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Ship comparison

MS Fridtjof Nansen vs National Geographic Quest

Side-by-side cruise ship comparison. MS Fridtjof Nansen wins 6 of 7 scored categories.

At a glance

Quick Compare

Category
MS Fridtjof Nansen
National Geographic Quest
Size
20,889 GT
3,135 GT
Passengers
530
100
Year built
2020
2017
Crew ratio
3.5 guests per crew
1.9 guests per crew
Space ratio
39.4 GT per guest
31.4 GT per guest
Decks
No data
No data
Length
140 m
73 m

The verdict

Comparison Verdict

MS Fridtjof Nansen is the significantly larger vessel at 20,889 GT, 566% more than National Geographic Quest's 3,135 GT. MS Fridtjof Nansen offers more personal space with a space ratio of 39.4 GT per passenger versus 31.4. Built in 2020, MS Fridtjof Nansen is 3 years newer, an advantage for travelers seeking modern amenities and design.

CategoryWinner
SizeMS Fridtjof Nansen
CapacityMS Fridtjof Nansen
ModernityMS Fridtjof Nansen
ServiceNational Geographic Quest
SpaciousnessMS Fridtjof Nansen
DecksNo data
LengthMS Fridtjof Nansen
Fleet PowerMS Fridtjof Nansen

Bottom line: MS Fridtjof Nansen leads 6–1 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose MS Fridtjof Nansen for overall superiority; pick National Geographic Quest if its strengths matter more to you.

Decide

Which Ship Is Right for You?

Choose MS Fridtjof Nansen if

  • You want the newer ship (built 2020, 3 years newer)
  • Size matters to you (20,889 GT)
  • More onboard variety (530 guests)
  • More space per guest (39.4 GT per guest)
Book MS Fridtjof Nansen

Choose National Geographic Quest if

  • More crew per guest (1.9 guests per crew)
Book National Geographic Quest

Prices

See Current Prices

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MS Fridtjof Nansen

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Book MS Fridtjof Nansen

National Geographic Quest

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Book National Geographic Quest
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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.