When researching cruise lines for your next family cruise, you are likely to encounter both Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in your research. Not only are among the most popular cruise lines in the United States, they are actually owned by the same parent company. So, if you are trying to decide between Celebrity vs Royal Caribbean cruises, you’ll want to know how they compare.
We’ve sailed on both Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruise ships and have enjoyed both brands of cruise ships. But, there are minor and major differences that you’ll need to understand.
Disclosure: We’ve sailed at no cost on Royal Caribbean but have also paid our own on both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Lines. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links and a click-through/purchase may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
Check Prices on both Celebrity ships and Royal Caribbean cruises at this link.
Celebrity vs. Royal Caribbean: Which is Right for You?
Celebrity Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Royal Caribbean Group. This company also owns the Silversea cruise line and has a stake in two additional cruise lines. While you will see some similarities in the companies, especially related to their websites and apps, the ships are quite different.
Royal Caribbean International offers more cruise ships than Celebrity and larger ships. The Royal Caribbean Oasis Class ships (including the Allure of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, and the Wonder of the Seas) are the largest in the world. While Celebrity does have large cruise ships, none of them are near this size.
Overview of Celebrity Cruise Line
It’s important to note that Celebrity Cruise Line is not an adult-only cruise line. Kids are allowed on the ships, and they do offer a number of activities specific to children – including kids’ clubs.
However, Celebrity does have more of an “adult” feel. The ships feel very sophisticated and modern.
The prices are reasonable, but there are also lots of upgrades that you can purchase. These include Celebrity concierge level, AquaClass, and the Retreat.
Of these, the Retreat is the most exclusive. As a Retreat guest, you can access separate restaurants, exclusive sundeck, and other areas of the ship. These are higher-priced rooms but come with lots of benefits.
During our recent Celebrity Cruise Line sailing, we mainly saw couples and groups of friends celebrating specific events. While there were children on board, there weren’t as many of them.
Like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity has been steadily introducing new ships and refurbishments. New ships include some innovative features, like the Magic Carpet moveable deck. Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, and Celebrity Beyond are among the new Celebrity cruise ships.
Celebrity offers a main dining room for guests, as well as a buffet that is included in the standard cruise fare. In addition, guests can purchase specialty dining upgrades for restaurants, including Qsine (Le Petit Chef and the Tuscan Grille). Food is a little more adult-focused, although things like burgers and pizza will appeal to kids.
There are plenty of things to do during your evenings and days at sea (as well as port days if you decide to stay on the ship). Activities like salsa dance classes and wine tastings are offered. There are also other activities, including game shows and trivia.
As you walk through the ship in the evenings, you’ll find various entertainment and live music in the lounges and bars. The ships also offer entertainment in the main theater, including large-scale shows, comedians, and musicians.
Amenities on the ship include the pool deck, hot tubs, an adult-only area, a spa (with a full collection of spa treatments), a fitness center, a casino, and a coffee shop. There are also kids’ clubs, separated by age.
Shops on Celebrity are upscale, focused primarily on luxury goods. You’ll find duty-free items, perfume, jewelry, handbags, and watches.
Celebrity Cruise Line offers itineraries to many destinations, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe (and the Mediterranean), Australia and the South Pacific, the Galapagos, Asia, and Mexico. While Celebrity does not have its own Bahamian private island destination, select ships do go to Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private destination.
Overview of Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is known for its large, thrilling ships, packed with family-friendly fun. These ships are bright and bold but still offer fantastic service with many activities that appeal to adults and kids.
While there are separate adult-only areas, much of the ship is family-friendly, with so much fun packed into each deck. It’s nearly impossible to be bored on a Royal Caribbean ship.
Royal Caribbean offers the largest cruise ships at sea, with a new one, the Icon of the Seas, coming soon. The Icon of the Seas will be the largest cruise ship in the world, replacing the Wonder of the Seas. These ships keep outdoing themselves with more and more activities and awe-inspiring amenities.
