Deal
Up to $200 OBCs on worldwide cruises with Princess cruises
Available on select dates in 2022 and 2023. Destinations include Tasmania, Queensland, New Zealand and more.
Princess vs Holland America Line
Help with deciding whether to book your next cruise with Princess Cruises or HAL.
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Princess Cruises may have a royal name, but does it rule in comparison to other cruise lines?
We compare the line with Holland America Line, aka HAL, on everything from the cost of room service to family friendliness.
Read over the below table and price comparison test to see which line might be best for you.
Princess vs Holland America Line
| Feature | Princess Cruises | Holland America | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where does it sail to? |
|
| Princess covers marginally more destinations. |
| Does it have Wi-Fi? | For a fee. | For a fee. | Both offer paid-for Wi-Fi. |
| Does it provide towels? | Yes. | Yes. | Both provide towels. |
| Contact options | E-mail Phone | E-mail Phone | Contact options are the same. |
| Is it all-inclusive? | No. | No. | Neither is all-inclusive. |
| How much is the deposit? | Deposits start at 5% of the cruise cost. | Deposits vary based on your cruise. They range from$350 to $2,900 per person. | Deposits are similar. |
| Does it have a gym? | Yes. | Yes. | Both have gyms. |
| Does it have hairdryers, laundry and irons? | Both are available. Charges apply for self-service laundry. | Hairdryers, yes. Paid-for laundrettes are available on MSAmsterdam,Maasdam,Prinsendam,VeendamandZaandam. | HAL only has self-service laundry on some ships. |
| Does it include food? | Yes. | Yes. | Both include food. |
| Does it have casinos? | Yes. | Yes. | Both have casinos. |
| Does it have an ATM? | Yes. | No. | HAL does not offer ATMs. |
| Does it have formal nights? | Yes. | Gala nights – dressy without the need for black tie. | HAL's formal nights are more relaxed. |
| How much are drinks? | US$5-$6 for a beer and US$7-1$1 for a wine. | US$6-$7 for a beer, US$9-$11 for a wine. | Drink prices are similar. |
| Is it good for families? | Yes. | Yes. Kids' clubs on all ships except for MSPrinsendam. | Both lines are good for families. |
| Does it have child care? | Yes, group kidsitting. | Babysitting is available. Fees apply. | Both offer child care. |
| Does it have virtual balconies? | No. | No. | Neither have virtual balconies. |
| Does it have a waterslide? | No. | No. | Neither have waterslides. |
| Does it have a promenade? | Yes. | Yes. | Both have promenades. |
| Does it have free room service? | Yes. | Yes. | Both offer free room service. |
| What are my payment options? |
|
| Princess offers more payment options. |
| Can I price match? | No. | No. | Neither price match. |
| Does it allow for cancellations/changes? | Yes, but at a charge. | Cancellation charges of 15% to 100% apply. | Both penalise for some cancellations. |
| How much are airport transfers to the departure port? | Prices vary. Most transfers cost US$18 for 10 miles. | Prices vary. They start at US$20. | Airport transfer costs are similar. |
| How much are gratuities? | US$13.50 - $15.50 per day. | US$13.50 daily for staterooms. | Gratuities are similar. |
| Has a ship ever sunk? | No. | No. | Neither line has had a ship sink. |
| Book | Book your Princess Cruise | Book your Holland America Line cruise | - |
Who offers the best price?
Prices for a 13-day New Zealand cruise round-trip from Sydney stopping at 8 ports of call and cruising through one scenic waterway start at $2,429.08 with Princess Cruises. This is a sale price.
Prices for a 14-night Australia and New Zealand cruise from Sydney to Auckland stopping at 10 ports of call start at $3,429 with Holland America Line.
The verdict?
Holland America Line pulls up a much bigger price tag than Princess Cruises. That being said, the cruise we found with Princess was on sale, so the gap will close when it returns to RRP. Holland America Line's cruise is also slightly longer and offers two more ports of call, which could even it out in the end when Princess goes off sale.
Is this cruise line good?
Princess Cruises is ranked as 3.5/5 on cruise review website Cruise Critic. Reviews often highlight the friendliness of the staff and levels of service.
Holland America Line is rated as 4/5 on Cruise Critic. Reviewers comment on the relaxed atmosphere on board.
What are the deals like?
Princess Cruises mainly offers deals by destination with reduced prices on cabins.
Holland America Line runs deals like low deposits, money off flights and weekly cruise deals on specific itineraries. Offers can include onboard spends of up to US$1,000 too.
The verdict?
HAL is more prolific on its deals pages, however Princess's sale offerings tend to be off the cost of the cruise and can drop dramatically against HAL's cabin costs.
Princess and Holland America Line deals
Deal
8-night New Zealand cruise with Princess Cruises from $1,819
Available for departure on 25 October 2022. Includes one-way flight from Sydney-Auckland, up to USD$300 OBCs and more. T&Cs apply.
Deal
New Zealand cruise with pre-cruise stay and flight from $2,345
Available for travel on 22 October 2022 departing from Sydney with Princess Cruises. Includes one-way flight from Sydney-Auckland, stay at The Grand at SkyCity, onboard meals, up to USD$200 OBCs and more. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to USD$1,000 OBCs on worldwide cruises
Available on select Princess Cruises voyages from September 2021 - November 2022. Destinations include Mexico, USA, Alaska, London, Canada, Greece and more. T&Cs apply.
Deal
3+ nights last-minute cruises from USD$180
Available on select travel dates with Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and more. Sample rate is for a 3-night Caribbean cruise with MSC. Destinations include Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Italy, Alaska and more. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Sydney cruises from $248
Available on cruises in 2022-2023. Destinations include Brisbane, Adelaide and more. Sample fare is for a 2-day cruise from Sydney-Melbourne.
Deal
Up to $400 shore excursion credits on cruises
Available on select cruises until November 2022. Destinations include Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Japan, Alaska and more. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Australia and New Zealand cruises from USD$228
Available on select dates in 2021-2022 with Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and more. Sample rate is for a 3-night cruise with Carnival Cruises.
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