Two Princess Cruises ships, head to head — specs, amenities, and what each one is genuinely better at.
Sun Princess (2024) is the newer ship by 20 years versus Diamond Princess (2004). Sun Princess is the larger hull at 177,882 GT (~54% bigger). Diamond Princess sails with fewer guests at double occupancy (2,670 vs 4,300).
| Spec | Diamond Princess | Sun Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Year built | 2004 | 2024 |
| Tonnage | 115,875 GT | 177,882 GT |
| Guests (double occupancy) | 2,670 | 4,300 |
| Guests (max) | 3,160 | 4,610 |
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.