Celebrity vs Royal Caribbean??

[jandlcruise]

My husband and I are planning a cruise for 2016. We were going to book on RC but then noticed that Celebrity has an Itinerary that we like. We have never sailed on Celebrity so I wanted to ask what Celebrity might have to offer that RC doesn't. Any preferences?

Thanks!

[Iluvcruising2]

We have sailed Royal the most, and Celebrity only once, on the Silhouette.

 

Different experience but very good too!

 

Which ships are you looking at for Celebrity?

 

I blogged about our Celebrity Silhouette trip here.

http://guitar123foodandtravel.blogspot.sg/p/celebrity-silhouette-med-and-adriatic.html

[shippmates]

Celebrity does not have the rock climbing walls, flow riders, or ice skating rinks. You may find the passengers are a little older than RC. I am basing this ion the length of the cruise or the ports is call. The night life is a little more quiet on celebrity.

[PinotBlanc]

My husband and I are planning a cruise for 2016. We were going to book on RC but then noticed that Celebrity has an Itinerary that we like. We have never sailed on Celebrity so I wanted to ask what Celebrity might have to offer that RC doesn't. Any preferences?

Thanks!

 

We prefer RCL for variety of lounges, activities, entertainment.

Cabins are larger on Celebrity. Celebrity reserves lounge space for special groups meaning less options for you.

 

You've cruised NCL, Carnival, & Disney and ready to book again,

RCL ships are best choice. Celebrity has pretty ships but not as much to do.

 

When a ship is the destination rather than the itinerary, look at deck plans.

 

 

Penny

Edited January 25, 2015 by PinotBlanc

[blueboro]

There will be many more children on RCL so if you like a lot of kids on your cruise go on RCL. Sometimes RCL and parents do little to keep these groups of kids from running up and down the halls at all hours of the day and night. Their ships (other than the really old ones) are beautiful and they have more activities but it depends on what you are looking for. X is a more adult experience with decent entertainment but no rock climbing walls, wave runners, or ice shows.

[wallie5446]

You will wonder why you waited to sail Celebrity after your 1st day!:D

 

Our 1st RCCL was in 1990, Celebrity in 1994. As a friend's says, Celebrity is like finally getting to sit at the grown up table at Thanksgiving!

 

Here are a couple of threads about your question that will help;

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2153701

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2148537

[jandlcruise]

We have sailed Royal the most, and Celebrity only once, on the Silhouette.

 

Different experience but very good too!

 

Which ships are you looking at for Celebrity?

 

I blogged about our Celebrity Silhouette trip here.

http://guitar123foodandtravel.blogspot.sg/p/celebrity-silhouette-med-and-adriatic.html

 

We are thinking about going on the Celebrity Reflection vs RC Navigator or Allure-read that the activities are not as available on the Reflection and also that there is not a night club-not sure if that is right or not.

[wallie5446]

We are thinking about going on the Celebrity Reflection vs RC Navigator or Allure-read that the activities are not as available on the Reflection and also that there is not a night club-not sure if that is right or not.

 

You are correct, there are no kiddie things like the flow ridder, or rock wall on the Reflection. Our first RCCL was in 1990 and the Reflection is our favorite ship in 25+ years of cruises. Celebrity is for adults, Royal is for the kids.

 

Now, we do sail on both, but it depends on if we want to enjoy a relaxing elegant week, or shuffle along with the masses.

[OCruisers]

You will wonder why you waited to sail Celebrity after your 1st day!:D

As a friend says, Celebrity is like finally getting to sit at the grown up table at Thanksgiving!

 

Agree with the above! :)

LuLu

[akowilm]

We are thinking about going on the Celebrity Reflection vs RC Navigator or Allure-read that the activities are not as available on the Reflection and also that there is not a night club-not sure if that is right or not.

 

The sky lounge is open after the Martini and Molecular have closed, at least

2am each night last week when we were on the Reflection!

 

As far as activities, we lounged, went to the spa, had great afternoons at the pool, played in tournaments in the casino, took the Reidel wine class, attended the Indulgence party and the Top Chef competition, watched the officers' volleyball, went to trivia and karaoke, spent late afternoons at the sunset bar listening to the acoustic duo and watching the sun begin to set, had huge dinner parties, danced all night, oh, and apparently we stopped at a few islands, too:D

[lovemylab]

We have cruised on both lines but prefer Celebrity.

 

Pros of RCI:

-better entertainment

 

Pros of Celebrity:

-fewer children

-better food

-fewer announcements

 

Celebrity does have older passengers; however, this is largely influenced by the itinerary and length of cruise.

[Champagne Cruiser]

RCI vs Celebrity

Food on X is far superior, 4 courses vs 3 at dinner

Belly flop contests on RCI; officers vs passengers volleyball on X, both fun but a little more upscale on X

Only one am announcement on X. They assume you can read the Daily for activities.

