Princess Cruises
Caribbean Princess
- Cruises
- 99
- From
- $399
Ship comparison
Caribbean Princess vs Carnival Freedom
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Freedom
- Cruises
- 19
- From
- $261
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Caribbean Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 3,082 passengers, in service since 2003. Carnival Freedom is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 2,980 passengers, in service since 2006.
Choose Caribbean Princess if you want a more romantic trip, a better-rated spa and gym or better-rated dining: it outscores Carnival Freedom for romantic (8.0 vs 2.0), spa & fitness (8.0 vs 6.0) and dining (7.1 vs 5.5) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose Carnival Freedom if you want more of a party, a lower starting fare or a more active cruise: it outscores Caribbean Princess for party (8.0 vs 5.0) and active (8.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $261 (vs $399).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Caribbean Princess | Carnival Freedom | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises | Carnival Cruise Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2003 | 2006 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2019 (better) | 2015 |
| Gross tonnage | 112,861 | 110,000 |
| Passengers | 3,082 | 2,980 |
| Crew | 1,163 | 1,150 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.7 | 2.6 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 36.6 | 36.9 (better) |
| Decks | 15 | 13 |
| Length | 952 ft | 952 ft |
| Beam | 118 ft | 116 ft |
| Speed | 25 mph | 24 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 (better) | 7 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 99 | 19 |
| Upcoming sailings | 118 | 91 |
| Cruise lengths | 6–49 nights | 3–15 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $399 | $261 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Caribbean Princess leads on 4 of the ten, Carnival Freedom on 3, with 3 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Princess Cruises
Caribbean Princess
Until Royal Princess came on the scene, Caribbean Princess was the largest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet. When she launched in 2004, this ship was a game changer for Princess and it helped define the brand. Now, it stands as a standard in cruising.
Highlights
- 881 cabins with private balconies
- Five pools, plus two splash pools
- Family-friendly cruising with supervised youth programs
- Adults-only retreat at the Sanctuary
Sailing now
99 cruises on sale, from $399.
About Caribbean Princess Plan my cruise on Caribbean Princess
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Freedom
The last Conquest-class ship to be built for Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Freedom is inspired by and pays tribute to decades of the past, so passengers feel as if they are stepping into not only a different place, but a different time entirely.
Highlights
- Splash down the spiraling Twister Waterslide, filled with twists, turns and squeals of thrilled delight from kids and adults alike.
- Guy's Burger Joint, a partnership between Guy Fieri and Carnival, brings all the authentic appeal of a roadside burger shack to the poolside.
Sailing now
19 cruises on sale, from $261.
Questions
Caribbean Princess or Carnival Freedom?
Which is bigger, Caribbean Princess or Carnival Freedom?
Caribbean Princess is bigger at 112,861 gross tons, against 110,000 gross tons for Carnival Freedom. Caribbean Princess carries 3,082 passengers and Carnival Freedom carries 2,980.
Which ship is newer, Caribbean Princess or Carnival Freedom?
Carnival Freedom is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2006 against 2003 for Caribbean Princess.
Which has more space per passenger?
Carnival Freedom, with 36.9 gross tons per passenger against 36.6 on Caribbean Princess. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Carnival Freedom, with one crew member for every 2.6 passengers against one for every 2.7 on Caribbean Princess.
Which is better for families?
Carnival Freedom scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 9.0 out of 10, against 8.0 for Caribbean Princess.
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