Sunday, March 31, 2024

Royal Caribbean vs Norwegian Cruise Line Everything You Need to Know

royal caribbean norway cruise

I have read that you should be up on the top deck around 4.30 am to enjoy the sail into the fjord. However, at least if we get a tour bus, we'll probably have less of a chance of missing it (although that's probably my travel anxiety talking there)! That said, we won't rush to book the Olden Adventures bus and instead we'll wait until the public bus timetable has been finalised so that we can see whether its viable.

New Cruise Ships on Order - Cruise Critic

New Cruise Ships on Order.

Posted: Thu, 22 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Australia & New Zealand Cruises

Those sailing with kids should learn more about Norwegian Viva, while adults, couples, and older travelers will appreciate the elevated experience of Celebrity Ascent. In my experience, Norwegian Viva felt the most crowded of any of these ships. Before Icon of the Seas hit the ocean, Carnival Cruise Line welcomed the newest Excel Class ship to its fleet, Carnival Jubilee, in December 2023. The Texas-styled cruise ship is full of family fun from stern to bow, which perfectly aligns with Carnival’s goal of having the most fun ships at sea.

Top 10 Most Beautiful Port Cities Royal Caribbean Cruises

Matt started Royal Caribbean Blog in 2010 as a place to share his passion for all things Royal Caribbean with readers. He oversees all the writers at Royal Caribbean Blog, and writes a great deal of content on a daily basis. I enjoyed my hike to Briksdal, but the glaciers in Alaska are certainly larger. This may be partly due to how much Briksdalsbreen has retreated in recent years.

Africa Cruises

As the fourth ship in the Edge Class, Celebrity Ascent features a sophisticated, modern approach to cruising. Although not considered a mainstream cruise line, Celebrity Cruises is classified as a premium cruise line with fairly reasonable prices. No matter which of these two cruise lines guests choose, they are sure to have a fun, memorable, and exciting cruise vacation! We hope that this article was helpful, and that it introduced you to some of the differences and similarities between these two cruise lines.

With popular Norwegian fjords cruises together with midnight sun and northern lights tours to the north of Norway also available, there is a lot of diversity in Scandinavian cruises. Your cruise ship sails into the fjord, similar to how an Alaska cruise might sail to see a glacier in Alaska. The start of the sailing takes place in the early morning hours, and culminates with seeing the Seven Sisters waterfall before reaching town. The observation deck at the top of the Holmenkollen Ski Jump offers 360-degree views of the city.

Transatlantic Cruises

The cruise line’s largest ship, the Wonder of the Seas, has room for 5,734 guests. The Icon of the Seas, a new ship that will launch in 2024, will carry a maximum of 5,610 guests across its 20 decks. If you want to explore modern Scandinavia while gaining access to some of the region’s best museums, such an itinerary is a perfect choice. Given the timing, this was the only itinerary I could pick that worked with my travel times. Norway has many appealing traits, but certainly the fjords have to be at the top of anyone's list for a Norwegian cruise.

Tips for Preparing Your House for an Extended Vacation Royal Caribbean Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line in my personal opinion has some of the best food I have been able to sample on larger scale cruise ships. For example the new Indulge Food Hall onboard the Norwegian Viva is a revolutionary dining venue that has some of the best Indian cuisine I’ve ever tried, at sea or on land. For both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean guests will be able to find a wider breadth of activities onboard newer ships. This is due to the innovation and technology that continues to be developed and improved with each new vessel.

SAVOR THE SEA

There is no shortage of specialty dining options onboard with eight different restaurants available, from French Le Bistro to Hasuki Teppanyaki and Los Lobos Mexican Steakhouse. Carnival Jubilee has 19 decks that can accommodate around 6,600 passengers at maximum capacity. This mega cruise ship is also broken into six different zones onboard, similar to Icon’s neighborhood design.

Video: Norwegian Free at Sea Perks Explained

royal caribbean norway cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line is known for debuting industry firsts onboard its newer vessels. For example, the Norwegian Speedway is a never before seen onboard activity that is exclusive to Norwegian Cruise Line. Onboard ships such as the Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Prima, and the Norwegian Viva, guests can satisfy their need for speed in a real life go-kart experience. Recently both these cruise lines announced new ships that will be debuted in the years to come. Both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are set to release many more ships into the future, signaling a continued success for both these brands.

