Royal Caribbean vs Carnival Cruise Line: A quick guide

Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are two of the most popular cruise lines in the industry. With family-friendly onboard experiences and affordable fares, these cruise lines appeal to a wide demographic of cruisers.

At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with either cruise line. But, there are some important differences to know about the two brands before you book your cruise vacation. 

If you’re torn between Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, we’re here to help! Here’s everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line before you decide which brand is best for you. 

Royal Caribbean vs Carnival: Fleet overview

Both cruise lines operate a large fleet of cruise ships with a variety of vessels, including older, smaller ships and brand-new megaships. 

Royal Caribbean’s fleet consists of 28 ships across 7 different ship classes. You’ll find the largest and most innovative ships in the world with Royal Caribbean. The cruise line’s older and smaller ships are less impressive and feel worthy of upgraded amenities. 

Carnival Cruise Line has a fleet of 27 vessels with 8 different ship classes. The new Excel class ships are, by far, the best vessels to cruise on if you want the latest and greatest features. However, the cruise line does a commendable job of adding newer amenities to older and smaller ships. Expect a wild atmosphere on these ships.

Food

Perhaps the most important aspect of the cruise experience for many, both cruise lines have excellent options for dining. 

Carnival: Known for having plenty of quick, casual, and complimentary restaurants like Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina. Newer ships in the Excel class will have upwards of 20 different dining options, most of which are complimentary. 

The main dining room is complimentary as well, including the iconic Sea Day brunch. Dinner is available each evening as a sit-down service with simple classics. Don’t miss out on the melting chocolate cake, which is divine!

Royal Caribbean: You won’t find as many quick casual options on this cruise line, but there’s no shortage of options. Royal Caribbean relies heavily on its main dining room and Windjammer buffet for dining. 

Each ship has multiple cafes and standard buffet options. Specialty dining for an additional charge is higher quality than Carnival Cruise Line. You’ll also find more options on Royal Caribbean for specialty dining. 

Entertainment

With a family-friendly onboard atmosphere, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line have so much to offer for entertainment, including daily activities and nightly production shows. 

Carnival: Aside from their newest ships, Carnival’s entertainment tends to be in-house production shows, known as Playlist Productions, and simple variety acts. Game shows are also common on Carnival Cruise Line, including Deal or No Deal and Family Feud. Cruisers are very interactive and engaged with Carnival’s activities, including trivia, karaoke, and others. 

Royal Caribbean: Known for its blockbuster entertainment, Royal Caribbean has Broadway musicals, ice skating productions, high-diving spectacles, and variety acts. These are unique shows that you won’t find on any other cruise line. Activities are equally as prevalent throughout your cruise experience, although the clientele might be more subdued. 

Onboard thrills

Each cruise line has its own unique attractions, with the most onboard thrills found on their biggest vessels. Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line have complimentary and for-charge attractions. 

Carnival: You can find the only rollercoaster at sea, BOLT, on Excel class ships for $15 per person. Almost all other onboard attractions are complimentary, including Carnival’s ropes course, waterpark, miniature golf, and sports court. Smaller ships also include some basic onboard attractions, typically waterslides. 

Royal Caribbean: The cruise line has marginally more onboard thrills, especially on its biggest cruise ships. Most attractions are included, but some have an additional cost. You can find waterparks, zip lines, surf simulators, ice skating rinks, bumper cars, dry slides, and more on Royal Caribbean cruise ships. 

Atmosphere and clientele on Royal Caribbean vs Carnival

Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line attract a variety of cruisers onboard, including families, couples, and seniors. 

Carnival: Generally speaking, Carnival has a more lively crowd onboard because of its heavy focus on fun. You can expect an energetic atmosphere with plenty of partying into the night. With many weekend sailings without driving distance, Carnival tends to attract more groups traveling together for celebratory purposes. 

Royal Caribbean: You’re likely to find a more upscale ambiance with Royal Caribbean due to slightly higher cruise prices. There’s still plenty of fun to be had, but those who want to relax might appreciate a quieter environment. With a few more amenities and adult-focused areas, Royal Caribbean is a better option for those wanting to avoid riffraff. 

Cruise destinations

Cruise itineraries can vary greatly between the two cruise lines. If you’re a destination-focused cruiser, you’ll want to ensure you choose your sailing carefully. 

Carnival: The cruise line focuses on offering an array of itineraries across North America. This includes many weekend itineraries and short sailings. These are perfect for getaways and offer an especially lively atmosphere. On the other hand, Carnival has fewer international options in Europe, Asia, and Australia. You might find one or two ships deployed to each region during peak season, but don’t expect much more. 

Royal Caribbean: Comparatively, Royal Caribbean has a larger international presence. Each summer, the cruise line sends four to six cruise ships to sail in Europe. There is a larger presence in Asia and Alaska as well. If you want to have more diverse itinerary options, Royal Caribbean is the better option. Finally, Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, can’t be beat!