How is Celebrity different from NCL?

[fstuff1]

i usually sail NCL cheap solo cruises (see sig).

 

i might be doing back to back Celebrity in Feb from Fort Lauderdale.

Feb 19: Infinity (4day)- solo, Free from MGM (havent booked yet. waiting for approval for Edge cruise)

Feb 24: Edge (7day)- solo, Free from urcomped (waiting approval)

 

What to expect from Celebrity?

Differences? first time tips?

 

thx

Edited January 22, 2019 by fstuff1

[opa&oma]

The big difference to me is the entertainment .  Celebrity's is very disappointing compared to NCL's great.

[neilrr]

2 minutes ago, opa&oma said:

The big difference to me is the entertainment .  Celebrity's is very disappointing compared to NCL's great.

We did one trip on NCL where the ship was nice -- room and entertainment were excellent -- but the food was the worst we ever had on a cruise line. Stick with Celebrity...

[Orator]

I never had food poisoning on Celebrity (99 cruises). Suffered two cruises in a row on NCL (5 cruises).

[Kdanemjm]

You will find an older demographic on Celebrity. They are trying to change this perception. There will not be many kids on board, not nearly as many as NCL. As someone already mentioned, the food on Celebrity is great as are the drinks. The nightlife isn't too thrilling, but the service, food and drinks are what keep us coming back to Celebrity. 

[jkgourmet]

It's all very very subjective, but I'll offer our opinions:

 

• The food in the MDR on NCL was bland at best, lousy at worst.  Celebrity does this much better.
• The food in the specialty restaurants was marginally better on NCL. 
• The service in the specialty restaurants was better on X - the formality 'fit' the more upscale atmosphere. 
• The service throughout the ship was equally good on both, though a little more formal on X.
• The buffet - if you had asked me 2 years ago, I would have said NCL was quite a bit better than X.  On our last cruise on X, we found the buffet to be improved.  Assuming it stays that way, I'd say they were about equal.
• Entertainment - NCL by a long shot.
• Atmosphere - if you like really really casual, NCL is a better fit.  If you like a relaxed country club atmosphere, X is a better fit (and I mean NO INSULT to either atmosphere.)  NCL = beer.  X - martinis and wine.  Nothing wrong with either - just different. 
• Daily activities available at no cost - NCL by a long shot.
• Gratuities - 18% on X, 20% on NCL (which I find mildly annoying)
• NCL - more kids, more 20-30 somethings.  X is still pulling an older demographic.

You're traveling for free????  Hell, I'd go on a Disney Cruise if it were FREE.  I'd just drink a lot trying to ignore the hoards of children. 

 

 

 

 

[stevea36]

I have found that NCL ships seem more crowded and the balcony space is typically smaller than equivalent categories on X.  As others have said I was not at all impressed with the standard dining venues and found that I had to go to a specialty restaurant to get the equivalent of X's MDR.      

 

[Ken the cruiser]

I don’t know if this is still true, but I believe NCL has started charging the 20% drinks gratuity on the drinks you get if you have a unlimited drinks package. This is what we heard was going to happen when we cruised on the Getaway in Dec 2017, our only NCL cruise. X definitely does not do that. Hopefully someone will say NCL decided not to implement that policy.

[Loucat]

5 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I don’t know if this is still true, but I believe NCL has started charging the 20% drinks gratuity on the drinks you get if you have a unlimited drinks package. This is what we heard was going to happen when we cruised on the Getaway in Dec 2017, our only NCL cruise. X definitely does not do that. Hopefully someone will say NCL decided not to implement that policy.

Yes, NCL did implement that policy which was a major discussion some time back on NCL CC threads.

We just sailed on Pearl this month and were charged for our "free" packages, both dining and drink, the 20% upcharge for each.

There was a time, their "free" packages were just that, but that is long gone.

We sailed Getaway in July 2016 with family and I well remember paying all of the 20% upcharges for dining and beverages for 4  adults and 3 teenagers. So, if you sailed in December 2017, you were fortunate to not be charged!

[Ken the cruiser]

7 minutes ago, Loucat said:

Yes, NCL did implement that policy which was a major discussion some time back on NCL CC threads.

We just sailed on Pearl this month and were charged for our "free" packages, both dining and drink, the 20% upcharge for each.