Both these cruise lines do a great job of offering nighttime entertainment such as comedians and live music. I appreciate that Norwegian Cruise Line provides venues specifically for these kinds of nighttime entertainment in addition to bars and lounges. Onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Viva, the comedy lounge called ‘Improv’ and bars such as ‘Syd Norman’s  Pour House’ for live music.

For those who like cruise food, Norwegian has a nice variety of restaurants onboard their fleet. You’ll find 2-3 main dining room type restaurants, and all you can eat buffet and The Local or O’Sheehans (pub style restaurant). Norwegian Cruise Line, also known as NCL, has the reputation of being a fun, family friendly cruise line. Similarly to Royal Caribbean, Norwegian cruises has exciting attractions and beautiful ship designs.

A Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) boat offers a fast way to see it all, both in speed and duration. Perhaps one of the most well-known (at least visually) fjords in Norway is in Geiranger. On my Royal Caribbean cruise to Norway, we stopped at both Geiranger and Olden, and that gave me a chance to experience the very best of Norway's alluring scenery. Your browser is outdated and does not support many of the modern features of this website, please click here to update it.

The 30 Largest Cruise Ships in the World Ranked - Cruise Critic

The 30 Largest Cruise Ships in the World Ranked.

Posted: Thu, 08 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

On past cruises on the Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Joy, the entertainment has always been phenomenal. If you want a cruise line where you are always going to be entertained, then Royal Caribbean is for you. Royal Caribbean is known for having some of the best entertainment at sea. The great thing about cruising to the Caribbean or Bahamas with Royal Caribbean, is that many itineraries stop at their private island, Perfect Day at Cococay. I hope you'll all find this useful and it will help you have a great time on your cruises. Just be sure to watch your time closely for getting back to the ship at the end of the day.

Norwegian vs Royal Caribbean: How They Differ

royal caribbean norway cruise

There are also a couple of panoramic bus tours that look to be very similar to Royal's offerings and, again, at much cheaper prices. I couldn't see any indication of whether or not they were accessible, though, so anyone needing that facility would be best to contact them and check. Again, the types of rooms you can expect to find will vary, based on which ship you’re sailing. Some local initiatives protesting against cruise travel have also gathered momentum, so cruisers should be aware of these issues before setting foot ashore. For those interested in Viking history, look out for smaller ship itineraries featuring Visby on the wonderful island of Gotland. I then took my food to a table on the porch outside with a view of the fjord and I wish I could have brought back some food with me.

mistakes & 3 things I did right on my Royal Caribbean Norwegian fjords cruise

If you’re cruising with family or a group, consider the Family Suites, which can accommodate larger groups and include extra amenities to keep everyone comfortable and entertained. Royal Caribbean’s cabins are designed with guest comfort in mind and range from cozy interior rooms to sprawling suites with private balconies. Unique to Royal Caribbean are the “virtual balcony” interior rooms that feature floor-to-ceiling HD screens showing real-time ocean views. A particularly popular option among solo travelers is the Studio cabins, specifically designed for single occupancy, removing the “single supplement” that can make cruising alone more expensive. These cabins also grant access to the Studio Lounge, a private space for socializing with other solo cruisers.

Visit Nature's Theme Park

Upcoming Cruise Ship Refurbishments - Cruise Critic

Upcoming Cruise Ship Refurbishments.

Posted: Tue, 16 Apr 2024 04:18:45 GMT [source]

When it comes to ship production, both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line show no signs of slowing down. This means more innovations are sure to come to the cruise line industry with each new ship that hits the high seas. So far I have sailed onboard the Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Star, and Norwegian Viva vessels. For Royal Caribbean I have cruised with the Mariner of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas. Norwegian is a great cruise line for families, as well as cruisers of all ages. The cruise line also has a fun atmosphere and some communal spaces for single passengers to hang out.

Norwegian Cruise Line is Best For:

From a waterpark to adult only exclusive beaches, there is truly something for everyone on this private island. Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean both offer incredible itineraries all over the world. For those looking for live music onboard Royal Caribbean, they do not need to look far. Royal Caribbean’s classic bars such as Playmakers Sports Bar and Schooner Bar are always filled with a good time for guests. In addition to kids clubs, there are often splash zones and kids pools onboard many of Norwegian Cruise Line ships and Royal Caribbean ships. In my personal experience, it does appear that there are usually more kids zones and areas onboard Royal Caribbean ships.

