MSC Cruises vs Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
A detailed side-by-side comparison of MSC Cruises and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines covering ratings, fleet size, food quality, entertainment, value for money, and available sailings from UK ports. Updated for 2026.
The head-to-head
Ratings are based on aggregated passenger reviews, editorial analysis, and expert scoring. The cobalt outline marks the stronger line for each attribute.
Who should choose which?
Every cruise line has its strengths and weaknesses. Here is an honest look at who each line is best suited for, based on passenger feedback and our editorial assessment.
Choose MSC Cruises if you want…
- Value for money
- All-inclusive packages
- Families (kids sail free)
- Mediterranean itineraries
MSC Cruises may not suit you if…
- Those wanting British-focused experience
- Small-ship intimacy seekers
- Adults-only preference
Choose Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines if you want…
- No-fly cruising from UK
- Small-ship intimacy
- Unusual itineraries
- Solo travellers (low supplements)
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines may not suit you if…
- Families with children
- Those wanting mega-ship facilities
- Modern luxury seekers
Ships at a glance
A quick comparison of each line's fleet including passenger capacity, tonnage, and year of launch.
MSC Cruises Fleet (22 ships)
MSC Virtuosa
Built 2021 · 6,334 guests
MSC World Europa
Built 2022 · 6,762 guests
MSC Euribia
Built 2023 · 6,334 guests
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Fleet (4 ships)
Borealis
Built 2021 · 1,360 guests
Bolette
Built 2021 · 1,380 guests
Available cruises
Current sailings from both cruise lines. Prices shown are per person based on two sharing the lowest-grade cabin available.
MSC Cruises Sailings
9 NIGHTS2-night Barcelona & 7-night Classic Mediterranean
7 NIGHTS7-night All Inclusive Spanish Shores & French Rivieras
Save 2%4 NIGHTSCaribbean and Antilles
Save 5%7 NIGHTSCaribbean and Antilles
Save 5%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 5%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Ports: Barcelona
Save 5%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 5%7 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 5%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 5%7 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 5%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 5%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 5%7 NIGHTSAlaska
Save 2%4 NIGHTSCaribbean and Antilles
Save 12%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Civitavecchia
Ports: Civitavecchia · Genoa · Marseille · Valencia · Ibiza · Cagliari
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Kusadasi
Ports: Kusadasi · Marmaris · Naples · Civitavecchia · Mykonos
Save 6%10 NIGHTSMediterranean 10 Nights From Genoa
Ports: Genoa · Marseille · Málaga · Cádiz · Lisbon · Alicante
Save 6%9 NIGHTSMediterranean 9 Nights From Istanbul
Ports: Istanbul · Corfu · Bari · Trieste · Katakolon · Piraeus
Hot deal7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Ports: Barcelona
Hot deal7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Genoa
Ports: Genoa · Marseille · Valencia · Ibiza · Cagliari · Civitavecchia
Save 5%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 nights
Ports: Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy
Save 5%10 NIGHTSMediterranean 10 nights
Ports: Marseille, France
11 NIGHTS4-night Orlando & 7-night Bahamas, Mexico & Ocean Cay
Ports: Nassau, Bahamas · Cozumel · Costa Maya · Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Genoa
Ports: Genoa · Marseille · Tarragona · Valencia · Livorno · Civitavecchia
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Cagliari
Ports: Cagliari · Palermo · Valletta · Barcelona · Marseille · Livorno
Save 6%9 NIGHTSMediterranean 9 Nights From Bari
Ports: Bari · Trieste · Katakolon · Piraeus · Kusadasi · Istanbul
Save 6%8 NIGHTSNorthern Europe 8 Nights From Stockholm
Ports: Stockholm · Copenhagen · Warnemünde · Kristiansand · Eidfjord · Lyngdal
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Barcelona
Ports: Barcelona · Marseille · Genoa · Civitavecchia · Palermo · Ibiza
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Palermo
Ports: Palermo · Valletta · Barcelona · Marseille · Livorno · Cagliari
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Marseille
Ports: Marseille · Tarragona · Valencia · Livorno · Civitavecchia · Genoa
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Naples
Ports: Naples · Civitavecchia · Mykonos · Kusadasi · Marmaris · Naples
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Tarragona
Ports: Tarragona · Valencia · Livorno · Civitavecchia · Genoa · Marseille
Save 7%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Palermo
Ports: Palermo · Naples · Livorno · Marseille · Barcelona · La Goulette
Save 6%9 NIGHTSMediterranean 9 Nights From Trieste
Ports: Trieste · Katakolon · Piraeus · Kusadasi · Istanbul · Corfu
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Marseille
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Civitavecchia · Palermo · Ibiza · Barcelona
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Palma de Mallorca
Ports: Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona · Cannes · Genoa · La Spezia · Civitavecchia
7 NIGHTS2-night Seattle & 7-night Alaskan Explorer
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Valencia
Ports: Valencia · Livorno · Civitavecchia · Genoa · Marseille · Tarragona
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Marseille
Ports: Marseille · Genoa · Naples · Messina · Valletta · Barcelona
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Venice
Ports: Venice · Kotor · Mykonos · Syros · Ancona
Save 7%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Barcelona
Ports: Barcelona · Cannes · Genoa · La Spezia · Civitavecchia · Palma de Mallorca
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Split
