Royal Caribbean vs NCL
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.
NCL in a sentence
Flexible and lively, with a Las Vegas-meets-resort feel; dinner whenever you want, in whatever you packed.
| Feature | Royal Caribbean International | Norwegian 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. | Flexible and lively, with a Las Vegas-meets-resort feel; dinner whenever you want, in whatever you packed. |
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| Fleet size | 30 (as of October 2026) | 21 (as of March 2026) |
| Founded | 1968 | 1966 |
| Parent company | Royal Caribbean Group | Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings |
| 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) | NCL adds a daily service charge of $20 per person per day for most cabins and $25 per person per day for suites and The Haven. Children under 3 are exempt. A 20% gratuity is added to bar purchases and some specialty venues. (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. | Resort casual every night. There are no formal nights; some sailings have an optional dress-up evening. Swimwear is not appropriate in the restaurants, and main dining rooms and specialty restaurants ask for a neater resort-casual look at dinner, so pack a pair of slacks or nice jeans and a collared shirt or sundress. |
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| Loyalty program | Crown & Anchor Society | Latitudes Rewards |
| 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, Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Northern Europe & Baltic, British Isles, Norwegian Fjords, Transatlantic, Australia & New Zealand, Asia.
Both depart from: Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Galveston, New Orleans, Boston, Seattle, Vancouver, Los Angeles (San Pedro), San Diego. Pricing the same week on both is the fastest way to decide.
Questions people ask
Is Royal Caribbean or NCL 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. NCL: Splash Academy is the included kids' club (ages 3 to 12, grouped by age) and Entourage serves teens.
Which has higher gratuities, Royal Caribbean or NCL?
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. NCL: NCL adds a daily service charge of $20 per person per day for most cabins and $25 per person per day for suites and The Haven. Children under 3 are exempt. A 20% gratuity is added to bar purchases and some specialty venues. Lines change these, so we confirm current amounts in every quote.
Do Royal Caribbean and NCL sail from the same ports?
Yes. Both sail from Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Galveston, New Orleans, Boston, Seattle, Vancouver, Los Angeles (San Pedro), San Diego, which makes it easy to compare the same week on both lines.
Price Royal Caribbean and NCL 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.