Compare Cruise Lines Side by Side
Pick any two cruise lines below — see their ratings, fleet size, pricing tier, target audience, strengths, and a final verdict for which is the better fit for your trip.
Cruise Line A
Norwegian Cruise Line
VS
Cruise Line B
MSC Cruises
🚢
Norwegian Cruise Line
★★★★☆ 4.20
vs
🏆 MSC Cruises wins
2
:
5
🚢
MSC Cruises
★★★★☆ 4.00
| Feature | Norwegian Cruise Line | MSC Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1966 | 1970 |
| Headquarters | Miami, Florida, USA | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Fleet Size | 19 ships | 22 ships Winner |
| Passengers Per Year | 2,800,000+ | 4,500,000+ |
| Starting Price | $399 | $199 Winner |
| Our Rating | ★★★★☆ 4.20 Winner | ★★★★☆ 4.00 |
| Feature | Norwegian Cruise Line | MSC Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Style | Freestyle — no fixed dining times or tables | Traditional fixed seating (early/late) + buffet |
| Specialty Restaurants | 10-15 per ship (Cagney's Steakhouse, Le Bistro, Teppanyaki, Onda by Scarpetta) | 4-6 per ship (Butcher's Cut, Hola! Tacos, Kaito Teppanyaki) |
| Drinks Included | ❌ | ❌ |
| Dress Code | Smart casual; no formal nights | Smart casual; 1-2 formal nights |
| Entertainment | Broadway shows (Six, Jersey Boys), Cirque-style productions, casino | Cirque du Soleil at Sea, theatre shows, Aqua Park |
| Kids Club | ❌ | ❌ |
| Adult-Only Areas | ❌ | ❌ |
| Casino | ✅ | ✅ |
| Spa & Wellness | ❌ | ❌ |
| Fitness Center | ✅ | ✅ |
| WiFi (included) | ❌ | ❌ |
| WiFi Cost | From $14.99/day for unlimited streaming | From €15/day |
| Feature | Norwegian Cruise Line | MSC Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| Regions Served | Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mediterranean, Alaska, Hawaii, Northern Europe, Asia, Australia/NZ, South America | Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, South America, South Africa, UAE, Asia, Antarctica (Explora) |
| Countries Visited | 60+ | 70+ |
| Home Ports | Miami, New York, Port Canaveral, Tampa, New Orleans, Seattle, Honolulu, Boston, Los Angeles, Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Southampton, Reykjavik | Genoa, Civitavecchia, Barcelona, Miami, Port Canaveral, Durban, Cape Town, Buenos Aires, Dubai, Hamburg, Southampton, Kiel |
| Shortest Cruise | 3 nights | 3 nights |
| Longest Cruise | 24 nights | 116 nights (World Cruise) |
| World Cruise | ❌ | ❌ |
| Feature | Norwegian Cruise Line | MSC Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| Interior Cabin From | $399 | $199 Winner |
| Balcony Cabin From | $799 | $599 Winner |
| Suite From | $2,199 | $1,999 Winner |
| All-Inclusive? | ❌ | ❌ |
| Gratuities Included | ❌ | ❌ |
| Flights Included | ❌ | ❌ |
| Cancellation Policy | Full refund 121+ days | Full refund 91+ days |
| Loyalty Program | Latitudes Rewards | MSC Voyagers Club |
| Feature | Norwegian Cruise Line | MSC Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Freestyle dining lovers, solo travelers, flexible schedules | European travelers, Mediterranean, value-seekers, families |
| Solo Traveler Cabins | ❌ | ❌ |
| Family Friendly | ||
| Luxury Level | ||
| Adventure Level | Winner | |
| Average Age | 40-60 | 35-55 |
| Accessible Cabins | ✅ | ✅ |
| Pet Policy | Service animals only | Service animals only |
| Smoking Policy | Designated outdoor areas + casino | Designated outdoor areas |
🏆 Our Verdict
2 – 5MSC Cruises takes the win, scoring 5 against 2 across 41 compared features. Especially strong for: European travelers, Mediterranean, value-seekers, families.
What we compare across
- Price ranges — Lead-in fares and what they actually include
- Ships — Size, age, capacity, recent refurbishments
- Target audience — Who each line is genuinely built for
- Destinations — Where each line sails strongest
- Dining — Main dining, specialty venues, buffet quality, included vs. paid
- Entertainment — Production shows, lounges, onboard activities
- Inclusions — What’s in the fare, what’s extra
- Suites & cabins — Premium category quality and value
- Family-friendliness — Kids’ clubs, family programming, multi-gen options
- Solo travelers — Solo cabins, single supplement policy, social events
- Loyalty program — Worth chasing or not
- Verdict — Which line wins, for which type of cruiser
How the comparison works
We score each line across the same 12 categories using the same yardstick. Built from passenger sentiment data, ship-by-ship reviews, our own sailings, and verifiable industry information. Updated quarterly. Spot something out of date? Email editorial@allcruisestravel.com.
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