Virgin Voyages is the better pick for Canadian adults who want all dining included, no formal nights, and a guaranteed kid-free ship. Princess Cruises is better for families, multi-generational groups, and travellers who value the MedallionClass experience, traditional cruising touches, and a deeper Alaska itinerary lineup. Interestingly, both sail from Vancouver for Alaska — making this one of the most relevant comparisons for Canadian cruisers.
| Feature | Virgin Voyages | Princess Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| Adults Only | Yes — 18+ only, no exceptions | No — all ages welcome, kids clubs on board |
| Dining Included | All 20+ restaurants, no cover charges | Main dining room + buffet included; specialty dining typically $29-$45+ extra |
| Wi-Fi | Basic Starlink Wi-Fi included | Not included in base fare; bundled with Princess Plus/Premier or ~$25 USD/day |
| Gratuities | $20 USD/day prepaid ($22 on board); no 18% per-drink add-on | Approximately $17-$19 USD/day auto-charged (included in Plus/Premier), plus 18% on drinks |
| Dress Code | No formal nights — casual to smart-casual | Formal "Dress to Impress" nights on most sailings |
| Drinks | Bar Tab prepaid credit with bonus value (e.g. pay $300, get $350) | Drink packages bundled in Princess Plus/Premier or ~$65+ USD/day |
| Ship Size | ~2,770 guests (4 identical sister ships) | Approximately 2,200-4,300 guests across a varied fleet |
| Alaska from Vancouver | Yes — Brilliant Lady, Virgin's only Canadian home port | Yes — seasonal Vancouver departures, plus extensive cruisetours |
| Buffet | No buffet — The Galley food hall with made-to-order stations | Traditional buffet plus main dining room |
| Onboard Tech | Sailor App for bookings and Shake for Champagne | MedallionClass wearable (keyless entry, location-based delivery) |
This is the rare comparison where both lines sail from a Canadian port. Princess has been a dominant Alaska operator for decades, with seasonal Vancouver departures, land-and-sea cruisetours into Denali, and deep Gulf of Alaska experience. Virgin Voyages arrived more recently with Brilliant Lady sailing Alaska from Vancouver — the line's only Canadian home port.
For Canadians, sailing from Vancouver means no flights to the U.S., no U.S. pre-clearance stress on embarkation day, and often a much cheaper trip overall. A couple from Toronto might pay approximately CAD $500-$800 per person for return flights to Vancouver versus similar or higher fares to Seattle or Anchorage — and travellers from B.C. can simply drive or take transit to Canada Place.
Where Princess pulls ahead is breadth: more Alaska departure dates, more itinerary variations, and cruisetour add-ons that Virgin doesn't offer. Where Virgin pulls ahead is the experience itself — an adults-only ship, every restaurant included, and no formal nights to pack for. If your dream Alaska trip includes Denali by rail, Princess is the stronger fit. If it's glaciers by day and great cocktails and dinners by night with no kids on board, Brilliant Lady is hard to beat. Browse current Alaska sailings on the voyages page.
Princess's base fares often look cheaper, but the bundles tell the real story. Princess essentially expects you to add Princess Plus (approximately $60 USD/day) or Princess Premier (approximately $90 USD/day) to get drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities — extras that add roughly CAD $580-$870 per person to a 7-night cruise.
Virgin Voyages takes a different approach: all 20+ restaurants, basic Starlink Wi-Fi, soft drinks, drip coffee, tea, juices, still and sparkling water, group fitness classes, entertainment, and port fees are already in the fare. Gratuities are not included ($20 USD/person/day prepaid), but there's no automatic 18% gratuity added to each drink — the menu price is what you pay. Alcohol is a la carte via the shareable Bar Tab, which comes with bonus value (pay $300 USD, get $350 in credit).
Run your own numbers with the cost calculator, or see the full inclusion breakdown in what's included on Virgin Voyages.
Princess is classic cruising done well; Virgin is a deliberate reinvention. On Princess you'll find formal Dress to Impress nights, production shows in a traditional theatre, afternoon trivia, and a calm, multi-generational crowd that skews a little older. Movies Under the Stars on the pool deck is a genuine highlight.
Virgin Voyages replaces all of that with a boutique-hotel feel: no formal nights, no buffet, no main dining room, no kids. Evenings revolve around intimate restaurants, immersive performances, and events like Scarlet Night. The crowd is mostly 30s-50s couples and friend groups.
Neither is objectively better — they're built for different travellers. Sean sells both lines and will honestly tell you which fits your trip; if Princess is the right call for your family Alaska cruise, that's the recommendation you'll get. Learn more about Sean.
Not sure which line is right for you?
Sean sells both Virgin Voyages and Princess Cruises. He'll give you an honest recommendation based on your group.