I've sailed with every Royal Caribbean cruise line — here's how to pick the best one for you

Sat, 07/27/2024 - 06:58

composite of Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Beyond, Royal Caribbean International's Icon of the Seas, and Silversea's Silver Cloud, all on water — Royal Caribbean Group oversees three brands — Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and Silversea — that all target different cruisers.
Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Wayleebird/Shutterstock

Royal Caribbean Group oversees Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.
The three brands target different guests, from families with young kids to older wealthy travelers.
Here's how the cruise lines compare and how to pick the best one for your needs.

You've probably heard of Royal Caribbean's cruises. But you might not know that it has two sister brands — and they're nothing alike.

The cruise line's parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, oversees three businesses that all target different cruising segments: families (Royal Caribbean International), premium (Celebrity Cruises), and ultra-luxury (Silversea).

I've been on complimentary non-revenue sailings with all three. And let me tell you, they all had little in common.

Royal Caribbean is like a theme park at sea, Celebrity has a boutique hotel feel, and Silversea has floating five-star resorts.

But there is one feature that ties the trio together — a loyalty program.

Royal Caribbean International's loyalty program is known as the "Crown and Anchor Society."

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Royal Caribbean Group announced in 2023 that travelers with status at one of its brands can now get equivalent status across all three cruise lines.

So, if you're a Royal Caribbean International regular who's cruise-curious and eyeing a Silversea sailing or Celebrity vacation, here's a guide to the trio and how to best pick the one for your needs.

Royal Caribbean International — the cruise line for families with young children.

Icon of the Seas' outdoor decks — Icon of the Seas first set sail in late January.
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The cruise giant's eponymous brand, arguably the most recognizable on this list, operates a fleet of 28 ships. Seven are the world's largest, including the title-holder 7,600-guest Icon of the Seas, which the company has repeatedly lauded as the "best-selling product in its history."

The six-month-old mega-ship perhaps best exemplifies the traits synonymous with Royal Caribbean International: giant vessels, a family-friendly environment, and uniquely exciting amenities.

Expect attractions like waterslides, mini-golf courses, surf simulators, and children's water playgrounds.

water park on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas — Icon of the Seas has a six-slide waterpark.
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The cruise line's oldest ship, Grandeur of the Seas, offers amenities such as a rock climbing wall and outdoor movie theater.

On its newest, Utopia of the Seas, guests get three waterslides, an ice skating rink, an underwater-themed mini-golf course, and five pools. But even that pales to Icon, which has seven pools and a six-slide waterpark.

The cruise line is generally considered its parent company's most affordable brand.

robot bartender arms under bottles of liquor on Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas — Some of Royal Caribbean's newer ships have Bionic Bar, staffed by robot bartenders.
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Unfortunately, that also means there will be plenty of upcharges.

About half of the restaurants on its newest and largest ships cost extra, from casual dining venues like Johny Rockets to the upscale $200-per-person Empire Supper Club.

The same goes for some of its amenities, like the $49-per-person agility course. And the bars, of course, which include options like ones with robot bartenders, a sports bar, and even a karaoke lounge.

Beyond floating hotels, the brand also boasts Perfect Day at CocoCay, its $350 million private island in the Bahamas.

Royal Caribbean International's Perfect Day at CocoCay private island — Royal Caribbean has invested $350 million into Perfect Day at CocoCay.
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There, travelers can lounge at various beaches, take a dip in a large freshwater pool, or pay extra to access the waterpark and two private beach clubs, one of which is adults-only.

The Bahamian destination was exclusive to Royal Caribbean International guests for its first few years in operation — until April, when Celebrity Cruises announced that it, too, would start sailing to CocoCay.

Celebrity Cruises — the choice for travelers who want a premium, trendy ship.

seating and artwork on an open aired walkway — The Celebrity Apex has uniquely colorful spaces.
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Unlike Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises isn't known to be a vacation haven for young children.

Celebrity does offer onboard kids' clubs. But don't expect to see the waterslides and carousels of its mass-market sister brand.

Celebrity's contemporary lounges and rooftop gardens are designed to target Gen Xers.

people standing on the market carpet as it's above the water — Celebrity's new Edge Class ships have the Magic Carpet, a bar and lounge attached to the side of the vessel that can move vertically across the decks, doubling as the tender embarkation site.
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Celebrity ships have trendy and polished spaces. Think restaurants that look like they belong at high-end beachside resorts, 2.5-acre lawns with live jazz, and glassblowing classes.

Instead of frozen beverages and karaoke, Celebrity has bars focusing on martinis, wines, and mixology. Newer ships also have the Magic Carpet, a moving bar suspended over the water.

