Spots going fastBrilliance of the Seas vs Celebrity Apex
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated April 2026
Celebrity Apex is the significantly larger vessel at 129,500 GT — 44% more than Brilliance of the Seas's 90,090 GT. Celebrity Apex offers more personal space with a space ratio of 44.5 GT per passenger versus 36.0. Built in 2020, Celebrity Apex is 18 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
Score: 0 – 7
Quick Compare
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Category
Brilliance of the Seas
Celebrity Apex
Size
90,090 GT
129,500 GT
Passengers
2,501
2,910
Year Built
2002
2020
Crew Ratio
1:3.0
1:2.2
Space Ratio
36.0
44.5
Decks
—
—
Length
293m
306m
From Price
$1,071.97/pp
$1,472.18/pp
Comparison Verdict
Celebrity Apex is the significantly larger vessel at 129,500 GT — 44% more than Brilliance of the Seas's 90,090 GT. Celebrity Apex offers more personal space with a space ratio of 44.5 GT per passenger versus 36.0. Built in 2020, Celebrity Apex is 18 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Celebrity Apex |
| Capacity | Celebrity Apex |
| Modernity | Celebrity Apex |
| Service | Celebrity Apex |
| Spaciousness | Celebrity Apex |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Celebrity Apex |
| Fleet Power | Celebrity Apex |
Bottom line: Celebrity Apex leads 7–0 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Celebrity Apex for overall superiority; pick Brilliance of the Seas if its strengths matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Celebrity Apex if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2020, 18yr newer)
- Size matters to you (129,500 GT)
- More onboard variety (2,910 guests)
- Better service ratio (2.2:1 crew ratio)
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Deep Dive
Upcoming Sailings
Upcoming Sailings on Brilliance of the Seas
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Leaves in 13 days7 Night Italy, Croatia & The Adriatic
Royal Caribbean • Brilliance of the Seas
Aug 10, 2026 · 7 nights
Leaves in 20 daysUpcoming Sailings on Celebrity Apex
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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.
