cibumcupio

I did Celebrity Infinity to Alaska, same class as Millennium, and it was amazing. I also agree that Celebrity is great for couples whether young or old, and not as good for kids as RCI, though still good. The food, especially the MDR and Qsine on Celebrity is fantastic, and there is overall a classier vibe on board. But even for kids on RCI, an Alaska cruise is so much about the ports that whatever activities on board will be boring compared to glacier hikes, dog sledding, train rides and all that.

Demographics on a ship I think has much more to do with the time of the sailing than the cruise line. Summer cruises and holiday sailings will have kids, no matter which line. The cruise with the oldest demographic I've ever been on was actually an RCI cruise to Bermuda, during school season. The youngest was the Celebrity to Alaska in July.

Also the free drinks package is a no brainer. You will enjoy Celebrity very much.

iFly is less expensive to do at one of their land based locations. (but still not cheap) We have one locally, and have never been. https://sfbay.iflyworld.com/

 

So it is probably a fun thing to do on vacation...but we probably wouldn't...because we have one locally...It is one of those loops. :D

From everything I've read, and like another poster said, iFly is free on board. From a Q&A I read, if you want to go again, you can reserve another spot after your current reservation for free. If you want to reserve additional minutes before you even go once, then it's about $50 for each additional minute. That seems fair.

And I have to say, so far all the negative aspects that people have mentioned are either pretty small/specific things, or things that are going to be fixed for future sailings. No kids menu? They just didn't start with one (makes sense, it's a pretty small thing compared to making sure they don't hit an iceberg, like another famous first transatlantic journey), but they've already changed that. Lines for North Star? Well there was bad weather. Slow internet? Ship wasn't in part where there was better internet coverage. And bad weather makes people cranky. Even if the ship was heaven bad weather can put a negative twist on everything. And she's sailing for the very first time, so things won't be perfect from the get go. And I for one think it must be great since all the complaints are for what I think are small things. They haven't run out of food, the ship hasn't fallen apart, everything mostly works. Like, the north star hasn't fallen into the ocean. It's great.

But we'll see how Quantum really is after a few sailings. Right now there is just too little data to go on for anyone to make a final judgement.

I saw Escargot on the Grande menu

 

 

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/category.do?pagename=onboard_cat_dining_options

awesome! and carpaccio too. it looks like i'll be eating there every night.

Try to order a veggie option!! They weren´t able to do that in Silk. The grilled tofu came with an oyster sauce (so no veggie anymore).

 

steamboats

FYI, oyster sauce is considered vegetarian. it's the rare bottle (and expensive, and probably not what RCI uses) that actually contains oysters. at least buddhists in china consider it vegetarian, for whatever that's worth.

another question, is there escargot on Quantum?

I can't give you an exact answer, but I did the Celebrity Alaska cruise Seattle to Seattle in July 2012, and I think oceanview was something like $1500 per person, though it wildly fluctuated as you got closer to the sailing date.

I always assumed the issue with NCL's food was never the freestyle concept but the fact that they had bad food. It's bad in all the free venues and much better in the paid ones. Royal can do the same concept, call in Dynamic Dining, and only time will tell if the free venues will be good or not. I for one am very optimistic that it will be great, because after all RCI is a different company than NCL.

Just one more comment. Everyone here seems to vouch for early dining but we've always had late dining at 8:30 and we love it, even though we usually eat at 7pm at home. Here's why: You get up and you eat breakfast, and typically you'll eat lunch around 12:30pm. It's a lot of food, and so typically you won't be hungry by 6pm for that huge cruise dinner. Also remember that you need to change for dinner so that means you need to be back in your cabin by 5:30pm at the latest. On certain port days that can cut your day short. We typically dress for dinner around 6 or 7pm, then walk around and listen to the live music or watch the sunset. By the time 830 rolls around, you're hungry and ready for the big meal. Afterwards you can go to the show. There are always two shows to match the two seatings. If not, the other show will be a short one at 7:15pm or something so that both seatings can make it. Also with late seating you don't feel guilty eating a snack by the pool or doing teatime in the afternoon, since you won't be eating dinner that soon. So for me, late seating makes the day seem longer.

