Royal Caribbean Cruises

Royal Caribbean builds its ships around things to do. The fare covers the main dining room, the Windjammer buffet, Broadway-style production shows, pools, and the thrill gear the line is known for - rock-climbing walls, mini golf and waterslides - plus access to its private island destinations. That makes it the default pick for families and groups who want a busy sea day rather than a quiet one, and the bigger the ship, the more of that you get.

What isn't in the fare adds up quickly. Royal Caribbean's own fare page lists beverage packages, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, spa treatments, the arcade, bingo and the casino as extras, and at meals only water, tea, select juices and basic coffee are included. The posted gratuity in 2026 is $18.50 per guest per day in regular staterooms and $21.00 in suites, and an automatic 20% is added to drinks, drink packages, specialty dining, room service, minibar and spa purchases.

Evenings follow three dress codes - casual, smart casual and formal - and the line treats them as guidelines rather than rules. A formal night in the main dining room is the one place people actually dress up; the buffet and casual venues stay relaxed. Kids go to Adventure Ocean, split by age into groups for 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12, with a separate space for teens and a paid nursery for babies and toddlers on many ships.

Against Carnival, Royal Caribbean usually costs a little more and the ships carry more headline attractions. Against Norwegian, it has a more traditional dining setup and fewer of its fares come with drinks bundled in. Celebrity, its sister line, is the move for travelers who like the same itineraries with fewer slides and a more grown-up crowd.

Sources: royalcaribbean.com, royalcaribbean.com, help.iglucruise.com, cruiseradio.net