Carnival Radiance vs Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas

The Carnival Radiance was built in 2020. It was renovated in 2024. The Radiance was previously known as the Victory from 2000-2020, but was renamed after it went through huge renovations. It's 18 years newer than the Navigator of the Seas, which was built in 2002 and renovated in 2019.

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
• See Our Detailed Cruise Blog

Ship Size

The Radiance is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 893 feet long and 125 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.5 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 13-story building. Compared to the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas, the Radiance is 27% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Carnival Radiance holds 12% fewer passengers than the Navigator 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 Radiance has less space per person compared to the Navigator of the Seas.

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 Radiance has 20 different dining options like JavaBlue Cafe, The Chef's Table, and Guys Pig and Anchor BarBQue. Of those options, 14 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 6 options have an additional fee.

The Navigator of the Seas has 2 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Chops Grille, Jamie's Italian, and Windjammer. 9 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 9 have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Radiance might be a better choice. It has 11% more dining options than the Navigator of the Seas.

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

Bars and Drinks

The Carnival Radiance has 2 fewer bars than the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas. The Radiance has 11 bars like Casino Bar, Java Blue Cafe and Siren Bar. On Radiance, you can grab a drink at 13 different bars such as Boleros, Casino Bar and Solarium Bar.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Radiance 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 Navigator 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 Radiance and the Navigator 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 Radiance has a total of 2 pools and 3 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are adults only.

Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas has more pools than the Radiance and more 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 Radiance. Only 71% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Navigator of the Seas, 76% 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. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Carnival Radiance will likely be more expensive than on Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas.

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.

We sailed aboard the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas

Follow along on our sailing on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas. We take you through every aspect of our sailing, from getting to the port to debarking the ship. See the schedule of events, menus, what excursions we did, and what we really thought about the ship.

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

What Theme Parties Will Be On Your Carnival Cruise?

Royal Caribbean Makes Some Surprising Short Cruise Announcements for 2025-26

How To Enjoy Dive-in Movies on Carnival Cruise Ships

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

All You Need To Know About Carnival’s Cheers Package

Carnival’s New Dining Room Menus Officially Rolling Out

About Cruise Spotlight
Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
Learn more about Cruise Spotlight.