Cunard vs Royal Caribbean
A detailed side-by-side comparison of Cunard and Royal Caribbean covering ratings, fleet size, food quality, entertainment, value for money, and available sailings from UK ports. Updated for 2026.
The head-to-head
Ratings are based on aggregated passenger reviews, editorial analysis, and expert scoring. The cobalt outline marks the stronger line for each attribute.
Who should choose which?
Every cruise line has its strengths and weaknesses. Here is an honest look at who each line is best suited for, based on passenger feedback and our editorial assessment.
Choose Cunard if you want…
- Luxury and sophistication
- Transatlantic crossings
- Formal dining
- History and tradition
Cunard may not suit you if…
- Budget travellers
- Families with young children
- Those who dislike formal dress codes
Choose Royal Caribbean if you want…
- Families with kids
- Thrill seekers and adventurers
- Mega-ship experience
- Entertainment and activities
Royal Caribbean may not suit you if…
- Quiet/intimate cruise seekers
- Ultra-luxury preference
- Those avoiding large crowds
Ships at a glance
A quick comparison of each line's fleet including passenger capacity, tonnage, and year of launch.
Cunard Fleet (4 ships)
Queen Mary 2
Built 2004 · 2,691 guests
Queen Victoria
Built 2007 · 2,081 guests
Queen Anne
Built 2024 · 2,996 guests
Royal Caribbean Fleet (28 ships)
Anthem of the Seas
Built 2015 · 4,905 guests
Icon of the Seas
Built 2024 · 7,600 guests
Utopia of the Seas
Built 2024 · 5,668 guests
Available cruises
Current sailings from both cruise lines. Prices shown are per person based on two sharing the lowest-grade cabin available.
Cunard Sailings
Save 4%12 NIGHTSNot Specified
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada and others
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSDeparting Southampton - Ponta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira) - Lisbon - Vigo - Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTS12 Night Queen Anne Cruise
Save 4%12 NIGHTSNorth Atlantic Adventure
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSWestern Europe and the Azores
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSPonta Delgada - Ponta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira) - Lisbon - Vigo - Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Funchal and Lisbon
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada and Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSTransatlantic Cruise
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Funchal (Madeira)
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Lisbon and back
Ports: Southampton · Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSItinerary from Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSNot Available
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada to Funchal (Madeira) to Lisbon to Vigo to Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton - Ponta Delgada - Ponta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira) - Lisbon - Vigo - Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada and More
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton - Ponta Delgada - Funchal - Lisbon - Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSoutherly Discovery
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSCruising from Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSWestern Europe Explorer
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthern Europe Exploration
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSPonta Delgada, Funchal, Lisbon, Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton - Ponta Delgada - Lisbon - Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Madeira and Spain
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSDeparture from Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSDeparting Southampton - Ponta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira) - Lisbon - Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSPonta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira) - Lisbon - Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada, Funchal, Lisbon, Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthern Europe Voyage
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 6%12 NIGHTSAzores, Portugal and Spain cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Ponta Delgada, Azores · Funchal, Madeira · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSPonta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira)
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada & More
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Lisbon and return
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada, Funchal, Lisbon, Vigo, and return
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSCruise only from Southampton to Ponta Delgada - Funchal (Madeira) - Lisbon - Vigo
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada to Funchal to Lisbon to Vigo and back to Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSCruise only from
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Funchal and Return
Ports: Southampton · Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSPonta Delgada to Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSNorth Atlantic Crossing
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthern European Exploration
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Madeira and Lisbon
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthern Europe
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSouthampton to Ponta Delgada, Funchal, Lisbon, Vigo and back to Southampton
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTSSoutherly Routes
Ports: Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo
Save 4%12 NIGHTS12 Night Canary Islands Cruise
Ports: Southampton · Ponta Delgada · Funchal (Madeira) · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 4%12 NIGHTSCruise only from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Ponta Delgada · Funchal · Lisbon · Vigo
Royal Caribbean Sailings
Save 2%9 NIGHTS3-night Hong Kong & 5-night Okinawa Overnight
9 NIGHTS3-night Hong Kong & 5-night Okinawa & Ishigaki
13 NIGHTSOrlando Adventure & Star of the Seas Caribbean Escape with Royal Caribbean
