Celebrity Cruisers considering RCI

[Lady Arwen]

We are long time cruisers with Celebrity, but we are thinking about trying the Rhapsody of the Seas for our Alaska cruise in 2014. Our other option is Celebrity Solstice. We aren't unhappy with Celebrity, just looking for something different.

 

Would we find RCI comparable to Celebrity as to food, service, and cabin comfort? We just put a hold on cabin 7652 (aft wrap). Could someone please give us their opinion of this cabin.

 

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[OKC Cruisers]

We've sailed on Rhapsody as well as Celebrity Mercury. To me, and of course this is subjective, I think you'll enjoy Royal just as much as X. The differences are minor. I would rate the food on X just slightly above Royal in overall quality. The service is great on both. Since Rhapsody is one of Royal's "smaller" ships, I think you will find the service level is high. You may find that the passengers on Royal may tip slightly towards a younger demographic, but again, that depends on the cruise.

 

Either way, it's a cruise vacation...ENJOY!

 

Pete

[bighairtexan]

Not sure if you're Elite, but if so, I guess you know that our Celeb status translates to Diamond on RCI? And that means a significant Diamond Discount on balconies? Just wanted to remind you in case you didn't know/forgot. Great perk.

 

I still strongly prefer Celebrity. But I have to say I'm becoming a fan (from a real hater) of RCI.

FOOD: I think the new RCI menus are very good, a real improvement IMHO. I'd give the slight edge to Celebrity on food.

 

SHIPS ATMOSPHERE:The ships are nice and well kept on RCI as well as Celebrity. Celebrity is a bit more sophisticated, though some see that as stuffy or boring. I don't. But the night life on RCI is definitely more varied and "peppy."

 

SERVICE: I have to say that the service on each is about equal. Again very good and I no longer give Celebrity the edge on service. They both make me smile.

 

CABINS: similar but no bathroom amenities like shampoo, lotion, Q-tips etc on RCI.

 

Especially since the status/ perks are reciprocal, I'd say give RCI a try.

[Gonzo70]

Smoking is one thing to consider; Celebrity has one of the most restrictive smoking policies among major cruise lines and RCI has one of the most outdated, permissive policies. If you are sensitive to smoke, dislike smoke and used to being away from smoke stay away from RCI until they invoke a 21st Century smoking policy.

[Lady Arwen]

Thank you both for replying so quickly! Great information, so now leaning towards RCI. We are 2 away from Elite on Celebrity, so that is not a consideration for us. That aft wrap is hard to beat for the price!

[Lady Arwen]

Smoking is one thing to consider; Celebrity has one of the most restrictive smoking policies among major cruise lines and RCI has one of the most outdated, permissive policies. If you are sensitive to smoke, dislike smoke and used to being away from smoke stay away from RCI until they invoke a 21st Century smoking policy.

 

Yes, we thought about that. We're hoping the large aft wrap will solve the problem from the balcony standpoint. We can easily avoid other areas. Celebrity is number one in the industry related to smoking!

[Daghis]

Thank you both for replying so quickly! Great information, so now leaning towards RCI. We are 2 away from Elite on Celebrity, so that is not a consideration for us. That aft wrap is hard to beat for the price!

So you're Select, right (if I'm remembering the Celebrity statuses correctly)? That should map to Platinum on Royal Caribbean and still offer you some benefits including a (smaller) balcony discount.

[Lady Arwen]

So you're Select, right (if I'm remembering the Celebrity statuses correctly)? That should map to Platinum on Royal Caribbean and still offer you some benefits including a (smaller) balcony discount.

 

Yes, we are Select. I had no idea that would be of benefit on RCI! I'll look into that for sure. Thanks so much!

[TEXASMUNK]

1. Restricted to one side the ship on the pool deck.

2. NO smoking in any cabin

3. Smoking permitted in a few lounges

4. NO smoking in any dining area and many lounges

5. Smoking permitted on balconies.

 

Now, without any hysteria, you can make your own decision.

[Lady Arwen]

1. Restricted to one side the ship on the pool deck.

2. NO smoking in any cabin

3. Smoking permitted in a few lounges

4. NO smoking in any dining area and many lounges

5. Smoking permitted on balconies.

 

Now, without any hysteria, you can make your own decision.

