Conde Nast Cruise Line Ratings

The January issue is out and ranks Celebrity as #8 on a list of 12 cruiselines. As one would expect, Crystal, Grand Circle, Silversea, Regent, Oceania, Seabourn and Sea Dream were ranked higher than X, but it was interesting to note that Disney was ranked slightly higher than X. Don't know if Conde Nast will be doing a ship by ship comparison in the future. FYI...

The January issue is out and ranks Celebrity as #8 on a list of 12 cruiselines.

This same information was provided by a poster back in October when the results were first known but not yet published and was heavily ridiculed on this board as not being possible.

With all that has been going on with Celebrity of late this official news should come as no surprise to anybody at this point in time three months later.

The January issue is out and ranks Celebrity as #8 on a list of 12 cruiselines. As one would expect, Crystal, Grand Circle, Silversea, Regent, Oceania, Seabourn and Sea Dream were ranked higher than X, but it was interesting to note that Disney was ranked slightly higher than X. Don't know if Conde Nast will be doing a ship by ship comparison in the future. FYI...

Disney is substantially more expensive and has much bigger cabins, on average. I'm not surprised they rank higher.

Ratings and advertising often go hand in hand. LOL

I've sailed with Disney 8 times. Don't think of these ships as floating theme parks -- they are elegant, classy vessels. It's not very "Mickey Mouse"-ish in design (you will find what's called "Hidden Mickeys", but you really have to look for them). The decor is mainly Art Deco.

I've stayed in several of their suites and they are beautiful - and large (all with at least two full bathrooms) and concierge service. Regular cabins are also large (214 sq. ft ocean view, 268 sq. ft. with balcony) with split bathrooms - one room has a sink and toilet, the other has a sink and full bathtub/shower stall. Their staff is known for going out of their way to help you and ensure that you have a "magical" trip. The food is very good, but not excellent. Shows are Broadway quality and Disney themed. Facilities are similar to other cruise lines: large spa (some treatment rooms feature private balconies with hot tubs for couples), fitness deck, 3 pools (including one adults only pool/bar), coffee house, main theater, movie theater, outdoor movie screen, adults only specialty restaurant, adults only bars and nightclubs, family nightclub, and of course their kid's programs.

I have yet to try Celebrity, but plan to in the future. Disney has set a very high standard for any mass market cruise line.

Ratings and advertising often go hand in hand. LOL

True, but Disney Cruise Lines does not advertise on TV, like Celebrity does. DCL only has two ships, and due to strong demand, is able to fill it's ships fairly easily, especially during peak cruising seasons. Also, DCL has a loyal customer base -- on my last cruise in early December, there were over 1,200 repeat cruisers.

In this case, I think Disney has earned the rating. :)

The January issue is out and ranks Celebrity as #8 on a list of 12 cruiselines. As one would expect, Crystal, Grand Circle, Silversea, Regent, Oceania, Seabourn and Sea Dream were ranked higher than X, but it was interesting to note that Disney was ranked slightly higher than X. Don't know if Conde Nast will be doing a ship by ship comparison in the future. FYI...

That doesn't surprise me because Disney only has a few ships while Celebrity has a much larger fleet.

True, but Disney Cruise Lines does not advertise on TV, like Celebrity does. DCL only has two ships, and due to strong demand, is able to fill it's ships fairly easily, especially during peak cruising seasons. Also, DCL has a loyal customer base -- on my last cruise in early December, there were over 1,200 repeat cruisers.

 

In this case, I think Disney has earned the rating. :)

I still think advertising does play a part and I have seen ads on TV but you are right, certainly not like RCI particularly. This doesn't mean Disney doesn't deserve her rating, it does mean, to me, some bias is shown to the lines that advertise in a certain publication. NMNita

The January issue is out and ranks Celebrity as #8 on a list of 12 cruiselines. As one would expect, Crystal, Grand Circle, Silversea, Regent, Oceania, Seabourn and Sea Dream were ranked higher than X, but it was interesting to note that Disney was ranked slightly higher than X.

 

In short, except for Disney, Celebrity was rated highest of the large cruise lines, above Princess, HAL, RCI, NCL, etc. Congratulations!! :D

 

Floris

I am a subscriber to Conde Nast magazine, and I find these ratings somewhat ridiculous.

