Cruise Spotlight
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Caribbean Princess vs Sapphire Princess
The Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess was built in 2004. It was renovated in 2024. The Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess was built in 2004 and renovated in 2025.
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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 Caribbean Princess is considered a medium ship. Coming in at 952 feet long and 158 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.6 football fields, as wide as 3 tractor-trailers, and the same height as a 19-story building. It's about the same size as the Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess.
Number of Passengers
Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess holds 18% more passengers than the Sapphire Princess based on double occupancy (two people per room). At full capacity, Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess holds 17% more passengers than the Sapphire Princess.
When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Caribbean Princess has less space per person compared to the Sapphire Princess.
| Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess | Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Caribbean | Gem |
| Gross Tonnage | 112,894 | 115,875 |
| Length | 952 | 952 |
| Beam/Width | 158 | 123 |
| Passenger Decks | 19 | 18 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 3,140 | 2,670 |
| Passengers (maximum occupancy) | 3,766 | 3,214 |
| Crew | 1,200 | 1,100 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 3.1 | 2.9 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 30 | 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 Caribbean Princess has eleven different dining options like Main Dining Room, World Fresh Marketplace, and Slice. Of those options, ten are complimentary, or included with your cruise fare. The other four options have an additional fee.
The Sapphire Princess has two more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Main Dining Room, Makoto Ocean, and International Cafe. Ten of these restaurants are complimentary and the other six have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Sapphire Princess 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 than the Sapphire Princess. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
Restaurants on Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess & Sapphire Princess
| Restaurant | Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess | Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Included | |||
| Burger & Hot Dog Grill | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Burger & Lobster Grill | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Coffee and Cones | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Main Dining Room | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Slice | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Swirls Ice Cream Bar | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| The Salty Dog Grill | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| World Fresh Marketplace | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| A la carte | |||
| International Cafe | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Makoto Ocean | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Vines Wine Bar | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Flat fee | |||
| Alfredo's Pizzeria | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Crown Grill | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Sabatini's | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Sterling Steakhouse | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
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 Barq's 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
Princess Cruises
Caribbean Princess
4
pools
7
hot tubs
Princess Cruises
Sapphire Princess
5
pools
8
hot tubs
| Caribbean Princess | Sapphire Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| General-access pools | 3 | 4 |
| Adults-only pools | 1 | 1 |
| General-access hot tubs | 5 | 6 |
| Adults-only hot tubs | 2 | 2 |
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess has a total of 4 pools and 7 hot tubs.
Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess has more pools than the Caribbean Princess and more hot tubs.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools and two of the hot tubs are adults only on Caribbean Princess.
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. On the Caribbean Princess, 80% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Sapphire Princess, only 67% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess | Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults-only area (additional fee) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Afternoon Tea | ✓ | ✓ |
| Art Auctions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✓ | ✓ |
| Putting green | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sports Court | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Princess Cruises 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.
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 may 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 understand what you might spend onboard a Princess Cruises ship.
| Princess Cruises | |
|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $17.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 20% |
| Soda Price | $3.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.00 |
| Drink Package Price | $77 -$100 |
| Internet Plan | $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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Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
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