Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Firenze
- Cruises
- 46
- From
- $213
Ship comparison
Carnival Firenze vs MSC Meraviglia
MSC Cruises
MSC Meraviglia
- Cruises
- 94
- From
- $79
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Carnival Firenze is a mega Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 4,126 passengers, in service since 2024. MSC Meraviglia is a mega MSC Cruises ship carrying 4,500 passengers, in service since 2017.
Choose Carnival Firenze if you want a more romantic trip, a newer ship or a more active cruise: it outscores MSC Meraviglia for romantic (5.0 vs 3.0) and active (7.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2024 (vs 2017).
Choose MSC Meraviglia if you want better-rated entertainment, a lower starting fare or better-rated dining: it outscores Carnival Firenze for entertainment (9.0 vs 6.0) and dining (6.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $79 (vs $213).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Carnival Firenze | MSC Meraviglia | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Carnival Cruise Line | MSC Cruises |
| Ship size | Mega | Mega |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2024 (better) | 2017 |
| Gross tonnage | 135,156 | 167,600 |
| Passengers | 4,126 | 4,500 |
| Crew | 1,424 | 1,540 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 32.8 | 37.2 (better) |
| Decks | 14 | 19 |
| Length | 1,061 ft | 1,033 ft |
| Beam | 122 ft | 141 ft |
| Speed | 21 mph | 22 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | — | 8 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 46 | 94 |
| Upcoming sailings | 84 | 182 |
| Cruise lengths | 3–16 nights | 1–25 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $213 | $79 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Carnival Firenze leads on 4 of the ten, MSC Meraviglia on 4, with 2 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Firenze
Carnival Firenze began sailing year-round from Long Beach, Calif., in 2024 with Mexican Riviera cruises packed with fun-filled Italian-themed entertainment and restaurants.
Sailing now
46 cruises on sale, from $213.
MSC Cruises
MSC Meraviglia
Swiss-based MSC Cruises launched its next-generation smart ship, MSC Meraviglia, in the Mediterranean in June 2017. (Meraviglia is the Italian word for amazement or wonder. It is pronounced mair-uh-VEAL-ya.)
Highlights
- Cirque du Soleil at Sea will offer one of the top entertainment options on a cruise ship.
Sailing now
94 cruises on sale, from $79.
Questions
Carnival Firenze or MSC Meraviglia?
Which is bigger, Carnival Firenze or MSC Meraviglia?
MSC Meraviglia is bigger at 167,600 gross tons, against 135,156 gross tons for Carnival Firenze. Carnival Firenze carries 4,126 passengers and MSC Meraviglia carries 4,500.
Which ship is newer, Carnival Firenze or MSC Meraviglia?
Carnival Firenze is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2024 against 2017 for MSC Meraviglia.
Which has more space per passenger?
MSC Meraviglia, with 37.2 gross tons per passenger against 32.8 on Carnival Firenze. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
They are level, with one crew member for every 2.9 passengers.
Which is better for families?
Carnival Firenze scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 9.0 out of 10, against 8.0 for MSC Meraviglia.
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