Spots going fastCosta Pacifica vs Norwegian Dawn
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated January 2026
Costa Pacifica is the significantly larger vessel at 114,500 GT — 24% more than Norwegian Dawn's 92,250 GT. Built in 2009, Costa Pacifica is 7 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Norwegian Dawn edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 2.3:1, meaning more crew per guest.
Score: 4 – 3
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Category
Costa Pacifica
Norwegian Dawn
Size
114,500 GT
92,250 GT
Passengers
3,012
2,340
Year Built
2009
2002
Crew Ratio
1:2.7
1:2.3
Space Ratio
38.0
39.4
Decks
—
—
Length
290m
294m
From Price
$1,125/pp
$927/pp
Comparison Verdict
Costa Pacifica is the significantly larger vessel at 114,500 GT — 24% more than Norwegian Dawn's 92,250 GT. Built in 2009, Costa Pacifica is 7 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Norwegian Dawn edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 2.3:1, meaning more crew per guest.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Costa Pacifica |
| Capacity | Costa Pacifica |
| Modernity | Costa Pacifica |
| Service | Norwegian Dawn |
| Spaciousness | Norwegian Dawn |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Norwegian Dawn |
| Fleet Power | Costa Pacifica |
Bottom line: Costa Pacifica leads 4–3 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Costa Pacifica for overall superiority; pick Norwegian Dawn if its strengths matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Costa Pacifica if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2009, 7yr newer)
- Size matters to you (114,500 GT)
- More onboard variety (3,012 guests)
Choose Norwegian Dawn if...
- Better service ratio (2.3:1 crew ratio)
- More space per guest (39.4 GT/pax)
- Save $198/person on sailings
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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.
