Princess Cruises
Caribbean Princess
- Cruises
- 99
- From
- $399
Ship comparison
Caribbean Princess vs Carnival Valor
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Valor
- Cruises
- 17
- From
- $298
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Caribbean Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 3,082 passengers, in service since 2003. Carnival Valor is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 2,980 passengers, in service since 2004.
Choose Caribbean Princess if you want a more romantic trip, a better-rated spa and gym or better-rated dining: it outscores Carnival Valor 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 Valor if you want more of a party, a more family-friendly ship or a lower starting fare: it outscores Caribbean Princess for party (8.0 vs 5.0) and family friendly (9.0 vs 8.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $298 (vs $399).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Caribbean Princess | Carnival Valor | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises | Carnival Cruise Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2003 | 2004 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2019 | 2021 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 112,861 | 110,000 |
| Passengers | 3,082 | 2,980 |
| Crew | 1,163 | 1,180 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.7 | 2.5 (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 | 26 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 (better) | 7 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 99 | 17 |
| Upcoming sailings | 118 | 94 |
| Cruise lengths | 6–49 nights | 4–14 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $399 | $298 (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 Valor 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 Valor
Hosting more than 3,000 passengers when fully booked, Carnival Valor features a heroes and heroics theme as it calls on sand-filled, sun-soaked ports in the Caribbean and Bahamas.
Highlights
- Laughing at jokes in the Punchliner Comedy Club
- Splishing and splashing on the Twister Waterslide
- Singing along at the onboard Piano Bar
- Tasting gourmet treats at the Chef's Table
Sailing now
17 cruises on sale, from $298.
Questions
Caribbean Princess or Carnival Valor?
Which is bigger, Caribbean Princess or Carnival Valor?
Caribbean Princess is bigger at 112,861 gross tons, against 110,000 gross tons for Carnival Valor. Caribbean Princess carries 3,082 passengers and Carnival Valor carries 2,980.
Which ship is newer, Caribbean Princess or Carnival Valor?
Carnival Valor is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2004 against 2003 for Caribbean Princess.
Which has more space per passenger?
Carnival Valor, 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 Valor, with one crew member for every 2.5 passengers against one for every 2.7 on Caribbean Princess.
Which is better for families?
Carnival Valor 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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