As someone who’s spent countless weeks sailing the seas with both my excitable children and occasionally just my equally cruise-obsessed husband, I’ve experienced the best (and occasionally the not-so-great) of what the major cruise lines offer families.

Today, I’m breaking down two popular choices for UK cruisers: P&O Cruises and Royal Caribbean.

If you’re weighing up a family cruise, grab a cuppa and let me walk you through the key differences. Some say it’s like comparing apples with oranges — and honestly, they’re not wrong. The real question is which suits your family best.

We Will Rock You - picture of the cast on stage — **We Will Rock You - Royal Caribbean**

Price Comparison: Is Royal Caribbean Worth the Extra Cost?

Let’s start with the biggest factor for most families: price. Royal Caribbean usually comes in more expensive than P&O, particularly when sailing from Southampton.

During a price check in February 2025, I found:

A 10-night Mediterranean cruise on P&O Ventura from Southampton in a balcony cabin for two adults and two children just over £5,000 with onboard credit.
A comparable nine-night Royal Caribbean sailing on Independence of the Seas priced just over £9,000 for the same family setup.

That’s a big difference — potentially enough for excursions, spending money or even another holiday.

Of course prices vary depending on offers, timing, ship and cabin category, but broadly speaking P&O tends to win on value while Royal Caribbean charges more for onboard innovation.

Atmosphere & Onboard Culture

P&O Cruises Atmosphere

P&O has a distinctly British feel onboard, from familiar entertainment styles to comfort food and that reassuring “home away from home” atmosphere many UK families appreciate.

You’ll find proper tea, British humour and a generally calmer pace that suits families wanting a relaxed cruise experience.

Royal Caribbean Atmosphere

Royal Caribbean embraces a more international, American-influenced vibe. Ships tend to feel busier, louder and more energetic, with bigger productions and a strong focus on activities.

Some families absolutely love that energy, while others prefer the quieter feel of P&O.

Dining Experiences: Variety vs Familiar Comfort

Food is a big part of cruising, and both lines do this well in different ways.

Buffet Dining

From our experience, Royal Caribbean’s Windjammer buffet usually offers more global variety, especially at breakfast and lunch. The themed stations and international dishes can be a highlight.

P&O buffets are reliable and comforting, often leaning more traditional British in style, which many families appreciate.

Speciality Restaurants

P&O has genuinely impressed us with speciality dining. Restaurants like Epicurean, Sindhu and The Glass House have delivered standout meals with excellent service.

Royal Caribbean’s speciality dining (Chops Grille especially) is consistently good too, but P&O has surprised us more often.

Entertainment: Spectacle vs Tradition

Royal Caribbean Entertainment

If your family loves big productions, Royal Caribbean often takes the crown. Expect Broadway-style shows, ice skating performances and high-tech venues that rival land-based theatres.

P&O Entertainment

P&O entertainment tends toward traditional cruise favourites like comedians, theatre productions and live music. Still enjoyable — just less high-energy overall.

Family Activities & Thrill Factor

Royal Caribbean Activities

Depending on the ship, Royal Caribbean offers:

Surf simulators
Rock climbing walls
Zip lines and skydiving simulators
Ice skating rinks
Observation pods and adventure activities

These can be huge draws for teens especially.

P&O Family Facilities

P&O has traditionally been more relaxed but newer ships are changing this.

Iona’s SkyDome multi-use space
Arvia’s Skywalk ropes course
Escape room experiences

Still slightly calmer overall, which many families prefer.

Cabins: Comfort and Practicality

Both cruise lines offer comfortable cabins but with different design approaches.

P&O Cabins

Expect understated British styling, practical layouts and a calm atmosphere that feels familiar to UK travellers.

Royal Caribbean Cabins

Often more modern in design, with clever storage solutions and some excellent family cabin layouts on newer ships.

Which Cruise Line Should Families Choose?

There’s honestly no universal winner — it depends on what matters most to your family.

Choose P&O Cruises if you:

Prefer a British onboard atmosphere
Want better overall value
Enjoy relaxed cruising
Prioritise speciality dining
Like straightforward pricing in pounds

Choose Royal Caribbean if you:

Want innovative onboard activities
Love big entertainment productions
Enjoy international cuisine variety
Don’t mind paying extra for more features
Have teens wanting adventure

Our Honest Family Verdict

We genuinely enjoy both cruise lines — they just suit different types of trips.

P&O often wins for relaxed holidays, familiar atmosphere and better value.

Royal Caribbean tends to win when we want high-energy entertainment, lots of activities and a slightly more modern onboard feel.

Neither is wrong — just different but if we were to pick one, Royal would win for overall quality.

Planning a Family Cruise Soon?

If you’re still deciding, explore more of our cruise guides, ship reviews and family travel tips across Team Five Travels.

And if you ever just want to chat cruises or share experiences — that’s exactly what this community is here for.

And if you want to compare how a Disney Cruise stacks up - read our guide to Magic at Sea! Here’s a sneak peak below,

Which Family Cruise Experience Reigns Supreme? (P&O vs Royal Caribbean)