Holland America vs Princess Cruises: A Comprehensive Comparison

Holland America and Princess Cruises are two of the most popular cruise lines in the industry. Holland America has a long history dating back to 1873, making it one of the oldest cruise lines in the world.

Princess Cruises, on the other hand, was founded in 1965 and has since grown to become one of the largest cruise lines globally. Holland America has a more traditional and formal atmosphere, while Princess Cruises offers a more laid-back and relaxed vibe.

Both cruise lines offer a range of onboard amenities and activities, but Holland America tends to focus more on enrichment programs and cultural experiences. Princess Cruises, by contrast, has a wider range of dining options and entertainment choices.

Ultimately, the choice between Holland America and Princess Cruises will depend on your individual preferences and priorities.

Princess Cruises has a fleet of 16 ships, with another one set to debut in late 2025, while Holland America has 11 ships in its fleet.

Discover more: Holland America Alaska Ships

Princess Cruises has more ships in its fleet than Holland America, and on average, their vessels are larger, accommodating between 2,000 and 3,600 guests at double occupancy.

One of the largest ships in Princess Cruises' fleet is the Sun Princess, which debuted in February 2024 and can accommodate 4,300 passengers.

Here's a comparison of the two cruise lines' ship classes:

Holland America's focus on smaller ship size allows for a more traditional cruise experience, while Princess Cruises has a mix of smaller and larger ships, including the new Sphere class, which will be their largest ships to date.

Princess Cruises has a larger fleet with 16 ships, including the new 4,300-passenger Sun Princess, while Holland America has 11 ships.

Princess Cruises has a wider range of ship sizes, with vessels accommodating between 2,000 and 3,660 passengers, whereas Holland America's ships typically hold between 1,400 and 2,660 passengers.

One of the biggest differences between Princess and Holland America is the size of their ships. Princess has a mix of smaller and larger vessels, including the new Sphere class, which will be 175,500 tons, while Holland America's newest ships, like the Rotterdam, are mid-sized.

Here's a breakdown of the ship sizes for both cruise lines:

Holland America's smaller ship size allows for a more traditional cruise experience, with a focus on destination, dining, and overall experience.

If you're considering an Alaska cruise, you'll want to research the different cruise ships that sail Alaska. Holland America tends to attract a more "senior" traveler, while Princess tends to attract travelers of all ages, especially middle age couples and families.

Both Holland America and Princess offer a number of round-trip seven-night itineraries that feature the most popular ports of call. These itineraries include cruises departing from Seattle, Vancouver, and even San Francisco on 10-night cruises.

Princess Cruises brings aboard speakers to share their Alaska adventures, such as the grueling 1,100-mile Iditarod sled dog race. This adds a unique touch to your Alaska cruise experience.

Here are some of the ports you can expect to visit on a typical Alaska cruise:

Both Holland America and Princess call on Juneau and Ketchikan, with most sailings visiting Skagway. Holland America's Seattle cruises go to Sitka, while some Seattle sailings call on Victoria, BC Canada.

You might enjoy: Holland America Cruises from Seattle

Holland America (HAL) and Princess Cruises offer a range of accommodation options, from inside cabins to luxurious suites. Holland America is known for its luxurious accommodations.

Inside cabins are the cheapest on both cruise lines, while Oceanview cabins or better are needed for a view. Suites come with an additional range of perks, making the extra cost worth considering.

On HAL's MS Koningsdam, there are limited solo cabins available, making it a great option for solo travelers. On the rest of the fleet, solo travelers can expect to pay twice the fare for a double room.

Princess Cruises, on the other hand, doesn't have studio rooms, but its mini suites are suitable for families with small children, featuring bathtubs. Large families of five can book a Sky Suite on newer Princess ships, but it's a pricey option.

Family Ocean-view Staterooms on HAL's ships are a more affordable option for large families, with two bathrooms to accommodate everyone. The Ocean Medallion on Princess ships is a great feature for families, allowing them to track their group on the ship.

Holland America's ships have a selection of dining venues to choose from, including casual venues for a snack and more formal restaurants for classy lunches and dinners.

Their restaurants are quite premium in quality, using the freshest, finest ingredients across each venue.

Holland America's culinary cruises are a highlight, featuring celebrity chefs for special, intimate dining experiences.

In 2023, they introduced a fresh fish policy, sourcing fish from ports all over the world.

Their appetizers and entrees are hard to beat in quality and presentation, making them a top choice.

One standout dish is their Dutch pea soup, which is the perfect comfort food on a cold day in Alaska.

Princess Cruises, on the other hand, is better known for its outstanding desserts and Chocolate Journeys.

Their specialty restaurants onboard, including The Catch by Rudi, come in a bit more budget friendly than Holland America's options.

The Salty Dog Gastropub and Ultimate Balcony Dining are two unique dining options offered by Princess Cruises.

Take a look at this: Princess Cruise Seattle Port to Alaska

Both cruise lines offer a selection of onboard activities to entertain you during sea days. Holland America and Princess have a range of options to suit all interests.

You can enjoy live music, comedy shows, and theater productions on both cruise lines. From musical performances to hilarious comedy acts, there's always something happening.

Princess cruises offer a variety of dining options, including fine dining restaurants and casual buffets. Holland America also has its own selection of dining venues, with a focus on high-quality cuisine.

Holland America has a more laid-back and elegant atmosphere, while Princess cruises tend to be more lively and energetic.

Both Holland America and Princess Cruises offer kids' clubs with a range of activities, including scavenger hunts and team games, to keep kids entertained.

Holland America has a good range of activities for kids, including scavenger hunts, team games, themed parties, sports and more.

