Princess Cruises
Grand Princess
- Cruises
- 78
- From
- $175
Ship comparison
Grand Princess vs Queen Mary 2
Cunard Line
Queen Mary 2
- Cruises
- 143
- From
- $359
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Grand Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 2,590 passengers, in service since 1998. Queen Mary 2 is a large Cunard Line ship carrying 2,620 passengers, in service since 2004.
Choose Grand Princess if you want a more family-friendly ship, a lower starting fare or a more active cruise: it outscores Queen Mary 2 for family friendly (8.0 vs 4.0) and active (7.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $175 (vs $359).
Choose Queen Mary 2 if you want a better-rated spa and gym, more space per passenger or a newer ship: it outscores Grand Princess for spa & fitness (9.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, it has 57.8 gross tons per passenger (vs 42.1) and its maiden voyage was in 2004 (vs 1998).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Grand Princess | Queen Mary 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises | Cunard Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 1998 | 2004 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2011 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 109,000 | 151,400 |
| Passengers | 2,590 | 2,620 |
| Crew | 1,100 | 1,253 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.4 | 2.1 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 42.1 | 57.8 (better) |
| Decks | 17 | 17 |
| Length | 935 ft | 1,132 ft |
| Beam | 118 ft | 148 ft |
| Speed | 26 mph | 35 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 7 / 10 | 9 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 78 | 143 |
| Upcoming sailings | 87 | 204 |
| Cruise lengths | 2–94 nights | 2–35 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $175 (better) | $359 |
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, Queen Mary 2 on 3, with 5 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.
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
143 cruises on sale, from $359.
Questions
Grand Princess or Queen Mary 2?
Which is bigger, Grand Princess or Queen Mary 2?
Queen Mary 2 is bigger at 151,400 gross tons, against 109,000 gross tons for Grand Princess. Grand Princess carries 2,590 passengers and Queen Mary 2 carries 2,620.
Which ship is newer, Grand Princess or Queen Mary 2?
Queen Mary 2 is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2004 against 1998 for Grand Princess.
Which has more space per passenger?
Queen Mary 2, with 57.8 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?
Queen Mary 2, with one crew member for every 2.1 passengers against one for every 2.4 on Grand Princess.
Which is better for families?
Grand 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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