Msc Cruises Vs Royal Caribbean

Activites You May Never Do Elsewhere

We all know that when we book a cruise these days that you are booking a whole cruise vacation experience. Its not just the destnations you will visit, the style in which you travel and the entertainment and service you get on the way. Its also about thrilling activities, shifting you out of your comfort zone and letting you try something new, and even daring.

Onboard Royal Caribbean biggest ship at sea, the brand new Wonder of the Seas, you can zipline, jump into a 10-storey mega slide, ice-skate, rock climb, learn to surf of the flow rider, join in basketball, volleyball or football, or get fitness classes from pros. Or sing karaoke,

Onboard Grandiosa of the Seas, there is plenty to do if not as much to do as Wonder of the Seas offers. Race in a car racing simulator, play bowling on a full size bowling ally or ride the aqua park slides.

Paid For Their Fantastica Experience So

Paid for their fantastica experience so that we could choose our cabins as we are a family of 5 so need two cabins. However, on ticket issuing MSC changed our cabins with no notification. We ended up with one cabin in aft and another in forward on the MSC Virtuosa. Due to 3 young children it was impossible to manage across two cabins at opposite ends of the ship so ended up having to squeeze 5 people into an interior cabin for the week. Guest services in board were not only unhelpful but rude as well. Worst customer service I have ever experienced in cruising.

Date of experience:August 27, 2022

Msc Vs Royal Caribbean: Comparing The Two Cruise Lines

• Publish date: Sep 15, 2022 2:19 PM EDT

Royal Caribbean International , Carnival Cruise Line , and Norwegian Cruise Line dominate the family-friendly mid-tier cruise market. Walt Disney , of course, has made its mark in that space, but it’s generally a higher price point and a relatively small cruise line.

In the Florida market, sailing mostly to the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian are the big players, with Royal Caribbean — specifically its largest Oasis-class ships — being my personal favorite. MSC, a cruise line founded in Italy that made its mark in Europe, has been stepping up its offerings out of Florida.

MSC has sailed in the U.S. since the 1990s and now uses both Miami and Port Canaveral as homeports. It sails MSC Divina, a mid-size ship that accommodates a little over 4,300 passengers at full capacity, on Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral.

Essentially, Divina compares in size/passenger count to the Royal Caribbean Voyager and Freedom-class ships sailing Caribbean itineraries from multiple Florida ports. MSC Divina, in fact, often sits docked nearby Mariner of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean ship sailing similar itineraries.

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The Latest In The Meraviglia Class

The aforementioned MSC Euribia sets sail in June 2023. A member of the Meraviglia class, you can expect this ship to offer tons of fun and a mega-ship setting.

The unique hull design focuses on MSC Cruises commitment to sustainability, while the LNG system will reduce the ships greenhouse gas emissions by 20%.

Fun features include five pools, a large waterpark, the longest LED dome at sea in the promenade, and of course, all the other fun youve come to expect from MSC Cruises.

Medium Ship Line #: Silversea Cruises

Silverseas fleet has 10 ships, of which just three are technically medium-sized, with passenger counts around 600 peoplebut thats considered quite a large number for the luxurious cruise line, which specializes in smaller expedition vessels. Silversea Moon, which debuted in 2021, and its sister Silversea Muse are the largest, each carrying up to 596 passengers. The line sails to more than 900 destinations around the world.

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Msc Cruise Ships By Size

While we mentioned that some of the ships from MSC Cruises are on the smaller side and some are on the mega ship end of things , what if you want to know all the nitty-gritty details about size, builder and passenger capacity? Well, then just take a look at our list below.

With ships as old as 21 years and ships as new as debuting just this year, MSCs cruise ships vary widely. The newest ships are the biggest in the fleet, with the most amenities and cruise industry-first features. However, that doesnt mean you should necessarily look over the older ships among the batch.

MSC Armonia, for example, was built in 2001 and entered service for MSC Cruises in 2004, but it features a lot of MSC favorites, such as four staple restaurants, a spa, casino and a childrens area. At 58,600 GT, the ship is on the smaller side, only holding 2,000 passengers, but, for many cruisers, thats a pro not a con.

For most of the ships life, it catered to European travelers sailing the Mediterranean, but, more recently, the ship has been sailing the Caribbean.

What Is The Price Difference Between Msc And Royal Caribbean

How different is the pricing on Royal Caribbean vs MSC Cruises? It is difficult to say for definite but the pricing varies in my opinion. When it comes to suites there is a big price increase on Royal Caribbean compared to MSC but then there are a lot of differences between the cabins. The general opinion is that people search on both and MSC comes up cheaper for families and in addition they often have deals where kids under 12 often sail for free.

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Msc Cruise Ships By Class

Of course, when picking a cruise ship to take among any of those belonging to one individual cruise line, one of the most important considerations youll have is ship class.

