Get exclusive travel offers and guides
Straight to your inbox
By signing up, you agree to the Finder Privacy & Cookies Policy and Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy.
Best Cruise Deals
Cruise Lines
Travel Insurance
Top Travel Booking Sites
Travel Guides
P&O Australia vs Royal Caribbean
Compare and contrast two of Australia’s biggest cruise operators.
It’s not always easy to play “spot the difference” with two competing cruise lines. So how do you find the itinerary that’s best for you?
We’ve sifted through the small print to work out all the ways P&O Australia and Royal Caribbean cruise lines differ from each other. Plunge into the results below.
P&O vs Royal Caribbean
| Feature | P&O | Royal Caribbean | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where does it sail to? |
|
| Royal Caribbean covers more destinations. |
| Does it have Wi-Fi? | Yes, paid for | Yes, paid for | Both offer paid-for Wi-Fi. |
| Does it provide towels? | Yes | Yes | Both provide towels. |
| Contact options |
|
| P&O offers live chat. |
| Is it all-inclusive? | No | No | Neither is all-inclusive. |
| How much is the deposit? | $75 to $400 depending on cruisel length. | Deposits vary but generally:
| P&O’s deposits can be cheaper. |
| Does it have a gym? | Yes | Yes | Both have gyms. |
| Does it have hair dryers, laundry and irons? | Hair dryers and irons are available. Charges apply to self-service laundry. | Hair dryers/irons yes. Self-service laundry, no. | Royal Caribbean does not offer self- service laundry. |
| Does it include food? | Yes | Yes | Both include food. |
| Does it have casinos? | Yes | Yes | Both have casinos. |
| Does it have an ATM? | No | Yes | P&O does not have ATMs. |
| Does it have formal nights? | Yes | Yes | Both have formal nights. |
| How much are drinks? | $4 to $6 for a beer and $6 to $7 for a wine. | $5 to $8 for a beer and $6 to $12 for a wine. | Drink prices are similar. |
| Is it good for families? | Yes | Yes, especially the newer ships. | Both are family-friendly. |
| Does it have child care? | There are kids’ clubs on some ships and group child minding. | Yes | Royal Caribbean has more child care options. |
| Does it have virtual balconies? | No | On some ships | Royal Caribbean offers virtual balconies. |
| Does it have a waterslide? | Yes | Yes | Both have waterslides. |
| Does it have a promenade? | Yes | Yes | Both have promenades. |
| Does it have free room service? | No | Some items are free but gratuities apply. | Royal Caribbean offers some free items on room service. |
| What are my payment options? |
|
| They offer similar ways to pay. |
| Can I price match? | No | No | Neither company price matches with other providers. |
| Does it allow for cancellations/ changes? | Some fares come with cancellation penalties. | Some fares come with cancellation penalties. | Cancellation penalties apply on both lines. |
| How much are airport transfers to the departure port? | Prices vary. Brisbane Airport to port costs AUD$18. That’s about 10 miles. | Prices vary. Example Miami Airport to Port Everglades (30 miles) US$29 one-way. | Transfer costs are similar. |
| How much are gratuities? | Tipping is not required. | The automatic gratuity is US$14.50 or US$17.50 for suite guests. | Royal Caribbean’s gratuities are greater. |
| Has a ship ever sunk? | No | No | No ship has ever sunk with either line. |
Who offers the best price?
We compared similar journeys on P&O Australia and Royal Caribbean to see which stacked up better in terms of cost.
Prices for a 12-night pacific island cruise, round trip from Melbourne, stopping at five ports of call start at $1,473.57 with P&O.
Prices for an 12-night South Pacific cruise from Sydney that stops at five ports starts at $1,510 with Royal Caribbean.
The verdict?
In a similar comparison, P&O Australia’s cruises come a bit cheaper. Royal Caribbean does tend to be known as a slightly more luxurious cruise line, and the ships are larger with more amenities.
Is this cruise line good?
P&O’s ships are rated as either 3.5/5 or 4/5 on Cruise Critic. Reviews often mention the family friendliness and joyful onboard atmosphere.Royal Caribbean has an overall rating of 3.5/5 but some ships that operate from Australia, like Radiance of the Seas, have higher ratings of 4. The quality of the food in the paid-for restaurants always gets a mention, as does the standard on evening entertainment.What are the deals like?
P&O Australia runs regular sales that offer things like $600 onboard spend when you book certain itineraries. It also runs discounts on last-minute cruises.
Royal Caribbean runs sales such as buy one all-inclusive fare, get another half price on certain sailings.
The verdict?
Great deals are available with both cruise lines. If on-board credit and last minute cruises are more your style, P&O might work better. However if you’re often found travelling with a companion, Royal Caribbean might have a deal to suit.