Ports: Split · Venice · Dubrovnik · Corfu · Kotor · Brindisi
Save 6%7 NIGHTSNorthern Europe 7 Nights From Kiel
Ports: Kiel · Copenhagen · Hellesylt · Geiranger · Ålesund · Flåm
Save 6%10 NIGHTSMediterranean 10 Nights From Lisbon
Ports: Alicante · Mahón · Olbia · Genoa · Marseille · Málaga
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Genoa
Ports: Genoa · Civitavecchia · Palermo · Ibiza · Barcelona · Marseille
Save 7%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Cagliari
Ports: Cagliari · Civitavecchia · Genoa · Marseille · Valencia · Ibiza
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Barcelona
Ports: Barcelona · Marseille · Livorno · Cagliari · Palermo · Valletta
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Civitavecchia
Ports: Civitavecchia · Palermo · Ibiza · Barcelona · Marseille · Genoa
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Cannes
Ports: Cannes · Genoa · La Spezia · Civitavecchia · Palma de Mallorca · Barcelona
Save 6%7 NIGHTSMediterranean 7 Nights From Venice
Ports: Venice · Dubrovnik · Corfu · Kotor · Brindisi · Split
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Sailings
Save 3%5 NIGHTSBritish Isles
Save 3%13 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%9 NIGHTSWestern Europe
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%13 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 9%12 NIGHTS12 Night Mediterranean Discovery
Ports: Cadiz · Malaga · Cartagena · Gibraltar
Save 3%14 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%8 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%14 NIGHTSBritish Isles
Save 3%5 NIGHTSBritish Isles
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
5 NIGHTSBritish Isles
Save 3%6 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
1 NIGHTSOne Night Mini Cruise from Rosyth
Ports: Rosyth · Newcastle
5 NIGHTSExploring the Landscapes of Green Spain from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Getxo (tours to Bilbao) · Santander
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%9 NIGHTSWestern Europe
Save 2%11 NIGHTSExploring the Scenic British Isles
Ports: Southampton · Belfast · Tobermory · Kirkwall · Stornoway · Galway
Save 3%5 NIGHTSBritish Isles
Save 3%12 NIGHTSSpain & the River Cities of France
Save 2%7 NIGHTSRegions of Northern Spain
Ports: Southampton · Santander · Getxo · Gijón · La Coruña
Save 3%16 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 3%8 NIGHTSWestern Europe
23 NIGHTSIslands & Bays of the Mediterranean from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Ceuta · Cartagena · Cagliari · Messina · Siracusa
Save 3%16 NIGHTSMediterranean
14 NIGHTSCanary Islands & Geminid Meteor Shower from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Leixoes · Funchal · Santa Cruz de La Palma · Santa Cruz · Vigo
Save 3%6 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
5 NIGHTSA Celebration of Dance at Sea with Dame Arlene Philips & Ian Waite!
Ports: Southampton · Amsterdam · Honfleur
Save 3%6 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
15 NIGHTSCanary Islands Christmas & Cadiz New Year from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Santa Cruz de La Palma · Santa Cruz · Las Palmas · Puerto del Rosario · Cadiz
Save 3%14 NIGHTSCanary Islands
Save 3%14 NIGHTSCanary Islands
Save 3%16 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 3%14 NIGHTSCanary Islands
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%14 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%8 NIGHTSFrance & Belgium Easter Break
7 NIGHTSCapitals & Cultures of Scandinavia
Save 3%10 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%14 NIGHTSBritish Isles
Save 3%9 NIGHTSWestern Europe
Save 3%14 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
9 NIGHTSScenic Summertime Fjords of Norway from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Andalsnes · Olden · Skjolden · Bergen
5 NIGHTSScottish Isles Bank Holiday Break from Liverpool
Ports: Liverpool · Kirkwall, Orkney Islands · Lerwick, Shetland Islands
5 NIGHTSBank Holiday Fjords of Norway from Newcastle
Ports: Newcastle · Lysefjord · Bergen · Ulvik · Hardangerfjord · Maurangerfjord
MSC Cruises vs Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines: the bottom line
Choosing between MSC Cruises and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ultimately comes down to what kind of holiday you are looking for. Both are well-established cruise lines with loyal followings, but they cater to different preferences and budgets.
MSC Cruises, founded in 1970 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, operates a fleet of 22 ships. It is categorised as a contemporary cruise line and scores 4.3/5 overall based on 15,600 reviews. The line is particularly strong for value for money and all-inclusive packages, making it a natural choice for cruisers who value those attributes.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, established in 1848 from Ipswich, UK, has a fleet of 4 ships. As a traditional line rated 4.4/5 from 5,600 reviews, it excels at no-fly cruising from uk and small-ship intimacy. If those are your priorities, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines deserves serious consideration.
On food, MSC Cruises scores 7/10 compared to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines's 6/10. For entertainment, MSC Cruises comes in at 7/10 versus Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines's 5/10. Value for money favours MSC Cruises with a score of 9/10.
Our recommendation: browse the available sailings above and compare itineraries, dates, and total cost including what is bundled in the fare. The best cruise line is the one that matches your specific needs, budget, and travel dates. Use the scores as a guide, but remember that individual ship and itinerary matter just as much as the cruise line brand.
MSC Cruises vs Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines — FAQ
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