Royal Caribbean Ships Explained: Which Ship Is Right for Your Family?
If you’re thinking about booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you may have already discovered that there are a LOT of ships to choose from!
And then you start seeing names like Icon Class, Oasis Class, Quantum Class and Freedom Class and wonder…
What does it all mean?
Don’t worry — we’re here to make it simple.
We’ve only personally cruised with Royal Caribbean, and it’s a cruise line we love. So here’s our easy guide to the different Royal Caribbean ship classes and what makes each one different.
Icon Class – The BIG ones!
Ships include: Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and the newest Icon Class ships.
If you want the WOW factor, start here.
Icon Class is Royal Caribbean’s newest generation of ships and they are absolutely packed with things to do.
Think:
- Huge waterparks
- Amazing swimming pools
- Family activities
- Fantastic restaurants
- Live entertainment
- Bars
- Kids’ clubs
- Adventure activities
- Plenty of places to relax
For families, these ships are like a huge holiday resort that happens to sail from one destination to another!
Best for:
Families who want loads of activities and the newest Royal Caribbean experience.
Oasis Class – Huge family fun
Ships include: Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Symphony, Wonder and Utopia of the Seas.
Oasis Class ships are also absolutely enormous.
There is so much to do onboard that you could probably spend your entire holiday on the ship and still not experience everything!
You’ll find things such as:
- Water slides
- Pools
- Surf simulators
- Zip lines
- Rock climbing
- Restaurants
- Shows
- Kids’ activities
- Entertainment
Best for:
Families who want a huge choice of things to do.
If your children are the sort who are constantly asking “What are we doing next?”, an Oasis Class ship could be perfect!
Quantum Class – Great for adventure
Ships include: Quantum, Anthem and Ovation of the Seas.
Quantum Class ships are packed with some really cool features.
Depending on the ship, you can find attractions such as:
- North Star
- RipCord by iFLY
- FlowRider
- SeaPlex
- Swimming pools
- Great restaurants
- Live entertainment
The North Star is particularly impressive, taking you high above the ship for amazing views.
And if you’ve ever fancied trying skydiving, RipCord by iFLY gives you the chance to experience it without jumping out of an aeroplane!
Best for:
Families with older children and teenagers who love adventure.
Quantum Ultra Class – Quantum with a twist
Ships include: Spectrum of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas.
These ships take the Quantum Class idea and add even more features and family-friendly experiences.
You’ll find plenty of activities, entertainment, restaurants and swimming areas.
Odyssey of the Seas is particularly popular with families because there’s so much to keep everyone busy.
Best for:
Families looking for a modern ship packed with activities.
Freedom Class – A great all-rounder
Ships include: Freedom, Liberty and Independence of the Seas.
Freedom Class ships are a little smaller than the huge Icon and Oasis Class ships, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do!
You’ll still find plenty of:
- Swimming pools
- Entertainment
- Restaurants
- Activities
- Family fun
And for UK families, Independence of the Seas can be particularly interesting when looking at cruises from Southampton.
Best for:
Families who want plenty to do without choosing one of the biggest ships in the fleet.
Voyager Class – Great value
Ships include: Voyager, Explorer, Adventure, Navigator and Mariner of the Seas.
These ships are older than the newest Royal Caribbean ships, but don’t let that put you off.
They can offer a fantastic Royal Caribbean experience and can sometimes represent excellent value for money.
You still get plenty of entertainment, restaurants, activities and family fun.
Best for:
Families looking for a great Royal Caribbean holiday without necessarily choosing the newest ship.
Remember:
Older doesn’t automatically mean worse!
Radiance Class – Enjoy the views
Ships include: Radiance, Brilliance, Serenade and Jewel of the Seas.
These ships are smaller and have a different feel to the huge Icon and Oasis Class ships.
There’s a bigger emphasis on enjoying the sea, the scenery and the destinations you’re visiting.
With lots of windows and areas to enjoy the views, they’re particularly nice when the itinerary itself is a big part of the holiday.
Best for:
Families who love exploring destinations and enjoying the scenery.
Vision Class – A more traditional cruise
Ships include: Vision, Rhapsody, Grandeur and Enchantment of the Seas.
These are some of Royal Caribbean’s smaller ships.
They don’t have the enormous waterparks and huge number of attractions you’ll find on Icon or Oasis Class.
But that can actually be a good thing!
They’re great if you want a more relaxed cruise where you can spend your days exploring destinations and enjoying the ship without feeling like you need to do everything.
Best for:
Families who want a more relaxed, traditional cruise experience.
So which Royal Caribbean ship is best for families?
Here’s the easy version:
🏆 Want the newest and biggest?
Icon Class
🌊 Want loads of activities?
Oasis Class
🚀 Have teenagers who love adventure?
Quantum or Quantum Ultra Class
👨👩👧👦 Want a great all-round family ship?
Freedom Class
💰 Want great value?
Voyager Class
🌅 Love scenery and destinations?
Radiance Class
🛳️ Want a more relaxed cruise?
Vision Class
But here’s the important bit…
The biggest and newest ship isn’t necessarily the best ship for your family.
Before choosing your ship, think about:
- Where do you want to go?
- How old are your children?
- What activities do they enjoy?
- Do you want lots of sea days?
- How important are the restaurants?
- Do you want a huge ship or something smaller?
- What’s your budget?
- Do you want to sail from Southampton?
Because the right ship + right itinerary + right price is much more important than simply choosing the newest ship.
Let Tom & Maria Travel help you choose
We know how confusing it can be when you start looking at all the different Royal Caribbean ships.
That’s where Tom & Maria Travel can help.
Tell us what your family wants from your holiday and we’ll help you find the Royal Caribbean ships and itineraries that best match you.
Whether you want waterslides and adventure, fantastic food, amazing destinations, relaxation or simply great value, we’ll help you compare the options.
You don’t need to spend hours trying to work out which ship is right.
That’s our job!
So, which Royal Caribbean ship will you choose?
Get in touch with Tom & Maria Travel and let’s start planning your next family adventure.
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Tom & Maria Travel, an Independent Travel Consultant with Jamie Wake Travel.
Member of Protected Trust Services. All holidays are ATOL protected.
