Royal Caribbean and Movie star Cruises, that are sister cruise traces operated by Royal Caribbean Group, are each identified for providing ample eating choices and fascinating nightlife. Nevertheless, they’ve completely different onboard vibes and goal various kinds of cruise vacationers.
Royal Caribbean’s fleet of greater than two dozen ships contains among the largest vessels at sea and options groundbreaking improvements and family-friendly points of interest. Movie star’s 15 not-quite-as-large vessels are extra upscale, adult-focused and design-centric. (Launching in 2025, Movie star Xcel will convey the road’s ship depend to 16.)
Which cruise line do you have to select? Learn on for a head-to-head comparability of Royal Caribbean and Movie star Cruises, overlaying every model’s onboard expertise, itineraries and passenger profile that can assist you determine.
Measurement of ships
Each Royal Caribbean and Movie star function a number of courses of ships, most categorized as massive. The older ships in each fleets are smaller than the latest vessels however will not be intimate by any means.
The world’s prime 5 largest ships (primarily based on passenger capability) are Royal Caribbean vessels, led by Icon of the Seas, which might carry as much as 7,600 visitors at double occupancy. (Debuting in August 2025, Star of the Seas will be a part of Icon within the prime spot, additionally carrying as much as 7,600 passengers.) Utopia of the Seas, Marvel of the Seas, Attract of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas at the moment spherical out the highest 5, carrying as much as 6,988 visitors at double occupancy.
Royal Caribbean’s fashionable Quantum Class ships accommodate 4,180 visitors and stand out as a result of every ship’s North Star sightseeing capsule, which rises 300 ft above the ocean.
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Movie star Cruises’ latest and largest ships are its 3,260-guest Edge Class collection: Movie star Edge, Movie star Apex, Movie star Past, Movie star Ascent and the upcoming Movie star Xcel. Its 5 Solstice Class ships every carry round 2,800 passengers, and its 4 Millennium Class vessels accommodate round 2,200 apiece.
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Movie star additionally gives expedition-style cruising on the 100-passenger Movie star Flora within the Galapagos Islands (however we can’t tackle it on this article).
Each cruise traces provide all of the facilities of a floating resort at sea: swimming pools, spas, bars and a number of eating venues. By way of sheer wow issue, although, Royal Caribbean’s activity-packed Icon Class, Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships are onerous to beat, particularly for household cruising.
Alternatively, Movie star’s vessels are spacious and designed to dazzle with modern decor and premium facilities.
On each traces, the smallest and oldest ships can have a unique vibe from the latest and largest vessels, so maintain that in thoughts as you analysis journeys.
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Who’s on board?
With Royal Caribbean, a greater query is likely to be, “Who is not on board?” As a mainstream cruise line, it appeals to a variety of passengers, largely People (at the least on North American itineraries) and plenty of of them households.
It is also in style with mates celebrating birthdays or bachelor/bachelorette getaways and {couples} of all ages searching for a vigorous shipboard atmosphere at an inexpensive value. That mentioned, Royal Suite Class passengers undoubtedly have cash, so there is a extra upscale demographic, typically multigenerational.
Passengers additionally differ by itinerary, with three- to seven-night Bahamas and four- to 11-night Caribbean sailings attracting households and teams of mates. The road’s seven- to 12-night Mediterranean itineraries draw extra {couples} and retirees and fewer households, in addition to extra Europeans. (About half of passengers on Royal Caribbean’s European itineraries are Europeans and vacationers from exterior the US.) Alaska sailings lure multigenerational households and older cruisers.
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Movie star’s ships entice a narrower, extra upscale demographic, largely Gen Xers of their 40s and 50s and retirement-age child boomers, with some childless millennials, too.
