Ship comparison
Crystal Symphony vs Spirit of Discovery
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison. Spirit of Discovery wins 4 of 7 scored categories.
At a glance
Quick Compare
The verdict
Comparison Verdict
Spirit of Discovery is the larger vessel at 58,250 GT, 14% more than Crystal Symphony's 51,044 GT. Built in 2019, Spirit of Discovery is 24 years newer, an advantage for travelers seeking modern amenities and design. Crystal Symphony edges ahead in service at 1.5 guests per crew, meaning more crew per guest.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Spirit of Discovery |
| Capacity | Spirit of Discovery |
| Modernity | Spirit of Discovery |
| Service | Crystal Symphony |
| Spaciousness | Crystal Symphony |
| Decks | No data |
| Length | Crystal Symphony |
| Fleet Power | Spirit of Discovery |
Bottom line: Spirit of Discovery leads 4–3 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose Spirit of Discovery for overall superiority; pick Crystal Symphony if Service matter more to you.
Decide
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Crystal Symphony if
- More crew per guest (1.5 guests per crew)
- More space per guest (60.2 GT per guest)
Choose Spirit of Discovery if
- You want the newer ship (built 2019, 24 years newer)
- Size matters to you (58,250 GT)
- More onboard variety (999 guests)
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.





