Which is Best: Norwegian Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean?

20/08/2024

Dreaming of a luxurious escape at sea? You're not alone. For many Britons, a cruise holiday offers the perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and sophistication. But with so many options available, choosing the right cruise line can feel like navigating choppy waters.

Fear not! We've crafted this comprehensive comparison guide to help you find the perfect cruise experience.

In this guide from the Slingo Lifestyle blog, we're pitting two of the cruise industry's titans against each other: Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean.

Here, we explore what sets these cruise lines apart and help you decide which is most suitable for your next maritime adventure.

Let's start by getting to know these cruise operators with a brief overview.

A Brief Overview: Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), founded in 1966, has revolutionised the cruising industry with its innovative freestyle cruising concept. This approach gives passengers more flexibility and freedom in their onboard experience, from dining to entertainment.

NCL is known for its modern fleet, vibrant atmosphere, and diverse itineraries. The line caters to travellers wanting a more relaxed, less structured cruise experience without compromising quality or variety.

Norwegian's fleet consists of these classes of ships:

Prima Class: The fleet's newest and most innovative ships, featuring cutting-edge design and technology.
Breakaway Plus Class: Large, feature-packed vessels with a massive array of amenities and activities.
Breakaway Class: Slightly smaller than their Plus counterparts but still packed with exciting features.
Jewel Class: Mid-sized ships that offer a more intimate cruising experience while maintaining a variety of amenities.
Dawn Class: Smaller vessels that can access more ports, perfect for more destination-focused itineraries.

Norwegian Cruise Line sails to destinations worldwide, including the Caribbean, Greek Isles, Northern Europe, and more exotic itineraries to places like Africa, Asia and Australia.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean International was founded in 1968 and has since grown to become one of the largest cruise companies in the world. Known for its innovative ship designs and onboard attractions, Royal Caribbean has consistently pushed the boundaries of what's possible on a cruise ship.

The line is famous for its large, activity-packed ships, which cater to travellers who love a vibrant, energetic atmosphere with plenty of entertainment and adventure options.

Royal Caribbean's fleet includes the following classes of ships:

Icon Class: This class features the largest of Royal Caribbean's ships. The first boat from this class, the Icon of the Seas, was launched in 2024 and is (at the time of writing) the largest cruise ship in the world.
Oasis Class: Featuring some of the world's biggest cruise lines, with unique neighbourhoods and jaw-dropping amenities.
Quantum Class: High-tech ships with innovative features like the North Star observation capsule and indoor skydiving.
Freedom Class: Large ships with an outstanding balance of activities and relaxation spaces.
Voyager Class: The first ships to introduce ice-skating rinks and rock-climbing walls at sea.
Radiance Class: Mid-sized ships with a higher ratio of glass to steel that provide stunning ocean views.

Royal Caribbean sails to many destinations, including the Caribbean (who'd have thought?!), Mediterranean, Alaska, and Asia. Its ships also embark on transatlantic crossings and even world cruises.

Now we have a better idea of what both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian ships have to offer, let's see which company comes out on top in our comparison.

Which is Best: Norwegian Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean?

In this section, we compare these two cruise giants in various aspects - ship sizes and passenger capacities, rooms and cabins, dining and bars, activities and entertainment, and cost - to see which is best.

Ship Sizes and Passengers

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian's fleet ranges from mid-sized ships to large, feature-packed vessels. Their new Prima Class ships, like Norwegian Prima, measure up to 965 feet in length, have a gross tonnage of 142,500, and can accommodate 3,215 passengers and 1,388 crew members.

The Breakaway Plus Class ships are even larger, though. Norwegian Encore, for example, is 1,094 feet long, weighs 169,145 gross tons, and can house 3,998 passengers and 1,735 crew members.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, Norwegian's smaller ships, like Norwegian Spirit (Dawn Class), measure 879 feet, weigh 75,904 gross tons, and carry 2,018 passengers and 912 crew members.

Royal Caribbean

The Royal Caribbean ship Icon of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in the world. With 20 decks and eight distinct neighbourhoods within this 1,198-foot vessel, it has enough room for a whopping 7,600 people and 2,350 staff.

The company is known for its massive ships. As well as the Icon of the Seas, its Oasis Class ships, like Wonder of the Seas, are truly awe-inspiring. At 1,188 feet long and weighing 236,857 gross tons, Wonder of the Seas can accommodate 5,734 passengers and 2,300 crew members.