Children will likely be on board, however not within the numbers that Royal Caribbean attracts. As a premium cruise model, Movie star Cruises usually has increased fares than Royal Caribbean, particularly on its Edge Class ships. Nevertheless, the worth hole between Movie star and Royal Caribbean is narrowing. Notably, fares for Royal Caribbean’s latest ships, like Icon of the Seas, are sometimes on par with Movie star’s choices.
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Cabins and suites
Royal Caribbean gives a dizzying array of cabin and suite choices, particularly on its latest and largest ships. Movie star options fewer total cabin classes however gives nonsuite rooms with additional perks.
Each cruise traces provide a wide range of cabin kinds and value factors. You will discover windowless inside cabins, ocean-view rooms with image home windows or portholes, lodging with non-public balconies and a spread of suites. There are additionally connecting rooms for households and teams, plus accessible cabins for passengers utilizing wheelchairs or different assistive gadgets.
It is not shocking that Royal Caribbean’s massive Icon Class, Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships characteristic essentially the most lodging sorts inside the fleet — as much as three dozen cabin and suite classes designed for each households and {couples} with a variety of budgets.
On the inexpensive finish, among the windowless inside cabins include a “digital balcony,” a window-mimicking display that shows real-time video of the view exterior. These can be found on all 5 Quantum Class ships, plus Marvel of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Concord of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.
Oasis Class ships additionally characteristic inside and balcony cabins that overlook the Promenade, Boardwalk and Central Park neighborhoods.
Eleven vessels (Journey of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Concord of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas) provide a restricted variety of cabins designed for solo vacationers. In the meantime, Tremendous Studio solo cabins with balconies can be found on Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Concord of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas.
The cruise line’s prime lodging are suites, various in dimension and a few with loft configurations. Its most lavish digs are the two-story Final Household Suites (discovered on Marvel, Symphony, Spectrum and Utopia of the Seas) and the three-story Final Household Townhouse on Icon of the Seas. They sleep as much as eight visitors and boast kid-friendly facilities, together with a slide, air hockey desk and different video games.
All suites provide unique facilities. Nevertheless, Royal Caribbean’s largest, costliest suites include unique perks, resembling Royal Genie butler service and complimentary specialty eating and beverage packages.
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Movie star’s latest Edge Class ships exchange the usual balcony cabin with Infinite Veranda Staterooms. In these, a floor-to-ceiling window lowers midway to create an open-air veranda inside the room. This design permits for extra usable house inside the cabin, no matter whether or not the window is open or shut.
AquaClass cabins embody in-cabin wellness facilities and entry to an unique restaurant and the spa’s thermal suite (with saunas and heated loungers). Concierge Class rooms include a devoted concierge, a pillow menu and an unique welcome-aboard lunch within the eating room with complimentary wine.
Movie star Silhouette gives single inside cabins, whereas Edge Class ships embody some Infinite Veranda Staterooms designed for solo vacationers.
Suite configurations and decor fluctuate by ship class. On Edge Class ships, eight suite classes embody the two-story Edge Villas and the Iconic Suite, the biggest within the fleet at 1,892 sq. ft (plus a 689-square-foot terrace). Solstice Class ships characteristic six to eight suite classes, relying on the ship; and the variety of suite classes on Millennium Class ships ranges from 5 to 6.
All suites include devoted attendants and a concierge, plus included perks resembling a premium drink package deal and premium Wi-Fi. Movie star’s suite visitors also can entry unique facilities as a part of The Retreat, together with a personal solar deck, lounge and restaurant.
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Eating
The upside: Royal Caribbean and Movie star ships provide a dozen or extra onboard eating venues, so there are culinary choices to swimsuit each palate.
The draw back: Each cruise traces provide only a handful of complimentary eating places — a buffet, banquet-style eating rooms, a poolside grill and some informal eateries — which means passengers should pay additional for steakhouses, Italian or French eating places and sushi bars.
Royal Caribbean’s complimentary choices embody informal choices such because the Canine Home for a worldwide sizzling canine menu, El Loco Contemporary for burritos and quesadillas, Sorrento’s Pizza for grab-and-go slices, and Park Cafe for deli-style sandwiches — though choices do fluctuate barely by ship.
