MSC Cruises vs Royal Caribbean
A detailed side-by-side comparison of MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean covering ratings, fleet size, food quality, entertainment, value for money, and available sailings from UK ports. Updated for 2026.
The head-to-head
Ratings are based on aggregated passenger reviews, editorial analysis, and expert scoring. The cobalt outline marks the stronger line for each attribute.
Who should choose which?
Every cruise line has its strengths and weaknesses. Here is an honest look at who each line is best suited for, based on passenger feedback and our editorial assessment.
Choose MSC Cruises if you want…
- Value for money
- All-inclusive packages
- Families (kids sail free)
- Mediterranean itineraries
MSC Cruises may not suit you if…
- Those wanting British-focused experience
- Small-ship intimacy seekers
- Adults-only preference
Choose Royal Caribbean if you want…
- Families with kids
- Thrill seekers and adventurers
- Mega-ship experience
- Entertainment and activities
Royal Caribbean may not suit you if…
- Quiet/intimate cruise seekers
- Ultra-luxury preference
- Those avoiding large crowds
Ships at a glance
A quick comparison of each line's fleet including passenger capacity, tonnage, and year of launch.
MSC Cruises Fleet (22 ships)
MSC Virtuosa
Built 2021 · 6,334 guests
MSC World Europa
Built 2022 · 6,762 guests
MSC Euribia
Built 2023 · 6,334 guests
Royal Caribbean Fleet (28 ships)
Anthem of the Seas
Built 2015 · 4,905 guests
Icon of the Seas
Built 2024 · 7,600 guests
Utopia of the Seas
Built 2024 · 5,668 guests
Available cruises
Current sailings from both cruise lines. Prices shown are per person based on two sharing the lowest-grade cabin available.
MSC Cruises Sailings
7 NIGHTSMarseille, Genoa, Livorno, Valencia
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Marseille, Genoa, Livorno
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSCruise only from Tarragona
Ports: Tarragona · Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca
Save 8%7 NIGHTSNot Specified
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Marseille, Genoa, Livorno and back
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTS7 Night MSC Sinfonia Cruise
Save 8%7 NIGHTSMediterranean Escape
Ports: Tarragona · Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Marseille and return
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Marseille, Genoa, Livorno, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Mediterranean
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSCruise only from inside
Save 8%7 NIGHTSCruise only from
Ports: Tarragona · Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona - Marseille - Genoa - Livorno - Valencia - Palma de Mallorca - Barcelona
Ports: Tarragona · Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona - Marseille - Genoa
Ports: Tarragona · Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca
Save 8%7 NIGHTSMediterranean Discovery
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSMediterranean Delight
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSDeparting Tarragona
Ports: Tarragona · Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Marseille, Genoa, Livorno, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSMediterranean Cruise
Ports: Tarragona · Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca
Save 8%7 NIGHTSMarseille - Genoa - Livorno - Valencia
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Marseille and Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona - Marseille - Genoa - Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSMediterranean Magic
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Barcelona and others
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Marseille, Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSNot Available
Save 8%7 NIGHTSMarseille, Genoa, Livorno, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSMediterranean Treasures
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Marseille, Genoa, Livorno, Valencia
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Marseille, Genoa, Livorno, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, and Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSDeparture from Tarragona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSItinerary from Tarragona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSCruising from Tarragona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSGenoa - Livorno - Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Barcelona and more
Ports: Tarragona · Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca
Save 8%7 NIGHTSMarseille - Genoa - Livorno - etc.
