Thursday, April 18, 2024

The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruise ships and itineraries

best royal caribbean cruise

If you're a megaresort lover, you'll surely love the line's biggest ships, particularly the giant Oasis Class vessels. If you're more of a small boutique hotel sort of person or someone who just isn't happy around crowds, well … this might not be the line for you. Royal Caribbean has grown into the world's biggest cruise line by passenger capacity for a reason. It has long dazzled customers with stunning, resort-like vessels full of every sort of amusement and activity you could imagine. All vessels have North American-style 110-volt outlets in rooms, as well as European-style 220-volt outlets.

Perfect Day at Cococay

Royal Caribbean also dedicated an entire neighborhood of the ship to families, known as Surfside. Surfside is the ultimate stay-all-day neighborhood that has pools for kids and parents, family-friendly restaurants, and bars that have mocktails for the kids and cocktails for the adults. The smaller amount of kid-friendly activities means far fewer families book cruises on Rhapsody of the Seas compared to the fleet’s newer ships. This leads to a more adult-focused atmosphere onboard, which can make a cruise more relaxing for those traveling without kids. There's no doubt about it, Wonder of the Seas is the Royal Caribbean ship to book if you're looking to live the high life (and are willing to spend big bucks to do so).

Alaska Glacier

On Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships there are more than 20 places to grab a bite, ranging from Johnny Rockets diners to high-end restaurants serving six-course tasting menus. What Royal Caribbean cruisers all have in common is that they love a big, bustling resort experience. The line also operates five somewhat smaller Voyager Class vessels that can each hold around 3,800 passengers at maximum occupancy. The Wanderlust Project is a website that offers all the info you need for your next cruise trips.

GAME TIME

Despite its many offerings, some guests have mentioned the main pool areas can get a bit crowded during peak times. Still, with all the other things it offers, Harmony of the Seas ensures a memorable cruise experience. Launched in 2016, Harmony of the Seas offers activities and experiences onboard that truly stand out. We were particularly taken with the Ultimate Abyss slide, the tallest at sea, offering an adrenaline rush like no other. The Flowrider surf simulators are another highlight, perfect for those looking to catch a wave. If relaxation is more your style, the Solarium provides a serene adults-only retreat, though we did notice it lacks a pool.

For a different kind of thrill, try the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator, which gives you the sensation of free falling. The ship is also one of Royal Caribbean's smallest, carrying 1,998 passengers at double occupancy (compared to 5,734 on Wonder of the Seas). Yet it's got much to offer adults looking to relax after a long day of sightseeing. Book a relaxing treatment, such as a couples massage or solo facial, in the serene oasis of the Vitality Spa.

Royal Caribbean cruise deals aren't hard to find, but sometimes they're hard to decipher. It usually takes a lot of digging and a little math to unearth real Royal Caribbean deals. But once you know what to look for -- and where and when to look -- spotting deals becomes easier. The Wonder of the Seas is the most fun Royal Caribbean ship in the fleet currently, but Icon of the Seas will likely take her place once customers have had enough time to experience everything onboard. Even with the review rankings above, there isn’t really a single ship that’s best for everyone. It depends on what you’re looking for from your cruise because different ships appeal to slightly different tastes.

Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. While some reviews mention bad food, on the whole, Royal Caribbean has great food according to reviews. It could be that one bad meal or something not being cooked to the guests liking leads them to mention the ‘poor’ food when they review the ship.

Quantum Class

Not only are our ships filled with gamechanging ways to play and unwind — we offer unforgettable excursions that let you dive deeper into each destination’s vibrant culture, natural wonders and local charm. Learn more about all the different regions we visit, each brimming with one-of-a-kind ports of call that cater to all kinds of travelers. Whether you’re beach-hopping in the South Pacific, exploring ancient monasteries in Asia, scouting castles in Europe or cruising through glacier-dotted bays in Alaska — there’s no bolder way to see the world. Transatlantic and transpacific sailings offer plenty of relaxing sea days and stops at must-visit cruise destinations. Go from colorful Caribbean towns to iconic European capitals, or explore bazaars, exotic isles and dense rainforests in regions like the Arabian Gulf, the South Pacific and Latin America.

