Royal Caribbean means cruising.
I’m not kidding. When a lot of people think about going to the Bahamas, Royal Caribbean instantly comes to mind. Or, if they’re planning to travel around Europe, they start thinking about which Royal Caribbean ship is visiting Italy, Spain, and other beautiful destinations in the Old Continent. Royal Caribbean is, after all, the biggest cruise line in the world, with a presence across all continents and a fleet of 34 ships.
Royal Caribbean is almost seen as the Apple of cruising. No, I don’t mean that they sell a simple cotton t-shirt for $2,000, but that they do everything with class and have solidified their position in a very competitive market. Want a budget-conscious and quick trip to CocoCay, their private island in the Bahamas? You got it. How about a luxurious trip to Australia, Mexico, or Alaska? They’ve got your back.
Oh, you also want to go on a trip aboard the biggest cruise ship in the world? Royal Caribbean has you covered… get ready to say hi to Icon of the Seas! Royal has some of the largest cruise ships out there, so big, in fact, that they’re divided into different neighborhoods, such as Central Park, the Boardwalk, and the Royal Promenade.
If you want to learn even more about Royal Caribbean, be sure to check out our Planning a Cruise on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line guide. The article you’re reading now will focus more on pricing, Royal Caribbean’s main features, and a quick overview of what to expect from this huge cruise line.
Here is what we will cover:
- What Can I Expect from Royal Caribbean?
- How Many Ships Does Royal Caribbean Have?
- How Much Does a Royal Caribbean Vacation Cost?
- What is Included in a Royal Caribbean vacation?
- What is NOT Included in a Royal Caribbean vacation?
- Kids Club Onboard Royal Caribbean
- The Unique Features of Royal Caribbean
Okay, let’s get started!
What can I expect from Royal Caribbean?
The answer is simple: you can expect anything and everything.
Royal Caribbean is huge, with hundreds of different itineraries that cater to every type of traveler. Right now, they offer 889 cruises around the world, a record among cruise lines. That means they also have options for all budgets, from short 2-night cruises starting at $265 per person, to Alaska sailings from Seattle that go for around $1,400.
For the most part, Royal Caribbean is all about the mega-resort experience at sea. They’re a fantastic option for families, as their most popular ships offer multiple swimming pools, Broadway-style shows, full-on waterparks and playgrounds, ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, bumper cars, carousels, and some truly unexpected features you wouldn’t normally see on a cruise. Phew, now let me catch my breath.
If you’re planning a trip with your family, Royal Caribbean is often a top pick simply because they offer something for everyone. Kids will love the pools and waterparks, while older guests can relax in the bars or catch a spectacular show at night. In that sense, they’re somewhat similar to Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line, but Royal Caribbean is often seen as the bigger, flashier option.
Royal Caribbean is also considered a more traditional cruise line, so there is a dress code, but dining works a bit differently. You can choose a fixed dining time, like on most cruises, or go with My Time Dining, which lets you eat whenever you want.
So, we can say that Royal Caribbean is for those who want a blockbuster cruise. If you're looking for the biggest ships in the world and traveling with your family, definitely check them out. If you're after something more peaceful and you're sailing with just your significant other, another cruise line might be a better fit. That said, with so many ships and itineraries, Royal Caribbean can still be a great option for couples, especially if you're dreaming of a cozy, romantic trip to Alaska.
How Many Ships Does Royal Caribbean Line Have?
Royal Caribbean has 34 ships in its fleet, with more launching practically every year. In fact, they have the largest fleet of cruise ships in the world, and also operate the biggest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas.
There are also smaller ships in the fleet that travel to harder-to-reach destinations and scale back on entertainment options. In fact, many people around the world prefer these ships because they offer a more intimate and peaceful experience, compared to the massive juggernauts Royal Caribbean is typically known for.
