Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean and MSC’s biggest cruise ships offer mind-blowing attractions and an endless variety of things to do onboard, but I thought one ship was better than the other, despite the higher cost.

Within the same year, I cruised on the biggest ship by MSC Cruises—MSC World Europa—and the biggest ship by Royal Caribbean—Icon of the Seas. The vessels, which each accommodate roughly 7,000 passengers, are more akin to floating cities than traditional cruise ships.

Symphony of the Seas is one of the world's largest cruise ships. However, I discovered that the cabins are far from spacious. I stayed in an inside cabin on a weeklong cruise to the Caribbean from Miami, Florida. It was my first time in an interior stateroom, and I wasn't sure what to expect. 

The 228,081 gross registered ton ship has over 2,700 staterooms onboard capable of accommodating 6,680 guests at maximum capacity. 

Today's newest cruise ships are all the rage with ice skating rinks, rollercoasters, go-kart tracks, waterparks, and more. However, newer isn't always better. Last year, I sailed on three old cruise ships built in the 1990s for Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Disney, and my experiences couldn't have been more different. 

For example, my cabin aboard Vision of the Seas felt like it was stuck in the 90s with outdated decor and a noticeable lack of outlets. In comparison, my interior stateroom on Disney Magic also had a nostalgic charm but greater attention to detail. 

Today's newest cruise ships offer the most onboard dining options and activities, such as innovative restaurants like Royal Caribbean's Utopia Station: Royal Railway and Carnival's BOLT rollercoaster. However, just because one cruise ship is newer than another doesn't make it better.

Having sailed primarily on Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Freedom Class, I wondered why many cruisers remained loyal to the dated Vision Class ships, which launched over 20 years ago. 

There are countless activities to try on a cruise ship, from ice-skating to surfing simulators, but perhaps no activity is as controversial as the onboard art auction.

Most mass-market cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line, offer art auctions on any given sailing. These auctions are held by Park West Gallery, a commercial art gallery claiming to be the world’s largest art dealer. The gallery partners with cruise lines, working with over 90 ships around the world.

Royal Caribbean and Carnival are two of the most popular cruise lines in operation with, collectively, over 50 ships at sea. Though I've been sailing with Royal Caribbean since I was 10, I recently began my journey with Carnival to explore why the "FUN" ship brand attracts millions of passengers annually.

Both lines offer unique experiences and cater to different styles of cruising. Royal Caribbean, for example, is known for its innovative and jam-packed ships. 

With Royal Caribbean's singular alcoholic drink package costing anywhere from $65 to $110 per day, some cruisers like to cheat the system to save money. However, the popular cruise line's new beverage policy aims to prevent guests from sharing drinks with passengers. 

However, sharing drinks with other passengers is against the Deluxe Beverage Package's rules. The same rules apply to free casino drinks, which were sometimes shared with non-gamblers. 

Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor loyalty program rewards cruises for staying "Loyal to Royal." The more you cruise with Royal Caribbean, the more perks you will unlock through its rewards program. 

You earn points based on days sailed, so if you embark on a 7-night cruise, you'll earn seven cruise points. Points help you climb the Crown and Anchor loyalty ranks and make you eligible for many perks, including complimentary alcoholic beverages, free internet, access to exclusive lounges, buy-one-get-one-free (BOGO) specialty dining, and even free cruises! 

A passenger on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship posted a video of her scary allergic reaction, but said she didn't pay for medicine because the price was too high.

She decided to post a video on TikTok to share how much her swollen face and tell her story.

"So, I've been on the boat for ... not even the full 24 hours and my face is swollen," she said in the video as she remove her sunglasses to reveal the swelling in her face.