Spots going fastQueen Mary 2 vs Zuiderdam
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated April 2026
Queen Mary 2 is the significantly larger vessel at 148,528 GT — 80% more than Zuiderdam's 82,305 GT. Queen Mary 2 offers more personal space with a space ratio of 55.2 GT per passenger versus 43.0. Built in 2004, Queen Mary 2 is 2 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
Score: 7 – 0
Quick Compare
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Category
Queen Mary 2
Zuiderdam
Size
148,528 GT
82,305 GT
Passengers
2,691
1,916
Year Built
2004
2002
Crew Ratio
1:2.1
1:2.4
Space Ratio
55.2
43.0
Decks
—
—
Length
345m
285m
From Price
$1,799/pp
$989/pp
Comparison Verdict
Queen Mary 2 is the significantly larger vessel at 148,528 GT — 80% more than Zuiderdam's 82,305 GT. Queen Mary 2 offers more personal space with a space ratio of 55.2 GT per passenger versus 43.0. Built in 2004, Queen Mary 2 is 2 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Queen Mary 2 |
| Capacity | Queen Mary 2 |
| Modernity | Queen Mary 2 |
| Service | Queen Mary 2 |
| Spaciousness | Queen Mary 2 |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Queen Mary 2 |
| Fleet Power | Queen Mary 2 |
Bottom line: Queen Mary 2 leads 7–0 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Queen Mary 2 for overall superiority; pick Zuiderdam if its strengths matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Queen Mary 2 if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2004, 2yr newer)
- Size matters to you (148,528 GT)
- More onboard variety (2,691 guests)
- Better service ratio (2.1:1 crew ratio)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is the comparison score calculated?
We compute scores across 8 categories using real spec data — gross tonnage, passenger capacity, crew capacity, year built, length, deck count, space ratio, and fleet power. Each category awards one point to the winning ship.
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; mass-market ships often fall in the 30-40 range.
What does the passenger-to-crew ratio mean?
Passengers per crew member. Lower is better — more staff per guest means better service. Luxury lines aim below 2:1; large mainstream ships may be 3-4:1.
Are the prices shown accurate?
Prices are sourced from Cruisebound and reflect real-time availability. They may change based on cabin type, date, and demand. Click through to see the latest fares.
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+ vessels, revalidated every 5 minutes via ISR. The "Updated" timestamp shows when records were last modified.