Cruise ship classes differ widely and even if two cruise ships come from the same line, if theyre in different classes, one might appeal to one cruiser, while another cruiser may hate their experience on that ship. MSC cruise ships are split into five current classes.

Msc Vs Royal Caribbean

Looking to book a cruise in September, trying to decide between Splendour of the Seas vs. MSC Musica, travelling to Greece from Bari, Italy.

Is there any noticeable difference in quality and amenities. Any helpful hints would be greatly appreciated.

I’ve been on Royal Caribbean but not on MSC … choosing between those two, I would say go with Royal Caribbean because they get much better feedback from those who have cruised on their ships, whereas MSC reviews seem to be more negative than positive.

Reading reviews should help with your decision … here are links to an overview of each ship, plus reviews:

Splendour:

Hi Scoop9.

I have cruised on both lines you mentioned and the answer is emphatically GO WITH ROYAL CARIBBEAN. MSC IMO is very ordinary, particularly customer service, food and entertainment all the things that need to be right to have a memorable cruising experience.

Regards Bob.

I’ve crused on both lines also, and my answer is: it depends on what you want. I find MSC to have a more European feel – meaning fewer Americans, more “bistro” type food – no lobster night – and service that is less overt than what we are used to in the U.S.

For me, I’d rather cruise in Europe and feel like I was there with other Europeans, and I don’t have an issue with how things are priced differently for room service delivery, additional water, etc.

Am planning another MSC cruise in a few months, so we had no hesitation whatsoever about booking with them again. .

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Large Ship Line #: Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Lines is all about good family fun at a pretty affordable price point. The largest cruise line in the world in terms of number of annual passengers as well as fleet count, it has 25 ships that sail North America and Europe, with about half of them having a capacity between 2,500 and 3,900 guests. Carnival is known for its fun upper decks that are akin to an amusement park at sea, with water slides, ropes courses, mini-golf, and attractions like SkyRide, where guests pedal a hanging vehicle around a suspended track.

Great If You Go Yacht Club Pretty Iffy If You Don’t

Great if you go Yacht club, as it is spacious and well cared for. Their restaurant is also a la carte with amazing service and quality. The rest of the ship is however more hectic and over crowded . I nevertheless did like the buffet selection in this area. Tip, 3 day cruises tend to have far more passengers than 4 day mid week ones do.

Date of experience:September 28, 2022

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Medium Ship Line #: Cunard

While Cunards Queen Mary 2 fits more than 2,600 passengersand a number of cats and dogson board, her sister ships, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria only have a capacity of about 2,000 passengers. Though theyre quite similar in layout, the QE and the QV differ in design. Both nod to the historic ocean liners of the early 20th century, but the QE takes on a bolder Art Deco vibe, while the QV features more subdued yet equally elegant decor. Guests on board both ships are likely to partake in afternoon tea before donning a glamorous gown for dinner.

Which Ship Would I Ultimately Recommend

I do not think there is a clear winner here. There is overlap in the services and amenities onboard, and also aspects exclusive to each ship.

In the Caribbean sunshine, it is all about fun, and the American-style cruise experience on Anthem of the Seas is perfect for that. The entertainment options on the ship mean you can do as much or as little onboard, while the chilled ports of call mean you can head straight to the beach or enjoy some sightseeing on land.

Conversely, if you plan to explore the Mediterranean, why would you not do this on a Mediterranean cruise ship? MSC Meraviglia is a floating slice of Italian culture and lifestyle, and this glamorous ship is a great place to come back to each night after exploring Europe’s historic sites on a port intensive itinerary. The flagship in the MSC Cruises fleet, MSC Meraviglia combines stylish décor, some standout entertainment options, and good value cruise fares.

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Msc Gave Us Avery Enjoyable Cruise

We are just home from a cruise on the MSC Seaside it was very good. The service was excellent in the dining room, speciality restaurants and in our stateroom.The ship is splendid, evening shows and music around the ship very good. After Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, NCL and Princess etc we were concerned about cruising with MSC but the Meravilgia was very good and ‘Seaside’ was too.

Date of experience:September 22, 2022

Medium Ship Line #: Viking Ocean Cruises

Originally a river cruise line, Viking has launched six ocean-going vessels since 2015, the most recent being the brand-new Viking Venus, whose maiden voyage took place in 2021. The ships are nearly identical, carrying 930 passengers each, housed in balcony staterooms. Though not all-inclusive, Viking Ocean offers guests one free excursion in each port , beer and wine with lunch and dinner, and an unlimited Wi-Fi connection.

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Small Ship Line #: Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Sailing with only 490 guests, the Seven Seas Navigator takes its all-inclusive promise seriously, offering unlimited shore excursions, open bars with premium wines , unlimited Wi-Fi, and dining in specialty restaurants. The ship sails all over the world, from New Zealand to Dubai, on week-long to three-month-long itineraries.