No smoking in the casino on X.

Thalassotherapy pools on M class. Heated tile loungers on S class (aqua class).

Cafe Al Bacio on X is outstanding. I found the extra pay coffees on RCI not worth it.

Way less children on X.

Martini Bar on X is a really fun place to hang out.

Lots of fun on both, but X is a little more upscale in a good, not stuffy way.

Welcome aboard glass of champagne.

Cold towels and drinks upon returning to ship.

RCI has towel animals every night, X just a few times.

I cruise RCI for price, I Cruise X just for a really good overall experience.

[tommy2811]

The sky lounge is open after the Martini and Molecular have closed, at least

2am each night last week when we were on the Reflection!

 

As far as activities, we lounged, went to the spa, had great afternoons at the pool, played in tournaments in the casino, took the Reidel wine class, attended the Indulgence party and the Top Chef competition, watched the officers' volleyball, went to trivia and karaoke, spent late afternoons at the sunset bar listening to the acoustic duo and watching the sun begin to set, had huge dinner parties, danced all night, oh, and apparently we stopped at a few islands, too:D

 

Hi akowilm.... a little more info on the acoustic duo?? do you remember their name??

 

thanks-

[dappledumpling]

We are diamond plus on RCCL and we sailed the Silhouette last April. She reminded us of what we originally loved about cruising.

 

The differences to my wife and I are the little things, a cold towel when returning to port. A mixed drink the way I want it not the way they always mix it.

 

The buffet area is not like a cattle call..

 

Today we are booking another celebrity cruise for December.. My annual family cruise is being shifted from royal to celebrity.. Will see what my 21 and 24 year old kids think of Celebrity

 

For younger kids RCCL when hands down... But I agree its like moving up to the adult table

[Mrs_Tiki]

We have not yet sailed Reflection, but have sailed most of the rest of the ships in the current X fleet. Our recent cruises have pretty much split between X and RCL, and we like both.

 

But I agree with other posters about X offering better food and a more sophisticated and adult atmosphere. My 21-year-old DD has sailed with us on both and likes both, but her preference would be RCL due to more activities and livelier nightlife. So, if it's DH and me, we sail X, but if it's the three of us, we would tend to pick RCL.

 

One pet peeve I have about RCL is having to queue up and present my SeaPass card to "check out" towels at the pool and when going ashore. I much prefer the honor system on X, with towels readily and conveniently available.

[Aquahound]

Pros of Celebrity:

-fewer announcements

 

That actually is not true anymore. RCI just changed their announcement policy to no announcements at all unless for emergency.

 

We are thinking about going on the Celebrity Reflection vs RC Navigator or Allure-read that the activities are not as available on the Reflection and also that there is not a night club-not sure if that is right or not.

 

Good choices....all of them. I think Reflection is the most beautiful of the 3, but if you're looking for nightlife and top notch entertainment, Allure is tops, followed by Navigator.

[akowilm]

The acoustic duo was called 5 o'clock somewhere

[Queen of Oakville]

Wallie said it well when he used the word "herded". I always feel herded on RCL. It was what I started to dislike most about cruising.

 

I never felt that way on Reflection - not once.

 

Food and Service are better on X.

 

The biggest difference I felt (might have been the drink packages) - I felt like I was on an all-inclusive holiday. We just enjoyed our holiday and never felt guilty about anything.

 

On Royal and Carnival - I always felt constant pressure - pressure to acknowledge service and pressure to tip. Waitstaff always tell you, "my service will not be good it will be excellent. There is pressure from the CD - "our staff works hard - make sure you rate them well, make sure you rate 5*, 4* is a failing mark." If you are going to coerce people into giving 5* ratings, then why even ask at all?

 

On x - there was little to no mention of surveys, and little to know mention of gratuities. Might of been because we had pre-paid, but we had to seek out envelopes on the last night, they were never left in our cabin.

 

We felt like EXCELLENT service is provided on Celebrity - just because. On other lines we feel like the services is there so we tip.

 

X was really the most relaxing cruise holiday we've ever had.

 

We might sail RCL again the future, and really - it would be just so we could make diamond and for no other reason and then get reciprocal status on X. We would not seek out a RCL ship. Maybe we'll just enjoy SELECT and claw our way up slowly.

[earltonharley]

My husband and I are planning a cruise for 2016. We were going to book on RC but then noticed that Celebrity has an Itinerary that we like. We have never sailed on Celebrity so I wanted to ask what Celebrity might have to offer that RC doesn't. Any preferences?

Thanks!

 

In my humble opinion...ATTENTION TO DETAIL. I have cruised both. Royal is nice, Celebrity is wonderful. But, a cruise is FANTASTIC!