Top P&O Australia and Royal Caribbean deals
It looks like we don't have any coupons at the moment. Take a look at our most recent deals
Groupon
Up to 75% off Australia local deals
Available on select dates and activities like spas, skydiving, hot air balloon flights, tours, whale watching, skywalks, classes and more. Destinations include Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and more. Minimum spend may apply. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Coupon code ends
Kayak
Australia-wide flights from $69 each way
Available on select dates until December 2020 to Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns, Perth, Broome, Ballina and more. Sample fare is Melbourne-Sydney with Jetstar.
Last verified
Deal ends
Groupon
Up to 73% off getaways
Available for travel on select dates to Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Adelaide, Brisbane, Launceston, Newcastle, Noosa Heads, Cairns and much more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
RedBalloon
Exclusive
Extra 10% off Australia activities with code
Valid on all dates on activities like skydiving, bridge climbing, canyoning, hot air ballooning, helicopter scenic flights, abseiling, cruises, tours and more. Minimum spend of $100 applies. Destinations include Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Lastminute.com.au
Up to 40% off pet friendly hotels
Available on stays until October 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Lastminute.com.au
Up to 56% off Australia stays
Available on stays until December 2020. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Cairns, Brisbane, Townsville, Adelaide, Canberra and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Lastminute.com.au
Up to 30% off last minute Australia stays
Available stays until October 2020 in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Newcastle, Rockhampton and more.
Last verified
Deal ends
Europcar
$20 off Australia rentals
Available on rentals until 31 January 2021. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and more. Minimum spend of $200 required. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Coupon code ends
Adrenaline
Up to 63% off domestic activities
Available on select dates and activities like skydiving, hot air balloon flights, quad biking, off road v8 race buggies, scuba diving, whale watching, bridge climbing and much more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Trip.com
Domestic flights from $69 each way
Available on flights from September - October 2020 with Fly Pelican. Destinations include Ballina, Cobar, Canberra and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Newcastle.
Last verified
Deal ends
Hotels.com
Up to 60% off Australia-wide stays + Extra 8% off with code
Available on select dates in 2020 and 2021. Destinations include Sydney, Canberra, Newcastle and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Europcar
Up to 20% off Australia and New Zealand rentals
Available on select dates until 15 December 2020. Rental must be for 2 days or more and booked 21 days in advance. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
P&O Cruises
Free room upgrade on sailings
Available on select cruises from December 2020 - September 2022. Destinations include Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Norfolk Island and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Oaks Hotels & Resorts
Up to 20% off Australia stays + Extra 10% off with code
Available on select stays dates until 30 June 2021. Destinations include Sydney, Brisbane, Gladstone, Townsville, Adelaide, Glenelg and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Wotif
Up to 66% off Australia stays
Available on stays until May 2021 in Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sunshine Coast and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
RedBalloon
Exclusive
Extra $10 off site-wide with code
Valid on all dates, including over Christmas, on activities like skydiving, quad biking, bridge climbing, canyoning, hot air ballooning, helicopter scenic flights, abseiling, scuba diving, cruises and more. Destinations include Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and more. Minimum spend of $80 required. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Europcar
$1/day one-way car hire in Australia
Valid on select dates for select car hire in Australia. Destinations updated regularly.
Last verified
Airbnb
Gold Coast stays from $49/night
Available on select stay dates from June 2020 onward. Sample accommodation is in Surfers Paradise. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Hotels.com
Extra 8% off on hotel bookings
Save on hotel stays before 31 December 2020 in Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Fiji, Thailand, Singapore, USA and more. Available at select hotels.
Last verified
Coupon code ends
DiDi
Exclusive
Get $20 credit
Get $5 off each of your first four rides in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Geelong, Perth and Newcastle. Valid on all dates for new users. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Airbnb
New Zealand stays from $30/night
Available on select dates from July onward for Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch stays. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Airbnb
Melbourne stays from $50/night
Available on select stay dates from June 2020 onward. Sample accommodation is in Melbourne Central Business District. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Airbnb
Refer a friend and get $25 Airbnb credit
Give a friend $50 toward their first stay and get $25 credit for yourself toward a future booking.
Last verified
Europcar
Up to 20% off base rate
Available on rentals until 15 December 2020 in Australia and New Zealand. Pick up on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday required to avail offer. T&Cs apply
Last verified
Deal ends
Trafalgar Tours
Up to 15% off last minute trips
Valid for travel on select dates in 2020 and 2021. Destinations include Europe, UK, the Middle East, Argentina, India, Asia, New Zealand, Australia and Africa and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Otel.com
Extra 9% off hotel bookings
Valid on select hotel stays worldwide like Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Thailand, USA, Europe and more on all dates, including over holidays like Easter, Christmas and New Year's Eve. Some restrictions apply.
