Cruise Comparisons

The matchups cruisers actually agonize over — ship vs ship and itinerary vs itinerary, broken down side by side with specs, ratings, amenities, and honest traveler insights. Want a custom pairing? Use the Compare button on any cruise or ship to build your own.

Royal Caribbean Flagship Showdowns

Icon of the Seas

Utopia of the Seas

Icon of the Seas vs Utopia of the Seas

Royal Caribbean · Royal Caribbean

Royal's $2B family flagship versus its leaner long-weekend party ship — both 2024 giants, built for totally different trips.

Symphony of the Seas

Icon of the Seas

Symphony of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean · Royal Caribbean

The reigning record-holder versus the ship that dethroned it — newest tech and a mega waterpark, or a proven layout at a lower fare.

Same Class, Which Sister?

Wonder of the Seas

Symphony of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas vs Symphony of the Seas

Royal Caribbean · Royal Caribbean

Two Oasis-class giants that are 90% identical — the tiebreakers are a suite enclave versus a touch more elbow room.

Icon of the Seas

Star of the Seas

Icon of the Seas vs Star of the Seas

Royal Caribbean · Royal Caribbean

Two near-identical Icon-class giants — the real splits are homeport, headline show, and a handful of dining swaps.

Carnival Jubilee

Carnival Jubilee vs Mardi Gras

Carnival Cruise Line · Carnival Cruise Line

Two near-identical Excel-class megaships from Carnival - the newest polish versus the trailblazing original.

Carnival Celebration

Carnival Jubilee

Carnival Celebration vs Carnival Jubilee

Carnival Cruise Line · Carnival Cruise Line

Two identical Excel-class twins where the only real question is which themed zones and homeport you want.

Norwegian Prima

Norwegian Prima vs Norwegian Viva

Norwegian Cruise Line · Norwegian Cruise Line

Near-identical Prima-class twins sharing ~95% of their DNA — so this comes down to itinerary and a few small onboard tweaks.

Norwegian Viva vs Norwegian Aqua

Norwegian Cruise Line · Norwegian Cruise Line

Same Prima-class DNA, stretched: Viva's bolder decor and go-karts versus Aqua's roomier decks and a first-ever slidecoaster.

MSC World Europa

MSC World America

MSC World Europa vs MSC World America

MSC Cruises · MSC Cruises

Same World-class hull, two different worlds — a Med-bred original versus a Caribbean ship built for American tastes.

Celebrity Beyond

Celebrity Ascent

Celebrity Beyond vs Celebrity Ascent

Celebrity Cruises · Celebrity Cruises

Two stretched Edge-class sisters a year apart — Ascent is the fine-tuned redo, Beyond the slightly more available original.

Celebrity Edge vs Celebrity Apex

Celebrity Cruises · Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity's Edge-class original versus its slightly more evolved sister - design purity or extra polish?

Cross-Line Megaship Battles

Icon of the Seas

Norwegian Prima

Icon of the Seas vs Norwegian Prima

Royal Caribbean · Norwegian Cruise Line

The world's largest ship with everything included versus a sleek, walkable Norwegian that trades scale for style.

Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas vs MSC Seascape

Royal Caribbean · MSC Cruises

A former world's-largest Oasis ship against MSC's sleek Miami megaship — twice the price can mean double the fun, or just double the crowd.

Carnival Celebration

Norwegian Encore

Carnival Celebration vs Norwegian Encore

Carnival Cruise Line · Norwegian Cruise Line

Carnival's party-forward Excel giant versus Norwegian's sleeker, more grown-up Encore — lively and inclusive or flexible and upscale.

Celebrity Ascent

Celebrity Ascent vs Norwegian Viva

Celebrity Cruises · Norwegian Cruise Line

Premium polish and included dining versus a Broadway show at sea — same size, very different vibe.

Disney Ship Face-Offs

Disney Wish vs Disney Fantasy

Disney Cruise Line · Disney Cruise Line

Disney's modern showpiece versus its beloved classic — spectacle and short Bahamas hops or a roomier, easier 7-night Caribbean.

Disney Wish vs Disney Dream

Disney Cruise Line · Disney Cruise Line

Disney's flashy new Wish versus the classic, better-flowing Dream - modern theming or easy navigation.

Premium Fleet Face-Offs

Discovery Princess

Sun Princess vs Discovery Princess

Princess Cruises · Princess Cruises

Princess's biggest, buzziest new ship versus its most polished classic — more venues and glitches, or fewer surprises and smoother sailing.

Rotterdam vs Koningsdam

Holland America Line · Holland America Line

Holland America's Pinnacle sisters - the newer Rotterdam with modern tech versus the well-loved Koningsdam.

