Holland America vs Princess Cruise Lines: Which Is Better?

By Brian Dohrn | Dohrn Travels | Holland America vs Princess Cruise Lines

Holland America and Princess can look similar at first. Both sail Alaska and the Caribbean and sit in a similar price range, but Holland America vs Princess Cruise Lines feels very different once you compare the ships, onboard experience, dining, and packages.

I’ve sailed Holland America myself, so that side includes firsthand experience. For Princess, I’m using current ship details, itineraries, and package information to keep the comparison balanced.

When comparing Holland America vs Princess Cruise Lines, I’d focus on ship size, itinerary, onboard atmosphere, and overall value. Those are the differences most likely to affect your trip.

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Quick Verdict: Holland America vs Princess Cruise Lines

Holland America is the better fit if you want a quieter cruise on a mid-size ship with more focus on the destinations you’re visiting. Princess is a better choice if you prefer a bigger ship with more entertainment, activities, and family-friendly options.

Both cruise lines are strong choices for Alaska and the Caribbean. The biggest differences come down to ship size, onboard atmosphere, and what’s included in their cruise packages.

Holland America vs Princess Cruise Lines at a Glance

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Here’s the quick comparison before getting into the details.

The biggest differences are ship size, onboard atmosphere, and how the cruise packages are structured.

Who Is Each Cruise Line Best For?

Holland America tends to fit travelers who put more emphasis on the itinerary, dining, and a mid-size ship. Princess is a stronger fit for travelers who want more onboard activities, entertainment choices, and family options.

Both work well for couples, while Princess generally has more families onboard. Holland America can be a good fit for multigenerational trips, especially in Alaska.

Solo cabins are limited on both lines, so check the specific ship before booking if you want to avoid paying for a standard double-occupancy cabin.

Holland America vs Princess Cruise Lines Ship Size

Princess generally sails larger ships with more venues and activities, while Holland America stays in the mid-size range and tends to feel easier to get around.

Holland America Ship Size

Holland America has 11 ships carrying about 1,400 to 2,700 guests. Its largest ships are the Pinnacle-class Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Rotterdam, while Volendam and Zaandam are the smallest.

Princess Ship Size

Princess has 17 ships with a wider size range. Coral Princess carries about 2,000 guests, while Sun Princess and Star Princess carry about 4,300.

What Does the Size Difference Mean Onboard?

Holland America’s smaller ships can feel easier to navigate, while Princess’s larger ships have more room for restaurants, entertainment venues, and activities.

The tradeoff is crowd size. Princess’s biggest ships put more people around the pools, buffet, and theater, while Holland America generally feels less busy in those shared spaces.

What Are the Pools Like?

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Holland America’s pool decks are generally more relaxed, with features like the covered Lido Pool and the aft Sea View Pool on several ships.

Princess tends to have a livelier pool-deck experience, with Movies Under the Stars and adults-only spaces such as the Retreat Pool or Sanctuary on select ships.

For younger kids, I’d lean Princess because some Holland America ships have fewer kid-focused pool features. For a quieter sea day, I prefer Holland America’s Sea View Pool.

What Are the Cabins Like?

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Holland America and Princess both offer interior, ocean view, balcony, and suite cabins. The main differences are in the names and premium cabin perks.

Holland America calls its balcony cabins Verandahs, while higher-end Neptune Suites include access to the private Neptune Lounge. Princess also offers mini-suites and upgraded categories such as Reserve Collection and Sanctuary Collection.

For Alaska, I’d pay extra for a balcony. I spent several mornings on ours with a coffee, watching the coastline, waterfalls, mountains, and glaciers go by. That was one upgrade I was glad we made.

How Does the Dining Compare?

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Holland America leans more culinary-focused, with specialty restaurants like Tamarind, Pinnacle Grill, and Rudi’s Sel de Mer on select ships. Tamarind stood out on my ABC Islands cruise—I ate there three times, and the Crispy Duck was consistently one of the best meals I had onboard.

Princess offers a broader mix of specialty and casual dining, including Crown Grill, Sabatini’s, the International Café, and Alfredo’s Pizzeria.

Pro Tip: If your cruise package includes specialty dining, use it at one of the higher-priced eligible restaurants to get the most value.

Is Holland America or Princess Better for Alaska?

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Both Holland America and Princess are strong choices for Alaska. I’d compare the exact itinerary, scenic cruising, port times, and land-tour options before choosing between them.

How Do the Alaska Itineraries Compare?

Both lines sail from Seattle and Vancouver, with roundtrip and one-way itineraries depending on the ship and season.

I’d pay close attention to the scenic cruising built into the route. Depending on the sailing, which can include Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier, or College Fjord.

The ports also overlap quite a bit, with Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Sitka, and Icy Strait Point appearing on many itineraries. What matters more is how long the ship stays in port and whether the schedule fits the excursions you want to do.

What If You Want Denali?

Both lines offer cruisetours that combine the cruise with time inland. Holland America has Denali-focused options, while Princess offers a broader network of wilderness lodges and land-and-sea combinations.

If Denali is a major part of your trip, compare the land portion just as closely as the cruise itself, especially the number of nights inland and how much travel time is built into the itinerary.

