Princess Cruises
Caribbean Princess
- Cruises
- 97
- From
- $529
Ship comparison
Caribbean Princess vs Mariner of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Mariner of the Seas
- Cruises
- 39
- From
- $425
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Caribbean Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 3,082 passengers, in service since 2004. Mariner of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 3,114 passengers, in service since 2003.
Choose Caribbean Princess if you want better-rated dining, a more romantic trip or more cruises to choose from: it outscores Mariner of the Seas for dining (7.1 vs 5.6) and romantic (8.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 97 cruises on sale (vs 39).
Choose Mariner 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 44.4 gross tons per passenger (vs 36.6).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Caribbean Princess | Mariner of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises | Royal Caribbean |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2004 (better) | 2003 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2019 (better) | 2018 |
| Gross tonnage | 112,861 | 138,279 |
| 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 | 44.4 (better) |
| Decks | 15 | 15 |
| Length | 952 ft | 1,020 ft |
| Beam | 118 ft | 157 ft |
| Speed | 25 mph | 28 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 10 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 97 | 39 |
| Upcoming sailings | 114 | 74 |
| Cruise lengths | 6–49 nights | 4–17 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $529 | $425 (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, Mariner of the Seas on 4, 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
97 cruises on sale, from $529.
-
14 Night Eastern/Western Caribbean Adventurer
$1,244
-
7 Night Eastern Caribbean with Puerto Rico
$619
About Caribbean Princess Plan my cruise on Caribbean Princess
Royal Caribbean
Mariner of the Seas
The newly amplified Mariner of the Seas from Royal Caribbean underwent a $120 million refurbishment in 2018 — and the enhancements remain eye-catching. Many of the renovations involve new features to attract families and younger cruisers.
Highlights
- Broadway-style entertainment in the Main Theater
- The Bamboo Room delivers top-notch Polynesian-inspired cocktails
- The Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade serves up a wide selection of beers and pub favorites like chicken wings and nachos
- Spa treatments in the Vitality Spa
Sailing now
39 cruises on sale, from $425.
About Mariner of the Seas Plan my cruise on Mariner of the Seas
Questions
Caribbean Princess or Mariner of the Seas?
Which is bigger, Caribbean Princess or Mariner of the Seas?
Mariner of the Seas is bigger at 138,279 gross tons, against 112,861 gross tons for Caribbean Princess. Caribbean Princess carries 3,082 passengers and Mariner of the Seas carries 3,114.
Which ship is newer, Caribbean Princess or Mariner of the Seas?
Caribbean Princess is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2004 against 2003 for Mariner of the Seas.
Which has more space per passenger?
Mariner of the Seas, with 44.4 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?
Mariner 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?
They score the same for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10.
Still deciding?
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