Carnival or celebrity

[gmoorman111]

I am currently booked on horizon for the Transatlantic but I am thinking of canceling and doing a Miami to Ireland TA on celebrity eclipse in April because the wife wants to see Ireland. I have never traveled on celebrity always carnival. Any carnival peeps that could give me some celebrity insight would be appreciated

 

 

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[lazydayz]

Celebrity is a bit more upscale, and when I cruised with them, the food was wonderful.

 

However, if you are a night owl, I found the ship to be very boring after 10:00.

 

That was my only complaint with Celebrity.

[robin13]

I sailed with Celebrity for the first time last April on a Bermuda repositioning cruise out of San Juan. I was with a large group of people that made the cruise very fun but I have to say that if they weren't there I would have been pretty bored. The average age of the passengers had to be around 70 so right after dinner and the show it got very quiet on board. The ship was pretty small which was a good thing but no bells and whistles like I was used to on both Carnival and RCCL. I have no idea how old you and your wife are but if you want a relaxing TA then you will get that with Celebrity. I do like the fact that Celebrity does offer perks like the free drink package which Carnival doesn't but I would be curious in the price difference.

[easyboy]

Carnival has more fun than Celebrity. Celebrity is more laid back. The itinerary however is also a big factor for us.

 

 

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[meatloafsfan]

I do like the fact that Celebrity does offer perks like the free drink package which Carnival doesn't but I would be curious in the price difference.

 

Celebrity does not offer the free drink package perk on their TA's.

 

There are some great things about Celebrity - great buffets, hot breakfast through room service, Café Al Bacio, great beds and bedding, lots of live music.

 

I don't like that well, it's a little boring. Okay, a lot boring. We spend much of our time sitting in the café and listening to music. My tablet gets a workout playing games and reading. And people don't really mix a lot - it seems more difficult to strike up and maintain conversations because most people are in their own little bubble.

 

Personally, unless you really prefer one itinerary over the other, I'd go with the Horizon - mostly because it's a brand new ship and will have all of the bells and whistles of the Carnival brand.

[Mysticks1]

We did a Western Med. cruise on Celebrity Solstice and that has been my favorite ship of all that we sailed on. It all depends on what you like. The food on Celebrity was a step above Carnival. The buffet food was just as good as the main dining room to me but if you are a late night person who wants a lot of activities and things to do you may not like it. The cabin was really nice and the service we had was great. I would always pick Celebrity over Carnival with a similar itinerary.

[DirtyDawg]

Celebrity does not offer the free drink package perk on their TA's.

 

There are some great things about Celebrity - great buffets, hot breakfast through room service, Café Al Bacio, great beds and bedding, lots of live music.

 

I don't like that well, it's a little boring. Okay, a lot boring. We spend much of our time sitting in the café and listening to music. My tablet gets a workout playing games and reading. And people don't really mix a lot - it seems more difficult to strike up and maintain conversations because most people are in their own little bubble.

 

Personally, unless you really prefer one itinerary over the other, I'd go with the Horizon - mostly because it's a brand new ship and will have all of the bells and whistles of the Carnival brand.

 

We actually found it very easy to strike up conversations with others on Celebrity. But all your other observations are spot on.

 

So OP if you want to be very laid back for a week or two, or catch up on your reading, X is a great choice. But if you a night owl or wild partier Carnival might be a better choice. If I was to do a B2B I would do the Carnival cruise first to party hardy for a week and then the X cruise second in order to recover.:D

[nhsails]

Interesting comments. Very different lines with very different target cruisers. Food, entertainment, spa, design much better on Celebrity. Think of it as more Country Club. If you need to constantly have someone entertain you, not the line's design. Remember "fun" is relative to everyone. If you enjoy a really good meal with a nice glass of wine some enjoyable after dinner music and conversations you will love it. TA'S by their very nature are a totally different animal. Made to get ship to another port, cruisers who love to actually cruise have been doing these forever. Romantic, relaxing and beautiful. more frequently you'll see younger professionals on them. A perfect mix of work and pleas

ure, in fact what I did last fall. Now Ireland. Im married to a Dublin born lad so what can I say....love the place. So if it's the 2 of you and you want to experience as close to classic cruising with lots if new experiences, can't go wrong

[gmoorman111]

Thanks for the replies we are 50 years old and not into the wild and crazy party scene but like to have a few drinks converse with others. We like to hang out in the casino and donate some money .

