Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Sky
- Cruises
- 7
- From
- —
Ship comparison
Norwegian Sky vs Serenade of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Serenade of the Seas
- Cruises
- 44
- From
- $219
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Norwegian Sky is a large Norwegian Cruise Line ship carrying 2,004 passengers, in service since 1999. Serenade of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 2,110 passengers, in service since 2003.
Choose Norwegian Sky if you want more of a party: it outscores Serenade of the Seas for party (8.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose Serenade of the Seas if you want more adventure and nature, a better-rated spa and gym or a more romantic trip: it outscores Norwegian Sky for adventure & nature (7.0 vs 3.0), spa & fitness (9.0 vs 8.0) and romantic (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.
| Norwegian Sky | Serenade of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Norwegian Cruise Line | Royal Caribbean |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 1999 | 2003 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2019 (better) | 2015 |
| Gross tonnage | 77,104 | 90,090 |
| Passengers | 2,004 | 2,110 |
| Crew | 934 | 891 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.1 (better) | 2.4 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 38.5 | 42.7 (better) |
| Decks | 13 | 12 |
| Length | 848 ft | 965 ft |
| Beam | 106 ft | 131 ft |
| Speed | 26 mph | 29 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 7 | 44 |
| Upcoming sailings | 15 | 109 |
| Cruise lengths | 5 to 14 nights | 3 to 15 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | — | $219 |
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 2 of the ten, Serenade of the Seas on 3, with 5 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
Serenade of the Seas
Serenade of the Seas from Royal Caribbean combines speed, added comfort, greater space, sweeping ocean vistas and a personable crew. Among the ship's highlights are the nine-story glass-constructed Centrum, glass elevators facing the sea and the highest percentage of outside cabins in the Royal Caribbean fleet.
Highlights
- Vegas-style gambling in Casino Royale
- Vintages, Royal Caribbean's first wine bar
- The 1960s vibe at R Bar
- Rock-climbing wall and mini-golf course
Sailing now
44 cruises on sale, from $219.
About Serenade of the Seas Plan my cruise on Serenade of the Seas
Questions
Norwegian Sky or Serenade of the Seas?
Which is bigger, Norwegian Sky or Serenade of the Seas?
Serenade of the Seas is bigger at 90,090 gross tons, against 77,104 gross tons for Norwegian Sky. Norwegian Sky carries 2,004 passengers and Serenade of the Seas carries 2,110.
Which ship is newer, Norwegian Sky or Serenade of the Seas?
Serenade of the Seas is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2003 against 1999 for Norwegian Sky.
Which has more space per passenger?
Serenade of the Seas, with 42.7 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 2.4 on Serenade of the Seas.
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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