If you are thinking about a cruise with Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Line, you are looking at a reasonably priced big-ship vacation with plenty of activities.
With two dozen ships loaded with millions of passengers annually, these two companies are the biggest in the cruise business. Their ships appeal to everyone, from young children to elderly people, so they are really popular.
To show their similarities and differences and assist you in selecting the best cruise line for you, let us go head-to-head: Royal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise.
Royal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise: Size of Ships
Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line have two megaship sizes. Their bigger ships are massive and carry more than 5,000 passengers; their smaller ships carry 3,000 to 4,000 passengers.
With five of the biggest cruise ships afloat, including Wonder of the Seas and the new Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean dominates the battle of size.
The biggest classes offered by Royal Caribbean, the Oasis Class and the Icon Class, are so vast that they are separated into neighborhoods. Oasis Class ships have a Central Park with actual trees and a Boardwalk section with a carousel, slides spanning several decks, and a designated theater for high-diving presentations.
Not to be outmatched, Carnival’s biggest ships—Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee—are split into zones, including Mardi Gras’s French Quarter with a live jazz bar.
Regardless of their size, every ship in both lines qualifies as a floating resort with onboard casinos, pools, live entertainment, sophisticated spas, energetic dance clubs, tons of bars – and people.
Royal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise: Cabins and Suites
Although both companies proudly list their price range for every kind of vacationer, you will find that each shines in a different lodging area.
For a great range of cabin types, Royal Caribbean is a preferable choice. From elegant two-story loft suites to cramped inside cabins with virtual balconies—an LED screen resembling the ocean—the cruise company offers everything. We recently stayed in an oceanview balcony suite for 2, and it was fantastic and spacious for 2.
Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships provide the most room variety (see the 7 classes of Royal Caribbean); you can reserve suites overlooking the ship’s Royal Promenade, Central Park or Boardwalk areas, or the high-diving show. Like a Marriott or Hilton hotel, the calming décor is decent but quite understated.
Given the size of its industry-leading basic cabins, Carnival wins for those values. Usually, the décor is simple and laid back. On some ships, specialty rooms include Havana suites with daily access to a private pool area and Family Harbor cabins with access to a shared family lounge. More suites abound on the newest ships than on previous models.
Royal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise: Foods and Beverages
Looking at eating options on Royal Caribbean against Carnival, Royal Caribbean leads with its quantity of extra-fee specialized restaurants while Carnival has the edge for plenty of inclusive meals.
Carnival fans and most travel writers will agree that the food on board is outstanding, with extra-fee options like amazing steakhouses and JiJi for Asian cuisine. Headlined by poolside burgers by Food Network star Guy Fieri, Carnival’s free dining menu also includes Mexican, BBQ, great Italian-style pizza and Shaq’s fried chicken.
If you enjoy Indian food, the main dining room menu features mouthwatering vegetarian meals every night to satisfy you. On some ships, Carnival has its own New Orleans bistros by Emeril Lagasse and breweries, where the drink is accompanied by Fieri’s barbecue (for a cost).
Most of Royal Caribbean’s free food comes from its major dining rooms and Windjammer Marketplace (the buffet), with an emphasis once more on the standard cuisine one would get in a hotel. It also has upgraded premium restaurants such as a Hibachi restaurant, a steakhouse, and a Sushi restaurant.
There are several extra-fee restaurants on ships, ranging in cuisine from sushi to steak. One of these places is Jamie’s Italian, in association with British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. On bigger Royal Caribbean ships, you can also pay for a burger and milkshake at Johnny Rockets.
Related Article: While exploring dining options on Royal Caribbean, don’t forget to check out our guide on Royal Caribbean Drink Packages to pair your meals with the perfect beverage.
Royal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise: Kids Activities
Both cruise companies have devised initiatives to keep your children content so you might have some free time to unwind and engage in grown-up activities. More than a million children pass through both lines annually. Age-appropriate arts and crafts, movies, sports, and interesting clubs for tweens and teenagers comprise the camp-like programs.
The Adventure Ocean program offered by Royal Caribbean (for ages 3–12) lets children become Certified Jr. Adventure Scientists. For guests with young children and toddlers, there are also Royal Babies and Royal Tots choices, as well as interesting hangouts for tweens and teens.
We recently traveled with a 12-year old and 13-year old teenage boys, and they loved the teen club – they did not spend very much time with us at all, except during dinner. There were plenty of activities for teens such as dodgeball tournament, basketball tourname, pingpong tournament, karaoke, and some dance nights etc… Teen club does not close until 1am even though even though curfew is at midnight – and our two boys stayed out every night until 1am (or later).