In order for the "comparison" to be meaningful,

1. Each person polled would have had to have sailed on each and every line.

2. Each response would have to be normalized in order to get response relative results. (one person might have had a 99 as their top score, and 90 as their lowest score, while another may have had 85 as their top, and 80 as their lowest, etc.) This would have to be factored in.

3. The population polled would have to be outside Conde Nast subscribers.

4. The sample polled would have had to have been pulled from a statistically relevant population.

These 4 are only the beginning.....

In that there are probably very few people who meet the first criterion above, it would appear that these numbers are, at the very least, highly suspect.

You can get a "poll" to prove anything....

I am a subscriber to Conde Nast magazine, and I find these ratings somewhat ridiculous.

 

In order for the "comparison" to be meaningful,

 

1. Each person polled would have had to have sailed on each and every line.

2. Each response would have to be normalized in order to get response relative results. (one person might have had a 99 as their top score, and 90 as their lowest score, while another may have had 85 as their top, and 80 as their lowest, etc.) This would have to be factored in.

3. The population polled would have to be outside Conde Nast subscribers.

4. The sample polled would have had to have been pulled from a statistically relevant population.

 

These 4 are only the beginning.....

 

In that there are probably very few people who meet the first criterion above, it would appear that these numbers are, at the very least, highly suspect.

 

You can get a "poll" to prove anything....

Let me guess, you're a marketing researcher. Sounds like something one of my professors would say. Bottom line, if someone sails on a line that they fall in love with, most will not feel the need to try others. That alone gets brand loyalty, without any comparison. If the customer is happy, they are happy.

I am a subscriber to Conde Nast magazine, and I find these ratings somewhat ridiculous.

 

In order for the "comparison" to be meaningful,

 

1. Each person polled would have had to have sailed on each and every line.

2. Each response would have to be normalized in order to get response relative results. (one person might have had a 99 as their top score, and 90 as their lowest score, while another may have had 85 as their top, and 80 as their lowest, etc.) This would have to be factored in.

3. The population polled would have to be outside Conde Nast subscribers.

4. The sample polled would have had to have been pulled from a statistically relevant population.

 

These 4 are only the beginning.....

 

In that there are probably very few people who meet the first criterion above, it would appear that these numbers are, at the very least, highly suspect.

 

You can get a "poll" to prove anything....

I agree. A recent Caribbean Travela and Life magazine issue rated RCI number one cruise line overall based on reader polls.

Nuff said.

I'm not surprised at Disney's ranking above Celebrity. Looking at the Disney board's first two pages, there's only one negative thread: a thirteen year old girl was sexually assaulted on a Disney ship at sea. According to the news report, Disney immediately contacted the FBI and followed their advice on sequestering the alleged assailant and then turned him over to the authorities at the next port stop. Not a positive, but Disney's response clearly indicates zero tolerance for problems like this, unlike some other cruise lines that have tried to brush this kind of assault under the rug.

Other than that, what you read about are people who have questions and people who are happy. DCL isn't everyone's cup of tea (not mine, anyway) but they apparently do an excellent job setting customer expectations and delivering excellent customer service. I think a few other mass market lines could learn from them.

Sorry, duplicate.

I am a subscriber to Conde Nast magazine, and I find these ratings somewhat ridiculous.

 

In order for the "comparison" to be meaningful,

 

1. Each person polled would have had to have sailed on each and every line.

2. Each response would have to be normalized in order to get response relative results. (one person might have had a 99 as their top score, and 90 as their lowest score, while another may have had 85 as their top, and 80 as their lowest, etc.) This would have to be factored in.

3. The population polled would have to be outside Conde Nast subscribers.

4. The sample polled would have had to have been pulled from a statistically relevant population.

 

These 4 are only the beginning.....

 

In that there are probably very few people who meet the first criterion above, it would appear that these numbers are, at the very least, highly suspect.

 

You can get a "poll" to prove anything....

No. Consumer Reports conducts a survey of subscribers to ask questions about the repair records and reliability of autos and appliances. They then aggregate this data to provide reliability data for each model even though most people don't own more than one model of refrigerator.

There's also a whole area of statistics based on preferences and rankings rather than absolute numerical averages -- you've probably filled out the bubbles for surveys like this (strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, strongly disagree) and very useful and statistically valid results can be compiled from these kind of responses.

