RCI Radiance or Celebrity Century?

[alligeek]

Hi everyone,

 

Now that DH and I have agreed upon Alaska as our next vacation spot (yay!), I'm looking at booking on either the Radiance of the Seas or Celebrity Century.

 

If we do RCI, I'd choose the southbound Anchorage to Vancouver trip. We're looking at the Hubbard Glacier trip on Celebrity. Looking to book for June 2014.

 

For those of you who have done either (or both), what did you like about the ship and itinerary? The big plus I see on Celebrity is that there are aft suites available on the Century, while there aren't any available on the Radiance. We're aft people.

 

Thanks!

[alligeek]

Oh... one other thing... we'll likely have our son (who will be 4 by then) with us. I know RCI has a good kids program, but I know virtually nothing about Celebrity.

[frugaltravel]

If you really want an aft cabin, then your decision has been made for you :D.

 

For me, the the itinerary and port times are far more important than the ship or the stateroom. So that is what I would look at. I would also look at the public viewing areas, especially the forward viewing areas outside (and inside, but I like being outside).

[Italy52]

Hi everyone,

 

Now that DH and I have agreed upon Alaska as our next vacation spot (yay!), I'm looking at booking on either the Radiance of the Seas or Celebrity Century.

 

If we do RCI, I'd choose the southbound Anchorage to Vancouver trip. We're looking at the Hubbard Glacier trip on Celebrity. Looking to book for June 2014.

 

For those of you who have done either (or both), what did you like about the ship and itinerary? The big plus I see on Celebrity is that there are aft suites available on the Century, while there aren't any available on the Radiance. We're aft people.

 

Thanks!

 

Just a note: RCI's southbound itinerary does not include Anchorage. RCI's Radiance's itinerary includes the following: Seward, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait, Ketchikan, Cruise Inside Passage and Vancouver.

 

Celebrity Century's itinerary includes the following: Vancouver, Cruise Inside Passage , Icy Strait, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Ketchikan, Cruise Inside Passage and Vancouver.

 

Are the above itineraries the ones you are referring to?????

 

I have been on the Radiance northbound and southbound itineraries and enjoyed them very much. While I have not been on the Century, I have been on the northbound and southbound itineraries for the Millennium and enjoyed them also. The Radiance and the Millennium have very similar itineraries. We chose Celebrity because they don't allow smoking on their balconies, in cabins, in the casino as well as other interior venues.

[Tweedy]

Hi everyone,

 

Now that DH and I have agreed upon Alaska as our next vacation spot (yay!), I'm looking at booking on either the Radiance of the Seas or Celebrity Century.

 

If we do RCI, I'd choose the southbound Anchorage to Vancouver trip. We're looking at the Hubbard Glacier trip on Celebrity. Looking to book for June 2014.

 

For those of you who have done either (or both), what did you like about the ship and itinerary? The big plus I see on Celebrity is that there are aft suites available on the Century, while there aren't any available on the Radiance. We're aft people.

 

Thanks!

 

 

We sailed on the Century last year and being our first Celebrity cruise, we really enjoyed it. It's a nice size ship and the staff were all so friendly. I didn't see many kids but that may be because we sailed the 3rd week of May and kids were still in school.

 

We will be doing the NB and SB on the Radiance in a couple of weeks. The itinerary is very similar (same ports) except one is RT and one is one-way. The ships are also similar in size.

 

Having taken a tour of the Radiance last May, I know the kids club area has lots to do. Not sure what the Century offers for kids. It does sound as though you know what you want. I don't think you'd regret whatever decision you make. The Century is a nice ship.

[alligeek]

Thank you! I'm still torn (Celebrity costs less and has aft cabins, but we know what we're getting with RCI). Seems like we can't really go wrong either way.

[olemissreb]

When I started planning our trip 2 years ago, I at first thought a round trip would be the way to go. Then these fine folk here, advised me to look at the itinerary and port times. I found that the one ways (north bound or south bound) had the longest port times. Vancouver round trip had the next longest port times and Seattle round trip had the shortest. I was able to convince my DH to add an extra week of vacation so we could tack on a land vacation before boarding ship for our one way southbound on the Celebrity Millennium. The way I figured, for our family, it may be a long time before we are able to get back to Alaska so we may as well maximize our time while we are there - this included giving up Glacier Bay National Park (on Princess or HAL) for an additional port stop at Icy Strait Point/Hoonah.

 

We leave in 19 days and I can't wait! Maybe in a few years we'll get to do this again and we'll do a land vacation somewhere different before again boarding a southbound ship - maybe one that hits Glacier Bay.

[Donut23]

I have done both in Akaska. The Radiance is my preference because of all the glass in the public areas. It brings in the glories of Alaska. Not to mention completing her total refit.

 

The Radiance has multiple decks of aft facing balcony cabins each with jinormous balconies. 7 years ago I talked my fiancé into an Alaska adventure including a cruise on the Radiance. Half way through the cruise we decided to get married the following year on the Radiance.

 

February the 2014 itineraries came out for Alaska, I was hospitalized with a heart problem. DH arrived one day with a big grin. He had just booked the Radiance for our anniversary -cabin 1100-aft junior suite with the big corner balcony!

 

Check out you tube.....cabin 1100....our junior suite .... Or 1104 which is a regular D1....aft.

 

 

Just a warning.....

 

I am a former TA so I grabbed the aft facing cabin when we booked. DH has cruised in nothing else since. He whimpers like a puppy if I talk about something on the side of the ship.

 

Now they build the Quantum with only big loft suites aft. Imagine, our hometown ship and no aft cabins we can afford! Boo Hoo!

[merinski]

NO Question, Celebrity!!! We did not like the Radiance. The food wasn't good. We really like Celebrity in General! The food is good, better entertainment, better service...