If you’re contemplating a cruise with Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line, you might be searching for an energetic, big-ship cruise expertise on among the largest ships on this planet.
These two firms concentrate on cruises for everybody — {couples}, seniors, households — with actions and “wow” sights to match. Their ships are extremely common, significantly on Bahamas and Caribbean routes.
Let’s evaluate Norwegian Cruise Line to Royal Caribbean to see what they’ve in frequent — and what they do not — so you will discover the cruise that is best for you.
For extra cruise information, opinions and ideas, join TPG’s cruise publication.
Measurement of ships
Each Norwegian and Royal Caribbean function megaships of various sizes — all floating resorts with onboard casinos, swimming pools, reside leisure, elaborate spas, energetic dance golf equipment and plenty of bars.
Whereas Royal Caribbean has a number of ships that carry fewer than 2,250 passengers, the majority of its vessels carry 3,000 to 4,000 passengers; its 5 largest ships — topped by Surprise of the Seas and Icon of the Seas — are the world’s largest cruise ships and carry greater than 5,400 visitors. In truth, among the ships are so large they’re arrange in a neighborhood format, together with a Boardwalk neighborhood that is patterned after Coney Island, that includes a high-diving present, carousel and sizzling canine stand. There’s additionally a leafy Central Park neighborhood with 1000’s of reside crops.
Associated: The 6 courses of Royal Caribbean ships, defined
Norwegian Cruise Line ships vary in measurement from about 1,900 passengers (quaint by megaship requirements) to greater than 4,100 passengers. The road isn’t making an attempt to win the scale warfare, nevertheless it provides loads of pleasure on board. The most recent Norwegian ships are topped by multi-level go-kart racetracks that add vroom to the cruise expertise.
Associated: The 9 courses of Norwegian Cruise Line ships, defined
Every day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
Cabins and suites
Each cruise traces proudly supply a broad vary of lodging. Norwegian significantly shines within the space of creativity and innovation.
On high of the latest ships within the fleet is The Haven, a set complicated with a non-public restaurant, sundeck, pool and lounge — principally a separate boutique lodge on high of the ship. Visitors in The Haven get privateness in upscale, up to date environment when they need, however in addition they have entry to all of the enjoyable actions elsewhere on board.
Norwegian additionally pays particular consideration to solo vacationers. In The Studios, passengers touring solo can e-book creatively designed inside cabins which are priced for one (a cruise rarity). They arrive with unique entry to a shared lounge, so you possibly can socialize with different solo vacationers if you want.
Elsewhere, household cabins are positioned close to youngsters’s amenities, and spa cabins are positioned close to the spa.
Associated: Every part you need to learn about cabins and suites on Norwegian Cruise Line ships
Royal Caribbean seeks to please all vacationers with the biggest collection of cabin kinds of any cruise line. The road has every part from tight and cheap inside cabins with digital balconies (sea views delivered through LED display screen) and solo staterooms on choose ships to two-story loft suites.
Some suites have views of the high-diving present, whereas some standard-size cabins face the Royal Promenade, Boardwalk or Central Park neighborhoods of the ship. (You trade ocean views for people-watching.) Royal has moved to match NCL by offering suite visitors entry to a non-public lounge, restaurant and solar deck on its newer ships.
Associated: Every part you need to learn about cabins and suites on Royal Caribbean ships
Foods and drinks
When Royal Caribbean’s versus Norwegian’s eating choices, each traces have a number of fee-based specialty eating places that surpass what they provide of their complimentary venues. To some cruisers, these eating places would possibly appear to be a cash seize, however foodies do not thoughts paying for the improve in meals.
Years in the past, Norwegian developed what it calls “Freestyle Cruising,” a mannequin that sought to show some cruise traditions — corresponding to assigned tables in a big important eating room and formal evening costume codes — on their heads. As an alternative, passengers eat when and the place they need. Nonetheless, in lots of instances, reservations are nonetheless required.
NCL goes all-out with selections; giant ships, corresponding to Norwegian Viva, supply greater than two dozen eating experiences. You’ll be able to eat without spending a dime in smaller eating rooms or the buffet or splurge, as an illustration, on steak, French, Brazilian and Asian fare. Norwegian pays specific consideration to offering out of doors eating choices.
For meals included within the cruise fare, Royal Caribbean focuses a lot consideration on its Windjammer Market (the buffet) and important eating rooms; within the latter, you possibly can go for assigned tables or anytime eating. A shining level of the fee-based choices on choose ships is Jamie’s Italian with British movie star chef Jamie Oliver. Followers additionally rave in regards to the line’s fancy Chef’s Desk expertise, a multicourse affair with chef commentary on what you might be tasting.
Associated: The last word information to cruise ship meals and eating
Youngsters actions
Realizing that oldsters admire some downtime, each cruise traces have well-established packages to maintain your children pleased. You’ll be able to have a therapeutic massage on the spa, hit the on line casino or in any other case do grown-up issues figuring out that your youngsters are in a camp-like program with youth counselors who’re main age-appropriate actions like arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, science experiments, sport play or film watching. There are additionally enjoyable golf equipment for teenagers and tweens to name their very own.
Royal Caribbean’s Journey Ocean program (for ages 3-12) provides an academic spin, that includes an opportunity for teenagers to change into licensed journey scientists. There are additionally particular packages for infants and toddlers, in addition to older children, ages 13 to 17.
