Royal Caribbean, Carnival or MSC for a Family Cruise?
For a family, compare the kids' club, the ship and the fare together. Royal Caribbean, Carnival and MSC all include youth sessions on the standard fare, and the ships are not the same size.
It’s All Cruises · October 25, 2026
Pick the ship your children will actually use, then the fare that covers the rest of the day. All three standard fares include a kids' club and the main shows. Drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities and shore excursions stay extra.
Quick facts
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean kids' club | Included. Adventure Ocean |
| Carnival kids' club | Included. Camp Ocean for regular sessions. Night Owls extra |
| MSC kids' club | Included. Ages and hours Not listed |
| Inclusions checked | September 20, 2026 |
| Carnival fleet | 29 |
| MSC fleet | 22 |
What a standard family fare covers
| Item | Royal Caribbean | Carnival | MSC Bella |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids' club | Included. Adventure Ocean youth programme | Included. Regular Camp Ocean sessions; Night Owls costs extra | Included |
| Main shows | Included. Main productions; lineup varies by ship | Included. Main shows and comedy | Included. Main theatre shows |
| Specialty dining | Extra. Main dining and selected casual venues included | Partly. Some casual venues are free; premium restaurants charge | Extra |
| Soft drinks | Extra. Water, tea and selected juices included | Extra. Lemonade and iced tea included; soda costs extra | Extra |
| Wi-Fi | Extra. VOOM sold separately | Extra. Internet plans sold separately | Extra |
| Gratuities | Extra. Daily service charge added separately | Extra. Daily service charge added separately | Extra. Hotel service charge separate; region and age rules apply |
| Shore excursions | Extra | Extra | Extra |
Three large ships
| Ship | Class | Built | Refurbished | Gross tonnage | Guests (double) | Space ratio | Crew ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icon of the Seas | Icon | 2024 | Not listed | 250,800 | 5,610 | 44.7 | 2.39 |
| Carnival Celebration | Excel | 2022 | Not listed | 183,521 | 5,374 | 34.1 | 3.10 |
| MSC World America | World | 2025 | Not listed | 216,638 | 5,228 | 41.4 | 2.45 |
| Allure of the Seas | Oasis | Not listed | Not listed | 225,282 | 5,718 | 39.4 | 2.72 |
Use the ship, then a real week
- Icon of the Seas lists 250,800 gross tons, 5,610 guests at double occupancy, 7,600 at maximum, 20 restaurants and space ratio 44.7. An attraction on Icon is not on every Royal Caribbean ship.
- Carnival Celebration lists 183,521 gross tons, 5,374 guests at double occupancy, 4 pools and space ratio 34.1.
- MSC World America lists 216,638 gross tons, 7 pools, 12 restaurants and space ratio 41.4.
- Carnival Camp Ocean groups ages 2 to 11. Older children use other programs. Royal Caribbean's recorded note names Adventure Ocean and does not print every age band here.
- Sample weeks: Allure of the Seas, $880 starting cruise fare, as of October 4, 2026, ports Miami, Florida, Perfect Day CocoCay, Bahamas, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Carnival Jubilee, $569 starting cruise fare, as of October 21, 2026, ports Galveston, Cozumel, Isla Tropicale, Roatan. MSC Seascape, $480 starting cruise fare, as of October 24, 2026.
- Cabin occupancy for a specific family size is Not listed on these ship records. Confirm beds on the category.
Fares are marketing prices, confirmed when you book. Specialty dining is extra on Royal Caribbean and MSC Bella. Carnival lists some casual venues in the fare and charges for premium restaurants.
Frequently asked questions
Is the biggest ship the one to book with children?
Size is a figure, not a verdict. Icon of the Seas has the highest recorded gross tonnage of these three, at 250,800. Carnival Celebration has a lower space ratio, 34.1 against Icon's 44.7.
Are kids' clubs included?
Yes on all three standard fares in this table. Carnival charges for Night Owls. Session-by-session hours should be confirmed on the sailing.
Do these fares include soda and Wi-Fi?
No. Soft drinks and Wi-Fi are extra on Royal Caribbean standard, Carnival standard and MSC Bella. Water, tea and selected juices are included on Royal Caribbean. Carnival includes lemonade and iced tea.
Can three lines share one shore-excursion plan?
Only if you are paying extra on these fares. Shore excursions are extra on all three columns.
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