Royal Caribbean
Jewel of the Seas
- Cruises
- 53
- From
- $307
Ship comparison
Jewel of the Seas vs MSC Armonia
MSC Cruises
MSC Armonia
- Cruises
- 30
- From
- $82
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Jewel of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 2,112 passengers, in service since 2004. MSC Armonia is a large MSC Cruises ship carrying 1,950 passengers, in service since 2001.
Choose Jewel of the Seas if you want a more family-friendly ship, a more active cruise or better-rated entertainment: it outscores MSC Armonia for family friendly (8.0 vs 5.0), active (7.0 vs 5.0) and entertainment (7.4 vs 5.5) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose MSC Armonia if you want a lower starting fare or a more romantic trip: it outscores Jewel of the Seas for romantic (5.0 vs 4.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $82 (vs $307).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Jewel of the Seas | MSC Armonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Royal Caribbean | MSC Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2004 (better) | 2001 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2021 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 90,090 | 65,542 |
| Passengers | 2,112 | 1,950 |
| Crew | 859 | 700 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.5 (better) | 2.8 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 42.7 (better) | 33.6 |
| Decks | 13 | 9 |
| Length | 962 ft | 902 ft |
| Beam | 106 ft | 95 ft |
| Speed | 29 mph | 24 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 53 | 30 |
| Upcoming sailings | 157 | 204 |
| Cruise lengths | 3 to 17 nights | 1 to 31 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $307 | $82 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Jewel of the Seas leads on 5 of the ten, MSC Armonia on 1, with 4 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Royal Caribbean
Jewel of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean's Radiance-class ships, underwent a $30 million upgrade in 2016 and another dry dock in July 2021, emerging with a fresh sheen. With acres of glass throughout and elevators facing the sea, every view on the ship is picture-worthy.
Highlights
- Complimentary Adventure Ocean Youth Program
- Rock-climbing wall, mini-golf course and basketball court on board
- Solarium, an adults-only retreat
- Yoga and Pilates classes in fitness center
Sailing now
53 cruises on sale, from $307.
MSC Cruises
MSC Armonia
MSC Armonia is the first of four MSC Cruises ships to enter the line’s Renaissance Program. Emerging newly refreshed (and bigger due to a "stretching" that added a new 80-foot section to the ship's midship), you can expect an updated ship that has been updated to current industry standards.
Highlights
- Two outdoor pools
- Relaxing in the MSC Armonia spa
- Gaming in the Palm Beach Casino
Sailing now
30 cruises on sale, from $82.
Questions
Jewel of the Seas or MSC Armonia?
Which is bigger, Jewel of the Seas or MSC Armonia?
Jewel of the Seas is bigger at 90,090 gross tons, against 65,542 gross tons for MSC Armonia. Jewel of the Seas carries 2,112 passengers and MSC Armonia carries 1,950.
Which ship is newer, Jewel of the Seas or MSC Armonia?
Jewel of the Seas is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2004 against 2001 for MSC Armonia.
Which has more space per passenger?
Jewel of the Seas, with 42.7 gross tons per passenger against 33.6 on MSC Armonia. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Jewel of the Seas, with one crew member for every 2.5 passengers against one for every 2.8 on MSC Armonia.
Which is better for families?
Jewel of the Seas scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10, against 5.0 for MSC Armonia.
Still deciding?
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