September 8, 2026
11-Night Cruise Cruise
Departing from Budapest
From
$8,790
Price / day
$799
ms Joy|ms Sapphire
ms Joy vs ms Sapphire
Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.
ms Joy
Tauck
Check prices on CruiseDirectVS
Newer Ship
ms Joy
Built in 2016
8 years newer
Lower Price Per Day
ms Joy
$799 / day
$140 less per day
More Spacious Ship
Both ships are the same
ms Joy vs ms Sapphire: Quick Comparison
ms Joy is the newer ship in this comparison. Built in 2016, it is 8 years newer than ms Sapphire, which entered service in 2008. ms Joy also carries 32 more passengers. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, ms Joy has the lower average starting price per day. The sailings shown cover a similar region and trip length, so the price per day figures are reasonably close to like-for-like. Cruise fares vary significantly by itinerary, departure date and cabin availability, so any price difference should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent gap.
Ship Comparison
| Spec | ms Joy | ms Sapphire |
|---|---|---|
| Year Built | 2016Newer | 2008 |
| Gross Tonnage | — | — |
| Passenger Capacity | 130 | 98 |
| Space per Passenger | — | — |
| Length | 135.03 m | 110.03 m |
| Decks | — | — |
| Cabins | — | — |
Key Differences: ms Joy vs ms Sapphire
Age
ms Joy was built in 2016, making it 8 years newer than ms Sapphire, which was built in 2008.
Passenger capacity
ms Joy carries up to 130 passengers compared with 98 aboard ms Sapphire, a difference of 32 passengers.
Price
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, ms Joy has the lower average starting price per day at $799 per day.
Compare Ports of Call
ms Joy
The Blue Danube
- Departure Port
- Budapest
- Region
- Cruise
- Nights
- 11
- Round Trip
- No
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
ms Sapphire
Cruising the Seine, plus Paris & London
- Departure Port
- London
- Region
- Cruise
- Nights
- 11
- Round Trip
- No
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Upcoming Cruises & Prices
ms Joy
September 15, 2026
11-Night Cruise Cruise
Departing from Prague
From
$8,790
Price / day
$799
ms Sapphire
September 11, 2026
11-Night Cruise Cruise
Departing from London
From
$9,990
Price / day
$908
September 22, 2026
7-Night Cruise Cruise
Departing from Paris
From
$6,790
Price / day
$970
Prices shown are starting fares and may change.
Which Ship Is Cheaper?
ms Joy
Average
$799 / day
VS
ms Sapphire
Average
$939 / day
ms Joy is currently 15% cheaper per day for comparable sailings
$799/day vs $939/day
About $140 less per day
This comparison is based on the upcoming sailings currently shown.
Cruise prices vary by departure date, itinerary, cabin type and availability.
Which Ship Should You Choose?
Choose ms Joy if…
- You prefer the newer ship.
- You do not mind sailing on a ship with a higher passenger capacity.
- Departing from Budapest and Prague works for your plans.
- The lower price per day among the sailings currently shown matters to you.
Choose ms Sapphire if…
- You prefer the ship with the lower passenger capacity.
- Departing from London and Paris works for your plans.
- You do not place as much importance on sailing on a newer ship than ms Joy.
ms Joy vs ms Sapphire: Final Comparison Summary
Newer
ms Joy
Built in 2016
8 years newer
Bigger
Both ships are the same
Lower Price Per Day
ms Joy
$799 / day
About $140 less per day
- ms Joy is 8 years newer.
- Gross tonnage is not available for both ships.
- ms Joy carries 32 more passengers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is newer, ms Joy or ms Sapphire?
ms Joy is newer. It was built in 2016, while ms Sapphire was built in 2008, making ms Joy 8 years newer.
Which ship carries more passengers?
ms Joy has a passenger capacity of approximately 130, compared with 98 for ms Sapphire.
Which ship is cheaper, ms Joy or ms Sapphire?
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, ms Joy has the lower average starting price per day at $799 per day versus $939 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.
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