Royal Caribbean VS Norwegian Cruise Lines SMACKDOWN!!! Cruise Line Comparison

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines are two of the giants of the industry. Watch this comparison to see which one wins in the end!
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MorgansVeryunOfficialTravelGuides
Twitter: @MrMorganOBrien
Instagram @MrMorganOBrien

[@HawreKoyi1]

"A bad day on a cruise ship still better than a good Day at work" nice dude absolutely correct.

[@caidenfeldman1644]

you should do a newer version of this video

[@LorenzoIsacs]

i was just thinking that

[@bradlyc5142]

Agreed. I still prefer NCL. The quality for NCL is a little lower on their older ships, but I still prefer NCL over royal b/c NCL is more chill.

[@celiabrien6634]

yes please

[@sheem.2450]

Caiden Feldman yesss!!

[@teepee3084]

I agree!! 👍

[@bushyconn]

I thought ALL bartenders were robotic!! Another great thing that NCL has, and which no-one else has. is the Studio conept, staterooms for one, great.

[@captain_yt8591]

It’s true

[@terrycooper9015]

I've been on one cruise, and that was on RCL. The only downfall for me was the dining room. Ate in the buffet most nights because it was casual. I don't go on a holiday to be formal

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Me, too! We eat 95% of all meals in the buffet!

[@dicknijenhuis9894]

Norwegian doesn't have a dress code in any dining room.

[@McHeisenburger]

Personally, Royal Caribbean is my favorite cruise line. I just went on _Liberty of the Seas_ recently, and it was outstanding.

[@captain_yt8591]

Booooooooooo!!!!! I’m just kidding I like both prefer howeverNCL due to dining

[@rachaeladler3631]

Hi Morgan. Personally, six of one, half a dozen of the other. They both have my favorite activity though; sitting down pier-side aft and watching for the pier runners. That never gets old.

[@kennethheidmann4875]

Dressing up on rccl means slacks and a collar shirt. NCL shorts and t shirts. Give me rccl. Thanks Ken

[@rgruenhaus]

In a restaurant I like to dress business casual or better. Buffets were made for relaxed dress.

[@mitchtivi]

Now that i have experience the casual dining experience on NCL (always have the choice of 4 or 5 different complimentary dinning) When ever you want, with who ever you want. You can even have breakfast and lunch in the main dining or many other restaurant. (i'm not a buffet fan) I Wouldn't have it any other way. Dinning a 6:00 PM with stranger is over for me. NCL is influencing the industry with this idea and it's a good thing.

[@MrMatt5885]

I feel NCL has more of a tier system with the way the layout is set up. There are much larger sections of NCL's ship which only only accessible to upper end suite passengers. That's obviously better if you hold one of those suites but if you are just doing a balcony or standard inside room you're missing out on a big portion of the ship. As a "regular" passenger you have more access to RCL's space. And I get your point on why free style dining is better. But you can request your own table so you don't have to be sitting with strangers, feeling obligated to do small talk with strangers is painful for me as well! I think NCL is better for young adults/single travelers. They have "non-double occupancy" rooms which are meant for people who are rooming alone (at least the newer ships do). This way you don't have to pay for 2 people. They're small but it didn't bother me.

[@josemartinez-eg3ot]

6 cruises on NCL and i have to agree with you my main reason for choosing NCL is the dining

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

We have been cruising for many years and have traveled with Carnival (yes we made that mistake twice), Holland (a little upity), Royal Caribbean, Celebrity(high class and expensive but outstanding) and NCL. We found that out of all the lines and all the times we have cruised that NCL is the best overall experience for the money for the average person. So I have to agree with you whole heartedly!!!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Great minds think alike! We are looking forward to trying NCL again and are considering the first transatlantic on the Escape. I've also heard great things about Celebrity, but I'm worried it's so fancy schmancy that there would be a fun-factor missing for us. What do you think?

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

If you want to be with the prissy people then by all means try Celebrity. I will say if you are a foodie then you will love Celebrity. I just felt like the ship was filled with snobs and I don't like having to be dressed up after 5pm( above and below decks its required to be dressed at night even in the buffet) if I don't want to. We did have a great time on Celebrity on the first cruise with them. That being said, it was an Atlantis cruise (specialty gay cruise) and we didn't have to follow Celebritys rules but rather Atlantis'. We don't take the Atlantis cruises anymore though. They are twice as much as a regular cruise and frankly I would rather cruise twice as often!!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Some friends of mine did an Atlantis cruise a few years back and the pictures of the themed parties were certainly... interesting... Yes, we also don't like to get all dolled up every night and will probably never cruise Celebrity for exactly that reason.

[@2FlyCaptain]

Went on an Atlantis waterpark and tour excursion with Royal and it was expensive and the water park was only open for two hours before we had to head back to the ship so very disappointed. When we told Royal this they gave us a 40% discount on the excursion and apologized which thy didn't really have to do either, I am a fan of Royal.

[@isaaklakhchakov5895]

Worst mistake cruising with carnival. Worst vacation of my life

[@stephaniem9561]

Sailed RC last year( first cruise!) on a Western Caribbean itinerary. Sailing NCL from Boston to Bermuda in July. I liked my cruise last year and I'm sure I'll have a great time this year. I'm fairly easygoing though.

[@theinfoguy1]

Been on many NCL cruises (12 in 6 years). Going on the Getaway in May and the Escape in December. We do it right booking a room in the Haven, a ship within a ship. It starts with being escorted on before it opens to all passengers. You have your own restaurant, bar, pool ( a little small), hot tubs and sauna. You have a butler and concierge at your disposal. When we've gone to some of the dinner shows we are escorted in before the doors open to public providing you the best seats in the place. I would strongly suggest trying it.The bad news is once you book the Haven, there is no going back.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Your last sentence is EXACTLY what I'm afraid of! Do you still go out and do the "silly" stuff, like watch the game shows and do the water slides?

