Spots going fastBrilliance of the Seas vs Costa Magica
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated February 2026
Costa Magica is the larger vessel at 102,587 GT — 14% more than Brilliance of the Seas's 90,090 GT. Built in 2004, Costa Magica is 2 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Costa Magica edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 2.6:1, meaning more crew per guest.
Score: 2 – 5
Quick Compare
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Category
Brilliance of the Seas
Costa Magica
Size
90,090 GT
102,587 GT
Passengers
2,501
2,716
Year Built
2002
2004
Crew Ratio
1:3.0
1:2.6
Space Ratio
36.0
37.8
Decks
—
—
Length
293m
272m
From Price
$1,071.97/pp
—
Comparison Verdict
Costa Magica is the larger vessel at 102,587 GT — 14% more than Brilliance of the Seas's 90,090 GT. Built in 2004, Costa Magica is 2 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Costa Magica edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 2.6:1, meaning more crew per guest.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Brilliance of the Seas |
| Capacity | Costa Magica |
| Modernity | Costa Magica |
| Service | Costa Magica |
| Spaciousness | Costa Magica |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Brilliance of the Seas |
| Fleet Power | Costa Magica |
Bottom line: Costa Magica leads 5–2 across our categories — strongest in Capacity. Choose Costa Magica for overall superiority; pick Brilliance of the Seas if Size matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Costa Magica if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2004, 2yr newer)
- Size matters to you (102,587 GT)
- More onboard variety (2,716 guests)
- Better service ratio (2.6:1 crew ratio)
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Sailing Prices
| Brilliance of the Seas | Costa Magica | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | $1,071.97 pp | — |
| Departing | Aug 10 | — |
| Duration | 7 nights | — |
| View Deal |
Prices from Cruisebound. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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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.
