Celebrity and Princess are the two largest US-market premium cruise lines, and they appeal to different sensibilities within that segment. Celebrity is the modern, design-forward option: Edge class ships feature Infinite Veranda balconies, the Magic Carpet cantilevered platform, and a culinary program with James Beard-affiliated chefs. Princess is the classic premium option: MedallionClass wearable technology, Movies Under the Stars, and the deepest Alaska program in the industry.
If you want a contemporary, design-led cruise experience with standout food and drink, Celebrity is the answer. If you want Alaska expertise, onboard tech convenience, and a more traditional premium feel, Princess is the answer.
At a glance
The spec table above pulls any numeric facts directly from our structured dataset. Where a value reads “Not published,” it means we have not independently verified that number against the line’s own page. Always confirm final policies directly with the line before booking.
What does Celebrity do better than Princess?
Celebrity wins on modern ship design, the Infinite Veranda concept, culinary programming, and The Retreat suite experience.
- Ship design. Celebrity’s Edge class is widely considered the most architecturally interesting ship class in the premium segment. The outward-facing design, floor-to-ceiling windows, and the Magic Carpet (a cantilevered platform that moves between decks) give the Edge class a distinctive look and feel.
- Infinite Veranda. Edge class balcony staterooms use a convertible design: the cabin extends to the ship’s edge with a floor-to-ceiling glass wall that opens to create a traditional open-air balcony. In closed position, the balcony space becomes part of the living area. It is genuinely clever engineering.
- Culinary program. Celebrity has partnered with multiple James Beard-affiliated chefs across its fleet. The dining experience, from main dining rooms to specialty restaurants, is generally considered a step above Princess at equivalent price points.
- The Retreat. Celebrity’s suite-class experience includes a private restaurant (Luminae), a private lounge, and a dedicated sundeck. It is a more integrated premium-within-premium experience than Princess’s suite offerings.
What does Princess do better than Celebrity?
Princess wins on Alaska expertise, MedallionClass wearable technology, US homeport breadth, and its signature Movies Under the Stars.
- Alaska. Princess is the dominant cruise line for Alaska sailings, with more Inside Passage departures from Seattle than any competitor. Princess has decades of Alaska expertise, dedicated Alaska shore excursion programming, and partnerships with Alaska-based lodge experiences. If Alaska is the point of the trip, Princess is the default choice.
- MedallionClass technology. The OceanMedallion wearable enables keyless cabin entry, on-demand food and drink delivery anywhere on the ship, and personalized wayfinding. It is available fleetwide and genuinely changes the onboard convenience level. Celebrity does not have an equivalent system.
- US homeport breadth. Princess sails from Miami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, Long Beach, and Seattle. Celebrity sails from Miami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, and Seattle. Princess offers more drive-to departure options for US travelers.
- Movies Under the Stars. Princess’s poolside outdoor cinema is a small but beloved feature across the fleet. It is a signature Princess experience that Celebrity does not replicate.
Where are Celebrity and Princess roughly equal?
Both lines have similar dress-up evening frequency, strong parent company resources, and competitive cabin quality on newer ships.
- Dress code. Both lines have designated dress-up evenings (Celebrity’s Evening Chic, Princess’s Formal Nights) with frequency scaling by sailing length. Neither is as casual as Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising, and neither is as formal as a luxury line. Expect 1-2 dressier evenings on a 7-night sailing with either line.
- Parent company resources. Celebrity is part of Royal Caribbean Group. Princess is part of Carnival Corporation. Both benefit from the resources, itinerary scale, and loyalty programs of their parent companies.
- Cabin quality on newer ships. Both lines’ newest ships (Celebrity’s Beyond/Ascent/Xcel, Princess’s Star Princess/Sun Princess Sphere class) represent a significant quality step up from their older fleets. If you are comparing new-to-new, the cabin experience is competitive.
Which one should you book?
- Book Celebrity if you want a modern, design-forward ship with the Infinite Veranda concept, a strong culinary program, or a suite experience in The Retreat.
- Book Princess if you want Alaska as your primary destination, MedallionClass wearable convenience, or a broader selection of US homeports.
- Book either if you want a premium cruise experience that sits above mainstream pricing but below luxury. Both lines deliver a refined, adult-friendly onboard experience with dress-up evenings and multiple dining venues.
What to verify before booking
- Dress code frequency. Confirm the exact number of Evening Chic (Celebrity) or Formal (Princess) nights for your specific sailing length and itinerary.
- Cabin square footage. Use our Celebrity cabin sizes and Princess cabin sizes pages to compare specific ships and cabin categories.
- Baggage policies. Celebrity follows Royal Caribbean Group guidelines (200 lb per guest, no strict piece count). Princess recommends 2 bags at 50 lb per bag. Confirm with your booking.