Majestic Princess

    Princess Cruises

    Majestic Princess

    Grand Princess

    Princess Cruises

    Grand Princess

    vs

    Ship Comparison

    Majestic Princess vs Grand Princess

    For a blend of classic cruising with modern touches, Majestic Princess offers a vibrant yet relaxed journey, while Grand Princess delivers an intimate, value-focused experience with a touch of traditional charm.

    The verdict

    Majestic Princess, launched in 2017 and updated in 2025, presents a contemporary take on the classic Princess experience, featuring an array of dining options like The Catch by Rudi and the lively O'Malley's Irish Pub, alongside innovative features such as the SeaWalk. It caters to guests seeking a social atmosphere that remains relaxed in the evenings, supported by Medallion technology for a seamless journey. Grand Princess, an elder statesman from 1998 with a 2016 refurbishment, offers a more intimate and unpretentious setting, appealing to those who appreciate a well-worn ship with high-quality food and service, particularly for multigenerational groups and value-seekers. While its decor is more dated, its charm and dedicated spaces like The Sanctuary provide a comfortable, traditional cruise.

    Choose Majestic Princess if…

    Travelers seeking a modern, social yet relaxed cruise with diverse dining and entertainment, and the convenience of personalized technology.

    Best for

    • Guests seeking modern amenities and a fresh decor.
    • Couples and adult groups who enjoy social evenings that are not overly rambunctious.
    • Food enthusiasts looking for diverse specialty dining, including sushi and high-quality seafood.
    • Travelers who appreciate personalized service enhanced by Medallion technology.
    • Families desiring excellent kids' clubs with age-appropriate activities.

    Avoid if

    • You prefer a late-night clubbing scene that extends past midnight.
    • You seek a very quiet, subdued atmosphere throughout the entire ship.
    • You prefer a smaller, more intimate ship experience.

    Choose Grand Princess if…

    Guests who appreciate a more traditional, intimate, and value-oriented cruise experience, ideal for multigenerational families and retirees.

    Best for

    • Value-conscious travelers seeking an affordable, casual-yet-elegant cruise.
    • Multigenerational families looking for diverse activities and a revamped kids club.
    • Young retirees who appreciate a sophisticated but unpretentious atmosphere.
    • Guests who enjoy traditional cruising with a focus on high-quality food and service.
    • Those who prefer a ship that tends to quiet down earlier in the evening.

    Avoid if

    • You expect cutting-edge, ultra-modern decor and amenities.
    • You dislike crowded public spaces, particularly during peak times.
    • You prioritize extensive late-night entertainment and clubbing.

    Overall Vibe

    Majestic Princess

    Majestic Princess, a Royal-class ship launched in 2017 and significantly refurbished in 2025, offers a sophisticated yet vibrant atmosphere. Her design thoughtfully blends classic Princess elements with fresh, contemporary touches. The ship feels social and engaging, thanks to the central Piazza atrium and venues like the Hollywood Conservatory. While large, carrying 3,560 guests across 19 decks, the layout ensures a relaxed flow, maintaining a classic cruise feel without being overly boisterous. The 2025 updates brought new dining and bar experiences, enhancing her appeal for those who appreciate modern amenities within a proven, comfortable framework.

    Grand Princess

    Grand Princess, a Grand-class ship launched in 1998 and last refurbished in 2016, exudes a well-worn, casual-yet-elegant charm. As a slightly smaller vessel, accommodating 2,594 passengers across roughly 15 decks, she offers a more intimate feel compared to her larger counterparts. The ship has retained much of its traditional character, providing a sophisticated yet unpretentious environment. While some areas show their age in decor, the ship’s focus on proven amenities and a comfortable atmosphere shines through, appealing to those who value experience and warmth over the latest flashy novelties.

    Atmosphere & Crowd

    Majestic Princess

    Majestic Princess fosters a fun, relaxed, and social atmosphere, attracting a mix of couples and adult groups. With a passenger capacity of 3,560 and a dedicated crew of 1,346, the ship maintains a good balance, ensuring attentive service without feeling overwhelmingly crowded. The vibe is generally lively during the day, especially around the Movies Under the Stars area and the Piazza, but tends to become quieter as the evening progresses, with the ship largely settling down before midnight. It’s a social environment but avoids being rambunctious, perfect for those who enjoy engaging activity earlier in the evening.

    Grand Princess

    Grand Princess provides an affordable, casual-yet-elegant atmosphere that particularly resonates with young retirees and multigenerational groups. Carrying 2,594 passengers with a crew of 1,100, the ship offers a more personal touch, reflected in its crew-to-guest ratio. While its intimate size can lead to some public spaces, like main corridors or the buffet, feeling crowded during peak times, the overall ambiance remains sophisticated and unpretentious. The ship tends to quiet down significantly after 11 p.m., catering to guests who prefer relaxed evenings over late-night revelry.

    Dining

    Majestic Princess

    Majestic Princess boasts an outstanding and diverse culinary landscape. Guests can enjoy complimentary options like the expansive World Fresh Marketplace buffet, the 24-hour International Café, and the newly installed Salty Dog Café for gourmet burgers. Alfredo’s Slice offers delicious grab-and-go pizza. For specialty dining, options include the acclaimed Crown Grill steakhouse, the exclusive Chef's Table Lumiere, Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar, and the highly praised seafood at The Catch by Rudi. The addition of O'Malley's Irish Pub provides a fun, casual pub fare experience, rounding out a comprehensive selection.

