Cruise Spotlight
Helping you find cruise ships you'll love
Celebrity Reflection vs MSC Seascape
The Celebrity Reflection was built in 2012. It's 10 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
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Reflection is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,047 feet long and 123 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 13-story building. Compared to the MSC Seascape, the Reflection is 26% smaller in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Celebrity Reflection holds 48% 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 Reflection 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.
| Celebrity Reflection | MSC Seascape | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Solstice | Seaside EVO |
| Gross Tonnage | 126,000 | 169,400 |
| Length | 1,047 | 1,060 |
| Beam/Width | 123 | 135 |
| Passenger Decks | 13 | 15 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 3,030 | 5,877 |
| Crew | 1,293 | 1,648 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.3 | 3.6 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 42 | 28 |
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 Reflection has twelve different dining options like AquaSpa Cafe, Oceanview Cafe, and Blu. Of those options, nine are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other eight options have an additional fee.
The Seascape has one fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are HOLA! Tacos & Cantina, Marketplace Buffet, and Kaito Sushi Bar. seven of these restaurants are complementary and the other nine have an additional fee.
The Celebrity Reflection has about the same number of dining options as the MSC Seascape.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Reflection might be a better choice then the Seascape. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Celebrity Reflection | MSC Seascape | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 12 | 11 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 9 | 7 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 8 | 9 |
| % of Included Options | 33% | 18% |
| See the options | See the options |
Bars and Drinks
The Celebrity Reflection has 5 fewer bars than the MSC Seascape. The Reflection has 14 bars like Il Secondo Bacio, Passport Bar and Sky Observation Lounge. On Reflection, you can grab a drink at 19 different bars such as Seascape Bar, Shine Bar and Top Sail Lounge.
| Celebrity Reflection | MSC Seascape |
|---|---|
| •Cafe al Bacio • Casino Bar • Cellar Masters • Ensemble Lounge • Entertainment Court Bar • Il Secondo Bacio • Martini Bar • Mast Bar • Michael's Club • Passport Bar • Pool Bar • Sky Observation Lounge • Sunset Bar • World Class 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. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.
Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Celebrity Reflection has a total of 3 pools and 6 hot tubs.
MSC Seascape has more pools than the Reflection 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? One of the pools and two of the hot tubs are adults only on Reflection.| Celebrity Reflection | MSC Seascape | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 5 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 2 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 6 | 15 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 4 | 12 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 3 |
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 Reflection, 64% 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.
| Celebrity Reflection | MSC Seascape | |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure Trail | ✗ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✗ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✓ |
| Beyond the Podium Talk Series | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bingo | ✓ | ✗ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| F1 Simulator | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Glass Bridge | ✗ | ✓ |
| Interactive XD Cinema | ✗ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✗ |
| Lawn Club | ✓ | ✗ |
| Outdoor movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Robotron | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✗ | ✓ |
| Theater | ✗ | ✓ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✗ | ✓ |
| Zip Line | ✗ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Celebrity is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.
MSC, on the other hand, is considered a mainstream cruise line. 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. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
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.
| Celebrity Reflection | MSC Seascape | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $18.00 | $16.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 20% | 18% |
| Soda Price | $4.00 | |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.00 | |
| Drink Package Price | $65 - $95 | $46 - $85 |
| Internet Plan | $19 to $30 per device per day | $17 - $27 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.
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About Cruise Spotlight
Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
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