During the initial planning phases of your cruise, you're going to have to decide what cruise line is the best fit for you. Whether you are looking to splurge on luxury line Viking Cruises or want to take a budget cruise on MSC Cruises, there's the perfect cruise line for everyone.
With over 25 ships, including the largest at sea, there's no wonder that Royal Caribbean is one of the most popular mainstream cruise lines today. Their smallest Vision Class ships sail to more unique destinations across the world, whereas their massive Oasis and Icon Class vessels are destinations in and of themselves.
If you have yet to step foot on a Royal Caribbean ship, you might be wondering what the pros and cons of the cruise line are. While they certainly have a loyal following, that doesn't mean they are the right fit for everyone.
Read more: Are cruises worth it? Here are the pros and cons of cruises (2024)
Pro: They have the largest cruise ships in the world
If you know anything about Royal Caribbean, it is probably that they are the masterminds behind the largest ships at sea. They were one step above the rest, even before Oasis and Icon Class ships!
When Freedom of the Seas launched in 2006, she actually became the largest ship at sea, measuring just over 156,000 gross registered tons. It is almost unbelievable that less than twenty years later, Royal Caribbean is building ships that measure roughly 94,000 gross registered tons more!
If you want ultimate bragging rights so you can say, "I sailed on the largest cruise ship at sea," Royal Caribbean is the cruise line for you.
Read more: Top 20 Biggest Cruise Ships in the World
Con: Royal Caribbean hasn't updated their oldest ships to the extent that other cruise lines have
Norwegian Cruise Line took the initiative to update their oldest ships with venues that can be found on the newest vessels. Even the oldest and smallest Carnival ships have venues like Guy's Burger Joint onboard.
While that's not to say that Royal Caribbean's Royal Amplified program didn't upgrade some older vessels like Navigator and Freedom of the Seas, this program completely bypassed Vision and Radiance Class ships.
Norwegian Sky, which was launched in 1999, has gotten more love from the cruise line than ships of similar age in Royal Caribbean's fleet!
Their older ships aren't inherently bad, but you shouldn't expect them to feel as modern as older ships on other cruise lines. In fact, they often show signs of wear and tear. Plus, if you're someone used to cruising on ships with many dining venues, both complimentary and specialty, you'll want to consider Royal Caribbean's newer ships.
During a port-intensive cruise onboard Jewel of the Seas, Cruise.Blog writer Allie remarked about how it was disappointing not to have more complimentary dining options onboard, as her schedule didn't align well with the hours of the Windjammer.
"I would have loved options like Cafe Promenade, El Loco Fresh, or Sorrento's Pizza onboard with more availability and selection," she said.
Read more: Things you'll notice when cruising on the newest cruise ship
Pro: Perfect Day at CocoCay
Long-time Royal Caribbean fans know that CocoCay has been their private island in The Bahamas for a while, roughly 25 years to be exact. However, in 2019, they spent a reported $250 million transforming the once simple private destination into a tropical resort-like experience for their passengers.
Renamed "Perfect Day at CocoCay," there's something for everyone to enjoy at the Bahamian paradise, whether lounging on the beach, riding the tallest water slide in North America, splurging on the private beach club experience, or hanging out in the large freshwater pool.
In fact, Perfect Day at CocoCay has become so popular that every single itinerary onboard Royal Caribbean's newest ships, Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas, are scheduled to stop here.
Read more: Your really dumb cruise line private island questions answered
Con: The newest ships can cost thousands of dollars to sail on
Speaking of the newest ships, in order to sail on the brand-new releases with all of the bells and whistles, you'll have to be willing to spend a pretty penny (or five).
At the time of writing, the cheapest published rate for Icon of the Seas started at $1,542 per person for an interior stateroom. Don't get your hopes up on sailing soon, though! The departure isn't scheduled for September 9, 2025.
The cheapest rate for 2024 is for the February 17 voyage, which starts at $1,706 per person. It's not uncommon to find some sailings starting at as much as $3,500 per person! That can be a lot to justify spending on a weeklong cruise, especially if you have a larger family.
Utopia of the Seas is slightly cheaper; however, unlike Icon, which will be making 7-night voyages to the Caribbean, Utopia is exclusively sailing 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas.
In 2024, you can score a 3-night cruise for as little as $473 per person in an interior room; however, that still breaks down to over $150 per night, before taxes, fees, and gratuities are added.
While not the newest ship in the fleet anymore, you're able to find 7-night sailings onboard Wonder of the Seas, the cruise ship that held the title for largest ship in the world until Icon, for around $1,000 per person in an interior cabin.
Pro: Fun onboard activities
Royal Caribbean ships are jam-packed with onboard excitement. While not all ships are created equally, you'll find activities like ice skating, bumper cars, skydiving simulators, waterslides, rock walls, surfing simulators, zip lines, and more on different ships in their fleet. In other words, Royal Caribbean is known for creating vessels that can keep you active while onboard.
Parents will love the complimentary youth programming, too. Even though family vacations are about creating memories together, there's nothing wrong with having some time apart! While the kids are having a blast at Adventure Ocean, you can relax by the pool with a fruity drink in hand. Nothing is stopping you from partaking in some of the fun activities alone, either!
