Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are two of the most recognizable names in the cruise industry. Both mainstream cruise lines focus on offering affordable, family-friendly vacations across their expansive fleets. However, after sailing on the newest ships from both cruise lines, I’m convinced that one mega-ship stands out as the better choice.
Carnival Cruise Line's fleet of cruise ships includes 29 different vessels, while Royal Caribbean’s fleet boasts 24 ships. From the newest and biggest mega-ships to smaller, classic vessels, both cruise lines are popular choices for many travelers. This is especially true for multigenerational families and travel groups looking to celebrate milestones together.
It’s no surprise that the newest ships in each cruise line’s fleet create the most buzz, with state-of-the-art amenities, innovative thrills, captivating entertainment, revamped dining experiences, and sleek, modern designs
For Carnival Cruise Line, the third Excel Class ship is the Texas-based (and sized!) Carnival Jubilee. As the newest ship in Carnival’s fleet, the highly anticipated vessel was first launched in 2023 in Galveston, Texas. Designed specifically for the Texas market, Carnival Jubilee proudly displays the Texas star on her bow and only sails round-trip itineraries from the Lone Star State.
In July 2024, Royal Caribbean unveiled the latest and most exciting addition to its expanding fleet: Utopia of the Seas. As the sixth ship in the Oasis Class, Utopia of the Seas specializes in weekend getaway itineraries to the cruise line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
With Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line having one of the biggest rivalries in the cruise industry, Carnival’s Excel Class ships are now directly competing with Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class. This raises the question: Which new cruise ship is the better choice?
Within the last year, I’ve been lucky enough to cruise on both of these cutting-edge cruise ships. Last spring, I cruised with my sister aboard Carnival Jubilee only a few months after her highly anticipated debut. More recently, I also sailed on Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, with my husband, parents, and grandparents for a winter getaway.
Although each cruise was special and memorable, no cruise ship is without imperfections. Each ship had its strengths and weaknesses, but one mega-cruise ship was better than the other.
Here’s what it was like cruising on Royal Caribbean and Carnival’s newest ships, and which one I would book again.
Ship Overview and Size
Cruise lines are designing ships to be larger than ever, essentially rivaling floating cities with thousands of guests onboard. Although I enjoy cruising on new ships, I tend to prefer more midsize vessels with fewer crowds, such as Celebrity Cruises' Edge Class ships. Even still, I was excited to experience the latest and greatest from both of these major cruise lines.
Royal Caribbean has a reputation for building the world’s largest and most technologically advanced cruise ships, and Utopia of the Seas is no exception. As the newest addition to the Oasis Class, this massive vessel accommodates 5,668 passengers at double occupancy and measures an impressive 236,800 gross tons.
On the other hand, Carnival was behind the curve for many years until their Excel Class ships, the brand’s first true mega-ships. Within the last few years, Carnival has debuted cruise ships that were revolutionary and nearly 40% bigger than anything built before.
Carnival Jubilee follows the success of her sister ships, Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras, as the third Excel Class ship. The ship is slightly smaller than Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, with Carnival Jubilee measuring 183,500 gross tons and accommodating around 5,374 passengers at capacity.
Although Carnival Jubilee is 22% smaller in size, the Excel Class ship can accommodate nearly the same number of passengers as Utopia of the Seas, with only a 5.2% difference in double occupancy capacity. Because of this, Carnival Jubilee consistently felt more crowded than Utopia of the Seas.
Don’t get me wrong, both ships had crowding issues. This is one of the biggest downsides and most common complaints of cruising on a mega cruise ship. Even still, Utopia of the Seas seemed to manage passenger flow more efficiently. While the ship could feel crowded at times with long lines for popular amenities, the crowds were more apparent on Carnival Jubilee.
Design and Decor
As next-generation cruise ships, Utopia of the Seas and Carnival Jubilee feature modern, sleek designs and vibrant decor. You’ll find splashes of color and tropical accents on both ships, especially in themed bars, lounges, and restaurants.
In general, Royal Caribbean offers a more refined experience compared to Carnival. This reflects in the design of Utopia of the Seas compared to Carnival Jubilee, although both have their own distinctly modern features.
Carnival Jubilee’s design is more flashy and bold, while Utopia of the Seas has a more subtle balance of modern elegance, innovation, and vibrance. In my opinion, both ships are beautifully decorated in their own way.