For me, the itinerary would come first, especially the scenic cruising, time in port, and any land portion included.

Not sure which port days are worth an excursion? See my guides to Juneau and Ketchikan shore excursions.

Holland America or Princess for the Caribbean?

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Both Holland America and Princess sail the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean. The better choice usually comes down to the itinerary, departure port, and which islands you want to visit.

Princess generally offers more Caribbean sailings and departure options, while Holland America has some appealing longer itineraries, especially to the Southern Caribbean and ABC Islands.

Eastern Caribbean

Both lines visit many of the same ports, including San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Tortola, and Antigua.

Princess tends to offer more itinerary variety, while Holland America covers many of the same major stops with fewer ships in the region.

Western Caribbean

Princess has more options that include Belize, Costa Maya, and Roatán, while Holland America’s Western routes more often include Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica.

Southern Caribbean and the ABC Islands

Both lines sail to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Holland America has some strong longer ABC Islands itineraries, while Princess offers a broader mix of Southern Caribbean ports.

If the ABC Islands are the main goal, I’d start with Holland America. If you want a wider mix of Southern Caribbean islands, Princess may give you more choices.

Planning the ABC Islands? Check out my ABC Islands cruise review before you book.

What About the Private Islands?

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Holland America regularly includes Half Moon Cay on Caribbean itineraries. Princess has been shifting some itineraries away from Princess Cays, so check the exact sailing if a private-island stop matters to you.

Sailing out of Fort Lauderdale? My Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Guide covers what to know before you go.

Have It All vs Princess Plus and Premier: Which Package Is Worth It?

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The biggest difference is what’s included in the daily price. Holland America’s standard Have It All package does not include crew appreciation, while Princess Plus and Premier do.

Have It All adds shore excursion credit and specialty dining, which can make it a better value if you’ll actually use those benefits.

What Does Each Package Include?

For a 7-night cruise, here’s how the three packages compare:

For two people on a 7-night cruise, Have It All comes to about $1,092 once crew appreciation is added, compared with about $980 for Princess Plus and $1,470 for Premier.

Prices can change, so check the current package rate before booking.

Which Package Gives You the Best Value?

Have It All can make the most sense if you plan to use the shore excursion credit and specialty dining. On my ABC Islands cruise, the $100 credit covered a $59.95 beach transfer.

Princess Plus is the simpler value option if drinks, Wi-Fi, and included crew appreciation are your priorities.

Princess Premier costs more and makes the most sense if you’ll use the specialty dining, higher drink limit, and four-device Wi-Fi.

If you barely drink or don’t need many of the extras, booking things individually may cost less.

Want the full breakdown? Check out my Have It All article for everything included and how the math works.

Holland America vs Princess Cruise Lines Pros and Cons

Holland America Pros

• Mid-size ships: Easier to navigate and generally less crowded than Princess’s largest ships.
• Destination focus: A good fit if ports and time ashore matter more than having the most onboard activity.
• Strong dining: Specialty restaurants like Tamarind are a highlight.
• Have It All benefits: Shore excursion credit and specialty dining can add value if you’ll use them.

Holland America Cons

• Less onboard variety: Fewer entertainment venues and scheduled activities than on Princess’s larger ships.
• Crew appreciation isn’t included in standard Have It All: Add that cost when comparing package prices.
• Fewer ship and departure options: Princess generally offers more choices, especially in the Caribbean.

Best fit: Travelers who value itinerary, dining, and a mid-size ship over having the most onboard entertainment.

Princess Pros

• More onboard options: Larger ships bring more entertainment, activities, and dining choices.
• Family-friendly: Princess generally attracts more families and offers more for different age groups.
• Plus and Premier include crew appreciation: That makes the package cost easier to compare upfront.
• More itinerary variety: Princess generally offers more ship and departure choices.

Princess Cons

• Larger crowds: The biggest ships carry significantly more passengers.
• Princess Plus leaves out some extras: Shore excursion credit and unlimited specialty dining require moving up to Premier.
• Premier can be expensive: It only makes sense if you’ll use the added benefits.

Best fit: Travelers who want more entertainment, activities, family options, and itinerary choices.

FAQs

Is Holland America or Princess better overall?

Neither is better for everyone. Holland America may fit you better if you prefer mid-size ships and a more destination-focused cruise. Princess may be better if you want larger ships, more activities, and more entertainment choices.

Is Holland America or Princess better for Alaska?

Both are strong choices. I’d compare the exact itinerary, scenic cruising, port times, and cruisetour options before choosing between them.

Which cruise line is better for families?

I’d lean Princess for families with younger kids because there are generally more families onboard and more activity around the ship. Both lines offer kids’ programs for ages 3 to 17.

Is Have It All or Princess Plus the better value?

It depends on what you’ll use. Have It All may be better if you plan to use the shore excursion credit and included specialty dining, while Princess Plus can make more sense if drinks and included crew appreciation are your priorities. I’d compare the total cost for your actual sailing before booking.

Final Thoughts

When comparing Holland America vs Princess Cruise Lines, the best choice comes down to the itinerary, ship size, and what matters most to you onboard.

I’d compare the full trip cost and exact itinerary before booking. Both lines can be a great fit, but for different types of travelers.

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