Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Encounter
- Cruises
- 23
- From
- $355
Ship comparison
Carnival Encounter vs Grand Princess
Princess Cruises
Grand Princess
- Cruises
- 75
- From
- $175
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Carnival Encounter is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 2,600 passengers. Grand Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 2,590 passengers, in service since 1998. Carnival Encounter has no Bliss scores yet, so the verdict rests on the figures we do hold.
Choose Grand Princess if you want a lower starting fare or more cruises to choose from: its cruises start from $175 (vs $355) and it has 75 cruises on sale (vs 23).
Carnival Encounter 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.
| Carnival Encounter | Grand Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Carnival Cruise Line | Princess Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | — | 1998 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | — | 2011 |
| Gross tonnage | 108,977 | 109,000 |
| Passengers | 2,600 | 2,590 |
| Crew | 1,100 | 1,100 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 41.9 | 42.1 (better) |
| Decks | — | 17 |
| Length | 950 ft | 935 ft |
| Beam | 118 ft | 118 ft |
| Speed | — | 26 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | — | 7 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 23 | 75 |
| Upcoming sailings | 166 | 84 |
| Cruise lengths | 3 to 14 nights | 2 to 94 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $355 | $175 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday.
Carnival Encounter has no Bliss scores yet.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Encounter
Sailing now
23 cruises on sale, from $355.
About Carnival Encounter Plan my cruise on Carnival Encounter
Princess Cruises
Grand Princess
Grand Princess continues to offer the signature service for which Princess Cruises is renowned. Along with Princess Cruises's signature features like Movies Under the Stars, the Italian-inspired Piazza and The Sanctuary, fresh venues onboard offer new ways to help you escape completely.
Highlights
- Age-appropriate options for kids and teens
- The Sanctuary, a relaxing oasis
- A variety of dining options, including Ultimate Balcony Dining
Sailing now
75 cruises on sale, from $175.
Questions
Carnival Encounter or Grand Princess?
Which is bigger, Carnival Encounter or Grand Princess?
Grand Princess is bigger at 109,000 gross tons, against 108,977 gross tons for Carnival Encounter. Carnival Encounter carries 2,600 passengers and Grand Princess carries 2,590.
Which has more space per passenger?
Grand Princess, with 42.1 gross tons per passenger against 41.9 on Carnival Encounter. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
They are level, with one crew member for every 2.4 passengers.
Still deciding?
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