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Which ship is bigger Royal Caribbean or Carnival?

Both companies are market leaders in terms of fleet sizes. That said, Royal Caribbean has more ships and they're often larger, which means additional dining, activities and lodging options for passengers.



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Food and drink Yes, the food options differ between Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line. Both cruise lines offer a wide selection of dining options. While Royal Caribbean is known for its upscale feel and gourmet cuisine, Carnival Cruise Line offers a more casual dining experience.

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On board, the mix of other passengers can determine the overall experience, but both cruise companies do an excellent job of offering fun for all ages. Carnival wins this category for its more laid-back atmosphere and the number of children-specific activities.

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Guests may also bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on boarding day. Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. Milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use are permitted.

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If you're ready to hop aboard, here are Money's picks for the five best cruise lines of 2023.
  • Carnival - Best for Budget Cruises.
  • Disney - Best for Customer Satisfaction.
  • MSC - Best Luxury Experience for a Mainstream Brand.
  • Norwegian - Best for Solo Travelers.
  • Royal Caribbean - Best for Families.


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For passengers looking to enjoy views, especially the scenery in the wake of a ship, we recommend higher decks and the back of the vessel. The higher you pick, the farther you'll see. If you're after views, the best room on a cruise ship will be a balcony cabin at the ship's rear end.

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That's why guests and travel experts continually recognize Royal Caribbean as the Top Cruise Line for families, Best Cruises for couples, and Best Cruise Line for first timers. And for 20 consecutive years, we've been voted Best Cruise Line Overall by Travel Weekly readers.

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Currently, the largest Carnival ship is Carnival Jubilee, in terms of both tonnage and passenger capacity. Set to debut in late 2023, it will tie sister ship Carnival Celebration, which first set sail in 2022, at 183,521 gross tons and 5,374 passengers at double occupancy.

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Carnival Cruise Line is often considered less expensive than Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line due to several factors: Fleet size: Carnival Cruise Line has a larger fleet than Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line, which allows them to offer more sailings at a lower price point.

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In order to keep the air conditioning working inside the cabin you do have to keep the balcony door closed on the majority of cruise lines. This is one of the reasons that many people do sleep on the balcony because in theory you can't lay in bed and keep the door balcony open.

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Can You Sleep on a Cruise Ship Balcony? There are no rules that say that passengers on cruise ships can't sleep on their balconies. That said, cruise lines do generally advise against it. Despite this many people enjoy sleeping on their balconies and you won't have any problem doing so if you want to.

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Your balcony is somewhat private, but gaps around the dividers mean others might get an eyeful if you're not careful. As well, sounds can travel. At first glance, there's no one around to see you if you end up getting down on the balcony. But don't think that it is ultra-private.

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Royal Caribbean is one of the most family-friendly cruise lines sailing the seas. Although the line's ships offer plenty of adult activities on board — late-night clubbing, adults-only hot tubbing and 18+ scavenger hunts — they also schedule plenty of parties for kids and families to enjoy together.

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Guests are not obligated to book a shore excursion and free to explore ports of call on their own.

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Thankfully, very few cruise ships have actually sunk in modern history. Even so, the Titanic's sinking impacted maritime law so much that there are more than enough lifeboats for all passengers and crew onboard any given sailing. Within the last 111 years, over 20 cruise ships and ocean liners have sunk.

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Modern cruise ships are, on average, 20% longer than the Titanic and twice as high. The average Royal Caribbean cruise ship is 325 meters long, 14 decks high and has a gross tonnage of 133,000. In comparison, the Titanic was only 269 meters long, 9 decks high, and had a gross tonnage of 46,000.

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Around 10% of a cruise ship is below the water. Some of the largest cruise ships in the world, Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class ships, have a height above the waterline of around 72 metres (236ft 11in), and a draft below the water of around 9.3 meters (30ft 6in).

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