Two Princess Cruises ships, head to head — specs, amenities, and what each one is genuinely better at.
Sapphire Princess (2004) is the newer ship by 6 years versus Grand Princess (1998). Sapphire 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 | Grand Princess | Sapphire Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Year built | 1998 | 2004 |
| Tonnage | 107,517 GT | 115,875 GT |
| Guests (double occupancy) | 2,600 | 2,670 |
| Guests (max) | 3,100 | 3,160 |
Trophy marks the ship that wins each row. Smaller capacity = more space per guest.
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.