Cunard Line
Queen Mary 2
- Cruises
- 143
- From
- $359
Ship comparison
Queen Mary 2 vs Sapphire Princess
Princess Cruises
Sapphire Princess
- Cruises
- 107
- From
- $228
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Queen Mary 2 is a large Cunard Line ship carrying 2,620 passengers, in service since 2004. Sapphire Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 2,670 passengers, in service since 2004.
Choose Queen Mary 2 if you want more space per passenger, a better-rated spa and gym or more adventure and nature: it outscores Sapphire Princess for spa & fitness (9.0 vs 8.0) and adventure & nature (5.0 vs 4.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 57.8 gross tons per passenger (vs 43.4).
Choose Sapphire 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 $228 (vs $359).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Queen Mary 2 | Sapphire Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Cunard Line | Princess Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2004 | 2004 |
| Gross tonnage | 151,400 | 115,875 |
| Passengers | 2,620 | 2,670 |
| Crew | 1,253 | 1,238 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.1 (better) | 2.2 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 57.8 (better) | 43.4 |
| Decks | 17 | 13 |
| Length | 1,132 ft | 952 ft |
| Beam | 148 ft | 121 ft |
| Speed | 35 mph | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 9 / 10 (better) | 8 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 143 | 107 |
| Upcoming sailings | 204 | 113 |
| Cruise lengths | 2–35 nights | 2–42 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $359 | $228 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Queen Mary 2 leads on 4 of the ten, Sapphire Princess on 2, with 4 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
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.
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
Queen Mary 2 or Sapphire Princess?
Which is bigger, Queen Mary 2 or Sapphire Princess?
Queen Mary 2 is bigger at 151,400 gross tons, against 115,875 gross tons for Sapphire Princess. Queen Mary 2 carries 2,620 passengers and Sapphire Princess carries 2,670.
Which ship is newer, Queen Mary 2 or Sapphire Princess?
Both made their maiden voyage in 2004.
Which has more space per passenger?
Queen Mary 2, with 57.8 gross tons per passenger against 43.4 on Sapphire 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 2.2 on Sapphire Princess.
Which is better for families?
Sapphire 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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