 

Thank you, Texasmunk. It's not a deal breaker for us. We just completed 2 Princess cruises and it really was never an issue for us.

[Gonzo70]

1. Restricted to one side the ship on the pool deck.

2. NO smoking in any cabin

3. Smoking permitted in a few lounges

4. NO smoking in any dining area and many lounges

5. Smoking permitted on balconies.

 

Now, without any hysteria, you can make your own decision.

 

My response was totally rational; I have sailed quite a few times on both RCI and Celebrity and for someone sensitive to cigarette smoke and who dislikes smoke the difference between the two lines in this areas is HUGE. As I said in my post: "If you are sensitive to smoke, dislike smoke and used to being away from smoke" then RCI is a poor choice of cruise lines. This is fact. Obviously you are either a smoker, not sensitive smoke, not bothered by smoke or used to being around smoke. Now get off your high horse. :mad::rolleyes:

[TEXASMUNK]

what you quoted in your reply was accurate....but you left out the 21st century part, from your original reply.

My commentary was calm, focused and pointed. Again, your original comments sounded like a teacher running her fingernails over a chalk board.

 

You have your point of view, I have mine, although I have not smoked a cigarette in 15 years.....I find calm, insightful comversation far more effective than when someone "rants"

[wwcruisers]

Yes, we thought about that. We're hoping the large aft wrap will solve the problem from the balcony standpoint. We can easily avoid other areas. Celebrity is number one in the industry related to smoking!

 

I too love X's smoking policy -- for me, balcony smoking is one of the few drawbacks to an RC cruise. But, we have experienced fewer problems with cabins on the stern (aft). I don't know if it's the wind currents, or just all the extra real estate you have back there. Interestingly, the absolute worst experience we ever had was on one of the coveted center "hump" balconies on Independence. We had smokers on either side of us, who apparently brought all their friends from inside cabins over to smoke with them.:eek: Made no difference whether we were in port or at sea, we just couldn't escape the smoke. Ultimately, we got very little use out of the beautiful balcony that we had booked a year in advance! :(

[KeywestK]

Thank you both for replying so quickly! Great information, so now leaning towards RCI. We are 2 away from Elite on Celebrity, so that is not a consideration for us. That aft wrap is hard to beat for the price!

 

That would give you the Platinum balcony discount on RCI. If you do book it, be sure to contact Crown & Anchor to get registered with the loyalty program so you can enjoy the perks. Once you reach elite on X, you will be diamond on RCI. Balcony perks are awesome!!

[simon2831]

My response was totally rational; I have sailed quite a few times on both RCI and Celebrity and for someone sensitive to cigarette smoke and who dislikes smoke the difference between the two lines in this areas is HUGE. As I said in my post: "If you are sensitive to smoke, dislike smoke and used to being away from smoke" then RCI is a poor choice of cruise lines. This is fact. Obviously you are either a smoker, not sensitive smoke, not bothered by smoke or used to being around smoke. Now get off your high horse. :mad::rolleyes:

 

I think your going a little over the top IMO. Smokers have there strict areas on RCI, as a no smoker that gets bothered by smoke I have never had a problem on RCI. So not fact, opinion.

 

 

S

[Guest maddycat]

We cruise with both RCI and Celebrity. We find the food to be comparable. The service is friendlier on RCI, more formal on Celebrity. We cruised twice with RCI to/in Alaska, once round trip from Vancouver and once a south bound cruise tour from Anchorage to Vancouver. Both were wonderful.

[hshowalter]

My wife & I have 32 cruises with Celebrity & 167 days with RCCL. Celebrity is more up scale. They give everybody champagne upon boarding. You do not have to sign for towels at the pool. At the rest rooms you have linen hand towels. The food & service is better. I sail RCCL because they leave from Baltimore,Md.

[wowprincess]

Smoking is one thing to consider; Celebrity has one of the most restrictive smoking policies among major cruise lines and RCI has one of the most outdated, permissive policies. If you are sensitive to smoke, dislike smoke and used to being away from smoke stay away from RCI until they invoke a 21st Century smoking policy.