Last verified
Rentalcars.com
Up to 20% off car hire
Compare car hire prices on Rentalcars.com and save up to 20% compared to booking direct.
Last verified
Kayak
Sydney flights from $46 each way
Available on select dates from October 2020 - February 2021. Sample fare departs from Avalon with Jetstar.
Last verified
Deal ends
RedBalloon
Exclusive
Brisbane Story Bridge climb from $139 + Extra $10 off with code
Available on select dates until 13 March 2021 for a 2-hour nighttime climb. Minimum spend of $80 required. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Coupon code ends
RedBalloon
Exclusive
Dining experiences at home from $40 + an extra $10 off with code
Available on select 2020 dates across Australia on experiences including wine tasting, cooking classes, cheese making, high tea, cocktail making and more. Minimum spend of $80 applies. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Avis
$30 off 2+ days car hire
Available on rentals until 18 December 2020 in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Coupon code ends
Luxury Escapes
Up to 61% off Australia holiday packages
Available on select dates until December 2021. Destinations include Adelaide, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sydney, Cairns, Canberra, Hunter Valley and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Stayz
Australia beach holidays from $82/night
Available on select stay dates in 2020 and 2021. Destinations include Adelaide, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne and more. Sample price is for a stay at a private beach cottage in South Greenough, Western Australia. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Experience Oz
Brisbane Story Bridge climb from $159
Available on select dates until 22 October 2021 for a 2-hour twilight climb. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
London Pass
Fast-track entry at London attractions
Get fast-tracked entry to select attractions like Tower of London, Tower Bridge Exhibition, London Zoo and London Bridge Experience with your pass. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
finder.com.au
BridgeClimb Sydney from just $174
Book a 90-minute sampler BridgeClimb in Sydney for up to $134 less than the price of the full-length experience. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
RedBalloon
Exclusive
Up to 20% off experiences for 2 + Extra 10% off with code
Available on select dates for experiences like tours, zoo and wildlife interactions, hot air balloon flights, skydiving and more. Destinations include Sydney, Hunter Valley, Melbourne, Brisbane and more. Minimum spend of $100 required. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
RedBalloon
Exclusive
Up to 60% off Australia activities + Extra 10% off with code
Available on select dates and activities like hot air balloon flights, tandem skydiving, getaways, driving experiences and more. Destinations include Sydney, Gold Coast, Cairns and more. Minimum spend of $100 required. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Coupon code ends
Klook
Up to 10% off winery tours + Extra $10 off with code
Available on select dates until March 2021 when you spend a minimum of $100. Destinations include Hunter Valley, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Hobart and Launceston. Applicable to new Klook members. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Coupon code ends
Priceline.com
Up to 60% off express deals
Available on select dates. Participating hotels include Kimpton Hotels, Westin Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Intecontinental Hotels & Resorts and more. T&Cs apply
Last verified
Popular Travel coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Sep 2020 | Up to 75% off Australia local deals | HOL**** |
| 23 Sep 2020 | Extra 10% off Australia activities with code | RBF**** |
| 15 Sep 2020 | $20 off Australia rentals | FIN**** |
| 19 Aug 2020 | Extra $10 off site-wide with code | FDR**** |
| 5 Aug 2020 | Extra 8% off on hotel bookings | CLP**** |
Popular Cruises coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep 2020 | Free room upgrade on sailings | ******** |
| 23 Sep 2020 | Up to 61% off Australia holiday packages | ******** |
| 7 Sep 2020 | 10-night New Year's Eve cruise + Free room upgrade from $1,399 | ******** |
| 7 Sep 2020 | School Holiday cruises from $349 | ******** |
| 4 Sep 2020 | Up to $1,500 off 2021 worldwide voyages | ******** |
P&O Cruises
10-night New Year's Eve cruise + Free room upgrade from $1,399
Available on departure from 27-30 December 2020 and 27-30 December 2021. Destinations include Noumea, Isle Of Pines, Lifou, Norfolk Island and Sydney. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
P&O Cruises
One-way cruises from $236
Available on select dates in 2021 and 2022 to Adelaide, Brisbane, Albany, Thailand, Singapore and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
P&O Cruises
School Holiday cruises from $349
Available on select dates from December 2020 - September 2022. Destinations include Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne, Brisbane, Wellington, Vanuatu and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
P&O Cruises
Free room upgrade on sailings
Available on select cruises from December 2020 - September 2022. Destinations include Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Norfolk Island and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Popular P&O Cruises - Merchant coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep 2020 | 10-night New Year's Eve cruise + Free room upgrade from $1,399 | ******** |
| 7 Sep 2020 | One-way cruises from $236 | ******** |
| 7 Sep 2020 | School Holiday cruises from $349 | ******** |
| 7 Sep 2020 | Free room upgrade on sailings | ******** |
Related Posts
Ask an Expert