Who Owns Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is owned by Carnival Corporation Ltd., the world’s largest cruise ship operator.

Princess is one of nine cruise brands inside that single parent company, and it trades as part of Carnival Corporation on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CCL.

The Princess brand is known for a relaxed, premium adjacent style of cruising built on decades of goodwill from “The Love Boat,” the television series that made the line a household name in the 1970s and 1980s.

In recent years Princess has become just as well known for OceanMedallion, its wearable Medallion Class technology that lets guests unlock staterooms, order food, and locate friends around the ship without pulling out a phone.

Carnival Corporation itself is a genuine giant of global tourism, operating multiple brands, close to 100 ships, and tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue.

So how did a cruise line started by one man chartering a single Canadian ship end up folded into one of the largest travel companies on earth, and who actually calls the shots today?

This guide breaks down exactly who owns Princess Cruises, who its largest shareholders are, who founded the brand, and who leads it now.

It also covers how Princess’s ownership changed over time, what other cruise lines share the same parent company, the size of the Princess fleet, and where the ships actually sail.

Let’s take a closer look.

What Is Princess Cruises?

Princess Cruises is a premium leaning cruise line founded in 1965 by Stanley McDonald, an American travel entrepreneur based in Los Angeles.

McDonald launched the brand by chartering a single Canadian Pacific ship for cruises down the Mexican Riviera, a modest start for what later became a global fleet.

Princess built its reputation on comfortable, mid premium cruising, positioned above budget mainstream lines but below the smallest luxury operators.

The brand’s headquarters sits at 24305 Town Center Drive in Santa Clarita, California, even though the company itself is incorporated in Bermuda alongside its parent.

Princess is especially well known for its deep presence in Alaska, where it operates its own cruisetours, lodges, and a stake in the Alaska Railroad’s operations.

Who Owns Princess Cruises?

Princess Cruises is wholly owned by Carnival Corporation Ltd., the Bermuda incorporated holding company that also owns Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, and several other brands.

Carnival Corporation is publicly traded, so ownership is spread across thousands of institutional funds and individual shareholders rather than resting with one private owner.

Chairman Micky Arison, son of Carnival founder Ted Arison, remains the largest individual named shareholder and carries significant influence over the board.

Day to day decisions at Princess, however, are made by the brand’s own president and corporate leadership team under Carnival Corporation’s oversight, not by any single family member.

Is Princess Cruises Publicly Traded or Privately Owned?

Princess Cruises itself is not separately traded, since it operates as a wholly owned brand rather than its own public company.

Its parent, Carnival Corporation, is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CCL and is a component of the S&P 500 index.

For more than two decades Carnival operated under a dual listed structure, with a separate Carnival plc entity trading in London alongside the American Carnival Corporation.

That changed in May 2026, when Carnival completed a full unification of its two listed entities into a single company, Carnival Corporation Ltd., incorporated in Bermuda.

Under that move, Carnival plc’s London listing was retired and its shares were converted one for one into shares of the new Bermuda parent, ending the old dual company arrangement.

Who Are the Largest Shareholders of Carnival Corporation?

Carnival Corporation’s shareholder base is dominated by large institutional asset managers, alongside Chairman Micky Arison’s individual stake.

Vanguard entities collectively hold roughly 20 percent of Carnival Corporation shares once several related Vanguard funds are combined.

Micky Arison holds close to 7 percent of shares individually, making him the largest single named shareholder outside of institutional fund managers.

BlackRock Advisors and State Street Corporation also hold substantial positions, each landing in the mid single digit percentage range.

These figures move as funds trade shares over time, so anyone researching Carnival stock for investment purposes should always confirm current numbers against the latest SEC filings.

Who Founded Princess Cruises?

Princess Cruises was founded in 1965 by Stanley McDonald, a Los Angeles travel entrepreneur with no formal background in the cruise industry.

McDonald started the company by chartering a single Canadian Pacific liner for voyages down the Mexican Riviera out of Los Angeles.

The brand grew through the following decade and was acquired by the British shipping conglomerate P&O, the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, in 1974.

Princess’s fame exploded in the late 1970s when the television series “The Love Boat” began filming aboard the Pacific Princess, giving cruising itself a friendly, romantic image in American pop culture.

Who Is the CEO/President of Princess Cruises?

Gus Antorcha serves as President of Princess Cruises, having taken the role effective December 2, 2024.

Antorcha previously led Holland America Line as its president starting in 2020, giving him deep experience across Carnival Corporation’s premium tier brands before moving to Princess.

He succeeded John Padgett, who had led Princess since 2021 and helped oversee the rollout of the Medallion Class experience across the fleet.

Above the brand level, Josh Weinstein serves as President and CEO of the whole Carnival Corporation, with Micky Arison continuing as Chairman of the board.

Weinstein also chairs the Global Executive Committee of the Cruise Lines International Association, the main trade group representing the cruise industry.

How Has Ownership Changed Over Time?

Princess Cruises has changed hands and corporate structures several times since Stanley McDonald first chartered a single ship in 1965.

