I Put The World’s 4 Most Popular Cruise Lines To The Test
Imagine booking your dream cruise on
one of the 4 most popular lines… only to realise within hours of boarding it’s
not for you – so many things are wrong. I don’t want that to happen to anyone, that’s
why I’m going to compare these four, while they’re the biggest cruise lines in the world,
all seem so similar, all promise fun, loads of on-board venues, and great prices… but in reality,
they’re very different. As you will discover. Welcome aboard, I’m Gary Bembridge, and I’m
going to break down exactly what each does best, what they don’t do so well, and who they’re really
for — so you can avoid an expensive mistake. But before that let me explain
what they all do have in common. The world’s four biggest lines based on
passengers carried are Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Carnival. Think of these four as the “resort” lines
of the cruise world. Like land resorts, the ships are a destination themselves. They are large carrying thousands of passengers,
have dozens of venues, dining options range from casual burgers to fancy specialty restaurants,
there’s Broadway and West End-level shows, an endless range of activities for wide range
of interests, and a high-energy atmosphere. They also have the lowest starting fares
in cruising — sometimes from as low as $55 per person, per night in low season. But here’s where the similarities end. Let me dive into their differences starting with
what they are each best known for. Royal Caribbean is best known for having
the biggest and most innovative ships in cruising today. Their mega ships
are packed with surf simulators, zip lines, ice rinks, and have up to
6 different themed neighbourhoods. Their biggest negative is some find their
ships a bit overwhelming, noisy and too busy . Norwegian is best known for
pioneering “freestyle cruising, with no fixed dining times or dress codes,
tons of dining choices, strong entertainment, and the “Pride of America”, the
only ship sailing Hawaii year-round. They’re also seen as good for
solos due to their Solo Studio cabins area and luxury seekers due
to their suites-only The Haven area. Their biggest negative is many feel they
are constantly “nickel-and-dimed” on board, with extra charges for many things. MSC Cruises is best known for providing a more
European experience compared to the other three American one, their very competitive
pricing with Kids travelling for free, and for the “Yacht club” their good
value premium, ship-within- ship area. Their biggest negatives are a
reputation for poor customer service, inconsistent dining that does not always
cater well for North American tastes, and all announcements and
programs in six languages. Carnival is best known for having what they
call “The Fun Ships” which are affordable, lively, casual, with a focus on a party
vibe and crowd-pleasing on deck activities. Their biggest negative is a reputation
for rowdy and bad behaviour on board, reinforced by new rules and bans
occasionally introduced to tackle it. With what they’re best known for in mind, let’s
dive into more detail on their differences, starting with the fleet and itineraries,
and then moving on to fares, cabins, dining, entertainment and who
they are best for and why. Knowing the fleet and itinerary differences
is key, as it may immediately narrow down which of these four lines are best suited
to you based on where they can take you. Royal Caribbean has the largest
fleet with, at the time of recording, 28 ships carrying from 2,000 to 7,600 passengers. They offer the widest global footprint,
including the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada/ New England and
South America, as well as offering several private destinations including Perfect
Day at CocoCay, Labadee and Costa Maya. Norwegian has the smallest fleet of the four, with 19 ships spread across six
different classes but more on order. They do though offer the second widest range
of regions to cruise including Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. They also have private islands
including Harvest Cay and Great Stirrup Cay. MSC Cruises has a large fleet of 24 ships
and growing fast with bigger ships like the new MSC World America, and MSC World
Asia catering for up to 6,700 passengers. They do sail several regions, but are
very focused on the Mediterranean, and are building their routes in
the Caribbean, Northern Europe, Middle East, South America, and Africa.
They too have a private island: Ocean Cay. Carnival has the second-biggest fleet
with 27 ships and their ships are getting bigger and bigger with Carnival
Jubilee carrying over 6,600 passengers. They are mostly focused on the United States
with many home ports and many short Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mexico itineraries.
But they do sail Alaska, Australia, and some European routes, but have the
smallest global footprint of all the lines. Let me talk a little bit about
pricing differences next. All offer affordable fares across most grades, and
Inside Cabins can sometimes start from as low as $55 per person per night out of season.
