September 6, 2026
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Departing from New Orleans
From
$532
Price / day
$76
Carnival Liberty|Sapphire Princess
Carnival Liberty vs Sapphire Princess
Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.
Carnival Liberty
Carnival Cruise Line
Check prices on CruiseDirectVS
Newer Ship
Carnival Liberty
Built in 2005
1 year newer
Lower Price Per Day
Carnival Liberty
$81 / day
$44 less per day
More Spacious Ship
Sapphire Princess
43.4 GT per guest
Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity
Carnival Liberty vs Sapphire Princess: Quick Comparison
Carnival Liberty is the newer ship in this comparison. Built in 2005, it is 1 year newer than Sapphire Princess, which entered service in 2004. Sapphire Princess is approximately 5% larger by gross tonnage at 115,875 GT. Carnival Liberty also carries 304 more passengers. Carnival Liberty has upcoming sailings in Western Caribbean and Bahamas, while Sapphire Princess has sailings in Canada & New England and Panama Canal. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, Carnival Liberty has the lower average starting price per day. The sailings shown cover different itineraries, so the price per day figures are not a like-for-like comparison. Cruise fares vary significantly by itinerary, departure date and cabin availability, so any price difference should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent gap.
Ship Comparison
| Spec | Carnival Liberty | Sapphire Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Year Built | 2005Newer | 2004 |
| Gross Tonnage | 110,000 GT | 115,875 GT |
| Passenger Capacity | 2,974 | 2,670 |
| Space per Passenger | 37 GT | 43.4 GT |
| Length | 290.2 m | 290 m |
| Decks | — | — |
| Cabins | — | — |
Key Differences: Carnival Liberty vs Sapphire Princess
Age
Carnival Liberty was built in 2005, making it 1 year newer than Sapphire Princess, which was built in 2004.
Size
At 115,875 GT, Sapphire Princess is approximately 5% larger by gross tonnage than Carnival Liberty at 110,000 GT.
Passenger capacity
Carnival Liberty carries up to 2,974 passengers compared with 2,670 aboard Sapphire Princess, a difference of 304 passengers.
Passenger space
Sapphire Princess offers more space per passenger: 43.4 GT per guest, compared with 37 aboard Carnival Liberty. A higher passenger space ratio generally means less crowding in public areas.
Itineraries
The upcoming sailings shown for Carnival Liberty (Western Caribbean and Bahamas) and Sapphire Princess (Canada & New England and Panama Canal) currently cover different regions or departure ports.
Price
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Carnival Liberty has the lower average starting price per day at $81 per day.
Compare Ports of Call
Carnival Liberty
7-Day Western Caribbean from New Orleans, LA
- Departure Port
- New Orleans
- Region
- Western Caribbean
- Nights
- 7
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 6, 2026New Orleans
- Day 2 · Sep 7, 2026At Sea
- Day 3 · Sep 8, 2026At Sea
- Day 4 · Sep 9, 2026Isla Tropicale
- Day 5 · Sep 10, 2026Belize
- Day 6 · Sep 11, 2026Cozumel
- Day 7 · Sep 12, 2026At Sea
- Day 8 · Sep 13, 2026New Orleans
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Sapphire Princess
Canada & Colonial America
- Departure Port
- Quebec City
- Region
- Canada & New England
- Nights
- 14
- Round Trip
- No
- Day 1 · Oct 23, 2026Quebec City
- Day 2 · Oct 24, 2026Saguenay
- Day 3 · Oct 25, 2026At Sea
- Day 4 · Oct 26, 2026Charlottetown
- Day 5 · Oct 27, 2026Sydney
- Day 6 · Oct 28, 2026Halifax
- Day 7 · Oct 29, 2026At Sea
- Day 8 · Oct 30, 2026Boston
- Day 9 · Oct 31, 2026Newport
- Day 10 · Nov 1, 2026New York
- Day 11 · Nov 2, 2026New York
- Day 12 · Nov 3, 2026At Sea
- Day 13 · Nov 4, 2026At Sea
- Day 14 · Nov 5, 2026Nassau
- Day 15 · Nov 6, 2026Ft. Lauderdale
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Upcoming Cruises & Prices
Carnival Liberty
September 13, 2026
7-Night Bahamas Cruise
Departing from New Orleans
From
$592
Price / day
$85
Sapphire Princess
October 23, 2026
14-Night Canada & New England Cruise
Departing from Quebec City
From
$2,188
Price / day
$156
November 6, 2026
16-Night Panama Canal Cruise
Departing from Ft. Lauderdale
From
$1,511
Price / day
$94
Prices shown are starting fares and may change.
Which Ship Is Cheaper?
Carnival Liberty
Average
$81 / day
VS
Sapphire Princess
Average
$125 / day
Carnival Liberty has the lower price per day among the sailings shown
$81/day vs $125/day
About $44 less per day
This comparison is based on the upcoming sailings currently shown and may not represent like-for-like itineraries.
Cruise prices vary by departure date, itinerary, cabin type and availability.
Which Ship Should You Choose?
Choose Carnival Liberty if…
- You prefer the newer ship.
- You do not mind sailing on a ship with a higher passenger capacity.
- You want to sail in Western Caribbean and Bahamas.
- Departing from New Orleans works for your plans.
- The lower price per day among the sailings currently shown matters to you.
Choose Sapphire Princess if…
- You prefer the larger ship by gross tonnage.
- You prefer the ship with the lower passenger capacity.
- You value having more space per passenger (higher GT-per-guest ratio).
- You want to sail in Canada & New England and Panama Canal.
- Departing from Quebec City and Ft. Lauderdale works for your plans.
- You do not place as much importance on sailing on a newer ship than Carnival Liberty.
Carnival Liberty vs Sapphire Princess: Final Comparison Summary
Newer
Carnival Liberty
Built in 2005
1 year newer
Bigger
Sapphire Princess
115,875 GT
5% larger by gross tonnage
Lower Price Per Day
Carnival Liberty
$81 / day
About $44 less per day
- Carnival Liberty is 1 year newer.
- Sapphire Princess is 5% larger by gross tonnage.
- Carnival Liberty carries 304 more passengers.
- Sapphire Princess offers more space per passenger (43.4 GT per guest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is newer, Carnival Liberty or Sapphire Princess?
Carnival Liberty is newer. It was built in 2005, while Sapphire Princess was built in 2004, making Carnival Liberty 1 year newer.
Which is bigger, Carnival Liberty or Sapphire Princess?
Sapphire Princess is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 115,875 GT compared with Carnival Liberty at 110,000 GT.
Which ship carries more passengers?
Carnival Liberty has a passenger capacity of approximately 2,974, compared with 2,670 for Sapphire Princess.
Which ship is more spacious, Carnival Liberty or Sapphire Princess?
Sapphire Princess has the higher passenger space ratio at 43.4 GT per passenger, versus 37 for Carnival Liberty. The ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity; a higher number means more ship space per guest.
Which ship is cheaper, Carnival Liberty or Sapphire Princess?
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Carnival Liberty has the lower average starting price per day at $81 per day versus $125 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.
Where does Carnival Liberty sail?
The upcoming Carnival Liberty sailings currently listed cover Western Caribbean and Bahamas, departing from New Orleans.
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