Dawn vs. Celebrity Summit to Bermuda

[lifevicarious]

Hi everyone,

 

Looking at cruises out of NYC (we live in Manhattan) and trying to decide between the Dawn and the Summit. We have been on Carnival and Celebrity, didn't love Carnival but loved Celebrity (Equinox). It would be easier to sail the Dawn as it is a quick cab ride away and the Dawn is actually out of NJ nut want to hear what people would recommend. Celebrity is actually $100 cheaper and the cruises are identical from a timing and port perspective.

 

Can anyone give any insight between the two? Which would you choose and why?

 

Oh, if it matters we are in our mid 30's and were fine with the age range on our last Celebrity cruise (2 week med cruise).

 

Thanks!

[iheartbda]

I would say the 2 biggest diffrences will be the relaxed dress code and freestyle dining on NCL. If you like a fixed dining time and enjoy 2 formal nights, then X is the one. If you want a more flexible dining time and don't want to go formal, although you can, then NCL is the one. We have done X and NCL to Bermuda and both were good in their own way.

[deepnite10]

since your asking in the NCL forum..i d reccomend the Dawn..:D

[njhorseman]

I would say the 2 biggest diffrences will be the relaxed dress code and freestyle dining on NCL. If you like a fixed dining time and enjoy 2 formal nights, then X is the one. If you want a more flexible dining time and don't want to go formal, although you can, then NCL is the one. We have done X and NCL to Bermuda and both were good in their own way.

 

 

I agree with this, and would like to add that NCL offers a large variety of specialty restaurants for a surcharge of $10-25 per person. Celebrity does not offer nearly as many optional dining venues.

[iheartbda]

I agree with this, and would like to add that NCL offers a large variety of specialty restaurants for a surcharge of $10-25 per person. Celebrity does not offer nearly as many optional dining venues.

I could go somewhere with that but since food is soooooo subject and it always starts wars......I won't.:D

 

OP, BTW, I didn't see any great difference in the age ranges between the two.

[lifevicarious]

I agree with this, and would like to add that NCL offers a large variety of specialty restaurants for a surcharge of $10-25 per person. Celebrity does not offer nearly as many optional dining venues.

 

Yeah, there were 4 on my Celebrity ship, we went to 3 of them. I was NOT a fan of the MDR food but LOVED Murano on Equinox. I am more then happy to pay extra for better food.

[lifevicarious]

I would say the 2 biggest diffrences will be the relaxed dress code and freestyle dining on NCL. If you like a fixed dining time and enjoy 2 formal nights, then X is the one. If you want a more flexible dining time and don't want to go formal, although you can, then NCL is the one. We have done X and NCL to Bermuda and both were good in their own way.

 

I don't think either of us care about formal nights. Actually, while I don't hate having a set time, I never understood why many actually want to be told what time they have to eat, what they have to wear, and where they have to sit. Flexible dining sounds like a nice alternative.

 

Has anyone been on both ships? I really loved the Equinox as a ship and was not a fan of the decor of our Carnival ship (Valor). I see the Dawn often but have obviously never been aboard so would be curious to here comments.

[peg013]

Are they both in Bermuda the same days of the week? I've sailed the Dawn to Bermuda two times so far. We love her and Bermuda. I know the NCL Dawn is in Bermuda Wednesday thru Friday. The NCL Spirit gets there on Sunday. There is much more going on during the week as opposed to Sunday's, especially in St Georges.

 

I just checked and I see the itineraries only vary by a half hour. I would recommend the Dawn, but then I smoke and Celebrity and I wouldn't get along. Smoking is limited on NCL (only place indoors is the casino, and in your cabin or on your balcony) but not to the degree it is on Celebrity.

[dkjretired]

I would say the 2 biggest diffrences will be the relaxed dress code and freestyle dining on NCL. If you like a fixed dining time and enjoy 2 formal nights, then X is the one. If you want a more flexible dining time and don't want to go formal, although you can, then NCL is the one. We have done X and NCL to Bermuda and both were good in their own way.

 

Celebrity has "Select" dining which basically is their form of freestyle dining, you can eat whenever you want. There are also ways around the formal nights.

[halos]

I have sailed CCL, NCL and Celebrity. I didn't enjoy my Celebrity cruise. Personally, I think NCL is more like CCL than Celebrity, so I'm not sure you'd really be happy on NCL. But the only way to know is to try it for yourself. :)

[lifevicarious]

I just checked and I see the itineraries only vary by a half hour. I would recommend the Dawn, but then I smoke and Celebrity and I wouldn't get along. Smoking is limited on NCL (only place indoors is the casino, and in your cabin or on your balcony) but not to the degree it is on Celebrity.

 

Actually, I hadn't thought about this. I really dislike smoke (and that's putting it lightly). YOu may have tipped the scales towards Celebrity for us.

[lifevicarious]

I have sailed CCL, NCL and Celebrity. I didn't enjoy my Celebrity cruise. Personally, I think NCL is more like CCL than Celebrity, so I'm not sure you'd really be happy on NCL. But the only way to know is to try it for yourself. :)

 

Why did you not enjoy celebrity? I didn't like Carnival mostly because of the ship. I thought it was beyond tacky (a neon and vegasy version of Lincoln and Washington).

 

But I am also not of the party type really either. While I didn't have a problem with the atmosphere on Carnival, I am more of the laid back atmosphere more stereotypical of Celebrity.

[dabear]

Celebrity's food is rated better than NCLs. Also less public announcements on X.

[iheartbda]

Celebrity has "Select" dining which basically is their form of freestyle dining, you can eat whenever you want. There are also ways around the formal nights.

