Spots going fast$699/person
View Deal →Carnival Magic vs Diamond Princess
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated January 2026
Carnival Magic is the larger vessel at 130,000 GT — 12% more than Diamond Princess's 115,875 GT. Diamond Princess offers more personal space with a space ratio of 43.4 GT per passenger versus 35.2. Built in 2011, Carnival Magic is 7 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
Score: 5 – 2
Quick Compare
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Category
Carnival Magic
Diamond Princess
Size
130,000 GT
115,875 GT
Passengers
3,690
2,670
Year Built
2011
2004
Crew Ratio
1:2.7
1:2.4
Space Ratio
35.2
43.4
Decks
—
—
Length
306m
290m
From Price
$649/pp
$971/pp
Comparison Verdict
Carnival Magic is the larger vessel at 130,000 GT — 12% more than Diamond Princess's 115,875 GT. Diamond Princess offers more personal space with a space ratio of 43.4 GT per passenger versus 35.2. Built in 2011, Carnival Magic is 7 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Carnival Magic |
| Capacity | Carnival Magic |
| Modernity | Carnival Magic |
| Service | Diamond Princess |
| Spaciousness | Diamond Princess |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Carnival Magic |
| Fleet Power | Carnival Magic |
Bottom line: Carnival Magic leads 5–2 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Carnival Magic for overall superiority; pick Diamond Princess if its strengths matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Carnival Magic if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2011, 7yr newer)
- Size matters to you (130,000 GT)
- More onboard variety (3,690 guests)
- Save $322/person on sailings
Choose Diamond Princess if...
- Better service ratio (2.4:1 crew ratio)
- 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.
