Ship comparison
Costa Mediterranea vs Marella Explorer
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison. Costa Mediterranea wins 5 of 7 scored categories.
At a glance
Quick Compare
The verdict
Comparison Verdict
Costa Mediterranea is the larger vessel at 86,000 GT, 11% more than Marella Explorer's 77,499 GT. Marella Explorer offers more personal space with a space ratio of 40.3 GT per passenger versus 32.1. Built in 2003, Costa Mediterranea is 7 years newer, an advantage for travelers seeking modern amenities and design.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Costa Mediterranea |
| Capacity | Costa Mediterranea |
| Modernity | Costa Mediterranea |
| Service | Marella Explorer |
| Spaciousness | Marella Explorer |
| Decks | No data |
| Length | Costa Mediterranea |
| Fleet Power | Costa Mediterranea |
Bottom line: Costa Mediterranea leads 5–2 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose Costa Mediterranea for overall superiority; pick Marella Explorer if its strengths matter more to you.
Decide
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Costa Mediterranea if
- You want the newer ship (built 2003, 7 years newer)
- Size matters to you (86,000 GT)
- More onboard variety (2,680 guests)
Choose Marella Explorer if
- More crew per guest (2.1 guests per crew)
- More space per guest (40.3 GT per guest)
Prices
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Go deeper
Deep Dive
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.
