Spots going fastCosta Smeralda vs Iona
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated April 2026
Iona wins 6 of 8 categories.
Score: 1 – 6
Quick Compare
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Category
Costa Smeralda
Iona
Size
185,010 GT
184,700 GT
Passengers
5,224
5,200
Year Built
2019
2020
Crew Ratio
1:3.1
1:2.9
Space Ratio
35.4
35.5
Decks
—
—
Length
337m
345m
From Price
$1,044/pp
—
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Costa Smeralda if...
- Size matters to you (185,010 GT)
- More onboard variety (5,224 guests)
Choose Iona if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2020, 1yr newer)
- Better service ratio (2.9:1 crew ratio)
- More space per guest (35.5 GT/pax)
You've compared the ships. Now see what they cost.
See Current Prices
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Sailing Prices
| Costa Smeralda | Iona | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | $1,044 pp | — |
| Departing | Jul 31 | — |
| Duration | 7 nights | — |
| View Deal |
Prices from Cruisebound. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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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.