But here are some notable differences. Royal Caribbean fares tend to be
higher than Carnival and MSC Cruises, especially for their newer ships
where demand is always high, and I see their starting prices are usually
closer to $90 per person. Their larger suite fares match those of ultra- luxury lines
like Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas. Norwegian Cruise Line pricing
is similar to Royal Caribbean, and The Haven also often costs the same as
a suite on those ultra luxury lines too. MSC Cruises is usually on the lower end of
pricing in this category, often the lowest in Europe and very competitive in the Caribbean,
helped by their Kids Cruise Free offer. The Yacht club is, as mentioned,
the most affordable ship-within-ship across all categories, often just
between $300 and $600 per night. Carnival, broadly speaking, will often have the
lowest average fares especially in the Caribbean, and MSC and them tend to be the lower
priced compared to the other two. What about cabins? Are there any big differences? All four offer a wide range from budget
friendly Inside Cabins to High-end Suites, but each line has their own signature twists. Royal Caribbean, partly because of
the scale of their newer ship classes, has the widest range and types of cabins.
They have some of the largest and most expensive suites on any line like the
Multi-storey Ultimate Family Suites, Star Class butler suites, but also have
innovative virtual balcony Inside Cabins, and cabins at every grade that can hold
at least 6 guests to cater for families. Norwegian also has a wide range
and family cabins but their Solo Studios with private lounge, and
The Haven luxury enclave with pool, lounge, and concierge are seen
as their most stand out features. MSC Cruises with their big focus on the family
market has many multiple occupancy cabins at all grades, but their most notable cabin feature
is the Yacht Club (luxury ship-within-a-ship) at the industry’s best prices for this,
with butler, private restaurant, and pool. Unlike all other line ship-within-ships, they are the only ones that have
Inside Cabins as well as suites in it. Carnival again with focus on family has
many options for multiple occupancy, generally fewer suite options, but
has the reputation for generally slightly larger standard cabins than average. Next, I explore if there are big
differences in dining you need to know about While all four on the surface appear to
have a broadly similar approach to dining, there are some key differences. All have main dining rooms,
a buffet, casual venues, and specialty restaurants, but there are
nuances in style, choice and quality. Royal Caribbean in my view is the most
solid all-rounder. Standouts here include the Windjammer Buffet, El Loco Fresh, Johnny
Rockets Burgers, Chop’s Grill, Izumi, Jamie’s Italian, and the themed Wonderland. Norwegian offers the most flexibility and
is more casual. Standouts here include: O’Sheehan’s, The Local, and the new
Indulge Food Hall which is a great flexible addition. Their Specialty
restaurants like Cagney’s, Le Bistro, Teppanyaki, and my favourite, the
Food Republic are consistently good MSC stands out from the other with
their European-inspired cuisine, with good pasta and pizza from their Italian roots.
