MSC Cruises
MSC Seaside
- Cruises
- 13
- From
- $199
Ship comparison
MSC Seaside vs Quantum of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Quantum of the Seas
- Cruises
- 31
- From
- $322
The verdict
Which should you choose?
MSC Seaside is a mega MSC Cruises ship carrying 4,132 passengers, in service since 2017. Quantum of the Seas is a mega Royal Caribbean ship carrying 4,152 passengers, in service since 2014.
Choose MSC Seaside if you want a more active cruise, a lower starting fare or a more romantic trip: it outscores Quantum of the Seas for active (9.0 vs 7.0) and romantic (7.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $199 (vs $322).
Choose Quantum of the Seas if you want more culture or more cruises to choose from: it outscores MSC Seaside for cultural (7.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 31 cruises on sale (vs 13).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| MSC Seaside | Quantum of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | MSC Cruises | Royal Caribbean |
| Ship size | Mega | Mega |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2017 (better) | 2014 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | — | 2019 |
| Gross tonnage | 154,000 | 167,800 |
| Passengers | 4,132 | 4,152 |
| 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 | 18 |
| Length | 1,060 ft | 1,141 ft |
| Beam | 135 ft | 135 ft |
| Speed | 25 mph | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 9 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 13 | 31 |
| Upcoming sailings | 280 | 89 |
| Cruise lengths | 3–14 nights | 3–25 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $199 (better) | $322 |
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 4 of the ten, Quantum of the Seas on 1, with 5 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
13 cruises on sale, from $199.
Royal Caribbean
Quantum of the Seas
Quantum of the Seas is the first ship of the Quantum class from Royal Caribbean. Dubbed the first “smartship,” Quantum of the Seas boasts some nice firsts at sea, including robotic bartenders, a skydiving simulator, bumper cars and high-speed Internet that really is high speed.
Highlights
- Two70, the aft entertainment area, offers amazing views by day and incredible entertainment at night with the signature show “Starwater.”
- The Music Hall offers a true rock concert venue with specialty cocktails and was our go-to spot for late night fun!
- iFLY by Ripcord and the North Star are two high flying attractions that you just have to experience.
- There are close to 3,000 pieces of art throughout the ship, including the relaxed and luxurious Via area.
Sailing now
31 cruises on sale, from $322.
About Quantum of the Seas Plan my cruise on Quantum of the Seas
Questions
MSC Seaside or Quantum of the Seas?
Which is bigger, MSC Seaside or Quantum of the Seas?
Quantum of the Seas is bigger at 167,800 gross tons, against 154,000 gross tons for MSC Seaside. MSC Seaside carries 4,132 passengers and Quantum of the Seas carries 4,152.
Which ship is newer, MSC Seaside or Quantum of the Seas?
MSC Seaside is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2017 against 2014 for Quantum of the Seas.
Which has more space per passenger?
Quantum 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?
Quantum 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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