[@theinfoguy1]

yeah you have access to everything but it is just nice to go "home" when you are tired of the crowd. On the Breakaway and Escape the courtyard in Haven has a retractable roof. great if the weather turns bad. I think on last day before you get off the ship they will allow you to tour it. It does cost more but you only live once

[@mongaloogirl]

I prefer the formal dinner option, with dressing up, having the same scheduled table, and having the same serving staff. It's fun to me to put on nice clothes for eating nice food, and I love getting to know the other people at my table as well as getting to know my servers!

[@hatorigirl1202]

They've probably improved, given their ships have so many more complimentary dining options now, but when I was on NCL in 2008 the freestyle was pretty new and they had 3 complimentary dining options that never had a different menu. The main dining rooms would have maybe one or two daily specials, but for a picky eater you were picking from the same 5 options every day. The buffet, same thing. burgers, pizza, little else. The cafe was pretty cool, and I could do late night snacking, which 18-year-old me loved, but I missed actually being surprised and delighted looking at the menu each day like I was on the Royal Caribbean cruises I'd taken. Also I don't know how true it is, but the NCL ship felt like it was moving faster. And by that I mean I felt sicker. It was my fourth cruise, and the only one I had to take Dramamine on daily. But what I did like about NCL was their spa. They had a "turkish bath" inspired part that you could buy a pass to so you could use it whenever you wanted. I'm American, but my Finnish blood appreciated the dry sauna. I was under 18 on my Royal cruises, but I don't think they had those kinds of facilities.

[@mikaylaowens6886]

I personally like RCL more. I feel that RCL has nicer dinning rooms and more of a cruise feel. Yes, RCL does have restaurants that charge but I don't feel a need to eat at a charge restaurant to get good food. I give RCL that point. When it comes to activities I will also give RCL the point. I feel like you don't need water slides to have fun. I don't want to wait in lines when i could just be swimming or playing pool volley ball. Plus RCL has an aqua zone with NO LINES! I also feel that RCL had more things to do on the ship. Finally I feel that RCL just has nicer ships in general. Oasis just set the bar really hight for me. RCL wins for me.

[@truthteller8504]

mikayla owens I agree 100%

[@flacousa62]

Like you we have only cruised on Norwegian once and guess what we agree with you, after doing RCL and CCL we think when it comes to dining and entertainment NCL is a cut above. The friendlessness of the staff, the cleanliness of the ship has no comparison, this year we have done two CCL (for destination ports) and one NCL also for destination in one of their small ships the Sun, even though this is an older ship the cleanliness is noticeable.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

How does the food on CCL compare to NCL? And what about the shows?

[@flacousa62]

At NCL the beef choices tasted and looked like freshly butchered on CCL tasted like pre-cut and frozen. The Shows the CCL ship had were not every night despite being a larger ship with a thousand more passengers and in vocals they had a male and a female singers, at NCL the shows were every night and more elaborate, I counted 6 singers.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

We were on the EPIC, which had a lot of entertainment, including Blue Man Group, Legends in Concert, Second City Improv Comedy, Dueling Pianos, and a Jazz club, but one thing I kind of missed was big musical production shows with live singing and dancing.

[@spot68]

Not having been on either; I can only go by your descriptions which I have come to trust watching some of your other videos. I completely agree that water activities are of paramount importance while on a cruise. While a pool is fine, it's just not the same as shooting down a tube with water splashing around you, particularly if it's a hot day. I think you know me enough by now to know I'm a big Disney fan and on the two I've been on and I'm expecting it to be the same for our upcoming cruise; there are set dinner times at night with first and second seating and you're rotated through three restaurants while keeping the same waiters each night. As such you're seated with six strangers for the first night but on both cruises we've been on, by the time the cruise was over my wife and I found ourselves spending time with our dinner-mates outside of dinner time. Made great friends on both occasions. I'm not saying the come when you want and as you are isn't appealing, I think there's something to be said about a chance to make new friends. I'm thinking we're going on another cruise not too long after the one in October and we'll probably spend a lot of time watching you other videos to make a decision. Thank you for making these videos. They're very helpful.

[@cliffd64]

I enjoyed your honest portrayal of both lines! The real truth of the matter is, both lines produce a quality cruising product and unless you are determined to be miserable, you can bet that you will enjoy your vacation on either of these cruise lines!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Thanks! I agree that some people seem determined to be miserable and are only happy when they have found something to complain about!

[@bradleykirkham2543]

I just showed my wife this, and a few from your Epic Journey. She laughed so hard at the room tour, especially about the washing one hand at a time and the toilet! This brings up one area that you didn't compare...staterooms?

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Good point! I would have liked to talk about that and price and "frequent cruiser" clubs and suite-only areas and stuff like that, but nobody watches KZbin videos that are like 40 minutes long :-) I figured these were basically the most important things. Maybe I should make a "Part 2"?

[@DRSmigley]

Very unOfficial Travel Guides I vote yes for a part 2. Maybe focusing more on things more seasoned cruisers are interested in. In addition to the stateroom suggestion by Bradley, I'd like to learn about the different bars and venues scattered throughout the ships. I'd definitely like comparisons of the non-headline entertainers, like the pool band, the piano bar guy, the MDR quintet etc. Also what is your opinion of the different demographics and the value of the 2 lines.

[@xxzx8294]

I think rc wins for cabins they have 2 story cabins now:o

[@allisonhalpin6124]

Macayla Doyle The Escape has two story cabins as well. They also will have a zipline, and a three story ropes course, and a "plank" that you can walk on out over the ocean as you sail. Cruising the Escape in December, and I just can't wait!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

I'm jealous!

[@speedbird13]

2015: NCL Wins 2020: RCL: Imma bout to end this man's whole career

[@mgardner70]

You've convinced me...the wife and I are going on our 3rd Anniversary. Thanks a million!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Congrats! What ship / route?