But as mentioned they get the harshest reviews about quality and consistency all of the
four, mostly from North American travellers. Carnival stands out most for their American
Comfort food focus, with regular Carnival cruisers loving venues like Guy’s Burger
Joint and Blue Iguana Cantina. Their main dining room and buffet menus usually
have less variety than Royal Caribbean and Norwegian but its solid, probably
reflecting their more value-based fares. What about entertainment and
activities? Where do they differ? There are bigger differences
in entertainment & activities among these four than many cruisers appreciate. Royal Caribbean is the leader of the pack for
entertainment. They have huge entertainment teams, over 250 on my last Symphony of the Seas
trip serving up full Broadway productions, Ice Skating Shows, Aqua Theatre shows and
activities like Waveriders, Zip Lines, Climbing Walls and skydiving simulators. Norwegian has historically been very strong in
big theatre shows, with some Broadway shows, like Beetlejuice I saw on Viva though they have
started to cut back here with more in-house shows. They have a big live music focus, glitzy
game shows, and late-night comedy and music. MSC Cruises is probably the weakest of the
four running shorter song and dance reviews to get around the 6-language approach, which
also limits ability to run some traditional cruise favourites like trivia. They do have
big themed nightly parties on the atrium along with other high energy performances
there too earlier in the evenings. Carnival has a more laid-back approach
to entertainment with more focus on fun events to fit their “Fun Ships” promise,
with Comedy clubs, deck parties, karaoke, pool games, and smaller-scale theatre
production shows than some of the others. So, bearing all this in mind, who are they
aimed at and who is each best for and why? As you will see they are best
for quite different people. Royal Caribbean is for cruisers who want a
floating theme park with lots of big-scale entertainment and things to do, making them
best for families with kids of all ages, multi-generational groups, and active
action-seeking couples and friend groups. Norwegian Cruise line is for cruisers who
love flexibility, casual dress codes and busy music-focused nightlife making them
best for independent-minded travellers, night owls and because of those dedicated
areas, solos and luxury suite lovers who still want all the choices and
entertainment a bigger ship offers. MSC Cruises is for cruisers wanting a European
experience, a more cosmopolitan and international crowd, and all on a budget, making
them best for conscious travellers, especially families, and those wanting
more luxury but at a more affordable price. Carnival is for cruisers who want a lively
high-energy, fun party atmosphere that is casual and affordable, making them best
for budget conscious and sociable couples, friend groups and families, especially
Americans as that is their key focus. They’re also great for those looking for short
inexpensive breaks as they have many of these. If you’ve decided that these
resort value lines aren’t for you, why don’t you join me over in this video
where I dive into premium cruise lines, including Holland America, Princess,
Celebrity, and Virgin? See you over there.
Imagine booking your dream cruise on one of the world’s biggest lines—only to realise within hours of boarding it’s not for you. In this video, I break down the FOUR most popular cruise lines based on passengers carried—Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Carnival—so you can choose wisely and avoid an expensive mistake.
I compare:
– What these “resort style” mega-ships all have in common
– What each does BEST and where each FALLS SHORT
– Fleet sizes, global itineraries and private islands
– Key fare differences and hidden costs
– Cabins: from budget inside rooms to luxury suites (including ship-within-ship concepts)
– Dining styles and quality
– Entertainment and onboard activities
– Who each line is REALLY best for—and who should steer clear
Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveller, this guide will help you match the right line to your travel style and budget.
**** VIDEO CREDITS AND THANKS
Thanks to Jackson Jetsetting Channel ( https://www.youtube.com/@JacksonJetsetting ) for allowing use of shots in this video including:
o Carnival Miracle https://youtu.be/_XIQbOqguIQ?si=hn3YhF2SE9llsYMG
o Carnival Luminosa: https://youtu.be/YuabEoFyw3c?si=0ciqtmpNnOEbsWCd and
o Carnival Radiance https://youtu.be/YuabEoFyw3c?si=0ciqtmpNnOEbsWCd
o Carnival Conquest https://youtu.be/8PDNP36x4dY?si=glDeCUF7nBqS6qhI
o Carnival Firenze https://youtu.be/otGEwuIvPyE?si=tzpRNBzEpLcWN_Ij
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40 Comments
We like Holland America and Celebrity. We didn't like MSC – too crowded and lines everywhere. Royal Caribbean is probably too big and busy. Carnival is for 20-somethings, not us 70s types. We hear mixed things about Norwegian – some of our friends like it, some don't.
Just took a RC 3 day cruise out of Ft.Lauderdale , crew and staff were great. Nickel and dimed is RC’s game. Never again. Coco Cay is a joke.
I like NCL
Ill have to say that NCL haven is just so good like sooooo goood.
I bet Gary does not ghetto away
You’re right about Royal Caribbean being more expensive. In Australia we get gouged and for a 3 night sampler cruise on Quantum of the Seas next year we’re paying AUD$ 800 per night for 3 nights for 2 people in a standard mid aft balcony, and drinks packages aren’t available for cruises under 5 days. 😮
Being a solo traveler I sail NCL 90% of the time due to them catering to singles and couples with no children and I love their solo studios. It’s a separate area only accessible by your key card. Plus they’re in the middle of the ship so any movement is lessened.