 

I'm hyper senstive to smoke. I am not only allergic to it (so much so that I almost immediately get a headache from it) but have asthma as well and smoke almost immediately effects my breathing.

 

I was on Rhapsody last summer and not one time did I notice the smoke. Now, I'm not a gambler, so don't hang out in the Casino (though we did go do our free slot pull and I don't really remember it bothering me then either) and I'm not a drinker so don't hang out in the clubs where smoking is allowed.

 

There is one side of the ship that is smoke free for the outside decks - stay on that side, you'll be fine!

[deserttraveler]

The deal-clincher for me for Solstice would be naturalist Brent Nixon, the onboard speaker who does an astonishing job of engaging the passengers in the natural wonders of Alaska. I don't know who RCI uses for this, but read some reviews of the Solstice this season and notice that Mr. Nixon is mentioned for his enormous contribution.

[CntPAcruiser]

I think your going a little over the top IMO. Smokers have there strict areas on RCI, as a no smoker that gets bothered by smoke I have never had a problem on RCI. So not fact, opinion.

 

 

S

 

Unfortunately, though the smokers may stay in their areas, the smoke does not. On the Promenade, for example, smoke drifts through several areas from bars that permit smoking and most especially flows up from the casino through the staircase in the center of the promenade. As a nonsmoker who is sensitive to smoke, I have had problems on RCI. People have different experiences with all sorts of things on cruises--food, service, cleanliness, etc., and are just reporting their experiences.

 

On our last cruise, we smelled smoke when we were out on our balcony exactly once during the week, and yet others report being unable to use their balconies due to nearby smoking. We got lucky; others do not. The more restrictive smoking policy on Celebrity is one of the reasons we expect to start looking into cruising with them once we've achieved a certain C&A level. For now, we've basically bought into cruising with RCI and we have learned to avoid certain area on board because of the smoking. That's easy enough when it's a particular bar, but when the smoke is also affecting the Promenade, which is supposed to be nonsmoking, that's not fair to the nonsmoker guests who want to enjoy the Promenade too.

[gaechann]

1. Restricted to one side the ship on the pool deck.

2. NO smoking in any cabin

3. Smoking permitted in a few lounges

4. NO smoking in any dining area and many lounges

5. Smoking permitted on balconies.

 

Now, without any hysteria, you can make your own decision.

 

When cruising on Royal here Down Under they impose a strict No-Smoking Policy as per our Government's Policy of No Smoking in any public areas.

 

There was one area on the Pool Deck and another on on Deck 5. Always crowded mine you but we No Smokers just stayed away from those 2 areas. :eek:

[PhilNDebbieAtSea]

1. Restricted to one side the ship on the pool deck.

2. NO smoking in any cabin

3. Smoking permitted in a few lounges

4. NO smoking in any dining area and many lounges

5. Smoking permitted on balconies.

 

Now, without any hysteria, you can make your own decision.

 

Well said!!!

[Gonzo70]

what you quoted in your reply was accurate....but you left out the 21st century part, from your original reply.

My commentary was calm, focused and pointed. Again, your original comments sounded like a teacher running her fingernails over a chalk board.

 

You have your point of view, I have mine, although I have not smoked a cigarette in 15 years.....I find calm, insightful comversation far more effective than when someone "rants"

 

You know, it really does a disservice to fellow cruisers when people try to insult other people's points of view and act like an online bully. My view is just as valid as yours and there was no need for you to make insulting comments towards me. My post was far from a rant but was meant to provide the OP with potentially useful information if they are sensitive to smoke and bothered by smoke.

 

Unfortunately many non-smokers who dislike smoke and are sensitive to smoke do not post on the RCI boards because of people like you who attempt to ridicule and belittle their comments. I was misled into sailing again on RCI by people commenting that the smoking is not an issue; well for someone sensitive to smoke, used to being in a smoke free environment and that dislikes smoke it IS a BIG issue!

