Jumping cruise lines!

So we did it we put a deposit on our first Celebrity cruise! With the promo running now with choose you’re perks and a low deposit we decided it’s time! We have cruised with Norwegian for many years and decided we wanted a change. So please let us know the difference between Celebrity and Norwegian? Looking forward to feedback and advice, thank you.

There are going to be plenty of differences. Celebrity will be a more upscale atmosphere. There aren't as many specialty restaurants, and you have the option for a set dinner time.

There’s no indoor smoking at all, and the smoking outdoors is extremely limited.

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Better service, better food, more sophisticated atmosphere over all. Only one daily announcement. Real towels in the rest rooms. Cold drinks and chilled towels in warm climes waiting dockside when you return to the ship (hot broth in cold weather ports). Welcome glass of bubbly when you embark on the first day. As stated, no smoking in the casino or anywhere indoors. What ship did you make a reservation on?

I have mainly sailed with NCL, but was on the summit last December and have the Reflection booked for April 2019. The biggest difference I found was with the entertainment. The entertainment on the summit was really bad. Either nothing of interest or poorly done shows. Celebrity gets the upper hand with their drink package.

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Better service, better food, more sophisticated atmosphere over all. Only one daily announcement. Real towels in the rest rooms. Cold drinks and chilled towels in warm climes waiting dockside when you return to the ship (hot broth in cold weather ports). Welcome glass of bubbly when you embark on the first day. As stated, no smoking in the casino or anywhere indoors. What ship did you make a reservation on?

Thanks Reflection

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We have cruised on both and slightly prefer norwegian.

Norwegian wins:

evening entertainment - more options and just plain better

Specialty dining - many affordable options (specialty dining on celebrity runs $40-$50 each; vs $20-$30 on NCL)

Variety of included dining - more options

Celebrity wins:

Included food is better

Included drink package is better

Daytime/random entertainment - were on the reflection in the med and there were several historical lectures plus random times when the entertainment crew would put on short shows in public areas

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We sail both NCL and Celebrity and find little difference. NCLs pricing is better with their drink package and specialty dinning included! I price both when I am looking to book. Celebrity lost our last booking when they chartered the ship. We decided to sail on carnival Vista next month in the Havana suit area as a replacement.

Venture out and try different lines!! You will have an amazing time on celebrity!!!

I have mainly sailed with NCL, but was on the summit last December and have the Reflection booked for April 2019. The biggest difference I found was with the entertainment. The entertainment on the summit was really bad. Either nothing of interest or poorly done shows. Celebrity gets the upper hand with their drink package.

 

 

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We were on Reflection last month and the entertainment was the best we've seen on any of our cruises in the last 18 years. Although we're not fans of cruise ship production shows it's the first time we didn't walk out of any. The guest entertainers were excellent and Chiko, a member of the activities staff got standing ovations that wouldn't stop. It was the most remarkable audience reaction we've seen on any cruise ship.

As you can see by my signature, I've done a variety of cruise lines, and have just booked the Equinox for Dec, 2019. I'm really looking forward to it. Royal is usually my go to line, but never had a bad cruise on other lines, though Princess was my least favorite. Nothing to do during the day, and the food left a bit to be desired. The shows, except for the comedians, were nothing to write home about, and the food went on a downward spiral after the second day. this was on the Regal.

I have mainly sailed with NCL, but was on the summit last December and have the Reflection booked for April 2019. The biggest difference I found was with the entertainment. The entertainment on the summit was really bad. Either nothing of interest or poorly done shows. Celebrity gets the upper hand with their drink package.

 

 

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NCL and Royal Caribbean get the thumbs up for entertainment. Celebrity and Princess entertainment consists of stale lounge performers who couldn't book a Wedding or Bar Mitzvah and Jr High School stage productions.

There’s no indoor smoking at all, and the smoking outdoors is extremely limited.

 

 

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This is exactly the reason I'm looking at jumping ship as well to try Celebrity for the first time. I love that more restrictive smoking policy. I was so fed up with breathing cigarette smoke in the casino on my last cruise. My whole suitcase of clothes smelled of cigarette smoke when I got home.

We sail both NCL and Celebrity and find little difference. NCLs pricing is better with their drink package and specialty dinning included! I price both when I am looking to book. Celebrity lost our last booking when they chartered the ship. We decided to sail on carnival Vista next month in the Havana suit area as a replacement.

Venture out and try different lines!! You will have an amazing time on celebrity!!!

Unless they have changed it, on NCL you must pay the gratuity for your "free" drink package which can be a couple of hundred dollars extra that you don't pay on X.

IMO ---

Celebrity offers more of a white glove experience than NCL

NCL has better entertainment

Smoking is highly restricted on Celebrity

Celebrity has less of a family / kids / teens demographic than NCL

Items, without the packages (dining, beverage) are generally pricier than on NCL

My choice, hands down, is Celebrity but wouldn't balk at going on an NCL cruise, either. The free perks are actually free on Celebrity ... not actually free but gratuities are already included vs the surcharge that NCL charges over and above the price of the cruise.

If you gamble at land based casinos, Celebrity is associated with Mlife (MGM/Mirage) where as NCL is associated with Caesar's properties.

I have done a variety of lines as well. While Celebrity is my preferred, my only complaint is the entertainment. There are times in the theatre where I have felt embarrassed for the 'talent'. What I do like is the smoking policy and how it is strictly enforced. What I LOVE is the time in ports. When you look at different cruise lines and see their times in port as compared to Celebrity, Celebrity is hands down the winner. I would rather spend a little more on cruising and have a lot more time in port. Plus, you only have to get back to the ship within 1/2 to 1 hour of sailing!

I have to disagree with the statement about the lounge performers. I’m generally not too interested in Celebrity’s theater productions. But some of the lounge performers have been highlights of our cruises. Just a few who come to mind — a string quartet a few years ago on the Solstice, an Argentinian jazz quartet (three young women and a man) on the Equinox a year or two ago. And I have friends who have been touring as Gilly and the Girl (a guitarist and singer) on the Eclipse. All of them are really talented and deserve a listen — or three.

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I have to disagree with the statement about the lounge performers. I’m generally not too interested in Celebrity’s theater productions. But some of the lounge performers have been highlights of our cruises. Just a few who come to mind — a string quartet a few years ago on the Solstice, an Argentinian jazz quartet (three young women and a man) on the Equinox a year or two ago. And I have friends who have been touring as Gilly and the Girl (a guitarist and singer) on the Eclipse. All of them are really talented and deserve a listen — or three.

 

 

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We saw Gilly and the Girl on Eclipse over Christmas and greatly enjoyed their performances ;).