Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean take on Disney World
It can be tricky to plan a vacation for your family with the high cost of just eating a meal in today's economy.
Cruises have been touted as a better value because of their many all-inclusive offerings, making them a more flexible vacation experience.But there are so many different cruise lines and land-based destinations to choose from, with all of them offering distinct experiences and pricing.
Let's compare two cruise-industry giants, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, and how they differ from a Walt Disney World family vacation.
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Cruising with Carnival: 'America's cruise line' and the advantage
Carnival Cruise Line emphasizes its strong presence in the American market, while welcoming people from all over the world. Carnival is generally known for its family-friendly ships offering all-inclusive activities with a lower total cost.
Let's say you are looking at a destination Caribbean vacation on Carnival's booking page. You will notice the average 4- to 5-night trip often starts at around $400 to $600 per person (interior cabins). That is a total of around $1,600-$2,400 for a family of four.While Carnival does not offer kids to sail for free, they do have promotions like 'More=Merrier Sale," which discounts cabins with three or more people.
What is included:
All meals in main dining rooms and the Lido Marketplace buffet
Other food options often including pizza, burgers, and tacos
Dozens of entertainment options such as mini golf, stage shows, and water slides
Kids' programming and child care (fees only for children 6 months-1 year old)
Tight budget? Consider vacationing on Carnival Cruise Line for all-inclusive meals and entertainment options.
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Royal Caribbean and its innovative experiences
If you've cruised with Royal Caribbean, you know it's an action-packed experience that accommodates all age groups. Like Carnival cruises, it is a solid option for a family vacation.
Pricing: On Royal Caribbean's booking site, the average 3- to 5-night Caribbean cruise often starts at around $500-$900 per person. For a family of four, this would cost roughly $2,000 to $3,600.Royal Caribbean offers some promotions for kids such as 'Kids Sail Free,' but it's only available for kids 12 and under on select sailings (additional exclusions may apply). Taxes and port fees will still be charged.
What's included:
Lodging
All meals in the main dining room and the Windjammer buffet
Sorrento's Pizza, El Loco Fresh serving Mexican food (on Oasis class ships), and more
Broadway shows and the Aqua shows featuring high diving and tight rope walking on Oasis Class ships
Activities such as ice skating, game shows, disco parties, and more
Age-appropriate activities for kids and teens ages 3-17
If you want even more onboard thrills and novelty features, choose Royal Caribbean to splurge for entertainment variety.
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Walt Disney World: Magic at a premium
For family vacations, Disney World arguably remains the gold standard for immersive, themed fun, but costs have risen sharply in recent years.
What's included when you buy a Disney World Theme Park ticket:
Access to all the rides and shows at the respective park you are visiting that day
Free transportation between parks and resorts
Free basic Genie service, which offers personalized itinerary planning through the My Disney Experience app
Other ticket options are available such as the Park Hopper pass that allows you to visit more than one park on the same day.
But even a modest Disney trip often requires paying for:
$150+ per person/per day for park tickets (check the official website for ticket options)
$300+/night for on-property hotels such as the Swan Hotel
$100+ per person/day for meals
Popular add-on activities include character dining and Genie+ or Lightning Lane add-ons to skip long lines (formerly free FastPass).
When factoring in these essentials and popular add-ons, a typical Disney vacation for a family of four can cost modestly around $8,000-$10,000.
Craving a nostalgia, character immersive experience? Disney is the unmatched leader— but it comes at a premium.
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Pay attention to these factors when booking your family cruise or theme-park vacation
It is important to understand that cruise prices can vary on a day-by-day basis.
Prices can be higher during peak seasons such as during the summer or on holidays, so take advantage of flash sales with some of the lowest pricing of the year.
If you are booking a balcony or a suite, prices can be double or more. On the flip side, if you are a Florida resident, you are eligible for discounted cruise prices.
Disney World also offers discounts if you live in Florida. For example, the Florida Annual Pass covers your tickets and parking. Various Florida resident passes offer you a better bang for your buck.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
, or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
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