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Cruise line comparison

Norwegian Cruise Line vs Royal Caribbean International

Side-by-side comparison of Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International cruise lines.

Overview

Quick summary

Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International are both contemporary cruise lines. Norwegian Cruise Line runs 20 ships and was founded in 1966, carrying 60,495 passengers in total. Royal Caribbean International runs 30 ships and was founded in 1968, with 131,817 total passenger capacity.

Side by side

How the two lines compare

Attribute

Norwegian

Royal Caribbean

Market SegmentContemporaryContemporary
Founded19661968
Fleet Size2030
Total Passenger Capacity60,495131,817
HeadquartersUnited StatesUnited States
Parent CompanyNorwegian Cruise Line HoldingsRoyal Caribbean Group
Biggest ShipNorwegian Encore (169,116 GT)Icon of the Seas (250,800 GT)
Newest ShipNorwegian Aqua (2025)Legend of the Seas (2026)

Fleet

Fleet comparison

Norwegian Cruise Line: top ships

  1. 1Norwegian Encore169,116 GT · 3,998 pax
  2. 2Norwegian Bliss168,028 GT · 4,004 pax
  3. 3Norwegian Joy167,725 GT · 3,804 pax
  4. 4Norwegian Escape164,600 GT · 4,266 pax
  5. 5Norwegian Aqua156,300 GT · 3,571 pax

Royal Caribbean International: top ships

  1. 1Icon of the Seas250,800 GT · 7,600 pax
  2. 2Legend of the Seas250,800 GT · 7,600 pax
  3. 3Star of the Seas250,800 GT · 7,600 pax
  4. 4Utopia of the Seas236,860 GT · 5,668 pax
  5. 5Wonder of the Seas236,857 GT · 6,988 pax

Good to know

Norwegian Cruise Line vs Royal Caribbean International FAQ

Which is better, Norwegian Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean International?

Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International are both contemporary cruise lines. Norwegian Cruise Line runs 20 ships and Royal Caribbean International runs 30, so the choice comes down to ship size, itineraries, and onboard style rather than price tier.

Which has bigger ships, Norwegian Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean International?

Norwegian Cruise Line's largest ship is Norwegian Encore at 169,116 GT, while Royal Caribbean International's largest is Icon of the Seas at 250,800 GT. Royal Caribbean International has the bigger flagship.

Which is more expensive, Norwegian Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean International?

Both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International are contemporary cruise lines, so pricing is generally similar. Actual fares vary by ship, itinerary, cabin type, and season.

How many ships does Norwegian Cruise Line have compared to Royal Caribbean International?

Norwegian Cruise Line operates 20 ships with a total capacity of 60,495 passengers. Royal Caribbean International has 30 ships with a total capacity of 131,817 passengers.

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