Their most recent ships include:
- Legend of the Seas (2026)
- Star of the Seas (2025)
- Utopia of the Seas (2024)
- Icon of the Seas (2025)
- Wonder of the Seas (2022)
- Odyssey of the Seas (2022)
All of these newer ships are considered mega-resorts at sea. Icon of the Seas kicked off a new era for Royal Caribbean in 2024, becoming the largest cruise ship in the world, with the capacity to hold up to 7,600 passengers. It received multiple awards in 2024, including being voted Best Cruise Ship in the World, and made headlines around the globe.
Royal Caribbean was so proud of Icon of the Seas that they quickly followed up with two sister ships - Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas - each featuring slight improvements over the last. Yeah, we don’t expect Royal to abandon their vision of being a theme park on the high seas anytime soon.
Royal Caribbean Main Homeports
Good news, Royal Caribbean is present all over the globe, with a major presence at some of the world’s most popular ports. Some of their main departure points include PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, and Seattle.
- Icon of the Seas, for example, calls PortMiami home.
- Star of the Seas will sail out of Port Canaveral.
- Legend of the Seas will actually set sail from Barcelona, but will later move to Fort Lauderdale.
As you can see, Florida’s main ports serve as the base of operations for some of Royal Caribbean’s most popular cruise ships.
How Much Does a Royal Caribbean Vacation Cost?
It depends.
Yes, I know, that answer doesn’t help much. But the truth is, Royal Caribbean offers cruises for all budgets. Their newest ships, like Icon of the Seas, tend to offer the most expensive trips, which is expected. But you can also try one of their older ships for a quick, affordable getaway and see if you enjoy sailing with Royal.
For example, you can book a 3-night Bahamas & Perfect Day cruise onboard Liberty of the Seas starting at $375 per person, or go all out with a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise onboard Icon of the Seas for around $1,400 per person.
Here are some sample starting prices (per passenger) for cruises onboard Royal Caribbean:
- 4-Night Western Caribbean Cruise onboard Enchantment of the Seas: $340
- 4-Night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise onboard Allure of the Seas: $600
- 7-Night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day onboard Icon of the Seas: $1,400
- 7-Night Alaska Experience Cruise onboard Quantum of the Seas: $915
- 7-Night Western Mediterranean Cruise onboard Allure of the Seas: $900
- 9-Night Hawaii Cruise onboard Anthem of the Seas: $780
What is Included in a Royal Caribbean vacation?
Royal Caribbean follows a standard procedure when it comes to what’s included in your cruise fare. This means that you get the usual things like free dining, free activities and Broadway shows, but you still have to pay for things like Wi-Fi, gratuities and more.
Here is what’s included:
- Your stateroom
- Main Dining Room & Buffet
- Perfect Day at CocoCay (when part of an itinerary)
- Drinks like hot chocolate, brewed coffee, iced tea, assorted teas, lemonade and fruit juices
- Live Shows & Music
- Fitness Center
- Activities like Flowrider, Zip Line, rock climbing wall, card games & more.
- Pools & Waterparks
- Kids Club
What is NOT Included in a Royal Caribbean vacation?
This is a list of things not included in your base cruise fare:
- Gratuities
- Wi-Fi
- Room Service
- Laundry
- Shore Excursions
- Specialty Dining
- Soda, alcoholic drinks & specialty coffee
- Royal Babies & Tots drop-off nursery
- Spa
Kids Club Onboard Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has a kids club onboard all of their cruise ships called Adventure Ocean. Adventure Ocean is generally designed for children aged 3 to 12, although on some of the older ships, the age range is 3 to 11.
The kids club offers lots of fun activities you’d expect from a cruise line, like crafts, games, video games (hi, Mario Kart!), and even small shows and theater performances where your children are the stars.
Here’s how the kids club is divided on Royal Caribbean:
- Babies & Tots: For children 6 to 36 months old. The Royal Babies & Tots babysitting service costs $6 per hour from 9am to 6pm, and $8 per hour from 6pm to midnight. Staff can give bottles, feed the children, and change diapers as needed.