[@richardlentz4002]

I actually think you over stressed the dressing up for RCL. If you consider putting on a pair of pants and a polo shirt, dressing up, ok, it's dressing up. Also, on our three cruises with RCLwe never sat with anyone for dinner, we could have if we wanted to but didn't. Also, to me it's nice, at dinner to dress at least business casual. When I'm at dinner and others are dressed like they are at the pool or cut off jeans, just brings it down to me. However the one thing we enjoy, with RCL, is the consistency of the waiter staff. They learn what you like and what you don't. It makes the experience much more pleasurable.

[@bdaseaman]

richard lentz To quote my brother, "Royal treats you like royalty". LOL

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

bdaseaman I like that!

[@mckenna8663]

Other than ONE trip, we have liked "eating with a table of strangers". hahahaha we have had great dinner conversations and usually found people whom we wanted to hang out with by the middle/end of the cruise.

[@mckenna8663]

Exactly. There was only one trip that I took where I really didn't like the group I was with. And it was sad because that was the only trip that I took someone with me as a guest who had never sailed before. But other than that one trip, we always have enjoyed meeting strangers and becoming friends with people we would never have met. This next Cruise my daughter and I are going on the Oasis. We are caught between my time dining and going to an actual main dining time. Though I like the convenience of eating whenever we want, we really would miss having a regular table, a regular set of serving personnel, and meeting people other than just ourselves.

[@hermit3955]

I agree with you! Meeting strangers is a lot of fun, and just having the opportunity to learn about other cultures first hand is great! Also - why is looking (at least) decent a problem when at a restaurant?

[@clutterassist5690]

I agree, I like sitting with a set group at dinner and having the same wait staff throughout. The dress up every night part I could do without. Maybe just leave it to one or two nights dress up depending on the length. I have been on Sunline (old Marriott owned ship from the 80's), Celebrity for the Panama Canal, and Carnival. All had group dining. This will be my first NCL with freestyle. And I am traveling alone, so don't think I am going to like this dining style. Why don't they have half and half? This way the people who enjoy dining with others can, and those who don't won't. Just would make more sense. But NCL seems to be the only ship who does not charge double for a solo cruiser. So I am hoping there will be plenty of other solo cruisers to make friends with and do things with.

[@lorispain1]

I cruised solo on the Norwegian Epic in September and had a fabulous time! I was in a studio cabin and there's a private lounge where you can meet the other solos. I didn't use it as I was too busy meeting people around the ship. I loved the Freestyle dining. Have fun!

[@Bonstergirl1]

same..i do like that concept of hanging with a table of new ppl then mostly they become friends..

[@paulinetheberge896]

I've been on 2 RC cruises which were very nice. I like you don't care to sit with people I don't know. I also like a more relaxed dress code, I don't like slobs but neatly dressed. I am going on my 22 NCL cruise in January. The specialty dining is also a favorite of mine, You would pay much more for this type of dining on land, I just discovered your channel and I really enjoy it. Thank you!!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Hi Pauline! We love NCL as well, but I think we need to try RCCL again soon in order to have a healthy comparison.

[@paulinetheberge896]

I've been toying with RCCL again myself. Only on the thinking part. I love the way I get treated from NCL as a loyal customer.

[@michaelbearden7501]

My first cruise was on Celebrity a couple years ago, not bad. Jan 17 of this year I cruised on the Getaway by NCL. Wow! When I got home I immediately book a cruise on Escape later this year. NCL does everything right. The slides were really fun, I spent a lot of time on sea days on them. Side Note: the Breakaway and Getaway both have a zip line. Escape will have three zip lines, one that takes you over the side Of the ship.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Thanks for that update. Oh well, too late to go back and re-do the video now! I have a similar problem with my "Drink Package" video. When I uploaded it, the rules were everyone in the cabin had to order a drink package. Like, the day after it went online, they changed the rules and now I keep getting comments of people correcting me :-) BTW, I would LOOOOOOVE to cruise on the Escape, Getaway, or Breakaway. I'm thinking if we liked the EPIC, those ships will appeal to us even more!

[@nikkib6604]

lol I love the structured dinners . I like keeping on a schedule , eating in a formal dining room, and dressing up for dinner. if your group is large enough you can dine with just them , smaller groups or couples have the opportunity to meet new friends.

[@AlexJHatesGoogle]

My thoughts are, You are on Vacation. I don't want a schedule. I like to do whatever I want whenever I wan't

[@marklouis1890]

Axis Games My thoughts exactly

[@ibezag0]

Vacation shouldn't be structured and scheduled, you do that at work.....I can meet enough people at the bar or pool or casino if I wanted.....but sitting down at a table to eat is kind of an intimate/family/friend experience.....I would rather share with people I know not strangers

[@eadecamp]

It has to be what you like. I know NCL used to give the option of pairing up with another group, but it was optional and that was when the dining room had a long wait time. I don't know whether they do that anymore; you might have to get on the chat on NCL's website.

[@arethamorgan6613]

+Alex, l so agree with you.

[@weberjudy]

Very informative (as usual)! I've only been on Carnival and I'm ready to experience others. You have some awesome, helpful followers who offer additional information and reasons for their individual opinions without being rude. I like that. So, adding my own 2 cents... RC is now offering single staterooms on some ships, Brilliance is one of them. As for the dining preferences debated so far, I'm for having a variety of options available. Due to ever-changing and unpredictable pain levels I sometimes don't feel like making small talk either, Morgan. Other times, I'm all for the community table. I like variety in activities for the same reason. Sometimes I have my running shoes on and I'm ready to be active. Walk, jog, slide, bike, climb, lift... Other times, I want to sit and be left alone at a show or need to lounge with a book on the deck with pain meds. So, variety is important to me. I never know how I'm going to feel or what I'll be able to do until I get up that morning. Pre-planning doesn't work for me.

[@kaunas888]

I like the Royal Carribean dining options. The buffet is perfect for those who want a bit more informality and flexibility of times, while the restaurant offers more of an elegant restaurant feel. On Royal I never had to dress up beyond putting on a decent shirt and long pants in the main restaurant. It is not as if we are required to wear suits, even on the more formal nights. I enjoyed meeting new people at our table, and expanding our social horizons. As for "rigid" dining times, is something so wrong with having to eat at a set time? And there is always the buffet for those who want to eat at any time. I do not understand this mentality of only wanting to be in a closed group, and having to wear shorts and t-shirts EVERYWHERE.

