Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Sky
- Cruises
- 7
- From
- —
Ship comparison
Norwegian Sky vs Rhapsody of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Rhapsody of the Seas
- Cruises
- 54
- From
- $353
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Norwegian Sky is a large Norwegian Cruise Line ship carrying 2,004 passengers, in service since 1999. Rhapsody of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 1,998 passengers, in service since 1997.
Choose Norwegian Sky if you want more of a party or more crew per passenger: it outscores Rhapsody of the Seas for party (8.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has a crew member for every 2.1 passengers (vs 2.6).
Choose Rhapsody of the Seas if you want a more active cruise, a more romantic trip or more adventure and nature: it outscores Norwegian Sky for active (8.0 vs 7.0), romantic (6.0 vs 5.0) and adventure & nature (4.0 vs 3.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Norwegian Sky | Rhapsody of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Norwegian Cruise Line | Royal Caribbean |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 1999 (better) | 1997 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2019 (better) | 2016 |
| Gross tonnage | 77,104 | 78,491 |
| Passengers | 2,004 | 1,998 |
| Crew | 934 | 765 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.1 (better) | 2.6 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 38.5 | 39.3 (better) |
| Decks | 13 | 11 |
| Length | 848 ft | 915 ft |
| Beam | 106 ft | 117 ft |
| Speed | 26 mph | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 (better) | 7 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 7 | 54 |
| Upcoming sailings | 15 | 115 |
| Cruise lengths | 5 to 14 nights | 4 to 14 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | — | $353 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Norwegian Sky leads on 3 of the ten, Rhapsody of the Seas on 4, with 3 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Sky
As the smallest vessel in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, Norwegian Skyembodies many of the elements you will find on larger vessels from the brand, including the Freestyle dining approach with no set seating assignments for dinner.
Highlights
- Guest celebrity DJs spin till the late hours!
- At the Longboard Bar you'll find live broadcasts of sporting events
- Take your clubs out for a drive at one of two Golf Driving Nets onboard
- Stay overnight on the ship during a two-day stay in Cuba.
Sailing now
7 cruises on sale.
Royal Caribbean
Rhapsody of the Seas
Rhapsody of the Seas from Royal Caribbean delivers an unforgettable cruise experience, no matter the hemisphere. Get out to sea and relax away the stress of life on land at the Vitality Spa or glass-canopied Solarium adults-only pool.
Highlights
- Solarium, an adults-only retreat
- Vitality Spa's extensive treatment menu
- Broadway-style entertainment in the Main Theater
- Gaming at the Vegas-style Casino Royale
Sailing now
54 cruises on sale, from $353.
About Rhapsody of the Seas Plan my cruise on Rhapsody of the Seas
Questions
Norwegian Sky or Rhapsody of the Seas?
Which is bigger, Norwegian Sky or Rhapsody of the Seas?
Rhapsody of the Seas is bigger at 78,491 gross tons, against 77,104 gross tons for Norwegian Sky. Norwegian Sky carries 2,004 passengers and Rhapsody of the Seas carries 1,998.
Which ship is newer, Norwegian Sky or Rhapsody of the Seas?
Norwegian Sky is newer, with a maiden voyage in 1999 against 1997 for Rhapsody of the Seas.
Which has more space per passenger?
Rhapsody of the Seas, with 39.3 gross tons per passenger against 38.5 on Norwegian Sky. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Norwegian Sky, with one crew member for every 2.1 passengers against one for every 2.6 on Rhapsody of the Seas.
Which is better for families?
Norwegian Sky scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10, against 7.5 for Rhapsody of the Seas.
Still deciding?
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