Six decades. Seventeen ships. The most recognizable name in ocean travel. And the undisputed leader in Alaska, a destination it has been sailing since 1969 and where no other cruise line has come close to matching what Princess has built.
Princess Cruises occupies the premium segment of the cruise market: above mainstream lines in atmosphere, cuisine, and service consistency, but more accessible in price and scale than the ultra-luxury brands. And in 2026, with the arrival of the new Sphere-class ships and the largest Alaska season in its history, the brand is at its most compelling point in years.
In this episode, we cover everything you need to know about Princess Cruises in 2026.
The four ship classes and why the differences matter: the intimate Coral-class ships capable of transiting the Panama Canal, the Grand-class backbone of the fleet, the Royal-class with its signature SeaWalk glass walkway extending over the ocean, and the new Sphere-class Sun Princess and Star Princess, the largest ships in Princess history at 4,300 guests, LNG-powered, and named Condé Nast Traveler’s Mega Ship of the Year 2024.
MedallionClass and why it is the most developed shipboard technology platform in the premium segment: the OceanMedallion wearable device that unlocks cabin doors automatically, enables food and drink delivery to any location on the ship, and tracks family members anywhere on board.
The Plus and Premier package model and how to decide which tier actually makes sense for the way you travel. Alaska as the single strongest differentiator in the Princess portfolio: 22 consecutive Travel Weekly Best Cruise Line in Alaska awards, five privately owned wilderness lodges, glass-dome railcars, National Park Service rangers boarding ships in Glacier Bay, and over 20 cruisetour options combining sailing, rail, and lodge stays near five Alaskan national parks.
And an honest comparison with Celebrity, Holland America, Azamara, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas so you know exactly where Princess fits and who it is genuinely built for.
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Resources mentioned in this episode
Read the complete article available on the ÆRIA Voyages Blog.
📂 The Ultimate PRINCESS Cruises Guide: What it is, how it works, and what to expect
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As a travel and cruise specialist, I’m here to help you find the ship, the tier, and the itinerary that truly fits who you are as a traveller. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Yvan Junior Blanchette
Travel & Cruise Specialist
ÆRIA Voyages📩 yvanblanchette@aeriavoyages.com
📞 1-888-460-3388
🌐 aeriavoyages.com
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