[@austinlewis8787]

I know this video is old, but i agree with you. Royal caribbean is trying to catch up now with waterslides, but they really should've had them from the start;)

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

+Austin Lewis Great minds think alike! Yes, they are really far behind, right?

[@austinlewis8787]

Yes! I just got off the NCL Escape and had an amazing time. I'm a diamond on RCCL, but I do wish they had more slides. They are adding slides to a lot of their ships now as they renovate them, but I still think they are behind on activities like bowling or Ropes Course.

[@stephen566]

I am very athletic who the heck wants to do a rope course on vacation dumb idea and not fun to do and is an eyesore to look at!!!!

[@austinlewis8787]

I thought it was very fun myself, and for younger kids who don't like to sunbathe or just relax

[@stephen566]

I agree the waterslides are great i myself am not a sunbather but you have to take the whole experience of the ship and the oasis class ships just has tons of things to keep you occupied and now they will be having waterslides as well. I am also hearing something about the Symphony of the seas that will have something unique to be announced.The Harmony of the seas has one of those Escape Rooms very cool!!! Royal is behind on activities lol!!!! flowrider, rock climbing, ultimate abyss slide, bumper cars, skydiving, escape rooms, waterslides, zipline, ice skating. So i guess NCL is behind on activities like flowrider, bumper cars, ice skating, escape rooms, and skydiving. REALLY !!!!!!!!

[@richardlentz4002]

Forgot something, we like both cruise lines. We usually judge between itinerary and price when we decide which to take.

[@FABAGENT]

While I have not been on a RCCL cruise, I have 19 NCL cruises under my back to include 3 crossings and B2B cruises. I have a co-worker, though, that swears by RCCL, but I am a NCL fan all the way and you may have mentioned this already as I haven't had the pleasure, or the time , to watch all of your very cool videos, but if you stick with one line you accumulate status (and PERKS) which can be very nice!

[@robertwootton3906]

I have cruised on 4 different cruise lines, NCL, RCCL, Carnival, and Princes. NCL was my first and still my favorite, then Carnival, Princes, and lastly RCCL. I agree with your assessment that NCL is better. I sail on the Sky and the Getaway in Oct, the Getaway looks like an awesome ship and I can not wait to get on her

[@sblack8573]

Just got off the Epic Sunday. It was my first cruise and I am hooked. I would like to try Royal Caribbean but think I will try the new NCL ship that is taking over for the EPIC out of Miami first.

[@philipl1109]

Having traveled on both, the 2 worst cruises I have taken were on NCL, bad service by the cabin steward and in the dining rooms. RCI is a much better product. Better service and better food. When I look to book a cruise NCL is the very last line I would book with. I have never had a bad cruise on RCI and I'm Diamond level with them. 2 out of 3 NCL cruises had issues. I guess that since I have been cruising for over 20 years, 1 to 4 cruises a year, I like the MDR assigned seating where you get to make new friends at dinner. I have made friends with dinner mates and kept in contact for years after the cruise.

[@hulenbryant5637]

Just an FYI, we have cruised RCCL since ‘03 and we’ve always been able to request our group to be assigned to the same table for dining (up to 8 people due to table size).

[@ethel1690cardew]

Worked both......both are great depends on ship but NCL destroys RCL on food and dining options.. NCL also has less of a cattle herding process that RCL has with their massive ships. At the end of the day Being on any vessel witha drink and a pool is better than being stuck at work. You only get out of it what your willing to put in

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Dee Ell I agree with you 100%!

[@mcgee23]

I agree with... mostly everything. I have only been on a Disney and a Royal with another planed for summer 2016. I am personally one of the people that walk around the ship and go to the sport courts, but I HATE wearing long pants, so I went to the dining room and itched the entire time. Then I went to the buffet, and the food was terrible so we tried room service. And it was WAY better than the food even in the main dining room, and the only cost was the tip for the guy that brought it. Plus you aren't on any dining rotation... but that's my opinion.

[@rgruenhaus]

on NCL it would be a charge of at least $7.95 and a tip if you want room service and I hear the room service menu is limited.

[@bradleykirkham2543]

We are now booked on the Getaway!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Soooooo jealous!

[@hoops0926]

You'll love it. It was our favorite so far. Sailing on Epic in 2 weeks. WOOT

[@bradleykirkham2543]

hoops0926 thanks! I am really excited to try the freestyle dinning... and the fre UBP won't be bad either ;-)

[@drock6422]

Bradley Kirkham me too!

[@willgaukler8979]

First cruise this month Sept 2018...packing as I watch these videos....soo excited....

[@charlesbyers6911]

In the past three years we have sailed on Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Carnival. All similar size and ports. For us, for a lot of the same reasons, we would rank them (1) Norwegian, (2) Carnival (shock, I know), and (3) Royal Caribbean. 2 and 3 are very close.

[@jorgearnoldson3107]

On your water slide comment, Royal Caribbean's new ship Harmony of the Seas (Oasis III) will feature major water slides. Some of RCI's smaller ships have a kiddie water slide.

[@catclarke8826]

I totally agree with you! Norwegian all the way! Did you know that the Norwegian breakaway has the largest water slide on any other cruise line? I'm going on a cruise tomorrow on it!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

catherine clarke OMG have fun! We were just on it's sister; the Getaway, a few weeks ago and it was AMAZING! You're going to have so much fun.

[@sugetoosty1685]

We have done Carnival (fun, cheap, loud), Royal Caribbean (nice, good food, great service), Princess(food was horrible, ship was in bad shape), NCL (upscale but not snooty, LOVED the dining experience! Best kid's club, went to Hawaii...HIGHLY RECOMMEND- esp, their luau...it was wonderful!- expensive though, but well worth it!)

