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Cruise line comparison

Carnival Cruise Line vs Royal Caribbean International

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

Overview

Quick summary

Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International are both contemporary cruise lines. Carnival Cruise Line runs 29 ships and was founded in 1972, carrying 93,660 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

Carnival

Royal Caribbean

Market SegmentContemporaryContemporary
Founded19721968
Fleet Size2930
Total Passenger Capacity93,660131,817
HeadquartersUnited StatesUnited States
Parent CompanyCarnival CorporationRoyal Caribbean Group
Biggest ShipCarnival Celebration (183,521 GT)Icon of the Seas (250,800 GT)
Newest ShipCarnival Jubilee (2023)Legend of the Seas (2026)

Fleet

Fleet comparison

Carnival Cruise Line: top ships

  1. 1Carnival Celebration183,521 GT · 5,374 pax
  2. 2Carnival Jubilee183,521 GT · 5,374 pax
  3. 3Mardi Gras180,800 GT · 5,282 pax
  4. 4Carnival Venezia135,225 GT · 4,072 pax
  5. 5Carnival Firenze135,156 GT · 4,126 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

Carnival Cruise Line vs Royal Caribbean International FAQ

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

Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International are both contemporary cruise lines. Carnival Cruise Line runs 29 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, Carnival Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean International?

Carnival Cruise Line's largest ship is Carnival Celebration at 183,521 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, Carnival Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean International?

Both Carnival 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 Carnival Cruise Line have compared to Royal Caribbean International?

Carnival Cruise Line operates 29 ships with a total capacity of 93,660 passengers. Royal Caribbean International has 30 ships with a total capacity of 131,817 passengers.

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