If you are thinking of a vacation with Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line, you are looking at an energetic, big-ship cruise experience aboard some of the biggest ships on earth.
With activities and “wow” attractions to fit couples, the elderly, and families, these two businesses focus on cruises for everyone. Particularly on Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries, their ships are quite popular.
To help you choose the vacation that best fits you, let’s compare Norwegian vs Royal Caribbean to identify their commonalities and differences.
Related Article: To compare more cruise options, check out our detailed guide on Royal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise to see how these two industry leaders match up.
Norwegian vs Royal Caribbean: Breaking Down the Differences
Ship Size
Both Norwegian and Royal Caribbean run megaships of different sizes, all floating resorts featuring onboard casinos, pools, live entertainment, complex spas, vibrant dance clubs and lots of bars.
Although Royal Caribbean boasts some ships that carry less than 2,250 people, most of its vessels accommodate 3,000 to 4,000 passengers; its five largest ships, Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas, are among the world’s biggest cruise ships and carry more than 5,400 passengers.
Some of the ships are actually so large that they implement a neighborhood design, with a Boardwalk neighborhood modeled like Coney Island featuring a high-diving show, carousel and hot dog stand. There’s also the lush Central Park neighborhood with thousands of live plants.
Norwegian Cruise Line ships range in size from roughly 1,900 passengers (quaint by megaship standards) to more than 4,101 passengers. Though it provides lots of thrills on board, the line is not seeking to win the size war. Multilevel go-kart racetracks that enhance the cruise experience top the newest Norwegian ships.
Cabins and Suites
Both cruise lines boldly present a large selection of lodging. Norwegian especially excels in the domains of innovation and creativity.
Comprising a suite complex with a private restaurant, sundeck, pool and lounge — essentially a distinct boutique hotel on top of the ship—The Haven is on top of the newest ships in the fleet. While they have access to all the exciting activities elsewhere on board, guests at The Haven get privacy in elegant, modern surroundings when they so wish.
Norwegian also gives solo passengers particular attention. Passengers traveling alone can reserve imaginatively built inside cabins priced for one (a cruise oddity) in The Studios. They come with exclusive access to a common lounge, allowing you to mingle with other single guests as desired.
Elsewhere, spa cabins are placed close to the spa and family cabins are situated close to services for children.
With the widest range of cabin styles among any cruise company, Royal Caribbean aims to satisfy every kind of passenger. On other ships, the line features two-story loft suites and cramped, cheap inside cabins with virtual balconies—sea views given by LED screen—as well as single staterooms.
While some standard-size accommodations face the Royal Promenade, Boardwalk or Central Park areas of the ship, several suites feature views of the high-diving display. (You trade views of the water for people-watching.) By giving suite passengers access to a private lounge, restaurant and sun deck on its more recent ships, Royal has attempted to equal NCL.
Related Article: For insights on selecting the ideal room at sea, explore our guide on Best Cruise Ship Cabin Locations.
Food and Drink
Looking at comparing Royal Caribbean’s dining choices against Norwegian’s, both chains feature a lot of fee-based specialty restaurants that exceed what they have in their free outlets. While some cruisers may view these eateries as a money grab, foodies are not bothered about paying for the improvement in cuisine.
Years ago, Norwegian created what it refers to as “Freestyle Cruising,” a concept meant to challenge some cruise customs such as formal night dress codes and assigned tables in a big main dining area. Passengers dine when and where they choose, instead. Still, in many circumstances, reservations are needed.
NCL goes all-out with options; big ships like Norwegian Viva have more than twenty dining experiences. For steak, French, Brazilian and Asian cuisine, you can eat for free in smaller dining rooms or the buffet or spend. Norwegian is especially focused on offering outdoor dining choices.
Regarding food included on the cruise fare, Royal Caribbean pays close attention to its main dining rooms and Windjammer Marketplace (the buffet); in the former case, you may choose allocated tables or anytime dining.
Jamie’s Italian with British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is one of the fee-based choices on a few ships that really shine. The line’s fancy Chef’s Table experience—a multicourse affair with chef commentary on what you are tasting—also gets great marks from fans.
Related Article: To complement your dining experience, discover our comprehensive guide on Cruise Drink Packages to find the perfect beverage options for your meals at sea.
Activities for Children
Knowing that parents value some downtime, both cruise companies have developed plans to keep their children entertained.
Knowing that your children are in a camp-type program with youth counselors directing age-appropriate activities like arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, science projects, game play or movie watching, you may have a massage at the spa, hit the casino, or otherwise engage in grown-up activities. Teens and tweens also have some interesting clubs to call their own.