[@paulinetheberge896]

I've been on 23 NCL cruises with three more booked! I love NCL. Royal Caribbean was very nice but I didn't like set dining times. I did one Carnival and that was enough for me!!

[@arunkimar5601]

Liked the expression a bad day on a cruise ship is always better than a good day in office.

[@Mrkemp28]

Freestyle dining sounded sketchy because of the few reservation spots and crowded ship and all, but once onboard (Norwegian Jade) I loved it. Without a single reservation, and groups from 2 to 5, including Christmas dinner and immediately after shows, the wait times and dining times were both a fraction of the time we spent (with reservations) on Royal Caribbean cruises. That's not to mention the reduced stress that comes with reduced packing and luggage from not bringing all the fancy clothes. I'm with you, I pick NCL on dining too.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Great minds think alike, right?

[@meganty2108]

My family and I have been sailing with RC from the time I've been born, so we never really thought about sailing on a totally different cruise line! My parents have gone on a NCL and they said it was amazing, but i like RC better. They have amazing food and have great service! We have the my-time dining package so we love that! We can go anytime we want or we don't even have too go, we can go to the buffet or some other restaurant. Thanks!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Megan Ty Hey Megan, of all the RCCL ships you've sailed on, which one have you liked the best?

[@soniag8651]

I have only cruised RCI, so far. I loved having meals in the main dining room! We enjoyed sitting with only ourselves at dinner with the same wait staff every evening and them knowing what we wanted by night 2 of cruise. At breakfast or lunch in main dining room we sat with strangers but thoroughly enjoyed it, more than we do when going to a hibachj restaurant. I won't swim in public pools on land, so same goes for at sea- maybe even more at sea!

[@nicholasparisi3992]

Traveled with NCL and enjoyed the Breakaway and Getaway for the dining options, atmosphere and itinerary. Very disappointed with my last cruise in the Baltic Sea. New 9 day cruise... first few days were spent floating in the Baltic Sea. Why you ask, Captain (Master) explained that the "Getaway" was to big of a ship and could not risk attempting port canceling 2 ports. 4 days in the Baltic Sea on a 9 day cruise NCL " Profits over passenger Satisfaction"

[@georgeleong1572]

This vlog may be a bit old but the comparisons is almost on par.

[@brianbarrett257]

Excellent video, thank you. I have just retired and began taking cruises. Since I'm based in NJ, I find it easy to go to the pier in NY and take Norwegian. So far I have been on six cruises since May. NCL Gem and Breakaway. Caribbean, Bermuda and Canada. Now I'm going to try RC. In two weeks I'll try the Allure out of Fort Lauderdale and then the new Anthem out of Bayonne NJ in April. I feel more at ease after seeing your video comparing the two cruise lines. Now I'll see for myself. And you're absolutely correct; a bad day at sea is better than a good day at work! Keep posting!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

+Brian Barrett Thanks, Brian! Hey, when you get back from your cruise on the Allure, can you please let me know what you thought in comparison to the Breakaway? Let me know which one you would be more likely to cruise with again. Have a great time!

[@brianbarrett257]

Thank you, Morgan. I'll let you know.

[@Michael_in_Vt]

We've done Royal Caribbean and Carnival. People claim Carnival is the "Walmart of cruising" but I've encountered many an asshole(s) and douche bag(s) on Royal Caribbean. We were tempted to do NCL but found out (just in time) that their automatic gratuities are actually called "SERVICE FEES" now and are NOT refundable on board like RC and Carnival. We always pay gratuities on board however, we usually have the MDR grats removed because we NEVER eat there, we always eat casual dining or specialty. So on NCL you can't remove those, so this was a deal breaker for us sailing NCL.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

I never eat in the MDR either and don't think it's fair that I have to tip them.

[@fantasyangel99]

For me, a bit of structure is good. I tend to be a person that forgets to eat, and I feel like having a schedule will 1) help me remember and 2) give me an incentive to go to dinner (i.e. if I don't go, I will miss the fancy dinner). I also really enjoy dressing up, so missing the fancier dining experience would be something I regret.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

OK, I get that. I wish I could forget to eat, especially on a cruise! :-P

[@luvmywetpets]

Yes Morgan! I am in a 100% agreement with you ! When I cruise like a Norwegian... It's EPIC! taking my 3rd cruise on Epic this January!! If you are looking for me, I'll either be at the Wave bar, O'Sheehans.. or most likely on one of the water slides!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Where is the Wave bar again? Is that on the pool deck?

[@luvmywetpets]

Yes on the pool deck, adjacent to the great outdoors.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Wish I was there right now having a margarita with you!

[@luvmywetpets]

Id like to a flight of margaritas! lol

[@666ross]

We were on RCL's Anthem of the Seas last month and they fully implemented MyTime Dining there. We were able to either make reservations in the main dining rooms, but on 3 days we did not and were seated without reservations within 5 minutes. It was a nice cruise. Decent but not spectacular food, but their Wonderland restaurant really went above and beyond with menu and presentation. We certainly didn't go hungry. Not a fan of tendering and and off the private island with 4000 other people, we went late to avoid the line and then it started raining on the island we had to wait an hour in line to get back off. They advertise a lot of amenities (bumper cars, rock climbing, the skydive wind tunnel thing) but its either waiting in line forever, being turned away, or being shoulder to shoulder with the crowds. Speaking of crowds, and this isn't RCL's issue, we sailed out of Bayonne and damn, the ship was chock full of whiny New Yorkers. Soooo annoying to listen to all the complaining and screaming at the kids. But we got some nice weather and we had fun among ourselves, and it was a good price so we didn't worry too much about the typical cruise line nickel and dime overpricing for gratuities, photos, and drink packages. Still, though, we just booked the Norwegian Breakaway for next winter and we'll do a head to head comparison there. Thanks for your video.

[@lngvly22]

I love the Monarch and the Majesty. They're big enough to be fun but not too big to be overwhelming.

