Carnival Panorama vs MSC Seascape

The Carnival Panorama was built in 2019. It was renovated in 2024. The Panorama is the only cruise ship to have a Sky Zone trampoline park on board. It's 3 years older than the Seascape, which was built in 2022. The MSC Seascape has a New York City-inspired theme complete with a 10-foot-fall replica of the Statue of Liberty at the heart of the casino and shopping area called Times Square.

Comparison Overview

Ship Size

The Panorama is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,055 feet long and 122 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.9 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 15-story building. Compared to the MSC Seascape, the Panorama is 21% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Carnival Panorama holds 32% fewer passengers than the Seascape based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Panorama has more space per person compared to the Seascape. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.

Carnival
Panorama
MSC
Seascape
ClassVistaSeaside EVO
Gross Tonnage133,868169,400
Length1,0551,060
Beam/Width122135
Passenger Decks1515
Passengers (double occupancy)4,0085,877
Crew1,4501,648
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.83.6
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)3428


Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Panorama has twenty-five different dining options like Blue Iguana Cantina, Guy's Burger Joint, and Cucina Del Capitano. Of those options, sixteen are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other nine options have an additional fee.

The Seascape has nine fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Butcher's Cut, HOLA! Tacos & Cantina, and Kaito Sushi Bar. seven of these restaurants are complementary and the other nine have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Panorama might be a better choice. It has 56% more dining options than the Seascape.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Panorama might be a better choice then the Seascape. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

Carnival
Panorama
MSC
Seascape
Total Dining Options2516
Complimentary Dining Options:167
Additional Fee Dining Options:99
% of Included Options64%44%
See the optionsSee the options

Bars and Drinks

Carnival's Piano Bar 88
Carnival's Piano Bar 88
MSC's Chef's Court Cocktail Bar
MSC's Chef's Court Cocktail Bar

The Carnival Panorama has 5 fewer bars than the MSC Seascape. The Panorama has 14 bars like Atrium Bar, Heroes Tribute Bar and Tides Pool Bar. On Panorama, you can grab a drink at 19 different bars such as Jungle Pool Beach Bar, Loft Cafe and Sky Bar.

Carnival
Panorama
MSC
Seascape
•Alchemy Bar
• Atrium Bar
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar
• Fahrenheit 555 Bar
• Guy's Pig and Anchor Brewhouse
• Havana Bar
• Heroes Tribute Bar
• Java Blue Cafe
• Limelight Lounge
• Ocean Plaza Bar
• Piano Bar 88
• RedFrog Rum Bar
• Serenity Pool Bar
• Tides Pool Bar
•Casino Bar
• Champagne Bar
• Chef's Court Cocktail Bar
• Horizon Bar
• Infinity Bar
• Jungle Pool Beach Bar
• Le Cabaret Rouge
• Loft Cafe
• Marina Bar
• MSC Yacht Club Grill & Bar
• Seascape Bar
• Shine Bar
• Sky Bar
• Sports Bar
• The Uptown Lounge
• The Wine Cellar
• Top 19 Bar
• Top Sail Lounge
• Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Panorama serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship. The Seascape serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Panorama and the Seascape below.



Pools and Hot Tubs

Lido Deck Pool on the Carnival Panorama
Lido Deck Pool on the Carnival Panorama

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Carnival Panorama has a total of 3 pools and 6 hot tubs. 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

MSC Seascape has more pools than the Panorama and more hot tubs. There are more exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Seascape. If you don't mind paying for exclusive access to areas in order to have less crowds, this might be a better choice.

Tired of loud kids and splashing? two of the hot tubs are adults only on Panorama.

Carnival
Panorama
MSC
Seascape
Total Pools35
Pools - General Access22
Pools - Adults Only01
Pools - Exclusive12
Total Hot Tubs615
Hot Tubs - General Access212
Hot Tubs - Adults Only2
Hot Tubs - Exclusive23



Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Panorama, 65% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Seascape, only 54% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.

Carnival
Panorama
MSC
Seascape
Adult Only Relaxation Area
Adventure Trail
Arcade
Basketball
Brewery Tour
Casino
Comedy Club
Dr Seuss Breakfast
F1 Simulator
Fitness Center
Glass Bridge
Interactive XD Cinema
Jogging Track
Mini golf
Outdoor gym
Pool-side Movies
Robotron
Ropes course
Shows - musical review
Sky Zone
Skyride
Spa
Splash park
Theater
Thermal Suites
Water slides
Zip Line
Learn moreLearn more
Carnival is also known for its energetic theme parties which vary per ship.

Cruise Costs

Carnival and MSC are both considered "Mainstream" cruise lines. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Carnival Panorama will likely be cheaper than on MSC Seascape.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.

Carnival
Panorama
MSC
Seascape
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$16.00$16.00
Tip added to drinks & services18% 18%
Soda Price$3.00
Domestic Beer Price$8.75
See drink menus

See drink menus
Drink Package Price$83 - $88
Learn more
$46 - $85
Internet Plan$18.70 to $23.80 per device per day$17 - $27 per device per day
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

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