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Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady vs MSC Seascape
The Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady is a fairly new ship, being built in 2023. This is an adults-only ship; all guests must be 18 or older. It's 1 year newer 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 Resilient Lady is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 909 feet long and 125 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.5 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 13-story building. Compared to the MSC Seascape, the Resilient Lady is 35% smaller in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady holds 54% 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 Resilient Lady 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.
| Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady | MSC Seascape | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Lady | Seaside EVO |
| Gross Tonnage | 110,000 | 169,400 |
| Length | 909 | 1,060 |
| Beam/Width | 125 | 135 |
| Passenger Decks | 13 | 15 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 2,700 | 5,877 |
| Crew | 1,150 | 1,648 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.3 | 3.6 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 41 | 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 Resilient Lady has 22 different dining options like The Galley, Burger Bar, and Social Club Diner. Of those options, 22 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare.
The Seascape has 6 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Marketplace Buffet, HOLA! Tacos & Cantina, and Ocean Cay Restaurant. 7 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 9 have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Resilient Lady might be a better choice. It has 38% more dining options than the Seascape.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Resilient 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.
| Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady | MSC Seascape | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 22 | 16 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 22 | 7 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 0 | 9 |
| % of Included Options | 100% | 44% |
| 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 and the Seascape 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 Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady has a total of 1 pools and 3 hot tubs.
MSC Seascape has more pools than the Resilient Lady 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.
| Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady | MSC Seascape | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 1 | 5 |
| Pools - General Access | 1 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | |
| Pools - Exclusive | 2 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 3 | 15 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 3 | 12 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | ||
| 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. You might up paying more while on board the Resilient Lady. Only 45% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Seascape, 54% of the activities are included at no additional cost.
| Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady | MSC Seascape | |
|---|---|---|
| Acrobatic Show | ✓ | ✗ |
| Adventure Trail | ✗ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✗ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| F1 Simulator | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Game Room | ✓ | ✗ |
| Glass Bridge | ✗ | ✓ |
| Group Fitness | ✓ | ✗ |
| Interactive XD Cinema | ✗ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✗ |
| Robotron | ✗ | ✓ |
| Salon | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tattoo Studio | ✓ | ✗ |
| Theater | ✗ | ✓ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✗ | ✓ |
| Zip Line | ✗ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Virgin Voyages 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.
| Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady | MSC Seascape | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | Included | $16.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | Included | 18% |
| Soda Price | Included | |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.00 See drink menus | See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | No drink package available | $46 - $85 |
| Internet Plan | Base level is Included. For "premium" speeds, it's around $10 per day | $17 - $27 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
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