Royal Caribbean vs Norwegian Cruise Line: A Deep Dive into Luxury Rooms, Dining, Family Fun & More

8 min readSep 12, 2024

Deciding between Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) for your next cruise vacation? Both cruise lines offer top-tier experiences, but they cater to different tastes and budgets. In this guide, we’ll compare the various room levels, dining and drink packages, family activities, and exclusive luxury areas. By the end, you’ll see why NCL’s The Haven is the standout choice for affordable luxury, especially on their newer ships. Plus, I’ll share tips on how to score great flight deals, book activities, and ensure a seamless cruise experience from start to finish.

Room Levels: Comparing Luxury and Standard Options

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers a wide range of rooms, from interior cabins to lavish suites, perfect for any budget:

Interior and Oceanview Cabins: These are the most affordable options, offering comfort with either no view or a window.
Balcony Rooms: A step up from the basic rooms, these offer private balconies with ocean views — a great choice if you enjoy a morning coffee with the sea breeze.
Junior Suites: More space and luxury, these suites offer larger living areas, priority boarding, and upgraded bathroom amenities.
Royal Suites: These top-tier suites are where Royal Caribbean shines, especially with their Royal Loft Suites and Owner’s Suites, which offer separate living areas, stunning views, concierge services, and even butler service.

However, if you’re truly looking for luxury, Royal Caribbean’s top suites come with a steep price tag. They also have the Suite Class, which provides access to exclusive dining, lounges, and sun decks.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

Norwegian offers similar categories, but their standout feature is The Haven, which offers the best value in luxury:

Inside and Oceanview Rooms: Like Royal Caribbean, these are basic rooms that are comfortable and budget-friendly.
Balcony Rooms: Spacious and offering beautiful views, these are great for couples or small families who want to enjoy the ocean air.
Mini-Suites and Spa Suites: Offering more space and access to spa facilities, these rooms are perfect for those wanting a little extra pampering.
The Haven: This is where NCL really shines. The Haven is a luxury enclave within the ship, offering suites that come with private butlers, concierge service, access to an exclusive sundeck, and priority embarkation. The new NCL ships (like the Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss) offer stunning, modern Haven Suites that rival those of any luxury hotel — at a price far more affordable than Royal Caribbean’s top suites.

Recommendation: If you’re seeking true luxury at an affordable price, The Haven on NCL’s newer ships is unbeatable. You’ll enjoy a private world of luxury, but at a price point that’s more reasonable than Royal Caribbean’s top-tier suites.

Drink Packages: Which Cruise Offers the Best Value?

Royal Caribbean Drink Packages

Royal Caribbean offers several drink packages, including:

Refreshment Package: Includes premium coffee, fresh juices, bottled water, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Deluxe Beverage Package: This is the all-inclusive option, covering cocktails, beer, wine, sodas, specialty coffees, and juices.

Prices can be on the higher side, especially if you’re purchasing onboard, so it’s smart to book these packages before you sail for a discount.

Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages

Norwegian’s Free at Sea promotion often includes a free drink package as part of your cruise fare, making this a great value. Their Premium Beverage Package covers a wide variety of spirits, cocktails, wine, and beer. Plus, NCL’s flexible dining schedule means you can enjoy your drinks at more diverse times and locations without the rigidity of traditional dining times.

Recommendation: NCL wins here because of their Free at Sea promo, where the drink package is often included, making it a much better value than Royal Caribbean’s higher-priced options.

Dining Packages: Flexibility and Gourmet Options

Royal Caribbean Dining Packages

Royal Caribbean offers traditional main dining rooms and specialty dining packages for their high-end restaurants. The specialty options include:

Chops Grille: A high-end steakhouse.
Izumi: Fresh sushi and hibachi-style meals.
Giovanni’s Table: Italian fare with a gourmet touch.

You can purchase dining packages that give you access to these specialty restaurants at a discount.

Norwegian Cruise Line Dining Packages

NCL excels with their Freestyle Dining, which lets you eat whenever you like, without being locked into set dining times. Their dining package includes options like:

Cagney’s Steakhouse: A fan-favorite steakhouse.
Le Bistro: Fine French cuisine.
Teppanyaki: An interactive hibachi experience.

Their Free at Sea promotion often includes specialty dining credits, which makes dining at these high-end restaurants even more affordable.

