Princess Cruises
Emerald Princess
- Cruises
- 68
- From
- $309
Ship comparison
Emerald Princess vs Mariner of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Mariner of the Seas
- Cruises
- 56
- From
- $463
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Emerald Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 3,082 passengers, in service since 2007. Mariner of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 3,114 passengers, in service since 2003.
Choose Emerald Princess if you want better-rated dining or a lower starting fare: it outscores Mariner of the Seas for dining (7.0 vs 5.6) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $309 (vs $463).
Choose Mariner of the Seas if you want better-rated staterooms, more space per passenger or a better-rated spa and gym: it outscores Emerald Princess for staterooms (9.0 vs 7.0) and spa & fitness (9.0 vs 8.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 44.4 gross tons per passenger (vs 36.6).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Emerald Princess | Mariner of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises | Royal Caribbean |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2007 (better) | 2003 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | — | 2018 |
| Gross tonnage | 112,847 | 138,279 |
| Passengers | 3,082 | 3,114 |
| Crew | 1,143 | 1,185 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.7 | 2.6 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 36.6 | 44.4 (better) |
| Decks | 15 | 15 |
| Length | 952 ft | 1,020 ft |
| Beam | 118 ft | 157 ft |
| Speed | 25 mph | 28 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 10 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 68 | 56 |
| Upcoming sailings | 122 | 93 |
| Cruise lengths | 4 to 20 nights | 6 to 17 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $309 (better) | $463 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Emerald Princess leads on 3 of the ten, Mariner of the Seas on 2, with 5 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Princess Cruises
Emerald Princess
Carrying about 3,080 guests, Emerald Princess is one of the largest ships in the Princess Cruises fleet. It offers nearly 900 balcony staterooms from which to take in the colorful sunrise over the ocean, or capture a breathtaking sunset sail-in to a romantic city like Venice.
Highlights
- Movies Under the Stars
- The Best Pizza at Sea as voted by USA Today
- One of the largest atriums in the fleet
- The Crown Grill American Steakhouse
Sailing now
68 cruises on sale, from $309.
Royal Caribbean
Mariner of the Seas
The newly amplified Mariner of the Seas from Royal Caribbean underwent a $120 million refurbishment in 2018 — and the enhancements remain eye-catching. Many of the renovations involve new features to attract families and younger cruisers.
Highlights
- Broadway-style entertainment in the Main Theater
- The Bamboo Room delivers top-notch Polynesian-inspired cocktails
- The Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade serves up a wide selection of beers and pub favorites like chicken wings and nachos
- Spa treatments in the Vitality Spa
Sailing now
56 cruises on sale, from $463.
About Mariner of the Seas Plan my cruise on Mariner of the Seas
Questions
Emerald Princess or Mariner of the Seas?
Which is bigger, Emerald Princess or Mariner of the Seas?
Mariner of the Seas is bigger at 138,279 gross tons, against 112,847 gross tons for Emerald Princess. Emerald Princess carries 3,082 passengers and Mariner of the Seas carries 3,114.
Which ship is newer, Emerald Princess or Mariner of the Seas?
Emerald Princess is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2007 against 2003 for Mariner of the Seas.
Which has more space per passenger?
Mariner of the Seas, with 44.4 gross tons per passenger against 36.6 on Emerald Princess. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Mariner of the Seas, with one crew member for every 2.6 passengers against one for every 2.7 on Emerald 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?
Tell us what matters and we will match the sailing
Send your dates, budget and who is travelling, and our partner travel agency will come back to you about Emerald Princess, Mariner of the Seas or a ship that suits you better.