Considering Celebrity Cruise

[pajazz28]

My DW and I have been on 9 cruise (4 Carnival, 4 RCI & 1 NCL). I have always heard good things about Celebrity and I am looking into taking a Celebrity cruise this January for our anniversary. Can anyone who has traveled this cruise line give us advise on the difference when it comes to dinning, entertainment & adult only area?

[Vacationcheese]

My DW and I have been on 9 cruise (4 Carnival, 4 RCI & 1 NCL). I have always heard good things about Celebrity and I am looking into taking a Celebrity cruise this January for our anniversary. Can anyone who has traveled this cruise line give us advise on the difference when it comes to dinning, entertainment & adult only area?

Dining - Celebrity is IMO better

 

Entertainment - Celebrity is IMO at the bottom of the list

 

Adult only area - Inside pool. Children unfortunately were able to sit at the martini bar and now are allowed in the outside adult pool and hot tubs. They mention that children under three are not allowed in the pools but ignore this rule as the pool butler just steps away (facing the baby and Mom) could clearly see the baby in diapers in the pool. My pet peeve.

[BitburgBoy]

We had an Aft Suite and the Lumanai restraunt is top notch.

 

 

 

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[bunzini]

My favorite of the mainstream cruise lines.

 

 

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[Vacationcheese]

We had an Aft Suite and the Lumanai restraunt is top notch.

 

 

 

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Agree (except for the last night menu)

[TFLG]

The "free" food is better. The buffet especially on the S-class ships is very good compared to Carnival or NCL. The specialty dining that costs extra I don't find all that much different.

 

The ships feel less crowded with the exception of the pool area which can be packed on a nice day. The solarium (adult only area) is usually not too busy unless the weather is bad.

 

The ships décor is a little more classy than the other lines. Less distracting announcements over the PA system (usually just one a day). No stupid belly flop contests, or hairy leg or...

 

The evening entertainment can be a challenge especially if you like modern party type stuff. There will be a couple of house bands playing in various lounges in the evening and maybe a DJ (silent disco is fun!). The bands are usually ok but we have had a couple of real duds too. Theater shows are all over the map, some good some laughably bad (same as some other lines). Getting into the shows is no problem, You can show up at show time and easily find a seat.

 

You will see far less kids usually. It's a quieter more relaxing vacation in my opinion.

[NOSaints9]

How is celebrity for shorter cruises

 

 

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[NordicPrince]

 

Adult only area - Inside pool. Children unfortunately were able to sit at the martini bar and now are allowed in the outside adult pool and hot tubs. They mention that children under three are not allowed in the pools but ignore this rule as the pool butler just steps away (facing the baby and Mom) could clearly see the baby in diapers in the pool. My pet peeve.

 

I've taken several Celebrity cruises and have never witnessed this happening.

 

To the OP: take a Celebrity cruise especially on a S-class ship, there's a lot to like.

The ships are quite lovely.

 

Enjoy your cruising days.

[ECCruise]

How is celebrity for shorter cruises

 

 

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Like every other mainstream line for short cruises. More party driven, less itinerary/ship driven.

[NOSaints9]

I was looking at either the Brilliance going to Cozumel/key west or the infinity going to the same place

 

 

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[mmacdcc]

I was looking at either the Brilliance going to Cozumel/key west or the infinity going to the same place

 

 

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Do a comparison - I usually find a few cruises on different lines, same length, same time frame, similar itinerary.

Do a mock booking. Similar room types. Then I set up a spreadsheet. Celebrity gives you a lot of options for included perks - balcony cabin with drinks, tips, internet, OBC is what I pick. Then I add any airfare required to get to the port (rough estimate), any hotel required (ditto). If the other lines don't include those things, I estimate what it would cost to add them.

 

Then I'm comparing apples to apples. Otherwise a cruise might look really cheap - until I tack on drinks, tips, and the OBC and internet that's included with Celebrity.

 

If it's a really nice ship, or has a lot of things that I want (RCI often does), I might go with that even if it's a bit more overall.

 

For shorter cruises, Celebrity doesn't have a lot of options. That might tip it to another line.

 

The other thing is that Celebrity is a lot more relaxed/laid back - less of a party atmosphere (at least to me), less activities. No mini golf, no rock wall, no flowriders, ice rink, zip line, not even on the largest ships. If that's important to you, take that into consideration.

 

If you get the full GoBest package, it's a good deal IMHO. But you do have to compare everything that's included to make a valid comparison.

[NOSaints9]

Was looking at November 2018, we just want to relax. Have enough SWA points and we stay at Hilton and have about 200,000 points. We don’t drink, mostly soft drinks.

 

 

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[mmacdcc]

Was looking at November 2018, we just want to relax. Have enough SWA points and we stay at Hilton and have about 200,000 points. We don’t drink, mostly soft drinks.

 

 

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Then you might want GoBetter, get tips and OBC. The OBC would cover a premium non-alcohol pkg, or the bulk of it. Then you could have all the soft drinks, juices, coffees, waters, etc that you wanted.

 

Airfare and hotel wouldn't be an issue for you, good for you!

 

Costs are probably going to be similar. RCI might even be cheaper, considering you're looking at an older ship. But if you really just want to relax, Celebrity is great. That was the thing I liked best about it - I didn't feel I had to 'do' a lot of things on the ship.