Thanks for posting this article. When I saw it on buzzfeed I immediately came here to post it too, and was glad to see that someone already beat me to it. I'm in my 20's and I would say I'm the biggest cruise evangelist among my friends, having been a big cruise nay-sayer before I went on one. The article is pretty dead on in what the millennials' complaints are about cruising, especially if they've never been on one. For most of my friends they look at it as a tacky, boring vacation filled with grumpy old people. And of course, they always think they'll get seasick (and I did too). But always after they tried it, they love it and can't wait to book another cruise.

I was on the Reflection in January and I loved what they did with cruising. Of course, not everything is to my tastes either but I liked how they didn't assume they had to keep everything the same cruise after cruise. The ship had a elegant, modern feel to it and the music and entertainment was varied enough that everyone had to have found something they liked. And of course, the food was the best I've ever had at sea, something that makes me loyal to Celebrity for the time being. All in all, it was an experience that I can recommend to my friends without reservations.

Favorite appetizers:

Escargot

Beef carpaccio (I'm a small person but I ate three that night)

Salmon tartare

Raw Scallops

Thai Crispy Spring Rolls on Reflection, but not on Infinity

And every salad I've had was great. And it's nice to get the Caesar with anchovies.

Favorite Entrees:

Pork chop the first night is amazing

Rack of Lamb

Beef Wellington

The fish the 3rd night (sorry, can't remember what it was, but it was so good)

Favorite Dessert:

Creme Brulee

What is "Modern" or "Luxury" about having to yell so the person sitting next to you at dinner can hear you?

 

if this is celebrity's vision far enough , just let us know so we can take our custom elsewhere.

 

regards

john

On our Reflection cruise in January there was no music played during dinner, and that was great. On RCI there was, along with the singing waiters every other night, and that was not so great.

Look, I don't think Celebrity is actively trying to get rid of a certain demographic, only trying to appeal to a younger demographic as well. So maybe it used to be 100% of the music was geared towards people 60's plus, and now they're trying to find music that appeals to all ages. Maybe 50% for those 60 and up and 50% for those 60 and under. Is that so bad? Why does cruising need to appeal to a very specific type and age of person? Why can't it be for everyone?

And though it's not wise to say "take your business elsewhere" as Alexander did, I understand it though. Every cruise there are people who will complain and complain, and I'm sure it's not the first time he's heard these particular complaints. And what was he supposed to say? Okay we'll change Celebrity to meet your tastes and ignore all the other people who say they like it? I don't think he should have said what he said, but what he said is true. If you don't like a product, then buy something else. That's what the free market is for.

Being part of the younger demographic, there were many during our cruise who asked us why we were on a cruise, since cruises are apparently not for young people. We always answered because we like the ocean, we like the great food that you don't have to hunt down every night, we like being able to visit multiple locations on one trip without the hassle of traveling, we like the shows, we like the relaxation, we like the value, and we like just being on a ship. A lot of my friends who have tried cruising would say the same things, and I'm sure a lot of you would too. And we like Celebrity the best because of the food.

I'm in my 20's and I've been to my fair share of loud restaurants, loud bars, loud weddings, and I'm usually the one complaining to my friends that the music is too loud. I sailed the Reflection in January (which was fantastic by the way) and the music was not loud. I mean, it was more thumping at the pool at certain times, and at the Martini bar and in the atrium during dinner hours. But much quieter than any wedding I've been to in the past year. If you didn't like it, there were PLENTY of places to go that were quiet. Sunset bar, the lounges by the specialty restaurants, the solarium, the grassy area, and lots more.

I remember there were earlier posts about how Celebrity was now playing rap music all over the place. I'm sorry, but if you think Katy Perry and Lady Gaga is rap, you're really showing your ignorance. We all know that music tastes are very personal and generational and everyone will dislike some of the music on the ship. But that is why they have such a large variety, so that there will be at least something for everyone.

I know that Celebrity is trying to attract young urban professionals in their 20's to 40's, and I think they're doing the right things. Focus on cuisine and food demos for the foodie movement that is popular, great bars, a wide variety in entertainment (I loved the a cappella group and the all the broadway numbers in the theatre), clean and modern looking spaces. Unless you want cruising to disappear completely like the way of Blockbuster and CompUsa, you will need to accept that they will have to change with the times.

