Royal Caribbean or Celebrity? Same family, different sailing.

Royal Caribbean’s ships are some of the largest at sea, and they are designed so that nobody in the group gets bored. Kids and teens have their own supervised clubs through Adventure Ocean, while the decks are full of activities you simply won’t find on most other lines.

It is the line where a grandparent, a teenager and a toddler can all have a great day on the same ship — then meet up for dinner.

Celebrity sits in what the industry calls “modern luxury.” The ships are still large and well equipped, but the atmosphere is quieter, the design is more contemporary, and the focus shifts from activities to food, spa, and views.

Its newer Edge-series ships are known for features like the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered platform that moves up and down the side of the ship, and a Rooftop Garden. Dining is a real highlight, and there are fewer crowds around the pool.

If you have sailed Royal and loved the ship but wished it were a little calmer, Celebrity is the natural next step. You keep the familiar booking process and loyalty perks, and gain a more polished evening, a more considered menu and more space to simply sit and watch the sea.

And if you eventually want to go further still, the same group also owns Silversea, an ultra-luxury, small-ship line where most things are included in the fare.

Ask who is coming and what a perfect sea day looks like to them.