Royal Caribbean prices for Solos are the worst and rarely viable to go for. Even NCL who are supposed to be known for solo cruising the prices for solos do feel a lot higher
I have had exceptional customer service on MSC which went above and beyond expectations. So i think it is something they are working on. As for dining besides an issue on the first night it was really good.
MSC have done more trivia options i still found plenty to do there. They are starting to do some bigger shows now with dirty dancing. They definitely have a lot more unique shows now with the Carousel ones and using 2 production companies on board.
⛴️⛴️⛴️ Thank you for your insight. In my opinion mostly because I've made Asia my home there needs to be more mid range cruise companies here to help drive down fare cost. MSC Bellissima is here in Japan planning to book 30 -60nts in 2027. Carnival has four ships in Australia. There are a few other lines mid to higher end. Place some cost friendly ships in Singapore, Gateway port in Malaysia, Laem Chabang outside Bangkok Thailand, drop some lines in Bali. Offering many more 7 – 7+night sailings. Cut back on 3nt – 4nt bookings everywhere.
We have cruised many times, and just did our first with Holland America. Phenomenal food, service, entertainment. Have been on CCL and RCCL many times. It certainly is true that CCL rooms are larger, but the party vibe depends on the sailing and the pax. We have taken several of their Journeys cruises, which are about 14 days and go to more unusual ports. Very few kids, no problems at all, as the pax are more interested in the ports than the party. Security has told us the Journeys cruises never have any problems and it is like a vacation for them, too.
I take a cruise to get to a destination. I could not get on one of these ships. More than 1,000 people is just way too nuts. I also like a well educated population on a cruise.
Bigger the ship the better. Smaller the ship the WORST it is. It's boring as hell
We have been on Princess, HA and Carnival. Carnival is the worst- would not go on one of them if they paid me. Like others have said Viking is so much better than these huge cruise ships.
Really like this type of video! They have helped us determine which lines we are willing to consider and which are likely not for us.
Just returned from a Royal cruise. My fourth with them, my husband’s FIRST with them. Could not believe how much nickel and diming there was. Way beyond NCL. They were hawking specialty dining on every corner and in every venue. They even set up a table to sell gold chain by the inch right at the buffet entrance. It felt like we were at a swap meet. Their water slides, that they heavily promoted as being the longest at sea, were down the entire cruise and we came to find out that they had been down for a month and no anticipation of being fixed until 2026. The 700 kids on board and my own husband were extremely disappointed and we felt duped and deceived. It is likely that we will never sail with Royal again. We do not feel that it was value for our money.
Great video. I saw you got a similar video comparing the “premium” cruise lines. Do you have two more videos comparing the “luxury” lines and the “ultra luxury” lines?
Carnival has a reputation now as the "Ghetto" cruise line. Fights and big trouble breaking out quite often.
Just like going on holidays in a big shopping mall
Although on some ships the food has been good, I've been quite unimpressed with the food in the Norwegian main dining rooms. Preferred Princess and Royal Carribean. On Norwegian: little presentation, overly small portions, not bad – but boring.
Australian here 🇦🇺👋 It's very expensive for us to cruise in the South Pacific. I'm booked on RC Anthem of the Seas in November leaving from Sydney. I can't wait. 😊💙
I found Royal Caribbean ok. I didn't gel with Norwegian, I'm certainly interested in trying MSC. Carnival doesn't enthuse me for trying them.
I don’t see NCL nickel and diming anymore than the others…
I am finding that RCL is inconsistent throughout the fleet. Only Oasis class ships now seem o be getting all the great things that are great about RCL.
Carnival is best if your idea of fun cruising is sitting by the pool and watching the same drunk twenty-something being told three different times not to take his glass beer bottle into the Whirlpool by Security, or refereeing two large families brawling on the disco floor because they cant handle the cheap drinks.
Ich bin immer wieder verblüfft, wenn Englischsprachige die mehrsprachigen Durchsagen von MSC als Nachteil anführen.