Booking the Ã…krafjord and Langfoss Waterfall tour

In Geiranger, you can rent a two-person tiny electric car that has a GPS system built in that offers tours of the surrounding area. Some of these mistakes and good choices are also more universal to other types of cruises, whether in Europe or the Caribbean. So there may be opportunities for everyone to have a better future cruise experience. Once again, it's hard to convey in photos just how majestic the entire fjord looked. Given how cooperative the weather was, we had a picture perfect day enjoying time in the fjord.

Haugesund fjord tour

Both of these massive cruise ships have everything you could want on a cruise ship; however, be prepared to fight crowds during popular events. Both these large scale cruise lines specialize in offering something for everyone onboard their ships, and are great about being cruise lines that caters to the whole family. Because of this, both Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean can be great options for multi-generational vacations. Once a passenger cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line and/or Royal Caribbean for the first time they are automatically a member of that cruise line’s loyalty program. For every subsequent cruise thereafter guests will earn points and work their way toward the next loyalty tier to achieve even more rewards for their next cruise vacation. Because the itinerary can be the most important part of cruising for many guests, I always recommend perusing and browsing the itineraries offered by cruise lines before picking the ship.

Bright colors and an atmosphere of overall fun is the common theme onboard Royal Caribbean. While Norwegian Cruise Line users in relaxation alongside notes of sophistication. Both these brands’ styles are great and offer a wide variety for prospective passengers to choose from. Cruisers who enjoy exciting attractions, amazing entertainment and a fun night life.

Both of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newer vessels, the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, display examples of sophisticated and relaxing Scandinavian design. While Royal Caribbean’s newer vessels focus on displaying an atmosphere of fun and excitement to its guests. Any cruiser who enjoys nonstop entertainment, activities and an exciting environment. Royal Caribbean is often referred to as the cruise line for those who are young at heart.

That reviewer booked the Akrafjord and Langfoss Waterfall tour without doing any research into it but said it turned out to be a good tour. It's currently showing sold out for my sailing (7th July) but might be an option for others on different sailings. Just like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian has a variety of offerings for its passengers.

royal caribbean norway cruise

The headstrong Spanish farmers continue to produce some of the world's finest oranges, olives, and hams. Learn about the types of Greek architecture you can explore during your next Mediterranean vacation. When in Greece, you're sure to discover hidden gems of ancient ruins that still stand alongside modern buildings. Take your best European vacation with access to the top secret vacation spots to visit when traveling in Europe. Cruises from Venice can be a gateway to discovery — and not just of the places you sail to.

King crab risotto, creamy fish soup, mussels, poached salmon, tasty fish soups and crispy cod tongues are some of the regional favorites. Our guide covers top attractions, insider tips, and expert recommendations. Here are some Rome vacation must-sees and tips on how to navigate travel when arriving or departing via cruise through Civitavecchia. Uncover the ultimate guide to eating locally in Italy as you make the most of your vacation travels.

Unless of course prospective guests are the most interested in the ship most of all. If I had to make a choice between the two cruise lines when it came to food, I would say Norwegian Cruise Line has the best options onboard their newer ships. While Royal Caribbean is very consistent across the cruise line, and has some great food offerings onboard their older vessels as well as their new ships.

How Royal Caribbean Makes Money - Investopedia

How Royal Caribbean Makes Money.

Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 18:16:53 GMT [source]

British line P&O Cruises operates its relatively new megaship Iona in the fjords region for much of that period, with regular departures from Southampton on a popular 7-day itinerary. Whether you prefer the action-packed ships of Royal Caribbean or MSC, or the smaller ships that can sail along narrower fjords, there will be a Norwegian fjords itinerary for you. Many different types of itinerary can be advertised as Scandinavian cruises. Some may also include the highlights of the Baltic Sea region, including the Baltic countries and ports in the north of Germany and Poland. Our first port stop was in Haugesund, and I thought I made a mistake booking a fjord tour that was about 2 hours away by bus from the ship. On the Geirangerfjord sail-in, I started out on the pool deck to see everything, but it was quite cold so I went back to my cabin.

Design Your Own Engagement Ring from Scratch Online

Table Of Content Our design team is ready to work on your idea next. Engagement Rings What Are the Pros and Cons of Designing a Custom Engag...