Between Royal Caribbean and Carnival, I think it really depends on the kind of vibe you want, but I’ll share what swayed me. Earlier this year, I had a flight mix-up the night before my Royal Caribbean cruise—total panic moment. They handled the change so quickly that I actually made the ship on time. Because of that, the whole trip started on a much less stressful note.
Once onboard, Royal Caribbean just felt a little more polished to me—bigger shows, more activities, and the ship design felt more modern. Carnival, on the other hand, has a really fun, upbeat energy (I’ve sailed them too), and their food options surprised me in a good way. But after that smooth flight rescue and how organized everything felt on Royal Caribbean, I’ve kind of stuck with them for bigger trips.
