Royal Caribbean

Before you can board your cruise ship and officially start your vacation, you must check-in for your cruise. Just like boarding an airplane, cruise lines require guests to check-in for their vacation; during this process, the cruise lines confirms your official documentation and emergency contacts and often requires you to fill out a health questionnaire.

Two of the biggest cruise lines in the industry are Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, and it is likely that if you’ve heard of one, you have probably heard of the other. 

Both these cruise lines have a lot of similarities, but they also have some key differences as well. When it comes to style, amenities, and itineraries, there can be a lot to consider when choosing which cruise line to sail with for your next vacation. 

Modern cruise ships are built to be bigger and better than ever before. By today’s standards, cruise ships are essentially floating resorts, holding upwards of 10,000 people onboard, including crew.

In fact, the top decks of the newest cruise ships look like amusement parks with water slides, roller coasters, and go-karts! It’s easy to forget that you’re sailing on a cruise ship onboard these mega-ships because there are so many attractions and onboard thrills.

You have paid the deposit on your Royal Caribbean cruise and are officially in cruise countdown mode! You can now start daydreaming about waking up to specialty coffees each morning, lounging by the pool with your drink of choice in hand, and cooling down with a soda or bottled water after an adventurous day in port.

Between the rich culture and history, European cruises provide the ultimate convenience for visiting multiple countries on a vacation without having to unpack and repack your suitcase.

After 30 cruises, I can confidently say that European cruises are my favorite. I love having a comfortable home base to return to each evening, all while getting to experience new cultures and countries every single day. 

Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are the two biggest mainstream cruise lines in the industry with millions of passengers setting sail onboard these competing lines each year.

Each cruise line adds their own special flair to the cruising experience. This is how they differentiate from one another in the competitive travel market. Royal Caribbean is known for building mega-ships with onboard thrills and dazzling entertainment, while Carnival places a heavy focus on fun, casual dining, and creating a lively atmosphere onboard.

Oftentimes, you can find a great value on transatlantic cruises. This, however, means that you have to be committed to spending many days onboard the ship as it sails across the Atlantic Ocean. 

When taking a transatlantic voyage, the ship that you are on is being repositioned from one homeport to another, marking the beginning or end of a specific cruise season. When, for instance, you sail from Florida to Barcelona or Rome, this is because a ship is getting ready to begin her season in Europe. 

Is The Key worth it? This is a controversial question many cruisers wonder when booking a Royal Caribbean cruise.

There are plenty of negative reviews online about The Key. Some say it’s “too pricey for what it is” or “it sounds good in theory but is a waste of money.” On the other hand, some claim The Key is worth the extra cost.

Needless to say, I wanted to see what it was like for myself. Here's what I thought about The Key on my 7-night Western Caribbean cruise onboard Adventure of the Seas. 

When booking a cruise vacation, there are so many different mainstream and luxury cruise lines to choose from. The possibilities seem endless when trying to narrow down your itinerary search to find the perfect cruise.

It's easy to see how each cruise line has their own unique flair on the cruising experience, which can appeal to certain demographics more than others. Therefore, choosing the cruise line that best aligns with your travel style, preferences, and budget is the one of the most important decision you’ll make while vacation planning.