If your loved ones is contemplating a cruise trip, you may have plenty of cruise line choices. MSC Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Worldwide Cruise Line are two widespread choices with households, providing many various itineraries, actions, and facilities that attraction to households.
When evaluating the cruise traces, you may additionally wish to have a look at the particular ships. Onboard choices fluctuate significantly, so you may have to see every thing the ship provides, particularly if there’s something particular you wish to expertise.
Disclosure: I’ve sailed on complimentary MSC and Royal Caribbean cruises. All opinions are my very own.
MSC vs. Royal Caribbean Cruise Traces
MSC is a European cruise line that lately launched the MSC World America, its first ship constructed for US vacationers. Nevertheless, they’ve supplied sailings within the US previously, and a number of other ships depart from the US.
Royal Caribbean is a US-based cruise line (based in Europe) with its headquarters in Miami. Its father or mother firm additionally owns Silversea Cruises and Superstar Cruises, however we’re explicitly speaking concerning the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line for this text.
Variety of Ships on MSC vs. Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean provides 28 cruise ships, with extra on order (together with Star of the Seas, which is launching this summer time). There are seven courses of Royal Caribbean ships with various facilities and actions.
MSC provides 24 cruise ships, lots of which sail abroad. MSC World America is its latest ship, crusing out of PortMiami.
Worth Comparisons
Whereas cruise costs can at all times fluctuate relying on availability and the time of 12 months, there are some generalizations about value. Usually, an MSC cruise (in a typical cabin, room class) will likely be rather less costly than a Royal Caribbean cruise. Sailings on a brand new cruise ship are often dearer due to demand.
Everytime you value your cruise, it is best to take into account the overall value, together with taxes and any extras. Be sure you have a look at probably the most comparable rooms. One factor to notice is that MSC does are inclined to have extra upcharges on board.
Extras
MSC and Royal Caribbean provide extras that may be added to your cruise. As an example, each cruise traces provide drink packages for alcohol and smooth drinks. You can even buy drinks à la carte. WiFi is supplied for an additional price.
MSC has an revolutionary “ship inside a ship” idea known as the MSC Yacht Membership. Company within the Yacht Membership e book a Yacht Membership room, which is accessed in an unique space with a separate key card. This space has its personal pool, an unique restaurant, and extra, so you do not have to depart the world if you happen to do not wish to. The Yacht Membership additionally provides extra all-inclusive experiences, together with WiFi and drinks.
Like most cruise traces, each have premium snacks on board that value further, together with premium ice cream and gelato.
Actions
Actions fluctuate by ship, however each cruise traces provide enjoyable issues for households. Actions on Royal Caribbean embody ziplining, rock partitions, arcades, water slides, swimming pools, iFly sky diving, dry slides, adult-only areas, spas, and bumper automobiles.
For probably the most household actions onboard, I might advocate Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, which incorporates Attract of the Seas, Marvel of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas. These massive ships have a dry slide, zipline, carousel, mountaineering partitions, sports activities decks, and extra.
MSC’s ships fluctuate significantly, however actions embody LEGO household rooms, the Cliffhanger over-water swing, dry slides, swimming pools, arcades, adult-only areas, bumper automobiles, ropes programs, and water slides.
The MSC World America, MSC’s latest ship, has probably the most household actions. A collaboration with LEGO means there are LEGO-branded actions, together with a parade, recreation present, and LEGO construct areas. Different actions embody water slides, a dry slide, the Cliffhanger, and a ropes course.
Leisure
MSC and Royal Caribbean provide wonderful leisure, together with large-scale exhibits, musicians, comedians, and bands. Nevertheless, Royal Caribbean’s wide selection of leisure is unparalleled, with many distinctive choices. These embody Aqua Exhibits and Ice Exhibits, which could be seen on the Oasis Class ships.
Whereas I have never been on any MSC ships past the World America, I used to be impressed with the exhibits I noticed onboard. These included Queen Symphonic and Soiled Dancing in Live performance.
You might have to make reservations for these exhibits upfront, so make sure you examine earlier than your crusing and while you arrive in order that you do not miss out.
Eating places
Royal Caribbean and MSC each provide conventional most important eating rooms, buffets, and specialty eating places. The specialty eating places do value further and embody widespread cuisines like Italian, sushi, and steak.
For each cruise traces, you do not have to pay further for meals if you happen to do not wish to. Whereas the specialty eating places value extra, they’re completely non-compulsory. You possibly can benefit from the buffets and most important eating rooms at no further value.
Non-public Islands
For ships touring within the Caribbean/Bahamas, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and MSC each provide non-public island experiences. Visits to those islands will likely be included in your cruise itinerary, so examine to see if you’re visiting one.
Royal Caribbean’s non-public island is Good Day at CocoCay, positioned within the Bahamas. Good Day at CocoCay is historically visited by two cruise ships per day. It provides many various actions, together with a water park, non-public seaside membership, adult-only seaside membership, a pool, and complimentary seashores.
Royal Caribbean additionally has a non-public vacation spot in Haiti, known as Labadee. This vacation spot provides seashores, a zipline, a mountain coaster, and extra.
MSC additionally has a non-public island within the Bahamas, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. This island provides a number of seashores and a Marine Conservation Heart. Usually, MSC would not depart this island till later within the night (with some overnights), and there is a gentle present on the island’s lighthouse that may’t be missed.
Royal Caribbean’s non-public island provides extra thrilling actions than MSC’s. If you’re in search of a soothing expertise included in your cruise value, MSC’s Ocean Cay is an exquisite island with attractive sand and water.
Children’ Golf equipment
MSC and Royal Caribbean provide youngsters’ golf equipment, separated by age group. These golf equipment embody numerous actions that attraction to the particular age ranges. Aside from the youngest youngsters, the children’ golf equipment on Royal Caribbean and MSC are included within the value.
Have you ever traveled on MSC and Royal Caribbean? How do they examine to you?