Activities onboard Royal Caribbean do vary by ship. These activities include pools, water slides, dry slides, bumper cars, zip lines, FlowRider surf simulators, ice skating rinks, the North Star observation pod, arcades, and carousels. These are the types of activities that are extremely popular with tweens and teens. When we sailed on Royal Caribbean with my teens, they loved all of the exciting activities.
Activities in the Royal Caribbean are also offered and vary by sailing. These include trivia, game shows, karaoke, and live music. Whether you are an adult traveling without kids or a family on vacation, plenty of things in the schedule will appeal to you.
Royal Caribbean is known for its world-class entertainment. In addition to large Broadway-style productions, many of the ships also have smaller shows, as well as ice shows and aqua shows. There’s always something exciting going on during your Royal Caribbean sailing.
Dining on Royal Caribbean is similar to Celebrity in that you will be assigned a time (or can do My Time dining) for the main dining room each evening. You’ll have the same serving team and table at that time.
Specialty dining is also offered on Royal Caribbean. Restaurants vary by ship but may include Playmakers Pub, Johnny Rockets, 150 Central Park, Giovannis, Chops Grille, Izumi, Wonderland, and Hooked Seafood. There are also plenty of included dining options, like El Loco Fresh, Windjammer Buffet, Dog House, Sorrento’s Pizza, and Promenade Cafe. An exclusive restaurant, Coastal Kitchen, is offered to concierge guests.
Like Celebrity, Royal Caribbean offers upscale shops. However, some kid-focused stores usually include candy and toy stores.
With more ships, Royal Caribbean offers many different itineraries. Options include the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Dubai, Europe, Latin America, Australia, and Asia. Many Bahamian and Caribbean cruises stop at their private destinations of Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee, Haiti.
Differences between Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Line
The differences between the ships are apparent as soon as you board. While Royal Caribbean has a bright, exciting atmosphere, Celebrity tends to be more muted and sophisticated. That style carries over to the public areas of the ship as well as the ship’s staterooms.
Activity Differences
Both cruise brands offer many things to do throughout the days and evenings. While Royal Caribbean’s activities tend to have a broad appeal, the activities on Celebrity may be a little more focused on teens and adults.
The activity amenities, however, are where Royal Caribbean and Celebrity differ. While Celebrity offers standard cruise ship amenities like pools and hot tubs, Royal Caribbean has some additional exciting and thrilling amenities like zip lines and surf simulators. These types of onboard activities are truly what differentiates Royal Caribbean from other cruise lines when it comes to family fun.
Entertainment Differences
You’ll find lots of entertainment options on both Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Both have entertainment that kids can enjoy, and both have more adult-focused performances. However, the entertainment on Royal Caribbean has a more universal appeal for younger kids through adults.
Food Differences
Celebrity does have plenty of kid-friendly food options, including burgers and steak. However, the specialty restaurants in Royal Caribbean have a little more family appeal. With options like Playmakers Pub and Johnny Rockets, families will find more options for picky eaters.
I also found the Celebrity’s buffet had a few more international options for food, including Indian food. Overall, however, I enjoy the food on both cruise lines.
Price Differences
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Line have various add-ons and service options that can change the price. Celebrity Cruise Line’s prices generally tend to be a little higher. But the price differences really aren’t enough that they would change your mind one way or another about which cruise line to book.
Staff Differences
We have had excellent service on both cruise lines, with standout crew members. You really can’t go wrong when it comes to the crew on both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Lines.
The Bottom Line
Celebrity and Royal Caribbean are excellent cruise lines with delicious food, great crew members, and fun activities. You’ll have a great time on either cruise line. If you are looking for a sophisticated cruise experience, Celebrity is probably the best option, while Royal Caribbean is best for thrills and excitement and a family trip.
Have you sailed on either Celebrity Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean International? Which will you sail on for your next cruise vacation?
