Princess Cruises
Caribbean Princess
- Cruises
- 99
- From
- $399
Ship comparison
Caribbean Princess vs Explorer of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Explorer of the Seas
- Cruises
- 64
- From
- $298
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Caribbean Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 3,082 passengers, in service since 2003. Explorer of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 3,114 passengers, in service since 2000.
Choose Caribbean Princess if you want a more romantic trip or better-rated dining: it outscores Explorer of the Seas for romantic (8.0 vs 6.5) and dining (7.1 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose Explorer of the Seas if you want more adventure and nature, more culture or more space per passenger: it outscores Caribbean Princess for adventure & nature (4.0 vs 2.0) and cultural (7.5 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 44.1 gross tons per passenger (vs 36.6).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Caribbean Princess | Explorer of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises | Royal Caribbean |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2003 (better) | 2000 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2019 (better) | 2015 |
| Gross tonnage | 112,861 | 137,308 |
| Passengers | 3,082 | 3,114 |
| Crew | 1,163 | 1,185 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.7 | 2.6 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 36.6 | 44.1 (better) |
| Decks | 15 | 15 |
| Length | 952 ft | 1,020 ft |
| Beam | 118 ft | 157 ft |
| Speed | 25 mph | 27 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 (better) | 7 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 99 | 64 |
| Upcoming sailings | 118 | 86 |
| 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 3 of the ten, Explorer of the Seas on 5, with 2 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
Royal Caribbean
Explorer of the Seas
Is it adventure you seek or a restful retreat from life on land? Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas is home to an array of innovations that give you whatever type of vacation you desire. Climb a rock wall that overlooks the sea, or find your adventure on the basketball court, ice-skating rink or mini-golf course.
Highlights
- In-line skating tracks at the onboard ice skating rink
- Visiting Royal Caribbean's private beach resort, Labadee, in Haiti
- Playing basketball on the basketball court
- Adults-only swimming at Solarium
Sailing now
64 cruises on sale, from $298.
About Explorer of the Seas Plan my cruise on Explorer of the Seas
Questions
Caribbean Princess or Explorer of the Seas?
Which is bigger, Caribbean Princess or Explorer of the Seas?
Explorer of the Seas is bigger at 137,308 gross tons, against 112,861 gross tons for Caribbean Princess. Caribbean Princess carries 3,082 passengers and Explorer of the Seas carries 3,114.
Which ship is newer, Caribbean Princess or Explorer of the Seas?
Caribbean Princess is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2003 against 2000 for Explorer of the Seas.
Which has more space per passenger?
Explorer of the Seas, with 44.1 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?
Explorer of the Seas, with one crew member for every 2.6 passengers against one for every 2.7 on Caribbean Princess.
Which is better for families?
Explorer of the Seas scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 9.0 out of 10, against 8.0 for Caribbean Princess.
Still deciding?
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