The last time I did a countdown about which cruises are the best for your money, Carnival came out on top.
Carnival had the most affordable 4-7 day cruises and the atmosphere was young and friendly. I guess Royal Caribbean got the picture because they have done many things to upgrade their services and appearance.
While both cruise lines have ships ranging from older:
smaller vessels to brand new mega-ships, Royal Caribbean and Carnival’s vessels definitely differ. Royal Caribbean is well known for having the largest cruise ships in the world. And while Carnival’s ships can be of comparable length, the size of Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships is noticeable.

When it comes to ports. And drop offs for the day, this is where Royal Caribbean truly shines. Royal has not 1 but 2 of it’s own private ports in their respective countries. CocoCay, formerly Little Stirrup Cay, is a Bahamian island located between the popular cruise ports of Freeport and Nassau ( all over the Bahamas is outstanding. Visit Atlantis, Jet ski, go snorkeling, parasailing and skooba diving. like a king). In 1990, Royal Caribbean started leasing the 140-acre plot of land, which features beaches, shopping venues and activities exclusively for passengers sailing with Royal Caribbean or sister line Celebrity Cruises.
Royal Caribbean's Labadee is a 260-acre private beach resort carved out of Haiti's rolling, densely forested north coast. A typical day in port might include snorkeling, filling up a plate or two at the all-you-can eat barbecue, zipping across the water on the 2,600-foot-long Dragon's Breath Flight Line or snoozing soundly in a beach chair.
Going to Key West in Florida can be just as fun.

While walking out of your room you will her your name being called in a faint accent. You will wonder who the heck you know on the boat. Housekeeping will know you by name within the first hour of you stepping foot into your room. It may not sound like a lot but having a friendly staff who make it their business to let you know they appreciate you joining them for the next few days is the real icing on the cake.
I thought the drink package was a terribly expensive idea. Right now they are charging $300 for one person or $450 for 2 people who share the same room. The 2nd charge is mandatory if there are 2 people in your room. I was like NO-WAY when this pricing was told to me. But right after the safety demonstration in the muster station, I went a brought a round of drinks for everyone who was with me. When looking at the bill, which was almost $50 bucks, it became apparent to me that I would easily spend more than the $300 by the time we finished with 5 nights. I got the package and even though I would still by drinks while on the islands, knowing that I can have as many of whatever top shelf liquor I wanted on the boat was peace of mind. If you drink, I suggest you get your drink package within hours of boarding the ship. Grand Bahama cruises still beats them both when it comes to drink because they let you buy your own bottle while boarding the ship for the first time, which you can drink during the cruise. No other ship I've been on lets you do that. The prices of bottles are marked up, but the savings is incredible when you don’t have to visit the bar, spending b$15 to $20 each visit.
When it comes to cruise food,

But what really changed my mind about who is king of the seas,

This is no longer the ship for old stuffy conceited snobs. Royal has turned “cool.” The night club played music you would hope to find at a party. The people participated in the events which can sometimes be tricky depending on who just happens to be cruising on the same day as you. And the fact that they have 2 super cool exclusive islands makes it a no brainier for people who just love visiting different cultures.
Like most preferences, the decision of which cruise line is better is subjective. Many people are unwavering fans of one ship over another, I was like that with Carnival for years — and won’t hear anything otherwise. And to be honest, both are about about 80% the same. It’s that other 20% that may sway you one way or another. Like big ships with lots to do and a crew’s attention to details and your happiness?
~ Roklan
~ Roklan
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