Princess Cruises
Caribbean Princess
- Cruises
- 99
- From
- $399
Ship comparison
Caribbean Princess vs Sapphire Princess
Princess Cruises
Sapphire Princess
- Cruises
- 107
- From
- $228
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Caribbean Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 3,082 passengers, in service since 2003. Sapphire Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 2,670 passengers, in service since 2004.
Choose Sapphire Princess if you want more adventure and nature, more culture or a lower starting fare: it outscores Caribbean Princess for adventure & nature (4.0 vs 2.0) and cultural (8.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $228 (vs $399).
Caribbean Princess does not lead by a clear margin on any measure we track, so pick it for its itinerary or its dates.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Caribbean Princess | Sapphire Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises | Princess Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2003 | 2004 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2019 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 112,861 | 115,875 |
| Passengers | 3,082 | 2,670 |
| Crew | 1,163 | 1,238 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.7 | 2.2 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 36.6 | 43.4 (better) |
| Decks | 15 | 13 |
| Length | 952 ft | 952 ft |
| Beam | 118 ft | 121 ft |
| Speed | 25 mph | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 99 | 107 |
| Upcoming sailings | 118 | 113 |
| Cruise lengths | 6–49 nights | 2–42 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $399 | $228 (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 1 of the ten, Sapphire Princess on 2, with 7 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
Princess Cruises
Sapphire Princess
Sapphire Princess from Princess Cruises is the perfect ship for sightseeing, featuring more than 700 balconies from which passengers can step out and enjoy the refreshing ocean breeze.
Highlights
- Cooking demonstrations and photography classes via ScholarShip@Sea
- Rest and relaxation in the Lotus Spa
Sailing now
107 cruises on sale, from $228.
Questions
Caribbean Princess or Sapphire Princess?
Which is bigger, Caribbean Princess or Sapphire Princess?
Sapphire Princess is bigger at 115,875 gross tons, against 112,861 gross tons for Caribbean Princess. Caribbean Princess carries 3,082 passengers and Sapphire Princess carries 2,670.
Which ship is newer, Caribbean Princess or Sapphire Princess?
Sapphire Princess is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2004 against 2003 for Caribbean Princess.
Which has more space per passenger?
Sapphire Princess, with 43.4 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?
Sapphire Princess, with one crew member for every 2.2 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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