| Cruise Style | Premium cruising with classic style; major Alaska cruise and cruisetour operator; World Cruises and Grand Voyages | 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 | 11 ships in 4 classes: Pinnacle (Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam), Signature (Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam), Vista (Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Noordam), Rotterdam (Volendam, Zaandam) | 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 | Alaska (cruises, cruisetours; owns hotels and railroads there), Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Hawaii, Northern Europe, Mediterranean, Transatlantic, South America, Asia, Antarctica, World Cruises | 250+ destinations: Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Grand Voyages; terminals in Miami, Barcelona, Galveston | — | — |
|---|
| Price Positioning | Premium; Have It All bundled fare available | Mainstream; MSC Yacht Club tier sold as a premium all-inclusive option | — | — |
|---|
| What's Included | Have It All fare bundles shore excursions, Signature Beverage Package, specialty dining, Wi-Fi and crew appreciation | 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 | Live music clubs incl. B.B. King's Blues Club, regional cuisine, spa, 24-hour room service, Navigator app; Holland America Evolution ship refreshes | MSC Yacht Club private restaurant and pool deck, kids and teens programmes with sports, games and parties | — | — |
|---|
| Gratuities | Automatic US$18 per person per day (standard cabins), US$20 in suites (as of Oct 2026); covered by Have It All fare | 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 | Mariner Society; 5 tiers | MSC Voyagers Club; 6 levels, top tier Blue Diamond | — | — |
|---|
| Private Destinations | Half Moon Cay (Bahamas), shared with Carnival | Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (Bahamas; opened Dec 2019) | — | — |
|---|
| Parent Company | Carnival Corporation & plc (since 1989) | MSC Group (Mediterranean Shipping Company); sister luxury brand Explora Journeys | — | — |
|---|
| Founded | 1873, Rotterdam; headquarters Seattle, Washington | 1988, Naples, Italy; headquarters Geneva, Switzerland | — | — |
|---|