Harmony of the Seas vs Jubilee

The Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas was built in 2016. It's 7 years older than the Jubilee, which was built in 2023. The Jubilee is Carnival's newest ship. It's named after the original Jubilee that sailed with Carnival from 1986 - 2004. It has two unique zones not found on its sister ships, The Shores, a beach-themed area, and Currents which explores the depths of the ocean.

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 Harmony of the Seas is considered an extra large size ship. Coming in at 1,188 feet long and 216 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3.3 football fields, as wide as 4.1 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 16-story building. Compared to the Carnival Jubilee, the Harmony of the Seas is 24% larger in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas holds about the same number of passengers as the Jubilee based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Harmony of the Seas has more space per person compared to the Jubilee. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.

The Harmony of the Seas uses a neighborhood layout to break up large crowds across the ship, often making it feel less crowded. The Jubilee employs a similar concept but they're called zones.

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 Harmony of the Seas has 26 different dining options like Solarium Bistro, 150 Central Park, and Sabor. Of those options, 14 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 12 options have an additional fee.

The Jubilee has 1 more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Guy's Burger Joint, Bonsai Teppanyaki, and ChiBang. 19 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 8 have an additional fee.

The Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas has about the same number of dining options as the Carnival Jubilee.

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

Bars and Drinks

The Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas has 3 more bars than the Carnival Jubilee. The Harmony of the Seas has 20 bars like Mast Bar, The Attic and Wonderland. On Harmony of the Seas, you can grab a drink at 17 different bars such as Center Stage, Havana Bar and The Golden Mermaid.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Harmony 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. The Jubilee serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Harmony of the Seas and the Jubilee 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 Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas has a total of 3 pools and 10 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.

Carnival Jubilee has more pools than the Harmony of the Seas and fewer hot tubs. There are more exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Jubilee. If you don't mind paying for exclusive access to areas in order to have less crowds, this might be a better choice.

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. On the Harmony of the Seas, 77% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Jubilee, only 63% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.

Cruise Costs

Royal Caribbean and Carnival 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 Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas will likely be cheaper than on Carnival Jubilee.

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 Harmony of the Seas

Follow along on our sailing on the Royal Caribbean Harmony 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.

Harmony of the Seas - Cruise Blog - Day 1 - Fort Lauderdale

Harmony of the Seas - Cruise Blog - Day 2 - Sea Day

Harmony of the Seas - Cruise Blog - Day 3 - Costa Maya

Harmony of the Seas - Cruise Blog - Day 4 - Cozumel

Harmony of the Seas - Cruise Blog - Day 5 - Sea Day

5 Hits and Misses on Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas

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

Broadway at Sea: Redefining Cruise Ship Entertainment

What Theme Parties Will Be On Your Carnival Cruise?

Carnival to Introduce a New Class of Ship With Three on Order

Carnival Adding 5th Excel-Class Ship in 2028

How To Enjoy Dive-in Movies on Carnival Cruise Ships

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

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.