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSMediterranean Wonders
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSMarseille - Genoa - Livorno
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona - Marseille - Genoa - Valencia - Palma de Mallorca - Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona - Marseille
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Marseille, Genoa, Livorno, Valencia, Palma, Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSDeparting Tarragona - Marseille - Genoa - Livorno - Valencia - Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Palma de Mallorca
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Marseille to Genoa to Livorno to Valencia to Palma de Mallorca to Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona to Marseille, Genoa, Livorno and Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSTarragona - Marseille - Genoa - Livorno - Valencia - Palma de Mallorca
Ports: Tarragona · Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca
Save 8%7 NIGHTSCruise only from Tarragona to Marseille - Genoa - Barcelona
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 8%7 NIGHTSNot Provided
Save 8%7 NIGHTSCruise only
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Livorno · Valencia
Royal Caribbean Sailings
Save 2%9 NIGHTS3-night Hong Kong & 5-night Okinawa Overnight
9 NIGHTS3-night Hong Kong & 5-night Okinawa & Ishigaki
13 NIGHTSOrlando Adventure & Star of the Seas Caribbean Escape with Royal Caribbean
9 NIGHTS3-night Hong Kong & 5-night Okinawa & Ishigaki
9 NIGHTS3-night Hong Kong & 5-night Okinawa & Taipei
14 NIGHTSHong Kong's Symphony of Lights and Christmas Best of Japan Voyage
Ports: Hong Kong · Fukuoka · Nagasaki · Kagoshima · Kumamoto
7 NIGHTS7 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise
Ports: San Juan · Charlotte Amalie · St Croix · Philipsburg · St John's · Roseau
5 NIGHTS5 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports: Tampa · Puerto Costa Maya · Cozumel
7 NIGHTS7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports: Tampa · Cozumel · Puerto Costa Maya · George Town
10 NIGHTS4-night Singapore & 5-night Penang, Langkawi & Phuket
7 NIGHTS7 Night South Pacific Cruise
Ports: Brisbane · Mystery Island · Noumea
7 NIGHTS7-night Cabo Overnight Catalina & Ensenada
Ports: Los Angeles · Catalina Island · Cabo San Lucas · Ensenada
9 NIGHTS9 Night New Zealand Cruise
Ports: Sydney · Wellington · Napier · Tauranga · Bay Of Islands
14 NIGHTS4-night Sydney & 9-night South Pacific Paradise
Hot deal4 NIGHTS4 Night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise
Ports: Nassau · Coco Cay
Hot deal4 NIGHTS4 Night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise
Ports: Nassau · Coco Cay
Hot deal4 NIGHTS4 Night Bahamas Getaway Cruise
Ports: Nassau · Freeport · Bimini Island
Hot deal4 NIGHTS4 Night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise
Ports: Nassau · Coco Cay
Hot deal4 NIGHTS4 Night Hobart Getaway
Ports: Hobart
4 NIGHTS4 Night Busan Cruise
Ports: Baoshan Pt · Busan
7 NIGHTS7 Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day
Ports: Port Canaveral · Charlotte Amalie · Puerto Plata · Coco Cay · Port Canaveral
5 NIGHTS5 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports: Galveston · Costa Maya · Cozumel · Galveston
6 NIGHTS6 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports: Fort Lauderdale · Cozumel · Costa Maya · Nassau
7 NIGHTS7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports: Tampa · Costa Maya · Belize City · Roatán Island · Cozumel
4 NIGHTS4 Night Catalina & Ensenada Cruise
Ports: San Diego · Santa Catalina Island · Ensenada
7 NIGHTS7 Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day
Ports: Miami · Coco Cay · San Juan (Puerto Rico) · Charlotte Amalie
5 NIGHTS5 Night Jeju & Fukuoka Cruise
Ports: Baoshan Pt · Seogwipo · Fukuoka
7 NIGHTS7 Night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day
Ports: Coco Cay · Bimini Island · Georgetown · Cozumel · Miami
