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 precise ships. Onboard choices range enormously, so you may must see all the things the ship presents, 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 Strains
MSC is a European cruise line that not too long ago launched the MSC World America, its first ship constructed for US vacationers. Nonetheless, they’ve supplied sailings within the US prior to now, 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 mother or father 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 presents 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 presents 24 cruise ships, a lot of which sail abroad. MSC World America is its latest ship, crusing out of PortMiami.
Worth Comparisons
Whereas cruise costs can at all times range relying on availability and the time of yr, there are some generalizations about value. Sometimes, an MSC cruise (in an ordinary cabin, room class) can be rather less costly than a Royal Caribbean cruise. Sailings on a brand new cruise ship are normally costlier due to demand.
Everytime you value your cruise, you need to contemplate the entire value, together with taxes and any extras. Make sure you have a look at probably the most comparable rooms. One factor to notice is that MSC does are likely to have extra upcharges on board.
Extras
MSC and Royal Caribbean provide extras that may be added to your cruise. For example, each cruise traces provide drink packages for alcohol and gentle drinks. You too can buy drinks à la carte. WiFi is offered for an additional price.
MSC has an modern “ship inside a ship” idea known as the MSC Yacht Membership. Visitors within the Yacht Membership ebook 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 in case you do not wish to. The Yacht Membership additionally presents extra all-inclusive experiences, together with WiFi and drinks.
Like most cruise traces, each have premium snacks on board that price additional, together with premium ice cream and gelato.
Actions
Actions range 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 vehicles.
For probably the most household actions onboard, I might suggest Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, which incorporates Attract of the Seas, Marvel of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas. These giant ships have a dry slide, zipline, carousel, mountaineering partitions, sports activities decks, and extra.
MSC’s ships range enormously, however actions embody LEGO household rooms, the Cliffhanger over-water swing, dry slides, swimming pools, arcades, adult-only areas, bumper vehicles, 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, sport 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. Nonetheless, Royal Caribbean’s big selection of leisure is unparalleled, with many distinctive choices. These embody Aqua Exhibits and Ice Exhibits, which might be seen on the Oasis Class ships.
Whereas I have not 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 must make reservations for these exhibits upfront, so make sure to verify earlier than your crusing and once you arrive in order that you do not miss out.
Eating places
Royal Caribbean and MSC each provide conventional predominant eating rooms, buffets, and specialty eating places. The specialty eating places do price additional and embody widespread cuisines like Italian, sushi, and steak.
For each cruise traces, you do not have to pay additional for meals in case you do not wish to. Whereas the specialty eating places price extra, they’re solely non-obligatory. You may benefit from the buffets and predominant eating rooms at no additional price.
Personal Islands
For ships touring within the Caribbean/Bahamas, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and MSC each provide personal island experiences. Visits to those islands can be included in your cruise itinerary, so verify to see if you’re visiting one.
Royal Caribbean’s personal island is Good Day at CocoCay, positioned within the Bahamas. Good Day at CocoCay is historically visited by two cruise ships per day. It presents many various actions, together with a water park, personal 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 presents seashores, a zipline, a mountain coaster, and extra.
MSC additionally has a non-public island within the Bahamas, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. This island presents a number of seashores and a Marine Conservation Middle. Sometimes, MSC does 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 personal island presents extra thrilling actions than MSC’s. If you’re on the lookout for a calming expertise included in your cruise value, MSC’s Ocean Cay is a fantastic island with beautiful sand and water.
Children’ Golf equipment
MSC and Royal Caribbean provide children’ golf equipment, separated by age group. These golf equipment embody numerous actions that attraction to the precise age ranges. Apart from the youngest children, 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?
