Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
 

Fun, well-rounded, activity-packed cruises on attractive, glamorous, but (for the most part) not too over-the-top-glitzy mega ships. There's so much going on.

Royal Caribbean International is one of the steadiest and best-conceived cruise companies in the industry, with a fleet of mostly similar ships designed to appeal to a wide range of people--except for the older Nordic Empress, the company's vessels are all mega ships with similar features such as multistory atria and mall-like shopping complexes, two-story dining rooms and showrooms, and wide-open public areas and conversely small cabins. There's lots of activities, a varied and well-executed entertainment repertoire, and enough glamour and glitz to keep things exciting, but not so much that they overwhelm the senses (except aboard the Voyager, Explorer, and Adventure of the Seas, where they do). Decor-wise, these ships are a shade or two toned down from the Carnival brood, and while at the end of the day the onboard experience is similar, the Royal Caribbean ships are less in-your-face than their Carnival counterparts. The new Radiance of the Seas is the line's classiest to date, stretching Royal Caribbean much closer to a Celebrity-style sophistication than a Vegas-style, party-on Carnival feel.

Activities. With rock-climbing walls, miniature golf and basketball courts among the many diversions, these ships are tops in the keeping-busy department.

Attractive public rooms. Lounges, restaurants, and outdoor pool decks are well designed, spacious, glamorous, and just plain inviting: not too flamboyant, but compelling.

Great Solariums. Each with a theme centered around an indoor pool, the solariums on the Vision-, Voyager- and Radiance-class ships are attractive and relaxing.

Long lines. Hey, these are big ships, so there are going to be lines at times, especially in the buffet restaurants and getting on and off the ship in port.