I tried the newest ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian Heres how they compare
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I don't have access to my stuff at the moment, but I can tell you right now that you absolutely don't need to book Royal's excursion to do Briksdal. That said, it may not be your best option given the time of year, as the glacier shrinks in summer. Deciding where to go and what kinds of activities you enjoy will help you choose the best cruise line for your situation. Royal Caribbean has more ships and can carry far more passengers, but its destinations are limited compared with Norwegian. The Norwegian Sun, meanwhile, holds a maximum capacity of 1,936 guests — the least of any ships in Norwegian’s fleet.
What types of cabins and suites do Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean offer?
I also greatly have enjoyed much of the food onboard the two Royal Caribbean ships I’ve had the privilege of sailing on. I appreciate that Royal Caribbean is always striving to improve on their fan favorites and offer their returning guests great consistency. Every cruise ship is different, and this means that not all the kids zones are the same. If you are someone traveling with children, I recommend researching the specific children’s areas onboard.
SAVOUR THE SEA
Around half of these are included with five brand-new dining options that debuted on Royal Caribbean’s newest ship. While not necessarily sophisticated, there’s no shortage of delicious grub on Carnival Jubilee. Finally, Celebrity Ascent is nearly identical in size to Norwegian Viva, measuring around 140,000 gross tons. The sleek, ultramodern cruise ship from Celebrity Cruises holds 3,260 passengers at maximum capacity. While technically smaller than Norwegian Viva, Celebrity Ascent can hold more passengers at maximum capacity. A few weeks before, Celebrity Cruises released its newest and most innovative cruise ship, Celebrity Ascent.
Top 10 Most Beautiful Port Cities Royal Caribbean Cruises

However, Norwegian Viva’s other entertainment was disappointing in comparison. One evening, the main production show was the game show Press Your Luck while one night lacked entertainment entirely. Norwegian Viva is much smaller than both of these floating cities, measuring a little more than half the size of Icon of the Seas. Built to be 142,500 gross tons, the newest ship from Norwegian Cruise Line has 20 decks of unparalleled experiences and amenities. Occasionally Norwegian Cruise Line will run promotional deals that can allow guests to earn more points per night of their cruise.
Booking a balcony cabin
If you like to gamble, then you will love the casino onboard Norwegian, as well as the Casino at Sea program. In the dining rooms, buffet and restaurants, there will always be culinary options that are well suited for younger children. Whether you’re a young cruiser or an older cruiser, there are activities and attractions for everyone onboard a Norwegian cruise. In particular in the evening time, there are always a variety shows and musical performances happening around the ship. The food on the island is very tasty and it’s included with the price of your cruise.
Norwegian Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean comparison - The Points Guy
Norwegian Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean comparison.
Posted: Mon, 27 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
I came back later in the day (around 4pm) and managed to get 1-hour rental, but I wish I could have done the extended tour to see more. The only reason I'd recommend The Key is if your cruise had a tender port, in which case being able to get priority for tenders could be really helpful. We were greeted by the matriarch of the family, who set up a smorgasbord of local food. The best way to see the fjord and waterfall is by boat, which gives you the perfect perspective to see the entirety of the area along with the waterfall. The ride to Åkrafjord is about 90 minutes by coach bus, but the drive is worth it when you emerge from the final tunnel with Langfoss waterfall in view.
When it comes to shopping, Oslo has it all — whether you love big malls and department stores or prefer small boutiques, antique shops and markets. Stop here for top international designer outlets and smaller shops offering traditional items like sterling silver jewelry and handmade woodcrafts. In Oslo, hearty traditional fare is as popular as hip international cuisine.
Instead, you can enjoy the engineering marvel of the Magic Carpet, which is a cantilevered platform that serves as a top-deck bar in the evening and tender launch during the day. Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program is called the ‘Crown & Anchor Society’, while Norwegian Cruise Line’s loyalty program is called ‘Latitudes Rewards’. I have been able to visit Norwegian Cruise Line's Great Stirrup Cay twice now, and I can confidently say this is a beautiful island.
These impressive water shows are offered at the Aqua Theater onboard, and feature awe inspiring entertainment that truly rivals cirque du soleil. When it comes to onboard activities it could be almost impossible to choose which of these two cruise lines is better than the other. As always, it can simply be up to individual taste, style, and preferences of each cruise traveler. In recent years, with the addition of the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Cruise Line has pivoted in their style and offerings.
As the flagship vessel in a new ship class, Royal Caribbean welcomed Icon of the Seas with plenty of pomp and circumstance. On both these cruise lines guests earn points towards their loyalty program with every cruise they take. For example, with Norwegian Cruise Line guest earn 1 point for every night they spend on a cruise. The amount of points guests earn can also be increased to 2 points or more per night depending on special stateroom categories such as suites or studio staterooms.
If you are looking for brand new, awe inspiring entertainment, then Royal Caribbean may be your choice. This creates a very laid back atmosphere and allows you enjoy your cruise at your own pace. I think we just think of Loen as a lunch destination and just get there, have lunch, leave while enjoying the sights as we are in motion we should be ok based on your advice. If you're looking for an easy day, the pretty town centre is within walking distance of the port. The distance between the port and the Skylift is to be about 6 km (a bit less than 4 miles), so it's really a bit too far to walk.
Norwegian vs Royal Caribbean comparison - Royal Caribbean Blog
Norwegian vs Royal Caribbean comparison.
Posted: Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Since Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line to debut a brand-new ship class, Icon of the Seas has the most notable attractions to mention. Royal Caribbean is known for its innovative onboard thrills - and Icon of the Seas is no exception. When it comes to entertainment, Icon of the Seas blows the competition out of the water. Like most of Royal Caribbean’s biggest cruise ships, you’ll find jaw-dropping entrainment that isn’t offered anywhere else at sea. If you’re someone who loves to cruise on the bigger mega ships that rival floating cities, you’ll want to choose Icon of the Seas or Carnival Jubilee.
There are plenty of complimentary lounge chairs and spots to get your feet into the sand. Additionally guests can try out zip lining for an additional cost, or rent some floating chairs and other beach gear should they so choose. Before embarking on my first cruises with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line last year, I had no idea that some cruise lines own they very own private islands. Since initially finding out about these unique Caribbean destinations, I have been able to visit all three of the private islands owned and operated by Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean.
You can even dine on the ship’s signature Magic Carpet with over-the-top views of the ship. The ship has an ocean theme with some retro 90s design elements throughout. For example, Currents is a new neighborhood designed specifically for Carnival Jubilee to make it feel as though you're submerged under the sea.
Since I was solo on this cruise, I would have usually skipped a balcony room and gone for an inside room because it wouldn't be necessary in terms of space. However, being able to see the beautiful scenery from the comfort of my room was such a nice treat. If you're looking through itineraries, I would point you towards one that visits places such as Flam or Stavanger instead of Haugesund or even Bergen.

Staying in this exclusive Haven area of the ship is often quite expensive but comes with perks that can not be experienced any other way onboard Norwegian Cruise Line. It is important to note that The Haven is not available onboard every Norwegian Cruise Line ship. If you are someone interested in staying in The Haven, I recommend filtering which ships have these stateroom categories onboard before booking a cruise with Norwegian. I appreciate that both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean offer a wide breadth of variety when it comes to nightlife activities and entertainment. This means that there is something for everyone to enjoy during the evening and nighttime onboard. From lively dance parties, comedy performances, to relaxed live music, there is guaranteed to be something onboard that every guest enjoys during the nighttime.
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