MSC Cruises
MSC Meraviglia
- Cruises
- 85
- From
- $79
Ship comparison
MSC Meraviglia vs Odyssey of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Odyssey of the Seas
- Cruises
- 13
- From
- $803
The verdict
Which should you choose?
MSC Meraviglia is a mega MSC Cruises ship carrying 4,500 passengers, in service since 2017. Odyssey of the Seas is a mega Royal Caribbean ship carrying 4,198 passengers, in service since 2021.
Choose MSC Meraviglia if you want a lower starting fare, more culture or more cruises to choose from: it outscores Odyssey of the Seas for cultural (6.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, its cruises start from $79 (vs $803) and it has 85 cruises on sale (vs 13).
Choose Odyssey of the Seas if you want a more active cruise, a more family-friendly ship or more of a party: it outscores MSC Meraviglia for active (10.0 vs 6.0), family friendly (10.0 vs 8.0) 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.
| MSC Meraviglia | Odyssey of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | MSC Cruises | Royal Caribbean |
| Ship size | Mega | Mega |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2017 | 2021 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 167,600 | 169,000 |
| Passengers | 4,500 | 4,198 |
| Crew | 1,540 | 1,550 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.9 | 2.7 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 37.2 | 40.3 (better) |
| Decks | 19 | 16 |
| Length | 1,033 ft | 1,138 ft |
| Beam | 141 ft | 135 ft |
| Speed | 22 mph | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 9 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 85 | 13 |
| Upcoming sailings | 159 | 96 |
| Cruise lengths | 1 to 19 nights | 7 to 14 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $79 (better) | $803 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. MSC Meraviglia leads on 1 of the ten, Odyssey of the Seas on 5, with 4 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
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
85 cruises on sale, from $79.
Royal Caribbean
Odyssey of the Seas
Odyssey of the Seas launched in July 2021 as the first Quantum Ultra Class cruise ship to sail in the United States, offering cruises to the Caribbean followed by Mediterranean voyages in 2022.
Highlights
- Reimagined SeaPlex with large VR and AR playground
- Two-level pool deck
- FlowRider, RipCord by iFly, SkyPad bungee trampoline experience and North Star all on top deck
- Want some peace and serenity? Head to Solarium, the adults-only area.
Sailing now
13 cruises on sale, from $803.
About Odyssey of the Seas Plan my cruise on Odyssey of the Seas
Questions
MSC Meraviglia or Odyssey of the Seas?
Which is bigger, MSC Meraviglia or Odyssey of the Seas?
Odyssey of the Seas is bigger at 169,000 gross tons, against 167,600 gross tons for MSC Meraviglia. MSC Meraviglia carries 4,500 passengers and Odyssey of the Seas carries 4,198.
Which ship is newer, MSC Meraviglia or Odyssey of the Seas?
Odyssey of the Seas is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2021 against 2017 for MSC Meraviglia.
Which has more space per passenger?
Odyssey of the Seas, with 40.3 gross tons per passenger against 37.2 on MSC Meraviglia. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Odyssey of the Seas, with one crew member for every 2.7 passengers against one for every 2.9 on MSC Meraviglia.
Which is better for families?
Odyssey of the Seas scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 10.0 out of 10, against 8.0 for MSC Meraviglia.
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