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Because of this, both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line offer loyalty programs to all their guests. The more that a guest cruises with one or both of these cruise lines, the more points they earn. The more points guests earn the more exclusive benefits they can enjoy on future cruises.
Cruise week report: Comparing Celebrity vs Norwegian, Royal Caribbean pros and cons, and more - Cruise Blog
Cruise week report: Comparing Celebrity vs Norwegian, Royal Caribbean pros and cons, and more.
Posted: Fri, 29 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Norwegian Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean: Fleet Size, Age and Passenger Capacity
When it comes to price and value, there isn’t much of a difference between the two. You’ll have similar inclusions in both cruise fares (dependent on current promotions), and you’ll have to budget for similar things like your alcohol, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and shore excursions. On average, Royal Caribbean charges more per day than Norweigan cruises, but this varies by vessel. If you prefer to sail on Royal Caribbean, they only offer Hawaiian cruises at the start and end of Alaska season as the ships reposition to the Pacific Northwest.
Norwegian Cruise Line Dining vs. Royal Caribbean Dining : Which is Better?
Norwegian offers a similar option on four ships, although those sailing out of Seattle don’t sail to Anchorage but require a fight instead. If you stay in a Haven suite, you’ll have access to the Haven observation lounge for a less crowded viewing experience. With a go-cart track, aqua racer, and laser tag, the kids will never be bored on sea days. Norwegian calls theirs Great Stirrup Cay, and CocoCay belongs to Royal Caribbean International. Ironically, the islands sit side-by-side, 140 miles east of Miami, Florida, and are parts of the Bahamas. While some of these thrill-seeking activities incur an extra fee, the next one is included in your cruise fare.
Ship and Fleet Size:
While you can choose to skip dinner and eat elsewhere, the assigned time and eating does offer you a schedule that you can count on. Multi-generational travel is growing in popularity with active grandparents wanting to travel, together with the kids and grandkids, in search of adventure. Norwegian Cruise Lines' 19 ships offer the perfect solution for shipboard activities and destinations to please everyone.
Both complimentary and specialty buffets and restaurants offer quality family time around the table. If adult-only time is preferable, check out Chef's Table for multiple courses paired with the proper wine. On select Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there is a nursery for 6 to 36 month old children.
One of my favorite water slides at sea is the Ocean Loops slide that is available on some Norwegian Cruise Line ships, such as Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss. The Ocean Loops slide features a multi-story free fall drop and two inversion loops for guess to experience. You'll find the most things to do onboard Royal Caribbean's Quantum, Oasis, and Icon Class of ships, as well as Norwegian Cruise Line's Breakaway and Prima Class. Royal Caribbean also offers a variety of other bars and lounges, including the Schooner Bar, inspired by a traditional English pub, and the Boleros Latin-themed bar. Norwegian is also known for its Freestyle Dining concept, which allows passengers to dine whenever and wherever they want, without needing reservations or set dining times. This is perfect for those who want more flexibility in their dining choices.
‘Be on Time!’: Cruisers Show Little Sympathy For NCL Passengers Who Missed Ship
Its Icon-class ship is the largest cruise liner in the world (with a second, Star of the Seas, on the way), measuring more than 1,000 feet and 250,000 tons. Check out the message boards for Royal Caribbean and you’re likely to hear a lot about Platinum, Diamond, and Pinnacle status in the Crown and Anchor Society. These are levels of the cruise line’s loyalty program, which indicate how many days you’ve sailed with them. Anecdotally, we’ve found status to be flaunted much more on Royal Caribbean than on Norwegian.
Norwegian Cruise Line features some full length Broadway stage performances that I have greatly enjoyed. If you are someone looking to take in a great theater show, then Norwegian Cruise Line might catch your eye. When it comes to style and aesthetics, Norwegian Cruise Line tends to be more understated and modern, while Royal Caribbean thrives off of bright colors and eye catching designs. Both of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newer vessels, the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, display examples of sophisticated and relaxing Scandinavian design. While Royal Caribbean’s newer vessels focus on displaying an atmosphere of fun and excitement to its guests.
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In general, Norwegian has fewer alternative dining options than Royal Caribbean; most of them are not included in the price of your cruise fare. Royal Caribbean has a wider array of choices; while you'll still have to shell out extra money for many of them, the line includes a bit more in its fares than Norwegian does. Newer Norwegian ships, however, have more options that are more comparable to the offerings Royal Caribbean has. Furthermore, Royal Caribbean’s family staterooms and suites offer plenty of room for families, and their larger ships boast kid-friendly features like water parks, ice skating rinks, and mini-golf courses.
Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are two well-known and grand cruising lines. Both cruise lines feature large ships in their fleets and focus on providing a magnificent experience to travelers onboard. Both cruise lines also have a long list of exotic itineraries that can easily provide many interesting options to choose from. Norwegian Cruise Line, or NCL, offers sailings to destinations around the world plus exciting entertainment and flexible amenities. NCL is suitable for cruisers of all ages and adventure levels, and it's one of the only non-luxury class cruise lines that doesn't require gratuities (or even recommend them at any particular amount). While being on a ship with 2,000-4,000 other passengers might not appeal to some vacationers, NCL's large ships make it easy to eat, play, and relax in any way you want.
Royal Caribbean International wins the race with the largest cruise ship. The Wonder of the Seas is currently the largest ship in the fleet, with a passenger capacity of almost 7,000. Onboard, these cities at sea offer endless dining choices, Haven suite amenities to make you drool, and family-friendly attractions such as go-carts, laser tag, escape rooms, and 4D theaters. Both cruise lines are magnificent and, in certain areas, seem to be similar to one another.
For example, most cruises offer drink packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but a few have drink stations where you can get complimentary lemonade, coffee and tea. Other amenities that might be important to you are Wi-Fi, spa services, babysitting, fitness classes, and upgraded dining experiences. You can usually get a decent discount if you sign up for an amenities package before you sail, so keep an eye out for promotions in the months leading up to your sailing. When it comes to nightlife, both these cruise lines do a great job of making sure there is something entertaining for guests to do and see every night of their sailing.
As for gratuities, most cabins see a charge of $20 per person, per day with Norwegian (the price is $25 per person, per day for suites). That price is $18 per person, per day for Royal Caribbean, with those in suites paying $20.50. When it comes to cruising, two of the biggest players are Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. If you are planning to set sail, the odds are high you’ll be at least looking at one of these lines. Norwegian was the first to really elevate its sports decks, placing full-scale go-kart raceways in addition to ropes courses and laser tag arenas in outdoor spaces.
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