Even Royal Caribbean's smaller ships are pretty large. The Radiance of the Seas, a mid-size vessel, measures 962 feet, weighs 90,090 gross tons, and can carry 2,143 passengers and 894 crew members.

Norwegian Cruise Line score: 8/10

Royal Caribbean score: 9/10

While both lines boast a range of ship sizes, Royal Caribbean takes the lead with its record-breaking ships, providing unparalleled space and amenities.

Discover more about the Icon of the Seas as we compare it to another Royal Caribbean cruise line in our guide: Symphony of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas: Which Cruise Best?

Rooms and Cabins

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its wide variety of stateroom categories, catering to different preferences and budgets. From cosy interior rooms to lavish suites, NCL has something for every type of traveller.

One of Norwegian's standout features is The Haven, an exclusive ship-within-a-ship concept available on many of their vessels. The Haven offers luxurious suites, a private restaurant, a lounge, and a sun deck, providing a more intimate and upscale experience.

Norwegian ships also feature Studio staterooms, designed and priced for solo travellers - a rarity in the cruise industry. These compact rooms have an exclusive Studio Lounge and all the amenities you could need.

On the Prima Class ships, Norwegian introduced the Spa Balcony, Spa Mini-Suite, and Spa Suite categories, which include thermal suite access and a host of other spa-related perks.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean ships boast more accommodations than you could shake a stick at. From budget-friendly interior rooms to extravagant multi-level suites. The line is known for its innovative stateroom designs and categories.

A unique feature of Royal Caribbean is its Virtual Balcony rooms. These interior staterooms are equipped with floor-to-ceiling screens that display real-time ocean views or ports, giving the feel of a balcony room.

Royal Caribbean offers Central Park View and Boardwalk View balconies on its Oasis Class ships - these overlook the ship's internal neighbourhoods rather than the ocean - a truly unique experience.

Meanwhile, for luxury seekers, the Royal Suite Class is a tiered suite experience with exclusive amenities and services, including access to a coastal kitchen and a private restaurant.

Norwegian Cruise Line score: 9/10

Royal Caribbean score: 8.5/10

While both lines excel in this category, Norwegian edges ahead with its innovative Haven concept and solo traveller-friendly Studio rooms. These diverse accommodation options highlight the company's commitment to ensuring all its guests have a comfortable experience that works for them.

Dining and Bars

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered the concept of Freestyle Dining, which allows guests to dine when and where they want, without set dining times or assigned seating. This flexibility is a cornerstone of the NCL experience.

NCL ships typically feature multiple complimentary dining venues, including the main dining rooms, buffets, and casual eateries. Speciality restaurants are available for an additional fee, but these present a plethora of cuisines and meals. Popular options include Cagney's Steakhouse, French cuisine from Le Bistro, and Teppanyaki, which caters to lovers of Japanese hibachi.

Over the years, the company has partnered with several celebrity chefs, including Iron Chef winner Geoffrey Zakarian, who helped create seafood dishes at Ocean Blue restaurants.

Royal Caribbean

Several Royal Caribbean ships have both traditional set dining times and something called My Time Dining, which gives passengers more flexibility, similar to Norwegian's Freestyle concept.

The line is known for its innovative dining concepts. The Windjammer Marketplace is a staple buffet option across the fleet. At the same time, the Main Dining Room offers multi-course meals in an elegant setting. Specialty restaurants include Chops Grille (steakhouse), Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, and Izumi (Asian cuisine).

Not to be outdone by the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, Royal Caribbean has also created restaurants and menus with celebrity chefs, including the likes of Jamies Oliver (Jamie's Italian) and Michael Schwartz (150 Central Park.

Its bars and lounges are equally impressive. Take the Bionic Bar, for example, where robot bartenders expertly create drinks in front of you.

Norwegian Cruise Line score: 9/10

Royal Caribbean score: 8.5/10

Both lines boast excellent dining options. However, Norwegian's pioneering Freestyle concept and a wider variety of complimentary venues give it a slight edge in this category.

Activities and Entertainment

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a wide array of activities and entertainment options for everyone. By day, you can participate in cooking demonstrations, art auctions, and dance classes or relax by one of the pools.

And by night, you can attend Broadway-calibre shows, with full productions of musicals like Jersey Boys and Kinky Boots on select ships.

Fans of The Beatles can even sing along to their fab four favourites at The Cavern Club, inspired by the famous Liverpool venue where John, Paul, George, and Ringo performed.

