Comparing Norwegian to Celebrity

[GeorgeL]

We have been cruising mostly on Celebrity for a couple decades and have never tried Norwegian although we heard a lot about it. We just got back into cruising after the pandemic and were thinking of trying Norwegian.

From other cruisers who have been a lot (or some) on Celebrity and also on Norwegian, how do the two compare?

Any input will be appreciated.

[hallux]

Someone asked this nearly identical question recently, this thread was only a few below yours in the list - 

 

[graphicguy]

Done both….

 

Elite on Celebrity

Sapphire on NCL

 

Generally…

-Celebrity is more sedate

-NCL more to do, better Specialty Restaurants

-Celebrity has way more foliage

-NCL Prima (Prima, Viva, Aqua) class has some of the best cabins at sea

-Celebrity has better “all inclusive” vs NCL’s Free at Sea

-NCL is generally less expensive overall than Celebrity

 

[cruiseny4life]

1 hour ago, graphicguy said:

-Celebrity has way more foliage

This was an unexpected treat! I never thought I'd see foliage compared from cruise line to cruise line. I suppose, if I gave it thought, I am supportive of more foliage than less! 

[deliver42]

Many, many more children on NCL.

[schmoopie17]

Deposits are generally $250 on NCL and refundable up until final payment. 

 

Deposits on Celebrity can be $900 and not refundable. Of course they do offer the option to gouge you for even more money on your cruise fare for the privilege of getting a refundable deposit. Pretty lame, if you ask me.

 

NCL has 10% off for Veterans off the basic cruise fare.

[ChiefMateJRK]

2 hours ago, deliver42 said:

Many, many more children on NCL.

Really?  On every NCL cruise during every month of the year?  That doesn't sound right.

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Really?  On every NCL cruise during every month of the year?  That doesn't sound right.

Good point!  When school is in?  Not much in the way of children on either line.  

 

School is out?  More kids!

[sanger727]

My opinion:

 

NCL has better entertainment 

Celebrity has better food

NCL’s specialty dining are more affordable

Celebrity’s specialty dining and drinks are better

 

biggest difference in my mind is freestyle cruising 

 

celebrity has my time dining. NCL is all freestyle so there are less wait times

[ChiefMateJRK]

7 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Good point!  When school is in?  Not much in the way of children on either line.  

 

School is out?  More kids!

Yep.  I've yet to have a cruise where a bunch of kids detracted from my experience.  They don't bother me at the bar, in the casino or in any of sit down dining venues.  I think they're mostly in the buffet.  They aren't in the smaller clubs with musical acts either.  I don't spend much time on the pool deck, so maybe that's where they're "causing trouble" for other cruisers.  I've heard these scattered reports of teens gathering in the stairwells and blocking traffic.  With DW's bum knee, we usually take the elevators anyways. Besides, many kids are better company on the ship than some of the "adults."😎

[graphicguy]

2 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Besides, many kids are better company on the ship than some of the "adults."😎

Amen!  

 

Like you, main pool area, on any cruise line, isn’t a place I spend much time.  If school’s out, LOTS of kids, on either cruise line.

 

School’s in (8-9 months/year)?  Few, if any issues!

[chewsifer1220]

15 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

Deposits are generally $250 on NCL and refundable up until final payment. 

 

Deposits on Celebrity can be $900 and not refundable. Of course they do offer the option to gouge you for even more money on your cruise fare for the privilege of getting a refundable deposit. Pretty lame, if you ask me.

 

NCL has 10% off for Veterans off the basic cruise fare.

 

Paying out the nose for refundable deposits seems a little weird to me. Another reason I'm trying NCL and not Celeb again.

[PhillyTravelBug]

I’ve actually wanted to really try an Edge class ship, but I’ve enjoyed every NCL sailing so far and just not ready to leave yet. I am reluctantly sailing Disney this year for my mother.

 

agree with previous poster that the prima class has the best cabins. Good luck. Where are you looking to sail?

[Guindalf]

We were exclusive NCL cruisers up until I quit smoking in 2015, when we switched to Celebrity. We've sailed most of the X ships, mostly Solstice class, but also on the Apex (and Solstice itself) in the Retreat. All cruises on both lines have been in a balcony or above.

 

We have a cruise booked on the NCL Breakaway in early February so we can try the Haven for the first time. 

[KKB]

On 12/27/2023 at 1:13 PM, graphicguy said:

Done both….