For ages 3–12, Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean program provides an educational spin with the opportunity for children to become certified adventure scientists. Additionally, there are unique programs for older children, ages 13 to 17, as well as infants and toddlers.
Norwegian’s Splash Academy (for kids ages 5-12) entertains with creative activities, including a Circus School. Entourage (for ages 13–17) keeps teenagers busy with games, sports, and parties in a hip club.
Onboard Attractions
Both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian have built their most recent ships to be active floating playgrounds with enhanced indoor and outdoor activities suitable for all ages. Royal leads in pushing the envelope, but Norwegian is catching on strongly.
Every Royal Caribbean ship features FlowRider simulators enabling guests to surf and boogie board as well as rock-climbing walls.
Ice skating rinks, carousels, zip lines, mini golf, laser tag, escape rooms, waterslides, simulated sky diving setups, a 10-story thrill slide called Ultimate Abyss, an amusement-park-like mechanical arm that lifts a London Eye-style pod high above the ships for views and other mind-blowing features, makes up the long roster of activity choices on each line. There will be more onboard activities the larger the ship is.
On its newest ships, Norwegian’s much-loved and highly remarkable attraction consists of a multi-story go-cart racetrack spanning some of the upper deck. The line also conducts virtual reality games really effectively. Selected ships feature a Galaxy Pavilion bursting with fascinating adventures and challenges.
The ships also offer Aqua Parks featuring great dual racing slides, full-size basketball courts, escape rooms, laser tag, mini golf, darts, bowling and ropes courses. New aboard ships in the 3,250-passenger Prima Class are pairs of 10-story freefall thrill slides advertised as the fastest at sea.
Entertainment
Regarding signing Broadway musicals for onboard events, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean engage in a form of conflict. Both cruise lines have big casts of performers on their ships and hire Broadway, London’s West End, and worldwide talent to rehearse in their own Florida studios. The shows are somewhat shortened versions of what one might find on land.
On its largest ships, Royal Caribbean has a lineup including such hit musicals as “Grease,” “Hairspray,” and “CATS.” On Norwegian ships, you may witness the super-fun pub show “The Choir of Man,” as well as versions of such well-known Broadway shows such “Beetlejuice,” “Six” and “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.”
Still, the entertainment choices go beyond that. Some Royal Caribbean ships have performance areas not commonly found on sea vessels. At the AquaTheaters, there are outdoor events, including acrobats and high dives; ice skating events, including professional skaters, take place in its Studio B ice-skating rinks. Popular aboard activities also include high-tech presentations, live music and dancing the night away.
Norwegian offers drink-based, extra-fee, adults-only show productions themed on wine or prohibition cocktails. Comedy is part of the scene; Prima Class boats even have improv groups, and the late-night audience especially enjoys Norwegian-themed parties.
Fun bars include the Skyy Ice Bar, where you savor vodka on ice wearing a parka. Selected ships have a Cavern Club with a Beatles cover band, complete with shaggy hairdos.
While both lines provide a good range of activities and contests, Norwegian has floating, participatory versions of well-known TV shows like “Deal or No Deal” and “Press Your Luck.”
Who Is on Board?
Norwegian’s “Freestyle Cruising” aims to be less conventional and more modern, and the audience on board usually welcomes the laid-back approach of the trip. The dress code is whatever you like; dress for a casual dinner in a pub or for a date night.
Mostly from North America, the throng on American cruises reflects all ages, from young children to elderly people. Some adults try their luck at Norwegian’s award-winning casinos or hang out late partying in the dance club.
Couples, families, and singles from all walks of life mix with international visitors from North America in Royal Caribbean’s passenger base. Night owls also abound in Royal; however, the audience is a little more sophisticated than in Norwegian. This is largely due to Royal Caribbean ships featuring more opulent, expensive suites on board, drawing those with the means to book them.
Itineraries
Although they have ships traveling worldwide, the Norwegian and Royal Caribbean stations most of their vessels in North America.
Only Norwegian, with a ship flown American-flagged Pride of America, runs year-round in the Hawaiian Islands. Norwegian also focuses much attention on the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, New England, Canada, the Mexican Riviera, and Bermuda.
The line provides popular, reasonably priced sailings in the Greek Isles and Mediterranean. Other destinations include Northern Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and South America.
Royal Caribbean also sails numerous areas of Europe, but it gives North America—the Caribbean, Bahamas (including the line’s own opulent private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay), Alaska, Canada and New England great importance. Its ships also sail in other parts of the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, China, and Singapore.
Bottom Line
A first-time cruiser would find either of these cruise lines to be a suitable option. If you’re looking for a somewhat more sophisticated, classic cruise ship environment, go with Royal Caribbean; if you’re searching for a modern interpretation of casual cruising, go with Norwegian.