If you’re considering a cruise with Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Line, you’re looking for an affordable big-ship experience with lots of activities.
These two companies are the largest in the cruise industry, each with two dozen ships carrying millions of passengers a year. They are popular for a reason: their ships offer something for everyone, from children to the elderly.
Let’s go head-to-head, Carnival vs. Royal Caribbean, to highlight their similarities and differences and help you choose the line that’s right for you.
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Size of ships
Both Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have two sizes of megaships. Their smaller ships carry 3,000 to 4,000 passengers; their largest ships are huge and hold more than 5,000 guests. Royal Caribbean wins the battle of size, with five of the largest ships in the world – including Wonder of the Seas, the largest cruise ship at sea.
Royal Caribbean’s largest ships, the Oasis class, are so large they are divided into neighborhoods, including a Central Park with real trees and a Boardwalk area with a high-dive carousel and show. Not to be outdone, Carnival’s largest ship, Mardi Gras, and soon-to-debut sister ship, Carnival Celebration, are zoned — like Mardi Gras’ French Quarter with a live jazz club.
Regardless of size, all ships of both lines qualify as floating resorts, with on-board casinos, swimming pools, live entertainment, elaborate spas, lively dance clubs, plenty of bars — and crowds.
Related: Royal Caribbean’s 6 ship classes, explained
Cabins and suites
Both lines proudly tout their price range for all vacationers, but you’ll notice that each excels in a different area of accommodations.
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Royal Caribbean is a better option if you want a large selection of cabin categories. The cruise line offers everything from cramped inside cabins with virtual balconies (one video replicates the sea) to ornate two-story loft suites, with the largest selection of rooms on its largest ships. You can book suites with a view of the high dive show. The soothing decor is like a Marriott or Hilton hotel, beautiful and a little opulent.
Carnival wins for the size of its standard cabins, which are the largest in the industry. The decor is usually bright and casual. Specialty staterooms on select ships include Family Harbor Staterooms, with access to a shared family lounge, and Havana Suites, with daytime access to a private pool area. Newer ships have more suites than older ships.
Related: Everything you want to know about carnival cabins and suites
Food and drink
When looking at dining options on Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival, Carnival has the edge for the many offerings included, and Royal Caribbean leads with the number of specialty restaurants with additional fees.
Carnival fans will tell you that the food on board is great, and most travel writers will agree that the line excels in this area – including premium options like impressive steakhouses and JiJi for Asian cuisine. Carnival’s free food lineup is impressive — headlined by Food Network star Guy Fieri’s poolside burgers, but also featuring Mexican pizza, barbecue, and excellent Italian-style pizza.
If you like Indian cuisine, you will enjoy delicious vegetarian dishes on the main dining room menu every night. On select ships, Carnival has its own breweries, where the drink is paired with barbecue by Fieri (for a fee) and New Orleans bistro by Emeril Lagasse.
Most of Royal Caribbean’s free food is found in its Windjammer market (buffet) and main dining rooms, the focus again on the normal cuisine you’d expect to find in a hotel. The ships offer a variety of restaurants for an additional fee, with specialties ranging from sushi to steak. A great spot in these alternative places is Jamie’s Italian, in partnership with famous British chef Jamie Oliver. You can also pay for a burger and milkshake at Johnny Rockets on Royal Caribbean’s larger ships.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Ship Food and Dining
Activities for children
Both cruise lines have well-established programs to keep your kids happy so you can take some time off to relax and do grown-up things. Both lines welcome more than a million children a year. Camp-like programs include age-appropriate activities such as arts and crafts, movies and sports in the game rooms, and fun clubs for youth and teens.
Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean program (for ages 3-12) includes an opportunity for children to become certified Jr. Scientists. There are also Royal Babies and Royal Tots options for those travelers with babies and toddlers.
Carnival’s Camp Ocean program (for ages 2-11) has several activities designed to educate children about the ocean. Carnival also has a partnership with Dr. Seuss, which includes encouraging children to read the classic books and get to know the characters in an interactive parade, storytimes and an additional Green Eggs and Bacon breakfast hosted by Cat in the Hat. .