[NOSaints9]

Do they do anything for Christmas in November

 

 

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[Kmangel]

We have cruised Holland America, Disney, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. My favorite is Celebrity. Last year was our first cruise on Celebrity on the Silhouette. I thought that it would be a challenge for me cruising with anyone else after that cruise. Got spoiled. The truth is that I have liked every ship we have been on. They all have their plus and minuses. I wish there was a ship that had all the best of each company in one neat, little package, but none will be perfect.

[NOSaints9]

The Brilliance is 1323 CDN an Inside going to Key west than to Cozumel , Celebrity going to the same places is 758 CDN for an inside

 

 

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[sippican]

We have sailed Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival, Princess and Disney.

Celebrity is our favorite, but I would not count out any of the others (except Carnival - two miserable fails) if the right opportunity arose.

Even within X, there were outstanding experiences and those that were not so great, from ship to ship. Only you can decide it its for you, but I'd say go for it.

[leaveitallbehind]

Dining - Celebrity is IMO better

 

Entertainment - Celebrity is IMO at the bottom of the list

 

Adult only area - Inside pool. Children unfortunately were able to sit at the martini bar and now are allowed in the outside adult pool and hot tubs. They mention that children under three are not allowed in the pools but ignore this rule as the pool butler just steps away (facing the baby and Mom) could clearly see the baby in diapers in the pool. My pet peeve.

 

 

If you are talking about Celebrity, I'm a bit confused as you reference the adult only area, but list the inside and outside adult pools. First of all the adult pool and hot tubs are in the Solarium, and are not outside. The outside pool and hot tubs is the family pool area, not the adult area.

 

Second, I have not seen children in the Solarium pool or hot tubs. In fact just the opposite. I have witnessed several times children under 16 (which is the restricted age in the Solarium) being asked to leave. Never have seen a baby in diapers in the Solarium - let alone in the pool - as they do not allow babies with their parents in there in the first place. Have not seen babies in diaper in any pool for that matter - they are not allowed for health reasons. Never have seen children at the Martini bar either.

 

I've taken several Celebrity cruises and have never witnessed this happening.

 

To the OP: take a Celebrity cruise especially on a S-class ship, there's a lot to like.

The ships are quite lovely.

 

Enjoy your cruising days.

 

I agree completely.

[NOSaints9]

We’ve only had three cruises on Carnival and had excellent cruises.

 

 

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[DENIE]

We've had one cruise each on Norwegian, Holland America, Carnival, MSC and Celebrity (the most recent - September 2017). We found things to like about all of them, even though they were all different in terms of itinerary. We just booked another Celebrity cruise (Silhouette) for November 2018, and think we may have found a "home" with Celebrity. We liked the balance of things to do, a "non-party" atmosphere (no dumb pool games), classy decor, not too crowded venues, very good food, etc. We also loved MSC (Divina, November 2014) and will be monitoring them as well, but Celebrity has more sailings and itineraries. We are mid/late 50's, and felt very comfortable with all Celebrity had to offer. :D

 

Good luck with your cruise!

[Ashland]

We've done 25+ cruises with RCI and one PCL. Going to be doing our first with X end of May 2018...Couldn't pass up this amazing itinerary Ireland/Iceland/Scotland and a pretty decent price and cabin location. Very excited to give X a try.

[cheeseheads4ever]

We have been on HAL, Princess (my first) 7 years ago for our honeymoon. Also have been on RCI as well.

I personally enjoyed them all.

As far as Celebrity and we are easy people to please. I think buffet food is fine and had a good variety. The eggs sometimes are a little strange. a little watery and color can be a little univiting.

MDR has always been good to us. Selections I beleive have been cut back in reecent years. But still very good.

Casinos fun if ya like to spend money. Martini Bar is a blast if you like to drink. Room is always clean. As stated its more of a older crowd but Im older so all good.

Older people can be fun. Ive never seen kids in solarium pool. Cafe Abacio is awesome.. you will enjoy it.

My only complaints on my last cruise in April was barservice at martini bar. Not enough bar tenders at hi volume times. Had to wait and I have patience but seen others with no patience.bar service all in all was hit or miss.that would be my only complaint.i hope you make the right decision and sale with Celebrity. Never been on a cruise i didnt like..

[stevec999]

We have done many Carnival. Also cruised HAL and Oceania (our favorite).

 

So compared to Carnival.

 

Buffet food about the same. Buffet layout on S class far better than any class of Carnival we have been on.

Main dinning room food a bit better on Celebrity.

Entertainment better on Celebrity.

Service similar which is to say good.

Celebrity has fewer announcements, photographers are less intrusive.

Ships are quiter, decor is more classic.

 

Iin the end after many Carnival cruises we will be booking Celebrity most of the time.

[NOSaints9]

How is celebrity for people in there late 30s

 

 

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[mmacdcc]

How is celebrity for people in there late 30s

 

 

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That depends on the person. If you want a real party atmosphere, modern dance club music, lots of activities, that's not Celebrity.

 

If you just want to relax, sit around the pool, watch a few shows, then it's just right. There's plenty of music, just not heavy rock, rap, or electronic. Think classic rock, pop, that type.

 

If you're late 30s, you'll probably be some of the youngest people on the ship, depending on the cruise. Shorter cruises probably shift a bit younger than the general Celebrity demo, because it's easier to get vacation.

 

Like I said, depends on the person.