September 6, 2026
7-Night Caribbean Cruise
Departing from Port Canaveral
From
$959
Price / day
$137
Norwegian Prima|Norwegian Joy
Norwegian Prima vs Norwegian Joy
Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.
VS
Newer Ship
Norwegian Prima
Built in 2022
5 years newer
Lower Price Per Day
Norwegian Prima
$116 / day
$3 less per day
More Spacious Ship
Norwegian Prima
44.6 GT per guest
Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity
Norwegian Prima vs Norwegian Joy: Quick Comparison
Norwegian Prima is the newer ship in this comparison. Built in 2022, it is 5 years newer than Norwegian Joy, which entered service in 2017. Norwegian Joy is approximately 17% larger by gross tonnage at 167,725 GT. Norwegian Joy also carries 685 more passengers. Norwegian Prima has upcoming sailings in Caribbean, while Norwegian Joy has sailings in Alaska. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, Norwegian Prima 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 | Norwegian Prima | Norwegian Joy |
|---|---|---|
| Year Built | 2022Newer | 2017 |
| Gross Tonnage | 143,535 GT | 167,725 GT |
| Passenger Capacity | 3,215 | 3,900 |
| Space per Passenger | 44.6 GT | 43 GT |
| Length | 299 m | 333.46 m |
| Decks | — | — |
| Cabins | — | — |
Key Differences: Norwegian Prima vs Norwegian Joy
Age
Norwegian Prima was built in 2022, making it 5 years newer than Norwegian Joy, which was built in 2017.
Size
At 167,725 GT, Norwegian Joy is approximately 17% larger by gross tonnage than Norwegian Prima at 143,535 GT.
Passenger capacity
Norwegian Joy carries up to 3,900 passengers compared with 3,215 aboard Norwegian Prima, a difference of 685 passengers.
Passenger space
Norwegian Prima offers more space per passenger: 44.6 GT per guest, compared with 43 aboard Norwegian Joy. A higher passenger space ratio generally means less crowding in public areas.
Itineraries
The upcoming sailings shown for Norwegian Prima (Caribbean) and Norwegian Joy (Alaska) currently cover different regions or departure ports.
Price
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Norwegian Prima has the lower average starting price per day at $116 per day.
Compare Ports of Call
Norwegian Prima
Caribbean: Great Stirrup Cay & Dominican Republic
- Departure Port
- Port Canaveral
- Region
- Caribbean
- Nights
- 7
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 6, 2026Port Canaveral
- Day 2 · Sep 7, 2026Puerto Plata
- Day 3 · Sep 8, 2026St Thomas
- Day 4 · Sep 9, 2026Tortola
- Day 5 · Sep 10, 2026Great Stirrup Cay
- Day 6 · Sep 11, 2026Port Canaveral
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Norwegian Joy
Alaska: Skagway, Juneau, Sitka& Ketchikan
- Departure Port
- Seattle
- Region
- Alaska
- Nights
- 10
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 11, 2026Seattle
- Day 2 · Sep 12, 2026Ketchikan
- Day 3 · Sep 13, 2026Juneau
- Day 4 · Sep 14, 2026Icy Strait Point
- Day 5 · Sep 15, 2026Sitka
- Day 6 · Sep 16, 2026Skagway
- Day 7 · Sep 17, 2026Victoria
- Day 8 · Sep 18, 2026Seattle
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Upcoming Cruises & Prices
Norwegian Prima
September 13, 2026
7-Night Caribbean Cruise
Departing from Port Canaveral
From
$659
Price / day
$94
Norwegian Joy
September 11, 2026
10-Night Alaska Cruise
Departing from Seattle
From
$1,059
Price / day
$106
September 21, 2026
9-Night Alaska Cruise
Departing from Seattle
From
$1,179
Price / day
$131
Prices shown are starting fares and may change.
Which Ship Is Cheaper?
Norwegian Prima
Average
$116 / day
VS
Norwegian Joy
Average
$119 / day
Norwegian Prima has the lower price per day among the sailings shown
$116/day vs $119/day
About $3 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 Norwegian Prima if…
- You prefer the newer ship.
- 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 Caribbean.
- Departing from Port Canaveral works for your plans.
- The lower price per day among the sailings currently shown matters to you.
Choose Norwegian Joy if…
- You prefer the larger ship by gross tonnage.
- You do not mind sailing on a ship with a higher passenger capacity.
- You want to sail in Alaska.
- Departing from Seattle works for your plans.
- You do not place as much importance on sailing on a newer ship than Norwegian Prima.
Norwegian Prima vs Norwegian Joy: Final Comparison Summary
Newer
Norwegian Prima
Built in 2022
5 years newer
Bigger
Norwegian Joy
167,725 GT
17% larger by gross tonnage
Lower Price Per Day
Norwegian Prima
$116 / day
About $3 less per day
- Norwegian Prima is 5 years newer.
- Norwegian Joy is 17% larger by gross tonnage.
- Norwegian Joy carries 685 more passengers.
- Norwegian Prima offers more space per passenger (44.6 GT per guest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is newer, Norwegian Prima or Norwegian Joy?
Norwegian Prima is newer. It was built in 2022, while Norwegian Joy was built in 2017, making Norwegian Prima 5 years newer.
Which is bigger, Norwegian Prima or Norwegian Joy?
Norwegian Joy is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 167,725 GT compared with Norwegian Prima at 143,535 GT.
Which ship carries more passengers?
Norwegian Joy has a passenger capacity of approximately 3,900, compared with 3,215 for Norwegian Prima.
Which ship is more spacious, Norwegian Prima or Norwegian Joy?
Norwegian Prima has the higher passenger space ratio at 44.6 GT per passenger, versus 43 for Norwegian Joy. The ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity; a higher number means more ship space per guest.
Which ship is cheaper, Norwegian Prima or Norwegian Joy?
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Norwegian Prima has the lower average starting price per day at $116 per day versus $119 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.
Where does Norwegian Prima sail?
The upcoming Norwegian Prima sailings currently listed cover Caribbean, departing from Port Canaveral.
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