There was a time, their "free" packages were just that, but that is long gone.

We sailed Getaway in July 2016 with family and I well remember paying all of the 20% upcharges for dining and beverages for 4  adults and 3 teenagers. So, if you sailed in December 2017, you were fortunate to not be charged!

Thanks for clearing that up. I believe since we booked the Dec 2017 cruise before the policy went into effect, we were lucky enough to be exempt from those charges, which BTW we have never encountered on any other cruise line we have sailed on. 

Edited January 23, 2019 by Ken the cruiser

[clskinsfan]

20 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Thanks for clearing that up. I believe since we booked the Dec 2017 cruise before the policy went into effect, we were lucky enough to be exempt from those charges, which BTW we have never encountered on any other cruise line we have sailed on. 

 

Hmm. Must be. I cruised on Escape October of last year and we werent charged any upcharges with our drink package. As far as the comparison goes, I dont have my first Celebrity cruise until May. I will do a full comparison then. But the Escape was WAY TOO CROWDED for me. And the elevator situation is a joke on that ship. But we had a dinner in the Brazilian steakhouse on Escape. And it was one of the best meals I have ever eaten in my life. Not just on a cruise ship but ever. It was amazing.

[schultz]

With NCL the ‘up charge’ is a gratuities fee that is charged if you choose a beverage package or specialty dining package.  It is included in your total price.  I have sailed NCL before and after they implemented the gratuities fee.  So if you choose beverage or dining package you get charge that extra amount. If you choose shore excursions or wifi packages the gratuities are not added.  To me they are no longer free perks.  Celebrity does not add extra gratuities to their beverage packages.  

I also agree with previous posts, NCL has more choices and superior evening entertainment.  Celebrity food is much better than NCL, especially in the dining room and specialty restaurant.

[CulverCityCruisers]

Agree with most posts.  Food, service, drinks, ships are wonderful.  Mid 50's to mid 60"s crowd but NOT dead people.  The major difference is that on Celebrity the staff ratio to guests is 1 staff for every 2 guests!!!  Plus you will see the "stripes" walking all around the ship picking up food and left over drinks at the pool. mopping and just a general overall "presence" that you do not see on the other lines.

 

When we travel on X we feel spoiled, but if there is an issue and you discuss with guest services you WILL get a call or note in you room from them to make sure that you are satisfied.  They DO NOT blow you off.  They really care.

[Host Jazzbeau]

Sounds like you spend a lot of time in the casino.  You should know [may be good or bad for you...] that Celebrity does not allow smoking in their casinos ever.

[fstuff1]

6 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Sounds like you spend a lot of time in the casino.  You should know [may be good or bad for you...] that Celebrity does not allow smoking in their casinos ever.

 

yup!

im up 5 figures in land casinos, but down 4figures in NCL.

so overall, net positive. :)

 

and i dont smoke.

 

Edited January 23, 2019 by fstuff1

[fstuff1]

how formal is  Celebrity dining?

do i need a tie? or just a collared shirt/polo?

can i wear jeans or only slacks?

 

[TFLG]

What people wear isn't all that different between the two.  No tie is require on Celebrity and decent jeans are also fine. On the two evening chic nights most people will dress like going out to a decent restaurant on land and a few will be in tuxes (very few).

 

Like everyone else says, foods better, entertainment usually sucks. If you like to party NCL is way better, but if you want to chill Celebrity is miles better.

[rhblake]

There are no pool slides or climbing walls on Celebrity.

[4774Papa]

18 hours ago, jkgourmet said:

It's all very very subjective, but I'll offer our opinions:

 

• The food in the MDR on NCL was bland at best, lousy at worst.  Celebrity does this much better.
• The food in the specialty restaurants was marginally better on NCL. 
• The service in the specialty restaurants was better on X - the formality 'fit' the more upscale atmosphere. 
• The service throughout the ship was equally good on both, though a little more formal on X.
• The buffet - if you had asked me 2 years ago, I would have said NCL was quite a bit better than X.  On our last cruise on X, we found the buffet to be improved.  Assuming it stays that way, I'd say they were about equal.
• Entertainment - NCL by a long shot.
• Atmosphere - if you like really really casual, NCL is a better fit.  If you like a relaxed country club atmosphere, X is a better fit (and I mean NO INSULT to either atmosphere.)  NCL = beer.  X - martinis and wine.  Nothing wrong with either - just different. 
• Daily activities available at no cost - NCL by a long shot.
• Gratuities - 18% on X, 20% on NCL (which I find mildly annoying)
• NCL - more kids, more 20-30 somethings.  X is still pulling an older demographic.