Die Welt basiert nicht ausschließlich auf Englisch.
My first cruise on MSC World Europa made me an MSC fan.
The criticism I often saw about MSC on YouTube comments all seemed misguided to me, and considering the price, I thought such criticism was unreasonable.
However, after taking my second cruise this summer on Euribia, I had to reconsider that some of this criticism is valid.
There's a significant difference in buffet crowding between World Class ships and those below. Euribia's buffet crowding was a nightmare, whereas World Class ships have two buffets, alleviating congestion. They also stagger preparation times, ensuring the buffets remain open without interruption.
Furthermore, on the Euribia, many of the relaxing areas bordered the promenade, which was constantly filled with noise, making it difficult to find a quiet place to unwind. On World Class ships, the promenade is outside, so noise disperses, and it's possible to relax quietly at the stern.
I no longer wish to sail on any MSC ship other than World Class.
Wouldn't take a Carnival cruise for free after some of the videos I've seen of violent behavior on their ships
Hello from Germany! Our first cruise was with MSC because the kids were free back then and until now, my husband and I still are devoted MSC (only) customers, enjoying smaller ships like Splendida and now traveling within Yacht Club (Mediterranean / Baltic Sea).
We really enjoy the food, I mean, they are Italian and know how to cook delicious meals.
We enjoy the show in the evenings and honestly, I never felt bored on any of our cruises.
And yes, they use multiple languages, because they welcome guests all abroad Europe and other countries. And we really like the fact, that the audience is so diverse.
We experienced good customer service and friendly staff and only run into a bar with a little slower service staff like once or twice during all our journeys and there is always another one to go instead.
We didn’t enjoy Meraviglia, because the concept of that ship include many open spaces and a lack of cozy bars which made it quite noisy.
I think, it is also important to keep in mind that the season and the route you choose for your cruise can make quite a difference.
I am normally a P&O cruises guy but I recently took my first NCL cruise and I really enjoyed it. I particularly liked the lack of dress code, and the price was incredibly competitive.
thank you for sharing – would love to know your same feedback on Princess, Virgin, and Celebrity – NM (just saw your other video) Thank you
We prefer the smaller cruise lines. HAL, Celebrity, Princess, Cunard offer an upscale cruise experience for a reasonable price without all the drama of the Big 4 and the high prices of Seaborn, Seven Seas and the other luxury lines. Celebrity has been our Go To for many years. We have yet to try Virgin so I will hold off on my opinion till we try them. I like the adult only requirement.
Just back from an MSC cruise from Southampton on the virtuosa. Nice ship but there is the lack of staff and service is slow. No wonder there unhappy
I think you were right about Norwegian Cruise Line cutting back. First Norwegian Cruise we went on had wonderful Broadwaylike shows. Those have been replaced by poor dancing renditions. I will give Norwegian credit for their itineraries, which are excellent.
This was a great overview, Gary. So fun to read all the different experiences and perspectives here. My reason for selecting one cruise line over another depends on where I’m sailing. I choose RCCL for Caribbean cruises, even though the drink and internet packages seem EXORBITANT compared to the others. The food tends to be subpar, and the presence of families can be overwhelming. I choose Princess for west coast Mexico cruises because I love their included food, and the newer ships are gorgeous. NCL I love for Alaska cruises. Their Encore ship is fabulous, yet their included food in the MDR can be terrible, so it’s best to eat at the buffet or specialty dining.
Perhaps you could add a link to the next video you suggested in the description box. The hot button video on the screen doesn't function with android. For whatever reason a title search on YouTube is only giving me YouTube shorts instead ..thank you
I don’t like any of these lines …lol
You mention NCL “freestyle” causal style – both carnival and RC have adopted similar positions – so, it seems like “freestyle” is no longer a distinguishing NCL trait
I split my time between Carnival and RC for many years – my take is both lines are good for a wide variety of people / tastes / moods – it is what you make of it – take part in activities / entertainment, or quieter adult only areas – chow down at buffet, or goto speciality dining – join group activities, or sit alone on balcony