Royal Caribbean
Brilliance of the Seas
- Cruises
- 37
- From
- $229
Ship comparison
Brilliance of the Seas vs Norwegian Dawn
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Dawn
- Cruises
- 49
- From
- $209
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Brilliance of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 2,400 passengers, in service since 2002. Norwegian Dawn is a large Norwegian Cruise Line ship carrying 2,340 passengers, in service since 2002.
Choose Brilliance of the Seas if you want a more active cruise, more adventure and nature or more of a party: it outscores Norwegian Dawn for active (6.0 vs 4.0), adventure & nature (4.0 vs 3.0) and party (6.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose Norwegian Dawn if you want more culture, more crew per passenger or a more romantic trip: it outscores Brilliance of the Seas for cultural (4.0 vs 2.0) and romantic (5.0 vs 4.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has a crew member for every 2.2 passengers (vs 2.8).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Brilliance of the Seas | Norwegian Dawn | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Royal Caribbean | Norwegian Cruise Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2002 | 2002 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2015 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 90,090 | 92,250 |
| Passengers | 2,400 | 2,340 |
| Crew | 848 | 1,073 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.8 | 2.2 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 37.5 | 39.4 (better) |
| Decks | 12 | 15 |
| Length | 962 ft | 965 ft |
| Beam | 131 ft | 125 ft |
| Speed | 29 mph | 29 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 37 | 49 |
| Upcoming sailings | 91 | 97 |
| Cruise lengths | 3 to 15 nights | 4 to 15 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $229 | $209 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Brilliance of the Seas leads on 4 of the ten, Norwegian Dawn on 2, with 4 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Royal Caribbean
Brilliance of the Seas
Part of Royal Caribbean's Radiance class of ships, Brilliance of the Seas features acres of glass that enclose the nine-story central atrium, elevators facing the sea and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout — all of which flaunt ocean views.
Highlights
- Recreational activities such as a rock-climbing wall and a mini-golf course
- Adults-only Solarium pool
- Vegas-style gaming in the Casino Royale
- Complimentary Broadway-style entertainment
Sailing now
37 cruises on sale, from $229.
About Brilliance of the Seas Plan my cruise on Brilliance of the Seas
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Dawn
As part of the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, Norwegian Dawn was built with freedom in mind, offering a choice of 14 dining options, 12 bars and lounges, the fitness center and spa, casino, pools and more.
Highlights
- The world-class Mandara Spa with full-service beauty salon
- Spectacular stage shows including The Second City comedy
- The largest suites on the sea for ultimate comfort and privacy
Sailing now
49 cruises on sale, from $209.
Questions
Brilliance of the Seas or Norwegian Dawn?
Which is bigger, Brilliance of the Seas or Norwegian Dawn?
Norwegian Dawn is bigger at 92,250 gross tons, against 90,090 gross tons for Brilliance of the Seas. Brilliance of the Seas carries 2,400 passengers and Norwegian Dawn carries 2,340.
Which ship is newer, Brilliance of the Seas or Norwegian Dawn?
Both made their maiden voyage in 2002.
Which has more space per passenger?
Norwegian Dawn, with 39.4 gross tons per passenger against 37.5 on Brilliance of the Seas. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Norwegian Dawn, with one crew member for every 2.2 passengers against one for every 2.8 on Brilliance of the Seas.
Which is better for families?
They score the same for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10.
Still deciding?
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