| Cruise Style | Premium, upscale ocean cruising; also Galapagos expedition cruising and European river cruises | Mainstream large-ship cruising from a Swiss-Italian line; third-largest cruise company globally | — | — |
|---|
| Target Audience | — | Families and couples; kids and teens clubs; MSC Yacht Club ship-within-a-ship for suite guests | — | — |
|---|
| Fleet | 15 ocean ships: Edge class (Edge, Apex, Beyond, Ascent, Xcel), Solstice class (5), Millennium class (4), Celebrity Flora (Galapagos); Xcite due 2028; river ships launching from 2027 | 25 ships per MSC (Oct 2026); classes incl. World, Meraviglia/Meraviglia Plus, Seaside/Seaside EVO, Fantasia, Musica; MSC World Asia due Dec 2026, MSC World Atlantic winter 2027 | — | — |
|---|
| Destinations | Nearly 300 destinations in 70+ countries: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Europe, Alaska, Bermuda, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Galapagos, transatlantic; river cruises on Rhine and Danube | 250+ destinations: Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Grand Voyages; terminals in Miami, Barcelona, Galveston | — | — |
|---|
| Price Positioning | Premium; positioned above sister brand Royal Caribbean | Mainstream; MSC Yacht Club tier sold as a premium all-inclusive option | — | — |
|---|
| What's Included | Cabin, dining, live shows and entertainment; All Included fares add drinks and Wi-Fi | MSC Yacht Club fares include premium drinks, high-speed Wi-Fi, 24/7 butler and Thermal Area spa access; drinks packages sold separately on standard fares | — | — |
|---|
| Onboard Highlights | The Retreat suite class, spa, casino, specialty dining, pools; Forbes Four-Star ratings for Apex, Ascent, Flora and Millennium (per Celebrity) | MSC Yacht Club private restaurant and pool deck, kids and teens programmes with sports, games and parties | — | — |
|---|
| Gratuities | Automatic US$19.50 per person per day (most cabins), US$20.50 Concierge and AquaClass, US$24.50 The Retreat (as of Oct 2026) | Automatic daily service charge varies by region; about US$17 per person per day on US sailings, US$19 South America (TPG, Oct 2026) | — | — |
|---|
| Loyalty Programme | Captain's Club; 6 tiers, top tier Zenith; Blue Chip Club for casino play | MSC Voyagers Club; 6 levels, top tier Blue Diamond | — | — |
|---|
| Private Destinations | — | Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (Bahamas; opened Dec 2019) | — | — |
|---|
| Parent Company | Royal Caribbean Group | MSC Group (Mediterranean Shipping Company); sister luxury brand Explora Journeys | — | — |
|---|
| Founded | 1988, Greece (Chandris Group); headquarters Miami, Florida | 1988, Naples, Italy; headquarters Geneva, Switzerland | — | — |
|---|
