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You know you want to go on a cruise for your next family vacation, but how do you choose between some of the most popular cruise lines for families? Carnival and Royal Caribbean are two power players in family cruising, with a plethora of unique activities both on and off the ships. If you’re sailing with the family, both cruise lines offer kids' programs, swimming pools and waterslides. Also, both have private islands in the Bahamas with pools and water parks. Comparing both, Royal Caribbean has more extravagant additions on their ships, with some of the latest ships having bumper cars, escape rooms, and even the world’s largest water slide at sea. Another unique mention of The Royal Caribbean is the Aqua Theater shows aboard the Oasis-class ships.
Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival: Which big-ship cruise line should you choose?
Meanwhile, sailing on one of Carnival’s latest ships treats you to an elevated experience with increased availability of suites, including some that provide daytime access to an exclusive pool area. Now, if it’s spaciousness you’re after, Carnival’s standard cabins are notable for their generous size, leading the industry in room to relax and enjoy your cruise. Comfort meets style in rooms designed with warm accents and all the necessary amenities. No ship, regardless of its size, neglects to deliver the full cruise experience. Brace yourself for an array of luxurious amenities ranging from bustling casinos, serene pools, and live entertainment to indulgent spas, vibrant dance halls, and an assortment of bars.
Fleet Size
Comparing the cheapest cabin on Carnival Celebration vs Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas - Royal Caribbean Blog
Comparing the cheapest cabin on Carnival Celebration vs Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas.
Posted: Wed, 15 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
These cruises range from short 3-7 night jaunts to longer excursions, docking at popular spots like the Bahamas and Cozumel. Rest easy knowing you have an abundance of room options to choose from. Royal Caribbean’s accommodations range from cozy interior rooms to expansive suites with private balconies. For $700 more, Royal Caribbean offered more space, activities, and restaurants than Carnival, albeit on a larger ship.
Itineraries
After 6 Royal Caribbean cruises this year, I tried Carnival for the first time — here's what I liked and didn't like - Cruise Blog
After 6 Royal Caribbean cruises this year, I tried Carnival for the first time — here's what I liked and didn't like.
Posted: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
If you’re planning a cruise vacation and considering Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, comparing their cruise packages is essential to make an informed decision. While this means the cabins may not be quite as nice, plenty of comfortable and well-appointed options exist, including balcony cabins and suites. Royal Caribbean may be the better choice if you’re looking for an upscale feel and a wide range of innovative activities.
Royal Caribbean's spa treatment prices are only available to people who have a future cruise booked or are currently on their cruise. But Joey recalls considering a massage if there were any that cost less than $100. One of Carnival Vista's busiest eateries was the Lido Marketplace buffet where passengers could always find something to eat. The buffet also had a sandwich bar for lunch, dinner offerings each night, and an entire section dedicated to desserts.
You will typically find older passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise, including many couples who are celebrating special events like honeymoons and anniversaries. The line's newer ships offer separate Havana Cabins that include a private pool and deck area at the stern of the ship. Both frequent and first-time cruisers are sure to recognize brands like Royal Caribbean or Carnival.

Royal Caribbean Food
When you sail to the Caribbean or Bahamas with Royal Caribbean, many itineraries stop at their private island, Perfect Day at Cococay. Booking a Carnival cruise is a great way to visit new destinations, have fun, and enjoy a wonderful vacation. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. Carnival’s cruises appear super-cheap when you’re browsing, but that’s because taxes and fees are only added once you’ve started the booking process. Still, they do offer good value and are typically lower prices than a Royal Caribbean cruise.
How Do These Two Mainstream Cruise Lines Compare on Cruise Fares?
There’s definitely more tech and innovation when it comes to Royal Caribbean ships, while Carnival’s “fun ships” emphasize some of the events and activities that the cruise director will operate. Quantum-class ships also have a glass-enclosed capsule that will take you 300 feet above the sea and provide epic 360-degree views. If you’re wanting to cruise to Asia or Europe, Royal Caribbean is your best option and has more sailings available. If you want to cruise to the Mexican Riviera or Australia, Carnival has more cruises to choose from. But if sailing out of Fort Lauderdale, FL or Bayonne, NJ Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line of the two that offers cruises.
There’s no perfect measure of this as ship design can have as much to do with the elbow room you feel than anything. This is simply the gross tonnage of a ship divided by the occupancy at double occupancy. Consider that Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas is nearly 1,200 feet and carries more than 5,700 guests at double occupancy. According to our analysis, cruise fare for a 5-night trip aboard Carnival was about $50 cheaper per person during our search than what was seen on Royal Caribbean.
In comparison, Carnival is more focused on the United States with their sailings. Outside of a handful of trips in Europe, there isn’t much available that isn’t based in the U.S. Carnival does offer some trips from Brisbane and Sydney for Carnival fans in the southern hemisphere. Royal Caribbean ships consistently measure in the low 40s in this segment, no matter whether a ship is new or old. Carnival has a few that measure in the 40s, but most are around 34-37, meaning a significantly smaller size per passenger.
Cortney Fries (pronounced “freeze”) is an award-winning Chicago-based writer and mom to two spunky elementary school-age kids. She loves nothing more than traveling with family, having adventures with friends and exploring the outdoors. Cortney believes that you should definitely do things that scare you just a little bit. Royal Caribbean even offers interior rooms with virtual balconies, featuring 80-inch screens with real sights and sounds from outside. There are both similarities and differences between Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines.
The Seuss at Sea program is pretty popular, and includes several events throughout each cruise, including costume parades and breakfasts with characters. There are some family cabins, though not as many as you might think that they would have based off of how much the cruise line markets itself to families. However, in January 2024 Royal Caribbean’s new class Icon of the Seas will become the new world’s largest cruise ship at 250,000 gross otns a guest capacity of 5,610 at double occupancy.
On Royal Caribbean, you can find a wide array of cabin styles, with some pretty cool features that you might not see with other cruise lines. These include the cruise line’s virtual balcony interior cabins that project real-time exterior views onto your interior wall, for the illusion of a floor-to-ceiling window. Both Carnival as well as Royal Caribbean offer pocket-friendly cruising options for travelers all around and are known for their large variety of packages, amenities, as well as itineraries.
But if you do spend, then you’ll likely find that Carnival is less expensive than Royal Caribbean. That’s not to say it’s stuffy (far from it), however, it feels more subdued than Carnival. There are still plenty of chances to party, but we think there is simply a slightly different feel on Royal Caribbean. As well, Carnival has a 15-drink limit over 24-hour period for alcoholic beverages (non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited), while Royal Caribbean makes no mention of a limit.
Order organic baby food, diapers, wipes and other essentials via Babies 2 Go, to be delivered to your stateroom upon arrival. Considering a Caribbean cruise and wondering which is better, Royal or Carnival? We’re here to help with our comparison of Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival cruise line. We’ll tell you all about how these two popular choices stack up against each other so you can make an informed decision.
Pricing includes most of your dining venues and entertainment, and you can often find sales and promotions that allow you to cruise at an even lower cost. When it’s time to head indoors, Carnival offers your standard comedy sets, Broadway-style performances and live music. Nightlife options include poolside movies, nightclub-esque parties and DJ sets. The Carnival Cruise derives its overall theme from the name itself and is known to offer exhilarating and fun activities that are bound to keep you busy all day. They also feature pool and hot tub facilities to ensure that you have somewhere to relax after a long day of fun.
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