Norwegian’s Splash Academy (for teenagers ages 5-12) entertains with inventive play, together with a Circus College. In the meantime, Entourage (for ages 13-17) retains teenagers occupied with video games, sports activities and events in a hip membership.
Associated: 5 finest cruise traces for households
Onboard sights
Each Royal Caribbean and Norwegian have developed their latest ships to be energetic floating playgrounds with supercharged indoor and out of doors actions for all ages. Royal is tops in its capability to push the envelope, however Norwegian is approaching sturdy.
All Royal Caribbean ships have rock-climbing partitions and FlowRider simulators that permit passengers to surf and boogie board. The road’s lengthy roster of exercise selections on its varied ships consists of ice skating rinks, carousels, zip traces, minigolf, laser tag, escape rooms, waterslides, simulated sky diving setups, a 10-story thrill slide referred to as Final Abyss, an amusement-park-like mechanical arm that lifts a London Eye-style pod excessive above the ships for views and different mind-blowing options. The bigger the ship, the extra onboard actions you may discover.
Norwegian’s much-touted and really spectacular attraction on its newest ships is a multi-story go-cart racetrack occupying a portion of the higher deck. The road additionally does digital actuality gaming nicely. Choose ships have a Galaxy Pavilion stuffed with thrilling challenges and experiences.
The ships additionally supply Aqua Parks with thrilling twin racing slides, full-size basketball courts, escape rooms, laser tag, minigolf, darts, bowling and ropes programs. New on ships within the line’s 3,250-passenger Prima Class are pairs of 10-story freefall thrill slides billed because the quickest at sea.
Associated: The craziest sights you may discover on a cruise ship
Leisure
Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have a battle of types when it comes to signing Broadway reveals for onboard productions. Each cruise traces recruit expertise from Broadway, London’s West Finish and around the globe to rehearse in their very own studios in Florida and have giant casts of performers on their ships. The reveals are barely shortened variations of what you’ll see on land.
Royal Caribbean’s roster consists of such common reveals as “Grease,” “Hairspray” and “CATS” on its largest ships. On Norwegian ships, you possibly can catch productions of such common Broadway reveals as “Beetlejuice,” “Six” and “Summer season: The Donna Summer season Musical,” in addition to the super-fun pub present “The Choir of Man.”
However the leisure choices do not cease there. Choose Royal Caribbean ships characteristic efficiency areas you won’t look forward to finding at sea. There are out of doors reveals that includes acrobats and excessive divers on the line’s AquaTheaters, and ice skating reveals with skilled skaters happen in its Studio B ice-skating rinks. Excessive-tech reveals, reside music and dancing the evening away are additionally common onboard pastimes.
Norwegian options extra-fee, adults-only present productions themed on wine or prohibition cocktails and include drinks. Comedy is a part of the scene — Prima Class vessels even have improv golf equipment — and Norwegian’s themed events are significantly common with the late-night crowd. Enjoyable bars embody the Skyy Ice Bar, the place you put on a parka to get pleasure from vodka on ice. Choose ships have a Cavern Membership that includes a Beatles cowl band, full with shaggy hairdos.
Whereas each traces supply a big collection of video games and contests, Norwegian has floating, participatory variations of common TV reveals corresponding to “Deal or No Deal” and “Press Your Luck.”
Associated: Which cruise ship actions do you have to e-book forward of time?
Who’s on board?
Norwegian’s “Freestyle Cruising” is designed to be extra up to date and fewer conventional, and the group on board tends to embrace the carefree nature of the expertise. The costume code is no matter you want — costume up for a date evening or down for an informal meal in a pub.
On cruises from the U.S., the group is generally from North America and represents all ages, from children to seniors. Some adults keep up late partying within the dance membership or making an attempt their luck at Norwegian’s award-winning casinos.
Royal Caribbean’s crowd is a mixture of worldwide vacationers and people from North America, together with {couples}, households and singles from all walks of life. You may discover evening owls on Royal, too, although the group is a tad extra upscale than Norwegian. That is partly as a result of Royal Caribbean ships have the next proportion of lavish, dear suites on board and entice individuals who have cash to spend to e-book them.
Associated: Which cruise model is best for you? A information to the preferred traces
Itineraries
Each Norwegian and Royal Caribbean place the majority of their ships in North America, but additionally have ships crusing in locations around the globe.
Norwegian is the one cruise line with a ship — U.S.-flagged Pleasure of America — that sails year-round within the Hawaiian Islands. Norwegian focuses a lot consideration, too, on the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, New England and Canada, the Mexican Riviera and Bermuda. The road provides common, reasonably priced sailings within the Mediterranean and Greek Isles. Different locations embody Northern Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand and South America.
Associated: The 5 finest locations you possibly can go to on a Norwegian ship
Likewise, Royal Caribbean places a lot emphasis on North America — the Caribbean, Bahamas (together with the road’s personal extravagant personal island, Good Day at CocoCay), Alaska, Canada and New England and the Mexican Riviera — but additionally sails a number of areas in Europe. Its ships additionally ply waters in different areas of the world, together with Australia, New Zealand, China and Singapore.
Associated: The 5 finest locations you possibly can go to on a Royal Caribbean ship
Backside line
Both of those cruise traces is an efficient selection for a first-time cruiser. Go together with Royal Caribbean in the event you’re searching for a barely extra upscale, conventional cruise ship ambiance and Norwegian in the event you’re in search of a up to date tackle informal cruising.
Have cruise questions? TPG has solutions:
