Leaves in 8 daysDiamond Princess vs Pacific Encounter
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated February 2026
Diamond Princess is the larger vessel at 115,875 GT — 6% more than Pacific Encounter's 109,000 GT. Built in 2004, Diamond Princess is 2 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
Score: 5 – 1
Quick Compare
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Category
Diamond Princess
Pacific Encounter
Size
115,875 GT
109,000 GT
Passengers
2,670
2,636
Year Built
2004
2002
Crew Ratio
1:2.4
1:2.4
Space Ratio
43.4
41.4
Decks
—
—
Length
290m
290m
From Price
$971/pp
—
Comparison Verdict
Diamond Princess is the larger vessel at 115,875 GT — 6% more than Pacific Encounter's 109,000 GT. Built in 2004, Diamond Princess is 2 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Diamond Princess |
| Capacity | Diamond Princess |
| Modernity | Diamond Princess |
| Service | Pacific Encounter |
| Spaciousness | Diamond Princess |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Tie |
| Fleet Power | Diamond Princess |
Bottom line: Diamond Princess leads 5–1 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Diamond Princess for overall superiority; pick Pacific Encounter if its strengths matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Diamond 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)
You've compared the ships. Now see what they cost.
See Current Prices
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Sailing Prices
| Diamond Princess | Pacific Encounter | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | $971 pp | — |
| Departing | Aug 16 | — |
| Duration | 10 nights | — |
| View Deal |
Prices from Cruisebound. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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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.
