Mariner of the Seas vs Eclipse

The Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas was built in 2003. It was renovated in 2026. Mariner of the Seas was Amplified in 2023 which added many new features, restaurants, and attractions to this ship. It's 7 years older than the Eclipse, which was built in 2010 and renovated in 2025.

Comparison Overview

Ship Size

The Mariner of the Seas is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,020 feet long and 157 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.8 football fields, as wide as 3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 14-story building. Compared to the Celebrity Eclipse, the Mariner of the Seas is 15% larger in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas holds 17% more passengers than the Eclipse 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 Mariner of the Seas has less space per person compared to the Eclipse.

Royal Caribbean
Mariner of the Seas
Celebrity
Eclipse
ClassVoyagerSolstice
Gross Tonnage139,863122,000
Length1,0201,040
Beam/Width157121
Passenger Decks1413
Passengers (double occupancy)3,3442,850
Crew1,2001,286
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.82.2
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)4243


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 Mariner of the Seas has eleven different dining options like Chops Grille, Cafe Promenade, and Chef's Table. Of those options, nine are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other seven options have an additional fee.

The Eclipse has one fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Luminae, Oceanview Cafe, and Le Petit Chef at Qsine. Nine of these restaurants are complementary and the other six have an additional fee.

The Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas has about the same number of dining options as the Celebrity Eclipse.

Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.

Royal Caribbean
Mariner of the Seas
Celebrity
Eclipse
Total Dining Options1110
Complimentary Dining Options:99
Additional Fee Dining Options:76
% of Included Options36%40%
See the optionsSee the options

Bars and Drinks

Royal Caribbean's R Bar
Royal Caribbean's R Bar
Celebrity's Passport Bar
Celebrity's Passport Bar

The Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas has 1 fewer bar than the Celebrity Eclipse. The Mariner of the Seas has 15 bars like Pool Bar, Solarium Bar and Viking Crown Lounge. On Eclipse, you can grab a drink at 16 different bars such as Casino Bar, Ensemble Lounge and World Class Bar.

Royal Caribbean
Mariner of the Seas
Celebrity
Eclipse
•Boleros
• Casino Bar
• English Pub
• Jazz Club
• Playmakers
• Pool Bar
• R Bar
• Schooner Bar
• Sky Lounge
• Solarium Bar
• Star Lounge
• Suite Lounge
• The Bamboo Room
• The Plaza Bar
• Viking Crown Lounge
•Cafe al Bacio
• Casino Bar
• Cellar Masters
• Ensemble Lounge
• Il Secondo Bacio
• Martini Bar
• Mast Bar
• Michael's Club
• Oceanview Bar
• Passport Bar
• Pool Bar
• Quasar
• Sky Observation Lounge
• Sunset bar
• The Whiskey and Cigar House
• World Class Bar

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means 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 Mariner of the Seas and the Eclipse below.



Pools and Hot Tubs

Main pool areas on the Mariner of the Seas
Main pool areas on the Mariner of the Seas
The main pool on the Celebrity Eclipse
The main pool on the Celebrity Eclipse

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas has a total of 3 pools and 5 hot tubs.

The Celebrity Eclipse has the same number of pools as the Mariner of the Seas and more hot tubs.

Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools and two of the hot tubs are adults only on Mariner of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean
Mariner of the Seas
Celebrity
Eclipse
Total Pools33
Pools - General Access22
Pools - Adults Only11
Pools - Exclusive0
Total Hot Tubs56
Hot Tubs - General Access34
Hot Tubs - Adults Only22
Hot Tubs - Exclusive0



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 Mariner of the Seas, 75% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Eclipse, only 73% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.

Royal Caribbean
Mariner of the Seas
Celebrity
Eclipse
Adult Only Relaxation Area
Arcade
Basketball
Beyond the Podium Talk Series
Casino
Climbing Wall
Escape Room
Fitness Center
FlowRider
Ice Skating
Jogging Track
Laser Tag
Lawn Club
Mini golf
Outdoor movies
Pickleball
Pool-side Movies
Shows - musical review
Spa
Thermal Suites
Water slides
Learn moreLearn more

Cruise Costs

Royal Caribbean is considered a mainstream cruise line. 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.

Celebrity, on the other hand, is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 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. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.

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
Mariner of the Seas
Celebrity
Eclipse
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$18.50$18.00
Tip added to drinks & services18% 20%
Soda Price$3.50$4.75
Domestic Beer Price$7.49
See drink menus
$9.99
See drink menus
Drink Package Price$77 - $118
Learn more
$55 - $99
Learn more
Internet Plan$19 to $30 per device per day$19 to $30 per device per day
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

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.

Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.

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