Adventure Ocean: For kids aged 3 to 12, and it’s free of charge. Adventure Ocean is further divided into smaller groups like AO Juniors (3 to 5 years old) and AO Kids (6 to 12 years old).
It operates from 9am to 5pm and again from 7pm to 10pm. On port days, the club opens 30 minutes before the first shore excursion departure. Keep in mind that the Kids Club does not provide meals for the children, only a few snacks. You can also sign your kids up for the Late Night Party Zone, which runs from 10pm to 2am and costs $7 per hour per child.
- Teen Activities: For ages 12 to 17. Teens can hang out in their own lounge and club space, where they’ll find video games, themed parties, and activities designed just for them.
The Unique Features of Royal Caribbean
Neighborhoods
Royal Caribbean ships are so big that they’re divided into different neighborhoods. The idea started with the Oasis-class ships and has only expanded since then.
Two of the most popular neighborhoods are the Boardwalk and Central Park. The Boardwalk includes a carousel, a sports bar and arcade, the AquaTheater, the Ultimate Abyss slide, an overhead zipline, and a Johnny Rockets.
Central Park, on the other hand, offers a more relaxing atmosphere, featuring a wine bar, a stop for the Rising Tide Bar, the onboard steakhouse, the 150 Central Park restaurant and also thousands of plants. It’s called Central Park for a reason, after all.
Icon of the Seas & friends
Royal Caribbean is investing heavily in the biggest cruise ships on the seas. Seriously, sometimes you look at them and they feel like Disney World floating its way to the Bahamas. Icon of the Seas is the biggest and most imposing cruise ship in the world, and two more ships just as massive are on the way: Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas. If you love the mega-resort experience at sea, these guys are the kings.
Perfect Day at CocoCay
Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, and it’s often considered one of the best out there. It’s a fantastic destination for families, with a full-on waterpark (which requires an extra charge), beautiful beaches, and much more to explore.
Access to CocoCay is completely free, and it’s definitely a place you should visit at least once. The complimentary food is also a highlight, with Skipper's Grill and Chill Grill ranking among the best free dining options on any private island.
Want to know more? Check out our exclusive review of Perfect Day at CocoCay for all the details.
Crazy Entertainment Options
There’s so much to do onboard a Royal Caribbean ship. You’ll find everything from huge waterparks and rock climbing walls to skydiving simulators, bumper cars, ice skating rinks, carousels, and even bars with robot waiters… and that’s just the beginning. If Carnival Cruise Line has a roller coaster and Norwegian has go-karts, Royal Caribbean offers plenty of wild options to make your cruise even more fun.
For more info about what you can do onboard Royal Caribbean, make sure to visit our guide titled Activities Onboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
The Biggest Shows on the High Seas
The newest Royal Caribbean ships feature more than one main show, including the AquaTheater, an open-air venue on the main deck where acrobats and dancers perform right before your eyes.
When it comes to live theater, Royal Caribbean has some big-name productions like Cats, Hairspray, and The Wizard of Oz. The Wizard of Oz is performed onboard Icon of the Seas, and it’s just like the Broadway version, running for nearly three hours.
Lots of Dining Options
You might need a dedicated guide just for dining on Royal Caribbean! Their newest ships feature more than twenty different dining venues, from steakhouses and sushi bars to Mediterranean restaurants and more, there’s something for every taste.
Be sure to check out our Dining Options Onboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line guide to learn more about everything you can enjoy once your cruise begins.
Stateroom Innovation
Royal Caribbean was the first cruise line in the world to introduce the concept of staterooms that look “inside” the ship. It started with Boardwalk and Central Park balconies, offering views of lively onboard neighborhoods filled with guests, and continued with AquaTheater Suites, which overlook the spectacular venue of the same name.
They were also the first to introduce two-deck suites, and that tradition continues on their newest ships, including Icon of the Seas. Icon even features suites with built-in dry slides, so kids can play right in the comfort of their rooms.
Want to learn more? Check out our guide titled Room Options Onboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
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