What is the smallest ship in the Princess Line?

What is the smallest Princess cruise ship? The smallest Princess cruise ship is the 2,000-passenger Coral Princess. Measuring just 91,267 gross tons, it's about 36% smaller than Discovery Princess, making it a significantly smaller vessel.



In 2026, the Coral Princess holds the title of the smallest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet. A supportive peer "maritime" detail: launched in 2002, she has a gross tonnage of approximately 91,627 and a guest capacity of roughly 2,000. For comparison, the newer Sun-class ships are nearly double that size. The Coral Princess (along with her sister, the Island Princess) was specifically designed with a narrower "Panamax" beam, allowing her to navigate the older locks of the Panama Canal. This smaller size makes her a favorite for cruisers who prefer a more intimate atmosphere and access to smaller, niche ports that the 4,000-passenger "mega-ships" simply cannot reach. Despite her age, she remains a staple for adventurous itineraries in Alaska and the Mediterranean due to her unique ability to get "up close" to the scenery.

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FAQ. What is the tiniest cruise ship in the world? The tiniest cruise ship in the world is the Celebrity Xploration offered by Celebrity Cruises. The ship has a guest capacity of 16 and sails around the Galapagos Islands.

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The oldest Princess cruise ship is Grand Princess. Unveiled way back in 1998, it's the namesake vessel for the line's Grand class of vessels, which remain at the core of the Princess fleet. There are seven Grand-class vessels in the Princess fleet in all, making it the biggest grouping of ships at the line.

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The biggest difference between the two ships is the number of guests each one carries. Coral Princess accommodates just under 2,000 passengers, whereas up to 2,200 passengers can sail on board Island Princess after a refit saw the addition of more than 100 cabins.

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Dining. If you want to enjoy authentic Italian-inspired cuisine or excellent steakhouse dining, both Princess and Royal Caribbean have you covered. There's other overlap as well, but the differences between the dining options on each cruise line are primarily a matter of options, including the free ones.

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Princess appeals to an older demographic than lines such as Carnival and Norwegian. The average age of passengers is around 57, and you'll usually see a lot of couples on board in their 50s, 60s and 70s. As noted above, these aren't people necessarily craving go-kart tracks and ropes courses at sea.

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The wreck and sinking of the steamship Princess Sophia exactly a century ago has been called Alaska's worst maritime tragedy. As many as 353 passengers and crew died after the ship grounded on Vanderbilt Reef north of Juneau on Oct. 23, 1918, and then sank 40 hours later in stormy weather.

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The tiniest cruise ship in the world is the Celebrity Xploration offered by Celebrity Cruises. The ship has a guest capacity of 16 and sails around the Galapagos Islands.

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Forbes Vetted
  • Best Luxury Cruise Overall: Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Evrima.
  • Best Luxury River Cruise: Viking River Cruises, Viking Osiris.
  • Best Luxury Cruise For Foodies: Crystal, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony.
  • Best Small Ship Luxury Cruise: Seabourn, Seabourn Venture.


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Majestic Princess is the first custom-designed vessel built specifically for the Chinese market and incorporates the successful design platform introduced on its sister ships Royal Princess and Regal Princess, which entered service in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

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You should make sure you have a wide array of clothing packed away in your suitcase, as cruises may require everything from a casual swimsuit to a formal tuxedo. Princess Cruises is smart casual, so pack clothing that adheres to that guideline.

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Contributor. Departing from the standard practice of most cruise lines, airlines, hotels, and other businesses with time-dependent inventory, Princess Cruises says it will abandon offering last-minute discounts to fill empty cabins prior to sailing.

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Best Luxury Cruise Lines
  • #1. Viking Ocean Cruises.
  • #2. Seabourn Cruise Line.
  • #3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises.


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