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Sapphire Princess vs Millennium
The Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess was built in 2004. It was renovated in 2018. It's 4 years newer than the Millennium, which was built in 2000 and renovated in 2019.
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 Sapphire Princess is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 952 feet long and 123 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.6 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 18-story building. Compared to the Celebrity Millennium, the Sapphire Princess is 27% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess holds 20% more passengers than the Millennium 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 Sapphire Princess has more space per person compared to the Millennium. 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 Sapphire Princess | Celebrity Millennium | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Gem | Millennium |
| Gross Tonnage | 115,875 | 90,940 |
| Length | 952 | 964 |
| Beam/Width | 123 | 105 |
| Passenger Decks | 18 | 11 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 2,670 | 2,218 |
| Crew | 1,100 | 1,024 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.4 | 2.2 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 43 | 41 |
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 Sapphire Princess has 16 different dining options like Alfredo's Pizzeria, World Fresh Marketplace, and International Cafe. Of those options, 10 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 4 options have an additional fee.
The Millennium has 3 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Le Petit Chef at Qsine, Oceanview Cafe, and Spa Cafe. 8 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 5 have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Sapphire Princess might be a better choice. It has 23% more dining options than the Millennium.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Sapphire Princess might be a better choice then the Millennium. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess | Celebrity Millennium | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 16 | 13 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 10 | 8 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 4 | 5 |
| % of Included Options | 75% | 62% |
| 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 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 Sapphire Princess has a total of 5 pools and 8 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.
Celebrity Millennium has fewer pools than the Sapphire Princess and fewer hot tubs.
| Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess | Celebrity Millennium | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 5 | 3 |
| Pools - General Access | 4 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | ||
| Total Hot Tubs | 8 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 6 | 3 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 1 |
| 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 Sapphire Princess, 67% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Millennium, only 50% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess | Celebrity Millennium | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults-only area (additional fee) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Afternoon Tea | ✓ | ✗ |
| Art Auctions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Basketball | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bingo | ✗ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Outdoor movies | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sports Court | ✓ | ✗ |
| Thermal Suites | ✗ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Princess Cruises and Celebrity are both considered "Premium" cruise lines. 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. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess will likely be more expensive than on Celebrity Millennium.
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 Sapphire Princess | Celebrity Millennium | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $17.00 | $18.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | 20% |
| Soda Price | $2.50 | $4.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $6.25 | $8.00 |
| Drink Package Price | $64.99 - $84.99 | $60 - $125 |
| Internet Plan | $24.99 per device per day | $20 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.
Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.
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