Mediterranean & Europe Matchups
Sky Princess - Norwegian Fjords Explorer vs Rotterdam - Norwegian Fjords Exploration
Both of these 7-night sailings cruise the Norwegian Fjords with the marquee moments — Geirangerfjord scenic cruising and a day in Bergen among the Bryggen wharf. The difference is the departure port and the onboard style: Sky Princess sails from Southampton with big-ship entertainment and Princess's MedallionClass app, while Rotterdam departs from its Dutch namesake with Holland America's smaller-ship, more refined-and-classic approach.
At a Glance
Sky Princess - Norwegian Fjords Explorer
Princess Cruises
Rotterdam - Norwegian Fjords Exploration
Holland America Line
Highlighted rows show where the two differ.
Amenity Differences
Only on Sky Princess - Norwegian Fjords Explorer
- + Adults-Only Area
- + Main Dining Room
- + MedallionClass
- + Movies Under the Stars
- + Piazza
- + Princess Live! studio
- + SeaWalk
- + SeaWalk twin glass walkways
- + Sky Suites
- + Sky Suites (first ship in class to debut them)
- + Take Five jazz lounge
- + The Enclave
- + WiFi
On both
- ✓ Casino
- ✓ Fitness Center
- ✓ Pool
- ✓ Spa
- ✓ Specialty Dining
- ✓ Theater & Shows
Only on Rotterdam - Norwegian Fjords Exploration
- + 24-hour room service
- + B.B. King's Blues Club
- + Billboard Onboard
- + Buffet
- + Club Orange
- + Club Orange (premium tier with dedicated dining room)
- + Dive-In poolside grill
- + Explorations Central
- + Grand Dutch Cafe
- + Large fine-art collection
- + Lincoln Center Stage
- + Music Walk live-music district
- + Rolling Stone Lounge
- + Rolling Stone Rock Room
- + Rudi's Sel de Mer (French seafood specialty)
- + Sports Court
What Real Travelers Say
Pros and cons from real traveler discussions about each ship.
Sky Princess
- Introduced the Royal-class Sky Suites - two enormous suites on Deck 18 with wrap-around balconies overlooking the pool, a genuine standout for splurgers
- First Royal-class ship with the aft infinity Wake View pool, a frequently praised, more grown-up alternative to the busy main pool
- Well-rated at 4.3/5 from 345 U.S. News reviewers, with strong marks for cleanliness and smooth, organized embarkation and disembarkation
- Crew service draws consistent praise for friendliness, courtesy, and efficiency from many reviewers
- Diverse specialty dining including The Catch by Rudi (seafood) and the French Bistro Sur La Mer overlooking the Piazza, both regularly singled out
- Main dining room food is the most common complaint - multiple reviewers and U.S. News note it as subpar, pushing guests toward paid specialty venues
- Entertainment quality is hit-or-miss; some reviewers criticized lackluster cruise-director programming and a flat onboard atmosphere
- As an older Royal-class sister (2019), it lacks the freshest finishes and lighter cabin decor found on the newer Discovery Princess
- At roughly 3,600 passengers, congestion is reported between major activities and especially on port days
- MedallionNet internet can be slow and inconsistent at sea, a fleet-wide Princess pain point
Rotterdam
- Newest, best-maintained ship in the Holland America fleet - guests repeatedly praise its spotless, like-new condition throughout
- Music Walk is the ship's energetic heart, with Rolling Stone Rock Room, B.B. King's Blues Club, Billboard Onboard and Lincoln Center Stage drawing crowds well into the night
- Standout specialty dining - Tamarind is called one of the best pan-Asian restaurants at sea, and Pinnacle Grill is both praised and priced below rival lines' steakhouses
- Rudi's Sel de Mer is a guest favorite for French seafood with elaborate, memorable presentation
- Club Orange is widely flagged as excellent value, with a dedicated dining room, expanded menu and upgraded service
- Pools and hot tubs are undersized for a ~2,700-guest ship and feel crowded; the hot tubs are often called comically small
- With the Lido roof closed the indoor pool area can feel stuffy and greenhouse-like
- No large traditional production shows - evenings lean on singers, comedians, magicians and the music venues, which some find limited
- Music Walk is uniformly loud and upbeat; reviewers wish for quieter, low-key listening lounges
- Cabins above or below the Music Walk stages can pick up evening noise
The Verdict
The scenery overlaps heavily — you'll get Geirangerfjord and Bergen on both, with each line adding its own excursions (Princess spotlights the Flåm Railway; Holland America features Eidfjord's waterfalls). What actually differs is the ship experience and where your voyage begins. Sky Princess is the larger, livelier option: more production-show entertainment, a busier pool deck, the seamless Medallion app, and Southampton departure that's easy for UK travelers but adds a North Sea crossing day each way. Rotterdam is the smaller, calmer, more elegant choice — Holland America draws a more relaxed, often older crowd, food and service earn high marks, and Lincoln Center Stage brings live classical and B.B. King's Blues Club brings jazz, with a Rotterdam start that puts you closer to the fjords sooner. Prices are similar, so pick on vibe, not budget.
Choose Sky Princess - Norwegian Fjords Explorer if…
Choose the Sky Princess Norwegian Fjords Explorer if you want a bigger ship with lively entertainment and the MedallionClass app, and a Southampton departure is convenient for you.
See Sky Princess - Norwegian Fjords ExplorerChoose Rotterdam - Norwegian Fjords Exploration if…
Choose the Rotterdam Norwegian Fjords Exploration if you prefer a smaller, more refined ship with standout food, live jazz and classical music, a calmer crowd, and a Rotterdam departure closer to the fjords.
See Rotterdam - Norwegian Fjords Exploration