Carnival Cruise Line vs Princess Cruises — a head-to-head on the specs, the amenities, and what each ship is genuinely better at.
Sun Princess (2024) is the newer ship by 4 years versus Carnival Mardi Gras (2020). Carnival Mardi Gras is the larger hull at 180,000 GT (~1% bigger). Sun Princess sails with fewer guests at double occupancy (4,300 vs 5,282).
| Spec | Carnival Mardi Gras | Sun Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Year built | 2020 | 2024 |
| Tonnage | 180,000 GT | 177,882 GT |
| Guests (double occupancy) | 5,282 | 4,300 |
| Guests (max) | 6,500 | 4,610 |
Trophy marks the ship that wins each row. Smaller capacity = more space per guest.
Distinct ports each ship visits in the next 12 months.
No ports in common in the next 12 months.