Spots going fastCosta Toscana vs Independence of the Seas
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated April 2026
Costa Toscana is the significantly larger vessel at 185,010 GT — 20% more than Independence of the Seas's 154,407 GT. Built in 2021, Costa Toscana is 13 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Costa Toscana edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 3.1:1, meaning more crew per guest.
Score: 6 – 1
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Category
Costa Toscana
Independence of the Seas
Size
185,010 GT
154,407 GT
Passengers
5,224
4,370
Year Built
2021
2008
Crew Ratio
1:3.1
1:3.2
Space Ratio
35.4
35.3
Decks
—
—
Length
337m
339m
From Price
$1,067/pp
$1,062.2/pp
Comparison Verdict
Costa Toscana is the significantly larger vessel at 185,010 GT — 20% more than Independence of the Seas's 154,407 GT. Built in 2021, Costa Toscana is 13 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Costa Toscana edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 3.1:1, meaning more crew per guest.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Costa Toscana |
| Capacity | Costa Toscana |
| Modernity | Costa Toscana |
| Service | Costa Toscana |
| Spaciousness | Costa Toscana |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Independence of the Seas |
| Fleet Power | Costa Toscana |
Bottom line: Costa Toscana leads 6–1 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Costa Toscana for overall superiority; pick Independence of the Seas if its strengths matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Costa Toscana if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2021, 13yr newer)
- Size matters to you (185,010 GT)
- More onboard variety (5,224 guests)
- Better service ratio (3.1:1 crew ratio)
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Deep Dive
Upcoming Sailings
Upcoming Sailings on Costa Toscana
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Spots going fastUpcoming Sailings on Independence of the Seas
Spots going fast9 Night Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean
Royal Caribbean • Independence of the Seas
Jul 30, 2026 · 9 nights
Leaves in 11 days
Leaves in 16 daysHotels & Accommodations Near Miami Cruise Port
Compare prices from 100+ booking sites
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.
