Is it worth it?

[FiremedicMike151]

My wife and I just hit gold on Carnival and are generally OK with them.  We sailed Royal Caribbean once and found it to just be a more expensive version of Carnival..

 

We've always said we were going to try Celebrity once just to experience it, but I am absolutely sticker shocked when I start to book.  We book balconies, which seem to be about 2 times the cost of Carnival if not more.

 

The ideal cruise for us is just to relax.  We like wandering around the boat relaxing by the pool and are past the party point of our lives, we've recently started hitting up the casino on Carnival solely because they are now smoke free.  On port days we generally don't get excursions as they make us feel rushed and interrupt our overall chill vibe on vacation.

 

So I ask, is it worth it?

[LGW59]

Just now, FiremedicMike151 said:

My wife and I just hit gold on Carnival and are generally OK with them.  We sailed Royal Caribbean once and found it to just be a more expensive version of Carnival..

 

We've always said we were going to try Celebrity once just to experience it, but I am absolutely sticker shocked when I start to book.  We book balconies, which seem to be about 2 times the cost of Carnival if not more.

 

The ideal cruise for us is just to relax.  We like wandering around the boat relaxing by the pool and are past the party point of our lives, we've recently started hitting up the casino on Carnival solely because they are now smoke free.  On port days we generally don't get excursions as they make us feel rushed and interrupt our overall chill vibe on vacation.

 

So I ask, is it worth it?

Yes it is

[Jeremiah1212]

Totally subjective, but I would spend considerably more to sail Celebrity over Carnival. 

[CruiseRQA]

Yes it is worth it!

 

Celebrity will provide exactly what you like.     The food and service will be a definite upgrade from Carnival.    And definitely not a party atmosphere.    Generally a quiet but fun week in the sun.   

Edited January 11, 2022 by CruiseRQA

[FiremedicMike151]

Lol I appreciate the enthusiasm, but maybe a brief note on why you think it's worth it would be helpful 🙂
 

[clojacks]

3 minutes ago, FiremedicMike151 said:

My wife and I just hit gold on Carnival and are generally OK with them.  We sailed Royal Caribbean once and found it to just be a more expensive version of Carnival..

 

We've always said we were going to try Celebrity once just to experience it, but I am absolutely sticker shocked when I start to book.  We book balconies, which seem to be about 2 times the cost of Carnival if not more.

 

The ideal cruise for us is just to relax.  We like wandering around the boat relaxing by the pool and are past the party point of our lives, we've recently started hitting up the casino on Carnival solely because they are now smoke free.  On port days we generally don't get excursions as they make us feel rushed and interrupt our overall chill vibe on vacation.

 

So I ask, is it worth it?

To say they are Night and Day is to underestimate the difference between night and day….

[JamieLogical]

Remember that most Celebrity prices are now "Always Included", which includes drinks, wifi, and tips. Before sailing Celebrity, I sailed NCL and while they have an "included" drink package for most of their rates, you still have to pay gratuities on it that totaled about $20/day per person. Plus, the daily service charge was about $16/day per person. So right there, NCL was costing an extra $36/day per person above the posted cruise fare. I am not sure if you are drinkers and usually purchase the drinks package on Carnival, but be sure to factor that in when comparing pricing.

 

I have never sailed Carnival, but I can tell you that the food on Celebrity is a big step up from the food on NCL in both the buffet and the main dining room. Also, Celebrity ships have more space per passenger, making them feel less crowded. Be sure to compare the square footage of a balcony room on the Celebrity sailings you are looking at versus the Carnival ships. I would also say that Celebrity is very good at maintaining their ships. Everything feels new and clean. I most recently sailed on the Summit, which is an old ship by most measures, but it had been completely "revolutionized" and felt like a brand new ship.

Edited January 11, 2022 by JamieLogical

[clojacks]

9 minutes ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

Totally subjective, but I would spend considerably more to sail Celebrity over Carnival. 

I would add, that after about 4 cruises on Carnival and approx 12 or so on Celebrity, at my demographic and interests, I don’t know if I would sail Carnival for 1/3 of the price.

[Bo1953]

4 minutes ago, FiremedicMike151 said:

Lol I appreciate the enthusiasm, but maybe a brief note on why you think it's worth it would be helpful 🙂
 

Well, to turn it back on you, are you sailing based on price or based on experience?

 

What are some of the values you desire vs what you have received on other lines?

