Virgin Voyages vs. Princess Cruises: Which Cruise Line Wins for You? (2026)

Virgin Voyages and Princess Cruises sit at opposite ends of the cruise world. Virgin Voyages is adults-only (18+), tip-inclusive, and design-forward, with drinks bought a la carte. Princess Cruises is multigenerational and traditional, with kids’ clubs, formal nights, and optional Plus or Premier packages. Choose Virgin for a stylish grown-up getaway; choose Princess for family travel, big itineraries, or Alaska.

By the Pixie Vacations advisor team — Virgin Voyages First Mates and Princess-certified planners who book both lines every week at no fee to you. Last updated: September 2026.

We get this question constantly: “We loved our Princess cruise — would we like Virgin Voyages?” (or the reverse). The honest answer is that these two lines are barely trying to sell the same vacation. One is a boutique, adults-only floating design hotel. The other is a globe-spanning, do-it-all cruise line built for grandparents, parents, and kids on the same sailing. Below is the head-to-head we walk our clients through, with current 2026 pricing and inclusions so you can pick with confidence.

The short answer: who each cruise line is for

Book Virgin Voyages if you want an adults-only ship, a casual “no formal night” dress code, gratuities baked into your fare, more than 20 included eateries, and a modern, boutique-hotel feel. It is our top pick for couples, friend groups, honeymooners, and solo travelers who want a grown-up escape.

Book Princess Cruises if you are traveling with kids or across generations, want a huge choice of destinations (Princess is a leader in Alaska), prefer traditional cruise touches like production shows and formal nights, and like the flexibility of bundling extras into a package. It is the better fit for families and travelers who want a classic, everything-under-one-roof cruise.

Virgin Voyages vs. Princess Cruises at a glance

Feature	Virgin Voyages	Princess Cruises
Who it’s for	Adults only (18+), couples, friends, solos	Families, multigenerational groups, all ages
Fleet size (2026)	4 ships	17 ships
Newest ship	Brilliant Lady (Sept 2025)	Star Princess (2025)
Kids’ clubs	None — no guests under 18	Yes (Camp Discovery, ages 3+)
Dress code	Casual; no formal nights	Smart casual plus formal “Dressed to Impress” nights
Gratuities	Tip-inclusive (built into fare)	$18 to $20 per person, per day (or bundle in a package)
Dining included	20+ eateries, all included	Main dining room and buffet included; specialty extra
Drinks	A la carte via a Bar Tab; soft drinks included	Add a Plus or Premier package for drinks
Add-on packages	None — simpler fare	Princess Plus ($65/day) or Premier ($100/day)
Best destinations	Caribbean, Mediterranean, Europe	Alaska, Caribbean, Europe, worldwide
Loyalty program	Sailing Club	Captain’s Circle

Who actually sails each line?

This is the single biggest difference, and it decides the question for most travelers. Virgin Voyages is strictly adults-only. Every “Sailor” on every voyage must be at least 18, and the ships have no kids’ clubs, no family cabins, and no child-accessible spaces. That is a feature, not a limitation, if you are after a calm, grown-up atmosphere — the pools stay quiet and the late-night venues stay lively. (For the full policy, see our Virgin Voyages adults-only guide.)

Princess Cruises is built for the opposite. Its Camp Discovery youth centers, family staterooms, and all-ages entertainment make it a natural for multigenerational trips — the classic “grandparents, parents, and grandkids on one cruise” vacation. If anyone in your party is under 18, Princess is the choice by default, because Virgin simply cannot sail them.

What’s included: tip-inclusive vs. Plus and Premier packages

Virgin Voyages leans into a simpler, more inclusive fare. According to Virgin Voyages, your fare covers 20-plus eateries, basic WiFi, group fitness classes, soft drinks (soda, coffee, water, juice, tea), all entertainment, and gratuities. There are no daily auto-gratuities added onboard — Virgin is tip-inclusive, though it began showing gratuities as a prepayable line item of about $20 per Sailor per night in late 2025. The big carve-out is alcohol: you buy drinks a la carte, usually by pre-loading a Bar Tab. For the fine print, see our guide to Virgin Voyages tipping and gratuities and whether Virgin Voyages is truly all-inclusive.

Princess takes the package route. The base “Princess Standard” fare covers your cabin, main dining, and shows, but drinks, WiFi, and gratuities are extra. To bundle those, you add a package. As of September 2026, according to Cruise Critic, Princess Plus is $65 per person, per day (drinks up to $15, WiFi for one device, crew appreciation covered, casual dining, and more), and Princess Premier is $100 per person, per day (WiFi for four devices, unlimited casual and two specialty dinners, a photo package, reserved theater seating, and a shore-excursion credit). On the newest Sphere-class ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess, those rise to $70 and $105.

One number that surprises Princess first-timers: daily crew appreciation. According to Cruise Critic, effective March 8, 2026, Princess charges $18 per person, per day for standard staterooms, $19 for mini-suites and Reserve Collection, and $20 for suites — unless it is folded into a Plus or Premier package. On a 7-night cruise for two, that is roughly $250 in gratuities alone. On Virgin, that line is already handled.

Ships and onboard vibe

Princess sails a big, varied fleet — 17 ships in 2026 across five generations of design. Its newest, the Sphere-class Sun Princess (2024) and Star Princess (2025), introduced showpiece spaces like The Dome and a suspended-glass Piazza, plus 30-plus restaurants and bars. Older ships in the fleet feel more classic. The upside is choice; the trade-off is that your experience varies a lot depending on which ship you pick.

