Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady vs Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas

The Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady is a fairly new ship, being built in 2023. This is an adults-only ship; all guests must be 18 or older. It's 27 years newer than the Grandeur of the Seas, which was built in 1996 and renovated in 2021.

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 Resilient Lady is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 912 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 Grandeur of the Seas, the Resilient Lady is 49% larger in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady holds 36% more passengers than the Grandeur of the Seas 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 Resilient Lady has more space per person compared to the Grandeur of the Seas. 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.

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 Resilient Lady has twelve different dining options like The Pizza Place, The Wake, and Pink Agave. Of those options, twelve are complementary, or included with your cruise fare.

The Grandeur of the Seas has three fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Chef's Table, Giovanni's Table, and Chops Grille. eight of these restaurants are complementary and the other six have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Resilient Lady might be a better choice. It has 33% more dining options than the Grandeur of the Seas.

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

Bars and Drinks

The Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady has 10 more bars than the Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas. The Resilient Lady has 18 bars like Casino Bar, Richard's Rooftop Bar and The Grounds Club Too. On Resilient Lady, you can grab a drink at 8 different bars such as Island Bar, R Bar and Solarium 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 Resilient Lady and the Grandeur 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 Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady has a total of 2 pools and 6 hot tubs. 2 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

The Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas has the same number of pools as the Resilient Lady and the same number of hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Grandeur of the Seas. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.

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 Resilient Lady. Only 55% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Grandeur of the Seas, 62% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

Cruise Costs

Virgin Voyages 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.

Royal Caribbean, on the other hand, 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.

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 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.

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