Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Dream
- Cruises
- 12
- From
- $367
Ship comparison
Carnival Dream vs Independence of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Independence of the Seas
- Cruises
- 45
- From
- $363
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Carnival Dream is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 3,646 passengers, in service since 2009. Independence of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 3,634 passengers, in service since 2008.
Choose Carnival Dream if you want a more family-friendly ship, more culture or more of a party: it outscores Independence of the Seas for family friendly (9.0 vs 6.5), cultural (8.0 vs 6.0) and party (8.0 vs 6.5) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose Independence of the Seas if you want a more romantic trip, more adventure and nature or more space per passenger: it outscores Carnival Dream for romantic (4.0 vs 2.0) and adventure & nature (4.0 vs 2.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 44.0 gross tons per passenger (vs 35.7).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Carnival Dream | Independence of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Carnival Cruise Line | Royal Caribbean |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2009 (better) | 2008 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2015 | 2018 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 130,000 | 160,000 |
| Passengers | 3,646 | 3,634 |
| Crew | 1,367 | 1,360 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 35.7 | 44.0 (better) |
| Decks | 15 | 18 |
| Length | 1,004 ft | 1,112 ft |
| Beam | 122 ft | 184 ft |
| Speed | 26 mph | 26 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 12 | 45 |
| Upcoming sailings | 179 | 75 |
| Cruise lengths | 4 to 14 nights | 4 to 9 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $367 | $363 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Carnival Dream leads on 3 of the ten, Independence of the Seas on 5, with 2 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Dream
Carnival Dream, the first of Carnival's Dream class ships (followed by Carnival Magic and Carnival Breeze), features two dual-level dining rooms, a gourmet steakhouse and the Lido Restaurant. It also features Ocean Plaza, which combines tasty treats with entertainment.
Highlights
- Waterslides at Carnival WaterWorks
- Carnival's house brew at RedFrog Rum Bar
- Thalassotherapy pool at the Cloud 9 Spa
Sailing now
12 cruises on sale, from $367.
Royal Caribbean
Independence of the Seas
Meet Independence of the Seas, packed with a long list of onboard activities typical of Royal Caribbean's Freedom class of ships. Highlights include the FlowRider surf simulator, a rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink, cantilevered whirlpools, Royal Promenade, mini golf course, and more.
Highlights
- Relaxing spa treatments at Vitality Spa
- Four pools in adults-only Solarium
- 30 types of cupcakes from the Cupcake Cupboard
- Broadway-style entertainment in the Main Theater
Sailing now
45 cruises on sale, from $363.
About Independence of the Seas Plan my cruise on Independence of the Seas
Questions
Carnival Dream or Independence of the Seas?
Which is bigger, Carnival Dream or Independence of the Seas?
Independence of the Seas is bigger at 160,000 gross tons, against 130,000 gross tons for Carnival Dream. Carnival Dream carries 3,646 passengers and Independence of the Seas carries 3,634.
Which ship is newer, Carnival Dream or Independence of the Seas?
Carnival Dream is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2009 against 2008 for Independence of the Seas.
Which has more space per passenger?
Independence of the Seas, with 44.0 gross tons per passenger against 35.7 on Carnival Dream. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
They are level, with one crew member for every 2.7 passengers.
Which is better for families?
Carnival Dream scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 9.0 out of 10, against 6.5 for Independence of the Seas.
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