 

On my last cruise (Allure) there were over a dozen smoking areas (several indoors) and many in poorly thought out locations where the smoke spilled into nearby allegedly smoke free venues. On top of this I witnessed numerous smoking occurring in non-smoking areas (i.e. mini golf course, both sides of the pool, Boardwalk balconies), smoke from indoor smoking areas was vented to outdoor smoke free areas (i.e. parts of Central Park), a crew smoking area impacted the gym of all places, and many activities were held in venues that allowed smoking and were therefore off limits to me.

 

To me any company that allows indoor smoking is certainly stuck in the 20th Century when it comes to smoking policies. I will continue to express my opinion so that other people like me are better informed and are forewarned about RCI's liberal smoking policy. If you are not bothered by cigarette smoke or do not have a keen sense of smell, RCI can be a wonderful option - but for some RCI is a terrible choice until they modernize their smoking policy.

[simon2831]

You know, it really does a disservice to fellow cruisers when people try to insult other people's points of view and act like an online bully. My view is just as valid as yours and there was no need for you to make insulting comments towards me. My post was far from a rant but was meant to provide the OP with potentially useful information if they are sensitive to smoke and bothered by smoke.

 

Unfortunately many non-smokers who dislike smoke and are sensitive to smoke do not post on the RCI boards because of people like you who attempt to ridicule and belittle their comments. I was misled into sailing again on RCI by people commenting that the smoking is not an issue; well for someone sensitive to smoke, used to being in a smoke free environment and that dislikes smoke it IS a BIG issue!

 

On my last cruise (Allure) there were over a dozen smoking areas (several indoors) and many in poorly thought out locations where the smoke spilled into nearby allegedly smoke free venues. On top of this I witnessed numerous smoking occurring in non-smoking areas (i.e. mini golf course, both sides of the pool, Boardwalk balconies), smoke from indoor smoking areas was vented to outdoor smoke free areas (i.e. parts of Central Park), a crew smoking area impacted the gym of all places, and many activities were held in venues that allowed smoking and were therefore off limits to me.

 

To me any company that allows indoor smoking is certainly stuck in the 20th Century when it comes to smoking policies. I will continue to express my opinion so that other people like me are better informed and are forewarned about RCI's liberal smoking policy. If you are not bothered by cigarette smoke or do not have a keen sense of smell, RCI can be a wonderful option - but for some RCI is a terrible choice until they modernize their smoking policy.

 

Yet again I disagree with your post. Your opinion isn't fact, it's an opinion. Your opinion is that smoking is a huge issue on RCI and mine as a person sensitive to smoke is that it's not and your blowing this well out of portion.

 

You turning around and saying 'hey my opinion is smoking is a problem on RCI and this is the reason' brilliant that's what we are all on here for but...

 

To go on a full blown rant about it as above it makes you sound like your talking fact when quite frankly in my opinion your talking poo.

 

But hey that's just my opinion. Maybe you have a problem with my opinion, but one thing is for sure you will certainly let me know about it.

 

 

S

[varoo]

We cruise on both lines and have enjoyed them both.

When they both offer equivalent itineraries at similar prices for similar category accommodations, we prefer Celebrity.

 

In addition to its restrictive smoking policy, Celebrity just provides so many nice extra touches that are lacking on RCI.

 

As non smokers who are sensitive to smoke, we find the smoke to be a lot more annoying on some RCI cruises than others. It just seems to be a matter of luck.

 

I think that is why some non-smokers say that the smoke is not a problem on RCI ships, while others say it is.

We have been on RCI cruises where it was a problem for us, and on others where it wasn't.

But we try to avoid the casino and the other smoking areas, just hoping we won't have people smoking on the balconies beside us or below us.

 

(Yes, I do realize that they have every right to smoke on the balconies on RCI ships.)

 

We find the food acceptable on both lines.

(Well, except for RCI's dreadful ice cream at the buffet, and the huge differences in room service.)

 

The multiple jarring announcements throughout the day on RCI ships (such as Bingo, Bingo!) can be quite annoying at first when you are accustomed to Celebrity's policy of only one announcement per day.

 

I think you will enjoy RCI if you just go with realistic expectations and don't expect it to be Celebrity.

 

You may prefer the entertainment on RCI, which is more high energy.

 

I am not familiar with the Rhapsody's Alaska itinerary, but I do not care for the Solstice's Alaska itinerary and much prefer the Millennium's.