Princess Cruises
Grand Princess
- Cruises
- 78
- From
- $175
Ship comparison
Grand Princess vs Island Princess
Princess Cruises
Island Princess
- Cruises
- 34
- From
- $529
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Grand Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 2,590 passengers, in service since 1998. Island Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 2,214 passengers, in service since 2002.
Choose Grand Princess if you want a lower starting fare or more cruises to choose from: its cruises start from $175 (vs $529) and it has 78 cruises on sale (vs 34).
Choose Island Princess if you want a better-rated spa and gym, more of a party or a more active cruise: it outscores Grand Princess for spa & fitness (8.0 vs 6.0), party (6.5 vs 5.0) and active (8.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Grand Princess | Island Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises | Princess Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 1998 | 2002 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2011 (better) | 2009 |
| Gross tonnage | 109,000 | 95,627 |
| Passengers | 2,590 | 2,214 |
| Crew | 1,100 | 900 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.4 (better) | 2.5 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 42.1 | 43.2 (better) |
| Decks | 17 | 16 |
| Length | 935 ft | 965 ft |
| Beam | 118 ft | 122 ft |
| Speed | 26 mph | 24 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 78 | 34 |
| Upcoming sailings | 87 | 92 |
| Cruise lengths | 2–94 nights | 4–50 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $175 (better) | $529 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Grand Princess leads on 2 of the ten, Island Princess on 4, with 4 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
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
78 cruises on sale, from $175.
Princess Cruises
Island Princess
Princess Cruises's Island Princess was built to Panamax size. This means she can offer you the exclusive experience of sailing through the Panama Canal!
Highlights
- Travel Europe, and visit Cannes, Mykonos, Barcelona and Venice on an Island Princess Mediterranean cruise.
- Ogle the engineering feat that is the Panama Canal, right from your stateroom or balcony!
- Swim against the current in the lap pool or practice your putting on the nine-hole putting green.
- What could be more exhilarating than watching a first run movie under the stars at sea?
Sailing now
34 cruises on sale, from $529.
Questions
Grand Princess or Island Princess?
Which is bigger, Grand Princess or Island Princess?
Grand Princess is bigger at 109,000 gross tons, against 95,627 gross tons for Island Princess. Grand Princess carries 2,590 passengers and Island Princess carries 2,214.
Which ship is newer, Grand Princess or Island Princess?
Island Princess is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2002 against 1998 for Grand Princess.
Which has more space per passenger?
Island Princess, with 43.2 gross tons per passenger against 42.1 on Grand Princess. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Grand Princess, with one crew member for every 2.4 passengers against one for every 2.5 on Island Princess.
Which is better for families?
Grand Princess scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10, against 7.4 for Island Princess.
Still deciding?
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