Cruise Frog guide
Celestyal Cruises vs MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises rates higher than Celestyal Cruises on Cruise Frog's editorial scores, 3.4 to 2.9 out of 5 across their rated ships. Celestyal Cruises leads on service and pools & decks; MSC Cruises on cabins and entertainment. Pick Celestyal Cruises for history and culture and couples; MSC Cruises for families and first-time cruisers.
Comparison updated
| Fact | Celestyal Cruises | MSC Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Mainstream | Mainstream |
| Best for | History and culture, Couples, Value seekers | Families, First-time cruisers, Value seekers, Multigenerational groups, Friends and groups |
| Fleet rating | 2.9 / 5 | 3.4 / 5 |
| Cabins | 2.5 | 3.3 |
| Dining | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Entertainment | 1.0 | 4.3 |
| Service | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Pools & decks | 3.0 | 2.7 |
| Value | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Ships in service | 2 | 23 |
| Ships on the way | — | 2 |
| Largest ship | Celestyal Journey (55,819 GT) | MSC World America (216,638 GT) |
| Newest ship | Celestyal Discovery (2003) | MSC World America (2025) |
| Guests per ship, average | 1,262 | 3,896 |
| Usually sails | Mediterranean | Mediterranean, Caribbean, Bahamas, South America |
| Solo cabins | None | — |
| Single supplement | Celestyal lists no cabins built for one. A solo guest books a standard cabin, and the line says its Celestyal One fare comes with a… | — |
| Loyalty program | — | MSC Voyagers Club |
| Owner | Searchlight Capital Partners (majority owner) | MSC Group |
| Headquarters | Piraeus, Greece | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Founded | 2014 | 1988 |
Ratings are Cruise Frog's editorial scores of each line's ships in service, 1 to 5, averaged; the higher figure is highlighted. How we rate.
Quick answers
Which is better, Celestyal Cruises or MSC Cruises?
MSC Cruises rates higher than Celestyal Cruises on Cruise Frog's editorial scores, 3.4 to 2.9 out of 5 across their rated ships. Celestyal Cruises leads on service and pools & decks; MSC Cruises on cabins and entertainment.
Is Celestyal Cruises or MSC Cruises better value?
They score the same for value, 4.0 out of 5.
Is Celestyal Cruises or MSC Cruises better for dining?
They score the same for dining, 3.0 out of 5.
Is Celestyal Cruises or MSC Cruises better for entertainment?
MSC Cruises scores higher for entertainment, 4.3 to 1.0 out of 5 (shows, music, and things to do at sea).
Is Celestyal Cruises or MSC Cruises better for cabins?
MSC Cruises scores higher for cabins, 3.3 to 2.5 out of 5 (comfortable, quiet, well kept).
Is Celestyal Cruises or MSC Cruises better for families?
MSC Cruises is the one Cruise Frog lists as suiting families; Celestyal Cruises is not tagged for families.
Which has bigger ships, Celestyal Cruises or MSC Cruises?
MSC Cruises's largest ship, MSC World America, measures 216,638 gross tons, against 55,819 for Celestyal Journey, Celestyal Cruises's largest. An average Celestyal Cruises ship carries 1,262 guests, a MSC Cruises ship 3,896.
How many ships do Celestyal Cruises and MSC Cruises have?
Celestyal Cruises has 2 ships in service; MSC Cruises has 23 ships in service and 2 on the way.
Are Celestyal Cruises and MSC Cruises owned by the same company?
No. Celestyal Cruises is part of Searchlight Capital Partners (majority owner); MSC Cruises is part of MSC Group.