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Ship comparison

Independence of the Seas vs Norwegian Breakaway

Side-by-side cruise ship comparison. Independence of the Seas wins 4 of 7 scored categories.

At a glance

Quick Compare

Category
Independence of the Seas
Norwegian Breakaway
Size
154,407 GT
145,655 GT
Passengers
4,370
3,963
Year built
2008
2013
Crew ratio
3.2 guests per crew
2.4 guests per crew
Space ratio
35.3 GT per guest
36.8 GT per guest
Decks
No data
No data
Length
339 m
324 m
From price
$415.57 pp
$489 pp

The verdict

Comparison Verdict

Independence of the Seas is the larger vessel at 154,407 GT, 6% more than Norwegian Breakaway's 145,655 GT. Built in 2013, Norwegian Breakaway is 5 years newer, an advantage for travelers seeking modern amenities and design. Norwegian Breakaway edges ahead in service at 2.4 guests per crew, meaning more crew per guest.

CategoryWinner
SizeIndependence of the Seas
CapacityIndependence of the Seas
ModernityNorwegian Breakaway
ServiceNorwegian Breakaway
SpaciousnessNorwegian Breakaway
DecksNo data
LengthIndependence of the Seas
Fleet PowerIndependence of the Seas

Bottom line: Independence of the Seas leads 4–3 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose Independence of the Seas for overall superiority; pick Norwegian Breakaway if its strengths matter more to you.

Decide

Which Ship Is Right for You?

Choose Independence of the Seas if

  • Size matters to you (154,407 GT)
  • More onboard variety (4,370 guests)
  • Lower fares per night (from $59 per person per night)
Book Independence of the Seas

Choose Norwegian Breakaway if

  • You want the newer ship (built 2013, 5 years newer)
  • More crew per guest (2.4 guests per crew)
  • More space per guest (36.8 GT per guest)
Book Norwegian Breakaway

Prices

See Current Prices

You have compared the ships. Now see what they cost.

Independence of the Seas

from $415.57 per person

Book Independence of the Seas

Norwegian Breakaway

from $489 per person

Book Norwegian Breakaway
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Fares

Sailing Prices

DetailIndependence of the SeasNorwegian Breakaway
Cheapest$415.57 pp$489 pp
Per night$59 pp$70 pp
DepartingNov 15Nov 29
Duration7 nights7 nights
View sailingView sailing

Prices from Cruisebound, per person, for the sailing shown.

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Sailings

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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.