Tradition vs Innovation

Princess Cruises

Offers a more traditional cruise experience that includes main dining rooms, limited specialty restaurants and song-and-dance revue-style evening shows Newest ships have a few innovations including the SeaWalk (on Royal Princess and Regal Princess), a see-through glass walkway that hangs off one side of the ship 16 decks above the water

Royal Caribbean International

Known for cruise industry innovations including the first-at-sea rock-climbing walls, ice skating rinks and the FlowRider surf simulator; newest innovations include vertical tube skydiving and indoor bumper cars

Family Focus

Three kids clubs for smaller kids, tweens and teens Partnership with the Discovery Channel provides onboard and shoreside educational experiences for kids and families themed around TV shows on Discovery, Animal Planet, the Learning Channel and the Science Channel Every ship (except Pacific Princess) has a splash pool for kids; select ships have teen-only hot tubs DIY launderettes for easy cleaning of kids' clothing are available on each passenger deck Select ships offer two-room family suites

Genuinely family-friendly Select ships feature the DreamWorks Experience, which includes character parades and meals, plus screenings of DreamWorks films With My Family Time Dining, kids ages 3 to 11 are served their meals first and then picked up by kids club crew so parents can have the rest of dinner to themselves The Royal Babies and Tots Nursery (only available on select ships) is for babies ages 6 to 36 months; daytime and nighttime sessions are available for a fee Pre-order baby food, diapers, wipes and cream through the Babies 2 Go program Large selection of family-friendly cabin configurations

Nightlife

Princess Cruises

Three ships feature a theater show called "Magic to Do," created by Oscar winner and composer of "Wicked," "Pippin" and "Godspell" Stephen Schwartz; he will develop three more musical shows for Princess over the next several years All ships offer musical revue-style shows, plus the occasional comedy or magic act Piano or small act music shows are available in virtually every bar and lounge each night Vines is the spot for a late night glass of wine and good conversation All ships have a nighttime dance club

Royal Caribbean International

Broadway or London West End productions on six ships: Anthem of the Seas ("We Will Rock You"), Oasis of the Seas ("Cats"), Liberty of the Seas ("Saturday Night Fever"), Allure of the Seas ("Mamma Mia"), Independence of the Seas ("Grease") and Harmony of the Seas ("Grease") All ships offer musical revue-style song-and-dance shows, plus the occasional comedy or magic act Seven ships (all in the line's Vision or Radiance Class) have evening aerial shows Oasis-class ships feature gravity-defying diving and acrobatic performances in the outdoor AquaTheater Quantum-class ships feature Two70, a three-deck-high lounge and performance space featuring stunning acts that combine digital visuals with music, dancing and acrobatics Schooner Bar is the spot for post-dinner piano sing-alongs, while Bolero's, with its Latin beats, is a spot for salsa dancing and sipping mojitos All ships have a nighttime dance club

Indoor Fun

Princess Cruises

A typical daily schedule might include multiple trivia sessions, arts and crafts, dance classes, bingo and Voice of the Ocean rehearsals (a singing competition created via a partnership with TV's "The Voice") Destination-specific lectures and enrichment programs such as North to Alaska on select itineraries Some ships feature a multi-deck piazza-style atrium, which is a hub for dining and entertainment

Royal Caribbean International

An average daily schedule might include trivia, bingo, dance classes, scrapbooking sessions, napkin - or towel-folding demonstrations and jewelry-making classes Nine ships have indoor ice skating rinks On Oasis-, Quantum-, Voyager - and Freedom-class ships, the Promenade is the place to grab a bite to eat or beer to drink, people-watch or hit the shops Quantum-class ships feature the SeaPlex, an indoor activity center with bumper cars, roller skating, trapeze classes and an arcade

Sports Deck Fun

Princess Cruises

All ships have jogging tracks and shuffleboard Most ships have a Center Court with basketball and volleyball All ships have some golf offering from a practice cage to a nine-hole putting course

Royal Caribbean International

All ships have a basketball court and rock-climbing wall; most also have mini-golf Two ships have indoor skydiving; three others have zip lines

Pool Deck Fun

Princess Cruises

Most ships have at least three pools including a less-trafficked aft pool and several have one with a retractable roof; almost all ships have a minimum of five hot tubs All ships (except Pacific Princess) have at least one splash pool for kids Silly poolside games offered on sea days on ships sailing the Caribbean Adults-only Sanctuary (many with a pool) offer a quiet pool/sun deck alternative Evening movies shown daily on the top sun deck as part of Movies Under the Stars

