Royal Caribbean

Best for

Active families, plus sporty couples and singles who want a never-a-dull-moment experience.

Not for

These cruise ships aren't for anyone who doesn’t love people, or action.

We love

• Sports activities on Royal Caribbean are the best at sea, including rock-climbing, surfing simulations, ice skating, zip lining, inline skating, boxing (in a real ring!), and billiards — and most of them are complimentary.
• Impressive, high-octane entertainment choices include high-dive and synchronized swimming shows on Oasis and Allure, and parades with stilt walkers and costumed characters.
• Classic Broadway productions (“Chicago,” “Saturday Night Fever,” and “Hairspray”) … need we say more?
• Royal Caribbean's partnership with DreamWorks Animation brings characters from “Madagascar,” “Shrek,” and “Kung Fu Panda” aboard for character breakfasts and photo ops.
• Kids are catered to with water parks that have cannons and sprayers (on Freedom and Oasis classes).
• The 1950s-style Johnny Rockets diners (with singing and dancing waiters) are a great alternative to the sprawling buffet restaurant.
• The innovative Oasis-class design features themed neighborhoods, including a “boardwalk” district that has a carousel with hand-carved wooden horses.
• The two-story, glass-walled Loft Suites have a living room below and a loft bedroom above.

We could live without

• Royal Caribbean's small standard cabins have truly compact showers.
• Huge passenger capacities mean competition getting on and off the ship, as well as for deck chairs.
• The push to sell … just about anything, from DVDs of the cruise to the ubiquitous photographers snapping pictures they sell later, can get quite annoying.