MSC Cruises
MSC Seaside
- Cruises
- 14
- From
- $159
Ship comparison
MSC Seaside vs Ovation of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Ovation of the Seas
- Cruises
- 25
- From
- $209
The verdict
Which should you choose?
MSC Seaside is a mega MSC Cruises ship carrying 4,132 passengers, in service since 2017. Ovation of the Seas is a mega Royal Caribbean ship carrying 4,180 passengers, in service since 2016.
Choose MSC Seaside if you want more of a party, a more active cruise or a lower starting fare: it outscores Ovation of the Seas for party (8.0 vs 6.0) and active (9.0 vs 8.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $159 (vs $209).
Choose Ovation of the Seas if you want better-rated entertainment, better-rated staterooms or more adventure and nature: it outscores MSC Seaside for entertainment (9.0 vs 8.0), staterooms (8.0 vs 7.0) and adventure & nature (6.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| MSC Seaside | Ovation of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | MSC Cruises | Royal Caribbean |
| Ship size | Mega | Mega |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2017 (better) | 2016 |
| Gross tonnage | 154,000 | 168,666 |
| Passengers | 4,132 | 4,180 |
| Crew | 1,413 | 1,500 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.9 | 2.8 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 37.3 | 40.4 (better) |
| Decks | 19 | 16 |
| Length | 1,060 ft | 1,141 ft |
| Beam | 135 ft | 136 ft |
| Speed | 25 mph | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 9 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 14 | 25 |
| Upcoming sailings | 262 | 142 |
| Cruise lengths | 3 to 14 nights | 3 to 25 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $159 (better) | $209 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. MSC Seaside leads on 5 of the ten, Ovation of the Seas on 4, with 1 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
MSC Cruises
MSC Seaside
Swiss-based MSC Cruises launched the next-generation smartship MSC Seaside in December 2017 to cruise the Caribbean. The megaship holds 4,132 passengers at double occupancy and 5,179 at maximum capacity.
Sailing now
14 cruises on sale, from $159.
Royal Caribbean
Ovation of the Seas
Ovation of the Seas, the third ship of the Quantum class from Royal Caribbean, launched in 2016 and sails in the Pacific (out of its home port in Sydney) as well as Alaska.
Highlights
- RipCord by iFLY, the first skydiving experience at sea
- Adults-only Solarium pool, a glass-canopied retreat
- Lots of gaming options in Casino Royale
Sailing now
25 cruises on sale, from $209.
About Ovation of the Seas Plan my cruise on Ovation of the Seas
Questions
MSC Seaside or Ovation of the Seas?
Which is bigger, MSC Seaside or Ovation of the Seas?
Ovation of the Seas is bigger at 168,666 gross tons, against 154,000 gross tons for MSC Seaside. MSC Seaside carries 4,132 passengers and Ovation of the Seas carries 4,180.
Which ship is newer, MSC Seaside or Ovation of the Seas?
MSC Seaside is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2017 against 2016 for Ovation of the Seas.
Which has more space per passenger?
Ovation of the Seas, with 40.4 gross tons per passenger against 37.3 on MSC Seaside. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Ovation of the Seas, with one crew member for every 2.8 passengers against one for every 2.9 on MSC Seaside.
Which is better for families?
They score the same for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10.
Still deciding?
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