Carnival Dream vs Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas

The Carnival Dream was built in 2009. It's 1 year older than the Allure of the Seas, which was built in 2010.

Comparison Overview

• Ship Size
• Number of Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Ship Size

The Dream is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,004 feet long and 122 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.8 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 14-story building. Compared to the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas, the Dream is 43% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Carnival Dream holds 34% fewer passengers than the Allure of the Seas based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Dream has less space per person compared to the Allure of the Seas.

The Allure of the Seas uses a neighborhood layout to break up large crowds across the ship, often making it feel less crowded.

Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Dream has 19 different dining options like Guys Pig and Anchor BarBQue, Seafood Shack, and Mongolian Wok. Of those options, 14 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 5 options have an additional fee.

The Allure of the Seas has 6 more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Sorrento's Pizza, Vintages Wine Bar, and Starbucks. 13 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 12 have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Allure of the Seas might be a better choice. It has 32% more dining options than the Dream.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Dream might be a better choice then the Allure of the Seas. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

Bars and Drinks

The Carnival Dream has 9 fewer bars than the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas. The Dream has 12 bars like Alchemy Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar and The Song. On Dream, you can grab a drink at 21 different bars such as Blaze, Comedy Live and Vintages.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Dream serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship. The Allure of the Seas serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Dream and the Allure of the Seas below.

Pools and Hot Tubs

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Carnival Dream has a total of 2 pools and 8 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.

Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas has more pools than the Dream and fewer hot tubs.

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5
(Carnival Edition) (Royal Caribbean Edition)

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8
(Carnival Edition) (Royal Caribbean Edition)

Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Dream. Only 69% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Allure of the Seas, 84% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

Cruise Costs

Carnival and Royal Caribbean are both considered "Mainstream" cruise lines. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.

Want to Stay Up-To-Date on All Things Cruising?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Articles Related the These Ships

How To Enjoy Dive-in Movies on Carnival Cruise Ships

What Theme Parties Are on a Carnival Ship?

What is Carnival’s “Behind the Fun” Like?

Carnival Rolling Out A New Digital Debarkation Procedure

All You Need To Know About Carnival’s Cheers Package

Exploring the AquaTheater: Royal Caribbean’s Aquatic Spectacle