Table Of Content
Odyssey of the Seas is the newest in this class, and has refined the experience in the best way. The oldest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, Grandeur of the Seas debuted all the way back in 1996 and is still getting mostly positive reviews from her guests. The people who book cruises on Grandeur like the fact she’s a smaller ship, with only one or two reviews mentioning the lack of things to do. Like her sister ships, there’s a good balance between fun and size, although not quite as much variety as the larger Freedom, Quantum and Oasis-class ships.
Amenities, activities, and accommodations
If you want to stay stateside, there are seven and eight-night sailings that go from Cape Liberty to Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. You can find a more grownup vibe at the Chill Island beach or the swim-up bar in the Oasis Lagoon pool. While the solo cabins on the Quantum-class ships don't come with a dedicated solo lounge as they do on Norwegian ships, solo travelers will find Royal Caribbean-hosted meetups for solo travelers on the vessels. It's a great way for single travelers to find others in the same boat, so to speak. Sailing since January 2024, Icon of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in the world — more than 6% bigger than the next-biggest ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet. That means greater space for the family fun zones that are a hallmark of Royal Caribbean ships, from children's clubs to water parks.
GAME TIME
Position number 7 for Odyssey of the Seas, one of the newest ships in the Royal Caribbean’s fleet. At the same time, since it is not too big, it is also easy to move through all the decks, and not too crowded. Many passengers also appreciated the presence of specific areas for adults and children like the adults-only Solarium and the kid-friendly Splashaway Bay. Harmony has very similar activities and entertainment options to the previous ones. In terms of entertainment, Allure of the Seas captures the essence of Royal Caribbean’s signature offerings.
thought on “Royal Caribbean Ships Ranked From Best To Worst”
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The newest class of Royal Caribbean ship does not compromise on entertainment, dining, or things to do with the Quantum Class ships. The shows on an Oasis Class ship are the best in the fleet, with three different theaters offering entertainment throughout your cruise. Watch a full Broadway show (such as Mamma Mia or Hairspray), check out the thrills of the AquaTheater performances, and be dazzled by ice shows in Studio B. From what we can see already during a cruise ship construction sneak peek, Royal Caribbean has designed this ship to cater more to families than ever before.
Lastly, this ship lacks most of the top-deck attractions of larger ships, and therefore families, particularly those with teens and tweens, may find it a bit challenging to keep the younger entertained. For example, from what I have seen, the buffet has a limited selection of dishes compared to the larger ships. Additionally, a guest highlighted an issue with the ship’s capability to cater adequately to special dietary needs, such as gluten-free options, which resulted in a negative experience. Some passengers said that, despite its age, Grandeur offers a comfortable and intimate atmosphere, with attentive service and a focus on creating a memorable cruise experience. Passenger reviews are generally positive, highlighting enjoyable ports, comfortable trips, and a broad array of onboard activities.
Positive reviews still rave about the range of features and activities that kids will love, but another familiar criticism is around the service in the Main Dining Room, along with the quality of food in the Windjammer. At least there’s plenty of choice for restaurants if you don’t enjoy the food or service in those two venues. One of three ships in the line's Freedom class that date to the mid-2000s, Freedom of the Seas is no longer the creme-de-la-creme of the Royal Caribbean fleet (though it was when it debuted). At around 156,000 tons, it's about 30% smaller than Royal Caribbean's newer Oasis-class ships and has fewer venues, from bars and restaurants to entertainment spaces.
Where there were any tie-breaks I’ve then used my own judgement to place one slightly higher based on the features and experiences on board. I’ve sailed with Royal Caribbean several times, but certainly not on all the ships, and so that’d be a really unfair judgement for me to make. The newest ship currently sailing is Icon of the Seas, which launched in 2024, while the oldest is Grandeur of the Seas, still going strong since she launched in 1996.
Oasis of the Seas
In fact, the worst average score of any ship is 3.3 out of 5, which is still pretty good. No matter what shores you visit on your adventure, you’re in for global culinary experience on deck. Izumi takes you to the exotic Far East with fresh Asian-inspired cuisine, while Giovanni’s Table roams the rolling hills of Tuscany with hand-made pastas and Italian classics. And at Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine, you’ll get to venture down the rabbit hole to a world of dream-like delights.
Icon of the Seas: Best ship for families
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No matter which ship you choose to sail on, this is a fleet filled with incredible feats. Also, most ships offer adults-only pools and lounges where you can escape from the younger cruisers on board if you so choose. Cruisers looking for a party scene can enjoy nightclubs open until the wee hours of the morning, and foodies can find an elevated dining experience at the line's many specialty restaurants. There's also quite a bar scene on Quantum-class ships, with a lot of counter-style seating in bars that are a great place to find other solo travelers. We recommend one of the two large bars at the Music Hall, where you can make new friends while sipping musically inspired cocktails and listening to live bands.
It’s one of the largest cruise ships in the fleet (227,700 tons), and has an impressive selection of cabins from interior rooms to luxurious suites, ensuring there’s something for every budget and preference. All of the Oasis-class ships have the best selection of food with many restaurants to choose from. Wonder of the Seas is the latest ship and among its many venues it includes Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, Wonderland, Hooked Seafood and the ever-popular Chops Grille. The Quantum-class ships in general are better for adults due to their modern, innovative features.
Shorter four or five-night sailings are a great way to fit in a long weekend away, especially for younger adults with less time off work. Rhapsody of the Seas offers some unique sailings, including a two-night sailing from Israel that can be tacked onto longer Mediterranean sailings, such as five-night Greek Isles cruises. For an even longer sailing, consider the 14-night transatlantic cruise, which stops in Alicante, Spain, the Canary Islands and the Bahamas. These multifaceted vessels are a great choice for first-time cruisers, as well as anyone on a limited budget. They are still "big ships" and offer plenty to do onboard, but at a fraction of the price of their mega ship sister vessels. Royal Caribbean also dedicated an entire neighborhood of the ship to families, known as Surfside.
At the time of writing this list, there are 27 ships in the fleet, and more are on the horizon. At the heart of every great vacation is incredible service, and that’s exactly what you’ll enjoy on our award winning cruises. This is your getaway, and there’s no idea or request too big or small for our dedicated staff. So go ahead and dream a little, because anything is possible when you sail with the best cruise line in the world Royal Caribbean®. The 3,114-passenger Mariner of the Seas is an ideal ship for multigenerational cruises, with plenty of activities to please everyone from young adults to grandparents. If you're looking for great views from the pool or hot tub, head to the indoor, adults-only Solarium, where you never have to worry about the cold Alaska weather or the hot Hawaiian sun making you uncomfortable.
You can even get great landscape views from the glass elevators running along the sides of the ship. Like the Radiance Class, Vision Class ships still offer plenty to do onboard and have amenities such as a rock climbing wall, great pool deck, poolside movie screen, specialty dining and a grand Atrium area. Just because they are smaller than other ships, does not mean they compromise on the fun onboard. Royal Caribbean added new features and amenities to these ships, and you will find an outdoor movie screen, full-scale entertainment productions in the three-story theater, and plenty of restaurants, bars, clubs and lounges. The other Voyager Class ships also have their own share of fun onboard, including a FlowRider surf simulator, mini-golf, rock climbing wall, ice skating rink and shows each evening. Adventure of the Seas has its own set of water slides that were added a few years ago.
