Cruise Spotlight
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Grand Princess vs Independence of the Seas
The Princess Cruises Grand Princess was built in 1998. It was renovated in 2025. Grand Princess was the largest and most expansive ship ever to be constructed when it debuted in 1998. It's 10 years older than the Independence of the Seas, which was built in 2008 and renovated in 2018.
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 Grand Princess is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 949 feet long and 118 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.6 football fields, as wide as 2.2 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 17-story building. Compared to the Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas, the Grand Princess is 30% smaller in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Princess Cruises Grand Princess holds 33% fewer passengers than the Independence of the Seas 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 Grand Princess has more space per person compared to the Independence of the Seas. 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.
| Princess Cruises Grand Princess | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Grand | Freedom |
| Gross Tonnage | 107,517 | 154,407 |
| Length | 949 | 1,112 |
| Beam/Width | 118 | 185 |
| Passenger Decks | 17 | 14 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 2,600 | 3,858 |
| Crew | 1,150 | 1,440 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.3 | 2.7 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 41 | 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 Grand Princess has ten different dining options like Sabatini's, International Cafe, and Crown Grill. Of those options, ten are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other four options have an additional fee.
The Independence of the Seas has three more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Cafe Promenade, Chef's Table, and Izumi Hibachi & Sushi. nine of these restaurants are complementary and the other nine have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Independence of the Seas might be a better choice. It has 30% more dining options than the Grand Princess.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Grand Princess might be a better choice then the Independence of the Seas. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Princess Cruises Grand Princess | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 10 | 13 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 10 | 9 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 4 | 9 |
| % of Included Options | 60% | 31% |
| 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. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.
There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. You can check out recent the bar menus for the Independence of the Seas 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 Grand Princess has a total of 5 pools and 8 hot tubs. 1 of the pools and 2 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.
Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas has fewer pools than the Grand Princess and fewer hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Independence of the Seas. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.
| Princess Cruises Grand Princess | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 5 | 3 |
| Pools - General Access | 4 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | |
| Pools - Exclusive | 1 | 0 |
| Total Hot Tubs | 8 | 7 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 6 | 5 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 2 | 0 |
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 Grand Princess, 75% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Independence of the Seas, only 72% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Princess Cruises Grand Princess | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✗ | ✓ |
| Adults-only area (additional fee) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Afternoon Tea | ✓ | ✗ |
| Arcade | ✗ | ✓ |
| Art Auctions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Basketball | ✗ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Climbing Wall | ✗ | ✓ |
| Escape Room | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✗ | ✓ |
| FlowRider | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ice Skating | ✗ | ✓ |
| Laser Tag | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mini golf | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✓ | ✓ |
| Putting green | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - Broadway play | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✗ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✗ | ✓ |
| Sports Court | ✓ | ✗ |
| Water slides | ✗ | ✓ |
| 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.
Royal Caribbean, 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 Grand Princess | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $17.00 | $18.50 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | 18% |
| Soda Price | $2.50 | $3.50 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $6.25 | $8.25 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $77 -$100 | $77 - $118 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $24.99 per device per day | $19 to $30 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.
Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.
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