British shipping company P&O bought Princess in 1974, folding it into its growing portfolio of passenger and cargo operations.

In 2000, P&O spun off its cruise operations into an independent public company called P&O Princess Cruises, separating cruising from P&O’s shipping and ports businesses.

P&O Princess Cruises then merged with Carnival Corporation on April 17, 2003, in a deal worth roughly 5.4 billion dollars, creating the dual listed Carnival Corporation & plc structure.

That dual structure lasted more than two decades until it was fully unified into a single Bermuda incorporated company, Carnival Corporation Ltd., in May 2026.

What Cruise Lines Does Carnival Corporation Own?

Carnival Corporation owns a wide portfolio of cruise brands beyond Princess Cruises.

The lineup includes Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Cunard Line, and P&O Cruises, among others.

Each brand is positioned at a different point on the market, from Carnival’s casual, budget friendly cruises to Cunard’s traditional transatlantic voyages and Seabourn’s ultra luxury small ships.

Together these brands make Carnival Corporation the largest cruise company on earth by both fleet size and passengers carried, well ahead of rivals Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

Princess Cruises’ Fleet

Princess Cruises operates a fleet of 17 ships sailing global itineraries.

Its newest vessels belong to the Sphere class, a new generation of ships built specifically for Princess by Fincantieri.

Sun Princess, the first Sphere class ship, entered service in 2024, followed by her sister ship Star Princess, which was delivered and completed her maiden voyage in 2025.

Both Sphere class ships carry more than 4,000 guests and introduced features such as an open air Piazza and expanded dining venues to the Princess experience.

Where Does Princess Cruises Sail?

Alaska is Princess Cruises’ signature destination, supported by the brand’s own wilderness lodges and cruisetour operations across the state.

That Alaska presence dates back to Princess Tours acquiring an Alaska Railroad operation in 1986, a stake few competitors can match.

Beyond Alaska, Princess sails extensively through the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, and the Mediterranean, along with seasonal itineraries to Northern Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Princess also announced it would sail to all regions of the Caribbean for the first time in its history starting in summer 2026, broadening its warm weather offerings further.

What Is Princess Cruises Known For?

Princess is best known for its relaxed, traditional cruise experience that leans premium without the formality of the smallest luxury lines.

Its Medallion Class technology, the OceanMedallion wearable device, is one of the most talked about innovations in mainstream cruising, letting guests skip lines and personalize their trip.

The brand’s decades old connection to “The Love Boat” still shapes its marketing and remains a strong emotional pull for longtime cruisers and their families.

Princess is also widely regarded as one of the strongest Alaska cruise operators in the industry, combining ship based sailings with land based rail and lodge tours.

How Does Princess Compare With Other Cruise Lines?

Princess sits closest to Holland America Line and Celebrity Cruises in overall market positioning, since all three brands target premium leaning travelers rather than budget or ultra luxury guests.

Holland America, also owned by Carnival Corporation, leans slightly more traditional and quieter, with an older average guest age and a strong reputation for classic dining service.

Celebrity Cruises, owned by rival Royal Caribbean Group, tends to be positioned as slightly more modern and design forward, with a younger guest mix and sleeker ship interiors.

Princess generally lands between the two, offering a broader mix of ages and trip styles alongside its heavy investment in Medallion Class technology and Alaska tours.

Is Princess Cruises Really Good or Really Worth It?

Princess Cruises is generally well regarded among travelers seeking a comfortable, mid premium cruise without stepping all the way up to luxury pricing.

Frequent praise centers on the Medallion Class experience, strong Alaska itineraries, and a calmer onboard atmosphere compared with the largest mainstream ships.

Common criticism points to an older average guest age on many sailings, fewer high energy activities than mainstream brands, and pricing that runs above budget competitors.

Review platforms generally place Princess in line with other premium leaning cruise lines rather than far above or below its direct competitors.

Customer Service and Official Contact Information

Travelers with booking questions can reach Princess Cruises guest services directly through the official Princess website.

Princess’s main guest services phone line in the United States is 1 800 774 6237, available for reservations, existing booking questions, and general support.

Guests can also manage bookings, check in for cruises, and contact support through the official Princess.com website and its Captain’s Circle account tools.

For background on how other Carnival Corporation brands are structured, see WhoMakeThis’s guide to who owns Holland America Line and the related breakdown of who owns Carnival Cruise Line.

Frequently Asked Questions About Princess Cruises

Is Princess Cruises owned by an American company?

Princess is run out of Santa Clarita, California, though its parent company, Carnival Corporation Ltd., is incorporated in Bermuda and also has major operations tied to the United Kingdom.

Who is the largest shareholder of Carnival Corporation?

Vanguard entities collectively hold the largest combined stake, at roughly 20 percent, while Chairman Micky Arison is the largest single named individual shareholder at close to 7 percent.

What other cruise lines does Carnival Corporation own?

Carnival Corporation also owns Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Cunard Line, and P&O Cruises.

How many ships does Princess Cruises have?

Princess Cruises operates a fleet of 17 ships, including its newest Sphere class vessels, Sun Princess and Star Princess.