Virgin Voyages vs Princess 2026: Modern Adults-Only or Classic Premium with MedallionClass?

Virgin Voyages and Princess Cruises represent a generational divide in cruising. Virgin Voyages launched in 2021 as the anti-traditional-cruise brand: adults-only, no buffet, no formal nights, 20+ included restaurants, and a vibe that borrows from boutique hotels and music festivals. Princess Cruises has been sailing since 1965, built its reputation on The Love Boat era, and continues to deliver a classic premium product with MedallionClass technology, formal evenings, Movies Under the Stars, and the deepest Alaska program in the industry.

These lines attract very different travelers. Virgin appeals to adults who tried cruising and found it too stuffy, or who never tried it because they assumed it would be. Princess appeals to travelers who enjoy the traditional cruise rhythm of enrichment lectures, dress-up nights, and destination-focused itineraries.

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 Virgin Voyages do better than Princess?

Virgin wins on dining inclusion, adults-only exclusivity, dress-code freedom, nightlife, and a younger onboard energy.

• All dining included. Virgin includes 20+ restaurants in the base fare with no upcharges. Princess includes main dining rooms and the Marketplace Buffet but charges extra for specialty venues like Crown Grill, Sabatini’s, and the Chef’s Table. A couple dining at two specialty restaurants on Princess adds $80 to $150 to their sailing cost.
• Adults-only guarantee. Every Virgin ship is 18+ on every sailing. Princess welcomes families and runs kids programming on most sailings, especially during summer and holidays.
• No formal nights. Virgin has no dress code of any kind. Princess runs formal nights on sailings of 7 or more nights. This is a dealbreaker for travelers who specifically want to avoid packing dress clothes.
• Nightlife. Virgin’s ships feature The Manor nightclub, Scarlet Night parties, and late-night DJ sets that run well past midnight. Princess’s evening entertainment skews toward lounges, Movies Under the Stars, and production shows. If after-midnight energy matters, Virgin delivers more of it.
• Younger demographic. Virgin’s median passenger age skews lower than Princess’s. If traveling with a partner in your 20s or 30s and wanting to meet similar travelers, Virgin’s atmosphere is a better match.

What does Princess do better than Virgin Voyages?

Princess wins on Alaska, itinerary breadth, MedallionClass technology, fleet size, and destination enrichment programming.

• Alaska dominance. Princess is the preeminent Alaska cruise line with more Inside Passage departures from Seattle than any competitor, Gulf of Alaska crossings, and land-and-sea packages that include Denali rail journeys and wilderness lodges. Virgin Voyages entered Alaska in 2025 with Brilliant Lady only.
• MedallionClass. Princess’s OceanMedallion wearable device enables keyless entry, on-demand delivery anywhere on the ship, and personalized wayfinding. It is one of the most advanced onboard technology systems available. Virgin uses a smartphone app for cabin access and ordering, which works well but is not as seamless as a dedicated wearable.
• Fleet size. Princess sails 17 ships across Sphere and Royal classes to the Caribbean, Alaska, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Asia, Australia, and world cruise itineraries. Virgin’s four ships offer far fewer departure dates and destinations.
• Star Princess and Sphere class. The 2025-launched Star Princess is a 177,882 GT ship with a 360-degree glass Piazza. It represents Princess’s most modern ship design and competes on design quality with newer ships from any line.
• Destination enrichment. Princess invests in port-focused programming with local expert lectures, cultural workshops, and destination-themed dining menus. Virgin’s port programming is less developed.

Where are Virgin Voyages and Princess roughly equal?

Both lines sit in the premium price tier, offer Caribbean sailings from Florida, and invest in onboard design.

• Price tier. Base fares for comparable balcony cabins on newer ships are in a similar range. Virgin’s included dining and Princess’s MedallionClass perks make total cost comparisons sailing-specific.
• Caribbean routes. Both sail from Florida to the Bahamas and Caribbean with overlapping ports on some itineraries.
• Ship design investment. Both lines have invested in design on their newest vessels. Star Princess’s Sphere class and Virgin’s Lady class are both modern, well-appointed ships, even though the aesthetic philosophies differ substantially.

Which one should you book?

• Book Virgin Voyages if you are adults-only travelers who want included dining, no formal nights, and a ship that feels like a design hotel with a nightclub.
• Book Princess if you want Alaska expertise, MedallionClass technology, a wider range of global itineraries, or a traditional premium cruise experience with enrichment programming.
• Book Celebrity instead if you want a premium adult-leaning product with Edge class design but more destinations than Virgin. See our Celebrity vs Princess comparison.

What to verify before booking

• Age policy on Virgin Voyages: every guest must be 18+.
• Ship assignment on Princess. A 2025 Star Princess and an older Coral class ship deliver different experiences.
• Alaska itinerary details on Princess including land-and-sea package options and rail schedules.
• MedallionClass features available on your specific Princess ship, since some older ships have limited functionality.

Bottom line

Virgin Voyages is for adults who want modern dining, no dress code, and no children. Princess is for travelers who value destination depth, Alaska expertise, and a refined traditional cruise experience enhanced by MedallionClass technology. These lines are rarely competing for the same booking, and the right choice depends more on your travel philosophy than on any single feature comparison.