⏱️ 4 min read
You’ve narrowed it down to two ships. The prices are similar. The itineraries overlap. Your travel agent says “you can’t go wrong with either one.” But can you? One of these ships might have a CDC score 15 points higher than the other. One might have had zero outbreaks while the other has had four.
Those are details that matter. And they’re exactly the kind of details that disappear behind marketing photos and promotional pricing.
So we built a tool that puts two ships side by side and lets the data speak for itself.
How the Comparison Tool Works
Go to the Ship Comparison page, search for two ships, and hit compare. You’ll get a head-to-head breakdown covering:
- Latest CDC inspection score — who’s cleaner right now?
- Average score — who’s been more consistent over time?
- Total inspections — how much data exists for each ship?
- Times failed — has either ship ever scored below 86?
- Outbreak count — who’s had more CDC-reported illness outbreaks?
- Score trend — who’s improving, who’s declining?
- ShipTea Rating — our editorial assessment of the overall picture
- Ship specs — tonnage, passenger capacity, year built
The better value in each metric gets highlighted in green. No ambiguity, no spin — just data.
Score History Charts
Below the comparison table, you’ll see side-by-side score history charts for both ships. This is where patterns become obvious. A ship might have a great latest score but a chart full of dips. Another might have a modest score but a rock-solid upward trend.
The charts show every inspection score over time with an industry average line for context. You can see at a glance whether a ship is consistently above average or has been bouncing around.
When to Use This Tool
The comparison tool is most useful when you’re deciding between:
- Two ships on the same route — Western Caribbean, anyone? There are usually 4-5 ships running the same itinerary. Pick the cleanest one.
- Ships from different cruise lines — is Royal Caribbean really better than Carnival? The data has opinions.
- A new ship vs. an older one — newer isn’t always cleaner. Some older ships have spotless records.
- Ships your friends are debating — settle the argument with CDC data instead of TripAdvisor reviews.
Popular Comparisons
Not sure where to start? The comparison page includes a grid of popular matchups that other Ship Tea readers are checking. The classics are all there — the big Royal Caribbean ships vs. their Carnival rivals, mega-ships vs. premium vessels, you name it.
Want to explore beyond the comparisons? Browse the full cruise ship database, check the rankings, or look up a specific ship’s inspection history.
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