Trying to choose between Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival This comparison focuses on the three things most first timers care about… food, shows, and cabins. We explain how each brand approaches dining, entertainment, and room layouts so you can pick the line that fits your style and budget.
Niko’s Note 🐾 Features vary by ship class. Always verify on the specific ship page before you book.
Key Takeaways
- Food NCL leans into Freestyle Dining with many specialty venues and flexible times. Royal offers a balanced mix of included favorites and polished specialty spots. Carnival is value friendly with strong included casual options like Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina.
- Shows Royal delivers the broadest spectacle slate on select classes… ice shows, AquaTheater, and big production musicals. NCL rotates headliner style shows, comedy, and occasional Broadway titles. Carnival focuses on Playlist Productions, comedy clubs, and live music across the ship.
- Cabins NCL’s The Haven is a private suite enclave on many ships. Royal’s Royal Suite Class brings tiered perks and Coastal Kitchen dining on many ships. Carnival’s newest Excel class ships add roomy suites and the Loft 19 retreat. For standard rooms, layouts vary by ship and age of the hardware.
Niko’s Note 🐾 Decide your priority first… dining variety, big night shows, or a calm cabin retreat. That one choice usually points to the right brand.
Three Way Snapshot… Food, Shows, Cabins
| Category | Norwegian Cruise Line | Royal Caribbean | Carnival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining model | Freestyle Dining… eat when you want with many venues. | Main Dining Room plus casual Windjammer and a wide specialty mix. | Value forward with many included quick options and classic dining rooms. |
| Included favorites | Main Dining Rooms, buffet, Local Bar & Grill on many ships. | Main Dining Room, Windjammer, Sorrento’s pizza, Park Cafe on select classes. | Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, Shaq’s Big Chicken on select ships, Lido Marketplace. |
| Specialty sample | Cagney’s Steakhouse, Le Bistro, Onda by Scarpetta on Prima class. | Chops Grille, Giovanni’s or Jamie’s by ship, Izumi Sushi and Hibachi. | Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Rudi’s Seagrill on select ships, Cucina del Capitano. |
| Show style | Headliners, comedy, game shows, and some Broadway style titles by ship. | Ice shows, AquaTheater, big musicals, plus live music and game shows. | Playlist Productions revues, Punchliner Comedy, live bands and parties. |
| Reservations | Often for specialty dining and some theaters via the app. | Often required for big shows on Oasis and Icon classes… book in the app. | Usually walk up for shows… comedy can fill fast. |
| Suite enclave | The Haven with private restaurant, lounge, and sundeck on many ships. | Royal Suite Class tiers with Coastal Kitchen and reserved spaces on many ships. | Excel class suites and Loft 19 retreat on select ships. |
| Family staterooms | Many connecting rooms and family suites on new ships. | Wide mix including Ultimate Family options on select classes. | Family Harbor area on select ships plus connecting rooms. |
Food… What To Expect on Each Line
Norwegian Cruise Line Built on Freestyle Dining with flexible times and diverse venues. Expect multiple specialty restaurants plus casual pubs like The Local.
Official pages
- Dining overview: ncl.com… Dining
- Specialty restaurants by ship: ncl.com… Restaurants
Royal Caribbean Classic Main Dining Room flow or My Time Dining, the Windjammer buffet, and many specialty choices.
Official pages
- Dining overview: royalcaribbean.com… Dining
Carnival Many included casual spots plus a few paid venues. Expect Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, pizzerias, and a lively Lido scene.
Official pages
- Dining overview: carnival.com… Dining
Tip Specialty plans vary by ship. Check your sailing… then book high demand restaurants on day one.
Shows… How Nightlife Feels Different
Royal Caribbean The widest range of spectacle on selected classes… AquaTheater diving and dance, Studio B ice shows, Broadway style productions, and live music.
- Entertainment overview: royalcaribbean.com… Entertainment
Norwegian Big theater productions on some ships, comedy clubs, headliners, and game shows. Reservations are common for the main theater on new ships.
- Entertainment overview: ncl.com… Entertainment
Carnival Playlist Productions revues, the Punchliner Comedy Club, deck parties, and numerous live music lounges.
- Shows overview: carnival.com… Shows
Tip On Royal and NCL, book shows in the app once your window opens. On Carnival, arrive early for comedy… seats go fast.
Cabins… Space, Storage, and Suite Perks
Norwegian Cruise Line Broad mix from Studios for solo travelers to family options and the Haven suite enclave with private restaurant, lounge, and sun deck on many ships.
- Staterooms and suites: ncl.com… Accommodations
- The Haven: ncl.com… The Haven
Royal Caribbean Inside to multi bedroom suites with the Royal Suite Class tiers. Many ships include Coastal Kitchen dining for suite guests and reserved deck spaces.
- Staterooms and suites: royalcaribbean.com… Staterooms and Suites
- Royal Suite Class: royalcaribbean.com… Royal Suite Class
Carnival Straightforward cabins and many connecting options on older fleets, with larger suites and Loft 19 retreat on new Excel class ships.
- Staterooms: carnival.com… Staterooms
- Suites: carnival.com… Suites
Niko’s Note 🐾 If quiet time is your must have… compare adult areas like Royal Solarium, NCL Vibe Beach Club on select ships, and Carnival Loft 19 where available.
Which Line Fits You… Quick Picks
- Food explorers NCL for variety and flexible times. Royal for a mix of reliable included spots and polished specialty rooms. Carnival for lots of included casual wins.
- Show seekers Royal for AquaTheater, ice shows, and big musicals on selected classes. NCL for a theater forward program with comedy. Carnival for comedy and lively music across the ship.
- Suite life NCL Haven, Royal Royal Suite Class, Carnival Excel Suites and Loft 19 on new ships.
Keep Planning
- Pillar: Best Cruise Lines by Region
- Families: Best Cruise Lines for Families
- Relaxation: Most Relaxing Cruise Lines
- Ship example: Star of the Seas… Complete 7 Day Guide
FAQ
Do I need show reservations Often on Royal and sometimes on NCL. Carnival is usually walk up for Playlist Productions and many live music acts. Comedy is popular on all three.
Are specialty restaurants worth it If food is your hobby, yes. Each line has strong signature venues. If you want value first, Carnival’s included options are hard to beat.
Which line has the best cabins for families Royal has many large and themed family categories on new ships. NCL offers numerous connecting rooms and family suites. Carnival’s Family Harbor exists on select ships.
Sources
- Norwegian Cruise Line… Dining overview and entertainment: NCL Dining · NCL Entertainment · NCL Accommodations · The Haven
- Royal Caribbean… Dining, entertainment, and suites: Royal Dining · Royal Entertainment · Staterooms and Suites · Royal Suite Class
- Carnival… Dining, shows, and staterooms: Carnival Dining · Carnival Shows · Carnival Staterooms
