Diamond Princess|Queen Mary 2

Diamond Princess vs Queen Mary 2

Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.

Diamond Princess cruise ship
mstk east · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Diamond Princess

Princess Cruises

Check prices on CruiseDirect
VS

Newer Ship

Both ships are the same

Lower Price Per Day

Queen Mary 2

$162 / day

$2 less per day

More Spacious Ship

Queen Mary 2

57 GT per guest

Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity

Diamond Princess vs Queen Mary 2: Quick Comparison

Diamond Princess and Queen Mary 2 both entered service in 2004. Queen Mary 2 is approximately 29% larger by gross tonnage at 149,215 GT. Diamond Princess also carries 50 more passengers. Diamond Princess has upcoming sailings in Japan, while Queen Mary 2 has sailings in Transatlantic. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, Queen Mary 2 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

Specification comparison of Diamond Princess and Queen Mary 2
SpecDiamond PrincessQueen Mary 2
Year Built20042004
Gross Tonnage115,906 GT149,215 GT
Passenger Capacity2,6702,620
Space per Passenger43.4 GT57 GT
Length290 m345.03 m
Decks
Cabins

Key Differences: Diamond Princess vs Queen Mary 2

Age

Diamond Princess and Queen Mary 2 were both built in 2004.

Size

At 149,215 GT, Queen Mary 2 is approximately 29% larger by gross tonnage than Diamond Princess at 115,906 GT.

Passenger capacity

Diamond Princess carries up to 2,670 passengers compared with 2,620 aboard Queen Mary 2, a difference of 50 passengers.

Passenger space

Queen Mary 2 offers more space per passenger: 57 GT per guest, compared with 43.4 aboard Diamond Princess. A higher passenger space ratio generally means less crowding in public areas.

Itineraries

The upcoming sailings shown for Diamond Princess (Japan) and Queen Mary 2 (Transatlantic) currently cover different regions or departure ports.

Price

Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Queen Mary 2 has the lower average starting price per day at $162 per day.

Compare Ports of Call

Diamond Princess

Japan Explorer

Departure Port
Tokyo
Region
Japan
Nights
9
Round Trip
Yes
  1. Day 1 · Oct 1, 2026Tokyo
  2. Day 2 · Oct 2, 2026Toba
  3. Day 3 · Oct 3, 2026Osaka
  4. Day 4 · Oct 4, 2026Kochi
  5. Day 5 · Oct 5, 2026Hiroshima
  6. Day 6 · Oct 6, 2026Kanmon Straits
  7. Day 7 · Oct 7, 2026Busan
  8. Day 8 · Oct 8, 2026Nagasaki
  9. Day 9 · Oct 9, 2026At Sea
  10. Day 10 · Oct 10, 2026Tokyo

Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.

Queen Mary 2

Westbound Transatlantic Crossing, 10 Nights

Departure Port
Hamburg
Region
Transatlantic
Nights
10
Round Trip
No
  1. Day 1 · Sep 2, 2026Hamburg
  2. Day 2 · Sep 3, 2026At Sea
  3. Day 3 · Sep 4, 2026Zeebrugge
  4. Day 4 · Sep 5, 2026Southampton
  5. Day 5 · Sep 6, 2026At Sea
  6. Day 6 · Sep 7, 2026At Sea
  7. Day 7 · Sep 8, 2026At Sea
  8. Day 8 · Sep 9, 2026At Sea
  9. Day 9 · Sep 10, 2026At Sea
  10. Day 10 · Sep 11, 2026At Sea
  11. Day 11 · Sep 12, 2026New York

Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.

Upcoming Cruises & Prices

Diamond Princess

Queen Mary 2

Prices shown are starting fares and may change.

Which Ship Is Cheaper?

Diamond Princess

Average

$164 / day

VS

Queen Mary 2

Average

$162 / day

Queen Mary 2 has the lower price per day among the sailings shown

$162/day vs $164/day

About $2 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 Diamond Princess if…

  • You do not mind sailing on a ship with a higher passenger capacity.
  • You want to sail in Japan.
  • Departing from Tokyo works for your plans.

Choose Queen Mary 2 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 Transatlantic.
  • Departing from Hamburg and Southampton works for your plans.
  • The lower price per day among the sailings currently shown matters to you.

Diamond Princess vs Queen Mary 2: Final Comparison Summary

Newer

Both ships are the same

Bigger

Queen Mary 2

149,215 GT

29% larger by gross tonnage

Lower Price Per Day

Queen Mary 2

$162 / day

About $2 less per day

  • Both ships were built in 2004.
  • Queen Mary 2 is 29% larger by gross tonnage.
  • Diamond Princess carries 50 more passengers.
  • Queen Mary 2 offers more space per passenger (57 GT per guest).

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is bigger, Diamond Princess or Queen Mary 2?

Queen Mary 2 is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 149,215 GT compared with Diamond Princess at 115,906 GT.

Which ship carries more passengers?

Diamond Princess has a passenger capacity of approximately 2,670, compared with 2,620 for Queen Mary 2.

Which ship is more spacious, Diamond Princess or Queen Mary 2?

Queen Mary 2 has the higher passenger space ratio at 57 GT per passenger, versus 43.4 for Diamond Princess. The ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity; a higher number means more ship space per guest.

Which ship is cheaper, Diamond Princess or Queen Mary 2?

Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Queen Mary 2 has the lower average starting price per day at $162 per day versus $164 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.

Where does Diamond Princess sail?

The upcoming Diamond Princess sailings currently listed cover Japan, departing from Tokyo.

Where does Queen Mary 2 sail?

The upcoming Queen Mary 2 sailings currently listed cover Transatlantic, departing from Hamburg and Southampton.

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