Two Princess Cruises ships, head to head — specs, amenities, and what each one is genuinely better at.
Diamond Princess (2004) is the newer ship by 6 years versus Grand Princess (1998). Diamond Princess is the larger hull at 115,875 GT (~8% bigger). Grand Princess sails with fewer guests at double occupancy (2,600 vs 2,670).
| Spec | Diamond Princess | Grand Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Year built | 2004 | 1998 |
| Tonnage | 115,875 GT | 107,517 GT |
| Guests (double occupancy) | 2,670 | 2,600 |
| Guests (max) | 3,160 | 3,100 |
Trophy marks the ship that wins each row. Smaller capacity = more space per guest.
Cruising around Hokkaido cuts out 1,500 km of driving and four ferry transfers, unlocking remote ports like Rishiri without changing hotels once.
Princess advertises $1,200 while Virgin starts near $2,800. We ran the ledger on Wi-Fi, tips, and dining to find the real Alaska cost.
Carnival, MSC, Holland America, Princess, and Margaritaville at Sea all bumped daily gratuities in 2026. Here's exactly what a 7-night week now costs you.