Small Ship Line #1: Sea Cloud Cruises

Germany’s Sea Cloud Cruises has three elegant windjammers: Sea Cloud,Sea Cloud II, and Sea Cloud Spirit, which accommodate 64, 94, and 136 passengers, respectively. These sailing yachts primarily split their time between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, though they’ll occasionally explore the Panama Canal and Northern Europe, too. The oldest ship in the fleet is Sea Cloud, built in 1931 for an American heiressat the time, it was the largest private yacht in the world. It later served the United States in World War II before ultimately returning to pleasure sailings.

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Carousel Lounge Vs Two70

Two70 show lounge on Anthem of the Seas

When Royal Caribbean said it was going to use robots in its shows, the world sighed. But Spectra’s Cabaret is a masterpiece. The panoramic windows of the Two70 Lounge become projector screens, immersing the audience in a wrap-around show. The effect further enhances with robotic screens that jostle around and choreography that see the performers take the show from the centre stage into the audience.

The smaller MSC Cruises venue, the Carousel Lounge, is broadly similar in style. However, the cruise line turned to Cirque du Soleil to produce its shows for this space, undoubtedly making this enterprise successful in an instant. The only disappointment is the introduction of a fee levied on tickets which are only available bundled with dinner or a cocktail.

Who wins?Anthem of the Seas. MSC Cruises’ partnership with Cirque du Soleil is a coup, but the cinematography, staging, and robotic screens used in the Spectra’s Cabaret shows in Two70 is incredible – and Royal Caribbean’s offering is free to all.

Cruise Smackdown: Harmony Of The Seas Vs Msc Meraviglia

Which cruise line has the hottest new ship at sea? Readers, we want to hear what you have to say!

In this, the eighth in our series of Cruise Ship Smackdowns, we’re pitting Royal Caribbean’s new Harmony of the Seas the world’s largest cruise vessel against MSC Cruises’ giant new MSC Meraviglia. Click through the photo tours of the two ships in the carousels above and below, then go the comment area to tell us: Which one would you book, and why?

Unveiled in May 2016 and May 2017, respectively, Harmony and Meraviglia are representatives of the two biggest classes of cruise ships in existence Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class and MSC’s Meraviglia Class. Each boasts all the trappings of a major mega-resort, from deck-top fun zones with massive water slides to multiple restaurants, bars and nightspots. Still, as you can see in the photo tours, each has its own distinct vibe.

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Duplex Vs Sky Loft Suite

Loft Suite on Anthem of the Seas

One of the best innovations from Royal Caribbean are the loft suites. These luxurious dual-storey cabins are the thing of dreams. For a cruise to remember, there is no better choice of room in my opinion. Anthem of the Seas has a selection of loft suites in various sizes and budgets. The Sky Loft Suite bears most resemblance to MSC Meraviglia‘s Duplex Suite.

Muted browns and greys dominate the décor, while the two-storey wall of glazing floods the suite with plenty of light. The upper mezzanine level fits a double bed with a fold-down TV mounted at the foot. Walk-in wardrobe space sits behind, as does an en-suite shower room. Downstairs, a dining table and lounge sit opposite a large wall-mounted television, with a second en-suite shower room next to the cabin door. Loungers, chairs, and a table sit on the spacious balcony.

MSC Cruises‘ interpretation of a luxury two-storey pad is broadly similar, with some small differences. The results lack the elegant styling used elsewhere on the ship, particularly in the choice of furnishings. Upstairs is a double bed with an en-suite bathroom and a wall-mounted television. Downstairs is a dining table and lounge opposite a desk and large wall-mounted TV. A downstairs shower room adds another toilet to the cabin. The pièce de résistance on MSC Meraviglia is the outdoor hot tub on the glass-fronted balcony with views to rival the captain’s perspective.

Which Msc Ship Is Right For Me

As you can tell, the MSC cruise ships vary widely based on which class of cruise ships youre looking at. If you want a small ship with an intimate setting and you dont need a lot of flashy amenities, youll likely be just fine on a Lirica-class ship.

However, if you need all the bells and whistles that a mega ship offers, youre going to want to book a cruise on either a Meraviglia or Seaside cruise ship.

And, of course, for the latest and greatest in all things sustainability, tech, family fun and luxury, theres no better cruise ship to book than one of the three newest MSC cruise ships launching over the next year.

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Small Ship Line #: Windstar Cruises

The lines six shipsthree sailing yachts and three all-suite motor yachtsspecialize in visiting ports that ban larger ships, like the Byzantine hilltop town of Monemvasia in the Greek Islands, and the sleepy, palm-fringed Caribbean island of Bequia. Those smaller ports can give a sense of intimacy that isnt always present in the most common cruise destinations, allowing for wholly different experiences. In 2017, Windstar also became the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, introducing further special itineraries with culinary themes and guest chefs.