Are you considering taking a Royal Caribbean cruise and wondering if it’s the right fit for you?
Planning a cruise vacation isn’t one size fits all, and each cruise line has unique advantages and disadvantages. Royal Caribbean is known for having the largest cruise ships at sea, world-class entertainment, and innovative onboard attractions.
As someone who has cruised with Royal Caribbean for over 15 years, I know firsthand the benefits and drawbacks.
In this post, I share 7 pros and 3 cons of taking a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Pros of Cruising With Royal Caribbean
1. Variety of Entertainment Options
Royal Caribbean cruises are known for having amazing entertainment options. From Broadway style production shows to comedians, magicians, live musical performances, ice skating shows, and aqua shows in the aqua theatre, Royal Caribbean has some of the best entertainment at sea!
The amazing entertainment onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships sets them apart from other cruise lines and even land-based vacations. The shows vary from family-friendly entertainment to late-night comedy.
The wide array of entertainment options means that there is something for every cruiser. Furthermore, this allows you to experience a different vibe each night of your cruise vacation.
For instance, when I sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, I would spend some nights at the nightclub and other evenings watching sports at Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade.
The wide variety of entertainment options keeps things fresh and exciting and creates an amazing overall cruise ship experience.
2. Perfect Day at Cococay
When it comes to cruise line private islands, it’s hard to top Perfect Day at Cococay. In 2019, Royal Caribbean invested over 250 million dollars into creating their paradise on a private island in the Caribbean.
This private island features multiple beaches, a resort style pool, a waterpark for kids, North America’s tallest waterslide, Daredevil’s Peak, restaurants, and bars. Perfect Day at Cococay isn’t just for families and kids either.
Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay has introduced a new, exclusive area for adults called Hideaway Beach. This area is designed to offer a more tranquil and sophisticated atmosphere for adult guests seeking relaxation away from the more family-oriented zones.
Whether you’re craving a relaxing beach day or a thrilling day at the waterpark, there is something for everyone.
Cococay is an extremely popular cruise port, and it is loved by cruisers who are loyal to Royal Caribbean. In fact, every itinerary on Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ships (Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas) will stop at Cococay.
This private island lives up to the hype! With a wide variety of activities, beaches, and great food and drinks, it’s hard not to have a perfect day when you visit Cococay.
3. Onboard Attractions
Over the years, Royal Caribbean has been the most innovative cruise line when it comes to onboard attractions. For instance, Royal Caribbean was the first cruise line to feature a zip-line, dry slide, and indoor skydiving on their cruise ships.
Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or as a family, Royal Caribbean offers a plethora of activities that cater to all demographics. From kid-friendly splash parks to thrilling zip-lines and water slides, there is an exciting array of onboard attractions waiting for you on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
One of my favorite activities on a Royal Caribbean cruise is the ice skating rink. As someone who grew up playing hockey, I love that I can go ice skating with my family while I’m at sea!
Related: What to Pack for a Royal Caribbean Cruise
4. Fun For the Whole Family
Royal Caribbean cruise ships are known for being fun for the whole family. With various food options, activities, and entertainment, the whole family will enjoy a Royal Caribbean cruise.
As someone who has cruised with Royal Caribbean since I was a kid, I can confidently say that they make cruise ships that are enjoyable for the everyone in the family. I have amazing memories of hanging out in the kids’ club – while my parents went to the evening entertainment.
As a cruise line, Royal Caribbean does a great job at having cruise ships with activities and entertainment options that cater to all ages.
Related: Is a Royal Caribbean Cruise Worth It? 10 Things You Need to Know
5. Included Food Options
When it comes to included food options, Royal Caribbean has some of the best at sea. Whether you’re eating at one of the casual dining venues, Windjammer buffet, or main dining room, you will enjoy the included food onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise.
A personal favorite casual dining venue of mine is El Loco Fresh. Featured on many Royal Caribbean cruise ships, El Loco Fresh serves amazing Mexican cuisine, which can be eaten at a table or taken to go.
Compared to other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean cruise ships have a wide variety of included dining venues. Furthermore, their pizza restaurant, Sorrento’s Pizza, is open late, making it a great option for a late-night snack.
Related: Is The Key Worth It On Royal Caribbean?
6. Variety of Ship Sizes
Although Royal Caribbean is known for having the largest mega cruise ships in the world, the cruise line has some smaller and medium sized ships as well. While these ships are older, they so have some advantages.
I recently sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas and enjoyed the size of that ship. Although it was the largest cruise ship in the world in 2006, even at approximately 160,000 tons, it’s significantly smaller than the new Icon of the Seas.