Unless you go during school vacations, the age demographics on the two lines will be about the same. Celebrity I found had a lot more free food places than Royal. There's the MDR, buffet, and a cafe that the two have in common. And then for Celebrity there's also the AquaSpa Cafe and the pool grill with burgers, hotdogs, and fries. The room service is also free 24 hrs on Celebrity and is free 5am-midnight on Royal.

I'm in my 20's and I actually like Celebrity a lot better. I love the shows on Celebrity--lots of broadway, a magician, acrobats and contortionists, a cappella and classical musicians, while on Royal there were more oldies played every night. I also love the beautiful spaces on Celebrity. More modern art museum and less amusement park. And of course, the food is spectacular. Having a great meal to look forward to every night is a big reason why I cruise, and while Royal is okay, Celebrity always exceeds my expectations.

I've sailed only Celebrity and Explorer of the Seas, and did so probably for the same reason. All in all I thought there were more similarities than differences between the two lines, but I will highlight some of the main differences that I found.

The biggest one is food. Food is still pretty good on Explorer (with the exception of the buffet, which was more high school cafeteria or Old Country buffet than what Celebrity puts forth). The quality of meats and seafood on Explorer are down a notch, and the preparations are not as creative. Meats are also not cooked to order (eg. when you order lamb, you can only get medium rare or medium well because they cooked it all already, vs on Celebrity every dish is cooked to order in the MDR). When I was on her, there was no escargot either which made me sad. But there are still definitely tasty things to eat every night in the MDR on Explorer. Just not as mindblowingly delicious. There are also fewer venues for food on the Explorer. Less specialty restaurants, and less free eateries as well. You pretty much just have the buffet, the MDR, and Cafe promenade for the free food. On Celebrity there is the buffet, the MDR, the Mast Grill, Cafe Al Bacio, and AquaSpa Cafe for free. The only free ice cream on Explorer is soft serve vanilla or chocolate, while Celebrity offers all the normal flavors for free and only gelato is extra.

The second is entertainment. Both lines do this well, but I prefer Celebrity. Though the ice show on Explorer was amazing. The music on Explorer was almost entirely a tribute to the 60's, 70's, and 80's. It's great if you like that. It's not great if you prefer broadway, opera, classical, and jazz, which Celebrity does much more of. There are also more party like activities on Explorer, and more low key activities on Celebrity. For example the 70s party and Quest (a very rowdy adult scavenger hunt) were probably the most attended events, while on Celebrity the matinee a cappella and broadway performances and the cooking show were the most attended.

The fact that you have a 1 year old with you will change things. I'm not familiar with this area, but I have read a review from someone who brought their under 3 year old son on Explorer and had a really difficult time because the ship does not provide anything for kids in that age range. And I remember on the dailies that we received there was one hour slots for kids under three to play with some toys about 3 days during the cruise. And that's it. Celebrity I know at least provides some in room babysitting for a fee for kids under three.

Actually yes I would! They were great. Showed up even 20 minutes early. Our driver was very courteous. The drive was fine and he handled our bags as well to the porter at the Miami port. Price was exactly as agreed upon.

I would not spend the majority of your dinners in specialty restaurants. They are good, but not much better than the MDR, which is terrific on Reflection. I love great food as well, and we cruise for the great food. But we had two meals in specialty last cruise, and though we enjoyed them, we actually missed the MDR. I feel like when the MDR meals are as good as they are on the Reflection, the specialty dining just feel like a different eatery, and not necessarily better.

The smoothies aren't the kind that most people would like. They're not your Jamba Juice tasty type of smoothie, but the health type that they try to make taste less bad. More for people who regularly drink kale juice. So some people love them. A lot will hate them.

A note about the room service: we always ordered breakfast during peak breakfast times and it always came piping hot. They're really good about this.

I find it surprising that you didn't consider Qsine. I live in the NYC area too and it's not like anything you can find there. It's like surprise, art, whimsy, and deliciousness in a meal.