17 NIGHTS3-night Memphis, Graceland Tour, 2-night New Orleans & 17-night Transatlantic to Southampton
Ports: Memphis · New Orleans · Miami · Casablanca · Tangier · Cadiz
20 NIGHTS3-night New Orleans & 17-night Miami, Morocco & Spanish Transatlantic Adventure
Hot deal4 NIGHTSBahamas cruise from Miami to Galveston
Ports: Miami · Nassau
7 NIGHTS2-night Seattle & 7-night Alaskan Voyage
Ports: Seattle, Washington · Juneau, Alaska · Skagway, Alaska · Sitka, Alaska · Victoria, British Columbia
7 NIGHTS7-night Freedom of Spain & Portugal
Ports: Spain · Portugal
Save 1%7 NIGHTS2-night Seattle & 7-night Alaskan Voyage
Ports: Seattle, Washington · Juneau, Alaska · Skagway, Alaska · Sitka, Alaska · Victoria, British Columbia
7 NIGHTS7 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise
Ports: Barcelona · Majorca · Florence/Pisa · Rome · Naples
Deal7 NIGHTSSpain and France cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Le Havre (Paris) · Bilbao (Getxo) · La Coruna · Vigo
7 NIGHTS2-night Seattle & 7-night Alaskan Voyage
Ports: Seattle, Washington · Juneau, Alaska · Skagway, Alaska · Sitka, Alaska · Victoria, British Columbia
Deal7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
7 NIGHTSHalf Term Western Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona
Ports: Barcelona · Palma De Mallorca · Marseille (Provence) · La Spezia (tours to Florence/Pisa) · Rome (Civitavecchia) · Naples
5 NIGHTS5 Night Hamburg & Rotterdam Cruise
Ports: Hamburg · Rotterdam · Southampton
7 NIGHTS7-night Freedom of Spain & Portugal
Ports: Spain · Portugal
7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Haugesund · Bergen · Olden · Stavanger
Save 4%5 NIGHTS5 Night Hamburg & Bruges Cruise
Ports: Hamburg · Zeebrugge · Southampton
2 NIGHTS2 Night Weekend Getaway Cruise
Ports: Le Havre · Southampton
Save 1%10 NIGHTSBahamas & Perfect Day from Cape Liberty with Stay
Ports: New York (Cape Liberty) · Orlando (Port Canaveral) · Perfect Day at Cococay · Nassau
Save 10%5 NIGHTS5 Night Hamburg & Bruges Cruise
Ports: Hamburg · Zeebrugge · Southampton
Save 1%8 NIGHTSNorthern City Escapes
17 NIGHTSGreat Wall, Terracotta Warriors an Shanghai to Osaka and Tokyo
Ports: Shanghai · Osaka · Tokyo
7 NIGHTSWestern Mediterranean from Barcelona with Stay
9 NIGHTSSpanish Flair cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Vigo · Lisbon · Cadiz · La Coruna · Bilbao
MSC Cruises vs Royal Caribbean: the bottom line
Choosing between MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean ultimately comes down to what kind of holiday you are looking for. Both are well-established cruise lines with loyal followings, but they cater to different preferences and budgets.
MSC Cruises, founded in 1970 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, operates a fleet of 22 ships. It is categorised as a contemporary cruise line and scores 4.3/5 overall based on 15,600 reviews. The line is particularly strong for value for money and all-inclusive packages, making it a natural choice for cruisers who value those attributes.
Royal Caribbean, established in 1968 from Miami, USA, has a fleet of 28 ships. As a contemporary line rated 4.6/5 from 24,500 reviews, it excels at families with kids and thrill seekers and adventurers. If those are your priorities, Royal Caribbean deserves serious consideration.
On food, MSC Cruises scores 7/10 compared to Royal Caribbean's 7/10. For entertainment, MSC Cruises comes in at 7/10 versus Royal Caribbean's 10/10. Value for money favours MSC Cruises with a score of 9/10.
Our recommendation: browse the available sailings above and compare itineraries, dates, and total cost including what is bundled in the fare. The best cruise line is the one that matches your specific needs, budget, and travel dates. Use the scores as a guide, but remember that individual ship and itinerary matter just as much as the cruise line brand.
MSC Cruises vs Royal Caribbean — FAQ
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