Moreover, both mega-ships are divided into different neighborhoods and zones. This design helps with crowd control and passenger flow on both vessels, although Carnival Jubilee seemed to have more bottlenecks.
Some spaces didn’t feel designed to accommodate the number of guests, such as the Center Stage atrium that struggles to fit enough guests during popular shows. Also, the stadium-style seating is placed in front of a busy walkway, which is disruptive for those wanting to watch the headliner shows.
On the other hand, Utopia of the Seas had more outdoor spaces and ocean views, such as the aft-facing Boardwalk and greenery-packed Central Park. Those who prefer more opportunities for fresh air will appreciate Royal Caribbean’s incorporation of these open-air spaces onboard the ship.
Utopia of the Seas also features more innovative and technology-forward elements, such as the destination elevators.
This reduces wait-time for elevators and streamlines the movement between decks. These design choices, along with the focus on outdoor space and crowd management, made Utopia of the Seas feel more spacious and less crowded.
Dining Experiences and Food
I consider dining to be one of the most important aspects of cruising. Luckily, mega-ships are typically packed with plenty of options for eating, including a wide variety of complimentary and specialty dining.
Carnival Jubilee shines with her endless options of casual, complimentary eateries onboard. I was blown away by not only the number of dining options available, but also the quality served in these restaurants.
From juicy burgers at Guy’s Burger Joint to the freshly-battered and fried chicken sandwiches at Big Chicken and smoky meats at Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, the food on Carnival Jubilee was a highlight.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line: Ultimate Food Guide
Other options included made-to-order Mexican at BlueIguana Cantina, fresh pizza at Coastal Slice, grab-and-go snacks at JavaBlue Cafe, and specialty-style dinners at ChiBang and Cucina del Capitano. Not to mention, you can also dine in the main dining rooms or Lido Marketplace buffet, although Carnival Jubilee’s buffet was my least favorite option.
That said, specialty dining options are more limited on Carnival Jubilee. While you can find Carnival staples, like the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi/Teppanyaki, there are only four specialty restaurants to choose from. With so many included dining options, I didn't feel the need to splurge on a specialty meal.
In comparison, Utopia of the Seas offers an impressive selection of specialty dining options. In fact, there are nearly as many specialty venues as there are complimentary. Royal Caribbean’s specialty dining is among my favorite in the industry, so I was excited to try three different restaurants during my cruise: Chops Grille Steakhouse, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, and Mason Jar.
Our specialty dining experiences at Chops Grille and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen exceeded expectations, offering attentive service and a more intimate ambiance that made the meals feel extra special. Although Southern-inspired Mason Jar brunch was slightly disappointing, we appreciated trying the new restaurant concept.
Other specialty restaurants include Playmakers Sports Bar, 150 Central Park and Izumi Sushi. Perhaps the most unique restaurant is Royal Railway, an immersive, locomotive dining experience unlike anything else at sea.
Unlike Carnival Cruise Line, I would argue that Royal Caribbean could improve their complimentary restaurant selection and snack options. Most of the quick bites were bland and forgettable during my cruise on Utopia of the Seas, lacking the lasting impression that I found on Carnival Jubilee with their signature eateries. This is one area where Carnival Jubilee took the cake (more specifically, Carnival's signature Melting Chocolate Cake!).
Read more: The complimentary Carnival dessert that’s worth ordering every time, according to loyal cruisers
Entertainment and Production Shows
When it comes to entertainment, Royal Caribbean is the industry leader. While some cruise lines are making cost-cutting measures for entertainment, Royal Caribbean is continuously pushing the boundaries.
One of the major highlights of our cruise aboard Utopia of the Seas was the unparalleled entertainment and headliner shows. The latest cruise ship from Royal Caribbean featured two major production shows: the high-diving water spectacle named AQUA80Too and the ice-skating production named Youtopia.
You won’t find this level of entertainment on other cruise lines. While the AQUA80Too show included 3D aerials, high divers, stunts, and synchronized swimmers, Youtopia incorporated Olympic-level figure skating with jaw-dropping jumps, twirls, and spins. Reservations were required to see these shows, which was stressful, but the effort was absolutely worthwhile.
Read more: I cruised on Utopia of the Seas. The 4-day cruise wasn't cheap, but I'd do it again
However, this doesn’t mean Carnival Jubilee’s entertainment wasn’t impressive. In general, Carnival focuses on hosting high-energy, interactive entertainment for guests. This includes deck parties, comedy clubs, game shows, and sing-along piano bars.
