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Balmoral vs Bolette

Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated February 2026

Bolette is the significantly larger vessel at 63,458 GT — 46% more than Balmoral's 43,537 GT. Bolette offers more personal space with a space ratio of 46.7 GT per passenger versus 32.9. Built in 2000, Bolette is 12 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.

Score: 07

Quick Compare

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Category
Balmoral
Bolette
Size
43,537 GT
63,458 GT
Passengers
1,325
1,360
Year Built
1988
2000
Crew Ratio
1:2.6
1:2.2
Space Ratio
32.9
46.7
Decks
Length
218m
238m

Comparison Verdict

Bolette is the significantly larger vessel at 63,458 GT — 46% more than Balmoral's 43,537 GT. Bolette offers more personal space with a space ratio of 46.7 GT per passenger versus 32.9. Built in 2000, Bolette is 12 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.

CategoryWinner
SizeBolette
CapacityBolette
ModernityBolette
ServiceBolette
SpaciousnessBolette
DecksTie
LengthBolette
Fleet PowerBolette

Bottom line: Bolette leads 7–0 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Bolette for overall superiority; pick Balmoral if its strengths matter more to you.

Which Ship Is Right for You?

Choose Balmoral if...

  • A strong all-round cruise ship
Book Balmoral

Choose Bolette if...

  • You want the newer ship (built 2000, 12yr newer)
  • Size matters to you (63,458 GT)
  • More onboard variety (1,360 guests)
  • Better service ratio (2.2:1 crew ratio)
Book Bolette

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is the comparison score calculated?

We compute scores across 8 categories using real spec data — gross tonnage, passenger capacity, crew capacity, year built, length, deck count, space ratio, and fleet power. Each category awards one point to the winning ship.

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; mass-market ships often fall in the 30-40 range.

What does the passenger-to-crew ratio mean?

Passengers per crew member. Lower is better — more staff per guest means better service. Luxury lines aim below 2:1; large mainstream ships may be 3-4:1.

Are the prices shown accurate?

Prices are sourced from Cruisebound and reflect real-time availability. They may change based on cabin type, date, and demand. Click through to see the latest fares.

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+ vessels, revalidated every 5 minutes via ISR. The "Updated" timestamp shows when records were last modified.