Further-fee eating on Royal Caribbean covers many of the bases — Chops Grille for steak, Izumi for sushi, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Jamie’s Italian for Mediterranean classics and Hooked Seafood for fish and shellfish.
Wonderland mixes inventive flavors and distinctive shows, and 150 Central Park is right for a particular celebration; the latter two can be found solely on Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships. Themed Nineteen Fifties diner Johnny Rockets (on greater than a dozen ships) is an inexpensive, kid-friendly favourite.
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Like Royal Caribbean, Movie star gives a proper predominant eating room on Solstice Class and Millennium Class ships. Nevertheless, on Edge Class ships, 4 smaller themed eating places exchange the one banquet-style eating corridor.
Every encompasses a choice of unique menu gadgets — new American in Cosmopolitan, Mediterranean in Cyprus, French in Normandie and Italian in Tuscan — together with picks from the Movie star Signature menu.
Every venue’s distinctive atmosphere and distinctive menus serve a wide range of tastes on a complimentary foundation — however solely for dinner. As well as, visitors who guide suites in The Retreat can dine at Luminae, whereas these in AquaClass have entry to health-focused Blu, freed from cost.
Further fleetwide complimentary eating contains the buffet-style Oceanview Cafe; the Mast Grill, an off-the-cuff poolside eatery serving burgers and wraps; and the Spa Cafe, providing more healthy, lighter choices for breakfast and lunch.
Movie star’s extra-fee eating additionally varies by ship class. On Edge Class ships, visitors can take pleasure in Positive Lower Steakhouse for prime cuts and seafood, Eden Restaurant for contemporary world delicacies, Le Grand Bistro for traditional French, Rooftop Backyard Grill for yard favorites, Uncooked on 5 for sushi and Japanese specialties and Magic Carpet for small bites and cocktails.
Movie star’s most elevated eating expertise is Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, the acclaimed French chef’s first restaurant at sea, out there aboard Movie star Past, Ascent and upcoming Xcel.
Movie star’s Solstice Class and Millennium Class ships characteristic Tuscan Grille for steak and Italian specialties, Le Petit Chef for traditional French with enchanting tabletop leisure and Sushi on 5 for Japanese. The road’s Solstice Class ships have a further restaurant, Murano, for elevated French tasting menus.
Two Movie star ships, Reflection and Silhouette, additionally provide two alfresco eateries: Garden Membership Grill and The Porch seafood restaurant.
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Should you’re in search of culinary selection with out paying additional, Royal Caribbean’s a number of complimentary informal eating venues, particularly on its latest and largest ships, give it an edge for households.
Movie star’s Edge Class ships’ quartet of complimentary eating places gives a nightly change of surroundings and menus, splendid for {couples} and teams of grownup mates.
If you’re prepared to pay additional for a number of dinners, Movie star’s roster of specialty eating places can be a notch above Royal Caribbean’s by way of high quality and atmosphere.
Onboard points of interest
Royal Caribbean’s concentrate on adrenaline-rush actions makes it the clear alternative for household enjoyable, whereas Movie star’s chicer vibe is a draw for {couples} searching for to chill out.
Royal Caribbean is a pacesetter in providing amusement park-style points of interest resembling waterslides, zip traces, browsing and sky-diving simulators and escape rooms. Movie star would not go there in any respect. Reasonably, its onboard points of interest are designed for grown-ups, with swimming pools, sizzling tubs and trendy top-deck rest areas, resembling The Garden Membership on Solstice Class ships and The Rooftop Backyard on Edge-series ships.
