Two Princess Cruises ships, head to head — specs, amenities, and what each one is genuinely better at.
Star Princess (2025) is the newer ship by 3 years versus Discovery Princess (2022). Star Princess is the larger hull at 177,882 GT (~23% bigger). Discovery Princess sails with fewer guests at double occupancy (3,660 vs 4,300).
| Spec | Discovery Princess | Star Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Year built | 2022 | 2025 |
| Tonnage | 145,000 GT | 177,882 GT |
| Guests (double occupancy) | 3,660 | 4,300 |
| Guests (max) | 4,458 | 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.
None unique — everywhere this ship goes, the other does too.
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.
Cruising around Hokkaido cuts out 1,500 km of driving and four ferry transfers, unlocking remote ports like Rishiri without changing hotels once.
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.