Related: The 5 Best Cruise Lines for Families
Attractions on board
Active cruisers take note: Royal Caribbean is an innovative company and pushes the envelope of activities. All cruise line ships have rock climbing walls and many have FlowRider surf simulators.
Among the choices of activities on various ships are an ice rink, carousels, zip lines, miniature golf, laser tag, escape rooms, waterslides, simulated parachute installations, a 10-story thrill slide called the Ultimate Abyss, a mechanical arm that raises a London. Eye-style padding above the vessel for stunning views and other features. The bigger the ship, the more onboard activities you will find.
Carnivals can’t quite compete in this department, but you certainly won’t be disappointed. It is known for its WaterWorks water parks with numerous water slides and splash zones for young children, as well as Bolt, the first coaster at sea (found only on Mardi Gras and the new Carnival celebration).
On select ships, you’ll find outdoor ropes courses where you can boardboard from the ship (while in a harness), an upper deck ride that includes pedaling a suspension bike, miniature golf, Imax theaters and indoor trampoline parks.
Related: The 9 Craziest Attractions You’ll Find on a Cruise Ship
fun
Royal Caribbean and Carnival also take different approaches to onboard entertainment, though you’ll never be bored on either line.
Royal Caribbean produces actual Broadway shows (albeit shortened versions) such as “Grease,” “Hairspray” and “Cats” on its larger ships. Select ships feature innovative performance spaces; you’ll find outdoor shows with acrobats and high divers in the line’s Aqua Theaters and ice skating shows on its ice rinks.
Multimedia shows in Two70 high-tech cinemas on Quantum-class ships feature performers and robotics. A popular place for late night dates are the Boleros salsa dance clubs.
Carnival also excels at live entertainment, but its style is different from Royal Caribbean’s. Instead of Broadway musicals, it offers 35- to 45-minute high-tech Playlist productions, with singers and dancers performing to popular tunes. Carnival places a heavy emphasis on comedy; The line’s Punchliner Comedy Clubs host more than 27,000 live shows annually, making Carnival the largest employer of comics in the world.
Carnival also brings together its own live bands and musical acts – be it jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, show band or classical – that entertain in various bars and public areas throughout its ships.
While both lines offer a slate of games and contests, Carnival has shipboard versions of popular shows like “Lip Sync Battle” and “Family Feud.” It is known for its audience participation pool games and musical trivia.
Related: Which cruise ship activities should you book ahead of time?
Who’s on board?
Carnival’s focus is affordable contemporary cruising for all, with an emphasis on entertainment. Its “fun ships” offer a casual and carefree experience; the crowd is mostly American, young and old at heart and their families. Many people come aboard looking for a fun time – but don’t think it’s a haven for debauchery; it’s still a family line.
Since Carnival sails from many U.S. ports, you’ll find a high percentage of cruisers aboard hail from nearby states and have gone on the ship—meaning different ships can have different atmospheres and passenger bases. different.
Royal Caribbean’s crowd is a mix of international and North American travelers, including couples, families and singles from all walks of life. You’ll find night owls on Royal Caribbean as well, although the crowd is a bit richer and less rowdy than on Carnival. That’s partly because Royal Caribbean ships have a higher percentage of expensive suites on board and attract the types of travelers who can afford to pay for that kind of luxury.
ROUTES
Carnival ships sail primarily in North America, with voyages to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, Canada/New England and the Mexican Riviera (from California). The line offers limited sailings to Europe. It will return to Australia in 2023 (with cruises marketed to locals).
Royal Caribbean puts a lot of emphasis on North America – the Caribbean, the Bahamas (including the line’s extravagant private island, Perfect Day at Coco Cay), Alaska, Canada/New England and the Mexican Riviera – but also sails to several regions in Europe. Its ships can be found in other international destinations such as Australia and New Zealand and the Middle East.
Related: Top 5 Destinations You Can Visit on a Royal Caribbean Ship
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As a first-time cruiser, you can’t go wrong with either line. Choose Royal Caribbean if you’re looking for innovative attractions and a slightly more upscale atmosphere, and Carnival if you want great food and a casual setting at a very affordable price.
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Featured photo by Daniel Piraino/EyeEm/Getty Images.
