Cruise Spotlight
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MSC Meraviglia vs Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady
The MSC Meraviglia was built in 2017. It's 6 years older than the Resilient Lady, which was built in 2023. This is an adults-only ship; all guests must be 18 or older.
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 Meraviglia is considered a large size ship. Coming in at 1,036 feet long and 121 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 Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady, the Meraviglia is 56% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
The MSC Meraviglia holds more than double the amount of people as the Resilient Lady based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Meraviglia has less space per person compared to the Resilient Lady.
| MSC Meraviglia | Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Meraviglia | Lady |
| Gross Tonnage | 171,598 | 110,000 |
| Length | 1,036 | 912 |
| Beam/Width | 121 | 125 |
| Passenger Decks | 15 | 13 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 5,642 | 2,700 |
| Crew | 1,608 | 1,150 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 3.5 | 2.3 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 30 | 41 |
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 Meraviglia has 12 different dining options like Of those options, 12 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare.
The Resilient Lady has 12 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Lick Me Til Ice Cream, Sun Club Cafe, and The Test Kitchen. of these restaurants are complementary.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Meraviglia might be a better choice. It has more than double the amount of dining options than the Resilient Lady.
Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.
| MSC Meraviglia | Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 12 | |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 12 | |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 0 | |
| % of Included Options | 100% | NAN% |
| 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. You can check out recent the bar menus for the Resilient Lady below.
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 problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.
The MSC Meraviglia has a total of 4 pools and 5 hot tubs. 1 of the pools and 1 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.
Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady has fewer pools than the Meraviglia and more hot tubs.
| MSC Meraviglia | Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 4 | 2 |
| Pools - General Access | 3 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | ||
| Pools - Exclusive | 1 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 5 | 6 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 4 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | ||
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 1 | 2 |
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.
| MSC Meraviglia | Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Acrobatic Show | ✗ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✗ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✗ | ✓ |
| Group Fitness | ✗ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✗ | ✓ |
| Private Karaoke Rooms | ✗ | ✓ |
| Salon | ✗ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tattoo Studio | ✗ | ✓ |
| Thermal Suites | ✗ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
MSC 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.
Virgin Voyages, on the other hand, 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.
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.
| MSC Meraviglia | Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $16.00 | Included |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | Included |
| Soda Price | Included | |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.00 See drink menus | |
| Drink Package Price | $46 - $85 | No drink package available |
| Internet Plan | $17 - $27 per device per day | Base level is Included. For "premium" speeds, it's around $25 per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
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