If you're an adrenaline junkie, you'll be delighted to hear about attractions like the Aqua Park, which boasts waterslides, ropes courses, and go-kart tracks that provide plenty of excitement. The Galaxy Pavilion on some ships offers cutting-edge virtual reality experiences.

But wait, there's more! On board Norwegian Cruise Line boats, you'll also find casinos, spas, and fitness centres. The jewel in Norwegian's wellness crown has to be the Mandara Spa, which offers treatments, thermal suites, and salt rooms for ultimate relaxation.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean is renowned for its innovative onboard activities and entertainment. During the day, guests can try their hand at surfing on the FlowRider surf simulator, scale the rock-climbing wall, or take a spin on the ice-skating rink.

The line's entertainment offerings are equally impressive. Select ships feature full-scale productions of Broadway shows like Cats and Mamma Mia! The AquaTheater on Oasis Class ships presents breathtaking high-diving shows, while the Two70 venue on Quantum Class ships combines live performances with state-of-the-art digital technology.

Unique attractions like the North Star (a glass capsule extending over the ship's side for panoramic views) and RipCord by iFLY (a skydiving simulator) set Royal Caribbean apart. The Ultimate Abyss on Oasis Class ships - the tallest slide at sea - is a must-try for adrenaline junkies.

Like Norwegian ships, Royal Caribbean ships offer a host of health and wellbeing activities and amenities, such as sports and fitness centres and spas, for when you fancy a pamper day.

Norwegian Cruise Line score: 8.5/10

Royal Caribbean score: 9.5/10

While both lines offer an impressive array of activities and entertainment, Royal Caribbean's innovative and unique attractions give it the edge in this category.

Cruise Costs

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian positions itself as a premium mainstream cruise line, with prices reflecting this. Rates can vary significantly depending on the itinerary, ship, and time of year.

For a 7-night Caribbean cruise, an interior room might cost around £500 per person, while balcony rooms could cost from £900 per person. The Haven suites are considerably more expensive, often starting from £2,000 per person for a week-long cruise.

Norwegian often runs promotions that include perks like beverage packages, speciality dining, shore excursion credits, and Wi-Fi in the cruise fare. Their "Free at Sea" promotion allows guests to choose multiple inclusions and can add significant value to the overall package.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean is generally priced competitively within the mainstream cruise market, often at a slightly lower price point than Norwegian for comparable itineraries.

For a similar 7-night Caribbean cruise, interior rooms might start at around £600 per person, with balcony rooms from £850 per person. Suite prices vary widely but are generally lower than Norwegian's Haven suites.

Royal Caribbean also offers promotional packages that can include extras like beverage packages and Wi-Fi. However, these are often less comprehensive than Norwegian's "Free at Sea" offerings.

Norwegian Cruise Line score: 8/10

Royal Caribbean score: 8.5/10

While both lines offer competitive pricing and good value, Royal Caribbean takes a slight lead due to its generally lower base prices for comparable itineraries.

It's worth noting that cruise costs can fluctuate based on factors such as sailing date, itinerary, and current promotions. It's always wise to compare prices and offers before booking.

Final scores: Norwegian Cruise Line vs Royal Caribbean

Now that we've compared these cruise lines across key areas let's tally up the scores…

Norwegian Cruise Line final score: 42.5/50

Royal Caribbean final score: 44/50

Royal Caribbean edges out the Norwegian Cruise Line by a narrow margin, but this close result reflects that cruise operators are excellent choices.

As we've found over the course of this guide, each line has its own strengths that will appeal to different types of travellers.

Norwegian Cruise Line might be the better choice if you're looking for:

More flexibility in dining and overall cruise experience
A wide range of accommodation options, including solo traveller rooms
An adults-oriented atmosphere with plenty of quiet spaces
Innovative entertainment, including Broadway shows

Royal Caribbean could be your preferred option if you're interested in:

Larger ships with more onboard amenities and activities
Innovative and unique attractions like surf simulators and skydiving
A more family-friendly atmosphere with extensive children's programs
Slightly lower price points for comparable itineraries

Remember, the best cruise line for you depends on your preferences, desired experiences, and budget. Both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean offer high-quality cruising experiences with excellent service, diverse itineraries, and a wide range of onboard activities and amenities.

Whether you choose the Norwegian freestyle cruising approach or the innovative, activity-packed ships of the Royal Caribbean, you're sure to have a memorable holiday at sea. Bon voyage!

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