Every Royal Caribbean Ship Ranked Best to Worst (10/2026)

Best for: Families who want the newest-feeling Icon-class experience on a Port Canaveral week

Star of the Seas drew the best combined score in the fleet, and her Cruise Critic reviews are the strongest of any big Royal ship. Reviewers kept calling her the best ship they'd ever sailed, praising the AquaDome, the shows (Torque got a shout-out by name), the family townhouse and how efficiently a ship carrying 6,000-plus people actually runs.

The complaints are the ones you'd expect at this size. Spring break and holiday sailings felt like a children's paradise to some adults, the specialty food drew a few eye rolls, and more than one reviewer said the hype and the price don't leave much room for error.

If you're going to do a mega ship with kids, this is the one reviewers are happiest with right now.

Best for: Mid-Atlantic cruisers who want an easy, drive-to-the-port getaway on a small, friendly ship

Vision is one of Royal's oldest and smallest ships, and she still landed near the top on the strength of a huge pile of happy Cruiseline.com reviews. Reviewers on her Baltimore sailings loved not having to fly, called the crew some of the friendliest in the fleet and said the smaller size made it easy to get to know people.

She isn't hiding her age, though. Cruise Critic reviewers called her tired and worn in the public areas, one guest woke up to bed bug bites, cabins ran cold on early-season sailings and a few long-time Royal fans wondered if this would be their last time aboard.

Go for the convenience and the crew, not the hardware.

Best for: Multigenerational groups and first-time Royal cruisers who want the ship everyone's talking about

Icon still delivers the wow factor. Reviewers on her summer 2026 sailings were nearly unanimous, with five-star reviews for the neighborhoods, the storage in the cabins, the crew and the sheer number of things to do. Big family reunions and Royal veterans who'd sworn off mega ships both came away impressed.

The low scores are fewer but sharp. A couple of guests described crew as confrontational and a vacation that went badly wrong, some found the food just so-so for the price, and a family with teens said they'd be one and done.

Her Cruise Critic sample is smaller than Star's, but the message is the same: if you want the full Icon experience, it's hard to go wrong.

Best for: Long-weekend cruisers who want the biggest possible ship for a three- or four-night party

Utopia's short sailings are where she shines, and her Cruiseline.com score is the highest of any Royal ship. Reviewers loved the shows, the AquaTheater and the energy, and a lot of first-timers coming over from Carnival said they'd found their new line.

That energy is also the main complaint. Reviewers called her loud and party-heavy, said the music was way too loud, and older guests said she's not built for them. Main dining food, drink package value and an expensive photo package that went missing all showed up in the lower scores.

Book her for exactly what she is, a big, fun, short escape, and most people come home happy.

Best for: First-time cruisers testing the waters on a budget week who don't need bells and whistles

Enchantment drew a surprising number of five-star reviews from people on their very first cruise. They loved how simple boarding was, the entertainment and the staff, and several said she was exactly the no-frills, old-school cruise they expected for the price.

Experienced cruisers were cooler on her. Reviewers said she's in need of a refresh, the shows were skippable, spring break sailings were rowdy and one guest summed her up as a cheap entry-level cruise where you get what you pay for.

She's a good value pick if you're new to cruising and the price is right.

Best for: Families booking a short Bahamas getaway who want an upgraded older ship at a lower fare

Mariner got a big refresh a few years back, and reviewers noticed. First-timers raved about her, a multigenerational family reunion had a great time and one guest called her greatly improved compared with a past sailing. The main dining room got some unexpected praise, too.

The negatives are mostly about cabins and service. A few reviewers said staterooms need attention, a Diamond member called the trip a lump of coal and one guest with more than 100 cruises said the food was well below what he expected.

For a short family trip she still punches above her age.

Best for: Families heading to Alaska from Seattle on a ship small enough to feel personal

Voyager's Alaska and Mediterranean sailings got plenty of love. Families celebrating birthdays and reunions said she was the right size, a bit smaller and more personal than the newer ships, and Cruiseline.com reviewers rated her right up with the big ships.

Her Cruise Critic reviews were rougher. Several said she's seen better days, the food quality has slipped and the entertainment, including one comedian who got singled out, missed the mark.

She's a solid family pick for Alaska, as long as you're there for the scenery more than the ship.

