Celebrity v NCL- help!

[katie64]

All,

 

We have said we will take out adult kids away next year with their partners so looking at 6 cruise fares rather than 2 so focuses the mind a bit more! Historically we have always done RCL and  more recently Celebrity and narrowed down the choices to 2 now- Celebrity Silhoutte v NCL Dawn. Itineraries aside can anyone give me ther views if cruised  both lines. The “kids” are /early 30s so don’t need entertaining but keen to offer them perhaps a younger crowd whilst a balancing that with the demographic we prefer on celebrity. Also we don’t want to have too many kids around ( although looking at May so not UK holidays). We have sailed on the Eclipse and loved it so aware of the Silhouette class ship but clueless on NCL.  RCL might have been best with climbing wall etc but no offers on at present and good offers on both NCL and Celebrity which is driving choice. Any thoughts? 

[Cruise a holic]

13 minutes ago, katie64 said:

All,

 

We have said we will take out adult kids away next year with their partners so looking at 6 cruise fares rather than 2 so focuses the mind a bit more! Historically we have always done RCL and  more recently Celebrity and narrowed down the choices to 2 now- Celebrity Silhoutte v NCL Dawn. Itineraries aside can anyone give me ther views if cruised  both lines. The “kids” are /early 30s so don’t need entertaining but keen to offer them perhaps a younger crowd whilst a balancing that with the demographic we prefer on celebrity. Also we don’t want to have too many kids around ( although looking at May so not UK holidays). We have sailed on the Eclipse and loved it so aware of the Silhouette class ship but clueless on NCL.  RCL might have been best with climbing wall etc but no offers on at present and good offers on both NCL and Celebrity which is driving choice. Any thoughts? 

Without question the Silhouette.  Have done both.  The dawn is an older ship.  Small cabins and very crowded.  Food not nearly as good as Celebrity.  We were on the Breakaway and fortunately in the Haven.  The rest of the ship was horrible.  Like a mall on black friday.  I didn't feel safe with hoards of people.  The pool was tiny and always very crowded.  

[CILCIANRQTS]

We’ve sailed both in the past, most recently NCL two months ago.

We found that the NCL experience has slipped significantly, putting it near a Carnival cruise.

Your statement about “the demographic we prefer on Celebrity” says it all.

I’d strongly suggest  going with X.

[katie64]

Thanks- i feared this from other  reviews but good to have it confirmed. I might not give them the choice..

[1980dory]

23 minutes ago, katie64 said:

All,

 

We have said we will take out adult kids away next year with their partners so looking at 6 cruise fares rather than 2 so focuses the mind a bit more! Historically we have always done RCL and  more recently Celebrity and narrowed down the choices to 2 now- Celebrity Silhoutte v NCL Dawn. Itineraries aside can anyone give me ther views if cruised  both lines. The “kids” are /early 30s so don’t need entertaining but keen to offer them perhaps a younger crowd whilst a balancing that with the demographic we prefer on celebrity. Also we don’t want to have too many kids around ( although looking at May so not UK holidays). We have sailed on the Eclipse and loved it so aware of the Silhouette class ship but clueless on NCL.  RCL might have been best with climbing wall etc but no offers on at present and good offers on both NCL and Celebrity which is driving choice. Any thoughts? 

 

 

Who's footing the bill for all this?  They get first choice of cruiseline.  I think thats cruise law #1.

When I cruise and I'm paying the bill, my choice is usually Celebrity.  At the bottom of my cruise list choices is Carnival and Norwegian.  But thats just me and FWIW I am a Geezer.

[Highpeaklad]

NCL are great, always plenty going on. I loved the Getaway to the Baltic, it was fantastic, entertainment great. If you’re paying then it’s your choice, I’m sure you’ll have a great time whoever you go with. 

[Jeremiah1212]

We were one and done with NCL. I agree with the sentiment that they are aiming for a Carnival type experience. Not for us. Their fees and prices are also extremely high for what you get. As many entertainment options as they appear to offer, you have to book most in advance. We got bored on the Escape. It would be a way difference experience than a Celebrity cruise. I would definitely choose Silhouette and we are also in our mid/late 30's.

Edited July 23, 2019 by Jeremiah1212

[helen haywood]

I agree that I'd choose Silhouette over Dawn.  I've only sailed the Away ships on NCL, Getaway and Escape and I loved them but that's entirely different from Dawn.  And have you compared prices all the way to final total?  Because Celebrity's perks do not require you to pay gratuities on them and NCL does.  The pricing may be very different.

[mafig]

I think Dawn has recently been refurbished.

However, I would still pick Silhouette.  Dawn is an older, smaller ship.  I'd read the current reviews on both of them.  

 

 

[Tatka]

We sailed many times with both and we sailed specifically on these two ships.

We sailed in regular cabins though, so cannot comment on suites. Dawn cabins (especially insides) will be smaller.

