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This design allows for more usable space within the cabin, regardless of whether the window is open or shut. It's also popular with friends celebrating birthdays or bachelor/bachelorette getaways and couples of all ages seeking a lively shipboard ambience at an affordable price. That said, Royal Suite Class passengers definitely have money, so there's a more upscale demographic, often multigenerational. Royal Caribbean's modern Quantum Class ships accommodate 4,180 guests and stand out due to each ship's North Star sightseeing capsule, which rises 300 feet above the sea. Read on for a head-to-head comparison of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, covering each brand's onboard experience, itineraries and passenger profile to help you decide.
Iceland
As a go-to for birthdays, anniversaries and romantic evenings out, it's one of the most elevated dining options onboard any Royal Caribbean ship. Quantum-class ships offer an almost completely different lineup of attractions. Quantum-class ships also have the North Star, a pod-like sightseeing capsule that extends above the ship. If you're looking for a waterslide, you won't find any on ships in this class. Six Royal Caribbean ships (Brilliance of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas) also offer cabins designed for solo travelers.
Royal Caribbean Cruise: Cabin Review
Both MSC and Royal Caribbean are family-friendly cruise lines offering plenty to keep junior cruisers occupied. Their ships have colorful and inviting kids clubs with dedicated staff as well as teen hangouts, gaming areas and organized activities. On its Oasis-class ships, guests can scream their way down 10 decks of corkscrew spirals on the Ultimate Abyss slide, get soaked on The Perfect Storm waterslides or try simulated surfing with the FlowRider. Those without a fear of heights can tackle the rock climbing wall or zoom high above the Boardwalk neighborhood on a zip line. Other activities include ice skating, escape rooms, mini-golf, a carousel and pickleball. Specialty restaurants vary from ship class to ship class, although a few such as Chops Grille (for steaks and seafood) are aboard most vessels.
MSC Cruises vs. Royal Caribbean: Which big-ship line is right for you?
Its most lavish digs are the two-story Ultimate Family Suites (found on Wonder, Symphony and Spectrum of the Seas) and the three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse on Icon of the Seas. They sleep up to eight guests and boast kid-friendly amenities, including a slide, air hockey table and other games. Oasis Class ships also feature inside and balcony cabins that overlook the Promenade, Boardwalk and Central Park neighborhoods. On both lines, the smallest, oldest ships can have a different vibe from the newest, largest vessels, so keep that in mind as you're researching trips. Celebrity also offers expedition-style cruising on three 16- to 100-passenger ships in the Galapagos Islands (but we won't address them in this article).
AND AWARD-WINNING SHIPS
Either line is a good choice for Alaska in summer or the Caribbean in winter, depending on whether you're traveling as a couple or a family and the ship class you book. On Edge-series ships, seven suite categories include the two-story Edge Villas and the Iconic Suite, the largest in the fleet at 1,892 square feet (plus a 689-square-foot terrace). Solstice Class ships feature six suite categories, and Millennium Class ships have five. Solstice Class ships offer single inside cabins, while Edge-series ships include some Infinite Veranda Staterooms designed for solo travelers.
Icon of the Seas will have a total of seven pools, including Royal Bay, the largest pool at sea. When Icon of the Seas debuts in early 2024, it will offer 28 cabin and suite categories, including 14 completely new accommodation types. This ship was designed with families in mind and 80% of its staterooms will be able to be connected or offer enough space to accommodate larger families. If it's a megaship experience you're seeking, Royal Caribbean has plenty of options. On the other hand, if you enjoy a large ship (3,000-plus passengers) with a less chaotic vibe (fewer kids, no splashy slides), Princess' Royal-class ships might be a good match.
The live jazz bar
The Royal Babies and Tots Nursery is for babies ages 6 to 36 months; daytime and nighttime sessions are available for a fee. Nursery drop off is not available on Jewel, Adventure or Explorer of the Seas, however. “5 SKIES” is the line’s most innovative nighttime show, with a virtual reality/video game theme and striking special effects.
If you’re looking for a change from the included food your cruise, trying a specialty restaurant is worth the money. You may even want to book a specialty dining package as you plan before your cruise. There are also fun activities like dance classes and karaoke, which are also free on Royal Caribbean cruises.
On the other hand, Celebrity's vessels are spacious and designed to dazzle with contemporary decor and premium amenities. Izumi Hibachi and Sushi℠ is another long-standing fan favorite, and like Chops Grille, it's available on most of our ships. At Izumi, it's all about the flavors of the Far East, prepared right at your table by master chefs whose agility with cooking tools will surely wow you as much as the bold flavors they whip up. If you plan on using your phone while you’re at sea, then you’re going to want to pre-purchase the wifi package. Perfect Day at CocoCay is a destination every cruiser has to visit at least once. In addition, when you cruise with Royal Caribbean there will be broadway musicals, guest entertainers, parades and audience participation game shows every night of your cruise.
In short, the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for you, if you're traveling with children, might not be the same as the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for a solo traveler or the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for a retiree. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity welcome families and have complimentary kids clubs, but only Royal Caribbean has the onboard attractions and thrills that appeal to active younger children and teens. All Royal Caribbean ships feature rock climbing walls, outdoor movie screens and arcades. All but Radiance Class and Vision Class ships have FlowRider surf simulators, and all but Radiance Class, Vision Class and Quantum Class ships have minigolf courses.
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Discover captivating natural beauty, rich history and culture on our European cruises — like Rome’s ancient ruins, Russia’s golden-domed churches and Norway’s majestic fjords. With so many unique ports of call to explore, the opportunities to make memories are endless. A land of rugged mountains, coastal forests and diverse wildlife, Alaska is the ultimate cruise destination for intrepid explorers.
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Most Princess ships have at least three pools including a less-trafficked aft pool and several have one with a retractable roof; almost all ships have a minimum of five hot tubs. Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises offer more than one pool on every ship, but their vibes are different. While Royal Caribbean is known for its loud, rowdy pool decks with music, games and tons of kids, Princess Cruises lido decks are generally more subdued.
The great thing about Royal Caribbean is that it can be an affordable vacation if you want it to be. However if you have bigger budget or want some extras, you can enhance your cruise experience. If you’re looking for an enjoyable way to cruise and you’re young at heart, you will find the value in cruising with Royal Caribbean. If you like alcoholic beverages, it’s a good idea to purchase the beverage package before the cruise. This way, you will save money and you don’t have to worry about paying for alcoholic drinks once you’re on the ship. A cruise to Caribbean is filled with exciting destinations, each with its own style and vibe.
One is nostalgically aligned with a 1970s TV series and attracts passengers who prefer a more traditional cruise experience. The other offers its guests over-the-top entertainment and adrenaline-rush thrills. Both cruise lines offer many global options, but neither has itineraries longer than 18 nights. For a summer cruise in the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean has far more options, while Celebrity is the better choice for a summer sailing in Europe.
All Royal Suite Class guests enjoy access to exclusive venues, such as the Coastal Kitchen restaurant and a private sundeck. When we went on our first Royal Caribbean cruise, we had so much fun going from the FlowRider to the pool to other entertainment onboard. The vessel is one of four in the line's Vision class, featuring ships much smaller than the typical Royal Caribbean vessel. With this class, the experience has more to do with the ports the ships visit than the onboard experience. At 78,808 tons, Rhapsody of the Seas is a third the size of the biggest Royal Caribbean ships. Expect a more intimate experience than what you'll find on the bustling Icon-class, Oasis-class, Quantum-class and Freedom-class ships mentioned above.
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