Read more: What are the different cruise lines known for
Con: Not an all-inclusive cruise line
While Royal Caribbean's base fares do include a lot, there are various cruise add-ons that you might be enticed to purchase to enhance your vacation, such as drink and Wi-Fi packages, shore excursions, specialty dining, and more.
These can end up costing you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars more, so it is important to appropriately budget for your cruise. A Royal Caribbean drink package, for instance, can cost as much as $80 per person, per day. If you're going on a 7-night cruise, it is easy to spend another $500+ per person on drink packages alone!
Similarly, Wi-Fi tends to start around $20 per person. If everyone in your party of four wants to stay connected, that is another $560 you'll have to work into your budget.
There are, however, ways to save on Royal Caribbean extras. You will just need to frequently check the online Cruise Planner, as this is where you'll find sales on all those goodies.
Pro: You get to visit multiple destinations during a single trip
One of the biggest advantages of taking a cruise vacation is being able to visit multiple different places during a single trip with ease. While it is possible to hop from, for instance, Rome to Barcelona, you won't be able to do with re-packing your luggage and boarding an airplane.
Royal Caribbean sails all over the world, so it is easy to find an itinerary that meets your desires. While, obviously, they're known for their Caribbean cruises, you can also find ships sailing to Alaska, Canada & New England, Europe, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Bermuda, and more.
Within each destination, there are also numerous itineraries offered. Even if you've been to the Western Caribbean before, you will find Royal Caribbean sailing to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. Similarly, Northern Europe is vastly different from the Greek Isles.
Regardless of what you select, you will be able to cross a couple of different places off your bucket list.
Read more: How to choose your cruise itinerary
Con: Your time in each port is limited
Just as the ability to visit different places is a major advantage of cruises, it is also one of the largest disadvantages, as you will only have a limited time to explore each place. If cultural immersion is something you seek, you won't find it on a cruise, at least not to the same extent as you would during a weeklong land-based trip.
Most ships tend to remain in port for around eight hours, sometimes even less. There's only so much you can see during this timeframe, so you will likely have to plan another trip back if you want to explore everything that a certain place has to offer.
That, however, can be advantageous. In 2016, my family took a Western Caribbean cruise, and while we had sailed to Cozumel and Falmouth before, we had yet to visit Grand Cayman. We ended up loving it so much that we returned for an entire week two years later! If you're unsure about where you'd like to return for future trips, cruises can be a great way to sample what each destination has to offer.
Pro: Entertainment is included
Growing up, I had the privilege of seeing numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals. When my family first sailed on Oasis of the Seas, I was skeptical that we would not enjoy the entertainment onboard; however, I was pleased to learn that Royal Caribbean is a leader in onboard entertainment, especially their Broadway-style musicals.
While they obviously have limitations that don't allow them to exactly mimic what you'll find at the Majestic or Gershwin Theaters in New York City, I have always enjoyed Royal Caribbean's performances. Every single show onboard is included in the cost of your cruise fare, so you don't have to worry about shelling out an extra $200 per ticket to watch a Broadway-style musical.
While not all ships have that level of entertainment, each ship has original productions for guests to enjoy, and if theatrical performances aren't your thing, you can listen to live music, play a round of trivia, or attend a game show.
Con: Itineraries are often repetitive
As mentioned earlier, Royal Caribbean offers voyages that sail around the world; however, if you're looking for different cruises to the exact same region, you're likely to visit the same ports of call. Eastern Caribbean cruises, for instance, tend to visit a combination of St. Maarten, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Thomas, San Juan, Puerto Plata, and Labadee.
While this may seem like a decent amount of ports, after 2-4 cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, you'll likely have exhausted all ports. That, however, doesn't mean that you cannot return and book a different excursion!
If you are someone who enjoys constantly visiting new places, particularly within Europe, you might have to extend your search to sister-line, Celebrity Cruises.
Recently, my partner and I were browsing Royal's website for cruises to Iceland in 2025. We had to divert our search to Celebrity, where we found an amazing 11-night cruise from Amsterdam, as well as a 7-night cruise that departs directly from Reykjavík.
Pro: Great loyalty program
The more you cruise with Royal Caribbean, the more lucrative perks you will get that will save you money on your vacation! For instance, did you know that once you reach 80 cruise points, you'll get four free drink coupons per day?
Within Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, there are six different tiers. You'll reach the first after you complete your first sailing and then continue to accumulate cruise points to help you ascend the ranks.
👑 Gold: 3 points
⚓ Platinum: 30 points
👑 Emerald: 55 points
⚓ Diamond: 80 points
👑 Diamond Plus: 175 points
⚓ Pinnacle Club: 700 points
Passengers earn one point for each night they sail, with two points per night awarded to those staying in suites. Additionally, guests sailing by themselves will also earn two points each night.
When you reach 80 nights, not only will you get four complimentary drinks per day, but you'll also get a free day of Wi-Fi, access to an exclusive lounge, a free photograph, and more. While 80 nights may seem like a lot, there are benefits you can reap in the meantime, such as 50% off two glasses of wine or beer, discounts on spa services, and Casino Freeplay.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
