Spots going fastSilver Cloud vs Silver Shadow
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated January 2026
Silver Shadow is the significantly larger vessel at 28,258 GT — 62% more than Silver Cloud's 17,400 GT. Built in 2000, Silver Shadow is 6 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Silver Cloud edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 1.1:1, meaning more crew per guest.
Score: 1 – 6
Quick Compare
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Category
Silver Cloud
Silver Shadow
Size
17,400 GT
28,258 GT
Passengers
254
388
Year Built
1994
2000
Crew Ratio
1:1.1
1:1.3
Space Ratio
68.5
72.8
Decks
—
—
Length
157m
186m
From Price
$21,400/pp
$4,800/pp
Comparison Verdict
Silver Shadow is the significantly larger vessel at 28,258 GT — 62% more than Silver Cloud's 17,400 GT. Built in 2000, Silver Shadow is 6 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Silver Cloud edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 1.1:1, meaning more crew per guest.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Silver Shadow |
| Capacity | Silver Shadow |
| Modernity | Silver Shadow |
| Service | Silver Cloud |
| Spaciousness | Silver Shadow |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Silver Shadow |
| Fleet Power | Silver Shadow |
Bottom line: Silver Shadow leads 6–1 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Silver Shadow for overall superiority; pick Silver Cloud if Service matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Silver Shadow if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2000, 6yr newer)
- Size matters to you (28,258 GT)
- More onboard variety (388 guests)
- More space per guest (72.8 GT/pax)
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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.
