Coral Princess vs Caribbean Princess

The Princess Cruises Coral Princess was built in 2003. It was renovated in 2024. It's 1 year older 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 Coral Princess is considered a small size ship. Coming in at 965 feet long and 122 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.7 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 16-story building. Compared to the Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess, the Coral Princess is 19% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Princess Cruises Coral Princess holds 36% fewer 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 Coral Princess 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.

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 Coral Princess has 15 different dining options like World Fresh Marketplace, International Cafe, and Sabatini's. Of those options, 10 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 3 options have an additional fee.

The Caribbean Princess has 1 more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are World Fresh Marketplace, Sabatini's, and Crown Grill. 10 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 4 have an additional fee.

The Princess Cruises Coral Princess has about the same number of dining options as the Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess.

Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.

Restaurants on Princess Cruises Coral Princess & Caribbean Princess

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 problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Princess Cruises Coral Princess has a total of 3 pools and 5 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools are adults only.

Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess has more pools than the Coral Princess and more hot tubs.

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 Coral Princess. Only 78% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Caribbean Princess, 80% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

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. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit Princess Cruises'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 understand what you might spend onboard a Princess Cruises ship.

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.

Want to Stay Up-To-Date on All Things Cruising?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

About Cruise Spotlight
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.
Learn more about Cruise Spotlight.