Is Royal Caribbean or Carnival better for kids?

By Cruise Booking Team

Updated on: September 18, 2024

Carnival and Royal Caribbean are two cruise lines that cater to families. Which is ideal for your kids? In this brief comparison between Carnival and Royal Caribbean, which delves into the subject of the best cruises for families, we'll try to provide an answer to that question. But before we get started, keep in mind that every cruise line has a variety of ships, and each one has different features. This content offers more of a broad overview of what each brand has to offer in general.

Comparison of Carnival Cruise & Royal Caribbean

Carnival Cruise:

Carnival Cruise Line is well known for its fun and laid-back environment, which is why it is preferred by families. Carnival has expanded its fleet in the recent past by introducing new ships such as Carnival Celebration and Carnival Luminosa. These new additions, coupled with other family favorites such as the Dream and Vista, offer a much broader spectrum of family entertainment.

Camp Ocean: Camp Ocean is Carnival's well-known and much-loved offering for children. The program is now open for children between the ages of 2 and 11 years. Present on all Carnival ships, Camp Ocean is usually situated on the upper levels of the vessels and includes such activities as art, games, and lessons about the ocean delivered by professional counselors. This makes it possible for parents to have some time to be alone while the children are securely having fun.
Circle C and Club 02: For older kids, Carnival has two designated programs: Circle C for children between the ages of 12 and 14 and Club 02 for children between the ages of 15 and 17. These clubs provide entertainment, social activities, dancing, and video game competitions so that teens can have as much fun as the younger children.

Royal Caribbean:

Royal Caribbean has an equally impressive fleet, so it's not left behind. Royal Caribbean is famous for its unique vessels and has the greatest number of options for families' leisure. The cruise line has added the Wonder of the Seas to its fleet, and the Adventure of the Seas is now year-round from Miami, which improves the company's family appeal.

Royal Babies: The Royal Babies program has been modified to accommodate children between the ages of 6 and 18 months and offers toys, games, and activities that are suitable for the age and development of the child and are closely monitored by the staff. In addition to this, Royal Caribbean has organized kids' clubs for the age groups of 3-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-11 years, and 12-17 years. These programs are run by friendly and professional counselors who ensure the parent is free to tour the ship and have fun while the children are well entertained.

The attractions of Carnival Cruise and Royal Caribbean

Carnival and Royal Caribbean have numerous attractions and activities that are meant to make children of all ages have fun.

Carnival Cruise:

Water parks: Carnival ships have water parks with pools, water playgrounds, water slides, and other entertaining facilities for children.
Sports and games: These are basketball, foosball, mini golf, and a tame roller coaster ride, which is available on some of the ships.
IMAX and 3D theaters: Some of the Carnival ships have IMAX theaters and 3D theaters, which are quite different from the traditional theaters as they have features such as wind, water sprays, and moving seats.
Build-A-Bear workshops: Children can attend Build-A-Bear workshops, where they can make their own bear and take it home.
Scratch DJ School: The Scratch DJ School is also an option for older kids; aspiring young DJs can learn how to mix music at this school.
Additional activities: Carnival also includes ropes courses, large outdoor movie screens, science labs, craft tables, and rock climbing walls so that all children can find something interesting.

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Royal Caribbean:

Character meet-and-greets: DreamWorks is available on Royal Caribbean and includes parades, character brunches, and meet-and-greets with characters such as Shrek and Kung Fu Panda.
Unique attractions: Some of the features that are unique to Royal Caribbean include bumper cars, rollerblading, a glass-enclosed observation capsule that is similar to the London Eye and rises 300 feet above sea level, an ice skating rink, and a skydiving simulator.
Ultimate family suite: Some of the features found in the Ultimate Family Suite are LEGO walls, slides, and other fun activities for the kids, and it is available on ships such as the Symphony of the Seas.
STEM and creative activities: Some features, such as science labs, craft tables, rock climbing walls, and a 3D zip line theater, are both educational and entertaining for children.
After-hours nursery care: Royal Caribbean has a special after-hours nursery care service that can be arranged for parents with toddlers.

Carnival Cruise	Royal Caribbean
Water park including pools, slides, splash pads, and other amenities	Parades, character brunches, and meet-and-greets with Shrek and Kung Fu Panda
Basketball, foosball, and mini golf	Video games, bumper cars, and roller skating
Cycling on a mild roller coaster ride	Comparable to the London Eye, this glass-enclosed rollercoaster lifts passengers 300 feet over the water.
Ropes course	Ice skating rink and skydiving simulator
Large 22-foot screen 3D theatre with additional effects, including wind, spraying water, and moving chairs while movies are being shown	For budding music business titans, there is Scratch DJ School.
IMAX experiences are available in some movie theatres.	Science lab, craft tables, rock climbing walls, and a 3D zip line theatre
Build-A-Bear seminars are available for children who want to express their creativity and take home a cuddly gift.	Toddler-friendly play areas, after-hours nursery care, and the Ultimate Family Suite on Symphony with a LEGO wall, slide, and activities

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Pricing and itineraries

Pricing: Carnival and Royal Caribbean are two of the largest cruise lines, and it is important to note that the price of a cruise can fluctuate based on the time of year, the ship, and the destination. It is recommended to check the prices on several websites to be able to choose the most suitable option. It is advisable to look for the best deals and offers and, perhaps, make a booking in advance to get the best deal. Visit CruiseBooking.com to book your cruise without any hassle.
Itineraries and destinations: Both cruise lines have a vast number of itineraries that take guests to some of the most famous tourist attractions in the world. Examine each itinerary to decide how many port days are available and decide whether you prefer more time in various ports or more time on the ship's entertainment. Some cruises have more sea days than others, which may be better if your family wants to make use of all the facilities and entertainment on the ship.

Conclusion

Cruises from, Royal Caribbean and Carnival, are best in the segment for kids. Both have their uniqueness and different attractions that are mentioned above. Carnival is famous for its entertainment options and services, such as Camp Ocean and Build-A-Bear. On the other hand, Royal Caribbean stands out with its features like bumper cars, ice-skating rinks, and virtual skydiving, family-friendly suites, and babysitting services at night.

In the end, it depends on you to determine which cruise line fulfills your and your kid's needs. We have given a brief about both the cruise lines and what they offer for kids; now it's up to you: which line will you choose? Think about the kind of activities your children love most, the places you would love to visit, and the amount of time you would like to spend on shore excursions as opposed to the time you would like to spend on the ship's facilities. For hassle-free booking and the best discounts, visit CruiseBooking.com.