Leaves in 9 days$100/person$100/night
View Deal →Costa Fascinosa vs MSC Lirica
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated January 2026
Costa Fascinosa is the significantly larger vessel at 114,500 GT, 75% more than MSC Lirica's 65,591 GT. Costa Fascinosa offers more personal space with a space ratio of 38.0 GT per passenger versus 30.5. Built in 2012, Costa Fascinosa is 9 years newer, an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
Score: 7 – 0
Quick Compare
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Category
Costa Fascinosa
MSC Lirica
Size
114,500 GT
65,591 GT
Passengers
3,012
2,150
Year Built
2012
2003
Crew Ratio
1:2.7
1:3.0
Space Ratio
38.0
30.5
Decks
—
—
Length
290m
275m
From Price
$100/pp
$825.67/pp
Comparison Verdict
Costa Fascinosa is the significantly larger vessel at 114,500 GT, 75% more than MSC Lirica's 65,591 GT. Costa Fascinosa offers more personal space with a space ratio of 38.0 GT per passenger versus 30.5. Built in 2012, Costa Fascinosa is 9 years newer, an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Costa Fascinosa |
| Capacity | Costa Fascinosa |
| Modernity | Costa Fascinosa |
| Service | Costa Fascinosa |
| Spaciousness | Costa Fascinosa |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Costa Fascinosa |
| Fleet Power | Costa Fascinosa |
Bottom line: Costa Fascinosa leads 7–0 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose Costa Fascinosa for overall superiority; pick MSC Lirica if its strengths matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Costa Fascinosa if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2012, 9yr newer)
- Size matters to you (114,500 GT)
- More onboard variety (3,012 guests)
- Better service ratio (2.7:1 crew ratio)
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Deep Dive
Upcoming Sailings
Upcoming Sailings on Costa Fascinosa
Leaves in 9 days
Leaves in 9 days14 Night Eastern Mediterranean Cruise
Costa • Costa Fascinosa
Sep 20, 2026 · 14 nights
Iberian Peninsula
$1,457/person$104/night
View Deal →
Leaves in 23 days$157/person$79/night
View Deal →Upcoming Sailings on MSC Lirica
Spots going fast$826/person$118/night
View Deal →
Leaves in 8 days$1,117/person$160/night
View Deal →Leaves in 14 days$1,429/person$204/night
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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.
