Holland America Line
Koningsdam
- Cruises
- 47
- From
- $399
Ship comparison
Koningsdam vs Sapphire Princess
Princess Cruises
Sapphire Princess
- Cruises
- 107
- From
- $228
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Koningsdam is a large Holland America Line ship carrying 2,650 passengers, in service since 2016. Sapphire Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 2,670 passengers, in service since 2004.
Choose Koningsdam if you want a newer ship, more adventure and nature or more of a party: it outscores Sapphire Princess for adventure & nature (5.0 vs 4.0) and party (6.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2016 (vs 2004).
Choose Sapphire Princess if you want a more family-friendly ship, a lower starting fare or a more active cruise: it outscores Koningsdam for family friendly (8.0 vs 6.0) and active (7.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $228 (vs $399).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Koningsdam | Sapphire Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Holland America Line | Princess Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2016 (better) | 2004 |
| Gross tonnage | 99,500 | 115,875 |
| Passengers | 2,650 | 2,670 |
| Crew | 1,025 | 1,238 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.6 | 2.2 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 37.5 | 43.4 (better) |
| Decks | 12 | 13 |
| Length | 935 ft | 952 ft |
| Beam | 115 ft | 121 ft |
| Speed | 28 mph | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 10 / 10 (better) | 8 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 47 | 107 |
| Upcoming sailings | 101 | 113 |
| Cruise lengths | 4–35 nights | 2–42 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $399 | $228 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Koningsdam leads on 4 of the ten, Sapphire Princess on 3, with 3 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Holland America Line
Koningsdam
Launched in April 2016, ms Koningsdam from Holland America Line helped usher in the new Pinnacle class of ships for the venerable cruise line. The 2,650-passenger ship is the first in more than a century to bear the name Koningsdam (pronounced CONE-ings-dam, not CON), which honors Willem-Alexander, the first king of the Netherlands.
Highlights
- Billboard Onboard features Top 50 music for passengers
- Hands-on kitchen in the Culinary Arts Center
Sailing now
47 cruises on sale, from $399.
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
Koningsdam or Sapphire Princess?
Which is bigger, Koningsdam or Sapphire Princess?
Sapphire Princess is bigger at 115,875 gross tons, against 99,500 gross tons for Koningsdam. Koningsdam carries 2,650 passengers and Sapphire Princess carries 2,670.
Which ship is newer, Koningsdam or Sapphire Princess?
Koningsdam is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2016 against 2004 for Sapphire Princess.
Which has more space per passenger?
Sapphire Princess, with 43.4 gross tons per passenger against 37.5 on Koningsdam. 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 2.6 on Koningsdam.
Which is better for families?
Sapphire Princess scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10, against 6.0 for Koningsdam.
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