September 11, 2026
10-Night Alaska Cruise
Departing from Seattle
From
$1,059
Price / day
$106
Norwegian Joy|Norwegian Escape
Norwegian Joy vs Norwegian Escape
Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.
Norwegian Joy
Norwegian Cruise Line
Check prices on CruiseDirectVS
Newer Ship
Norwegian Joy
Built in 2017
2 years newer
Lower Price Per Day
Norwegian Joy
$119 / day
$37 less per day
More Spacious Ship
Norwegian Joy
43 GT per guest
Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity
Norwegian Joy vs Norwegian Escape: Quick Comparison
Norwegian Joy is the newer ship in this comparison. Built in 2017, it is 2 years newer than Norwegian Escape, which entered service in 2015. Norwegian Joy is approximately 2% larger by gross tonnage at 167,725 GT. Norwegian Escape also carries 348 more passengers. Norwegian Joy has upcoming sailings in Alaska, while Norwegian Escape has sailings in Canada & New England. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, Norwegian Joy has the lower average starting price per day. The sailings shown cover different itineraries, so the price per day figures are not a like-for-like comparison. 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 | Norwegian Joy | Norwegian Escape |
|---|---|---|
| Year Built | 2017Newer | 2015 |
| Gross Tonnage | 167,725 GT | 165,157 GT |
| Passenger Capacity | 3,900 | 4,248 |
| Space per Passenger | 43 GT | 38.9 GT |
| Length | 333.46 m | 325.9 m |
| Decks | — | — |
| Cabins | — | — |
Key Differences: Norwegian Joy vs Norwegian Escape
Age
Norwegian Joy was built in 2017, making it 2 years newer than Norwegian Escape, which was built in 2015.
Size
At 167,725 GT, Norwegian Joy is approximately 2% larger by gross tonnage than Norwegian Escape at 165,157 GT.
Passenger capacity
Norwegian Escape carries up to 4,248 passengers compared with 3,900 aboard Norwegian Joy, a difference of 348 passengers.
Passenger space
Norwegian Joy offers more space per passenger: 43 GT per guest, compared with 38.9 aboard Norwegian Escape. A higher passenger space ratio generally means less crowding in public areas.
Itineraries
The upcoming sailings shown for Norwegian Joy (Alaska) and Norwegian Escape (Canada & New England) currently cover different regions or departure ports.
Price
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Norwegian Joy has the lower average starting price per day at $119 per day.
Compare Ports of Call
Norwegian Joy
Alaska: Skagway, Juneau, Sitka& Ketchikan
- Departure Port
- Seattle
- Region
- Alaska
- Nights
- 10
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 11, 2026Seattle
- Day 2 · Sep 12, 2026Ketchikan
- Day 3 · Sep 13, 2026Juneau
- Day 4 · Sep 14, 2026Icy Strait Point
- Day 5 · Sep 15, 2026Sitka
- Day 6 · Sep 16, 2026Skagway
- Day 7 · Sep 17, 2026Victoria
- Day 8 · Sep 18, 2026Seattle
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Norwegian Escape
Canada & New England: Boston & Halifax
- Departure Port
- New York
- Region
- Canada & New England
- Nights
- 7
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 5, 2026New York
- Day 2 · Sep 6, 2026Sydney
- Day 3 · Sep 7, 2026Halifax
- Day 4 · Sep 8, 2026Portland, Maine
- Day 5 · Sep 9, 2026Boston
- Day 6 · Sep 10, 2026Newport
- Day 7 · Sep 11, 2026New York
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Upcoming Cruises & Prices
Norwegian Joy
September 21, 2026
9-Night Alaska Cruise
Departing from Seattle
From
$1,179
Price / day
$131
Norwegian Escape
September 5, 2026
7-Night Canada & New England Cruise
Departing from New York
From
$1,059
Price / day
$151
September 12, 2026
7-Night Canada & New England Cruise
Departing from New York
From
$1,129
Price / day
$161
Prices shown are starting fares and may change.
Which Ship Is Cheaper?
Norwegian Joy
Average
$119 / day
VS
Norwegian Escape
Average
$156 / day
Norwegian Joy has the lower price per day among the sailings shown
$119/day vs $156/day
About $37 less per day
This comparison is based on the upcoming sailings currently shown and may not represent like-for-like itineraries.
Cruise prices vary by departure date, itinerary, cabin type and availability.
Which Ship Should You Choose?
Choose Norwegian Joy if…
- You prefer the newer ship.
- You prefer the larger ship by gross tonnage.
- You prefer the ship with the lower passenger capacity.
- You value having more space per passenger (higher GT-per-guest ratio).
- You want to sail in Alaska.
- Departing from Seattle works for your plans.
- The lower price per day among the sailings currently shown matters to you.
Choose Norwegian Escape if…
- You do not mind sailing on a ship with a higher passenger capacity.
- You want to sail in Canada & New England.
- Departing from New York works for your plans.
- You do not place as much importance on sailing on a newer ship than Norwegian Joy.
Norwegian Joy vs Norwegian Escape: Final Comparison Summary
Newer
Norwegian Joy
Built in 2017
2 years newer
Bigger
Norwegian Joy
167,725 GT
2% larger by gross tonnage
Lower Price Per Day
Norwegian Joy
$119 / day
About $37 less per day
- Norwegian Joy is 2 years newer.
- Norwegian Joy is 2% larger by gross tonnage.
- Norwegian Escape carries 348 more passengers.
- Norwegian Joy offers more space per passenger (43 GT per guest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is newer, Norwegian Joy or Norwegian Escape?
Norwegian Joy is newer. It was built in 2017, while Norwegian Escape was built in 2015, making Norwegian Joy 2 years newer.
Which is bigger, Norwegian Joy or Norwegian Escape?
Norwegian Joy is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 167,725 GT compared with Norwegian Escape at 165,157 GT.
Which ship carries more passengers?
Norwegian Escape has a passenger capacity of approximately 4,248, compared with 3,900 for Norwegian Joy.
Which ship is more spacious, Norwegian Joy or Norwegian Escape?
Norwegian Joy has the higher passenger space ratio at 43 GT per passenger, versus 38.9 for Norwegian Escape. The ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity; a higher number means more ship space per guest.
Which ship is cheaper, Norwegian Joy or Norwegian Escape?
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Norwegian Joy has the lower average starting price per day at $119 per day versus $156 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.
Where does Norwegian Joy sail?
The upcoming Norwegian Joy sailings currently listed cover Alaska, departing from Seattle.
Related Cruise Ship Comparisons
Explore Upcoming Cruises
Norwegian Joy
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Escape
Norwegian Cruise Line