Why don't you also take a look at Celebrity? They are known for the best food among mainstream cruise lines, amazing bars, and beautiful ships. The average ages on board will be younger than Princess, and shows are on par with Royal Caribbean (except Oasis class).

All good information, thanks. Googling local TA's right now.

Local TAs usually can't get you much better deals. Try looking through the TAs listed here on CruiseCritic. They are less TAs in the traditional sense of walking through everything with you and more "people who have special deals with the cruiselines so they can give you a better price" people. It is always cheaper to use a TA. And cruises are the only times that I use TAs.

I would not sail on Holland America because of the average ages on board those ships, especially if you are in your 40s. Royal Caribbean will tend to have more activities and more families. The food will be okay, not great unless you only eat in specialty restaurants. Celebrity (same company) will have better food, bars, nicer decor and less rowdy activities. Both will be about equal in terms of the quality of shows, except for Royal's Oasis and Allure, which has broadway productions. Both will have great service.

Hi fellow cruisers, we'll be on the Celebrity Reflection next summer and i'm not sure about buying the drink packages. We don't drink a lot, but we do like a coffee with our breakfast, a coke with lunch and wine during diner.

 

If that's all you drink, you are better off buying what you want instead of getting the drink package. You can also look into the wine packages, but I don't have personal experience with them. As others have said, the normal coffee is free. The specialty coffee (espresso, lattes) are for a fee. The coke is just a few bucks, or you can get a lemonade, juice, or iced tea for free.

If you READ my words, nowhere did I say or so much as infer Qsine served Chinese food. Now did I?

 

Have I been? Yes - - twice.

 

I gave you my impression via comparative illustration. Suggest you do likewise and not worry about what others opine or write.

 

Bon Voyage!

No, it sounds like you were saying that you can only order one thing from each column, which is definitely not true. You can order as much as you like.

I think we got to seven items before we told our waiter, no more. That M's favorite box really did us in. We loved the lava crab, soup and souffle, tresceviche, and lobster escargot. We nibbled on the desserts (which were great. need to save more room for desserts next time) and brought the chocolate covered strawberries back to our room and we ate them for breakfast the next morning.

Oh, and you can check out Qsine from Season 8 Episode 13 of Top Chef. It was featured that episode.

I would say either Qsine or Murano. Think of Qsine as a tapas style restaurant, but instead of Spanish fare you have an imaginative take on food from all over the world. With four people you will end up sharing about 12 selections plus dessert. It's an amazing meal, and I personally think it was one of the best meals I have ever had on land or on sea. The the decor, the surprise factor of each dish that they bring out, and that every one is delicious and excellently prepared. Definitely a long meal as well. Prepare for about 3 hrs. Murano I haven't been to yet but I am very excited to try on my next cruise. Everyone on these boards say it is high French fare, and utterly decadent.

Tuscan Grille and the Lawn Club Grill also get high marks but I would not recommend them as much since they are very well done comfort food rather than something foodies would appreciate as much.

I think people are exaggerating the nightlife differences. I think the time that you are sailing will impact this a lot more than the cruise line. If you are looking at the same time period for both ships, it will be a similar crowd with a similar amount of kids. The only difference is that RCI will tend to have one more big planned activity, like say a 70s party or some other party. Everything will still end about midnight or so. I come from a town where everything really dies after 10pm. This is not what Celebrity is like. It's more like NYC on a weeknight. Things are open, people are doing stuff and out and about, but there is no one thing every day that everyone is at.

As for the hot tub, I remember being sad on Celebrity that I couldn't go take a dip after dinner. So when we sailed Royal I was looking forward to doing that. But actually we never got around to doing it. I don't know, it sounds better in theory. We still ended up walking around on deck looking at the stars.

I would love to sail Allure or Oasis someday. But I think for a honeymoon Celebrity would be better. Much better food (unless you only eat in the specialty restaurants on Allure or Oasis), more luxurious surroundings, more views of the ocean, and much more relaxing. Oh, and 24hr room service. Royal charges for midnight to 5am. On Allure or Oasis I would feel bad if I weren't taking advantage of all their activities every moment, kind of like an amusement park. So I guess your decision is great food vs. a million activities.