Princess Cruises is a popular choice for multigenerational travel, with families with kids on board during peak seasons like summer months and school breaks.

On Holland America, you'll find kids' clubs divided into three age ranges, so teens can enjoy age-appropriate activities without mingling with the smallest kids.

Everyone, from ages 7 to 77, can have a great time on a Princess Cruises multigenerational cruise, as our own family has experienced firsthand.

Both Holland America and Princess offer a wide range of entertainment and activities on board.

Holland America features a trio of music venues, including Billboard Onboard, Rolling Stone Lounge, and B.B. King's Blues Club, which offer a variety of music styles to suit different tastes.

On Holland America's three Pinnacle Class ships, the World Stage theater features a two-story panoramic LED screen used for digital backdrops and video programming.

Princess Cruises, on the other hand, offers game shows and a variety of entertaining performances, including Broadway-style productions.

One of the unique activities on Princess is "Puppies in the Piazza", where guests can interact with sled dog husky puppies during port days.

Holland America's Koningsdam features a music walk that showcases a range of music styles, from classical to rock 'n' roll to blues.

Princess Cruises also offers a "North to Alaska" program, which features personalities from Animal Planet and Discovery, sharing their expertise and experiences.

Holland America's B.B. King's Blues Club is a popular venue on board, where guests can enjoy live music and dance the night away.

When traveling solo, you'll want to consider the cost and loyalty benefits of each cruise line. Holland America doesn't give extra points for solo travelers, even when paying for two.

Princess Cruises, on the other hand, offers double cruise points when cruising solo in a double occupancy cabin. This means that a solo cruise of 7 days counts as two cruises and seven days, helping you fast-track to a higher status in their loyalty program.

Holland America tends to be slightly more expensive than Princess Cruises, especially since the latter often sends older vessels to Alaska.

Princess Cruises, on the other hand, often includes more in their pricing, making it a more cost-effective option for some travelers.

The length of your cruise and the time of year you travel also play a significant role in determining costs for both cruise lines.

With Princess Cruises, you can opt for their Princess Premier and Plus packages, which include extras like pub lunches, pizza, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and alcoholic drinks in the price.

Princess Cruises gives double cruise points when cruising solo in a double occupancy cabin, which can fast-track you to a higher status in their loyalty program.

Cruising solo with Princess counts as two cruises and the same number of days, making it a great option for those who want to earn points quickly.

Holland America, on the other hand, doesn't give extra points for solo travelers, even if they're paying for two cabins.

This difference in loyalty points can make a big impact on your cruising experience, so it's essential to consider it when choosing a line.

Solo travelers who book a double-occupancy stateroom on Princess Cruises can earn double points, which can be a huge advantage in the long run.

Holland America offers a range of Alaska cruise and land tours that range in duration from 9 to 18 days.

Some of their 14- and all 18-day bundles start and end in Vancouver, which is a convenient option for travelers from the area.

Holland America's longer journeys visit Dawson City and Whitehorse in the Yukon, which is a unique experience that Princess Cruises doesn't offer on their extended trips.

Princess Cruises also offers Alaska cruise and land tours, but none of their cruise tours are roundtrip from Vancouver, so travelers from Vancouver will need to factor in one-way airfare.

Princess' 17-day cruise tours include visits to Talkeetna, Denali National Park, Kenai, and Copper River, which are all must-see destinations in Alaska.

A different take: Holland America Cruises from Vancouver

Holland America offers a range of itineraries that typically last between 7 and 14 days.

Some of the most popular options include round-trip cruises from Seattle or Vancouver, as well as one-way cruises that begin or end in Anchorage (Whittier).

Holland America's 14-day cruises in May and September visit Kodiak Island, Valdez, and Wrangell, and spend a day docked in Anchorage, giving guests the ability to walk to attractions.

If you want to see the Kodiak bears on Kodiak Island, only Holland America goes there on these select sailings.

The Westerdam has a 28-day summer solstice cruise from Seattle for the ultimate Alaska bucket list adventure.

Princess Cruises also offers a range of itineraries that typically last between 7 and 14 days.

However, when taking a back-to-back itinerary (14 days), the port stops are typically the same – Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway.

Princess Cruises generally only offer Alaska cruises of a maximum of 14 days, although there are two in 2025 that are longer.

If you're short on time, you can take a four- or five-day itinerary in April or May with Princess Cruises, but they don’t include a glacier-viewing day.

If you're looking to explore Alaska's breathtaking landscapes, consider a tour package that combines a cruise with a land tour. Holland America offers a range of Alaska cruise and land tours that range in duration from 9 to 18 days.

These packages typically include a 7-day inside passage cruise, as well as a land tour that takes guests to Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Anchorage, and some to the Yukon. Some of the longer bundles, like the 14- and 18-day options, start and end in Vancouver, making it easier for travelers to plan their trip.

Princess Cruises also offers a range of Alaska cruise and land tours that range in duration from 10 to 17 days. Like Holland America, these packages include a 7-day inside passage cruise, with the balance of days on land.

Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO Heritage Site, is a must-visit destination on many of these itineraries. Both Holland America and Princess Cruises include this stunning park in their tour packages, so you can experience its breathtaking beauty firsthand.

If you're looking for a more traditional cruise experience, Holland America is a great choice. It's more luxurious and has smaller ships.

Princess Cruises, on the other hand, blends more contemporary features into its cruise style, making it appealing to a wider demographic. Princess is a good option if you're traveling with family.

Ultimately, the choice between Holland America and Princess Cruises depends on what you'll enjoy most on your cruise vacation. If you're sailing solo or with your partner, you have a bit more of a choice to make.