Princess Cruises
Discovery Princess
- Cruises
- 20
- From
- $429
Ship comparison
Discovery Princess vs Independence of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Independence of the Seas
- Cruises
- 45
- From
- $363
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Discovery Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 3,668 passengers, in service since 2022. Independence of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 3,634 passengers, in service since 2008.
Choose Discovery Princess if you want a more romantic trip, a newer ship or more of a party: it outscores Independence of the Seas for romantic (7.0 vs 4.0) and party (8.0 vs 6.5) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2022 (vs 2008).
Choose Independence of the Seas if you want a more active cruise, a better-rated spa and gym or more cruises to choose from: it outscores Discovery Princess for active (8.0 vs 6.0) and spa & fitness (8.5 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 45 cruises on sale (vs 20).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Discovery Princess | Independence of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises | Royal Caribbean |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2022 (better) | 2008 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | — | 2018 |
| Gross tonnage | 141,000 | 160,000 |
| Passengers | 3,668 | 3,634 |
| Crew | 1,346 | 1,360 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 38.4 | 44.0 (better) |
| Cabins | 1,834 | — |
| Decks | 18 | 18 |
| Length | 1,083 ft | 1,112 ft |
| Beam | 155 ft | 184 ft |
| Speed | — | 26 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 9 / 10 (better) | 8 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 20 | 45 |
| Upcoming sailings | 148 | 75 |
| Cruise lengths | 4 to 14 nights | 4 to 9 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $429 | $363 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Discovery Princess leads on 5 of the ten, Independence of the Seas on 3, with 2 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Princess Cruises
Discovery Princess
Discovery Princess, the newest ship from Princess Cruises, debuted in March 2022, sailing out of Seattle in summer and Los Angeles in winter.
Sailing now
20 cruises on sale, from $429.
About Discovery Princess Plan my cruise on Discovery Princess
Royal Caribbean
Independence of the Seas
Meet Independence of the Seas, packed with a long list of onboard activities typical of Royal Caribbean's Freedom class of ships. Highlights include the FlowRider surf simulator, a rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink, cantilevered whirlpools, Royal Promenade, mini golf course, and more.
Highlights
- Relaxing spa treatments at Vitality Spa
- Four pools in adults-only Solarium
- 30 types of cupcakes from the Cupcake Cupboard
- Broadway-style entertainment in the Main Theater
Sailing now
45 cruises on sale, from $363.
About Independence of the Seas Plan my cruise on Independence of the Seas
Questions
Discovery Princess or Independence of the Seas?
Which is bigger, Discovery Princess or Independence of the Seas?
Independence of the Seas is bigger at 160,000 gross tons, against 141,000 gross tons for Discovery Princess. Discovery Princess carries 3,668 passengers and Independence of the Seas carries 3,634.
Which ship is newer, Discovery Princess or Independence of the Seas?
Discovery Princess is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2022 against 2008 for Independence of the Seas.
Which has more space per passenger?
Independence of the Seas, with 44.0 gross tons per passenger against 38.4 on Discovery 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 2.7 passengers.
Which is better for families?
Discovery Princess scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 7.0 out of 10, against 6.5 for Independence of the Seas.
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