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Ship comparison

L'Austral vs MS Nordkapp

Side-by-side cruise ship comparison. L'Austral wins 5 of 7 scored categories.

At a glance

Quick Compare

Category
L'Austral
MS Nordkapp
Size
10,944 GT
11,386 GT
Passengers
264
464
Year built
2011
1996
Crew ratio
1.9 guests per crew
7.7 guests per crew
Space ratio
41.5 GT per guest
24.5 GT per guest
Decks
No data
No data
Length
142 m
123 m

The verdict

Comparison Verdict

L'Austral offers more personal space with a space ratio of 41.5 GT per passenger versus 24.5. Built in 2011, L'Austral is 15 years newer, an advantage for travelers seeking modern amenities and design. L'Austral edges ahead in service at 1.9 guests per crew, meaning more crew per guest.

CategoryWinner
SizeL'Austral
CapacityMS Nordkapp
ModernityL'Austral
ServiceL'Austral
SpaciousnessL'Austral
DecksNo data
LengthL'Austral
Fleet PowerMS Nordkapp

Bottom line: L'Austral leads 5–2 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose L'Austral for overall superiority; pick MS Nordkapp if its strengths matter more to you.

Decide

Which Ship Is Right for You?

Choose L'Austral if

  • You want the newer ship (built 2011, 15 years newer)
  • More crew per guest (1.9 guests per crew)
  • More space per guest (41.5 GT per guest)
Book L'Austral

Choose MS Nordkapp if

  • Size matters to you (11,386 GT)
  • More onboard variety (464 guests)
Book MS Nordkapp

Prices

See Current Prices

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

L'Austral

Check prices on Cruisebound

Book L'Austral

MS Nordkapp

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Book MS Nordkapp
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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.