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Ship comparison

MS Polarlys vs National Geographic Endurance

Side-by-side cruise ship comparison. National Geographic Endurance wins 5 of 7 scored categories.

At a glance

Quick Compare

Category
MS Polarlys
National Geographic Endurance
Size
11,200 GT
12,300 GT
Passengers
479
126
Year built
1996
2020
Crew ratio
8.4 guests per crew
1.2 guests per crew
Space ratio
23.4 GT per guest
97.6 GT per guest
Decks
No data
No data
Length
123 m
126 m

The verdict

Comparison Verdict

National Geographic Endurance is the larger vessel at 12,300 GT, 10% more than MS Polarlys's 11,200 GT. National Geographic Endurance offers more personal space with a space ratio of 97.6 GT per passenger versus 23.4. Built in 2020, National Geographic Endurance is 24 years newer, an advantage for travelers seeking modern amenities and design.

CategoryWinner
SizeNational Geographic Endurance
CapacityMS Polarlys
ModernityNational Geographic Endurance
ServiceNational Geographic Endurance
SpaciousnessNational Geographic Endurance
DecksNo data
LengthNational Geographic Endurance
Fleet PowerMS Polarlys

Bottom line: National Geographic Endurance leads 5–2 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose National Geographic Endurance for overall superiority; pick MS Polarlys if Capacity matter more to you.

Decide

Which Ship Is Right for You?

Choose MS Polarlys if

  • More onboard variety (479 guests)
Book MS Polarlys

Choose National Geographic Endurance if

  • You want the newer ship (built 2020, 24 years newer)
  • Size matters to you (12,300 GT)
  • More crew per guest (1.2 guests per crew)
  • More space per guest (97.6 GT per guest)
Book National Geographic Endurance

Prices

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MS Polarlys

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Book MS Polarlys

National Geographic Endurance

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Book National Geographic Endurance
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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.