You're traveling for free????  Hell, I'd go on a Disney Cruise if it were FREE.  I'd just drink a lot trying to ignore the hoards of children. 

 

 

 

 

I generally agree with your bullets.

We have cruised 10 times on Celebrity and 7 on NCL.

 

We like the ship design on Celebrity more than NCL.  Celebrity's M and S class ships are great.  They have more ways to view the ocean and love the sunset bar outside the buffet, on many NCL ships, that doesn't exist, because it is blocked off by the spa/gym.

 

The service on NCL is generally below Celebrity, but NCL's entertainment is better.  Also, there is the nickel and dine crap on NCL.  Further, while we generally take private tours, if you compare excursions for the two lines, NCL tends to charge more for its excursions.  

 

We dislike the NCL drink packages, that severely limit wine choices, so we decline and bring our own wine.  Celebrity elite benefits are so good, we don't need a drink package.

[ipeeinthepool]

18 hours ago, jkgourmet said:

• ... NCL = beer.  X - martinis and wine.  Nothing wrong with either - just different. ..

 

I never knew that.  I like having a few beers by the pool.

 

[bigbeergut]

Just now, ipeeinthepool said:

 

I never knew that.  I like having a few beers by the pool.

 

Sounds like a good plan to me.  The more beer the better.

[Larbo03]

22 hours ago, schultz said:

With NCL the ‘up charge’ is a gratuities fee that is charged if you choose a beverage package or specialty dining package.  ....  Celebrity does not add extra gratuities to their beverage packages.  

Hmmm, maybe Celebrity has changed their policy too?  I see on the website this language: "An 18% service charge will be added to Soda, Wine, Water, Classic and Premium Package prices at checkout." We have the $715.00 premium package include as a perk, so I'm not clear whether we'll expect to see a gratuity added per drink, on the hotel bill, or at all.  Does anyone here know the current policy?  We're going to be on the Eclipse in February.

Edited January 24, 2019 by Larbo03
clarification

[TFLG]

On X if you buy a beverage package they charge a gratuity, if you receive it as a perk there is no additional cost.  On NCL even if you get it as a perk they charge you 20% (and it's based on the $100 a day cost). So even with a "free" beverage package on NCL you pay $20 a day.

[Ken the cruiser]

1 hour ago, Larbo03 said:

Hmmm, maybe Celebrity has changed their policy too?  I see on the website this language: "An 18% service charge will be added to Soda, Wine, Water, Classic and Premium Package prices at checkout." We have the $715.00 premium package include as a perk, so I'm not clear whether we'll expect to see a gratuity added per drink, on the hotel bill, or at all.  Does anyone here know the current policy?  We're going to be on the Eclipse in February.

Interesting. I wonder if that also includes the free drinks Elite passengers get during the 5-7 pm happy hour every night? You would think if that was the case you would see the gratuity charges on your onboard account a day or two after getting the drinks rather than just on the final bill without any advanced notice. 

 

I’ll find out next Monday for sure when we finish the first leg of our b2b we’re on right now on the Reflection. However, we’ve been on this first leg for 6 days now and haven’t seen any drink gratuity charges yet. 

[dkjretired]

8 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Interesting. I wonder if that also includes the free drinks Elite passengers get during the 5-7 pm happy hour every night? You would think if that was the case you would see the gratuity charges on your onboard account a day or two after getting the drinks rather than just on the final bill without any advanced notice. 

 

I’ll find out next Monday for sure when we finish the first leg of our b2b we’re on right now on the Reflection. However, we’ve been on this first leg for 6 days now and haven’t seen any drink gratuity charges yet. 

 

On Celebrity if you have a drink package they do not add on a gratuity when you actually make a purchase of a drink whether you paid for the drink package or got it as a perk.  You do pay the gratuity when you purchase the package but never when you buy a drink. 

Edited January 24, 2019 by dkjretired