Comparison: 3 Caribbean Cruises — Royal Caribbean vs. MSC vs. Disney Cruise Line

Three cruise lines, three completely different approaches to what a week at sea should be like. We compare actual prices, food, entertainment, the crowd, and what’s included—and what isn’t.

Published August 1, 20264 min read

Crucero navegando en mar abierto bajo un cielo despejado

Choosing a cruise line for a Caribbean cruise is quite similar to choosing an airline: the itinerary may be almost identical, but the onboard experience is completely different. We compare the three most common options for Spanish-speaking travelers, focusing on what really sets them apart from one another.

Overview

	Royal Caribbean	MSC Cruceros	Disney Cruise Line
Price per person (7 nights, interior)	USD 700–1,200	USD 450–900	USD 1,400 – 2,600
Main audience	Families and groups	European and Latin American, very diverse	Families with children
Language on board	English, some Spanish	Truly multilingual	English
Tips per day	USD 16–18	USD 10–14	USD 14–16
Drinks included	No	No	Soft drinks included

Prices are for mid-season departures from Miami or Port Canaveral and are approximate: the same cabin may cost twice as much in January as in September.

Royal Caribbean: The Ship as a Destination

Royal Caribbean built the world’s largest ships and uses them as its main selling point. On a Oasis of the Seas or a Wonder of the Seas, there’s a ten-story water slide, a climbing wall, a surf simulator, an ice-skating rink, and a central promenade lined with real trees.

This has a practical benefit: the days at sea don’t feel long. For children between the ages of eight and fifteen, it’s probably the best option on the market.

The food in the main dining room is decent without being memorable. The buffet, honestly, is lackluster during peak hours. The specialty restaurants are an extra charge, ranging from $30 to $60 per person, and there’s a real leap in quality there.

The private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, is one of the best stops in the Caribbean, although almost everything of interest—the water park, the hot air balloons, the cabanas—is charged separately.

MSC: The Best Value Option

MSC is consistently the cheapest cruise line in the Caribbean, and that’s its main selling point. A seven-night cruise can cost half as much as its equivalent on Royal Caribbean.

The ship is European in the best and worst senses of the word. The best part: they actually speak Spanish, the pasta is genuinely good, and the coffee is real coffee. The worst part: the service is more impersonal and less choreographed, and the organization of boarding and disembarking tends to be more chaotic.

The evening entertainment is of a lower caliber than the competition’s. The shows are short and repetitive. For adults looking for sun, sea, and good food without breaking the bank, it works perfectly. For kids expecting a floating amusement park, it’s a letdown.

It’s best to book the Fantástica package or higher: the cheapest fare, Bella, doesn’t allow you to choose your dinner time or cabin location, and your assignment might end up being a cabin right below the nightclub.

Disney Cruise Line: the most expensive and the least debated

Disney Cruise Line costs between two and three times as much as MSC for the same itinerary. The reasonable question is whether it’s worth it, and the answer depends almost entirely on whether there are kids on board.

With kids, yes. The kids’ club is free, open from morning until past midnight, and staffed at a ratio that no other cruise line can match. Parents who haven’t had a peaceful dinner in years can finally dine in peace.

The rotating dining system is a simple and excellent idea: the table and waitstaff move with the passengers through three different restaurants, so you dine in a different place every night without losing the familiar service.

Soft drinks are included—something no other cruise line does—and so is bottled water. It may sound like a minor detail, but it’s not: in a week, a family of four can easily save $200.

Castaway Cay, the private island, is the best in the Caribbean and charges no extra fees for almost anything.

Without kids, it’s very hard to justify the price. There’s no casino, the nightlife is limited, and the crowd is overwhelmingly family-oriented.

What almost no one compares—but should

Tips

They’re automatically added to the bill and are practically mandatory. Over a week, for four people, they range from USD 280 to USD 500, depending on the cruise line. That’s a significant percentage of the total that rarely shows up in price comparisons.

Beverage package

Between $60 and $90 per person per day on the Royal Caribbean, and you have to purchase it for all adults in the stateroom, not just one. It’s best to do the math honestly: if you don’t drink at least five drinks a day, it’s cheaper to pay as you go.

Shore Excursions

The cruise line’s excursions cost between 30% and 60% more than booking them on your own at the port. The difference lies in the guarantee: if the official excursion is delayed, the ship waits. If the one booked independently is delayed, the ship does not wait.

So, which one?

With children under twelve and a flexible budget, Disney Cruise Line. With older children or teenagers, Royal Caribbean. Adults who prioritize price and good food, MSC. It really is that straightforward.