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View Deal →Carnival Encounter vs Sapphire Princess
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated February 2026
Sapphire Princess is the larger vessel at 115,875 GT — 6% more than Carnival Encounter's 109,000 GT. Built in 2004, Sapphire Princess is 2 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
Score: 1 – 5
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Category
Carnival Encounter
Sapphire Princess
Size
109,000 GT
115,875 GT
Passengers
2,600
2,670
Year Built
2002
2004
Crew Ratio
1:2.4
1:2.4
Space Ratio
41.9
43.4
Decks
18
—
Length
290m
290m
From Price
$572/pp
$1,263/pp
Comparison Verdict
Sapphire Princess is the larger vessel at 115,875 GT — 6% more than Carnival Encounter's 109,000 GT. Built in 2004, Sapphire Princess is 2 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Sapphire Princess |
| Capacity | Sapphire Princess |
| Modernity | Sapphire Princess |
| Service | Carnival Encounter |
| Spaciousness | Sapphire Princess |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Tie |
| Fleet Power | Sapphire Princess |
Bottom line: Sapphire Princess leads 5–1 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Sapphire Princess for overall superiority; pick Carnival Encounter if Service matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Carnival Encounter if...
- Better service ratio (2.4:1 crew ratio)
- Save $691/person on sailings
Choose Sapphire Princess if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2004, 2yr newer)
- Size matters to you (115,875 GT)
- More onboard variety (2,670 guests)
- More space per guest (43.4 GT/pax)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is the comparison score calculated?
We compute scores across 8 categories using real spec data — gross tonnage, passenger capacity, crew capacity, year built, length, deck count, space ratio, and fleet power. Each category awards one point to the winning ship.
What is the space ratio and why does it matter?
Space ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity. A higher number means more space per guest. Luxury lines typically score above 40; mass-market ships often fall in the 30-40 range.
What does the passenger-to-crew ratio mean?
Passengers per crew member. Lower is better — more staff per guest means better service. Luxury lines aim below 2:1; large mainstream ships may be 3-4:1.
Are the prices shown accurate?
Prices are sourced from Cruisebound and reflect real-time availability. They may change based on cabin type, date, and demand. Click through to see the latest fares.
Can I compare more than two ships?
Yes — up to four ships. Use the search tool on the compare hub page to add additional ships.
How current is the ship data?
Specifications come from our database of 380+ vessels, revalidated every 5 minutes via ISR. The "Updated" timestamp shows when records were last modified.
