If you’re looking for an active, big-ship cruise experience, both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line are great options to consider. These cruise lines offer a wide range of activities and attractions to suit everyone, from couples to seniors to families. They are particularly popular for their Bahamas and Caribbean routes. In this article, we will compare Norwegian Cruise Line to Royal Caribbean to help you find the cruise that’s right for you.
One of the first things to consider when comparing these cruise lines is the size of their ships. Royal Caribbean is known for operating some of the largest cruise ships in the world. Their ships can carry anywhere from 2,250 to over 5,400 passengers. In fact, their five biggest ships, including Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas, are the largest cruise ships in the world. These ships are so large that they are set up in a neighborhood layout, with different areas like a Boardwalk neighborhood and a Central Park neighborhood. Norwegian Cruise Line, on the other hand, has ships that range in size from about 1,900 to over 4,100 passengers. While they may not be as large as Royal Caribbean’s ships, they still offer plenty of excitement and amenities on board.
Both cruise lines offer a variety of accommodations to suit different preferences. Norwegian Cruise Line is particularly known for its creativity and innovation in this area. They have a suite complex called The Haven, which offers a private restaurant, sundeck, pool, and lounge. This is essentially a separate boutique hotel on top of the ship, providing upscale and contemporary surroundings for guests. Norwegian also pays special attention to solo travelers by offering creatively designed inside cabins for solo travelers, which are priced for one. These cabins come with exclusive access to a shared lounge, allowing solo travelers to socialize with others if they wish. They also offer family cabins located near children’s facilities and spa cabins positioned near the spa. Royal Caribbean also offers a wide selection of cabin types, ranging from tight and inexpensive inside cabins to two-story loft suites. They have recently started providing suite guests with access to a private lounge, restaurant, and sun deck on their newer ships.
When it comes to dining options, both cruise lines offer a variety of choices. Norwegian Cruise Line has a model called “Freestyle Cruising,” which allows passengers to eat when and where they want. They offer more than two dozen dining experiences on their larger ships, including options for steak, French, Brazilian, and Asian fare. Norwegian also pays particular attention to providing outdoor dining options. Royal Caribbean, on the other hand, focuses much attention on their buffet, called the Windjammer Marketplace, and their main dining rooms. They offer assigned tables or anytime dining options in their main dining rooms. They also have fee-based specialty restaurants, including Jamie’s Italian with British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. Both cruise lines offer fee-based specialty restaurants that surpass what they offer in their complimentary venues, catering to foodies who don’t mind paying for an upgraded dining experience.
Both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line understand the importance of keeping children entertained on board. They have well-established programs and facilities for kids of all ages, allowing parents to have some downtime while their children are engaged in age-appropriate activities. Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean program offers an educational spin, featuring a chance for kids to become certified adventure scientists. They also have special programs for babies and toddlers, as well as older kids and teens. Norwegian’s Splash Academy entertains kids with creative play, including a Circus School, while their Entourage program keeps teens occupied with games, sports, and parties in a hip club.
When it comes to onboard attractions, both cruise lines have developed their newest ships to be active floating playgrounds. Royal Caribbean is known for pushing the envelope with their onboard activities. All their ships have rock-climbing walls and FlowRider simulators for surfing and boogie boarding. They also offer ice skating rinks, carousels, zip lines, mini-golf, laser tag, escape rooms, waterslides, simulated skydiving setups, a 10-story thrill slide called Ultimate Abyss, and more. The larger the ship, the more activities you’ll find. Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ships feature a multi-story go-kart racetrack and a Galaxy Pavilion full of virtual reality gaming experiences. They also offer Aqua Parks with racing slides, basketball courts, escape rooms, laser tag, mini-golf, and ropes courses. Their latest ships even have 10-story freefall thrill slides, billed as the fastest at sea.
Entertainment is another area where both cruise lines excel. They both recruit talent from Broadway, London’s West End, and around the world to perform onboard. Royal Caribbean offers popular Broadway shows like “Grease,” “Hairspray,” and “CATS” on their biggest ships. Norwegian Cruise Line offers productions of popular Broadway shows like “Beetlejuice,” “Six,” and “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical,” as well as the fun pub show “The Choir of Man.” Both cruise lines also offer other entertainment options, such as outdoor shows with acrobats and high divers, ice skating shows, and more.
In conclusion, both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line offer active, big-ship cruise experiences on some of the largest ships in the world. They have a lot in common, but there are also some differences to consider. Royal Caribbean is known for its larger ships and innovative onboard activities, while Norwegian Cruise Line offers a more intimate and creative experience. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on your personal preferences and what you value most in a cruise experience.