Princess Cruises
Crown Princess
- Cruises
- 70
- From
- $289
Ship comparison
Crown Princess vs Explorer of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Explorer of the Seas
- Cruises
- 68
- From
- $308
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Crown Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 3,082 passengers, in service since 2006. Explorer of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 3,114 passengers, in service since 2000.
Choose Crown Princess if you want a more romantic trip or a newer ship: it outscores Explorer of the Seas for romantic (8.0 vs 6.5) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2006 (vs 2000).
Choose Explorer of the Seas if you want a better-rated spa and gym, a more family-friendly ship or more of a party: it outscores Crown Princess for spa & fitness (9.0 vs 8.0), family friendly (9.0 vs 8.0) and party (6.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Crown Princess | Explorer of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises | Royal Caribbean |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2006 (better) | 2000 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2018 (better) | 2015 |
| Gross tonnage | 113,561 | 137,308 |
| Passengers | 3,082 | 3,114 |
| Crew | 1,200 | 1,185 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.6 | 2.6 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 36.8 | 44.1 (better) |
| Decks | 19 | 15 |
| Length | 952 ft | 1,020 ft |
| Beam | 159 ft | 157 ft |
| Speed | 25 mph | 27 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 (better) | 7 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 70 | 68 |
| Upcoming sailings | 141 | 106 |
| Cruise lengths | 4 to 60 nights | 4 to 14 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $289 (better) | $308 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Crown Princess leads on 3 of the ten, Explorer of the Seas on 3, with 4 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Princess Cruises
Crown Princess
Crown Princess is one of the newer and larger Princess ships, a Grand class cruise liner with room for 3,080 passengers. From her nearly 900 balconies, you can enjoy sweeping views of romantic landscapes across the world. Spend your days lounging at a pool or strolling through the street cafe atmosphere of the Piazza.
Highlights
- Wedding chapel to renew your vows or get married at sea, officiated by the ship's captain
- Age-appropriate programs for children and teens
- Plenty of nightlife and dining options
- Relaxing spa service
Sailing now
70 cruises on sale, from $289.
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
68 cruises on sale, from $308.
About Explorer of the Seas Plan my cruise on Explorer of the Seas
Questions
Crown Princess or Explorer of the Seas?
Which is bigger, Crown Princess or Explorer of the Seas?
Explorer of the Seas is bigger at 137,308 gross tons, against 113,561 gross tons for Crown Princess. Crown Princess carries 3,082 passengers and Explorer of the Seas carries 3,114.
Which ship is newer, Crown Princess or Explorer of the Seas?
Crown Princess is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2006 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 36.8 on Crown Princess. 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 2.6 passengers.
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 Crown Princess.
Still deciding?
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