Royal Caribbean
Jewel of the Seas
- Cruises
- 53
- From
- $307
Ship comparison
Jewel of the Seas vs MSC Opera
MSC Cruises
MSC Opera
- Cruises
- 37
- From
- $179
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 Opera is a large MSC Cruises ship carrying 2,142 passengers, in service since 2004.
Choose Jewel of the Seas if you want a more active cruise, more culture or more space per passenger: it outscores MSC Opera for active (7.0 vs 5.0) and cultural (4.0 vs 2.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 42.7 gross tons per passenger (vs 30.6).
Choose MSC Opera if you want a more romantic trip or a lower starting fare: it outscores Jewel of the Seas for romantic (5.5 vs 4.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $179 (vs $307).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Jewel of the Seas | MSC Opera | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Royal Caribbean | MSC Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2004 | 2004 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2021 (better) | 2015 |
| Gross tonnage | 90,090 | 65,591 |
| Passengers | 2,112 | 2,142 |
| Crew | 859 | 750 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.5 (better) | 2.9 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 42.7 (better) | 30.6 |
| Decks | 13 | 9 |
| Length | 962 ft | 902 ft |
| Beam | 106 ft | 94 ft |
| Speed | 29 mph | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 6 / 10 | 8 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 53 | 37 |
| Upcoming sailings | 157 | 278 |
| Cruise lengths | 3 to 17 nights | 3 to 14 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $307 | $179 (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 6 of the ten, MSC Opera on 2, with 2 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 Opera
MSC Opera certainly lives up to its name — classic, grand, opulent. It's a cruise ship with something to sing about! A true sense of grandeur and spaciousness prevails on MSC Opera, one of the most welcoming ships in the fleet of Italy-based MSC Cruises.
Highlights
- Chic and contemporary public areas
- Some of the best staterooms at sea
- Drinks package options available
- Will be "stretched" in 2015 with the addition of new cabins and a new water park
Sailing now
37 cruises on sale, from $179.
Questions
Jewel of the Seas or MSC Opera?
Which is bigger, Jewel of the Seas or MSC Opera?
Jewel of the Seas is bigger at 90,090 gross tons, against 65,591 gross tons for MSC Opera. Jewel of the Seas carries 2,112 passengers and MSC Opera carries 2,142.
Which ship is newer, Jewel of the Seas or MSC Opera?
Both made their maiden voyage in 2004.
Which has more space per passenger?
Jewel of the Seas, with 42.7 gross tons per passenger against 30.6 on MSC Opera. 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 2.9 on MSC Opera.
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 7.5 for MSC Opera.
Still deciding?
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