 

Based on where you have sailed, it may not be 'worth' it to sail a 'nicer' line... in many of our opinions.

 

Yes, you will find some here who will eschew X over its' pricing and offerings and have scuttled off to other lines for better 'value', you find some who will eschew X over its' current (read: pre-pandemic) service levels (read: not like they use to offer).

 

You will have to let us know what you are really seeking besides a comparable price to what you may be accustomed to paying for an 'experience', such as it was and I can assure you that the experience on X is a bit better than what you may have experienced on the other lines. Although you may determine it is a major or minor difference, yet only sailing on X will confirm that... IMO

 

bon voyage

[FiremedicMike151]

4 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

Well, to turn it back on you, are you sailing based on price or based on experience?

 

What are some of the values you desire vs what you have received on other lines?

 

Based on where you have sailed, it may not be 'worth' it to sail a 'nicer' line... in many of our opinions.

 

Yes, you will find some here who will eschew X over its' pricing and offerings and have scuttled off to other lines for better 'value', you find some who will eschew X over its' current (read: pre-pandemic) service levels (read: not like they use to offer).

 

You will have to let us know what you are really seeking besides a comparable price to what you may be accustomed to paying for an 'experience', such as it was and I can assure you that the experience on X is a bit better than what you may have experienced on the other lines. Although you may determine it is a major or minor difference, yet only sailing on X will confirm that... IMO

 

bon voyage

Excellent questions!

 

Overall, I thought the most enjoyment we get out of our cruises is heading to the serenity (adults only) deck because it is quieter there and generally more relaxing.  We like to sleep in, drink some coffee, head out to to breakfast, lounge on the deck, etc..  As I said we tried the casino for the first time our last cruise because it was smoke free and did enjoy that as well. 

Our best cruise was probably our last cruise just last week, but probably because the boat was at about 50% capacity, so less crowded, more subdued, no long lines, the hot tub was always open, always able to find a chair.. 

 

We enjoy the dining experience to an extent, but to be honest, we've been sailing carnival for 11 years now and I don't think the menu has changed much at all, and we've never been super thrilled with the buffet.. 

[ChucktownSteve]

There are a lot of good points expressed on both sides .  But the bottom line is your subjective opinion.  If you're happy with the Carnival experience at their price point then that's good.  Another hit the nail on the head, if you weigh what you get included are you willing to pay more for something you perceive is similar?  You know someone who's never eaten steak is perfectly happy eating a good hamburger.

 

I find a better values sometimes on more expensive lines but I don't mind because I have enough budget to throw at it instead of leaving it to nieces and nephews who don't call. 

 

So good luck in your decision. Be happy.

Edited January 11, 2022 by ChucktownSteve

[LGW59]

26 minutes ago, FiremedicMike151 said:

Lol I appreciate the enthusiasm, but maybe a brief note on why you think it's worth it would be helpful 🙂
 

I have only sailed on Carnimart one time and once was more than enough for me, did not like the vibe on the ship at all.  IMO the atmosphere on Celebrity is just so much more adult like, no slides, rock climbing etc.  Food/service is fantastic, we always stay only in the Retreat and for us, it has always been worth the upcharge.  

[cangelmd]

Carnival’s name says it all, it’s a carnival raucous, crowded, energetic. Royal is energetic and crowded also, but is more like WDW than a traveling carnival, Royal has a bit of an adventure outdoorsy vibe, it’s motto is “Let’s DO something”. Celebrity is a mainstream Miami hotel, lots of sitting by the pool, going to the gym, getting a massage, maybe a jog or walk around the deck in the morning, gets a bit livelier in the afternoon and evening. There is a mix of live music  and DJs both out by the pool and inside. There are poolside games and dance lessons, but much more sedate.

The ships, particularly the M and S classes are more outward facing than Royal (it’s been too long since I’ve been on a Carnival trip to know), you never forget you are at sea, E class is a little different, but still has the air of spaciousness. Interiors on Royal are very much like a late 90s shopping mall, and can be super crowded.

Another objective difference, that’s less important right now is the crew to passenger ratio is much better on Celebrity, and since there are no racetracks, or ice skating shows or bungee jumps, those extra people are devoted to service and pampering - although to be fair, some of those extra bodies take care of suite guests and a few in Blu, so service in those classes is better than MDR. But the MDR isn’t bad at all.

