Cruise Spotlight
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MSC Seascape vs Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady
The MSC Seascape 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. It's 1 year newer than the Scarlet Lady, which was built in 2021 and renovated in 2024. 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 Seascape is considered a large size ship. Coming in at 1,060 feet long and 135 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.9 football fields, as wide as 2.5 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 15-story building. Compared to the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady, the Seascape is 54% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
The MSC Seascape holds more than double the amount of people as the Scarlet 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 Seascape has less space per person compared to the Scarlet Lady.
| MSC Seascape | Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Seaside EVO | Lady |
| Gross Tonnage | 169,400 | 110,000 |
| Length | 1,060 | 912 |
| Beam/Width | 135 | 125 |
| Passenger Decks | 15 | 13 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 5,877 | 2,700 |
| Crew | 1,648 | 1,150 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 3.6 | 2.3 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 28 | 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 Seascape has eleven different dining options like Marketplace Buffet, Ocean Cay Restaurant, and Kaito Sushi Bar. Of those options, seven are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other nine options have an additional fee.
The Scarlet Lady has one more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Social Club Diner, The Galley, and The Pizza Place. twelve of these restaurants are complementary.
The MSC Seascape has about the same number of dining options as the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Scarlet Lady might be a better choice then the Seascape. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| MSC Seascape | Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 11 | 12 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 7 | 12 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 9 | 0 |
| % of Included Options | 18% | 100% |
| See the options | See the options |
Bars and Drinks
The MSC Seascape has 1 more bar than the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady. The Seascape has 19 bars like Loft Cafe, Sports Bar and Top Sail Lounge. On Seascape, you can grab a drink at 18 different bars such as Red Bar, The Athletic Club Bar and The Manor.
| MSC Seascape | Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady |
|---|---|
| •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 | •Casino Bar • Draught Haus • Grounds Club • Gym & Tonic • Mezcal Bar • On The Rocks • Red Bar • Richard's Rooftop Bar • Sip Lounge • Sun Club Bar • The Aquatic Club Bar • The Athletic Club Bar • The Dock Bar • The Dock House Bar • The Grounds Club Too • The Loose Cannon • The Manor • The Social Club |
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.
You can check out recent the bar menus for the Scarlet 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 MSC Seascape has a total of 5 pools and 15 hot tubs. 2 of the pools and 3 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 Scarlet Lady has fewer pools than the Seascape and fewer hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Scarlet Lady. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools are adults only on Seascape.| MSC Seascape | Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 5 | 2 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | |
| Pools - Exclusive | 2 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 15 | 6 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 12 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | ||
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 3 | 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. You might up paying more while on board the Seascape. Only 54% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Scarlet Lady, 55% of the activities are included at no additional cost.
| MSC Seascape | Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Acrobatic Show | ✗ | ✓ |
| Adventure Trail | ✓ | ✗ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✗ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| F1 Simulator | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Glass Bridge | ✓ | ✗ |
| Group Fitness | ✗ | ✓ |
| Interactive XD Cinema | ✓ | ✗ |
| Jogging Track | ✗ | ✓ |
| Private Karaoke Rooms | ✗ | ✓ |
| Robotron | ✓ | ✗ |
| Salon | ✗ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tattoo Studio | ✗ | ✓ |
| Theater | ✓ | ✗ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✓ | ✗ |
| Zip Line | ✓ | ✗ |
| 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 Seascape | Virgin Voyages Scarlet 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 | Basic Wi-fi is included. Premium is $30/day and Work from Sea is $50/day. |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
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