[@AvivaHadas]

I am going to assume that since you were on a TA, there weren't a lot of kids (also because it is a 12 night cruise) and you were not in the peak season because you were going from Europe to the Carib - or vice versa. How are those water parks in July in the Caribbean with half the ship full of kids?

[@theweets1]

NCL by far has the best Dining (generally 23 to 23) and Bar options, variety of choice and quality of food. NCL also has spectacular entertainment in almost every venue and they do amazing Sailaway parties. They also have a higher staff to guest ratio + better service. Im sold on NCL.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

We took another NCL cruise on the Getaway since I made this video, and we loved it again!

[@regellis1234]

I like them both as well. We've only cruised in Europe. The main thing that separates them is the formal dining on Royal.... either you like that or you don't but, you don't have to go formal on the Royal.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Reg Ellis Hey Reg! What ship/itinerary did you do?

[@thetrinitycomplex2122]

I loved the Epic water-slides, especially since they offered "Late Night Sliding" which means you could go on the water-slides after they would have originally closed :D

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Late night sliding??? That sounds fun! It was always way too cold and windy on our EPIC cruise at night. Even if they had them open, I don't think anyone would have gone down!

[@lifeofcruisin8529]

So because of a couple water slides over u prefer NCL's and now Royal Caribbean have waters;ides as well which are better. I've been on both and if u think that a waterslide is better than indoor skydiving etc you need to take a step back. Also points u missed rc have much nicer ships also the staff are so much better on rc compared to NCL. Also food on rc is a lot nicer. Oh yeah also they have the abyss now.

[@nilemadley3773]

I have been on four RC cruises in the past and absolutely loved them. My most recent cruising was on the NCL Getaway, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I now prefer NCL to RCI after only the one cruise. Went with 10 friends and the dining concept and many options made the experience great for such a large group. The waterpark is easily the biggest superiority over RCI. I do not see why I should cruise RCI over NCL (unless trying the Oasis or Quantum classes) as RCI is typically more expensive for the same level of luxury.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

I agree with you totally! I don't technically have any real COMPLAINTS about RCCL, but I just think NCL is better. Know what I mean=

[@EmmaCruises]

I have always been the biggest fan of NCL but I am taking my first Royal cruise in October. I wonder if it'll knock NCL off the top spot for me?!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

+Emma Cruises I wonder, too! What NCL ships have you cruised with and which RCCL ship will it be?

[@EmmaCruises]

I think I have cruised on almost all the NCL ships ha ha! 11 cruises with them (not the new ones like bliss though). I'm heading off on the independence of the seas. She seems like a really cool ship!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Well, I've only cruised on the bigger NCL ships (as far as NCL goes) and they are superior to NCL's bigger ships in my opinion... except for the pool area!

[@EmmaCruises]

Think we will have to wait and see what I think! :D

[@EmmaCruises]

I'm back and the answer is no ;)

[@kceles1582]

Very helpful and informative, this is the kind of video i wanted to watch bec its straightforward

[@user-bb1yi6rv6r]

Over the last couple of years Royal carribean installed lots of major water slides and has become a lot less strict on dining times.

[@Rhino8777]

I've only sailed NCL, but absolutely cannot wait to sail Quantum OTS (or Anthem if Quantum is already in China). I like the Freestyle cruising idea, but I shouldn't judge since I never experienced traditional dinning. I'm a shy guy... So sitting with strangers would take me time to open up.

[@234drexel]

I have absolutely no experience on NCL however I have one trip on Navigator and four prior Carnival cruises with two more booked for this year. I actually prefer the traditional dining room setting. One of my favorite things about cruise vacations is getting to know the dining room staff. Royal Caribbean had a more formal dining room than Carnival and a less personable staff. Carnival's dining room experience is a lot more fun and entertaining. I understand those that don't enjoy the song and dance routine but it's kind of grown on me. On both cruise lines we were able to email the maitre d' and get a table for just those we were cruising with. Great videos Morgan, We really enjoy them.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Well, I guess that makes sense to me, but I still prefer just being open to dining whenever and wherever I want without having to go thru any special effort to sit "alone". What will you next cruise be?

[@234drexel]

Spring trip will be 5 days on Carnival Triumph to Progresso and Cozumel. Can't go to Cozumel too many times. (5th trip) Fall trip will be 7 days on Carnival Freedom to Key West, Nassau and Freeport Bahamas. Both out of Galveston, Texas.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

I hope you have a great time! Would you ever cruise with RCCI or a different line again, (as opposed to Carnival)?

[@234drexel]

Very unOfficial Travel Guides Absolutely. The one place RCCI has Carnival beat hands down is that their ships are more elegantly appointed. It's not the flashy party atmosphere that you get on Carnival. Also their on board entertainment is better and their are more physical activities to do (flow rider and rock wall, ice skating) than Carnival. Carnival Magic did have a great water park and I think the food on Carnival is better than RCCI and the dining staff is more outgoing. I guess that's why most of the time you can get a cruise through Carnival for a little less. Houston has a new cruise terminal where Norwegian and Princess sail from. We will most likely try them as well. Currently their schedules are less active than Carnival and RCCI out of Galveston. Which cruise line do you prefer and why?

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Well, according to the video, I guess I prefer NCL over RCCI, but I actually like them both equal, I guess!

[@tysona23]

Thanks for you video. we have been with celebrity and RCCL but think we will give NCL a go. thinking of the new Escape. you fun video has helped convince me x

[@celiabrien6634]

I have been on ncl many times and prefer it over any other cruise line. I have been on 6 ncl cruises and have loved all of them. I was on the norwegian epic 4 x. The escape 1 x. The dawn 1 x. The escape (norwegian's newest ship is absolutely amazing and you should do a review on it!

[@Glock2201]

I have only been on the Dawn and we loved it even though I think that is one of their smaller and more basic ships. The Gem is next which is similar to the Dawn.