A small thing, but good example of what I mean, last Royal cruise, in the MdR, our “wine steward” came from a non-drinking country and couldn’t open a bottle of champagne AND didn’t have any backup. Bread service was one trip around with a tray, you got to pick one or two rolls and if you wanted more, it was a production to get another roll. On Edge, bread service is still a little basket with 3 very different types of bread, and getting another basket wasn’t hard. It’s the atmosphere and little things like those that make Celeb different.

if I was going with a multigenerational family - Royal first, girls weekend, depends on the girls and the date, going with my spouse or a small group -Celebrity all the way.

 I’m hopeful that prices may moderate a little when the FCCs work their way out of the system, but certainly cruises line have not been at all profitable for 2 years

[graphicguy]

As others point out, it's up to what you want.  I've sailed Carnival, Celebrity, HAL, NCL and Royal. My last cruise was NCL on one of their newest ships, to Alaska.  While it was a wonderful trip, pricing is what lead me to booking it.  Given a choice, I would have rather paid a little more to sail Celebrity on the same itinerary (but it wasn't available).

 

If price trumps all else, Carnival is the way to go.  Last time I sailed CCL was in a Havana Suite on one of their newest ships.  Even though it was much less expensive than a similar cabin on Celebrity, I would have again preferred Celebrity and paid more.

 

In general, the atmosphere, the entertainment, the food, the service, the ships, etc are better overall on Celebrity.

 

Royal is more similar to NCL, more things to do than all the others, but a step down in service, food, etc (and yes, I know Celebrity and Royal are sister brands).

 

Carnival has its place.  If I can sail on Carnival for $50/nite (sometimes less), I'm packed and on the dock.  But, I know what I'm getting at that price.

 

Celebrity mitigates some of the higher pricing by including drinks, tips, basic internet, etc.  But, in fairness, I've never seen fares (only the fares, no extras) as cheap as Carnival publishes.  I don't even think Carnival offers the level of service Celebrity does, on any ship or category. 

[Pushkin]

As others have mentioned, you have to add the price of drinks (alcohol, non-alcohol, water, coffees). wi-fi and gratuities to Carnival's prices to get the true picture.  Also, here are a few offerings from the main dining room from our recent cruise:  Escargot, shrimp cocktail, Blue Cheese soufflé, Prime rib, Beef short ribs, lobster, Beef Wellington, seabass -- and asking for more than one appetizer or entree is totally fine.  I think that the cost of dinner (plus drinks)  for one night would easily exceed $100 in one of the better restaurants in Cincinnati.

The service of the crew is also exceptional and better than I have experienced on other cruise lines.

[Ferry_Watcher]

 

Generally speaking, passengers on Celebrity are emotionally mature people who know how to act in public.  They often times have busy and stressful jobs/careers and when they are on the ship it is to relax with their partner/family/friend.   They have no need, desire to show social dominance.  They don't engage in one-upmanship, because they already have the nice home, car, career.  

They want good service, good food & drink, a relaxed setting, and are willing to pay for it.  They tend to appreciate and treat the crew respectfully (as passengers on other lines do as well).  Celebrity passengers are willing to pay more for this cruise experience.

 

Celebrity passengers just tend to be chill 

[Lastdance]

I think this is a perfect time for you to evaluate what you want from a cruise line.  The old pros and cons, along with why you want a change.  There is no time like the present!  Good luck on what you decide, as these two  lines provide very different experiences.

Edited January 11, 2022 by Lastdance

[FiremedicMike151]

So a side question - is the retreat worth getting?  I'm looking at a 4 day right this minute and there's a retreat room that I'm comfortable paying for, but it's nearly double the cost of a regular balcony.. 

 

[Bo1953]

11 minutes ago, FiremedicMike151 said:

Excellent questions!

 

Overall, I thought the most enjoyment we get out of our cruises is heading to the serenity (adults only) deck because it is quieter there and generally more relaxing.  We like to sleep in, drink some coffee, head out to to breakfast, lounge on the deck, etc..  As I said we tried the casino for the first time our last cruise because it was smoke free and did enjoy that as well. 

Our best cruise was probably our last cruise just last week, but probably because the boat was at about 50% capacity, so less crowded, more subdued, no long lines, the hot tub was always open, always able to find a chair.. 

 

We enjoy the dining experience to an extent, but to be honest, we've been sailing carnival for 11 years now and I don't think the menu has changed much at all, and we've never been super thrilled with the buffet.. 