I still think they are the 2 main distinctions.;) Yes, the "Select" dining crossed my mind when posting but it's not across the board and I mentioned formal night because there are people who enjoy, want to dress up and look for a line which is more formal. :)

Celebrity's food is rated better than NCLs. Also less public announcements on X.

That ranks as one of mine favorite things about X. The only announcements are usually just an update from the captain or something important.....no bingo, sales in the Atrium, art acution etc. announcements.

[lifevicarious]

Celebrity's food is rated better than NCLs. Also less public announcements on X.

 

Considering this is an NCL board, the case isn't being made for NCL! :) Less restrictive smoking, more public announcements, worse food, and more expensive (for this particular, basically indentical cruise).

[BikerAl]

I am not sure if he is still aboard, but Julien Brackenbury left NCL and became HD on the Summit this past October. Truly an excellent HD, and I would love to sail with him again.

 

Al

[tinker]

We have been on the Celebrity Zenith and the Dawn to Bermuda and twice on RCCL. The Dawn was our favorite and the Zenith our least. Celebrity was very much geared toward and "older" crowd and not many activities. We are mid fifties and love to be casual and enjoy the FreeStyle of NCL.

[iheartbda]

We have been on the Celebrity Zenith and the Dawn to Bermuda and twice on RCCL. The Dawn was our favorite and the Zenith our least. Celebrity was very much geared toward and "older" crowd and not many activities. We are mid fifties and love to be casual and enjoy the FreeStyle of NCL.

I guess this is something else that is subjective......we didn't find that to be true at all on the Zenith.;)

[ECCruise]

We have sailed Celebrity a dozen times, NCL a half dozen times including 2 month ago. Sailing the Summit to Bermuda in 3 weeks.

 

Select (Anytime) dining is available on the Summit, so no difference there.

Food is, in our opinion, consistently better on Celebrity.

Evening entertainment better on NCL (more options, actually).

Service better on Celebrity.

Only one announcement per day on Celebrity.

Can bring 2 bottles of wine on Celebrity (no charge), have to pay corkage on NCL.

The Dawn will most likely be a bit better maintained than the Summit but both equally clean.

 

Same price, I would go with Summit, no question. A better price on Summit...even more definite.

[peg013]

Actually, I hadn't thought about this. I really dislike smoke (and that's putting it lightly). YOu may have tipped the scales towards Celebrity for us.

 

That is why I mentioned it. If you dislike smoke, then Celebrity would be a better fit for you. It's not for me, but that's why there are multiple cruiselines. If we do our research, we can all find the one that is the best fit for us. I'm really surprised one of the many non-smokers did not point this out.:confused:

[halos]

Why did you not enjoy celebrity? I didn't like Carnival mostly because of the ship. I thought it was beyond tacky (a neon and vegasy version of Lincoln and Washington).

 

But I am also not of the party type really either. While I didn't have a problem with the atmosphere on Carnival, I am more of the laid back atmosphere more stereotypical of Celebrity.

 

It could have been the itinerary we chose (14 day Panama Canal crossing) but the passengers were all too old. I have nothing againts old people ;)...I am pushing 50 myself. But there was NO age diversity, which lead to a boring two weeks. (Carnival is the best for age diversity by far).

 

Celebrity is far too subdued for me. The ship I sailed (Infinity) wasn't exactly pretty. Even though I detest Joe Farcus' design on Carnival ships, I was yearning for it after a few days on the Infinity. After 3 days of the sorbet parade being the highlight of entertainment for the afternoon, I also longed for a hairy chest contest (which up until that X cruise, I did not think too highly of).

 

I found the crew to be WAY too stuffy and stiff. (My favorite crew are on NCL ships. They are the polar opposite of what we experienced on Celebrity ships).

The food was good, although nowhere near as exquisite as I had heard it was.

 

I will likely, one day give X another go....but I'll wait until I am a bit older and/or require a subdued cruise. Hopefully that won't be for a LONG while :)

[teacher_md]

We have sailed Celebrity a dozen times, NCL a half dozen times including 2 month ago. Sailing the Summit to Bermuda in 3 weeks.

 

Select (Anytime) dining is available on the Summit, so no difference there.

Food is, in our opinion, consistently better on Celebrity.

Evening entertainment better on NCL (more options, actually).

Service better on Celebrity.

Only one announcement per day on Celebrity.

Can bring 2 bottles of wine on Celebrity (no charge), have to pay corkage on NCL.

The Dawn will most likely be a bit better maintained than the Summit but both equally clean.

 

Same price, I would go with Summit, no question. A better price on Summit...even more definite.

 

I agree with ECCruiser. Summit was in very good shape last summer when I was on. If you are looking for a lively crowd, lively entertainment, with a little more fun, you may want to go on NCL. Celebrity is more chill but delivers an awesome product (besides the entertainment/nightlife, which can be a little iffy). Haven't been on Dawn, but she looks really pretty, with a nice atrium.

[dkjretired]

I still think they are the 2 main distinctions.;) Yes, the "Select" dining crossed my mind when posting but it's not across the board and I mentioned formal night because there are people who enjoy, want to dress up and look for a line which is more formal. :)

 

That ranks as one of mine favorite things about X. The only announcements are usually just an update from the captain or something important.....no bingo, sales in the Atrium, art acution etc. announcements.

 

I don't understand what you mean by not being across the board. It is available on all Celebrity ships. The only difference is you have a choice of which you want, traditional or Select dining which basically means you eat when you want...

[iheartbda]

I don't understand what you mean by not being across the board. It is available on all Celebrity ships. The only difference is you have a choice of which you want, traditional or Select dining which basically means you eat when you want...

Just meant that it is not all freestyle (no set dining time) on Celebrity like it is on NCL. Did not mean Select was not available on all X ships.