I don't know how well designed, constructed and tested this particular survey was, but their is no intrinsic reason that they couldn't design a survey that would yield valid results even if most passengers surveyed had only been on a single cruise line.

It's also possible that they had a valid survey and misrepresented the results, and that wouldn't be the first time that writers proved that statistical data can be easily misinterpreted, but without seeing more of the underpinnings of the survey that's hard to assess.

Let's agree to disagree on this subject.

Bottom line: I don't trust a Conde Nast reader poll for relative satisfaction in cruise lines, NOR do I trust Consumer Reports for relativity in maintenance problems experienced by consumers.

I do, however, pay attention to the Consumer reports testing information, as this is all relative.

I'm not sure how Consumer Reports got into this discussion, but I guess I took the bait!

I never trust these polls because every year I read magazine polls that rate categories of restaurant food in various cities, and it seems like every year things like Pizza Hut win for best pizza.:eek: :eek: :eek:

Having been on Disney 3 times, I am not at all surprised that it scores so highly - the quality level is extremely high. But, DCL is such a different product and experience compared to X, that it really is not possible to say that one is better than the other. When we cruise w/ the kids, we like Disney. When we leave them at home, we prefer X. I think that there are some folks who would go absolutely bonkers if they were on a Disney cruise (Disney characters in the main theater shows, only 3 courses at dinner, no casino, Disney art and symbols everywhere). There are others who do not want to do anything else. Its almost like comparing the quality between a top notch ski resort and a top notch beach resort; your preference is going to be based upon factors other than small differences in the quality of the food, service, decor, and room furnishings.

Looking at the Disney board's first two pages, there's only one negative thread: a thirteen year old girl was sexually assaulted on a Disney ship at sea. According to the news report, Disney immediately contacted the FBI and followed their advice on sequestering the alleged assailant and then turned him over to the authorities at the next port stop. Not a positive, but Disney's response clearly indicates zero tolerance for problems like this, unlike some other cruise lines that have tried to brush this kind of assault under the rug.

Here's a link to an article; the assailant was a 21 year old passenger from NY.

http://www.wftv.com/news/10672770/detail.html

I agree. A recent Caribbean Travela and Life magazine issue rated RCI number one cruise line overall based on reader polls.

 

Nuff said.

Please enlighten me. I have been on several (12) cruises on X, RCI, & Princess, & I am blown away by the snobbish attitude by the loyal Celebrity cruisers. GF & I are both successful professionals in our 30's who, quite honestly, prefer RCI for one reason - their ships. We feel RCI has the best ships in the industry. When it somes to service, we find very little separates the three cruise lines. Celebrity is "known" for their food, but we found it no different (and in some cases disappointing) to their counterparts on RCI & Princess. Don't get me wrong - we love Celebrity - but this attitude is over the top! Also, if X is so far superior why are they no more expensive?

Please enlighten me. I have been on several (12) cruises on X, RCI, & Princess, & I am blown away by the snobbish attitude by the loyal Celebrity cruisers. GF & I are both successful professionals in our 30's who, quite honestly, prefer RCI for one reason - their ships. We feel RCI has the best ships in the industry. When it somes to service, we find very little separates the three cruise lines. Celebrity is "known" for their food, but we found it no different (and in some cases disappointing) to their counterparts on RCI & Princess. Don't get me wrong - we love Celebrity - but this attitude is over the top! Also, if X is so far superior why are they no more expensive?

My comment had nothing to do with Celebrity nor with attitude. While I enjoy some things about X much more than RCI (dining room food and service, size of ships, fewer families, more traditional and formal than RCI), I was pointing out that polls are only as accurate as folks who vote on them, much as polls are on this board.

I have cruised on RCI 49 times, most recently on Jewel last month. I seriously doubt I will ever do so again as the overall product does not appeal to me and the changes RCI has made over the past ten years are not positive ones from my perspective.

The ship was stunning, as many RCI ships are (and certainly prettier than anything in X's fleet) but the overall experience was not what I enjoy. The menus reflect the continued cost cutting on this line as does the quality of food. We dined every night in the ala carte restaurants after perusing the menus for the week. The ship was crowded with infants and families (no, it was not a holiday cruise) and kids ran wild everywhere as they have on the last half dozen RCI sailings I have taken. Dress codes are a thing of the past. All in all, it was a free for all in many ways.