Recommendation: Norwegian’s Freestyle Dining is the better option, especially with the dining package often included in the Free at Sea promotion. Plus, no fixed dining schedules mean more freedom to enjoy your vacation.

Family Activities and Exclusive Areas

Royal Caribbean Family Activities

Royal Caribbean is famous for its family-friendly activities and unique amenities, including:

FlowRider Surf Simulators and Skydiving Simulators
Rock Climbing Walls and Ice-Skating Rinks
Splashaway Bay water park for kids
DreamWorks Character Meet and Greets for young ones

They also have the Adventure Ocean Kids Program and teen lounges, keeping young travelers entertained.

Norwegian Cruise Line Family Activities

NCL offers a wealth of family-friendly options as well:

Go-Kart Racing Tracks on ships like the Norwegian Bliss.
Laser Tag Arenas and Water Slides.
Splash Academy: NCL’s kids club with themed activities and scavenger hunts.
Virtual Reality Arcades on newer ships like the Norwegian Encore.

However, where NCL shines is in their luxury family suites within The Haven, offering families the chance to experience VIP luxury with access to private pools and exclusive dining.

Recommendation: Both cruise lines are fantastic for family activities, but NCL offers more unique, cutting-edge attractions on their newer ships like go-karts and laser tag. Plus, The Haven offers the ultimate family luxury experience.

Ports and Routes: Where Will You Sail?

Royal Caribbean Ports and Routes

Royal Caribbean has an expansive selection of ports and routes, including:

Caribbean: Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean cruises, with stops in the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Mexico.
Mediterranean: Including Spain, Italy, Greece, and Croatia.
Alaska: Stunning views of glaciers and wildlife.
Asia: Cruises to Japan, China, and Southeast Asia.

Norwegian Cruise Line Ports and Routes

Norwegian also offers a wide range of destinations:

Caribbean: With stops in popular spots like the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas.
Mediterranean: Visiting Italy, Greece, and the French Riviera.
Alaska: Offering breathtaking views and opportunities for shore excursions.
Hawaii: Norwegian has a unique 7-day inter-island Hawaiian cruise, which is a rare itinerary offered year-round.

Recommendation: Both lines offer excellent options for Caribbean and Mediterranean routes, but if you’re dreaming of Hawaii, NCL is the clear winner.

Travel Hacks: Get the Best Flight Deals and Hotel Rates

Fly In the Day Before

Here’s a golden rule: always fly in the day before your cruise. This ensures that flight delays or cancellations won’t cause you to miss the ship. Use Skyscanner to find great flight deals, and try to book flights early in the morning or midweek for the best prices.

Hotel Deals

Book a hotel near the port so you can relax before embarkation. You can find excellent last-minute hotel deals on Skyscanner and Agoda. Many hotels offer free shuttle services to the port.

How to Get on Board First & Make Reservations

Priority Embarkation: Book a suite or a cruise line’s private area (like The Haven) to get priority boarding. You can also purchase priority boarding packages that ensure you’ll be one of the first on the ship.
Make Reservations Early: Download the cruise line’s app and make your dining and entertainment reservations as soon as they’re available. Popular restaurants and shows fill up fast!

BONUS: Booking Onboard and Shore Activities

Onboard Activities

Both cruise lines offer incredible onboard entertainment:

Royal Caribbean: Known for Broadway-style shows and AquaTheater performances.
Norwegian Cruise Line: NCL is famous for its Broadway shows like Jersey Boys and Cirque du Soleil-style performances.

Book your shows and activities (like spa treatments or fitness classes) as early as possible through the cruise line’s app to secure your spots.

Shore Excursions

Whether you’re stopping at the Caribbean, Alaska, or the Mediterranean, booking shore excursions through Viator can save you money. From scuba diving in Cozumel to tours of ancient ruins in Europe, pre-booking ensures you don’t miss out on top-rated experiences.

Pro Tip: If you’re a certified diver, check if the cruise offers scuba diving excursions at various ports. Norwegian and Royal Caribbean both have great options for divers.

Conclusion: Norwegian is the Best Choice for Affordable Luxury

While both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line offer fantastic cruise experiences, Norwegian’s Haven on their newer ships delivers unbeatable luxury at a more affordable price. With free drink and dining packages, cutting-edge activities like go-karts, and Freestyle dining, NCL gives you a flexible, VIP experience.