Best for: Short-cruise families who want Oasis-class thrills without committing to a full week

Wonder's three- and four-night sailings drew a lot of happy reviews, from retirees taking their first cruise to families who loved the ice and aqua shows and the Royal Beach Club. Several called her the best of the Oasis class.

She also picked up some harsh reviews. Guests complained about crowds, mediocre main dining food, a honeymoon that ended in tears, a confusing casino and a few long-time Diamond members who felt Royal is cutting corners.

Her Cruiseline.com score is excellent, and for a quick, high-energy getaway she usually delivers.

Best for: Port-focused cruisers on Mediterranean or Canada itineraries who like a ship with lots of glass and natural light

Brilliance is a Radiance-class ship, and reviewers who loved her called her a fantastic old girl with a superb crew, lots of natural light and a size that's easy to get around. Her Halloween sailing out of Boston and her Croatia and Italy itineraries got good marks for the ports.

The ship itself drew mixed reviews. Some said rooms were falling apart and towels had to be requested daily, others said she was just okay, and one guest was surprised to see babies in the hot tub.

She's a good value if the itinerary is the point and you go in expecting an older ship.

Best for: UK and Bermuda cruisers who want a fan-favorite Freedom-class ship with plenty to do

Indy has a loyal following, and reviewers explained why. Transatlantic and Bermuda guests praised the crew, the orchestra and the theater shows, and several said she still has it at her age. Cruiseline.com reviewers rated her among the best in the fleet.

She also had some ugly sailings. Reviewers called some trips trashy and crowded, complained about the casino, cracked fixtures and tired cabins, and a few first-time Royal guests from NCL and Celebrity said they wouldn't be back.

Pick your sailing carefully, and she can still be a great week.

Best for: Adults who want a cheap, relaxed three- or four-night getaway on a smaller, airy ship

Jewel's regulars love her airy design and smaller size, and several called her one of their favorite ships. Short getaways to the Bahamas and Coco Cay got good reviews for the food, dancing and a fun, adult-heavy atmosphere.

Her critics said she needs to be refitted, the food was bland outside of Chops, and a group of 22 women had a bad enough trip to warn others away. A long-time cruiser called it the sailing that made them say goodbye to Royal.

For the price, most people say she's a fun quick escape.

Best for: Oasis-class first-timers who are fine with big crowds in exchange for nonstop activities

Harmony still wins over first-timers. Reviewers on her Galveston and Mediterranean sailings called her big, beautiful and friendly, and a transatlantic guest called the whole trip idyllic.

The repeat cruisers were harder on her. Reviewers said she felt like a mall on Christmas Eve, with no pool chairs on sea days, shabby finishes, plumbing problems, a bad main dining room and, in one case, a theft from a cabin. Her Cruise Critic score is near the bottom of the Oasis class.

She's fun if you go in expecting crowds, but she isn't the Oasis ship reviewers are happiest with this year.

Best for: Northeast families who want a newer ship from Cape Liberty without going to the biggest classes

Odyssey's fans call her the best ship on the ocean, especially for transatlantics and Mediterranean trips. Families sailing from New Jersey in winter loved the activities, and one reviewer singled out Captain Marek as one of the most engaging captains they'd ever sailed with.

The most common complaint is that she's too small for the number of people Royal puts on her. Reviewers described feeling like sardines, boring food, a guest services desk that couldn't keep up and dining and entertainment that a repeat guest said had gone downhill.

She's a great ship on a quieter sailing and a frustrating one on a full holiday week.

Best for: Classic-ship fans who like small Royal ships and don't need modern attractions

Grandeur is the oldest ship in the fleet, and her fans know exactly what they're getting. Repeat guests called her a very nice classic ship with attentive staff, and Cruiseline.com reviewers still rated her well.

Her Cruise Critic reviews were some of the lowest in the fleet. First-time cruisers said she wasn't kid friendly, the food wasn't fresh, cabins in the bow were rough and the amenities were horrible compared with the staff. One reviewer said she isn't as inexpensive as you might think.

Don't book her as your first cruise, and don't book her expecting a new ship.

Best for: Alaska cruisers on a one-way Vancouver to Seward route who care more about the views than the ship

Radiance is an older ship, but reviewers say she's been updated nicely, with lots of glass for scenery. Alaska guests and people on short getaways said that with reasonable expectations, she's a relaxing ship.