9 NIGHTS3-night Hong Kong & 5-night Okinawa & Ishigaki
9 NIGHTS3-night Hong Kong & 5-night Okinawa & Taipei
14 NIGHTSHong Kong's Symphony of Lights and Christmas Best of Japan Voyage
Ports: Hong Kong · Fukuoka · Nagasaki · Kagoshima · Kumamoto
7 NIGHTS7 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise
Ports: San Juan · Charlotte Amalie · St Croix · Philipsburg · St John's · Roseau
5 NIGHTS5 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports: Tampa · Puerto Costa Maya · Cozumel
7 NIGHTS7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports: Tampa · Cozumel · Puerto Costa Maya · George Town
10 NIGHTS4-night Singapore & 5-night Penang, Langkawi & Phuket
7 NIGHTS7 Night South Pacific Cruise
Ports: Brisbane · Mystery Island · Noumea
7 NIGHTS7-night Cabo Overnight Catalina & Ensenada
Ports: Los Angeles · Catalina Island · Cabo San Lucas · Ensenada
9 NIGHTS9 Night New Zealand Cruise
Ports: Sydney · Wellington · Napier · Tauranga · Bay Of Islands
14 NIGHTS4-night Sydney & 9-night South Pacific Paradise
Hot deal4 NIGHTS4 Night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise
Ports: Nassau · Coco Cay
Hot deal4 NIGHTS4 Night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise
Ports: Nassau · Coco Cay
Hot deal4 NIGHTS4 Night Bahamas Getaway Cruise
Ports: Nassau · Freeport · Bimini Island
Hot deal4 NIGHTS4 Night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise
Ports: Nassau · Coco Cay
Hot deal4 NIGHTS4 Night Hobart Getaway
Ports: Hobart
4 NIGHTS4 Night Busan Cruise
Ports: Baoshan Pt · Busan
7 NIGHTS7 Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day
Ports: Port Canaveral · Charlotte Amalie · Puerto Plata · Coco Cay · Port Canaveral
5 NIGHTS5 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports: Galveston · Costa Maya · Cozumel · Galveston
6 NIGHTS6 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports: Fort Lauderdale · Cozumel · Costa Maya · Nassau
7 NIGHTS7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports: Tampa · Costa Maya · Belize City · Roatán Island · Cozumel
4 NIGHTS4 Night Catalina & Ensenada Cruise
Ports: San Diego · Santa Catalina Island · Ensenada
7 NIGHTS7 Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day
Ports: Miami · Coco Cay · San Juan (Puerto Rico) · Charlotte Amalie
5 NIGHTS5 Night Jeju & Fukuoka Cruise
Ports: Baoshan Pt · Seogwipo · Fukuoka
7 NIGHTS7 Night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day
Ports: Coco Cay · Bimini Island · Georgetown · Cozumel · Miami
17 NIGHTS3-night Memphis, Graceland Tour, 2-night New Orleans & 17-night Transatlantic to Southampton
Ports: Memphis · New Orleans · Miami · Casablanca · Tangier · Cadiz
20 NIGHTS3-night New Orleans & 17-night Miami, Morocco & Spanish Transatlantic Adventure
Hot deal4 NIGHTSBahamas cruise from Miami to Galveston
Ports: Miami · Nassau
7 NIGHTS2-night Seattle & 7-night Alaskan Voyage
Ports: Seattle, Washington · Juneau, Alaska · Skagway, Alaska · Sitka, Alaska · Victoria, British Columbia
7 NIGHTS7-night Freedom of Spain & Portugal
Ports: Spain · Portugal
Save 1%7 NIGHTS2-night Seattle & 7-night Alaskan Voyage
Ports: Seattle, Washington · Juneau, Alaska · Skagway, Alaska · Sitka, Alaska · Victoria, British Columbia
7 NIGHTS7 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise
Ports: Barcelona · Majorca · Florence/Pisa · Rome · Naples
Deal7 NIGHTSSpain and France cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Le Havre (Paris) · Bilbao (Getxo) · La Coruna · Vigo
7 NIGHTS2-night Seattle & 7-night Alaskan Voyage
Ports: Seattle, Washington · Juneau, Alaska · Skagway, Alaska · Sitka, Alaska · Victoria, British Columbia
Deal7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
7 NIGHTSHalf Term Western Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona
Ports: Barcelona · Palma De Mallorca · Marseille (Provence) · La Spezia (tours to Florence/Pisa) · Rome (Civitavecchia) · Naples
5 NIGHTS5 Night Hamburg & Rotterdam Cruise
Ports: Hamburg · Rotterdam · Southampton
7 NIGHTS7-night Freedom of Spain & Portugal
Ports: Spain · Portugal
7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Haugesund · Bergen · Olden · Stavanger
Save 4%5 NIGHTS5 Night Hamburg & Bruges Cruise
Ports: Hamburg · Zeebrugge · Southampton
2 NIGHTS2 Night Weekend Getaway Cruise
Ports: Le Havre · Southampton
Save 1%10 NIGHTSBahamas & Perfect Day from Cape Liberty with Stay
Ports: New York (Cape Liberty) · Orlando (Port Canaveral) · Perfect Day at Cococay · Nassau
Save 10%5 NIGHTS5 Night Hamburg & Bruges Cruise
Ports: Hamburg · Zeebrugge · Southampton
Save 1%8 NIGHTSNorthern City Escapes
17 NIGHTSGreat Wall, Terracotta Warriors an Shanghai to Osaka and Tokyo
Ports: Shanghai · Osaka · Tokyo
7 NIGHTSWestern Mediterranean from Barcelona with Stay
9 NIGHTSSpanish Flair cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Vigo · Lisbon · Cadiz · La Coruna · Bilbao
Cunard vs Royal Caribbean: the bottom line
Choosing between Cunard and Royal Caribbean ultimately comes down to what kind of holiday you are looking for. Both are well-established cruise lines with loyal followings, but they cater to different preferences and budgets.
Cunard, founded in 1840 and headquartered in Southampton, UK, operates a fleet of 4 ships. It is categorised as a luxury cruise line and scores 4.8/5 overall based on 8,900 reviews. The line is particularly strong for luxury and sophistication and transatlantic crossings, making it a natural choice for cruisers who value those attributes.
Royal Caribbean, established in 1968 from Miami, USA, has a fleet of 28 ships. As a contemporary line rated 4.6/5 from 24,500 reviews, it excels at families with kids and thrill seekers and adventurers. If those are your priorities, Royal Caribbean deserves serious consideration.
On food, Cunard scores 9/10 compared to Royal Caribbean's 7/10. For entertainment, Cunard comes in at 7/10 versus Royal Caribbean's 10/10. Value for money favours Royal Caribbean with a score of 7/10.
Our recommendation: browse the available sailings above and compare itineraries, dates, and total cost including what is bundled in the fare. The best cruise line is the one that matches your specific needs, budget, and travel dates. Use the scores as a guide, but remember that individual ship and itinerary matter just as much as the cruise line brand.