I always wanted to do a transatlantic and she has always wanted to see Ireland so I thought maybe this was a way to do both

 

 

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[nhsails]

Sounds like a great match....hope you do it. Ireland us magical

[happy cruzer]

Smoking policy on Celebrity is restricted, only one outdoor spot to smoke.

 

Beverage packages can be purchased up until the 2nd to last day of the cruise so if you decide you want one you can buy it during cruise.

 

Many categories of cabins with separate dining if you want. We have always been happy with the main dining room. Very good menu with always available items like escargots, onion soup, NY strip steak etc. At dinner you can order room service from the main dining room menu.

 

Adult pool with two large hot tubs.

 

Interactive parties in the atrium are well done.

 

Hope this helps a little.

[riclop]

It all depends what you are looking for in a cruise.

[marshabear]

we just returned from Celebrity Eclipse TA to London and loved it! we are 53 and 55 and by no means "dull" but at the same time, not partiers either...this cruise fit us perfectly!

 

we found everything to be a step up from Carnival, which we also love, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute!

 

we met several couples and interacted well with them ..lots of diversity when it came to nationalities so we learned alot...

 

I think you should choose the Celebrity TA!

 

 

 

Marsha

[Cruzaholic41]

I love Celebrity and was recently on Eclipse. Solstice Class ships are beautiful. Everything is a step up from Carnival - some things several steps up.

[bury me at sea]

Thanks for the replies we are 50 years old and not into the wild and crazy party scene but like to have a few drinks converse with others. We like to hang out in the casino and donate some money .

I always wanted to do a transatlantic and she has always wanted to see Ireland so I thought maybe this was a way to do both

 

 

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Sounds like a perfect fit. I've been reading some nice things about Celebrity.

[FlamingJune1967]

Thanks for the replies we are 50 years old and not into the wild and crazy party scene but like to have a few drinks converse with others. We like to hang out in the casino and donate some money .

I always wanted to do a transatlantic and she has always wanted to see Ireland so I thought maybe this was a way to do both

 

 

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We are the same age as you and absolutely fell in love with the Eclipse last December. Here are the notable differences:

1) Celebrity treats its guests like adults: no pool towel check out, one adult in a cabin can have the drink package without the other having to etc.

2) real hand towels in public restrooms (not paper)

3) free champagne at boarding

4) return to ship after port to cold water with fruit slices and iced hand towels (if hot)

5) very, very nice bathrooms in cabin.

6) real ice cream with toppings in buffet

7) buffet is laid out in such a way that there is virtually no line waiting to get food.

8) Adult only pool area is beautiful!

9) Very few children.

10) MDR is luxurious with tablecloths and full silverware setting

11) Cafe Al Bachio has the best free desserts we have ever had on a cruise ship (I am usually not a fan of cruise ship desserts)

12) No loud announcements throughout the day.

13) Muster consisted of gathering in an indoor area and watching a movie.

14) outside loungers have padding.

15) multiple, comfortable indoor locations to just hang out and chill.

 

I could go on, but I'm sure you can tell we absolutely loved it. It is true that things start to shut down well before midnight, but we kind of liked having the ship all to ourselves late at night. We met another couple in the card room who loved to play and met them most nights and stayed up late playing games.

I know that I was really on the fence about Celebrity before finally taking the plunge, because of all the reports of old folks and lack of activities - And yes, at 50 we were among the younger minority - lol! But we were looking for a romantic, relaxing holiday and that is exactly what we found.

Carnival is a good fit for us when we take the kids along - but for just the two of us, there is no question that Celebrity is our cruiseline of choice!

 

PS - I forgot the best (for us) No smoking in the casino!!!

[grest]

We love Celebrity and find it to be just as much fun, just more adult oriented. Food is better too, in my opinion.

[Aquahound]

I love the Eclipse. She's one of my favorite cruise ships. The daytime activities may not be as abundant as on Carnival, but the nightly shows are better than what I've seen on Carnival. They still use a full cast of singers and dancers, and a live band. If Richard Spacey is still the Cruise Director, you're in for a treat. He was one of RCI's top CDs but now he works for Celebrity. Last I knew, he was still on Eclipse.

 

If you do choose Eclipse, don't miss the show "Topper."

 

They also do a 60's party one night, and a 70s night on another.

