Princess Cruises
Diamond Princess
- Cruises
- 101
- From
- $1,004
Ship comparison
Diamond Princess vs Queen Mary 2
Cunard Line
Queen Mary 2
- Cruises
- 127
- From
- $359
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Diamond Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 2,670 passengers, in service since 2004. Queen Mary 2 is a large Cunard Line ship carrying 2,620 passengers, in service since 2004.
Choose Diamond Princess if you want a more family-friendly ship: it outscores Queen Mary 2 for family friendly (8.0 vs 4.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose Queen Mary 2 if you want a lower starting fare, more culture or more space per passenger: it outscores Diamond Princess for cultural (8.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, its cruises start from $359 (vs $1,004) and it has 57.8 gross tons per passenger (vs 43.4).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Diamond Princess | Queen Mary 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises | Cunard Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2004 | 2004 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2019 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 115,875 | 151,400 |
| Passengers | 2,670 | 2,620 |
| Crew | 1,238 | 1,253 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.2 | 2.1 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 43.4 | 57.8 (better) |
| Decks | 13 | 17 |
| Length | 952 ft | 1,132 ft |
| Beam | 123 ft | 148 ft |
| Speed | 25 mph | 35 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 9 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 101 | 127 |
| Upcoming sailings | 111 | 180 |
| Cruise lengths | 7 to 31 nights | 2 to 35 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $1,004 | $359 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Diamond Princess leads on 1 of the ten, Queen Mary 2 on 5, with 4 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Princess Cruises
Diamond Princess
Diamond Princess from Princess Cruises is a true East-meets-West experience. A bit more subdued than most cruise ships, Diamond Princess is a blend of Asian culture, with women wearing kimonos on formal nights, and the Western carefree attitudes of Australians and New Zealanders.
Highlights
- Four pools
- Eight whirlpool spas
- Five main dining rooms
- Indulge in a hot stone massage at the renowned Lotus Spa
Sailing now
101 cruises on sale, from $1,004.
Cunard Line
Queen Mary 2
The ocean liner Queen Mary 2, flagship of the 184-year-old Cunard Line, embodies the grace and classic heritage of ships from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s. She is the only ship in operation that retains a scheduled transatlantic service, from New York to England and back.
Highlights
- The planetarium shows
- Lectures by leading academics, scientists, politicians, entertainers and historians
- Canyon Ranch Spa and Thalassotherapy pool, if you can afford it
- The transatlantic crossings from New York to Southampton are really one of a kind.
Sailing now
127 cruises on sale, from $359.
Questions
Diamond Princess or Queen Mary 2?
Which is bigger, Diamond Princess or Queen Mary 2?
Queen Mary 2 is bigger at 151,400 gross tons, against 115,875 gross tons for Diamond Princess. Diamond Princess carries 2,670 passengers and Queen Mary 2 carries 2,620.
Which ship is newer, Diamond Princess or Queen Mary 2?
Both made their maiden voyage in 2004.
Which has more space per passenger?
Queen Mary 2, with 57.8 gross tons per passenger against 43.4 on Diamond Princess. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Queen Mary 2, with one crew member for every 2.1 passengers against one for every 2.2 on Diamond Princess.
Which is better for families?
Diamond Princess scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10, against 4.0 for Queen Mary 2.
Still deciding?
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