Business Insider's travel reporter embarked on seven-day cruises with Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages.Joey Hadden/Business Insider
- I've sailed on both a Royal Caribbean and a Virgin Voyages cruise ship.
- The Virgin Voyages cruise cost $4,000 more, as it was a luxury, adults-only ship in a higher-tier cabin.
Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages offer completely different experiences. And I've cruised with both.
In April 2022, I embarked on my first cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. The seven-night Caribbean cruise took me to Roatán, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean is one of the world's most popular cruise lines for adults and families alike. Since its founding in 1968, the travel company has become known for breaking records with some of the largest cruise ships in the world, according to Cruise Critic.
Virgin Voyages, on the other hand, is a luxury, adults-only cruise line that's only been sailing since 2021. However, it's already made a name for itself with five awards from Cruise Critic for its ships, cabins, dining, and service, according to the company's website.
In August 2023, I took a seven-day Mediterranean cruise on Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady ship, sailing everywhere from Ibiza and Barcelona to ports in Italy and France, including Toulon, Ajaccio, and Marina di Carrara.
Here's the rundown of all the similarities and differences between these two cruise lines — and which was more worth the cost for me.