Celebrity Cruises vs Royal Caribbean: which sister line should you book?

Celebrity vs Royal Caribbean scorecard

Both lines score “strong” for ships, for opposite reasons: Celebrity for calm and design, Royal Caribbean for sheer scale and activity. Decide which of those you want and the rest follows.

Strengths

Celebrity: food and feel. The main dining room is a real step up from the mass-market lines, the Edge-class ships (Celebrity Edge, Apex, Beyond, Ascent and Xcel) are some of the best-designed big ships at sea, and most ships carry about 2,100 to 3,300 guests, not 5,000-plus. The All Included fare bundles a Classic drinks package and Basic Wi-Fi, which makes the real price easy to compare. Celebrity also sails the Galapagos on its 100-guest Celebrity Flora.

Royal Caribbean: the most to do at sea. Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas are the largest cruise ships in the world, with water parks, surf simulators, climbing walls and ice shows included in the fare. Perfect Day at CocoCay makes its short Bahamas trips a family favorite.

Weaknesses

Celebrity: higher fares than Royal Caribbean, crew tips and specialty restaurants still extra even on All Included fares, and little for young children: Celebrity Beyond, for example, has a kids’ program but no slides or water park. The Millennium-class ships are older, and the Infinite Veranda on Edge-class ships is not a traditional balcony.

Royal Caribbean: busy ships, queues at peak times and extras that add up fast: drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, gratuities and paid attractions. The biggest ships carry more than 5,500 guests at double occupancy.

Who should pick which

• Couples and honeymooners: Celebrity. The adults-only Solarium pool area on many ships and the calmer evenings suit a couple’s trip.
• Families with children under 12: Royal Caribbean, for the water parks and the Icon-class family neighborhoods.
• Families with teens or adult children: either. Celebrity works if the kids care more about food and pools than rides; Royal Caribbean if they want thrills.
• Travelers moving up from Carnival or Royal Caribbean: Celebrity is the natural next step without paying luxury fares.
• Groups with mixed ages: Royal Caribbean, because everyone finds something to do.
• Europe: Celebrity for a mid-size ship at a mid-range price; Royal Caribbean for a big ship with more to do on sea days.

Price and what’s included

Celebrity is the premium brand and Royal Caribbean the mainstream one in the same company, Royal Caribbean Group, so Celebrity usually costs more for the same length of trip. The headline gap looks bigger than it is. Celebrity’s All Included fare bundles the Classic Drink Package (with the drinks-package gratuities) and Basic Wi-Fi, and Royal Caribbean’s standard fare includes neither. Onboard crew gratuities are extra on both. Celebrity also sells cruise-only fares without the bundle, so compare like with like.

If you don’t drink much, Royal Caribbean is the cheaper holiday. If you would buy a drinks package and Wi-Fi anyway, the difference narrows a lot. See our guide to all-inclusive cruises for how bundles compare across lines.

Ships

Celebrity has 14 ocean ships in three classes: Edge, Solstice and Millennium, from about 2,100 to 3,300 guests. For most people the Edge class is the reason to book; Celebrity Beyond is a good example, sailing year-round from Florida. The Solstice ships, such as Celebrity Reflection, have a real lawn on the top deck and are the value pick. The next Edge-class ship, Celebrity Xcite, is due in 2028.

Royal Caribbean has 30 ships in seven classes, from about 2,000 to 5,700 guests. For families the pick is an Icon-class ship such as Icon of the Seas or Star of the Seas, or an Oasis-class ship such as Wonder of the Seas on a shorter trip.

Food

Celebrity wins clearly. Its main dining room is the strongest of the big-ship lines we rank, and the specialty restaurants are a step up again. On Royal Caribbean the main dining room and Windjammer buffet are dependable, but the best meals cost extra. For more on eating well at sea, see our guide to eating healthy on a cruise.

Itineraries and home ports

Both sail the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska and Canada. Celebrity’s Caribbean program runs mostly from Fort Lauderdale and Miami in winter; in fall it sails Canada and New England from Boston and New York. Royal Caribbean adds year-round Bahamas trips from Cape Liberty near New York and from Baltimore, and nearly all its Bahamas routes stop at CocoCay.

In Alaska, both run round trips from Seattle and Vancouver and one-way cruises to Seward. Celebrity sends Celebrity Edge, Solstice and Summit; Royal Caribbean sends Anthem, Quantum, Voyager and Serenade of the Seas. Neither line holds a Glacier Bay permit, so both visit Hubbard Glacier or Endicott Arm instead. Celebrity is our pick for food on an Alaska cruise in the best cruise lines for Alaska; Royal Caribbean is the pick for families with teens.

Families

Royal Caribbean is the family line of the two by a wide margin, and it leads our best family cruises for tweens and teens. Celebrity has a kids’ program, but its ships aren’t built around slides and water parks, so it works best for families with older children who are happy by the pool.

Adults

Celebrity is the adult pick. It features in our best cruises for adults as the best adult-leaning modern ship: it still accepts children, but the passenger mix skews older and the evenings are calmer. Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class ships have an adults-only area, The Hideaway, but the ships are built around families. If you want no children on board at all, compare Celebrity vs Virgin Voyages.

Celebrity Cruises vs Royal Caribbean FAQ

Is Celebrity better than Royal Caribbean?

For adults, yes: better food, calmer ships and a fare that can bundle drinks and Wi-Fi. For families with kids, no: Royal Caribbean has far more for children to do. Celebrity ranks first overall in our cruise line rankings, and Royal Caribbean is the pick for teens. Our Celebrity review has the full grades.

Is Celebrity owned by Royal Caribbean?

Yes. Both belong to Royal Caribbean Group, which also owns Silversea. Celebrity is the group’s premium brand and Royal Caribbean International its mainstream one.

Is Celebrity more expensive than Royal Caribbean?

Usually, for the same length of trip. The gap shrinks if you compare Celebrity’s All Included fare with a Royal Caribbean fare plus a drinks package and Wi-Fi. Crew tips are extra on both.

Is Celebrity or Royal Caribbean better for families?

Royal Caribbean. Its Icon- and Oasis-class ships have water parks, surf simulators and separate kids’ and teen areas. Celebrity suits families with older children who don’t need rides.

Which is better for Alaska, Celebrity or Royal Caribbean?

Celebrity for food and a calmer ship; Royal Caribbean for families who want activities on sea days. Neither goes into Glacier Bay. If Glacier Bay matters, look at Princess or Holland America.