During my cruise, Carnival Jubilee’s main production show was Rio Carnival with over-the-top costumes, aerialists, and acrobatics in the multi-level Center Stage. The cruise line also performs in-house headliner shows, known as Playlist Productions. These shows included We Are One, The Residency, and Dear Future Husband.
Carnival Jubilee’s entertainment is simplistic, but enjoyable. In the end, it’s tough to compete with the refinement and complexity found on Utopia of the Seas. In my opinion, Carnival Jubilee’s entertainment lacks the same wow-factor that you’ll find on Royal Caribbean’s newest and biggest ships
Onboard Thrills and Attractions
The bigger the cruise ship, the more onboard thrills you’ll find! With both of these mega-ships, you can find innovative, state-of-the-art attractions for the entire family to enjoy. However, you’ll find more complimentary onboard thrills when cruising with Royal Caribbean compared to Carnival.
To start, Carnival Jubilee features one of the first roller coasters at sea with BOLT: The Ultimate Seacoaster. Unfortunately, this ride comes at a steep cost of $15 per rider for only two laps around the small track. The adrenaline-pumping ride is exciting, but the cost adds up quickly for families with multiple riders.
Luckily, there are other attractions on Carnival Jubilee that are included in the cost of your cruise fare. Cruisers can take on the thrilling waterslides in WaterWorks or climb around the suspended obstacle course on the Ropes Course.
Comparatively, Utopia of the Seas featured more included attractions for thrill-seekers. Whether you’re riding the FlowRider surf simulator, soaring across Central Park on the zip line, plunging down the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, or splashing through the Perfect Storm water slides, there’s no shortage of excitement - and all without stretching your budget.
Additional charges apply for the laser tag and escape room activities, but most of the attractions onboard Utopia of the Seas are included. Although I’m not necessary someone craving adventurous activities while cruising, I was impressed with how many options were available with Utopia of the Seas that didn’t cost extra.
For this reason, I found Utopia of the Seas to offer better value than Carnival Jubilee with more attractions and fewer add-on costs.
Stateroom and Cabin Variety
Royal Caribbean and Carnival have both expanded cabin options aboard their newest ships. You can find a variety of staterooms that fit many different budgets, needs, and preferences.
During my cruise aboard Carnival Jubilee, I sailed in a cove balcony stateroom for the first time. The higher-end cabin featured a larger stateroom with a more spacious design, along with a cove-enclosed private balcony. I was impressed with the modern amenities, functional design and thoughtful details in Carnival Jubilee's cabins.
In addition, Carnival’s Excel Class ships offer themed cabins, including the Cuban-inspired Havana Suites and kid-focused Family Harbor cabins. These cater to a specific demographic while offering additional amenities, such as an exclusive family lounge with kid-friendly snacks for kids.
Unfortunately, Carnival’s standard cabins felt more cramped than Royal Caribbean’s staterooms. While sailing on Utopia of the Seas, we booked a cheap interior cabin to save money.
However, we were still impressed with the amount of space we had in our smaller stateroom. Our cabin even had its own couch for additional seating, which is something notable that Carnival’s interior cabins lacked.
Those wanting a more upscale stateroom experience will want to choose Utopia of the Seas, as Royal Caribbean has really expanded its suite selection. For example, you can try Star Class Suites for the most luxurious suite experience with Royal Caribbean. These suites are pricey, but offer unparalleled and personalized experiences for guests.
Both cruises were enjoyable, but Utopia of the Seas was my favorite
In the end, I preferred more aspects of my cruise on Utopia of the Seas compared to Carnival Jubilee. From the impressive entertainment to the specialty dining and better crowd management, Utopia of the Seas was the clear winner for me.
That said, it’s undeniable that Utopia of the Seas comes with a higher price tag, but in this case, you definitely get what you pay for. Despite paying nearly the same daily rate for both cruises, I was able to book a higher-tier cabin on Carnival Jubilee, while Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas offered more amenities, better entertainment, and a wider selection of included attractions.
Although I wouldn't hesitate to cruise on Carnival Jubilee again, I’ve already booked another weekend cruise on Utopia of the Seas for next year. I prefer shorter getaway cruises on mega-ships, and the closer location of Port Canaveral is more convenient than traveling to Galveston, Texas.
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on over 45 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