Service cut backs were also evident everywhere.

RCI offers a good value to many who like what they offer but to consider them the "best" is IMO, the result of a poll where most of the folks just happened to have cruised on RCI and liked it and not many who cruised on and preferred other lines voted in the poll.

Please enlighten me. I have been on several (12) cruises on X, RCI, & Princess, & I am blown away by the snobbish attitude by the loyal Celebrity cruisers. GF & I are both successful professionals in our 30's who, quite honestly, prefer RCI for one reason - their ships. We feel RCI has the best ships in the industry. When it somes to service, we find very little separates the three cruise lines. Celebrity is "known" for their food, but we found it no different (and in some cases disappointing) to their counterparts on RCI & Princess. Don't get me wrong - we love Celebrity - but this attitude is over the top! Also, if X is so far superior why are they no more expensive?

My comment had nothing to do with Celebrity nor with attitude. While I enjoy some things about X much more than RCI (dining room food and service, size of ships, fewer families, more traditional and formal than RCI), I was pointing out that polls are only as accurate as folks who vote on them, much as polls are on this board.

I have cruised on RCI 49 times, most recently on Jewel last month. I seriously doubt I will ever do so again as the overall product does not appeal to me and the changes RCI has made over the past ten years are not positive ones from my perspective.

The ship was stunning, as many RCI ships are (and certainly prettier than anything in X's fleet) but the overall experience was not what I enjoy. The menus reflect the continued cost cutting on this line as does the quality of food. We dined every night in the ala carte restaurants after perusing the menus for the week. The ship was crowded with infants and families (no, it was not a holiday cruise) and kids ran wild everywhere as they have on the last half dozen RCI sailings I have taken. Dress codes are a thing of the past. All in all, it was a free for all in many ways.

Service cut backs were also evident everywhere.

RCI offers a good value to many who like what they offer but to consider them the "best" is IMO, the result of a poll where most of the folks just happened to have cruised on RCI and liked it and not many who cruised on and preferred other lines voted in the poll.

I am a subscriber to Conde Nast magazine, and I find these ratings somewhat ridiculous.

 

In order for the "comparison" to be meaningful,

 

1. Each person polled would have had to have sailed on each and every line.

2. Each response would have to be normalized in order to get response relative results. (one person might have had a 99 as their top score, and 90 as their lowest score, while another may have had 85 as their top, and 80 as their lowest, etc.) This would have to be factored in.

3. The population polled would have to be outside Conde Nast subscribers.

4. The sample polled would have had to have been pulled from a statistically relevant population.

 

These 4 are only the beginning.....

 

In that there are probably very few people who meet the first criterion above, it would appear that these numbers are, at the very least, highly suspect.

 

You can get a "poll" to prove anything....

I agree that reader surveys can be very misleading unless they are carefully structured by experts who understand the science. Even in this age of reader surveys and internet forums (such as this one) I still place a lot of weight on the opinions of the pros. In this case that means professional travel authors/critics.

In that context, Frommers 2007 guide to cruising continues to list the M class (along with RCI's Radiance class and the Diamond/Sapphire Princess) as favorites. Additionally, although James Ward (Berlitz) has lowered scores on X ships in his 2007 edition, the M-class continues to score over 100 points higher (2000 point scale) than anything else in the mass market/premium segments, including Oceania. Everyone who has sailed on X and looked at the plaques near Guest Relations knows that Stern gave M-class ships his top rating in the premium segment (tied with Oceania). And Celebrity is the only mass market/premium line to earn three Econoguide awards - Best Cruiselines, Best Cruise Values, and Best Food at Sea (note that Econoguide designates multiple "winners" in each of these categories). One of those other cruise web sites:eek: also seems to give Celebrity ships a bit of an edge.

Reviews on Cruise Critic (both professional and reader) seem to rank Celebrity in the middle of the pack. But many other books, sites, reviews, still show X at or near the top of the non-luxury cruise products. That's comforting in terms of validating one's chioce for spending one's travel dollars.

As a side note, it's interesting that Conde Nast rarely, if ever seems to publish anything in which its professional staff (editors, writers, etc.) rates, ranks, or evaluates cruise lines. As other posters have said, they can't put their advertising dollars at risk by having their editorial staff rank someone at the lower end.