All Royal Caribbean ships characteristic mountain climbing partitions, out of doors film screens and arcades. All however Radiance Class and Imaginative and prescient Class ships have FlowRider surf simulators, and all however Radiance Class, Imaginative and prescient Class and Quantum Class ships have minigolf programs.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class, Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships characteristic essentially the most thrills within the fleet — maybe even at sea. Oasis Class vessels are identified for his or her assortment of waterslides and the Final Abyss dry slide that drops riders 10 decks by means of a spiral tube pulsing with mild. These ships even have an ice skating rink, zip line, escape room, pop-up laser tag and a carousel.
Icon of the Seas has the biggest water park at sea, with six slides, and an exciting ropes course alongside the facet of the ship.
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Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships do not characteristic waterslides however are distinguished by their North Star sightseeing capsule, which lifts visitors excessive above the ship for 360-degree views. Different thrills embody RipCord by iFly (a sky-diving simulator) and the multipurpose indoor SeaPlex providing bumper automobiles, basketball and Xbox gaming consoles.
Freedom Class and Voyager Class ships provide some thrill actions, however not as many because the newer ships. These can embody numerous waterslides, laser tag and escape rooms, so examine every ship’s choices. Older and smaller Radiance Class and Imaginative and prescient Class ships characteristic swimming pools however no waterslides or different kid-friendly points of interest.
What Movie star’s ships lack in thrills, they make up for with eye-catching modern design and funky locations to hang around. Solstice Class ships characteristic a half-acre Garden Membership with actual grass; it is the setting for jazz live shows and out of doors video games. Edge Class vessels have a Rooftop Backyard with reside crops, fashionable sculptures, cozy seating nooks and a grill restaurant. Cabana-lined pool decks characteristic elevated sizzling tubs formed like martini glasses.
Each Royal Caribbean and Movie star characteristic adults-only Solarium swimming pools. In addition they provide stress-free spas with salons, thermal suites and health facilities for all of your self-care and wellness wants.
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Children actions
Each Royal Caribbean and Movie star welcome households and have complimentary children golf equipment, however solely Royal Caribbean has the onboard points of interest and thrills that enchantment to energetic youthful kids and teenagers.
Royal Caribbean’s Journey Ocean youth program has areas and actions (science and artwork tasks, video games and events) designed for teenagers ages 3-12. This system is free in the course of the day and early night; an hourly charge applies after 10 p.m.
Onboard nurseries accommodate kids ages 6 to 36 months for drop-off babysitting (for an hourly charge). Teenagers can hang around, dance or chill with new mates at every ship’s teen membership or attempt to get a excessive rating on the arcade.
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Movie star’s Camp at Sea children program caters to kids in three age teams (3-5, 6-9 and 10-12). Programming focuses on recreation, hobbies and learning-based actions within the arts and sciences. Its Teen Membership retains 13- to 17-year-olds entertained with sports activities competitions, silent discos and online game events.
Royal Caribbean is the hands-down winner right here, a cruise line designed with household enjoyable in thoughts. Some older teenagers may take pleasure in a transition from Royal Caribbean to Movie star. Nevertheless, households with energetic tweens and youthful children searching for onboard thrills are higher off with Royal Caribbean.
Leisure
Royal Caribbean pulls out all of the stops by way of leisure, so if vigorous, in-your-face nightlife is essential to your trip bliss, go for one among its newer, bigger ships.
Movie star’s leisure lineup pushes boundaries in additional sudden methods however primarily on its newer Edge Class ships; its Solstice Class and Millennium Class ships provide extra conventional leisure.
Each cruise traces characteristic inviting bars and lounges. Movie star’s nightlife scene is decidedly extra upscale and stylish, whereas Royal Caribbean’s is livelier and extra informal.
Love a Broadway present? Royal Caribbean levels variations of award-winning musicals resembling “Grease,” “Cats,” “Hairspray” and “Mamma Mia!” on choose ships, in addition to unique productions on all vessels. The road’s largest and latest ships additionally provide dazzling ice skating reveals, daring high-dive AquaTheater performances and/or implausible high-tech multimedia dance reveals.