Some of its dining venues also have fees.

hanging plants and green decor around the multi-floor Eden venue — The Edge Class Celebrity Apex has upscale and trendy spaces like the Eden bar and restaurant.
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Celebrity's newer Edge Class ships have at least 29 bars and restaurants. But if you want sushi, a steakhouse feast, or a dinner at famed chef Daniel Boulud's Le Voyage, you'll have to pay extra (it is still a Royal Caribbean Group brand, after all).

But just because it's a premium cruise line doesn't mean its ships are small.

outdoor lounge seating by a large screen — Celebrity Apex has a rooftop garden with programs like morning yoga.
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Celebrity's latest and largest vessels, Celebrity Ascent and Beyond, have a double occupancy capacity of 3,260 guests. It's undeniably smaller than Royal Caribbean International's 5,000-plus-guest cruise liners but still large enough to give you that big-ship feel.

If you're craving a small, intimate vessel, that's what Silversea is for.

Silversea — the pick for wealthy travelers who prefer small, quiet ships and sumptuous amenities.

composite of silver ray cruise ship and pool deck — Silver Ray, launched in mid-June, is Silversea's latest Nova Class vessel.
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Silversea is best known for its expedition cruises and luxurious ships, the largest of which can only accommodate 728 travelers.

The average age of its guests also skewers older than Celebrity and Royal Caribbean's, averaging in the mid-60s, Andrea Tonet, Silversea's vice president of product strategy, told reporters during a June media panel.

The brand has started targeting younger travelers with its latest vessels.

empty alfresco seating near fake orange tree on Silversea Silver Ray — Silver Ray is 801 feet long and 54,700 gross tons, markedly larger than Silversea's previous ships.
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And it's working — Silver Nova and Silver Ray have seen an influx in younger cruisers compared to Silversea's 10 other ships, Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, told analysts on Thursday.

"Younger," as in guests in their 40s, according to Tonet.

If Celebrity has minimal kid-oriented amenities, Silversea has none.

birds eye view of open air restaurant on Silver Ray — For dinner, guests on Silver Ray can grill their own shrimp, steaks, and lamb chops at the alfresco Grill.
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Instead, it leans further into Celebrity's focus on relaxing, high-end lounges and restaurants. But unlike its premium counterpart's colorfully contemporary decor, Silversea's latest ships look more subdued.

Think "whisper luxury" with bright, elegant spaces and an emphasis on good drinks and food.

Like other luxury cruise lines, Silversea has all-inclusive packages that include flights and excursions.

living and bedroom in deluxe veranda — Every suite on Silver Ray has a balcony.
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And unlike its sister brands, none of Silversea's cabins are inside and windowless.

Instead, they all have views, if not balconies, and a butler who can help with tasks like packing your luggage and reserving onboard restaurants.

It's also the only cruise line with SALT, an acronym for 'sea and land taste.'

SALT cooking station on Silversea's Silver Ray cruise ship — Silversea's newer ships host cooking classes at the SALT Lab.
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The program launched three years ago turns its small ships into local cuisine-focused cruises.

This could include food-oriented shore excursions, onboard cooking classes, restaurants with menus that rotate according to the port, and bars that showcase regional spirits and ingredients.

Speaking of, it's also the only Royal Caribbean Group line with complimentary spa access and drinks.

drinks and canapes on Silversea's Silver Ray cruise ship — Dolce Vita, one of Silversea's signature bars, has "free-spirited" cocktails like the Pink Lady, prepared with Lyre's London Dry Spirit and Orange Sec, lemon, egg white, and grenadine.
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Even the no-fee meals are high-end, from a restaurant with live jazz to room service with free caviar and foie gras.

Instead of a casual grab-and-go pizza stand, Silversea has an alfresco grill-it-yourself restaurant. And instead of an onboard Starbucks (like some of Royal Caribbean's ships), Silversea has a café with TWG teas and espresso drinks.

However, not everything is free. Like its sister brands, a handful of its restaurants, like the upscale French and Japanese options, are upcharged.

With these high-end amenities comes comparatively hefty fares.

Silversea's least expensive weeklong cruise in 2025 starts at $2,800 per person — steep compared to Royal Caribbean and Celebrity's cheapest seven-night cruises next year, which are $804 and $641 per person, respectively.

Pricing aside, Royal Caribbean should be your top pick if your vacation priority is keeping the kids entertained and happy.

If you want to keep the big-ship feel but prefer a cooler and more contemporary environment, Celebrity is your best bet.

But if you only care about relaxation, being pampered, and caviar, go with Silversea. The less kid-oriented atmosphere will hopefully give you the quiet you're craving.

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I've sailed with every Royal Caribbean cruise line — here's how to pick the bes…