Royal Caribbean
Brilliance of the Seas
- Cruises
- 37
- From
- $229
Ship comparison
Brilliance of the Seas vs Norwegian Star
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Star
- Cruises
- 57
- From
- $479
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 Star is a large Norwegian Cruise Line ship carrying 2,348 passengers, in service since 2001.
Choose Brilliance of the Seas if you want a lower starting fare, a more family-friendly ship or better-rated staterooms: it outscores Norwegian Star for family friendly (8.0 vs 7.0) and staterooms (8.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $229 (vs $479).
Choose Norwegian Star if you want more culture, a more romantic trip or more of a party: it outscores Brilliance of the Seas for cultural (7.0 vs 2.0), romantic (6.0 vs 4.0) and party (8.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Brilliance of the Seas | Norwegian Star | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Royal Caribbean | Norwegian Cruise Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2002 (better) | 2001 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2015 | 2018 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 90,090 | 91,740 |
| Passengers | 2,400 | 2,348 |
| Crew | 848 | 1,065 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.8 | 2.2 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 37.5 | 39.1 (better) |
| Decks | 12 | 15 |
| Length | 962 ft | 935 ft |
| Beam | 131 ft | 105 ft |
| Speed | 29 mph | 28 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 37 | 57 |
| Upcoming sailings | 91 | 65 |
| Cruise lengths | 3 to 15 nights | 6 to 16 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $229 (better) | $479 |
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 2 of the ten, Norwegian Star on 4, 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 Star
The ship where Norwegian's Freestyle Cruising mantra all began, Norwegian Star has been at sea since 2001, offering a large variety in dining options, lounges from the popular to the secluded, and a childcare program that is top notch.
Highlights
- Bring your own chopsticks and enjoy Asian cuisine, from sushi to hibachi to Thai and Chinese
- Extensive childcare services on board make cruiseing with the wee ones a cinch
- Celebrate like the famous F. Scott Fitzgerald character at Gatsby's Champagne Bar
Sailing now
57 cruises on sale, from $479.
Questions
Brilliance of the Seas or Norwegian Star?
Which is bigger, Brilliance of the Seas or Norwegian Star?
Norwegian Star is bigger at 91,740 gross tons, against 90,090 gross tons for Brilliance of the Seas. Brilliance of the Seas carries 2,400 passengers and Norwegian Star carries 2,348.
Which ship is newer, Brilliance of the Seas or Norwegian Star?
Brilliance of the Seas is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2002 against 2001 for Norwegian Star.
Which has more space per passenger?
Norwegian Star, with 39.1 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 Star, 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?
Brilliance of the Seas scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10, against 7.0 for Norwegian Star.
Still deciding?
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