Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are two of the biggest names in cruising, and after sailing with both cruise lines for decades, I’ve come to appreciate what each does well.
Royal Caribbean has been part of my life since I was a little girl, while Carnival has become a much larger part of my travel plans in recent years. In fact, I’ve sailed with Carnival Cruise Line eight times since 2011. My cruises have been aboard everything from the oldest vessels, such as Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Valor, to the brand-new Excel class ships, including Carnival Jubilee and Mardi Gras.
What’s truly surprised me most is how much Carnival has truly evolved in recent years. For a while, I viewed Carnival primarily as a budget-friendly cruise line known for short getaways and lively onboard energy. I truthfully avoided the cruise line for a while because of the party-vibe perception, which isn’t necessarily my vibe.
But after spending more time onboard its ships, especially the newer Excel-class vessels, I’ve found there is plenty to like about Carnival Cruise Line.
However, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line still offer very different cruise experiences with distinct personalities. In my experience, Carnival shines in several areas, including casual dining and comedy entertainment. Even still, there are a few categories where I believe Royal Caribbean continues to lead the industry.
Here are five areas where Royal Caribbean still comes out ahead of Carnival Cruise Line, and why it’s my preferred cruise line.
1. Royal Caribbean has more itinerary variety
For me, one of the biggest differences between the two cruise lines is where they sail.
Carnival’s strength has always been its convenience. The cruise line operates from many different homeports across North America, making it easy for many travelers to drive to their cruise rather than fly. This helps keep costs down for many cruisers, which aligns with Carnival’s budget-friendly focus. Most of Carnival’s fleet focuses on destinations such as the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, and Alaska.
However, Royal Caribbean offers richer itinerary variety with destinations around the world.
Over the years, I’ve sailed Royal Caribbean in destinations ranging from Asia to Northern Europe, and the cruise line consistently deploys ships across regions including the Mediterranean, Australia, the South Pacific, Hawaii, and beyond.
Another advantage of booking a Royal Caribbean cruise is having more options within the same region. For many destinations, Royal Caribbean deploys multiple ships, which gives travelers more flexibility when it comes to ship size, itinerary length, and budget. On the other hand, if you book a Carnival cruise in Europe or Australia, you’ll usually only have one ship to choose from.
For cruisers looking to explore destinations beyond North America, Royal Caribbean is the better choice and provides more options for diverse itineraries.
2. Perfect Day at CocoCay is the best private destination
Private destinations have become one of the biggest selling points in cruising, and this is another area where Royal Caribbean has raised the bar.
Perfect Day at CocoCay is not your typical port stop, as it’s designed more like an extension of the ship. The entire island is specifically designed for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruise guests. Between the beaches, pools, waterpark, adults-only areas, swim-up bars, cabanas, and shore excursions, there’s enough to keep guests busy for an entire day.
One of the things I appreciate most is how seamless and convenient the experience feels. For example, your drink package works while you’re ashore and complimentary dining is readily available across the island. It really is an extension of Royal Caribbean’s onboard experience rather than a separate destination.
On the flip side, Carnival currently offers private destinations such as Amber Cove, which provides a large pool, waterslides, zip lines, and cabana rentals. While Amber Cove can be enjoyable for many cruisers, it doesn’t offer the same experience as CocoCay.
However, the cruise line just opened Celebration Key, which is a new private destination in the Bahamas. I haven’t had the opportunity to visit yet, but the early photos and reviews suggest it will be a major improvement and a much stronger competitor to CocoCay.
Even so, some differences are still worth noting. First, Celebration Key is smaller than Perfect Day at CocoCay. Additionally, Carnival’s drink packages do not work ashore, so you’ll need to spend more for drinking while you’re there. Finally, dining options tend to be more limited than what you’ll find at CocoCay with more surcharges for food. These might seem like small details, but they can have a big impact on the overall private island experience.
3. Royal Caribbean’s entertainment has a WOW-factor
Entertainment is one of the areas where Royal Caribbean has always impressed me.
