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Disney Fantasy vs MSC Seashore
The Disney Fantasy was built in 2012. Disney Fantasy's exterior has a old-school steam boat feel while the interior leans into the Art Nouveau styling. Outside the ship, you'll see Dumbo painting the name on the stern. It's 9 years older than the Seashore, which was built in 2021. The MSC Seashore has a New York City-inspired aesthetic 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 Fantasy is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,115 feet long and 121 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3.1 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 14-story building. Compared to the MSC Seashore, the Fantasy is 23% smaller in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Disney Fantasy holds 56% fewer passengers than the Seashore 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 Fantasy has more space per person compared to the Seashore. 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.
| Disney Fantasy | MSC Seashore | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Dream | Seaside EVO |
| Gross Tonnage | 130,000 | 169,400 |
| Length | 1,115 | 1,060 |
| Beam/Width | 121 | 135 |
| Passenger Decks | 14 | 15 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 2,500 | 5,632 |
| Crew | 1,458 | 1,648 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 1.7 | 3.4 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 52 | 30 |
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 Fantasy has ten different dining options like Enchanted Garden, Remy, and Animator's Palate. Of those options, six are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other four options have an additional fee.
The Seashore has one more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Kaito Sushi Bar, Kaito Teppanyaki, and Butcher's Cut. seven of these restaurants are complementary and the other nine have an additional fee.
The Disney Fantasy has about the same number of dining options as the MSC Seashore.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Fantasy might be a better choice then the Seashore. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Disney Fantasy | MSC Seashore | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 10 | 11 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 6 | 7 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 4 | 9 |
| % of Included Options | 60% | 18% |
| See the options | See the options |
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.
There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. 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 Disney Fantasy has a total of 3 pools and 3 hot tubs.
MSC Seashore has more pools than the Fantasy and more hot tubs. There are more exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Seashore. 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 one of the hot tubs are adults only on Fantasy.| Disney Fantasy | MSC Seashore | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 5 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 2 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 3 | 15 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 2 | 12 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 1 | |
| 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 Fantasy, 77% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Seashore, only 54% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Disney Fantasy | MSC Seashore | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✗ |
| Adventure Trail | ✗ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✗ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✗ | ✓ |
| Character experiences | ✓ | ✗ |
| F1 Simulator | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Glass Bridge | ✗ | ✓ |
| Interactive XD Cinema | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mini golf | ✓ | ✗ |
| Movie Theater | ✓ | ✗ |
| Salon | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - Broadway play | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✓ |
| Theater | ✗ | ✓ |
| Thermal Suites | ✗ | ✓ |
| Virtual Sports Simulator | ✓ | ✗ |
| Water Coaster | ✓ | ✗ |
| Water slides | ✗ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Disney 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.
| Disney Fantasy | MSC Seashore | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $16.00 | $16.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | 18% |
| Soda Price | Included | |
| Domestic Beer Price | $6.50 | |
| Drink Package Price | No drink package available | $46 - $85 |
| Internet Plan | $12 - $36 per device per day | $17 - $27 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
With Disney Cruises, soda is included for meals, but will have an extra cost at bars and throughout the day. While no drink packages are available, you can preorder bottles of wine or beer at a discount.
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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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