Carnival or Celebrity

[danmats]

Hello Everyone,

My fiance and I are planning on taking a last minute cruise on Jan 26th. We are stuck between the Carnival Destiny and the Celebrity Constellation.

Both are a 5 day itinerary going to Jamaica and Grand Cayman, departing from Miami. Both are pretty much the same, cost wise.

We have been on Royal Caribbean several times and a few of the older Carnival ships. On those cruises, our big thing was the entertainment value. Does Celebrity offer anything in comparisson to the other two lines, as far as production shows and audience participation things?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[OKCruiseMan]

We've done several Carnival and one Celebrity, so don't have a broad base to go from, but we found Celebrity to be a little more easy going, less noise, fewer kids, and fewer party animals. So which ever way you like it...

[cruzeluver]

While I have sailed Constellation twice and would gladly do so again, you wouldn't catch me on Destiny for all the tea in China. She is going in soon for a complete overhaul and will be re-introduced as a "new" ship with a new name. I find the Celebrity experience vastly superior to anything on Carnival. Service is far more polished, food is leaps and bounds better, noise levels are much lower and the passenger to space ratios (how crowded will it feel) are better on Celebrity.

Both offer production shows and audience participation games.

[kitty9]

Celebrity is more laid back, and they do have a tendency to shut down a lot earlier than Carnival ships at night. They just don't seem to have the nightlife that Carnival does. But I would choose Celebrity every time over Carnival.

[binkysmom]

Celebrity

[caribsun]

I have experience on both lines, I prefer Celebrity. The food and service is so much better on Celebrity. If you like the pool games, piano bar and disco then choose Carnival.

[danmats]

Thank you everyone for your input. We have decided to give Celebrity a try.

[Krazy Kruizers]

[quote name='danmats']Thank you everyone for your input. We have decided to give Celebrity a try.[/quote]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=4]Great -- that is just what I was going to suggest as well.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[dmrrn73]

I was going to suggest Celebrity too, have a great time!:)

[Beachdude]

[quote name='OKCruiseMan']We've done several Carnival and one Celebrity, so don't have a broad base to go from, but we found Celebrity to be a little more easy going, less noise, fewer kids, and fewer party animals. So which ever way you like it...[/quote]

What is the noise level comparison that is being talked about. We have cruise a lot of ships and noise is not something I would have thought to compare.

Thanks

Burt

[cruzeluver]

[QUOTE]What is the noise level comparison that is being talked about. We have cruise a lot of ships and noise is not something I would have thought to compare.

Thanks

Burt [/QUOTE]

On Carnival, you can expect announcements made throughout the day reminding you of all the various activities going on around the ship. Personally I find them annoying and am perfectly capable of reading the list of activities they leave in your room. On Celebrity there is one announcement per day, made at noon in which the captain will give the weather, ship's current position, nautical miles left until reaching the next port, and maybe one or two reminders of some special event that will take place.

Additionally, Celebrity does not have a lot of the poolside games found on Carnival which can also get quite noisy.

[Beachdude]

[quote name='cruzeluver']On Carnival, you can expect announcements made throughout the day reminding you of all the various activities going on around the ship. .[/quote]

Ah, thank you.

Burt

[spotgrey]

If you like kids then Carnival is for you but if you like more of an upscale cruise ship then Celebrity is the one. We have sailed both but never again on Carnival....Celebrity is nicer, quiter and most important fewer children running around. Either ship have a great cruise!!

[momofmeg]

[quote name='cruzeluver']While I have sailed Constellation twice and would gladly do so again, you wouldn't catch me on Destiny for all the tea in China. She is going in soon for a complete overhaul and will be re-introduced as a "new" ship with a new name. I find the Celebrity experience vastly superior to anything on Carnival. Service is far more polished, food is leaps and bounds better, noise levels are much lower and the passenger to space ratios (how crowded will it feel) are better on Celebrity.

Both offer production shows and audience participation games.[/QUOTE]

Normally I would agree that Celebrity is better but I recently got off the Connie-except for the decor not being loud I could have been on Carnival. Although the food was very good-Carnival always had very good food also on my previous Canrival cruises. ( it has been 9 years since I was on Carnival) Service was not up to par-similar to Carnival and we had quite a few "party animals" which seemed more like Carnival cruisers.

I was also dsiappointed that the Connie no longer has an adult's only pool area.

If Iwas the OP I would go with the best price.

[Jimnbigd]

Celebrity also has a more strict no-smoking policy. I think smoking is not allowed in the cabin or balcony, and also not in the casino. I would sail Celebrity if it sailed from Galveston again (we like to drive to the cruise).

[chipq]

[quote name='spotgrey']If you like kids then Carnival is for you but if you like more of an upscale cruise ship then Celebrity is the one. We have sailed both but never again on Carnival....Celebrity is nicer, quiter and most important fewer children running around. Either ship have a great cruise!![/quote]

If just my wife and I cruising it is Celebrity but when we bring the kids it is Carnival.

[URL]http://luv2cruise.blogspot.com[/URL]

[momofmeg]

[quote name='Jimnbigd']Celebrity also has a more strict no-smoking policy. I think smoking is not allowed in the cabin or balcony, and also not in the casino. I would sail Celebrity if it sailed from Galveston again (we like to drive to the cruise).[/QUOTE]

Yes, but there were quite a few violaters of the policy and yes I called and complained. I think it goes along with the type of clientale you attract when the cruise has "bargain prices." Ours ended up being discounted very cheap-balconys were going for $400 a person the last couple of weeks. You just have tor remember these 4 and 5 day cruises are not the same as the 7 day or longer Celebrity crusies. That is also true on Carnival. I will never do another Canrival cruise under 5 days-but perhaps I could be persuaded to do a longer cruise is I like the ports.