For ages two to eleven, Carnival’s Camp water program offers several events meant to teach children about the water. Carnival also has a partnership with Dr. Seuss whereby children are encouraged to read the classic books and get to know the characters in a participatory parade, during story times and during an extra-fee Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast hosted by the Cat in the Hat. Teenagers and tweens enjoy separate lounges with video games, cozy chairs and versatile areas for dancing or games.
Royal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise: Onboard Attractions
Active cruisers note: Royal Caribbean is a creative business that pushes the edge in activities. All the cruise line’s ships feature rock climbing walls, and several feature FlowRider surfing simulators.
Among the activities available on several ships are ice skating rinks, carousels, zip lines, miniature golf, laser tag, escape rooms, waterslides, simulated skydiving setups, a 10-story thrill slide called Ultimate Abyss, a mechanical arm lifting a London Eye-style pod high above the ship for views and other mind-blowing features. There will be more onboard activities the larger the ship is.
Although Carnival cannot really compete in this field, its ships offer entertainment value. Along with Bolt, the first roller coaster at sea (found only on Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee), it’s well-known for its WaterWorks water parks with several waterslides and splash areas for small children.
On some ships, you may discover outside ropes courses where you can walk a plank off the ship (while in a harness), a top-deck attraction involving pedalling a hanging recumbent bike, miniature golf, Imax theaters, and indoor trampoline parks.
Royal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise: Entertainment
While you’ll never be bored on each line, Royal Caribbean and Carnival handle onboard entertainment differently as well.
On its largest ships, Royal Caribbean hosts actual Broadway performances (although condensed versions) such “Grease,” “Hairspray,” and “Cats. At select ships with creative performance venues, you will find outdoor events with acrobats and high-divers at the line’s AquaTheaters and ice skating shows at its ice skating rinks.
Modern multimedia presentations in high-tech Two70 theaters on the Quantum Class ships have robotics and performers. One well-known late-night hotspot is the Boleros salsa dance club.
Although Carnival shines in live entertainment as well, their approach is not like that of Royal Caribbean. It presents 35 to 45-minute high-tech Playlist Productions, with singers and dancers dancing to creative compilations of familiar songs instead of Broadway musicals.
Comedy is highly valued at Carnival; the line’s Punchliner Comedy Clubs stage more than 27,000 live events annually, making Carnival the biggest comic employer worldwide.
Whether jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, show band, or classical, Carnival also arranges its own live bands and musical performers to entertain at several bars and public venues across its ships.
Though both lines have a list of games and contests—think Battle of the Sexes, the Newlywed Game and some variation of an adult scavenger hunt—Carnival provides shipboard versions of the popular show “Family Feud.” Also well-known are audience participation activities around the pool and rollicking music trivia.
Royal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise: Who Is on Board?
With an eye toward fun, Carnival emphasizes reasonably priced modern cruises for everyone. Its “Fun Ships” offer a laid-back and carefree experience; most of the gathering comprises of American, young, at-heart individuals and their families. Many guests board, seeking exciting moments, but don’t think it’s a refuge for depravity. It still is a family cruise line.
Different ships can have distinct moods and passenger bases since Carnival sails from several U.S. ports, and you will find that a good portion of cruisers on board hail from adjacent states and have driven to the ship.
Royal Caribbean’s passenger base is a mix of couples, families, and singles from all walks of life, mixed with international visitors from North America. In the Royal Caribbean, you will encounter night owls; the population is a little more sophisticated and less noisy than in the Carnival. This is largely due to Royal Caribbean ships’ increased share of pricey suites on board, which draw guests able to afford such kind of luxury.
Related Article: If you’re looking for a quieter, more refined cruising experience without children, explore our article on the best Adults-Only Cruise Lines. Discover which lines offer the serene and sophisticated atmosphere you desire.
Royal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise: Itineraries
Mostly cruising North America, Carnival ships visit the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, Canada/New England, and the Mexican Riviera (from California). The line offers limited sailings in Europe.
Although Royal Caribbean sails numerous areas of Europe, North America—the Caribbean, Bahamas (including the line’s own opulent private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay), Alaska, Canada/New England and the Mexican Riviera—is much of their focus. Its ships can also be found in other destinations, including Australia, New Zealand, China, and Singapore.
Bottom Line
You cannot go wrong with either Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Line as a first-time cruiser. If you seek creative attractions and a somewhat more elegant environment, pick Royal Caribbean. If you want amazing cuisine and to have fun in a laid-back setting at a more reasonable price, go for Carnival.