Cruise Line · Sailed
Royal Caribbean
The biggest ships at sea with more activities, more dining, and more of everything than any other cruise line.
Royal Caribbean is the cruise line that builds the biggest ships and fills them with more stuff than seems physically possible. Ice skating rinks, surf simulators, rock climbing walls, zip lines, waterslides, go-karts, robot bartenders - if it sounds like it should not be on a ship, Royal Caribbean probably put it on one. The fleet runs 28 vessels across seven classes, from the smaller Vision-class ships built in the late 1990s to Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship ever built at 250,800 gross tons.
What gets lost in the headline numbers is that Royal Caribbean is genuinely good at most of what it does. The kids' programmes are the best in the industry. The included entertainment - Broadway shows, ice skating performances, aqua theatre - is consistently high quality. The ship design, particularly on Oasis and Icon class, uses a neighbourhood concept that breaks the vessel into distinct zones, which reduces the overwhelming feeling that 6,000 passengers might create. Perfect Day at CocoCay, the private island in the Bahamas, is the best cruise line private destination by a distance.
The trade-offs: speciality dining costs extra, drink packages are expensive, WiFi is an add-on, and the sheer size of the newer ships means you will do a lot of walking. The older, smaller ships - Radiance and Vision class - offer a completely different experience: intimate, glass-heavy, scenic, and quiet. They are Royal Caribbean ships in name but feel nothing like an Oasis-class mega-resort. Some passengers prefer them precisely for that reason.
Is Royal Caribbean for you?
You'll love it if
- You are travelling with kids and want the best family cruise experience afloat
- You want the biggest ships with the most activities, dining, and entertainment options
- You value high-quality included entertainment - Broadway shows, ice skating, aqua theatre
- You want access to Perfect Day at CocoCay, the best cruise line private island
- You like having dozens of dining options even if some cost extra
- You want a ship that feels like a floating city with something for every age group
Look elsewhere if
- You are a solo traveller on a budget - the single supplement is punishing
- You want a small, intimate ship where you can learn everyone's name
- You prefer everything included in your fare without surprise charges
- You want a quiet, enrichment-focused cruise without crowds and queues
- You get overwhelmed by large ships and prefer knowing where everything is
- You want a formal dress code and traditional ocean liner atmosphere
Ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet
The ones marked sailed are cabins I've slept in. The rest are covered from the line's published specs and my time aboard the sisters.
Royal Caribbean coverage
Cabin Best Cabins on Brilliance of the Seas: Where to Book and Why
Deck-by-deck guide to the best cabins on Brilliance of the Seas - balcony, inside, suites, solo, accessible, and the one sweet-spot cabin I would book today.
Cabin Cabins to Avoid on Brilliance of the Seas: The Ones to Skip and Why
Cabins to avoid on Brilliance of the Seas: noise, obstructed views, vibration and foot traffic, with deck numbers and what to book instead.
Decks Brilliance of the Seas Deck-by-Deck Guide: What's on Every Level
Brilliance of the Seas deck by deck: every restaurant, bar, pool and public space mapped, with the best decks to book a cabin on.
Dining Complete Dining Guide for Brilliance of the Seas: Every Restaurant Reviewed
Every restaurant on Brilliance of the Seas reviewed: main dining, specialty, buffet and room service, with prices and what to book ahead.
Itinerary Brilliance of the Seas Itineraries 2026: Where It Sails and When
Complete guide to Brilliance of the Seas itineraries in 2026 - every region, homeport, the best sailing to book, and the one to skip.
Ship review Brilliance of the Seas Review: What Works and What Doesn't
A review of Brilliance of the Seas - what it gets right, what it gets wrong, who it suits, and whether it is worth the money.
Cruise Solo Cruising on Brilliance of the Seas: What to Expect
Solo on Brilliance of the Seas: single supplement, solo cabins, social life, dining alone, and whether to book this ship on your own.
Vibe check What's the Vibe on Brilliance of the Seas? Who Sails and What to Expect
What Brilliance of the Seas is actually like: who sails, the real dress code, daytime energy, evenings, and who the ship is not for.
Tips How to Disembark a Royal Caribbean Cruise Quickly (in 2026)
Disembarking a Royal Caribbean cruise ship can feel stressful if you are unsure how it works.
Sailing Royal Caribbean solo
<p>Royal Caribbean does not have dedicated solo cabins on any ship, which puts it behind NCL and Cunard for solo travellers. The standard approach is booking a double-occupancy cabin and paying the single supplement, which typically runs 100% of the second passenger fare (effectively doubling the cost). Promotional offers occasionally reduce this to 50-75%, but they are inconsistent.</p> <p>That said, the onboard experience works well for solos once you are on board. The activity-heavy ships mean you are never short of things to do alone. The pool deck, rock climbing wall, FlowRider, and shows are all solo-friendly. My Time Dining eliminates the awkward couples-table problem. The Solarium (adults-only pool area) on most ships is a good retreat. And Perfect Day at CocoCay is easy to enjoy alone. The problem is the entry price, not the experience.</p>