Equally great responses fmm1!!!

 

There is no 'adults only' deck yet there is an adults only pool area, the solarium.

 

X is smoke free inside the ship, with a few places on several decks where one can grab a smoke.

 

Based on what you have described, X might be a great line for you before the teaming masses return... LOL, by that, I Am thinking lounger lizzards by the pool.

 

As for the food on X, while the menu has changed in the last 11 years, the good thing is you can possibly make changes to the menu to your liking... The buffet is expansive on X AND they offer something for just about everyone and many items to order at that...

 

Based on what you have expressed, take the plunge and come back to let us know how thrilled you are with your new line...

 

bon voyage

[cangelmd]

Another thought, if you feel it is too expensive, it’s probably too expensive and you won’t have fun because of worry about how much it costs. Can’t you purchase some of what you are miss8ng on Carnival and Royal, maybe for a less total cost than Celeb? Particularly if food is not a big thing to you, because it is a noticeable part of increased cost on Celeb

[Mike981]

*Opinion all based on Pre-Pandemic/Celebrity = X*

I have sailed both several times and have enjoyed both. Some might not agree, but as far as food goes, they are now more similar in the MDR than different. Table spacing in the MDR is also very similar, CLOSE.

Where X really stands out is the vibe is more laid back, better demographic of passengers for us, better passenger to staff ratio and a better staff experience. Also the ships are just nicer with more quiet spaces. My wife and I shop at Walmart and I feel Carnival is more of a Walmart feel and X is more of Dayton's feel. When we book Carnival, we go in knowing that there are going to be things we will have to just let roll off our backs, with X we expect those things to not be an issue.

 

Whatever you choose, I hope you have a wonderful trip.

[cangelmd]

3 minutes ago, FiremedicMike151 said:

So a side question - is the retreat worth getting?  I'm looking at a 4 day right this minute and there's a retreat room that I'm comfortable paying for, but it's nearly double the cost of a regular balcony.. 

 

Which ship? It’s hard to go back from the Retreat, even though back is pretty nice. Our last cruises before Covid struck were 10 days in a Royal Suite on Reflection followed 3 months later by a week in an inside cabin on Edge - two different and wonderful experiences.

[Ipeeinthepools]

46 minutes ago, FiremedicMike151 said:

My wife and I just hit gold on Carnival and are generally OK with them.  We sailed Royal Caribbean once and found it to just be a more expensive version of Carnival..

 

We've always said we were going to try Celebrity once just to experience it, but I am absolutely sticker shocked when I start to book.  We book balconies, which seem to be about 2 times the cost of Carnival if not more.

 

The ideal cruise for us is just to relax.  We like wandering around the boat relaxing by the pool and are past the party point of our lives, we've recently started hitting up the casino on Carnival solely because they are now smoke free.  On port days we generally don't get excursions as they make us feel rushed and interrupt our overall chill vibe on vacation.

 

So I ask, is it worth it?

 

Have you asked the same question on the Carnival Board?  I'll bet their answer is different,  so who are you going to believe?

[davy jones]

The short answer is that Celebrity is considered a step up from Carnival, RC, and NCL and that is reflected in pricing.  The Celebrity experience is indeed different (more upscale) from the three mentioned lines.  That said, the full answer is a bit more complex.  It's more like comparing apples to oranges.

 

Celebrity has a different pricing structure, with a drink package, surf internet, and service charges (gratuities) included.  These are typically add ons at Carnival and RC, and NCL plays a lot of pricing games.  Celebrity will sometimes offer a lower guarantee cruise only rate, which is probably a better rate to compare to the other lines. 

 

In addition, Carnival has recently offering some very low rates or added perks to past passengers.  We took advantage of one of those rates and greatly enjoyed the cruise.  Our expectations were set by past Carnival cruises and sailing at reduced capacity is quite nice.

 

There are those who prefer the Celebrity vibe over Carnival and will let you know it here.  In the end, you choose which vibe you want and the value is determined by your preferences and expectations.  

 

 

[hiccups]

5 minutes ago, FiremedicMike151 said:

So a side question - is the retreat worth getting?  I'm looking at a 4 day right this minute and there's a retreat room that I'm comfortable paying for, but it's nearly double the cost of a regular balcony.. 

 

I’d say for a short cruise, and your first on X, try a regular balcony.  Then you can compare directly to Carnival and see if you think it’s worth it.  We do 😃