Royal Caribbean International

At least two pools on every ship; some have three or even four 10 ships have the FlowRider surf simulator; five ships have the kids' H2O Zone Began adding water slides to ships with Liberty of the Seas in January 2016; all ships will receive at least one slide over the course of several years; Harmony of the Seas has multiple slides Bigger ships in warm-weather destinations have lots of poolside activities including "sexiest man" and belly flop competitions Adults-only Solarium offers a quiet sun deck alternative

Cabins

Princess Cruises

Extensive selection of room categories from 25 choices on the smallest ship to 35 on the largest Unique cabin options include oceanview suites and minisuites without a balcony (on select ships only) Provides extensive suite privileges; perks include a free meal at a specialty restaurant on embarkation night; priority embarkation/debarkation; fresh flowers; free laundry; access to Club Class dining in the main dining room for dinner each night, plus breakfast and lunch on sea days; nightly canapes and more Limited family cabin options, including standard rooms with connecting doors, as well as family suites with full baths on select ships

Royal Caribbean International

Offers large selection of room categories, from eight on the smallest ship to 24 categories on the largest ships Innovative cabin option includes Virtual Balcony inside cabins in which giant TV screens give the impression of floor-to-ceiling windows (on three ships) Comprehensive suite privileges include priority boarding and disembarking, reserved theater seating and VIP pool seating where available; Royal Suite Class on Oasis - and Quantum-class ships is a tiered suite perks program that goes beyond the line's regular suite privileges Offers largest suites in the mainstream cruise industry, including duplex options Several family cabin options, including those with connecting doors, as well as larger rooms with full baths on all ships

Itineraries/Destinations/Homeports

Sails out of seven ports on the North American mainland, varying by season with no ships stationed at a single port year-round Sails Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico and Hawaii itineraries Has the strongest Alaska offerings in the cruise industry Cruises Europe three-quarters of the year, offering Baltic, Northern Europe and Mediterranean cruises out of several European ports Operates world cruises Has ships stationed year-round in Australia and Asia Exotic itineraries include South America, Australia/New Zealand, South Pacific and Asia

Sails out of nine homeports on the North American mainland regularly, if not year-round Sails Caribbean, Bermuda, Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii itineraries Cruises Europe year-round, offering Baltic, Northern Europe and Mediterranean cruises out of several European ports Has ships stationed year-round in Australia and Asia Exotic itineraries include South America, Middle East and South Pacific journeys

Demographics

Passenger mix varies greatly by ship and itinerary Larger ships in the Caribbean and Alaska attract families, couples and groups of friends in most age brackets Smaller ships, especially those doing more exotic itineraries (Diamond Princess, Dawn Princess, Sun Princess, Pacific Princess) pull in an older, 55-plus crowd

Families, plus couples and singles in their 30s to 50s Median age is low 40s, but is slightly lower on shorter cruises and higher on cruises of 10 nights or more

Pricing

Pricing follows industry standards but sales are offered frequently Pricing includes about three-quarters of the alternative eateries on most of the ships All theater entertainment is included in the cruise fare

Show Prices

Prices on newest ships are significantly higher than prices for other ships in the fleet Cruise fares include only about half of the line's restaurants All entertainment is included, except lunch and dinner theater shows Last minute discounts only available on short (four nights or less) cruises One ship (Empress of the Seas) features a free Bloody Mary or Mimosa at the daily brunch

Show Prices

Fleet size, ship sizes and ages

17 ships (18 by July 2017), six built before 2000 Oldest ships: Sun Princess (1995), Dawn Princess (1997) Smallest ships: Pacific Princess (672 double capacity) Largest ships: Royal Princess and Regal Princess (both 3,560 double capacity)

25 ships, eight built before 2000 Oldest ships: Majesty of the Seas (1992), Legend of the Seas (1995) Smallest ships: Legend of the Seas (1,832 double capacity) and Empress of the Seas (2,020 double capacity) Largest ships: Oasis Class -- Allure of the Seas (5,492 passengers), Oasis of the Seas (5,400 passengers) and Harmony of the Seas (5,488 passengers)

Princess Cruises vs. Royal Caribbean International

To help cruisers decide which cruise line is right for them, Cruise Critic compares Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International on a number of criteria including fleets, destinations, pricing, dining, cabins, entertainment and more.

Easygoing and traditional cruise line without a lot of bells and whistles that aims to help cruisers relax and come back home feeling rejuvenated