Plenty of reviewers weren't sold. A guaranteed accessible cabin that was given away, sewage smells, an outdated centrum and main dining food that didn't live up to its presentation all came up, and one reviewer called the whole trip a waste of money.

She works best when the destination does the heavy lifting.

Best for: Families who want an amplified Freedom-class ship for a short Caribbean getaway

Freedom got a big amplification, and reviewers who liked her said it shows. Multigenerational families loved the corner aft cabins, the entertainment and having something for every age, and a lot of first-timers had a great time.

The food is the biggest complaint. Reviewers called the main dining room terrible, said food quality is dropping, and complained about seat saving, Voom internet problems and parts of the ship that smelled like sewage. One reviewer called Royal the new Carnival.

Book her for the activities and keep your dining expectations modest.

Best for: Alaska cruisers who want a big, freshly amplified ship with great views

Ovation got her amplification recently, and her Alaska guests noticed. Reviewers gave her high marks for the scenery, the crew and the dining, a 26-person anniversary group had a fantastic time and one reviewer called her their favorite Quantum-class ship.

Her Asia sailings and a few Alaska trips went less well. Reviewers complained about an obstructed balcony that wasn't clearly disclosed, a chaotic embarkation, nickel-and-diming, poor food and a ship that's very pushy about extras.

For an Alaska cruise she's one of Royal's better bets.

Best for: Families taking a first big-ship cruise who want shows and activities more than peace and quiet

Symphony's happiest reviewers called her their favorite Royal ship, surprisingly cozy for her size, with loads of entertainment and something for everyone. Several first-time families came home loyal to Royal.

She also drew some of the angriest reviews in the fleet. A September 2025 Bahamas sailing that was rerouted for a hurricane produced a wave of one-star reviews about how it was handled. Others complained about the elevators, air quality, overcrowding, kids running wild and a ship that needs a redo.

On a normal week she's a solid big-ship pick, but she's not one for seniors or anyone who hates crowds.

Best for: Port-focused cruisers who find a great Adriatic or Yucatan itinerary at a good price and can overlook an older ship

Explorer's best reviews came from guests who loved her itineraries, from Montenegro and Zadar to the Yucatan, and a few families and first-timers who had a great time.

Her Cruise Critic score is one of the lowest in the fleet, and the reviews explain why. Guests complained about sewage smells, plumbing problems, a tired dining room, rough seas and a ship that one reviewer said is 20 years past its prime.

Her Cruiseline.com reviewers were far kinder, so she isn't hopeless, but go in knowing she needs a refit.

Best for: Northeast cruisers heading to Bermuda or New England who want a recently refit Freedom-class ship

Liberty's best reviews came from short Bahamas trips, Bermuda and New England sailings, where guests praised the entertainment and an easy embarkation. One reviewer said her refit made her better than expected.

But a lot of reviewers said the refit didn't go far enough. They described a well-worn ship, a dirty Windjammer, loud air conditioning, poor service and post-cruise customer service problems. A port diversion that wasn't compensated well left another guest angry.

She's fine for a short trip, but several reviewers felt she's lost some of her shine.

Best for: West Coast cruisers on short Cabo and Ensenada runs from Los Angeles

Quantum's regulars love her. Repeat guests who've sailed her more than once said she exceeded expectations, the staff was amazing and the Solarium is a highlight.

Her critics focused on food, crowds and value. Several reviewers said the food was cold or bland, the layout feels like a floating mall, ports like Cabo were disappointing, and a few longtime Royal fans said it's no longer a premium cruise line.

She does the short Mexico run well, but don't expect a big-ship wow factor.

Best for: Alaska cruisers who want a smaller, quieter ship and good onboard enrichment

Serenade's Alaska reviewers loved the destination, the crew and the RCMP presentations, and a family with three kids had a great adventure. Two families sailing together said she's still got it.

She's an older ship, and some reviewers said it shows. A cabin on deck 2 had problems all week, a repeat guest said the decline of Royal was showing, and others said the ship could do with a refresh.

She had fewer reviews than most ships in this window, but the ones she got point to a pleasant, scenery-first cruise.

