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Cruise line comparison

Carnival Cruise Line vs MSC Cruises

Side-by-side comparison of Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises cruise lines.

Overview

Quick summary

Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises are both contemporary cruise lines. Carnival Cruise Line runs 29 ships and was founded in 1972, carrying 93,660 passengers in total. MSC Cruises runs 23 ships and was founded in 1987, with 101,709 total passenger capacity.

Side by side

How the two lines compare

Attribute

Carnival

MSC

Market SegmentContemporaryContemporary
Founded19721987
Fleet Size2923
Total Passenger Capacity93,660101,709
HeadquartersUnited StatesSwitzerland
Parent CompanyCarnival CorporationMSC Group
Biggest ShipCarnival Celebration (183,521 GT)MSC World Europa (215,863 GT)
Newest ShipCarnival Jubilee (2023)MSC World America (2025)

Fleet

Fleet comparison

Carnival Cruise Line: top ships

  1. 1Carnival Celebration183,521 GT · 5,374 pax
  2. 2Carnival Jubilee183,521 GT · 5,374 pax
  3. 3Mardi Gras180,800 GT · 5,282 pax
  4. 4Carnival Venezia135,225 GT · 4,072 pax
  5. 5Carnival Firenze135,156 GT · 4,126 pax

MSC Cruises: top ships

  1. 1MSC World Europa215,863 GT · 6,774 pax
  2. 2MSC Euribia205,700 GT · 6,327 pax
  3. 3MSC World America205,700 GT · 6,762 pax
  4. 4MSC Grandiosa181,541 GT · 6,334 pax
  5. 5MSC Virtuosa181,541 GT · 6,334 pax

Good to know

Carnival Cruise Line vs MSC Cruises FAQ

Which is better, Carnival Cruise Line or MSC Cruises?

Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises are both contemporary cruise lines. Carnival Cruise Line runs 29 ships and MSC Cruises runs 23, so the choice comes down to ship size, itineraries, and onboard style rather than price tier.

Which has bigger ships, Carnival Cruise Line or MSC Cruises?

Carnival Cruise Line's largest ship is Carnival Celebration at 183,521 GT, while MSC Cruises's largest is MSC World Europa at 215,863 GT. MSC Cruises has the bigger flagship.

Which is more expensive, Carnival Cruise Line or MSC Cruises?

Both Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises are contemporary cruise lines, so pricing is generally similar. Actual fares vary by ship, itinerary, cabin type, and season.

How many ships does Carnival Cruise Line have compared to MSC Cruises?

Carnival Cruise Line operates 29 ships with a total capacity of 93,660 passengers. MSC Cruises has 23 ships with a total capacity of 101,709 passengers.

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