[@katiefrazier1980]

Hey Morgan! I just cruised on Norwegian for the first time on the Epic. Another large selling point for me is the Haven on Norwegian. We have gotten suites on Royal Caribbean, and there was not much special treatment for the extra cost. Norwegian gives you priority to check-in, boarding, dining, shows, and customs. There also is the Haven, with its own private pool, restaurant, and tanning deck! On Royal, all that you get is access to the concierge which books your excursions, but that's kind of it. The price difference in cruising from Norwegian to Royal Caribbean on suites is not much different, either, and usually leads to RC being more expensive. Just my 2 cents! : )

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Great minds think alike, I guess! :-P

[@meghanetoney]

i enjoy the structure of the main dining room. When it comes to a short cruise, I'll do either RCCL or NCL. For a long cruise, I want to have the same wait staff each night for dinner. They start to get to know your tastes & habits. We had a phenomenal main waiter on RCCL during a 13 night repositioning cruse last year who would just bring extra entrees of things that he knew we liked or right we might like. he would also tell us jokes & riddles. Also if you prefer to dine with just the people you are cruising with, check out the table setup on day 1 as soon you board & they'll typically accommodate.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

That great advice, thank you. Which ship was your 13 day repositioning on?

[@meghanetoney]

Very unOfficial Travel Guides... it was on the Liberty of the Seas - they moved it from docking in New Jersey to Texas, so we had A LOT of ports broken up with sea days... we had 3 formal nights... there is a dress code but they've become much more lax with it. I have yet to see anyone get kicked out of the MDR for their attire. Also, the later dining option feels much less rushed.

[@JenKayna]

This is extremely helpful! Thanks! I recently went on my first ever cruise (Disney Dream 4 night Bahamian.) After that amazing experience I find myself very interested in the cruising world and want to know as much as possible. Your videos have been super helpful!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Habitat for Herbivores Great! I have yet to cruise with Disney, (just too expensive for me), but I might do it some time in the future!

[@bradleykirkham2543]

I have been on one Carnival, one Royal, and now I have to try a NCL. Though I do want to try one of the larger Royal with a promenade

[@theaveragetravelguys6469]

I slightly disagree and kind of agree on the Bermuda point, as nice as it would be to go to Bermuda on Norwegian, some RCCL ships sometimes go to to Bermuda, like the Explorer of the Seas did a few sailings this year for an overnight, which I was on.

[@oppxjj9760]

I just got back from the Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas it was great!Last year I went on the Carnival Breeze that was amazing.And in June I'm going on the Royal Caribbean Navagator of the Seas

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Wow. That's great!

[@jimshim]

I was able to go to the "head waiter" woman our first night on RC freedom of the seas last month and request a table for two no problem. But you must do this on the first night!!! Have you ever been on a carnival cruise? I have and I must say the food was much better on carnival than RC. I am booking oasis of the seas for next year. Can't wait! Love your videos

[@beauhaeker804]

Royal Caribbean is the best. You wont find any other cruise experience anywhere.

[@ThomasDowdyWinslett]

Until last year we had only been on RCI and Celebrity for a total of 21 cruises. The quality of the experience on RCI has gone down so much we began to seek out other cruise lines. We've now gone on Norwegian and MSC and loved them both as much or more than RCI. Now we look at the itinerary, cost, and dates to determine which cruise to go on. For example we are on the Norwegian Getaway in May 2017 going from MIA to get to the Baltic then four days later we are getting on Celebrity Solstice to get to St Petersburg and other ports in the area. We could have stayed on the Getaway but the overnight stay in Copenhagen, Oslo, and two overnights in St Petersburg on the Solstice made it far more attractive. We agree that the dining on RCI is terrible. The food in the dining room and having a set time that gets mobbed by everyone is not what I enjoy. After waiting 20 minutes between our entree and main course many, many times on different ships we decided we had rather eat in the buffet at night. We get to select the food we want and as much as we want. We are in and out at a reasonable pace instead of being dependent on the wait staff. We invite friends and new acquaintances to dinner and it is not big deal, unlike in the main dining room. The buffet is a quieter and more sane way to eat.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

+Thomas Dowdy-Winslett Interesting: we had a terrible experience on MSC and vowed "never again". For instance, our bartender had to ask his supervisor what the ingredients to a martini were. The food was bland and boring, and the buffet was always running out of food!

[@IxNxFxExRxNxO]

Sometimes it is just nice to dress up and go on a date night for dinner rather than just go grab some food and thats it. However I like both options.

[@paulaschuck]

SO stoked to be taking our first ever NCL cruise soon!! LOVE the waterslides. So important to our active family. My kids are 11 and 14 and the kid's clubs and the food and waterslides are crucial. Plus now I hear the NCL ESCAPE (newest ship) has the biggest waterpark at sea. WOT!!???!! Totally doing all of that soon. We did our first ever cruise last year with Carnival. Enjoyed that a lot but this NCL cruise sounds even more exciting! Thanks for he great review. Royal is also more expensive I think. It always seems a bit pricier than all the others when I am planning.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

+paula schuck The base price of Royal is more expensive, but I think it evens out when you consider how much you end up spending onboard NCL. It's all worth it, though, so don't worry!

[@bennywang5752]

You better go on the newer ships for Royal Caribbean, they've stepped up their game. And those tiny staterooms? Forgot those?

[@btlnmts]

I have cruised several times now with Norwegian, and I think the major fault in their system is that they have some of the best features on the seas, but much of it is locked behind the upcharge restaurants. I like to cruise in the mentality of 'all expenses paid', and i have only purchased their upcharge restaurants once. The problem is on NCL, all the best features are upcharge, and everything else is acceptable. On Royal Caribbean you get a much better meal, in my opinion, in the dining rooms than on NCL. Other than food, I agree with you 100!

[@TKIROCZ1986]

I would have to agree with 129jaystreet. I go on cruises for the cruise experience, the smell, the sound, the views of open water. I've been on both cruise lines and by far RCCL has the better "traditional" cruise feel. However I see the point that NCL appeals to a younger cruise passenger, that wants to do what they want to do, when they want to do it. That being said, I can't say a bad thing about either cruise line, but for me, RCCL is the way to go. I prefer that traditional style of cruising. I am going on my 6th cruise in March, my fourth with RCCL, and I can't wait!!!! Anywho...as for your next travel adventure, please come to Hershey, PA!!! I'd love to show you around. There's so much to do around Hershey, and a perfect place for the next "unofficial" travel guide! Thanks again for another great video Morgan! Talk to ya soon!

