Royal Caribbean vs Carnival
Both are contemporary lines, so the choice comes down to atmosphere, ships and where you want to sail from.
Royal Caribbean in a sentence
Energetic, family-friendly and packed with headline attractions; think floating theme park with a good Broadway show at night.
Carnival in a sentence
Laid-back, loud in the best way and unpretentious; flip-flops, burgers by the pool and a comedy show after dinner.
| Feature | Royal Caribbean International | Carnival Cruise Line |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Contemporary | Contemporary |
| The vibe | Energetic, family-friendly and packed with headline attractions; think floating theme park with a good Broadway show at night. | Laid-back, loud in the best way and unpretentious; flip-flops, burgers by the pool and a comedy show after dinner. |
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| Fleet size | 30 (as of October 2026) | 29 (as of March 2025) |
| Founded | 1968 | 1972 |
| Parent company | Royal Caribbean Group | Carnival Corporation & plc |
| Gratuities | Royal Caribbean adds an automatic gratuity of $18.50 per person per day for most cabins (including junior suites) and $21 per person per day for higher suite categories. An 18% gratuity is added to bar and specialty dining purchases, and 20% to spa and salon services. You can prepay gratuities when you book or let them post to your onboard account. (as of 2026-10-13) | Carnival adds recommended gratuities of $17 per person per day for standard cabins and $19 per person per day for suites. Children under 2 are exempt. You can prepay gratuities before sailing or have them charged to your Sail & Sign account. (as of 2026-10-13) |
| Dress code | Daytime and most evenings are casual. Most sailings include one or more optional dress-up nights (Royal Caribbean calls them formal or dress-your-best nights) where many guests wear cocktail dresses or a jacket, but it is not enforced in the buffet or casual venues. Shorts and tank tops are fine around the pool; the main dining room asks for a bit more polish at dinner. | Most evenings are cruise casual: shorts are fine at the buffet and casual spots, with nice shorts, jeans or slacks preferred in the main dining room at night. Most sailings have one or two cruise elegant nights where guests dress up a bit, though a suit or gown is never required. |
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| Loyalty program | Crown & Anchor Society | Carnival Rewards (replaced the VIFP Club) |
| US/Canada homeports in our guides | 15 | 13 |
Both sail to: Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Canada & New England, Australia & New Zealand.
Both depart from: Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Galveston, New Orleans, Baltimore, Seattle. Pricing the same week on both is the fastest way to decide.
Questions people ask
Is Royal Caribbean or Carnival better for families?
Royal Caribbean: Adventure Ocean, the included kids' club, is split by age group and runs on most days, with nursery care on many ships for an added fee. Carnival: Camp Ocean (roughly ages 2 to 11) is the included kids' club, with Circle C for ages 12 to 14 and Club O2 for 15 to 17.
Which has higher gratuities, Royal Caribbean or Carnival?
As of the dates we last checked, Royal Caribbean: Royal Caribbean adds an automatic gratuity of $18.50 per person per day for most cabins (including junior suites) and $21 per person per day for higher suite categories. An 18% gratuity is added to bar and specialty dining purchases, and 20% to spa and salon services. You can prepay gratuities when you book or let them post to your onboard account. Carnival: Carnival adds recommended gratuities of $17 per person per day for standard cabins and $19 per person per day for suites. Children under 2 are exempt. You can prepay gratuities before sailing or have them charged to your Sail & Sign account. Lines change these, so we confirm current amounts in every quote.
Do Royal Caribbean and Carnival sail from the same ports?
Yes. Both sail from Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Galveston, New Orleans, Baltimore, Seattle, which makes it easy to compare the same week on both lines.
Price Royal Caribbean and Carnival side by side
Tell us your dates and who's going. We'll quote the same trip on both lines with the full price, taxes and fees included.