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MSC Grandiosa vs Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess
The MSC Grandiosa was built in 2019. It was renovated in 2024. The Grandiosa features a 364 foot indoor promenade with a "sky" made up of a massive digital LED screen that shows scenes 24/7. It's 15 years newer than the Caribbean Princess, which was built in 2004 and renovated in 2024.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Grandiosa is considered a large size ship. Coming in at 1,094 feet long and 141 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3 football fields, as wide as 2.7 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 15-story building. Compared to the Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess, the Grandiosa is 61% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
MSC Grandiosa holds 38% more passengers than the Caribbean Princess based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Grandiosa has more space per person compared to the Caribbean Princess. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.
| MSC Grandiosa | Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Meraviglia Plus | Caribbean |
| Gross Tonnage | 181,541 | 112,894 |
| Length | 1,094 | 952 |
| Beam/Width | 141 | 158 |
| Passenger Decks | 15 | 19 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 4,345 | 3,140 |
| Crew | 1,704 | 1,200 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.8 | 2.6 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 37 | 36 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Grandiosa has thirteen different dining options like Marketplace Buffet, Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Cafe, and Kaito Teppanyaki. Of those options, nine are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other ten options have an additional fee.
The Caribbean Princess has two fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Sabatini's, World Fresh Marketplace, and Slice. Ten of these restaurants are complementary and the other four have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Grandiosa might be a better choice. It has 18% more dining options than the Caribbean Princess.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Caribbean Princess might be a better choice then the Grandiosa. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| MSC Grandiosa | Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 13 | 11 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 9 | 10 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 10 | 4 |
| % of Included Options | 23% | 64% |
| See the options | See the options |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.
There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The MSC Grandiosa has a total of 5 pools and 9 hot tubs. 1 of the pools and 3 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.
Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess has fewer pools than the Grandiosa and fewer hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Caribbean Princess. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools are adults only on Grandiosa.| MSC Grandiosa | Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 5 | 4 |
| Pools - General Access | 3 | 3 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 1 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 9 | 7 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 6 | 5 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 3 |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Grandiosa. Only 50% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Caribbean Princess, 80% of the activities are included at no additional cost.
| MSC Grandiosa | Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✗ |
| Adventure Trail | ✓ | ✗ |
| Afternoon Tea | ✗ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✗ |
| Art Auctions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bowling Alley | ✓ | ✗ |
| Carousel Acrobatic Production Show | ✓ | ✗ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| F1 Simulator | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Indoor Sportsplex | ✓ | ✗ |
| Interactive XD Cinema | ✓ | ✗ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✗ | ✓ |
| Putting green | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shows - musical review | ✗ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sports Court | ✗ | ✓ |
| Theater | ✓ | ✗ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✗ |
| Water slides | ✓ | ✗ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
MSC is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Princess Cruises, on the other hand, is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.
| MSC Grandiosa | Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $17.00 | $17.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | 20% |
| Soda Price | $3.50 | $3.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $9.00 | $8.00 |
| Drink Package Price | $46 - $85 | $77 -$100 |
| Internet Plan | $17 - $27 per device per day | $24.99 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
Princess Cruises offers two packages to bundle onboard expenses. The Princess Plus package includes daily gratuities, the basic beverage package, 2 fitness classes, 2 casual dining meals, and internet for $60 per day per guest. The Princess Premier package upgrades to the premiere beverage package, wifi for up to 4 devices per guest, two specialty dining meals, unlimited casual dining meals, unlimited fitness classes, and a photo package for $80 per guest per day.
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