Royal Caribbean vs Celebrity vs Silversea: Which Cruise Line Is Right for You?
Now that Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Silversea have begun their Points Choice program (where you can cruise with the other lines while still building points on just one line), there is no time like the present to branch out to the other sister cruise lines to give them a try. You might be wondering, which cruise line is right for you? We have definitely spent some time thinking about which of the three cruise lines we should go on next.
While we until recently had been loyal strictly to Royal, our family cruised on Celebrity Beyond back in October of 2025 and really enjoyed it. As a travel agent, I have begun booking clients on Silversea and I can definitely see the pros to giving that cruise line a try as well. I believe that the bottom line is that the cruise line that you choose depends on 1)who you are cruising with, 2)where you want to cruise, 3)what your budget is and 4)what are some major preferences or deal breakers that you may have while cruising.
Royal Caribbean is the ultimate for family vacations. The Oasis class and Icon class ships, especially, offer everything from a full water park to fine dining to Broadway shows to wonderful fun by the pool and more. Booking a family cruise on one of their bigger ships is no longer a cost-effective option, but it is a fantastic one that includes so much. We have always loved cruising in part because no matter who you are, there is something available for you, and Royal Caribbean does this especially well. If the cruise ship is the destination for you, then Royal Caribbean is the way to go.
Pros: Ultimate Family Vacation- Newer ships offering incredible experiences for all interests
Cons: Lots of kids depending on the ship, cruises can be quite costly if choosing to go on the newer ships
Celebrity, which traditionally has been known as Royal Caribbean’s more sophisticated big sister, has a great variety of ships and goes to a great variety of ports. You will definitely find fewer children on Celebrity’s ships but they still have a great kids’ program and offer fun activities that all ages enjoy. Celebrity’s newer ships are still about half the size of Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships, but they are beautifully constructed and decorated and have a lot to offer. You won’t find waterslides or an arcade on board, but you will find some great bars, a really nice solarium, beautiful spaces to relax in and some great entertainment. If you don’t care as much about all the bells and whistles found on the Royal Caribbean ship or maybe you prefer to not have them, then Celebrity is actually turning into a affordable option, whether you travel with or without your family.
Pros: Fewer kids and activities geared more towards adults, can prove to actually be more affordable
Cons: Passengers may feel that the ships and cruises are somewhat boring if they are used to the bells and whistles of Royal Caribbean
Silversea is definitely for those wanting a luxury, intimate, and unique experience. With Silversea, the cruises are quite costly but every room is a suite, comes with a butler plus other perks and the food and drinks are all at an ultra-premium level. Because the ships are smaller, there are fewer passengers on board. Ranging from 100-728, the number of people that you will have to cozy up with on the elevators is greatly reduced as compared to 7,600 passengers on Royal’s Icon of the Seas. Another pro to having smaller ships is that the itineraries can include smaller, more intimate ports to stop in. If you are trying to build loyalty with Royal Caribbean, then you would get 2 points for every 1 night that you spend on a Silversea ship (which is kinda low, if you ask me). Silversea definitely offers the more traditional cruising experience, which some might see as boring.
Pros: Very intimate and luxury experience, can help check off those bucket list experiences
Cons: Cruises with Silversea can be quite the investment
In the end, I suggest giving them all a try. We were so thrilled after our first Celebrity cruise, because we realized that we now had an additional set of itineraries and ships to choose from when picking our next cruise. Perhaps we will cruise with Silversea next.
Which cruise line would you like to give a try next? I would love to help you make that choice.