The Freedom of the Seas had a large theatre, a 3-story main dining room, and even an ice rink. Although the ship was on the older side, it had all of the activities, attractions, and entertainment options that make cruising with Royal Caribbean so special.
If you’re cruising with younger kids or teenagers, the Icon Class and Oasis Class cruise ships will blow them away. These cruise ships feature state-of-the-art activities, high-quality entertainment, and amazing food options.
Overall, Royal Caribbean’s various cruise ship sizes make it a great choice, as they have a ship to fit everyone’s wants and needs.
7. Most Innovative Ships at Sea
There’s no denying that Royal Caribbean makes the most innovative cruise ships at sea. As a cruise line, Royal Caribbean is constantly pushing the limits of what’s possible on a cruise ship, and they never fail at creating the most impressive cruise ships in the cruise industry.
I took my first cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas when I was four (20 years ago)! Since that time, I’ve seen an incredible evolution in their cruise ships.
From being the first cruise line to feature an ice skating rink in 2006, to having a category 6 waterpark on the Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean continues to be the most innovative cruise line in the world.
If you want to sail with a cruise line that is constantly innovating, then consider cruising with Royal Caribbean.
Cons of Cruising With Royal Caribbean
1. Older Cruise Ships Feel Dated
When you sail on an older Royal Caribbean cruise ship, it may feel dated.
For instance, we sailed on the Freedom of the Seas, and even though it was recently refurbished, many areas felt outdated and, in some cases, untouched. For example, our cabin was never refurbished, so it felt like stepping into a time machine and going back to 2006 since the cabin felt so outdated.
Although you may find great deals on older cruise ships, it’s important to consider that the cruise ship may feel outdated. However, these older ships still offer excellent value for money.
Related: I Took a 4 Day Budget Cruise on Freedom of the Seas… Would I Do It Again?
2. Not All-Inclusive (no perks packages available)
Although Royal Caribbean offers many included food, activities, and entertainment options, it is not all-inclusive. Plus, on certain Royal Caribbean cruise ships, activities cost extra.
Like most popular cruise lines, you’ll have to pay for soft drinks and alcohol (or purchase a beverage package), Wi-Fi, and specialty dining. Unfortunately, perks packages and cost-efficient bundles that are available on cruise lines like NCL (free at sea) and Princess (Princess Plus) are not available.
Since Royal Caribbean cruise ships have so many potential onboard add-ons, it can be hard to budget for your cruise vacation.
Before sailing with Royal Caribbean, it’s a good idea to research what is and isn’t included. This way, you can properly budget and get a rough idea of how much your cruise vacation will cost.
Related: Royal Caribbean vs Norwegian Cruise Line – Everything You Need to Know
3. More Expensive
One of the downsides to sailing with Royal Caribbean is that their cruises tend to be more expensive than other cruise lines for similar itineraries. For instance, the Icon of the Seas costs significantly more than sailing on an alternative new cruise ships in part due to it’s popularity.
If you’re on a tighter budget, a Royal Caribbean cruise may be tough to budget for. More affordable alternatives for families and fun seeking cruisers include Carnival or MSC Cruises.
Related & Popular Posts
- 50 Must-have Cruise Essentials from Amazon
- I Had a Balcony Cabin on a Virgin Cruise & it Was Very Different. Here’s Why
- 17 Worst Cruise Ship Cabins to Avoid
- 60 Cruise Packing Tips & Hacks All Cruisers Need to Know
- Why Virgin Voyages Is The Ultimate Cruise Line For Young Adults
- 40+ Must-Have Dollar Store Cruise Items & Hacks
- 30 Cruise Cabin Essentials Every Cruiser Needs
- Are Balcony Cabins Worth it on a Cruise? 10 Pros & 4 Cons
- 15 Best Inside Cruise Cabin Hacks & Tips
- 12 Smart Ways to Escape the Crowds on a Cruise Ship
- 17 Rookie Mistakes First Time Cruisers Should Avoid
Final Thoughts on Pros and Cons of Cruising with Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean is a great cruise line for families, couples, solo travelers, and those who enjoy a fun vacation with amazing attractions, activities, and food options. Whether you’re a first time cruiser, or you’ve sailed with Royal Caribbean in the past, you will enjoy a cruise vacation on a Royal Caribbean ship.
Have you sailed with Royal Caribbean? Please let me know your experiences in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ethan
If you enjoy this post please don’t keep it to yourself ;-). Please feel free to share on Facebook or Pinterest (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!
Author Bio: Ethan Schattauer has been cruising with his family since he was four years old and has been on more than 30 cruises. As a frequent traveler, Ethan shares his unique perspective on what cruising is like from a young person’s perspective. Ethan also writes about men’s fashion, travel and college advice on the website WhatToWearMen.com.