Queen Mary 2 vs Queen Anne

Cunard · Cunard

The last true ocean liner built for the Atlantic versus Cunard's brand-new, brighter, more contemporary Queen.

Luxury & Premium Small Ships

Seven Seas Splendor

Seabourn Ovation

Seven Seas Splendor vs Seabourn Ovation

Regent Seven Seas · Seabourn

Regent's all-inclusive resort-at-sea versus Seabourn's intimate yacht where personal service is the whole point.

Viking Venus vs Vista

Viking Ocean Cruises · Oceania Cruises

Scandinavian calm and included excursions versus the foodie's cruise line — two premium small ships with different definitions of luxury.

Resilient Lady vs Valiant Lady

Virgin Voyages · Virgin Voyages

Two nearly identical adults-only Lady ships — the newer, mellower Resilient or the slightly seasoned, bolder Valiant.

Scarlet Lady vs Celebrity Apex

Virgin Voyages · Celebrity Cruises

Adults-only, tattoo-parlor cool versus grown-up premium elegance — two very different definitions of a stylish small ship.

Caribbean Itinerary Matchups

Symphony of the Seas - Western Caribbean

MSC Seascape - Western Caribbean

Symphony of the Seas - Western Caribbean vs MSC Seascape - Western Caribbean

Caribbean · Caribbean

Two 7-night Western Caribbean weeks that split on price, home port, and whose private island you'd rather beach on.

Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas - Caribbean

Symphony of the Seas - Western Caribbean

Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas - Caribbean vs Symphony of the Seas - Western Caribbean

Caribbean · Caribbean

Same Miami-to-Western-Caribbean route on two Royal giants — the newest ship at a premium, or nearly the same ports for ~$600pp less.

Carnival Celebration - Eastern Caribbean

Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady - Caribbean

Carnival Celebration - Eastern Caribbean vs Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady - Caribbean

Caribbean · Caribbean

A high-energy 6-night thrill ride at half the price versus an adults-only 5-night with everything included.

Alaska Cruise Matchups

Norwegian Bliss - Alaska

Discovery Princess - Alaska Inside Passage

Norwegian Bliss - Alaska vs Discovery Princess - Alaska Inside Passage

Alaska · Alaska

Same Seattle round-trip, different Alaska: go-karts and onboard thrills versus Glacier Bay National Park and deeper naturalist programming.

Celebrity Solstice - Alaska Glacier Discovery

Nieuw Amsterdam - Alaska Glacier Adventure

Celebrity Solstice - Alaska Glacier Discovery vs Nieuw Amsterdam - Alaska Glacier Adventure

Alaska · Alaska

Seven Alaska nights from Vancouver - Solstice's dramatic Hubbard Glacier day versus Nieuw Amsterdam's all-day Glacier Bay.

Norwegian Bliss - Alaska

Celebrity Solstice - Alaska Glacier Discovery

Norwegian Bliss - Alaska vs Celebrity Solstice - Alaska Glacier Discovery

Alaska · Alaska

A big, activity-packed Bliss out of Seattle versus a calmer, more scenic Solstice sailing from Vancouver.

Mediterranean & Europe Matchups

Odyssey of the Seas - Greek Isles

Celebrity Edge - Mediterranean Voyage

Odyssey of the Seas - Greek Isles vs Celebrity Edge - Mediterranean Voyage

Mediterranean · Mediterranean

Greek-island sunsets on a family megaship versus a premium, adults-leaning Western Med week — pace, crowd, and vibe all differ.

Sky Princess - Norwegian Fjords Explorer

Rotterdam - Norwegian Fjords Exploration

Sky Princess - Norwegian Fjords Explorer vs Rotterdam - Norwegian Fjords Exploration

Northern Europe · Northern Europe

Same fjords, different feel: Princess's big-ship polish from Southampton versus Holland America's refined smaller ship straight out of Rotterdam.

Best-Value Itineraries

HAL Koningsdam - Mexico Riviera

Carnival Panorama - Mexican Riviera

HAL Koningsdam - Mexico Riviera vs Carnival Panorama - Mexican Riviera

Mexico · Mexico

Same three Mexican ports, two crowds and price points — refined enrichment from San Diego versus rowdy fun from Long Beach.

Ruby Princess - Hawaiian Islands from San Francisco

Nieuw Amsterdam - 17-Day Circle Hawaii from San Diego

Ruby Princess - Hawaiian Islands from San Francisco vs Nieuw Amsterdam - 17-Day Circle Hawaii from San Diego

Hawaii · Hawaii

Two great no-fly Hawaii round-trips — Princess's livelier Golden Gate sailing versus Holland America's calmer, port-richer circle from San Diego.