Holland America Line
Noordam
- Cruises
- 46
- From
- $824
Ship comparison
Noordam vs Norwegian Sun
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Sun
- Cruises
- 22
- From
- $959
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Noordam is a large Holland America Line ship carrying 1,924 passengers, in service since 2005. Norwegian Sun is a large Norwegian Cruise Line ship carrying 1,936 passengers, in service since 2001.
Choose Noordam if you want a more romantic trip or more cruises to choose from: it outscores Norwegian Sun for romantic (6.8 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 46 cruises on sale (vs 22).
Choose Norwegian Sun if you want more adventure and nature, more of a party or a more family-friendly ship: it outscores Noordam for adventure & nature (8.0 vs 5.0), party (5.0 vs 3.0) and family friendly (7.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Noordam | Norwegian Sun | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Holland America Line | Norwegian Cruise Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2005 (better) | 2001 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2019 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 82,318 | 78,309 |
| Passengers | 1,924 | 1,936 |
| Crew | 800 | 953 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.4 | 2.0 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 42.8 (better) | 40.4 |
| Decks | 11 | 13 |
| Length | 936 ft | 848 ft |
| Beam | 106 ft | 108 ft |
| Speed | 25 mph | 26 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 (better) | 7 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 46 | 22 |
| Upcoming sailings | 81 | 38 |
| Cruise lengths | 7–69 nights | 7–21 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $824 (better) | $959 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Noordam leads on 2 of the ten, Norwegian Sun on 4, with 4 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Holland America Line
Noordam
Launched in 2006, ms Noordam became the newest member of Holland America's renowned Vista class ships.
Highlights
- Varied itineraries including Oceania and the South Pacific as well as the Panama Canal.
- Fine, curated classic and modern art; don't miss the great photography collection.
- Dining options are plentiful and you can even learn to cook or experience state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen offering interactive gourmet cooking lessons taught by Master Chefs or culinary guests
Sailing now
46 cruises on sale, from $824.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Sun
The bright orange and yellow sun painted onto the side of this ship is just a glimpse into the bright, fun memories waiting to be made on board. Serving up a variety of dining venues, bars, lounges, entertainment, kid's activities and relaxation opportunities, Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sun is a hotspot for all travelers.
Highlights
- 16 global dining choices to suit your every mood
- Private balconies available in an Owner's Suite or Penthouse if you're looking for luxury
- Great entertainment in the Stardust Theater
Sailing now
22 cruises on sale, from $959.
Questions
Noordam or Norwegian Sun?
Which is bigger, Noordam or Norwegian Sun?
Noordam is bigger at 82,318 gross tons, against 78,309 gross tons for Norwegian Sun. Noordam carries 1,924 passengers and Norwegian Sun carries 1,936.
Which ship is newer, Noordam or Norwegian Sun?
Noordam is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2005 against 2001 for Norwegian Sun.
Which has more space per passenger?
Noordam, with 42.8 gross tons per passenger against 40.4 on Norwegian Sun. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Norwegian Sun, with one crew member for every 2.0 passengers against one for every 2.4 on Noordam.
Which is better for families?
Norwegian Sun scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 7.0 out of 10, against 6.0 for Noordam.
Still deciding?
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