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Crown Princess vs Paradise
The Princess Cruises Crown Princess was built in 2006. It was renovated in 2018. It's 15 years newer than the Paradise, which was built in 1991 and renovated in 2018. The Paradise previously sailed under two different names, the Costa Classica and Grand Classica, before being purchased by Margaritaville to launch their new cruise line.
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 Crown Princess is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 952 feet long and 159 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. Compared to the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, the Crown Princess is 115% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
The Princess Cruises Crown Princess holds more than double the amount of people as the Paradise based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Crown Princess has less space per person compared to the Paradise.
| Princess Cruises Crown Princess | Margaritaville at Sea Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Crown | Classica |
| Gross Tonnage | 113,561 | 52,926 |
| Length | 952 | 722 |
| Beam/Width | 159 | 102 |
| Passenger Decks | 19 | 14 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 3,080 | 1,308 |
| Crew | 1,200 | 620 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.6 | 2.1 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 37 | 40 |
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 Crown Princess has thirteen different dining options like The Salty Dog Gastropub, Main Dining Room, and World Fresh Marketplace. Of those options, ten are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other five options have an additional fee.
The Paradise has six fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar, Fins Dining, and JWB Prime Steakhouse. five of these restaurants are complementary and the other two have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Crown Princess might be a better choice. It has 86% more dining options than the Paradise.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Paradise might be a better choice then the Crown Princess. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Princess Cruises Crown Princess | Margaritaville at Sea Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 13 | 7 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 10 | 5 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 5 | 2 |
| % of Included Options | 62% | 71% |
| 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. You can check out recent the bar menus for the Paradise below.
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 Princess Cruises Crown Princess has a total of 4 pools and 6 hot tubs.
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise has fewer pools than the Crown Princess and fewer hot tubs.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? Two of the pools and two of the hot tubs are adults only on Crown Princess.| Princess Cruises Crown Princess | Margaritaville at Sea Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 4 | 2 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 1 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 2 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | ||
| Total Hot Tubs | 6 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 4 | |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive |
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 Crown Princess, 82% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Paradise, only 56% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Princess Cruises Crown Princess | Margaritaville at Sea Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✗ | ✓ |
| Afternoon Tea | ✓ | ✗ |
| Arcade | ✗ | ✓ |
| Art Auctions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comedy Show | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mini golf | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pickleball | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Putting green | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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.
Margaritaville at Sea, on the other hand, 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.
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.
| Princess Cruises Crown Princess | Margaritaville at Sea Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $17.00 | $20.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | 20% |
| Soda Price | $2.50 | $2.95 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $6.25 | $8.50 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $77 -$100 | 64.99 |
| Internet Plan | $24.99 per device per day | $17.99 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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