 

Celebrity Silhouette offers more comfort. Pools areas especially. Just not comparable. Although if NCL is rebuilding Dawn as it was done with sister Star.. there will be a nice adult only aft area with jacuzzies.

Celebrity has much better free (included) food.

 

NCL and Dawn in particular. has much better entertainment in main theater as well as in lounges.

Also there is a large variety of  specialty restaurants and pub like O'Sheehans. NCL is more lively, more activities late at night.

 

As for pax. In North America Celebrity usually has more refined passengers mix, but in Europe NCL is very good too.

 

 I cannot think of much more right now, but maybe you have specific questions.

[Purplsmurf]

Definitely the Silhouette. We have been on both and even as teens my kids loved Celebrity better. They are now early 20’s and we are goIng on Celebrity twice next year with them.

[SeaHunt]

The ONLY time I would recommend the Dawn over the Silhouette would be if you could get one of the 3 bedroom Garden Villas - wowee, and perfect for your group:

 

 

[dkjretired]

Celebrity has  a far superior smoking Policy, no smoking anywhere indoors including the casino.  On most of the NCL ships you have to go through the casino to pass from one area of the ship to another and the smoking is intense. 

[Georgia_Peaches]

We did this exact thing 2 years ago for our 2 adult children and their plus-one's for a total of 6 people.  It was the first time I considered NOT going Celebrity because I was looking for the most cost effective option.  We went with NCL (Epic, to be exact) because each couple could get a balcony stateroom, dining package (3 nights), beverage package, and a small OBC.  This package cost us approximately $900 pp.  We couldn't come anywhere close to that on Celebrity.  The NCL entertainment was perfect for them and I have to say, we enjoyed it as well.  As a result, I now go back and forth between Celebrity and NCL and enjoy them both equally.

[katie64]

Thanks all- been super helpful!

[4774Papa]

23 minutes ago, katie64 said:

Thanks all- been super helpful!

Katie,

We have done 11 Celebrity and 7 NCL cruises.   Celebrity is our preference, but it depends on itinerary and price.  Of course, the ship does make a difference.  Celebrity S class is our very favorite ship design.  NCL's ships vary in design and run from poor to good.

 

We have been on the Dawn and enjoyed our cruise.   

If selection is based on the ship, Celebrity S class wins

NCL has better entertainment

Celebrity has better dining

Celebrity's elite benefits are better than NCL's Platinum--Celebrity has a happy hour from 5-7 in the evening with free drinks.

 

We dislike NCL's drink package that comes with a hefty 20% gratuity, while Celebrity doesn't charge a gratuity on the drink package promo if booked with the fare.

 

 

[NCteacherlovescruising]

I’ve haven’t been on Celebrity yet, but our cruise on the NCL Getaway was one of our favorites. If you can save a lot of money, I’d go with NCL. Their entertainment is really good, and we enjoyed their drink package, specialty dining, and loved the Vibe!  

[Nang]

Have you asked on the NCL board? I suggest you to get views from a NCL  "fans" perspective (noting it was not all  one way traffic here).

[NCteacherlovescruising]

51 minutes ago, Nang said:

Have you asked on the NCL board? I suggest you to get views from a NCL  "fans" perspective (noting it was not all  one way traffic here).

 

Except me, but I’ve yet to cruise Celebrity. 

[cangelmd]

On 7/23/2019 at 11:50 AM, katie64 said:

Thanks- i feared this from other  reviews but good to have it confirmed. I might not give them the choice..

I know nothing about NCL, but I do know about cruising Celeb as a 30 something - although it was many years ago. Then and now, Celebrity is about relaxation. If they have small children or anything like stressful jobs, then they will be quite happy. Get beverage packages and emphasize this is about relaxing not endless activity, they will find enough to do

[evitacruiser]

We did the same thing several years ago with our extended family for MIL's 80th birthday and we went with NCL for the itinerary/overall price/package. Having usually cruised Celebrity or RCL we felt NCL was a little bit downmarket....a bit football shirt city in some places!

 

Although we really enjoyed it because of the itinerary and entertainment I don't think we would do it again and would prefer to pay the extra.

[katie64]

2 minutes ago, evitacruiser said:

We did the same thing several years ago with our extended family for MIL's 80th birthday and we went with NCL for the itinerary/overall price/package. Having usually cruised Celebrity or RCL we felt NCL was a little bit downmarket....a bit football shirt city in some places!

 

Although we really enjoyed it because of the itinerary and entertainment I don't think we would do it again and would prefer to pay the extra.

Evita- thansk and thank all you guys- you never let me down with great info! We booked Celebrity in the end and as doing a  cruise from the UK for 8 nights tehre are no flights and lots of offers on we are treating them to balcony cabins so should be fun.

[lolane1]

Congratulations!  I don't think you will be disappointed and would have provided feedback to do just that.