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best royal caribbean cruise

Mariner of the Seas could also be the nicest – it combines the fun Royal Caribbean experience with a calmer atmosphere. As this ship has mostly British cruisers on board, perhaps they’re used to not having to pay for these things when they cruise with British cruise lines like P&O Cruises? Honestly, I think it was a little unfair on Wonder of the Seas – she hadn’t long launched when I first put this list together, and so her average scores were unreasonably high. Rooms could do with some quality updates, including things we take for granted now like USB ports, while the shows are a little more traditional and could be better.

Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to be a useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. In November, Rhapsody of the Seas will make her way back to North America, where she’ll offer Southern Caribbean cruises to Colombia, the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. During her amplification, Mariner of the Seas received $120 million in upgrades, which included an escape room, laser tag, waterslides, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Izumi Hibachi, and Jamie’s Italian.

The bottom line is that the best Caribbean cruise for you depends a lot on your travel style. Below, we'll help you narrow down the choices by looking at Caribbean cruises by broad category type. The good news is that in the Caribbean, at least, there really is something for everyone.

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Not so much of an issue if your itinerary is more important to you, which is good since this ship is sailing Royal’s Ultimate World Cruise. The same minor complaints that other Oasis-class ships have received are repeated for Harmony, and if anything they are a little more common – minor issues with service and staffing, with longer waits than expected. You'll now find these zones on Caribbean-focused vessels like Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Prima. Each of these solo cruiser zones, which are unrepeated in the industry for now, includes dozens of cabins for solo travelers, all clustered around each other. There is also a private lounge with a bar and television where solos can mingle at daily hosted happy hour gatherings. With at least two sea days per sailing, passengers will have ample opportunity to explore all the attractions the ship has to offer.

Or take a dip in the Solarium, the adults-only retreat with loungers, pools and panoramic ocean views. Rhapsody of the Seas offers some unique sailings, including a two-night sailing from Israel that can be tacked onto longer Mediterranean sailings, such as five-night Greek Isles cruises. For an even longer sailing, consider the 14-night transatlantic cruise, which stops in Alicante, Spain, the Canary Islands and the Bahamas. At the heart of any cruise ship is what the ship offers onboard, and where you will call home during your vacation. Just because they are smaller than other ships, does not mean they compromise on the fun onboard.

No matter which ship you choose, cruising with Royal Caribbean offers the ability to visit some of the world's most sought-after destinations on a ship that teems with varied activities. While you won't find adults-only Royal Caribbean cruises, you can tailor your cruise experience on these six ships to focus on more grown-up pursuits. Like the Radiance Class, Vision Class ships still offer plenty to do onboard and have amenities such as a rock climbing wall, great pool deck, poolside movie screen, specialty dining and a grand Atrium area.

Oasis of the Seas still offers plenty for young kids, such as a baby splash area in the pool, nursery, and open play area in Adventure Ocean. This should help give you an idea of which Royal Caribbean cruise ships are a great choice for you. We are firm believers in the idea that all of Royal Caribbean's ships offer a really fun vacation experience. There is not one ship in the fleet that we would not sail on, but we also recognize there may be some ships better suited for the personal preferences of a family or group. The world’s biggest cruise ships don’t just go for the bold — they bring home the gold. If you’re looking for an adventure that’s larger than life, you’ll find it on Oasis Class.

As is typical for cruise lines, Royal Caribbean charges on a per-person basis, not per room, and it prices most cabins based on two people occupying a room. It does offer a small number of cabins on some ships that are priced based on single occupancy for solo travelers. The ship’s dining options are diverse, ranging from the complimentary buffet to specialty restaurants.

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