Cruise Frog guide
Costa Cruises vs Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International rates higher than Costa Cruises on Cruise Frog's editorial scores, 4.0 to 3.1 out of 5 across their rated ships. Royal Caribbean International leads on cabins, entertainment, service and pools & decks, with the rest level. Pick Costa Cruises for couples and value seekers; Royal Caribbean International for multigenerational groups and friends and groups.
Comparison updated
| Fact | Costa Cruises | Royal Caribbean International |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Mainstream | Mainstream |
| Best for | Families, Couples, Value seekers, First-time cruisers | Families, First-time cruisers, Multigenerational groups, Friends and groups |
| Fleet rating | 3.1 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Cabins | 3.1 | 4.2 |
| Dining | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Entertainment | 3.3 | 4.9 |
| Service | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Pools & decks | 2.4 | 4.0 |
| Value | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Ships in service | 8 | 30 |
| Ships on the way | — | 1 |
| Largest ship | Costa Toscana (186,364 GT) | Icon of the Seas (248,663 GT) |
| Newest ship | Costa Toscana (2022) | Legend of the Seas (2026) |
| Guests per ship, average | 4,100 | 3,866 |
| Usually sails | Mediterranean, Caribbean, Northern Europe, Norwegian Fjords | Caribbean, Bahamas, Mediterranean, Transatlantic |
| Solo cabins | None | — |
| Single supplement | Costa's cabin categories run from inside to suites with no cabins built for one. A solo guest books a double cabin and pays a single… | — |
| Loyalty program | C|Club | Crown & Anchor Society |
| Owner | Carnival Corporation & plc | Royal Caribbean Group |
| Headquarters | Genoa, Italy | Miami, Florida, United States |
| Founded | 1948 | 1969 |
Ratings are Cruise Frog's editorial scores of each line's ships in service, 1 to 5, averaged; the higher figure is highlighted. How we rate.
Quick answers
Which is better, Costa Cruises or Royal Caribbean International?
Royal Caribbean International rates higher than Costa Cruises on Cruise Frog's editorial scores, 4.0 to 3.1 out of 5 across their rated ships. Royal Caribbean International leads on cabins, entertainment, service and pools & decks, with the rest level.
Is Costa Cruises or Royal Caribbean International better value?
They score the same for value, 4.0 out of 5.
Is Costa Cruises or Royal Caribbean International better for dining?
They score the same for dining, 3.0 out of 5.
Is Costa Cruises or Royal Caribbean International better for entertainment?
Royal Caribbean International scores higher for entertainment, 4.9 to 3.3 out of 5 (shows, music, and things to do at sea).
Is Costa Cruises or Royal Caribbean International better for cabins?
Royal Caribbean International scores higher for cabins, 4.2 to 3.1 out of 5 (comfortable, quiet, well kept).
Which has bigger ships, Costa Cruises or Royal Caribbean International?
Royal Caribbean International's largest ship, Icon of the Seas, measures 248,663 gross tons, against 186,364 for Costa Toscana, Costa Cruises's largest. An average Costa Cruises ship carries 4,100 guests, a Royal Caribbean International ship 3,866.
How many ships do Costa Cruises and Royal Caribbean International have?
Costa Cruises has 8 ships in service; Royal Caribbean International has 30 ships in service and 1 on the way.
Are Costa Cruises and Royal Caribbean International owned by the same company?
No. Costa Cruises is part of Carnival Corporation & plc; Royal Caribbean International is part of Royal Caribbean Group.