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Ship comparison

Carnival Dream vs Norwegian Prima

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

At a glance

Quick Compare

Category
Carnival Dream
Norwegian Prima
Size
130,000 GT
142,500 GT
Passengers
3,646
3,215
Year built
2009
2022
Crew ratio
2.7 guests per crew
2.3 guests per crew
Space ratio
35.7 GT per guest
44.3 GT per guest
Decks
No data
No data
Length
306 m
294 m
From price
$537 pp
$299 pp

The verdict

Comparison Verdict

Norwegian Prima is the larger vessel at 142,500 GT, 10% more than Carnival Dream's 130,000 GT. Norwegian Prima offers more personal space with a space ratio of 44.3 GT per passenger versus 35.7. Built in 2022, Norwegian Prima is 13 years newer, an advantage for travelers seeking modern amenities and design.

CategoryWinner
SizeNorwegian Prima
CapacityCarnival Dream
ModernityNorwegian Prima
ServiceNorwegian Prima
SpaciousnessNorwegian Prima
DecksNo data
LengthCarnival Dream
Fleet PowerCarnival Dream

Bottom line: Norwegian Prima leads 4–3 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose Norwegian Prima for overall superiority; pick Carnival Dream if Capacity matter more to you.

Decide

Which Ship Is Right for You?

Choose Carnival Dream if

  • More onboard variety (3,646 guests)
Book Carnival Dream

Choose Norwegian Prima if

  • You want the newer ship (built 2022, 13 years newer)
  • Size matters to you (142,500 GT)
  • More crew per guest (2.3 guests per crew)
  • More space per guest (44.3 GT per guest)
Book Norwegian Prima

Prices

See Current Prices

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

Carnival Dream

from $537 per person

Book Carnival Dream

Norwegian Prima

from $299 per person

Book Norwegian Prima
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Fares

Sailing Prices

DetailCarnival DreamNorwegian Prima
Cheapest$537 pp$299 pp
Per nightNo data$75 pp
DepartingOct 31Nov 8
Durationnull nights4 nights
View sailingView sailing

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

Go deeper

Deep Dive

Sailings

Upcoming Sailings

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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.