Princess Cruises
Caribbean Princess
- Cruises
- 99
- From
- $399
Ship comparison
Caribbean Princess vs Carnival Splendor
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Splendor
- Cruises
- 21
- From
- $323
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Caribbean Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 3,082 passengers, in service since 2003. Carnival Splendor is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 3,006 passengers, in service since 2008.
Choose Caribbean Princess if you want a more romantic trip, a more active cruise or more culture: it outscores Carnival Splendor for romantic (8.0 vs 2.0), active (7.0 vs 4.0) and cultural (6.0 vs 3.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose Carnival Splendor if you want more of a party, a better-rated spa and gym or a newer ship: it outscores Caribbean Princess for party (8.0 vs 5.0) and spa & fitness (10.0 vs 8.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2008 (vs 2003).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Caribbean Princess | Carnival Splendor | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises | Carnival Cruise Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2003 | 2008 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2019 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 112,861 | 113,300 |
| Passengers | 3,082 | 3,006 |
| 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 | 37.7 (better) |
| Decks | 15 | 13 |
| Length | 952 ft | 952 ft |
| Beam | 118 ft | 144 ft |
| Speed | 25 mph | 24 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 (better) | 6 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 99 | 21 |
| Upcoming sailings | 118 | 102 |
| Cruise lengths | 6–49 nights | 2–15 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $399 | $323 (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 5 of the ten, Carnival Splendor on 2, 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 Splendor
Carnival Splendor offers a host of innovative onboard features and facilities, highlighted by a 21,000-square-foot health and fitness center — one of the largest at sea — which features Carnival Cruise Line's first thermal suite and thalassotherapy pool covered by a glass dome.
Highlights
- Relaxing at the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat
- Testing your luck at the onboard casino
- Splishing and splashing on the Twister Waterslide
Sailing now
21 cruises on sale, from $323.
Questions
Caribbean Princess or Carnival Splendor?
Which is bigger, Caribbean Princess or Carnival Splendor?
Carnival Splendor is bigger at 113,300 gross tons, against 112,861 gross tons for Caribbean Princess. Caribbean Princess carries 3,082 passengers and Carnival Splendor carries 3,006.
Which ship is newer, Caribbean Princess or Carnival Splendor?
Carnival Splendor is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2008 against 2003 for Caribbean Princess.
Which has more space per passenger?
Carnival Splendor, with 37.7 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 Splendor, with one crew member for every 2.6 passengers against one for every 2.7 on Caribbean Princess.
Which is better for families?
They score the same for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10.
Still deciding?
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