Best for: Northeast families sailing from Bayonne who want Oasis-class activities without flying

Oasis is a summer favorite out of Bayonne, and families with kids and big multigenerational groups had a great time. One reviewer was on their sixth sailing on her and still loved it.

Plenty of reviewers said she's due for a refit. They called her cabins threadbare, found mold in the showers and roaches in a cabin, had a water outage and complained about crowds, nonstop upselling and how Royal handled an accessibility issue.

She's still fun, but she's the Oasis-class ship reviewers say needs the most work.

Best for: Southern Caribbean and ABC Islands fans who choose the itinerary first and the ship second

Rhapsody's fans love her port-heavy itineraries. Reviewers on Southern Caribbean and ABC Islands sailings said the ports more than made up for the ship, and several praised a crew with a lot of heart.

The ship itself took a beating. Reviewers called her old and in need of an update, and a few said she should be decommissioned. A 27-day sailing review called the experience fair but declining, and some guests were ready to go home early.

She's the right pick when the islands are the whole point.

Best for: Repeat Royal cruisers sailing from Galveston who want to see her amplified upgrades

Allure got her amplification, and some longtime guests liked the result. Reviewers who sailed her years ago said she was as beautiful as ever, and a few first-time Oasis-class guests had a great week.

But her reviews are among the worst for any big Royal ship this year. Reviewers called her the Red Roof Inn of the Seas, described a complete failure of service and hygiene, said she's way too big and crowded, and several Diamond members said they're done with Royal. The amplification didn't reach most cabins, according to one reviewer.

Her Cruiseline.com score is respectable, but Cruise Critic reviewers were brutal.

Best for: Hard to say yet, with only a handful of recent reviews from her first summer

Legend only started sailing in July 2026, so her score is based on just her first few months in the Mediterranean. Cruiseline.com reviewers loved her, and first-time cruisers called her an amazing introduction to cruising with a staff that deserves a raise.

Cruise Critic reviewers were much tougher. They called the upselling out of control, said she's heavily tailored to young kids, and several said the service didn't match a brand-new ship. One maiden voyage guest called it beautiful but with terrible service.

Give her a Caribbean season before you treat this score as settled.

Best for: Budget-minded families who want an older Voyager-class ship and don't mind some rust

Adventure's fans say she's an older ship that's still well maintained, and reviewers who went in with the right expectations had a great time. One guest on a Star Trek charter cruise highly recommended it.

Her critics weren't kind. She has a reputation as a rust bucket, and reviewers backed that up with rusty balconies, mold, sewage smells, secondhand smoke from the casino and a medical center they said overcharged. Several said she badly needs a dry dock.

She's fine for a cheap short trip, but repeat Royal cruisers were mostly disappointed.

Best for: Southern California families booking a quick Ensenada and Catalina run on a budget

Navigator's three- and four-night sailings from Los Angeles are cheap and easy, and reviewers who had a good time called her a floating Disneyland with great crew and surprisingly good food.

She drew the lowest Cruise Critic score in the fleet. Reviewers complained that the water slides were closed despite being advertised, about old and worn cabins, poor sanitation, food poisoning and a party atmosphere that one family said wasn't family friendly at all.

If you book her, check the slides and keep your expectations low.

Best for: Alaska cruisers from Seattle who just want to see the scenery from a big, modern ship

Anthem's Alaska sailings produced some genuinely happy reviews, with guests praising the views, an attentive crew and a happy vibe aboard.

But she drew the lowest combined score of any Royal ship with a full sample. Reviewers complained about three days without air conditioning, huge crowds and unsupervised kids, poor food, and a sailing that lost six of its nine ports to bad weather. A few longtime Diamond members said Royal is just above Carnival now.

Alaska on Anthem can work, but reviewers say you're there for the destination.

Best for: Asia-based cruisers comfortable on a ship marketed mainly to the Chinese market

Spectrum sails in Asia, and only eight reviews fell in our window, so her score is based on a very small sample. A British guest on a Shanghai, Kobe, Osaka and Tokyo route enjoyed the itinerary.

Other reviewers said the experience was very different from Royal's American ships, with one telling American cruisers to stay away and another saying a terrible embarkation soured the whole trip.

With so few reviews, it's hard to say how she really compares yet.