 

The martini bar is the popular night scene and the bar surface is actually frosted. They also have a dance club called Quasar.

 

With European cruises, itinerary comes first, then the ship. If you're wanting to cruise Ireland, I recommend changing that reservation to Eclipse.

[jimbo5544]

We are the same age as you and absolutely fell in love with the Eclipse last December. Here are the notable differences:

1) Celebrity treats its guests like adults: no pool towel check out, one adult in a cabin can have the drink package without the other having to etc.

2) real hand towels in public restrooms (not paper)

3) free champagne at boarding

4) return to ship after port to cold water with fruit slices and iced hand towels (if hot)

5) very, very nice bathrooms in cabin.

6) real ice cream with toppings in buffet

7) buffet is laid out in such a way that there is virtually no line waiting to get food.

8) Adult only pool area is beautiful!

9) Very few children.

10) MDR is luxurious with tablecloths and full silverware setting

11) Cafe Al Bachio has the best free desserts we have ever had on a cruise ship (I am usually not a fan of cruise ship desserts)

12) No loud announcements throughout the day.

13) Muster consisted of gathering in an indoor area and watching a movie.

14) outside loungers have padding.

15) multiple, comfortable indoor locations to just hang out and chill.

 

I could go on, but I'm sure you can tell we absolutely loved it. It is true that things start to shut down well before midnight, but we kind of liked having the ship all to ourselves late at night. We met another couple in the card room who loved to play and met them most nights and stayed up late playing games.

I know that I was really on the fence about Celebrity before finally taking the plunge, because of all the reports of old folks and lack of activities - And yes, at 50 we were among the younger minority - lol! But we were looking for a romantic, relaxing holiday and that is exactly what we found.

Carnival is a good fit for us when we take the kids along - but for just the two of us, there is no question that Celebrity is our cruiseline of choice!

 

PS - I forgot the best (for us) No smoking in the casino!!!

 

 

Lol, I'm sensing you enjoyed it.

 

 

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[evandbob]

I've sailed the Celebrity Summit solo twice, at lower rates than Carnival, in the winter months of December and January. Celebrity has class and beautiful decor, better food and entertainment, and the Summit had a large indoor Thallasso Pool that was great to unwind in after a day's excursion.

 

I'll sail Celebrity over Carnival for an equal or lower fare 100% of the time. I'll also pay more for a new Carnival ship like Vista or Horizon, as well as Celebrity Edge.

[tea4ular]

Celebrity has one of the best at sea brunches ever...think the old days of carving stations, ice sculptures, etc. Yum (I could be very happy enjoying a decent brunch every day).

 

Celebrity still welcomes you on board with a glass of champagne or orange juice.

 

Celebrity is a minor cut above with their various tiers of cabin offerings.

 

Celebrity ships (pretty much) go to bed by 10 pm, and it's nearly impossible to find even a cookie to enjoy with your late-night cup of tea before turning in.

 

All that said...I love Celebrity, but their balcony class cabins are far more expensive than Carnival, and I really do need a balcony - I need my "own" outdoor space.

[meatloafsfan]

Celebrity has one of the best at sea brunches ever...think the old days of carving stations, ice sculptures, etc. Yum (I could be very happy enjoying a decent brunch every day).

 

Celebrity still welcomes you on board with a glass of champagne or orange juice.

 

Celebrity is a minor cut above with their various tiers of cabin offerings.

 

Celebrity ships (pretty much) go to bed by 10 pm, and it's nearly impossible to find even a cookie to enjoy with your late-night cup of tea before turning in.

 

All that said...I love Celebrity, but their balcony class cabins are far more expensive than Carnival, and I really do need a balcony - I need my "own" outdoor space.

No, Celebrity doesn't have the brunch any more.

 

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[FlamingJune1967]

Lol, I'm sensing you enjoyed it.

 

 

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I admire your sense of discernment!

[SNJCruisers]

Have done a few Celebrity cruises and have thoroughly enjoyed them, especially the recent Caribbean ones with the included drinks package. Since X does not include this with their transatlantic crossings and the Horizon will be new, I would stick with the Horizon. Since you have to fly over there, you could always visit Ireland for a couple of days before your cruise.

 

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[SNJCruisers]

No, Celebrity doesn't have the brunch any more.

 

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I will concur this statement. It was really nice, but it has bitten the dust, like many other amenities of the past.

 

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