elevators. Company may take pleasure in quite a lot of reside leisure right here.

Exterior, Princess’ Royal Class vessels function SeaWalk, a 60-foot-long glass-floored walkway that’s cantilevered out over the aspect of the ship. Solar Princess launched The Dome, a glass-enclosed leisure and pool space impressed by the structure of Santorini, Greece. Sphere Class ships additionally function the Princess Area, the cruise line’s most technologically superior leisure area.

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Leisure on Holland America vs. Princess Cruises

You will not discover full-scale Broadway productions on board both cruise line’s ships, however each Holland America and Princess supply quite a lot of world-class leisure choices.

Holland America has constructed its night leisure round a trio of music venues — Billboard Onboard (that includes dueling pianos with principally pop playlists from numerous a long time), Rolling Stone Lounge (the place bands play traditional rock) and B.B. King’s Blues Membership (for jazzy R&B and soul performances by a multipiece band). They’re all featured on Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam and are supplied in numerous combos on the road’s 9 different ships.

Leisure can also be the centerpiece of the World Stage theater, which is the setting for nighttime music and dance performances in addition to daytime talks and displays. On the three Pinnacle Class ships, the theater incorporates a two-story panoramic LED display used for digital backdrops and video programming.

The nightly leisure on board Princess ships ranges from outside Films Underneath the Stars on the principle pool deck (full with popcorn) and rousing piano music by request in Crooners to full-scale musical manufacturing exhibits and “Deal or No Deal”- and “The Voice”-inspired sport exhibits and competitions within the Princess Theater or The Area (on Solar Princess). The Piazza can also be the setting for reside road leisure (acrobats and jugglers), whereas the Princess Dwell! studio has a day by day lineup of speak exhibits, demonstrations and performances.

Who’s on board Holland America and Princess cruises?

Holland America and Princess each depend {couples} as their core demographic, providing itineraries to the most well-liked cruise locations. Each are additionally Alaska specialists, with a number of ships crusing there through the season.

Whereas Holland America’s Alaska sailings do enchantment to a extra multigenerational and extra lively demographic, its ships tend to draw barely older {couples} ages 60 and up. That is very true on the cruise line’s longer itineraries that usually sail spherical journey from U.S. ports to the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and South America.

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You may discover that older demographic on Princess, too, however the cruise line additionally has a fair proportion of pre-retirement-age {couples} and even honeymooners — in spite of everything, it continues to embrace its “The Love Boat” heritage and affords a preferred weddings and celebrations program. This goes hand in hand with the truth that Princess extra closely leans into locations reminiscent of Mexico, the Pacific and Asia/Japan.

Associated: The last word information to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries

What you will not discover on both cruise line is an overabundance of youngsters. Sure, households are welcome, and all Holland America and Princess ships have a children membership program. That stated, neither cruise line affords the top-deck waterslides or kid-friendly aqua parks of mainstream megaships by Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Carnival, so their enchantment to households is extra restricted.

You may anticipate to come across essentially the most households — together with multigenerational teams — throughout July and August and over winter vacation intervals. One other good basic rule for each cruise strains is that the longer the cruise, the older the onboard median age.

Backside line: Holland America vs. Princess

These two premium cruise strains each supply good worth, a choice of eating choices, world itineraries and a couple-centric atmosphere.

Select Holland America for those who’d want to cruise on a barely smaller ship (usually 500 to 1,000 fewer folks than equally aged Princess ships) with a principally older crowd, pickleball and a terrific lineup of reside music. Select Princess if you would like to sail on a bigger ship amongst {couples} of all ages with the next proportion of households and an emphasis on stage productions and interactive leisure.

Itineraries are an element, too, with Holland America providing a larger variety of longer journeys (21 days or extra) and Princess that includes a wider choice of sailings within the four- to 10-night vary.

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