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Ship comparison

Azura vs Carnival Encounter

Side-by-side cruise ship comparison. Azura wins 4 of 7 scored categories.

At a glance

Quick Compare

Category
Azura
Carnival Encounter
Size
115,055 GT
109,000 GT
Passengers
3,100
2,600
Year built
2010
2002
Crew ratio
2.6 guests per crew
2.4 guests per crew
Space ratio
37.1 GT per guest
41.9 GT per guest
Decks
No data
18
Length
290 m
290 m
From price
No data
$438 pp

The verdict

Comparison Verdict

Azura is the larger vessel at 115,055 GT, 6% more than Carnival Encounter's 109,000 GT. Carnival Encounter offers more personal space with a space ratio of 41.9 GT per passenger versus 37.1. Built in 2010, Azura is 8 years newer, an advantage for travelers seeking modern amenities and design.

CategoryWinner
SizeAzura
CapacityAzura
ModernityAzura
ServiceCarnival Encounter
SpaciousnessCarnival Encounter
DecksNo data
LengthTie
Fleet PowerAzura

Bottom line: Azura leads 4–2 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose Azura for overall superiority; pick Carnival Encounter if its strengths matter more to you.

Decide

Which Ship Is Right for You?

Choose Azura if

  • You want the newer ship (built 2010, 8 years newer)
  • Size matters to you (115,055 GT)
  • More onboard variety (3,100 guests)
Book Azura

Choose Carnival Encounter if

  • More crew per guest (2.4 guests per crew)
  • More space per guest (41.9 GT per guest)
Book Carnival Encounter

Prices

See Current Prices

You have compared the ships. Now see what they cost.

Azura

Check prices on Cruisebound

Book Azura

Carnival Encounter

from $438 per person

Book Carnival Encounter
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Fares

Sailing Prices

DetailAzuraCarnival Encounter
CheapestNo sailings$438 pp
Per nightNo dataNo data
DepartingNo dataNov 19
DurationNo datanull nights
View sailing

Prices from Cruisebound, per person, for the sailing shown.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the comparison score calculated?

We score 8 categories from spec data: size, capacity, modernity, service, spaciousness, decks, length and fleet power. Each category awards one point to the winning ship. A category where either ship has no data is marked No data and left out of the score.

What is the space ratio and why does it matter?

Space ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity. A higher number means more space per guest. Luxury lines typically score above 40, and mass-market ships often fall between 30 and 40.

What does the passenger-to-crew ratio mean?

It is the number of guests for each crew member, shown as "3.0 guests per crew". Lower is better: more staff per guest usually means more attentive service. Luxury lines aim for fewer than 2 guests per crew, and large mainstream ships often carry 3 to 4.

Are the prices shown accurate?

Prices come from Cruisebound and are per person for the sailing shown. They change with cabin type, date and demand, so open the sailing to see the current fare.

Can I compare more than two ships?

Yes, up to four ships. Use the search tool on the compare hub page to add additional ships.

How current is the ship data?

Specifications come from our database of 380+ ships, and this page refreshes daily. An "Updated" date appears at the top when either ship's record changed in the last 30 days.