Cruise Spotlight
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MSC Poesia vs Carnival Elation
The MSC Poesia was built in 2008. It was renovated in 2025. The Poesia will receive a major dry dock refurbishment before its North America debut in May 2026 that will add new venues and Yacht Club cabins with associated areas. It's 10 years newer than the Elation, which was built in 1998 and renovated in 2020.
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 Poesia is considered a small size ship. Coming in at 964 feet long and 106 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.7 football fields, as wide as 2 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 13-story building. Compared to the Carnival Elation, the Poesia is 32% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
MSC Poesia holds 24% more passengers than the Elation 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 Poesia has more space per person compared to the Elation. 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.
| MSC Poesia | Carnival Elation | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Musica | Fantasy |
| Gross Tonnage | 92,627 | 70,367 |
| Length | 964 | 855 |
| Beam/Width | 106 | 103 |
| Passenger Decks | 13 | 10 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 2,550 | 2,052 |
| Crew | 1,027 | 920 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.5 | 2.2 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 36 | 34 |
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 Poesia has seven different dining options like Kaito Sushi Bar, Butcher's Cut, Of those options, seven are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other five options have an additional fee.
The Elation has three more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Carnival Deli, The Chef's Table, and Pizza Pirate. Twelve of these restaurants are complementary and the other three have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Elation might be a better choice. It has 43% more dining options than the Poesia.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Elation might be a better choice then the Poesia. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| MSC Poesia | Carnival Elation | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 7 | 10 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 7 | 12 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 5 | 3 |
| % of Included Options | 29% | 70% |
| 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 Elation 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 MSC Poesia has a total of 3 pools and 4 hot tubs.
Carnival Elation has fewer pools than the Poesia and the same number of hot tubs.
| MSC Poesia | Carnival Elation | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 1 |
| Pools - General Access | 3 | 1 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 0 | |
| Pools - Exclusive | 0 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 4 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 4 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 |
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. You might up paying more while on board the Poesia. Only 43% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Elation, 70% of the activities are included at no additional cost.
| MSC Poesia | Carnival Elation | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✗ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✗ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comedy Club | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dr Seuss Breakfast | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mini golf | ✗ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✗ |
| Splash park | ✗ | ✓ |
| Theater | ✓ | ✗ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✗ |
| Water slides | ✗ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
MSC and Carnival 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 MSC Poesia will likely be more expensive than on Carnival Elation.
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 Poesia | Carnival Elation | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $16.00 | $17.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | 20% |
| Soda Price | $3.50 | $3.25 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $9.00 | $8.25 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $46 - $85 | $83 - $88 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $17 - $27 per device per day | $18.70 to $23.80 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
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