Princess Cruises
Grand Princess
- Cruises
- 78
- From
- $175
Ship comparison
Grand Princess vs Sapphire Princess
Princess Cruises
Sapphire Princess
- Cruises
- 107
- From
- $228
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Grand Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 2,590 passengers, in service since 1998. Sapphire Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 2,670 passengers, in service since 2004.
Choose Grand Princess if you want a lower starting fare: its cruises start from $175 (vs $228).
Choose Sapphire Princess if you want a better-rated spa and gym or a newer ship: it outscores Grand Princess for spa & fitness (8.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores 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 | Sapphire Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Princess Cruises | Princess Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 1998 | 2004 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2011 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 109,000 | 115,875 |
| Passengers | 2,590 | 2,670 |
| Crew | 1,100 | 1,238 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.4 | 2.2 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 42.1 | 43.4 (better) |
| Decks | 17 | 13 |
| Length | 935 ft | 952 ft |
| Beam | 118 ft | 121 ft |
| Speed | 26 mph | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 7 / 10 | 8 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 78 | 107 |
| Upcoming sailings | 87 | 113 |
| Cruise lengths | 2–94 nights | 2–42 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $175 (better) | $228 |
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 1 of the ten, Sapphire Princess on 1, with 8 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
Sapphire Princess
Sapphire Princess from Princess Cruises is the perfect ship for sightseeing, featuring more than 700 balconies from which passengers can step out and enjoy the refreshing ocean breeze.
Highlights
- Cooking demonstrations and photography classes via ScholarShip@Sea
- Rest and relaxation in the Lotus Spa
Sailing now
107 cruises on sale, from $228.
Questions
Grand Princess or Sapphire Princess?
Which is bigger, Grand Princess or Sapphire Princess?
Sapphire Princess is bigger at 115,875 gross tons, against 109,000 gross tons for Grand Princess. Grand Princess carries 2,590 passengers and Sapphire Princess carries 2,670.
Which ship is newer, Grand Princess or Sapphire Princess?
Sapphire Princess is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2004 against 1998 for Grand Princess.
Which has more space per passenger?
Sapphire Princess, with 43.4 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?
Sapphire Princess, with one crew member for every 2.2 passengers against one for every 2.4 on Grand 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?
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