The 2 dozen bars and lounges on Royal Caribbean’s ships vary from the panoramic Viking Crown Lounge to the gimmicky Bionic Bar, which options robotic bartenders. On Utopia of the Seas, the Bionic Bar is changed by the Pesky Parrot, a Caribbean-themed bar that includes a vigorous animatronic parrot. A sports activities bar (Playmakers Bar & Arcade), piano bar (Schooner Bar) and Latin-style lounge (Boleros) are different in style choices.
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Passengers also can sing karaoke, watch a poolside film underneath the celebrities and hit the dance ground to the tunes of a reside band or DJ. The larger the ship, the higher the leisure choices.
Movie star’s leisure philosophy total is extra conventional, with nightlife centered round ingesting, hanging out in lounges and having fun with unique reveals within the ship’s theater. Bars and lounges additionally characteristic reside music, and there is a silent disco get together at the least as soon as per cruise.
Should you’re in search of one thing a little bit completely different, the Edge Class ships provide inventive and interactive performances in Eden and The Membership, a multipurpose house that includes DJs and themed late-night performances.
All Movie star ships are identified for the Martini Bar, the place flamboyant bartenders create a spectacle with shaker tosses and colourful cocktail towers, and the Sundown Bar, positioned aft and providing terrific sailaway views. Solely Movie star Past and Ascent characteristic a chicly reimagined, two-level Sundown Bar by designer Nate Berkus (it is a one-story venue on different ships). Craft Social is the place to seize a craft beer and bar bites, whereas World Class Bar is the go-to for curated cocktails.
Each cruise traces’ ships characteristic massive casinos and provide participatory sport reveals (“Love & Marriage” and “Battle of the Sexes” on Royal Caribbean and “Deal or No Deal” on Movie star).
Itineraries
Royal Caribbean’s ships cruise to greater than 300 locations worldwide, however the coronary heart of its enterprise is the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
Most of its vessels spend the months from November to March within the islands, crusing three- to 12-night cruises from ports in Florida and Galveston, Texas, with some round-trip itineraries from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Nevertheless, you will discover a number of ships cruising the Caribbean year-round. Many itineraries name on Royal Caribbean’s activity-packed non-public Bahamian island, Excellent Day at CocoCay.
Seasonal itineraries in Europe, together with the Mediterranean, Greek Islands and the British Isles, are additionally in style, as are cruises to Alaska. Royal Caribbean additionally gives sailings to Bermuda, Hawaii, Canada and New England, Mexico, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Panama Canal and the South Pacific. Transatlantic and transpacific cruises can be found seasonally as effectively.
Movie star ships name on greater than 300 cruise ports. Most ships spend November to March cruising the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale and Miami on three- to 11-night sailings and April to October in Europe on six- to 14-night itineraries within the Mediterranean, Greek Islands, Adriatic, British Isles, Iceland and Northern Europe.
Seasonal cruises are additionally out there to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Bermuda, New England and Canada, South America, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, South America and Asia. Movie star additionally gives itineraries to Antarctica from Buenos Aires.
With each cruise traces, most itineraries final fewer than 19 nights. The exception is Movie star’s 110-night Grand Voyage (although it is made up of 9 shorter sailings strung collectively).
For a summer time cruise within the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean has way more choices, whereas each traces provide a wide selection of summer time sailings in Europe. Both line is an effective alternative for Alaska in summer time or the Caribbean in winter, relying on whether or not you are touring as a pair or a household.
Backside line
Royal Caribbean is the apparent alternative should you crave a vigorous and stimulating cruise expertise with 24/7 leisure and actions that wow each adults and children. It is also usually the extra inexpensive choice.
Movie star is the cruise line for you if you need a extra upscale large-ship expertise with a grown-up vibe (however nonetheless appropriate for teenagers and teenagers). What Movie star’s ships lack in adrenaline-rush thrills, they make up in terrific eating and ingesting venues.
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