Departs in 2 days7 Night Greek Isles & Italy Cruise
Royal Caribbean • Brilliance of the Seas
Sep 28, 2026 · 7 nights
Mediterranean
$1,243/person$178/night
View DealShip comparison
Brilliance of the Seas vs Costa Smeralda
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison. Costa Smeralda wins 5 of 7 scored categories.
At a glance
Quick Compare
Category
Brilliance of the Seas
Costa Smeralda
Size
90,090 GT
185,010 GT
Passengers
2,501
5,224
Year built
2002
2019
Crew ratio
3.0 guests per crew
3.1 guests per crew
Space ratio
36.0 GT per guest
35.4 GT per guest
Decks
No data
No data
Length
293 m
337 m
From price
$1,243.41 pp
$755 pp
The verdict
Comparison Verdict
Costa Smeralda is the significantly larger vessel at 185,010 GT, 105% more than Brilliance of the Seas's 90,090 GT. Built in 2019, Costa Smeralda is 17 years newer, an advantage for travelers seeking modern amenities and design. Brilliance of the Seas edges ahead in service at 3.0 guests per crew, meaning more crew per guest.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Costa Smeralda |
| Capacity | Costa Smeralda |
| Modernity | Costa Smeralda |
| Service | Brilliance of the Seas |
| Spaciousness | Brilliance of the Seas |
| Decks | No data |
| Length | Costa Smeralda |
| Fleet Power | Costa Smeralda |
Bottom line: Costa Smeralda leads 5–2 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose Costa Smeralda for overall superiority; pick Brilliance of the Seas if Service matter more to you.
Decide
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Brilliance of the Seas if
- More crew per guest (3.0 guests per crew)
- More space per guest (36.0 GT per guest)
Choose Costa Smeralda if
- You want the newer ship (built 2019, 17 years newer)
- Size matters to you (185,010 GT)
- More onboard variety (5,224 guests)
- Lower fares per night (from $108 per person per night)
Prices
See Current Prices
You have compared the ships. Now see what they cost.
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Fares
Sailing Prices
| Detail | Brilliance of the Seas | Costa Smeralda |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | $1,243.41 pp | $755 pp |
| Per night | $178 pp | $108 pp |
| Departing | Sep 28 | Sep 28 |
| Duration | 7 nights | 7 nights |
| View sailing | View sailing |
Prices from Cruisebound, per person, for the sailing shown.
Go deeper
Deep Dive
Sailings
Upcoming Sailings
Upcoming Sailings on Brilliance of the Seas
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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.