Virgin runs just four ships — Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady, which debuted in September 2025 — and they are near-identical, so you know exactly what you are getting. The vibe is boutique hotel meets nightclub meets wellness retreat: tattoo studio, drag brunch, a Korean BBQ spot, and a spa with a saltwater “Peek-a-Nu” area. If you are torn on which Virgin ship to pick, our best Virgin Voyages ship guide breaks it down.

Dining and drinks

On Virgin, all 20-plus eateries are included — there is no separate “specialty dining” surcharge, which is genuinely unusual at sea. You could eat at a different sit-down restaurant every night without paying extra. On Princess, the main dining room and buffet are included, while specialty venues (like the Crown Grill steakhouse) carry a per-person cover charge unless you have Premier.

Drinks flip the script. Princess bundles a generous drink allowance into its packages, so heavy drinkers often come out ahead there. Virgin keeps alcohol a la carte, which rewards light and moderate drinkers who do not want to pay for a package they will not use.

Destinations: where each line shines

Princess is a destination powerhouse and, crucially, an Alaska specialist — if a Glacier Bay sailing with a cruisetour into Denali is your dream, Princess is hard to beat, and Virgin does not sail Alaska at all. Princess also blankets the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Japan, Australia, and world cruises.

Virgin concentrates on the Caribbean out of Miami and San Juan, plus a growing Mediterranean and Northern Europe season out of Barcelona, Athens, and (in 2026) Portsmouth. The itineraries lean into late-night port stays and beach days — a fit for travelers who care as much about the ship and the vibe as the ports.

Price: which is the better value?

Sticker-to-sticker, Princess base fares often look cheaper, but remember to add gratuities and a drink/WiFi package to get an apples-to-apples number — that can add $100-plus per person, per day with Premier. Virgin’s fare looks higher up front but already includes tips, WiFi, all dining, soft drinks, and fitness, so the gap narrows fast for couples who value simplicity. Our rule of thumb: for two adults who want an included, no-surprises bill, Virgin is frequently the better value once you total everything. For a family of four, Princess almost always wins on total cost, because kids sail and you are not paying adults-only premiums. Compare Virgin’s full pricing in our Virgin Voyages cost guide.

The verdict: which cruise line should you book?

Choose Virgin Voyages if you are a couple, friend group, or solo traveler who wants adults-only calm, casual style, tips and dining included, and a boutique atmosphere. Choose Princess Cruises if you are traveling with kids or grandparents, want Alaska or a bucket-list global itinerary, or prefer a classic cruise with formal nights and a package that bundles your extras.

Not sure Virgin is your line? Our 60-second Cruise Line Matcher answers honestly — it will tell you if Princess (or another line entirely) is the better fit before you book.

Book with a team that sails both lines

Whichever way you lean, we can book it — at no fee to you. Our advisors have sailed Virgin and Princess personally, and we watch fares and promotions on both so you do not overpay. Ready to compare real sailings and prices? Start your Virgin Voyages booking here, or request a free quote and tell us who is traveling — we will match you to the right line and cabin. You can also call us at 678-815-1584.

Frequently asked questions

Is Virgin Voyages or Princess better for families?

Princess is better for families. It has kids’ clubs (Camp Discovery), family staterooms, and all-ages entertainment. Virgin Voyages is adults-only (18+) and cannot sail anyone under 18, so it is not an option for family travel with children.

Which is cheaper, Virgin Voyages or Princess Cruises?

Princess base fares often look lower, but once you add daily gratuities ($18 to $20 per person as of March 2026) and a Plus ($65/day) or Premier ($100/day) package, the two get close. For two adults who want tips, WiFi, and all dining included, Virgin is frequently the better all-in value. For a family, Princess almost always costs less overall.

Does Virgin Voyages include drinks like Princess packages do?

Not the same way. Virgin includes soft drinks (soda, coffee, water, juice, tea) but sells alcohol a la carte through a pre-loaded Bar Tab. Princess bundles an alcohol allowance into its Plus and Premier packages, so frequent drinkers often get more value from Princess.

Are gratuities included on Virgin Voyages?

Yes. Virgin Voyages is tip-inclusive, so there is no daily auto-gratuity added onboard. Virgin began itemizing gratuities as a prepayable line item of about $20 per Sailor per night in late 2025, but you are not asked to tip staff on top of your fare.

Does Virgin Voyages sail to Alaska like Princess?

No. Virgin Voyages does not sail Alaska. It focuses on the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Northern Europe. Princess is one of the leading Alaska cruise lines, with Glacier Bay sailings and land-based cruisetours into Denali. For Alaska, Princess is the clear choice.

How many ships does each cruise line have?

In 2026, Princess Cruises sails 17 ships across five design generations, while Virgin Voyages sails four: Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady (which debuted in September 2025). Princess offers far more itinerary variety; Virgin offers a consistent, near-identical experience across its fleet.

Sources: Virgin Voyages; Cruise Critic (Princess Plus and Premier 2026 pricing; Princess crew appreciation increase effective March 8, 2026); EatSleepCruise (Virgin Voyages inclusions). Fares and inclusions change — confirm current pricing with your Pixie advisor before booking.