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Both have tons of activity and entertainment options, from contests to casinos to evening shows of all types. All ships also feature musical revue-style song-and-dance shows, as well as occasional performances by comedians and magicians. All ships have basketball courts and rock climbing walls, and most also have mini-golf courses. Lots of branded food and drink venues around the pool deck, including Guy's Burger Joint, RedFrog Rum Bar and the BlueIguana Tequila Bar. Mardi Gras offers new dining venues curated by Rudi Sodamin of Holland America Line, and famed chef Emeril Lagasse. Emeril’s Bistro 1396 is on Mardi Gras, Emeril’s Bistro 1397 is on Carnival Celebration and Emeril’s Bistro 717 is on Carnival Jubilee.
Let’s start with the food
The cuisine options aboard any cruise make or break the overall experience. Carnival and Royal Caribbean both provide only the best and highest-quality dining options for their passengers. These options vary from ship to ship, but they provide a lot of variety, such as American, Asian, and even Italian. Both cruise lines have a large variety of ships available for you to choose from, ranging from older versions to many newer and more advanced versions as well. Still, if these are compared, Royal Caribbean has the largest available ships in its fleet. Royal Caribbean’s largest ship, Wonder of the Seas, sizes up at about 1,200 feet with a passenger capacity of over 5,700 guests at double occupancy.
Royal Caribbean Cabins
Carnival ships usually have a self-service laundry room on several decks. Also, Royal Caribbean ships have Broadway style shows like Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Grease, and Cats on their Oasis-class vessels. The shows in the Aqua Theater and on the ice skating rink are some of the best you can witness at sea. In addition to the standard cabin options, both Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer specialty cabins that cater to different preferences. Each has its perks and quirks, and sometimes it comes down to which sailing has a better itinerary or fits your schedule and budget.
Royal Caribbean for Families
The three large pools on Wonder of the Seas made Joey feel as if she were at the beach with water coming up and around many of the lounge chairs. There were also a handful of whirlpools and small plunge pools for relaxing, as well as a water playground for kids, Splashaway Bay. Joey observed that the pool deck was packed throughout the day, and she had a hard time finding a single empty chair after 12 p.m. The Carnival Vista ship that Monica sailed on is 1,000 feet long and weighs 133,500 tons. The ship has 15 decks, 1,450 employees, and 3,934 passengers, according to Carnival.
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Carnival Cruise Line, on the other hand, ensures that fun is at the heart of your vacation. The Punchliner Comedy Club promises a night of belly laughs, while live music and dance shows keep you moving to the beat. The adventure continues with rock climbing walls, the FlowRider surfing simulator, ice skating, and even zip lines, ensuring that every moment is filled with excitement. Not to be overlooked, the Ultimate Abyss slide and the North Star observation pod offer breathtaking thrills and views, respectively. For those looking westward, Carnival’s cruises to the Mexican Riviera promise sun-soaked adventures in ports like Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, perfect for 6-night escapes. What sets Royal Caribbean apart are its private destinations, such as Labadee in Haiti—a secluded resort offering everything from pristine beaches to exhilarating zip-line adventures.
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Still, it’s better if you get perks for free as part of the loyalty program. In this realm, Royal Caribbean wins — it has a reciprocal partnership with sibling companies like Celebrity that can increase the benefit opportunity. Havana Bar mixes in some Cuban flavor to cocktail hour while the tiki bar switches the theme to a South Pacific atmosphere. The route map for Royal Caribbean ships is widespread, covering the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe and Australia, among other places. On the high end, some of its newest family suites have in-room slides and game rooms spread across two floors. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence.
Royal Caribbean and Carnival Are Among the Best Cruise Lines for Families
There's also Royal Babies and Tots Nursery (on select ships) is for babies ages 6 to 36 months; a fee applies for daytime and nighttime sessions. Royal Caribbean has a partnership with Jamie Oliver, whose Jamie's Italian is on Quantum-class ships as well as Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas. Hooked Seafood and the Mason Jar for southern dishes are among the line's newer specialty restaurants. It's hard to go hungry on a Royal Caribbean ship because of its numerous dining options and specialty dining choices.
The ships
The choice of destinations really isn’t too different between Royal Caribbean and Carnival. Royal Caribbean does have two private island destinations that guests can visit around the Bahamas and Caribbean, including Labadee and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Late-night group babysitting ensures kids are cared for in the comfort of their staterooms while parents enjoy an evening out. “Royal Caribbean also has a drop-off, extra-fee nursery and free parent-kid play space for under-3s on many ships,” says Silverstein. Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer private islands, but currently Royal Caribbean’s is much more impressive (CocoCay has a huge pool, restaurants, and a giant waterslide). However, Carnival will be opening a new private island in the Bahamas in 2025 that should compete well.
On Carnival, you’ll find a lot of families, children, singles and budget-traveling couples. On Royal Caribbean, you’ll find more couples and singles than families, with most travelers being middle-aged or older adults. Carnival is no stranger to celebrity restaurant concepts, either, as is obvious with the line’s partnerships with celebrity chef Guy Fieri, Shaq and Emeril Lagasse.
Carnival Elation is 25-years-old and just recently came out of dry dock. The 71,909 gross ton ship has a capacity of around 2,000 and is the oldest in the fleet. The Excel-class ship, Mardi Gras, is a 181,000 gross ton vessel and the sister ship to the latest Carnival Jubilee. Carnival’s CHEER drink package starts at $59.95 per day and allows for up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day with unlimited non-alcoholic drinks. If one person in a stateroom has the drink package everyone else in the same stateroom over 21-years-old needs to buy it as well.
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Royal Caribbean, on the other hand, invites guests to embark on a culinary journey that spans the globe without leaving the ship. Half Moon Cay focuses on delivering a pristine beach experience in a more laid-back and natural setting, making it ideal for guests looking to unwind and soak in the beauty of the Bahamas. Royal Caribbean has designed Perfect Day at CocoCay to offer a balanced mix of adrenaline-pumping adventures and serene relaxation spots, catering to all ages and preferences. Carnival Cruise Line, on the other hand, provides a treasure trove of tropical paradises within the Caribbean, with itineraries ranging from quick 4-night getaways to more leisurely 8-night sails. Another exclusive stop is Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas, where guests can enjoy an action-packed waterpark and relaxing beach areas.
RC also has more specialty dining venues like Jamie’s Italian for celebrity chef fare, Wonderland for an artistic culinary experience, and 150 Central Park for upscale cuisine. Royal Caribbean ships tend to be larger and offer more high-tech amenities. Carnival, on the other hand, provides a more laidback, party-oriented experience. Royal Caribbean’s prices tend to be higher during peak travel seasons like summer and holidays, while prices may be more affordable during off-peak times. Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean offer great options for families looking for a fun cruising experience.
Carnival’s kids club provides a fun and safe environment for children to play and learn. Carnival’s ships also feature family-friendly amenities like water slides and pools, which are big hits among younger passengers. Royal wins due to its drop-off daycare for babies and tots, a service not offered by many cruise lines. In addition, their ships have activities and adventures for kids of all ages, so you won’t need to worry about your family members getting bored at sea. Carnival Cruise Line’s approach to bars and lounges focuses on creating a lively and engaging atmosphere. Their ships feature a range of options, including themed bars, poolside bars, and nightclubs.
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