    Grand Princess

    Grand Princess offers high-quality and varied dining experiences, blending traditional favorites with enticing specialty venues. Complimentary options include the elegant Michelangelo, Botticelli, and DaVinci main dining rooms, Alfredo's Pizzeria for sit-down pizzas, and the convenient International Cafe. The Horizon Court buffet provides a wide array of choices, while Trident Grill serves casual poolside fare. Specialty dining at an additional cost features the refined Crown Grill steakhouse, the Italian delights of Sabatini's, and the unique Crab Shack experience. The ship also offers Ultimate Balcony Dining for a private, romantic meal.

    Entertainment & Nightlife

    Majestic Princess

    Entertainment on Majestic Princess is diverse, offering options from grand Broadway-style productions in the Princess Theatre to interactive game shows in Princess Live!. Movies Under the Stars provides a relaxing open-air cinema experience. The ship features numerous bars and lounges, including Crooners and the Vista Lounge, offering live music. While the atmosphere is generally social, the ship tends to be quiet before midnight, with Piazza DJ clubbing only starting around 11:30 p.m. The Hollywood Conservatory provides a unique indoor garden setting for games and intimate musical performances, and the Hollywood Pool Club hosts dance parties on select nights.

    Grand Princess

    Grand Princess offers a robust schedule of entertainment, from production shows in the Princess Theater to Movies Under the Stars. Guests can test their luck at the Vegas Style Casino or enjoy live music in venues like Crooner's Bar, Explorer's Lounge, and the Wheelhouse Bar. The ship also features unique activities such as Discovery at Sea's stargazing and the passenger singing competition, The Voice of the Ocean. For those seeking late-night fun, The One5 nightclub has a DJ spinning until the early hours. However, despite the nightclub, the ship generally quiets down after 11 p.m., appealing to those who prefer a more subdued evening.

    Cabins & Suites

    Majestic Princess

    Majestic Princess offers a comfortable and modern array of cabins, from Interior staterooms at 158-162 sq ft to expansive Suites reaching up to 1,500 sq ft, including balconies. Decor is fresh, featuring shades of brown, cream, and burgundy. All cabins boast the Princess Luxury Bed, flat-screen TVs with on-demand content, and convenient USB ports. Specialty accommodations like Reserve Collection Mini-Suites and Suites come with enhanced perks, including priority services and complimentary amenities. The innovative Medallion technology allows for seamless cabin door unlocking upon approach, adding a touch of modern convenience.

    Grand Princess

    Grand Princess provides a range of accommodations, from standard Interior staterooms around 160 sq ft to Suites with verandas up to 591 sq ft. While the decor is described as dated, with blue and cream palettes and honey-colored wood, the cabins are clean, comfortable, and make intelligent use of space. All staterooms feature flat-screen TVs and the Princess Luxury Bed. Mini-suites offer a sofa bed and a divider between sleeping and sitting areas. It is worth noting that some balconies are tiered, which can reduce privacy for those on lower decks, a design element of this class.

    Service & Onboard Style

    Majestic Princess

    Majestic Princess delivers excellent food and service, upholding Princess Cruises' reputation for attentive care. The onboard style is refined but approachable, with the Piazza serving as a lively hub for social interaction and various performances. The ship's Medallion technology enhances the service experience, offering personalized assistance, simplifying transactions, and even allowing cabin doors to unlock automatically. This focus on seamless, personalized service ensures that guests can enjoy a relaxed and well-cared-for journey, making it easy to navigate and make the most of their time onboard.

    Grand Princess

    Grand Princess is known for its high-quality food and service, contributing to its sophisticated yet unpretentious atmosphere. Crew members are generally efficient and friendly, a hallmark of Princess Cruises. The ship's onboard style leans towards traditional elegance, with classic wood paneling in venues like the Wheelhouse Bar. While not as technologically advanced as newer ships, the Princess@Sea service allows guests to access daily schedules, make reservations, and communicate with fellow passengers via text messaging on their personal devices without needing an internet package, offering a practical form of personalized assistance.

    Best Itineraries

    Majestic Princess

    Specific itinerary details for Majestic Princess are not provided in the available data for this comparison. Therefore, we cannot offer a detailed assessment of its best routes at this time.

    Grand Princess

    Specific itinerary details for Grand Princess are not provided in the available data for this comparison. Therefore, we cannot offer a detailed assessment of its best routes at this time.

    What reviewers say

    Majestic Princess

    4/5

    Majestic Princess offers a classic cruise experience, with excellent food and service. While it may not have the cutting-edge features of more modern ships, its wide range of venues, entertainment, and outstanding dining ensure a very good voyage.

    Grand Princess

    3.5/5

    Grand Princess offers an affordable, casual-yet-elegant cruise experience, particularly appealing to young retirees and multigenerational groups. Despite showing its age and feeling crowded at times, it delivers high-quality food and service.

    Itineraries to compare

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