Why Royal Caribbean Is One of the Best Cruise Lines in the World

Let's start with the cutting-edge technology. Every ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet is an engineering marvel, thanks to years of research and brainstorming, with groundbreaking design, architecture and construction. Royal Caribbean pushes the envelope when it comes to what a cruise can and should be, especially since launching its very first ships decades ago. The team seems to dream bigger and bolder than any other brand in the industry, making the impossible possible and delivering vacations unlike any other.

It's why Royal Caribbean ships have broken so many records with: 

● The tallest slide at sea, Ultimate Abyss — a ten-story plunge sure to thrill adults and kids equally. 

● The North Star, an observation capsule that holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship.

● The AquaTheater, the deepest and largest freshwater pool at sea and the stage for some of the industry's coolest original shows and productions.

Those are just three of the record-holding attractions you'll find on board Royal Caribbean ships. Every ship in the fleet is kitted out with game-changing features that combine next-level tech and off-the-charts creativity. A great example is the Bionic Bar, a guest-favorite hangout where two robotic bartenders mix, muddle, shake and stir up cocktails and mocktails coded in binary. You'll find it on some of the most popular ships, including Anthemof the Seas®, Quantum of the Seas® and Symphony of the Seas®.

On Quantum Class ships, every experience on board spotlights technology and innovation to some degree. For instance, there's Two70®, a spectacular venue that transitions from café and lounge to multimedia theater. It's lined with 270 degrees of windows, two stories high. During the daytime, guests can gaze through them to appreciate breathtaking ocean views. When the sun goes down, this revolutionary space sets the stage for immersive entertainment that spotlights aerialists, robotic dancing screens and more.

Complimentary Royal Caribbean Dining

El Loco Fresh®, which first debuted on board Symphony of the Seas, is a fast-casual dining spot serving up crazy-good favorites from south of the border, such as shareable loaded nachos, flavorful burritos and mouthwatering tacos — all complimentary.

I'd be remiss not to mention Windjammer and the Main Dining Room, two Royal Caribbean mainstays where every delectable bite is included in your cruise fare. At Windjammer, you can taste the world all day, every day. In the morning, the spread here features every breakfast staple under the sun, including creamy yogurts and smoothies, fresh-cut fruit, fluffy waffles and pancakes and made-to-order omelets. 

You'll also find some dishes with a global spin, such as spiced eggs Bhurji. The selection available during lunchtime and dinner is no less impressive. You can bounce from one station to another, enjoying tender carved meats, crisp salads, just-pressed paninis and juicy burgers. There’s also an ever-changing assortment of heartier mains from Jamaica to Jaipur and Beijing to Buenos Aires.

No Royal Caribbean cruise is complete without at least one meal at the Main Dining Room. Dinner in this elegant venue is an extravagant, multi-course affair. Like Windjammer, the menu highlights delicacies from every corner of the globe, many of which rotate from one night to the next. 

You could be craving a bit of tangy duck a l'Orange that transports you to France, spiced ahi tuna that blends Far East and Mid-East flavors or mojo-marinated pork loin that channels countless enchanting island vibes. No matter what kind of tastes and culinary textures you’re after, get ready for a flavor fest that’s out of this world.

Environmentally Aware And Continuously Improving

Royal Caribbean doesn’t just represent the ultimate travel experiences for cruise travelers; the brand also approaches onboard attractions with environmental awareness in mind. The brand has earned a reputation as one of the best cruise lines in the industry after showing an unwavering commitment to making cruising cleaner and more environmentally friendly. 

For starters, Royal Caribbean has removed 60% of single-use plastics over the past several years — including all plastic straws, stirrers, picks, coffee creamer containers and condiment packages. All onboard teams still plan to do more to reduce plastic use and environmental impact in the coming years.

Sustainability and Safety Initiatives

Additionally, Royal Caribbean has continued to grow its Save the Waves program. It started as an onboard recycling program in 1992 and has since become a company-wide philosophy and initiative that defines and guides full commitment to managing waste and sourcing sustainable and evolving energy-saving technologies.

These initiatives are led by environmental officers and onboard teams, extending all the way to the Royal Caribbean private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Here, the program includes a water specialist who oversees the advanced water treatment and desalination plants that repurpose treated wastewater to irrigate the island's landscaping.

This cruise brand continues to work to innovate the ships in its fleet in ways that make a difference. One example is the air lubrication system, which coats the ships’ hulls with millions of tiny bubbles to create a barrier between the ship and the water around it. It facilitates a smoother, more efficient ride that uses less energy. Royal Caribbean ships also implemented LED lights and tinted windows to help conserve energy on board — seemingly small adjustments at first glance, with a big impact at the end of the day, every sailing day.