P&O Cruises vs MSC Cruises
A detailed side-by-side comparison of P&O Cruises and MSC Cruises 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 P&O Cruises if you want…
- UK departures (no-fly)
- Families with children
- Traditional British cruising
- Food lovers (Marco Pierre White)
P&O Cruises may not suit you if…
- Ultra-luxury seekers
- Mega-ship thrill rides
- Non-English speakers
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
Ships at a glance
A quick comparison of each line's fleet including passenger capacity, tonnage, and year of launch.
P&O Cruises Fleet (7 ships)
Iona
Built 2020 · 5,200 guests
Arvia
Built 2022 · 5,200 guests
Britannia
Built 2015 · 3,647 guests
Azura
Built 2010 · 3,100 guests
Ventura
Built 2008 · 3,078 guests
Arcadia
Built 2005 · 2,094 guests
Aurora
Built 2000 · 1,874 guests
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
Available cruises
Current sailings from both cruise lines. Prices shown are per person based on two sharing the lowest-grade cabin available.
P&O Cruises Sailings
7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Haugesund · Olden · Innvikfjorden (Scenic Cruising) · Flam · Aurlandsfjord (Scenic Cruising)
Save 2%14 NIGHTSMediterranean
Hot deal7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 2%7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 2%7 NIGHTSWestern Europe
7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Hot deal14 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 4%16 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 4%16 NIGHTSAurora from Southampton
Ports: Haugesund · Olden · Innvikfjorden · Cruise Nordfjord · Alesund · + 5 more ports
Save 4%16 NIGHTS16 Night Norwegian Fjords Cruise
Ports: Haugesund · Olden · Innvikfjorden · Cruise Nordfjord · Alesund
Save 4%16 NIGHTS16 nights Ocean Cruise
Ports: Haugesund · Olden · Innvikfjorden · Alesund
Save 3%7 NIGHTSMediterranean Fly-Cruise
Ports: Valletta · Mykonos · Rhodes · Kusadasi · Piraeus · Valletta
Save 2%14 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Ports: Southampton, Great Britain
Save 3%7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Hot deal14 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 3%4 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 4%7 NIGHTSCentral Mediterranean
Save 19%7 NIGHTS7 Night Norwegian Fjords
Ports: Bergen · Olden · Stavanger
Save 2%7 NIGHTSWestern Europe
Save 3%5 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 2%14 NIGHTSCanary Islands
7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Haugesund · Olden · Innvikfjorden (Scenic Cruising) · Flam · Aurlandsfjord (Scenic Cruising)
Save 4%7 NIGHTSWestern Europe
Hot deal16 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%16 NIGHTSBritish Isles
Ports: Southampton · Plymouth · Cobh · Dunmore East · Liverpool · Belfast
10 NIGHTSGreek Isles from Malta with Stay
10 NIGHTSGreek Isles from Malta with 3-night Stays
Ports: Valletta · Mykonos Town, Mykonos · Piraeus (tours to Athens) · Souda Bay (tours to Chania), Crete · Katakolon (tours to Olympia)
Save 2%14 NIGHTSMediterranean
16 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 3%14 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 7%7 NIGHTSSchool Holiday Sailing! Norwegian Fjords
Ports: Southampton · Haugesund · Olden · Flåm · Stavanger · Southampton
14 NIGHTSScandinavia and the Baltics P&O Food Heroes Marco Pierre White, Olly Smith and José Pizarro cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Kiel · Tallinn · Helsinki · Stockholm · Copenhagen
3 NIGHTSWestern Europe Getaway cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Zeebrugge (tours to Bruges)
7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 3%30 NIGHTSTransatlantic
Save 2%7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Save 2%14 NIGHTSMediterranean
7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Haugesund · Olden · Innvikfjorden (Scenic Cruising) · Flam · Aurlandsfjord (Scenic Cruising)
Save 2%14 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 2%19 NIGHTSMediterranean
Save 2%14 NIGHTSCanary Islands
Save 2%14 NIGHTSCanary Islands
12 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Stavanger · Nordfjordeid · Nordfjord · Kristiansund · Andalsnes
Save 2%13 NIGHTSSpain & France
Save 3%14 NIGHTSNorway
Ports: Southampton · Åndalsnes · Bodø · Narvik · Tromsø · Stavanger
Save 3%16 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 10%14 NIGHTSTransatlantic
Save 3%16 NIGHTSCanary Islands
Save 8%15 NIGHTSCaribbean Transatlantic from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Santa Cruz, Tenerife · Philipsburg, St. Maarten · Roseau, Dominica · Castries, St. Lucia · Bridgetown, Barbados
Save 3%7 NIGHTSNorthern European City Escape
Ports: Southampton · Hamburg · Rotterdam · Zeebrugge
MSC Cruises Sailings
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
7 NIGHTS7-night French & Iberian Discovery
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
P&O Cruises vs MSC Cruises: the bottom line
Choosing between P&O Cruises and MSC Cruises 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.
P&O Cruises, founded in 1837 and headquartered in Southampton, UK, operates a fleet of 7 ships. It is categorised as a premium cruise line and scores 4.5/5 overall based on 12,400 reviews. The line is particularly strong for uk departures (no-fly) and families with children, making it a natural choice for cruisers who value those attributes.
MSC Cruises, established in 1970 from Geneva, Switzerland, has a fleet of 22 ships. As a contemporary line rated 4.3/5 from 15,600 reviews, it excels at value for money and all-inclusive packages. If those are your priorities, MSC Cruises deserves serious consideration.
On food, P&O Cruises scores 8/10 compared to MSC Cruises's 7/10. For entertainment, P&O Cruises comes in at 7/10 versus MSC Cruises's 7/10. 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.
P&O Cruises vs MSC Cruises — FAQ
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