Please Compare/Contrast Celebrity with Royal for me

[Baron Barracuda]

15 hours ago, El Crucero said:

If Celebrity were to ever stop at these islands, I would just spend the day aboard ship and have everything all to myself.  I don't want the hassle of competing for tenders, the crowds at the buffet line, and sand in my shorts.  But that's just me.

Private islands have piers nowadays so no tenders.  Over the years we have stopped at Labadee a couple of times on X cruises.  Don't know why they don't  visit more often.  With potential restrictions on shore excursions (interacting with locals, etc) private islands may best way to do a beach day.

[Fouremco]

9 minutes ago, Baron Barracuda said:

Private islands have piers nowadays so no tenders.  Over the years we have stopped at Labadee a couple of times on X cruises.  Don't know why they don't  visit more often.  With potential restrictions on shore excursions (interacting with locals, etc) private islands may best way to do a beach day.

Not all. Half Moon Cay, our favourite by far, still requires tendering.

[cbfb]

2 hours ago, paulh84 said:

 

People have different wants. The Sunset Bars on Celebrity are a space many people love and Royal's ships offer nothing comparable. Drinking doesn't have to be your favorite activity to enjoy a space that isn't surrounded by 50 kids, a Flower Rider and a rock wall.

Exactly! We love the outside space to social and yes, gasp, have a drink!! For us, outside space is a must. 

[Baron Barracuda]

40 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

Not all. Half Moon Cay, our favourite by far, still requires tendering.

Was referring to RCG islands, Labadee and Coco Cay

[2Long2NxtCrz]

I've been on two Celebrity cruises, one on the Summit, which was a port intensive, amazing cruise but we were barely on board! The other was on the Equinox and we loved it. Absolutely loved it. But it was just hubby and I and we were far more interested in relaxing then in partying it up..  When it's just he and I, we don't need or want water slides or lots of kids. We thoroughly love the service and the ambience on Celebrity.  It's definitely a little bit more upscale with better food in the MDR.

 

To contrast that, I've been on seven Royal cruises, from the "smaller" Radiance class to the Oasis class. I love the Radiance class.  It's very comparable to Celebrity and I've always had top-notch service. And while I would argue that the Harmony of the Seas had some of the best entertainment I've seen, from the Aqua show to the comedy club to the Latin music in Boleros, it was a really huge ship. We were on it for a week and there are places I never made it to.  But Wonderland is a dining experience to not be missed.  We were a group of eight, from ages 17 to 70 at the time, and it was a perfect ship to cater to everyone. The young 20s could party to their heart's content and the rest of us could find enough quiet spaces to relax.  It's not my first choice of class of ship, but ten of us have booked a November cruise on the Anthem to make up for the one cancelled on Liberty last year.  Again, a large ship, just not quite as large, with lots to do and lots of variety for the varied people in our party.

 

So, it's hard to say whether you'd like Celebrity without knowing why you didn't like Royal.  You cannot beat the entertainment on Royal.  The first cruise I took hubby on was out of New Orleans on Serenade of the Seas. It departed immediately after Mardi Gras and we had fabulous music throughout the ship. The Aqua Theater show on Harmony was jaw dropping.

 

When hubby and I can finally retire, we plan to look at some of the longer cruises that we have a hard time pulling off now.  Celebrity has some good itineraries for that, but I think Princess and Holland America have even more.  For now and for our needs, both Celebrity and Royal work out perfectly.

 

[markeb]

Which Royal ship(s) did you cruise?

 

I'd agree with a lot of the posts, but if you compare actual similar ships (pretty much Radiance Class on RC to X), the experience is not as dramatically different. It is different, and we're at an age where we prefer X, but the "amusement park" experience is really more pronounced on the Freedom Class and larger. If you were on Oasis or Allure and didn't like it, I can understand that, but Radiance Class, especially on a longer cruise, is going to be more like Celebrity than not, and certainly more like Celebrity than the rest of the Royal fleet.

 

I'll agree with George about the smoking in the casino, and on some Royal ships (Explorer comes to mind), the casino is below the Royal Promenade, with a stair that becomes a chimney and vents onto the promenade deck (shops, coffee shop, pizza, guest services...).

 

Using their own marketing, at least in the past, Royal is more of an "active lifestyle" and Celebrity more "elegant", in some ways. I think there was more to do, pretty much any time, all the time, on Royal, including rock climbing, flow rider, etc., depending on the ship. Celebrity seems a little more laid back, but not asleep. 

[grandgeezer]

4 hours ago, paulh84 said:

 

People have different wants. The Sunset Bars on Celebrity are a space many people love and Royal's ships offer nothing comparable. Drinking doesn't have to be your favorite activity to enjoy a space that isn't surrounded by 50 kids, a Flower Rider and a rock wall.

I just answered the question the way I see it it after 230 days on Celebrity and 88 on RCL. No referrals to either one as I am perfectly aware that people have different wants.

[LGW59]

48 minutes ago, markeb said:

Which Royal ship(s) did you cruise?

 

I'd agree with a lot of the posts, but if you compare actual similar ships (pretty much Radiance Class on RC to X), the experience is not as dramatically different. It is different, and we're at an age where we prefer X, but the "amusement park" experience is really more pronounced on the Freedom Class and larger. If you were on Oasis or Allure and didn't like it, I can understand that, but Radiance Class, especially on a longer cruise, is going to be more like Celebrity than not, and certainly more like Celebrity than the rest of the Royal fleet.

 

I'll agree with George about the smoking in the casino, and on some Royal ships (Explorer comes to mind), the casino is below the Royal Promenade, with a stair that becomes a chimney and vents onto the promenade deck (shops, coffee shop, pizza, guest services...).

 

Using their own marketing, at least in the past, Royal is more of an "active lifestyle" and Celebrity more "elegant", in some ways. I think there was more to do, pretty much any time, all the time, on Royal, including rock climbing, flow rider, etc., depending on the ship. Celebrity seems a little more laid back, but not asleep. 

Yes spot on, one needs to research what each ship offers in their public spaces, then determine if it meets your lifestyle and preference of activities.  Plenty of info out there in addition to CC, YouTube etc.  If lots of physical activities are what you are looking for, shopping in a mall, more younger families, Royal is probably for you.  If a more sedate and calm atmosphere is your cup of tea, then you will probably enjoy Celebrity.  Best of luck, let us know what you decide!