First time with Celebrity ****

[Gabanna31]

Hello all - Looking forward to the Celebrity experience next week on the Silhouette 4 day out of Miami! 

Few questions for the Celebrity aficionados: 

 

I am traveling solo for relaxation but eager to experience shows, casino and spa- anyone have any recent positive experiences in these areas?

I have a bid on the upgrade screen that says "pending"...does this truly mean it may go thru a week out? or should I count that out completely 

Any particular reasons why everyone here is loyal to the Celebrity line? I am a loyal NCL cruiser and decided to try something new, hoping for a nice experience. 

 

Let me thank everyone for their thoughtful posts and wealth of information these boards provide. I appreciate everyones time to pen all the details. 

Happy 2023 ! and Happy Cruising 

[DCPIV]

We've enjoyed shows, and I enjoy the spa and casino from time to time.  Personally, we tend to enjoy the smaller lounge acts rather than the production shows, but you're certainly able to do as you like. 

 

MoveUp bids can be accepted as late as 48 hours from sailing (or something like that), so I wouldn't write off anything yet.  I believe I've heard of some folks learning that their bid was accepted upon boarding.

 

I wouldn't say we are "loyal" to Celebrity or any other cruise line out there (or any brand at all for that matter), but we very much enjoy Celebrity's balance of informality with a mature sort of "class."  We enjoy a party bu don't care for a constant one.  We like to be able to choose between an energetic atmosphere and a quiet one.  We like to dine well but aren't interested in dressing as if we were meeting His Majesty.  We also like the size of the Celebrity ships we've been on (M and S Class).  Plenty to do, but without having to work around 5,000 or so fellow cruisers to do so.

 

Happy cruising!

[Honolulu Blue]

56 minutes ago, Gabanna31 said:

Hello all - Looking forward to the Celebrity experience next week on the Silhouette 4 day out of Miami! 

Few questions for the Celebrity aficionados: 

 

I am traveling solo for relaxation but eager to experience shows, casino and spa- anyone have any recent positive experiences in these areas?

I have a bid on the upgrade screen that says "pending"...does this truly mean it may go thru a week out? or should I count that out completely 

Any particular reasons why everyone here is loyal to the Celebrity line? I am a loyal NCL cruiser and decided to try something new, hoping for a nice experience. 

 

Let me thank everyone for their thoughtful posts and wealth of information these boards provide. I appreciate everyones time to pen all the details. 

Happy 2023 ! and Happy Cruising 

I traveled solo on the Millennium last November.  I enjoyed the show Boogie Wonderland and the performer Kristina Wells.  Your mileage may vary, as my tastes are different than everyone else's, and shows and performers are different on every ship and nearly every sailing.

 

I've done four cruises on Celebrity with one coming up in a few weeks.  I wouldn't say that I'm loyal to them.  I will say they provide an agreeable (to me) atmosphere on their ships.  

 

You're welcome.  I've found this to be a knowledgeable group.  Have a great cruise!

[Married90]

We are sapphire on NCL and they were our go to for many years (our first sailing was on the Seaward in 1993).  Honestly post COVID felt we were being nickeled and dimed by NCL.  Had wanted to "try" Celebrity for a while and due to a promotion through our TA we got a much better deal last Summer in Alaska and cancelled out 10 night NCL for B2B (14 night) on Celebrity.  LEts put it this way, we are on a 10 night with Celebrity in 25 days.  🙂   

 

Seriously though, we are mid/upper 50's and now post kids (they LOVED NCL and the kids program).   We loved the freestyle cruising and the "built in drink package".   Recently though unless you upgraded to premium things were getting very restrictive.  Specialty dining is really nice on NCL but of recent years almost a must as the regular dining rooms were at time So-so...  Pricing just kept going up and up, of course we chalked it up to post pandemic inflation.   So overall we were good with NCL but were open for a change.  

 

Come along Celebrity in Alaska.  14 night over a 10 night and a $1700 savings over NCL for similar balcony room.   All included really meant all included.  No "free drink package" but you still have to pay the gratuities on top.  No separate daily service charge on top of what was paid, unlimited lo speed wi-fi for the whole trip instead of playing the "per minute game" where 1/2 the time it didn't work.   Got on board and stateroom was much larger (although no coffee pot. 😞 ).   Nightlight in the bathroom, more balcony space, etc...  Décor nicer across the board on the ship.  MDR a little nicer, little things like 3 different butters with the breads/rolls.  More personalized service from the wait staff, etc.   Things what you only got from a specialty restaurant on NCL as of late.    Basically a more "upscale" experience across the board.   One announcement per day at 11am from he captain and cruise director, no continual announcements letting us know for the next 30 minutes there is a sale on costume jewelry, etc..  

 

Now, NCL definitely had better entertainment.  Music groups at the pool, better shows, etc.  more lively night time parties, more pool games and belly flop contests.   24 hr restaurant, and other things too.

 

Bottom line is we loved Celebrity.  We have an NCL booked for May as it was the perfect itinerary ( a loop around Ireland) at a good price so we haven't "dumped NCL" but if 2 itineraries and pricing are comparable I would now take Celebrity in a minute over NCL.    

 

Let me know if you have specific questions to compare.   

 

[dacsmom]

I sail solo and go where the best deals are. I am enjoying working my way up the loyalty ladder of a few different cruise lines. I have had my bids either accepted or rejected up to two days before sail date. I just had mine accepted for the Edge in February. Two were expired and one was pending.