While the attraction commands an extra charge, it’s a unique experience you can’t get on other lines. Norwegian, like Princess Cruises and Holland America, have the option to cruise Glacier Bay National Park. Norwegian offers both if you’re trying to decide on an itinerary between Glacier Bay vs. Hubbard Glacier.
Norwegian Cruise Line Itineraries
This unique venue allows for another unusual cabin, the aqua theater stateroom. These are the largest staterooms, featuring two bedrooms and massive balconies overlooking the outdoor theater. Both lines offer studio staterooms for solo guests, although Norwegian has a better concept. RCI has studio cabins on the Anthem of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, and Spectrum of the Seas. In addition, the Breakaway Plus-class ships are more suited to teens with their laser tag and go-cart track.
Features & Advice
Firstly, Royal Caribbean tends to offer slightly higher prices than NCL, particularly when it comes to their newer and larger ships, such as Wonder of the Seas. When it comes to cabins, both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean offer a variety of options to suit different needs and preferences. Both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean both have their own designated private islands.
Norwegian Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean: Compare two popular big-ship cruise lines
If adult-only time is preferable, check out Chef's Table for multiple courses paired with the proper wine. When it comes to cruising, one aspect that delights passengers is the incredible dining experiences available onboard. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Royal Caribbean International (RCI) are two well-known cruise lines that boast a wide array of dining options to satisfy every palate.
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I have had the privilege and pleasure of so far sailing onboard six different Norwegian Cruise Line ships and two different Royal Caribbean ships. When it comes to the largest ships with the most features, there’s little argument that Royal Caribbean is the gold standard. Norwegian seems to focus more on outdoor dining, with several spots on its ships where you can sit in the outdoors and eat without having to worry about the wind ruining your dinner or sun beating down on you. Royal Caribbean doesn’t seem to offer as many places to eat outdoors with a view of the water. This isn’t to say a lack of status is held against you; truth is no one really cares if it’s your first cruise or 100th cruise. We’ve just noticed that there are a lot more high-status cards being shown on Royal Caribbean ships (most often being on a lanyard).
Here are the reasons why cruisers like Royal Caribbean:
Passengers can choose from 4 to 5-day sailings on the Liberty of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas. The Quantum, Ovation, and Brilliance of the Seas cruise from Vancouver to Honolulu in September and October. These repositioning cruises come with five sea days to cross the Pacific Ocean. Guests on the Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas can experience glacier viewing from 300 feet above sea level on the North Star pod.
Dining Facilities:
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]
NCL's Haven provides a private sanctuary in terms of luxury accommodations which can keep the adult traveler out of touch with the younger set, if they so choose. Located at the top of the ship, this pricier option is inaccessible to other cruisers and includes its own restaurant, private concierge service and 24-hour personal butler. Described as a ship within a ship, this aspect of cruising is unique to NCL when being compared to Carnival and Royal Caribbean. When it comes to casual dining and coffee options, both cruise lines have their own unique offerings. Norwegian Cruise Line features the Garden Café, a buffet-style restaurant offering a wide variety of international cuisines.
All Royal Caribbean ships have rock-climbing walls and FlowRider simulators that allow passengers to surf and boogie board. There are many dining options to choose from onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships. There’s a mix of restaurants are included and others which have an extra cost. With 26 ships afloat and more to launch in 2023, Royal Caribbean boasts that their Oasis Class of ships are touted as the world's largest cruise ships. Despite Royal Caribbean’s strong family offering, it has something for everyone, including couples.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Specialty Restaurants
While these brands do have other lines that fall underneath their parent companies, this summary focuses on only the ships operating under these brands. Chops Grille is a popular choice for steak lovers, while Izumi offers delectable Asian cuisine. Additionally, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships boast innovative concepts like Wonderland, a whimsical restaurant with imaginative dishes that tantalize the senses. You will have your choice between two times for eating in the main dining room, and that will be your time for dinner on the entire cruise. 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. If you want to try out The Haven on an NCL ship, but it’s out of budget, consider a 3-day cruise to the Caribbean instead.
Great Stirrup Cay is a great place to relax and enjoy an afternoon at the beach. This island does not have the plethora of activities that CocoCay does, however if you are someone looking forward to a beautiful beach day on your cruise vacation, Great Stirrup Cay is the perfect place. 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.
Check out our detailed comparison below to find the ideal cruise for your and your family's next getaway. There are plenty of onboard attractions, bars and restaurants to try while you’re on a Norwegian cruise. Freestyle cruising is great for those who prefer a relaxed dress code and schedule. Cruisers who enjoy exciting attractions, amazing entertainment and a fun night life. NCL does a great job at having fun activities planned throughout the cruise, so there is always something going on.
This cruise line offers plenty of bars and lounges for guests to explore, as well as live music at multiple venues every night of a cruise sailing. If I had to make a choice between the two cruise lines when it came to food, I would say Norwegian Cruise Line has the best options onboard their newer ships. While Royal Caribbean is very consistent across the cruise line, and has some great food offerings onboard their older vessels as well. Norwegian Cruise Line is a pioneer, having introduced the concept of “freestyle cruising,” a relaxed, resort-style experience with no fixed dining times, formal attire requirements, or structured activities. Established in 1966, NCL has grown significantly, today boasting a fleet of 17 modern ships and sailing to over 300 destinations worldwide.
It has also outfitted a couple of its new ships with free top-deck ropes courses and go-karts that carry a surcharge. After dinner, passengers on both lines can experience a slew of production shows that involve singing and dancing, magic, comedy and more. NCL also has youth counselors who organize activities and events for kids throughout the day. They also have a pricing structure that allows solo travelers to pay a reduced single supplement fee, making booking a traditional cabin more affordable without sharing with another passenger.
This means there isn’t the same style of exclusive social space but affords RCI to have more stateroom varieties. Some inside studio staterooms have a virtual balcony which is a nice touch, and there are also studio balconies with a private open-air veranda. With both lines, big ticket amenities tend be found on their larger and newer ships. You’ll notice standouts on RCI’s Oasis and Quantum/Quantum Ultra Classes and NCL’s Breakaway Plus and Breakaway Class ships. If any particular features are important to you, then your decision may come down to ship specific facilities rather than choosing one cruise line over the other. In terms of diversions, both cruise lines have packed daily schedules filled with trivia, bingo, movie screenings, port talks, shopping opportunities and live music.
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