The reason I asked is that the cruise line elite programs are so much less generous than the airline programs that I have a hard time seeing how the cruise run makes sense.

Status on an airline can produce some extremely valuable non-monetary benefits like upgrades and better seats. They also have monetary benefits like waived luggage fees.

The Elite program on Princess doesn't provide any greater likelihood of an upgrade. (If it did, I would be in the cabin next to you on your cruise run.) The monetary benefits seem tiny to me: free laundry and a few minibottles of booze. You'll be Elite anyway in between 3 (single) and 6 (double) cruises. I don't see how you would get enough benefit from Elite in that few cruises to justify the hundreds of dollars the cruise run would cost. Unless, you think it's worth the cost to get rid of your husband for a few days while he's on the cruises.