September 5, 2026
5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Departing from New Orleans
From
$477
Price / day
$95
Carnival Valor|Sapphire Princess
Carnival Valor vs Sapphire Princess
Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.
Carnival Valor
Carnival Cruise Line
Check prices on CruiseDirectVS
Newer Ship
Both ships are the same
Lower Price Per Day
Carnival Valor
$112 / day
$13 less per day
More Spacious Ship
Sapphire Princess
43.4 GT per guest
Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity
Carnival Valor vs Sapphire Princess: Quick Comparison
Carnival Valor and Sapphire Princess both entered service in 2004. Sapphire Princess is approximately 5% larger by gross tonnage at 115,875 GT. Carnival Valor also carries 310 more passengers. Carnival Valor has upcoming sailings in Western Caribbean, while Sapphire Princess has sailings in Canada & New England and Panama Canal. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, Carnival Valor 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 Valor | Sapphire Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Year Built | 2004 | 2004 |
| Gross Tonnage | 110,000 GT | 115,875 GT |
| Passenger Capacity | 2,980 | 2,670 |
| Space per Passenger | 36.9 GT | 43.4 GT |
| Length | 290.2 m | 290 m |
| Decks | — | — |
| Cabins | — | — |
Key Differences: Carnival Valor vs Sapphire Princess
Age
Carnival Valor and Sapphire Princess were both built in 2004.
Size
At 115,875 GT, Sapphire Princess is approximately 5% larger by gross tonnage than Carnival Valor at 110,000 GT.
Passenger capacity
Carnival Valor carries up to 2,980 passengers compared with 2,670 aboard Sapphire Princess, a difference of 310 passengers.
Passenger space
Sapphire Princess offers more space per passenger: 43.4 GT per guest, compared with 36.9 aboard Carnival Valor. A higher passenger space ratio generally means less crowding in public areas.
Itineraries
The upcoming sailings shown for Carnival Valor (Western Caribbean) and Sapphire Princess (Canada & New England and Panama Canal) currently cover different regions or departure ports.
Price
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Carnival Valor has the lower average starting price per day at $112 per day.
Compare Ports of Call
Carnival Valor
5-Day Western Caribbean from New Orleans, LA
- Departure Port
- New Orleans
- Region
- Western Caribbean
- Nights
- 5
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 5, 2026New Orleans
- Day 2 · Sep 6, 2026At Sea
- Day 3 · Sep 7, 2026Cozumel
- Day 4 · Sep 8, 2026Progreso
- Day 5 · Sep 9, 2026At Sea
- Day 6 · Sep 10, 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 Valor
September 10, 2026
4-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Departing from New Orleans
From
$514
Price / day
$129
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 Valor
Average
$112 / day
VS
Sapphire Princess
Average
$125 / day
Carnival Valor has the lower price per day among the sailings shown
$112/day vs $125/day
About $13 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 Valor if…
- You do not mind sailing on a ship with a higher passenger capacity.
- You want to sail in Western Caribbean.
- 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.
Carnival Valor vs Sapphire Princess: Final Comparison Summary
Newer
Both ships are the same
Bigger
Sapphire Princess
115,875 GT
5% larger by gross tonnage
Lower Price Per Day
Carnival Valor
$112 / day
About $13 less per day
- Both ships were built in 2004.
- Sapphire Princess is 5% larger by gross tonnage.
- Carnival Valor carries 310 more passengers.
- Sapphire Princess offers more space per passenger (43.4 GT per guest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is bigger, Carnival Valor or Sapphire Princess?
Sapphire Princess is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 115,875 GT compared with Carnival Valor at 110,000 GT.
Which ship carries more passengers?
Carnival Valor has a passenger capacity of approximately 2,980, compared with 2,670 for Sapphire Princess.
Which ship is more spacious, Carnival Valor or Sapphire Princess?
Sapphire Princess has the higher passenger space ratio at 43.4 GT per passenger, versus 36.9 for Carnival Valor. The ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity; a higher number means more ship space per guest.
Which ship is cheaper, Carnival Valor or Sapphire Princess?
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Carnival Valor has the lower average starting price per day at $112 per day versus $125 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.
Where does Carnival Valor sail?
The upcoming Carnival Valor sailings currently listed cover Western Caribbean, departing from New Orleans.
Where does Sapphire Princess sail?
The upcoming Sapphire Princess sailings currently listed cover Canada & New England and Panama Canal, departing from Quebec City and Ft. Lauderdale.
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