Royal Caribbean
Mariner of the Seas
- Cruises
- 56
- From
- $463
Ship comparison
Mariner of the Seas vs Royal Princess
Princess Cruises
Royal Princess
- Cruises
- 55
- From
- $289
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Mariner of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 3,114 passengers, in service since 2003. Royal Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 3,560 passengers, in service since 2013.
Choose Mariner of the Seas if you want a better-rated spa and gym: it outscores Royal Princess for spa & fitness (9.0 vs 8.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose Royal Princess if you want a newer ship, 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, its maiden voyage was in 2013 (vs 2003) and its cruises start from $289 (vs $463).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Mariner of the Seas | Royal Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Royal Caribbean | Princess Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2003 | 2013 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2018 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 138,279 | 142,229 |
| Passengers | 3,114 | 3,560 |
| Crew | 1,185 | 1,200 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.6 (better) | 3.0 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 44.4 (better) | 40.0 |
| Decks | 15 | 19 |
| Length | 1,020 ft | 1,083 ft |
| Beam | 157 ft | 126 ft |
| Speed | 28 mph | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 10 / 10 (better) | 9 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 56 | 55 |
| Upcoming sailings | 93 | 96 |
| Cruise lengths | 6 to 17 nights | 3 to 36 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $463 | $289 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Mariner of the Seas leads on 2 of the ten, Royal Princess on 6, with 2 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
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
Princess Cruises
Royal Princess
Royal Princess remains one of the jewels of the Princess Cruises line. Features include an expanded atrium with additional entertainment and casual dining options, a top deck pool with a water and light show, an enhanced Movies Under the Stars screen and the new SeaWalk with views 128 feet straight down.
Highlights
- Balconies on all outside staterooms
- Expanded atrium with additional entertainment and casual dining options
- Uper-deck pool exclusively for adults, featuring plush private cabanas
- The SeaWalk & SeaView Bar — a first-of-its-kind enclosed walkway extending from the ships top deck and a port side cantilevered bar, each with glass floors and sweeping ocean views
Sailing now
55 cruises on sale, from $289.
Questions
Mariner of the Seas or Royal Princess?
Which is bigger, Mariner of the Seas or Royal Princess?
Royal Princess is bigger at 142,229 gross tons, against 138,279 gross tons for Mariner of the Seas. Mariner of the Seas carries 3,114 passengers and Royal Princess carries 3,560.
Which ship is newer, Mariner of the Seas or Royal Princess?
Royal Princess is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2013 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 40.0 on Royal 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 3.0 on Royal Princess.
Which is better for families?
Mariner of the Seas scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10, against 7.8 for Royal Princess.
Still deciding?
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