The cruise line has spent years investing in productions that go far beyond traditional cruise ship shows. Depending on the ship, guests can watch Broadway musicals, ice-skating performances, and high-diving shows that aren’t available elsewhere at sea.
The newest ships have pushed those experiences even further. For instance, Icon of the Seas introduced the AquaDome, where diving, acrobatics, synchronized swimming, and cutting-edge technology come together in a venue unlike anything I’ve experienced on another cruise ship.
On the other hand, Carnival’s entertainment is largely less impressive, with the exception of Excel-class ships. You’ll find mostly in-house Playlist Production shows that combine music, dancing, and visual effects into energetic performances that appeal to a wide audience.
However, when comparing the two side by side, Royal Caribbean’s entertainment is way more innovative and memorable. Although the Excel class ships on Carnival have elevated the cruise line’s entertainment reputation, you won’t find the unique production shows with the same wow-factor as Royal Caribbean.
I will say, the one area where I think Carnival deserves recognition is its comedy shows. The Punchliner Comedy Club continues to be one of the best entertainment offerings at sea, and Carnival’s comedy lineup is better than what I’ve experienced on Royal Caribbean.
4. Specialty dining offers more variety on Royal Caribbean
When it comes to specialty dining, Royal Caribbean has an edge over Carnival Cruise Line.
One of the most notable advantages is the variety available across Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Popular specialty restaurants include Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, Jamie’s Italian, Izumi Sushi, Chef’s Table, and 150 Central Park. Even on the cruise line’s smallest and oldest Vision-class ships, you’ll typically find at least two specialty dining venues onboard.
Royal Caribbean also offers dining experiences that you won’t find on Carnival Cruise Line. For instance, Wonderland offers a whimsical and imaginative meal with creative presentations and eclectic flavors, while Empire Supper Club combines upscale dining with live entertainment inspired by the glamour of the 1930s. These unique concepts help set Royal Caribbean apart and give guests more opportunities to try something different during their cruise.
Personally, I’ve also found Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants to be slightly more refined and consistent. While I’ve enjoyed many meals on both cruise lines, I think Royal Caribbean has a higher-quality specialty dining experience overall.
That’s not to say Carnival falls short. In fact, Carnival has some of the best complimentary dining at sea, particularly when it comes to its casual dining venues. Whether you’re sailing on one of the newest Excel-class ships or an older vessel, Carnival does an excellent job with included food options.
However, Carnival’s specialty dining selection is more limited. Even on the newest Excel-class ships, you’ll typically find venues such as Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Rudi’s Seagrill, Bonsai Sushi, Bonsai Teppanyaki, and Chef’s Table. Smaller ships often have only one or two specialty restaurants, and some older Fantasy class ships offered none at all. When I sailed on Carnival Ecstasy before the ship left the fleet, there weren’t any specialty dining venues onboard.
All that to say, Carnival’s specialty restaurants are perfectly fine, and I’ve had some very good meals there over the years. But when it comes to variety, consistency, and unique dining concepts, Royal Caribbean continues to come out ahead.
5. Royal Caribbean’s drink package provides more flexibility
Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line offer drink packages that can help guests control costs and avoid surprise charges at the end of their vacation. However, Royal Caribbean’s package is definitely more flexible than Carnival’s CHEERS! package.
Most importantly, Royal Caribbean does not impose a daily limit on alcoholic beverages. On the other hand, Carnival’s CHEERS! package limits guests to 15 alcoholic drinks per day. For many cruisers, that won’t be an issue, but it is still a restriction that doesn’t exist on Royal Caribbean.
Moreover, Royal Caribbean provides the ability to use your drink package at Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is another advantage. Whether you’re spending the day at the beach or relaxing by the pool, you can continue using the package you’ve already paid for.
Unfortunately, Carnival guests currently don’t receive that same benefit at the cruise line’s private destinations, which means drinks purchased ashore are an additional expense.
After dozens of cruises, I’ve learned that these little nuances can still make a noticeable difference during your sailing. I prefer cruising with Royal Caribbean for many of these reasons, although Carnival’s experience has impressed me in some areas over the years. Like any vacation, it depends on your individual preferences, travel style, and budget.