[@xxzx8294]

I perfer rc for these reasons .2 floor cabins!!! .Nice staff members .tons of activities for everyone .more pools (I love swimming ) .circus .rock climbing .ziplining .dining .destations I clearly love rc and well I can't wait to go again this summer maybe next time I'll go on nlc or Disney

[@hollywood23007]

The formality of dining can be lost on ncl. Due to their lax dress codes. So if you're lookin to hype to romance, Caribbean is more suited. But of course u can be lovey too on ncl. I've never noticed to buffet to close on Caribbean either

[@zacharymarchant9425]

I feel rccl is better because for dining because the menus are being changed every day and on ncl they don't change and if you want something different you have to go to the up charge restaurant

[@galaxyrose15]

I like the royal Caribbean dining because it's fun to dress up, I like having the same waiter, dining at a specific time every night helps make it easy to go see shows and other events. I would rather not sit with strangers but by the 3rd night they aren't really strangers anymore. I don't really have interest in going to the up charge restaurants because I like the dining room so much. That's why I like the RC dining.

[@cousinlpsproductions3676]

I just think they are the same in all, the only reason I would probably prefer a Royal Caribbean is because I have a 13 year streak there and I am trying to become a pinnacle member which get you lots of complementary things also when I dined at Royal Caribbean I guess we have that package you were talking about because we only sit with our family

[@RedRockSurfer]

In regards to the dining experience I think that the NCL experience is certainly superior for couples cruising alone or small groups. However, if you are with a large group of close friends or family like in a family reunion then the dinner each night may be kind of nice if you can fill a table or two without strangers and want to ensure that you are all together at least once each day.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

+Mark Treu Good point! I never thought of it that way.

[@omaraskar9800]

Make a part two because with the new harmony of the seas it offers lots of new experiences and there is tons more to talk about

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

You're right, I totally should make a part 2! What are some other things I should mention?

[@christran294]

+Very unOfficial Travel Guides how about the Liberty of the seas renovationand Ovation of the seas

[@EamonMYT]

+Very unOfficial Travel Guides The new waterslides. An updated Destination section with the mention of RCI the only cruise line that is not an Australian owned. But Carnival is the other one that sails to Australia. Plus an extra few ships

[@TheLemmaDiaries]

I loved the Epic when we cruised, but then it was my first cruise ever, so it was quite easy to impress me!

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Have you cruised since then?

[@TheLemmaDiaries]

Very unOfficial Travel Guides It was last June, so not yet! But I loved it so much, I'm planning to go back this summer, still on the Epic, same route, but different excursions (being a student I find NCL to be the best value for money, plus their solo traveller experience is incredible!)

[@KaylaUploads]

I just sailed last month on the RC Brilliance of the Seas, and my FAVORITE place on the ship was their indoor pool area called the Solarium. I LOVED it! I am sailing on NCL's Breakaway out of NYC next year in March, and it makes me very sad that i will NOT get to use the indoor pool on board the ship because only the Haven room people will get to use it. I can't afford the Haven room price, and it really makes me feel bad that I will have to miss out on that cruise experience. I am hoping that this doesn't affect my overall cruise enjoyment.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

KaylaUploads We spent a lot of time in the solarium on the Legend of the Seas, too. Are you sailing to Bermuda on the Breakaway?

[@KaylaUploads]

Very unOfficial Travel Guides The Breakaway does not go to Bermuda during March; instead it goes to Port Canaveral (Orlando), Great Stirrup Cay, and to the Bahamas. I was watching your Atlantis video today. ( I will be messaging you on facebook about how you found your way in there.) :-)

[@modernwar2ghostrp]

The audioclip had me gouging my ear drums out after i heard it. Anyone else?

[@christopherphillips2708]

I love the Joy and the Encore. So many things to do on those ships.

[@travelingisfun8828]

Yeah my trip on the Norwegian encore was canceled due to the coronavirus

[@betesantos8062]

I also vote yes for a part 2 - about the staterooms. Your vídeos are always very nice, informative and funny !

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Thanks! I may get around to making a dedicated food vs food video in 2015. Keep checking back...

[@sanch3zr]

I see Royal Caribbean best for the cooler months since they don't have the fun waterslides, which for my family & me it's a staple on a warm vacation. NCL seems like the better deal for hot summer months, especially with all the casual dining. After being in the sun all day who wants to worry about getting all dressed up for dinner... my opinion

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

laysa&r That's a good way to break it down!

[@matbrown815]

I enjoyed my cruise on the Jewel of the Seas with my family a few years ago. What we didn't like was at night for snack time there wasn't a variety of items. We have since been cruising NCL, which has a large variety of foods 24/7. We are not always hungry at the same time everyday so having a choice suites us just fine. We will be taking our 20th NCL cruise in 57 days oh and the newer shps have Zip Lines as well as Rope Courses.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

+mat brown Which NCL ship has appealed to you the most?

[@DecrepitBiden]

I like ncl for their freestyle dining. structure dining & getting dress up is not my forte

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

Great minds think alike!

[@Bass_Productions]

There are 2 Ships with water slides on RCL. I just went on the Harmony it has 3! Also sane with the Liberty of the seas. it has Water slides

[@InnerToaster1]

I'm a Diamond Member going to Diamond Plus soon so its Royal for me :D

[@thanemarshall22]

Same

[@thanemarshall22]

Most things like shows and partys are dree with diamond and the plus

[@anthonycammarata4613]

I personally like the structured dining. I just got off the adventure of the seas last week and we had the early seating. The whole point to me was that we got to get to know our waitress and she got to know us.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

I'm glad that people like that but I know it's not for us! Have you seen my "Why I Don't Like The MDR" video?