September 27, 2026
7-Night California Coast Cruise
Departing from Vancouver
From
$699
Price / day
$100
Star Princess|Diamond Princess
Star Princess vs Diamond Princess
Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.
Star Princess
Princess Cruises
Check prices on CruiseDirectVS
Newer Ship
Diamond Princess
Built in 2004
2 years newer
Lower Price Per Day
Star Princess
$101 / day
$63 less per day
More Spacious Ship
Diamond Princess
43.4 GT per guest
Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity
Star Princess vs Diamond Princess: Quick Comparison
Diamond Princess is the newer ship in this comparison. Built in 2004, it is 2 years newer than Star Princess, which entered service in 2002. Diamond Princess is approximately 6% larger by gross tonnage at 115,906 GT. Diamond Princess also carries 70 more passengers. Star Princess has upcoming sailings in California Coast and Panama Canal, while Diamond Princess has sailings in Japan. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, Star Princess 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 | Star Princess | Diamond Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Year Built | 2002 | 2004Newer |
| Gross Tonnage | 108,977 GT | 115,906 GT |
| Passenger Capacity | 2,600 | 2,670 |
| Space per Passenger | 41.9 GT | 43.4 GT |
| Length | 289.51 m | 290 m |
| Decks | — | — |
| Cabins | — | — |
Key Differences: Star Princess vs Diamond Princess
Age
Diamond Princess was built in 2004, making it 2 years newer than Star Princess, which was built in 2002.
Size
At 115,906 GT, Diamond Princess is approximately 6% larger by gross tonnage than Star Princess at 108,977 GT.
Passenger capacity
Diamond Princess carries up to 2,670 passengers compared with 2,600 aboard Star Princess, a difference of 70 passengers.
Passenger space
Diamond Princess offers more space per passenger: 43.4 GT per guest, compared with 41.9 aboard Star Princess. A higher passenger space ratio generally means less crowding in public areas.
Itineraries
The upcoming sailings shown for Star Princess (California Coast and Panama Canal) and Diamond Princess (Japan) currently cover different regions or departure ports.
Price
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Star Princess has the lower average starting price per day at $101 per day.
Compare Ports of Call
Star Princess
Pacific Wine Country
- Departure Port
- Vancouver
- Region
- California Coast
- Nights
- 7
- Round Trip
- No
- Day 1 · Sep 27, 2026Vancouver
- Day 2 · Sep 28, 2026Vancouver
- Day 3 · Sep 29, 2026Victoria
- Day 4 · Sep 30, 2026At Sea
- Day 5 · Oct 1, 2026At Sea
- Day 6 · Oct 2, 2026San Francisco
- Day 7 · Oct 3, 2026San Francisco
- Day 8 · Oct 4, 2026At Sea
- Day 9 · Oct 5, 2026Los Angeles
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Diamond Princess
Japan Explorer
- Departure Port
- Tokyo
- Region
- Japan
- Nights
- 9
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Oct 1, 2026Tokyo
- Day 2 · Oct 2, 2026Toba
- Day 3 · Oct 3, 2026Osaka
- Day 4 · Oct 4, 2026Kochi
- Day 5 · Oct 5, 2026Hiroshima
- Day 6 · Oct 6, 2026Kanmon Straits
- Day 7 · Oct 7, 2026Busan
- Day 8 · Oct 8, 2026Nagasaki
- Day 9 · Oct 9, 2026At Sea
- Day 10 · Oct 10, 2026Tokyo
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Upcoming Cruises & Prices
Star Princess
September 27, 2026
23-Night Panama Canal Cruise
Departing from Vancouver
From
$2,327
Price / day
$101
Diamond Princess
October 1, 2026
9-Night Japan Cruise
Departing from Tokyo
From
$1,657
Price / day
$184
October 10, 2026
9-Night Japan Cruise
Departing from Tokyo
From
$1,296
Price / day
$144
Prices shown are starting fares and may change.
Which Ship Is Cheaper?
Star Princess
Average
$101 / day
VS
Diamond Princess
Average
$164 / day
Star Princess has the lower price per day among the sailings shown
$101/day vs $164/day
About $63 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 Star Princess if…
- You prefer the ship with the lower passenger capacity.
- You want to sail in California Coast and Panama Canal.
- Departing from Vancouver works for your plans.
- The lower price per day among the sailings currently shown matters to you.
- You do not place as much importance on sailing on a newer ship than Diamond Princess.
Choose Diamond Princess if…
- You prefer the newer ship.
- You prefer the larger ship by gross tonnage.
- You do not mind sailing on a ship with a higher passenger capacity.
- You value having more space per passenger (higher GT-per-guest ratio).
- You want to sail in Japan.
- Departing from Tokyo works for your plans.
Star Princess vs Diamond Princess: Final Comparison Summary
Newer
Diamond Princess
Built in 2004
2 years newer
Bigger
Diamond Princess
115,906 GT
6% larger by gross tonnage
Lower Price Per Day
Star Princess
$101 / day
About $63 less per day
- Diamond Princess is 2 years newer.
- Diamond Princess is 6% larger by gross tonnage.
- Diamond Princess carries 70 more passengers.
- Diamond Princess offers more space per passenger (43.4 GT per guest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is newer, Star Princess or Diamond Princess?
Diamond Princess is newer. It was built in 2004, while Star Princess was built in 2002, making Diamond Princess 2 years newer.
Which is bigger, Star Princess or Diamond Princess?
Diamond Princess is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 115,906 GT compared with Star Princess at 108,977 GT.
Which ship carries more passengers?
Diamond Princess has a passenger capacity of approximately 2,670, compared with 2,600 for Star Princess.
Which ship is more spacious, Star Princess or Diamond Princess?
Diamond Princess has the higher passenger space ratio at 43.4 GT per passenger, versus 41.9 for Star Princess. The ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity; a higher number means more ship space per guest.
Which ship is cheaper, Star Princess or Diamond Princess?
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Star Princess has the lower average starting price per day at $101 per day versus $164 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.
Where does Star Princess sail?
The upcoming Star Princess sailings currently listed cover California Coast and Panama Canal, departing from Vancouver.
Related Cruise Ship Comparisons
Explore Upcoming Cruises
Star Princess
Princess Cruises
Diamond Princess
Princess Cruises