 

Elite on Celebrity

Sapphire on NCL

 

Generally…

-Celebrity is more sedate

-NCL more to do, better Specialty Restaurants

-Celebrity has way more foliage

-NCL Prima (Prima, Viva, Aqua) class has some of the best cabins at sea

-Celebrity has better “all inclusive” vs NCL’s Free at Sea

-NCL is generally less expensive overall than Celebrity

 

Agree...sort of.

Celebrity Eclass is not sedate.

And Eclass specialty restaurants are better than NCL's, imo.

Celebrity just dropped tips from their AI...it does include coffee, water & unlimited internet so edge still to Celebrity.

 

Prima in 2 weeks!

[KKB]

On 12/27/2023 at 6:52 PM, sanger727 said:

My opinion:

 

NCL has better entertainment 

Celebrity has better food

NCL’s specialty dining are more affordable

Celebrity’s specialty dining and drinks are better

 

biggest difference in my mind is freestyle cruising 

 

celebrity has my time dining. NCL is all freestyle so there are less wait times

Agree 

BUT we never have a set dining time on Celebrity & never wait, but we eat by 6.

On any line, you will wait a bit if you go between 6-8. 

 

[KKB]

One more thing...

Celebrity pool areas are MUCH larger & nicer than NCL, especially Eclass ships.

NCL continues to think if they have lots of "intimate" areas, people will naturally spread themselves equally about them.

No concept of what things will be popular (LIKE POOLS) & making those larger to accommodate demand.

 

But Celebrity's prices are starting to run 30-50% higher than NCL...that's a tough pill to swallow.

[graphicguy]

2 minutes ago, KKB said:

Agree...sort of.

Celebrity Eclass is not sedate.

And Eclass specialty restaurants are better than NCL's, imo.

Celebrity just dropped tips from their AI...it does include coffee, water & unlimited internet so edge still to Celebrity.

 

Prima in 2 weeks!

It’s been a few years since my Edge and Apex sailings.  They were the first out of the chute after the restart.  So, maybe they didn’t have their entire arsenal locked and loaded.  But, come 10:00 p.m., there wasn’t much happening.  Martini Bar was hopping.  But that was it.

 

I did think Celebrity’s MDRs were quite good.  And LOVED Blu.  But, found Petite Chef more hoakey than a “specialty” restaurant!

 

That said, the right fare comes along, I’d sail Celebrity again…. unfortunately, they’re going in the opposite direction!

 

Can’t wait to hear about your Prima sailing!!!!!!⛵️ 

[KKB]

Just now, graphicguy said:

It’s been a few years since my Edge and Apex sailings.  They were the first out of the chute after the restart.  So, maybe they didn’t have their entire arsenal locked and loaded.  But, come 10:00 p.m., there wasn’t much happening.  Martini Bar was hopping.  But that was it.

 

I did think Celebrity’s MDRs were quite good.  And LOVED Blu.  But, found Petite Chef more hoakey than a “specialty” restaurant!

 

That said, the right fare comes along, I’d sail Celebrity again…. unfortunately, they’re going in the opposite direction!

 

Can’t wait to hear about your Prima sailing!!!!!!⛵️ 

MDRs were better 2 years ago...still good, but the selection is a bit odd these days.

Petite Chef is nothing great.

But Eden is AMAZING on all ships.

Beyond has Daniel Boulad's Le Voyage which is fantastic.

 

Normally we don't really care about specialty dining as we find MDR meals fine.

But Celebrity we always do at least one!

 

VERY excited for Prima...we managed to snag a balcony that is categorized as an Oceanview (so Oceanview price!), plus it was the last one & is accessible so extra large. 

Might not even get off the ship--love to enjoy a ship w/ few passengers aboard!

[dexddd]

23 hours ago, Guindalf said:

We were exclusive NCL cruisers up until I quit smoking in 2015, when we switched to Celebrity. We've sailed most of the X ships, mostly Solstice class, but also on the Apex (and Solstice itself) in the Retreat. All cruises on both lines have been in a balcony or above.

 

We have a cruise booked on the NCL Breakaway in early February so we can try the Haven for the first time. 

Let us know how it goes.

[CCJack]

2 hours ago, KKB said:

One more thing...

Celebrity pool areas are MUCH larger & nicer than NCL, especially Eclass ships.

NCL continues to think if they have lots of "intimate" areas, people will naturally spread themselves equally about them.

No concept of what things will be popular (LIKE POOLS) & making those larger to accommodate demand.

 

But Celebrity's prices are starting to run 30-50% higher than NCL...that's a tough pill to swallow.

 

We have sailed both cruiselines and i agree.   On the NCL Joy, as an example, there is a ton of real estate on top decks used up by kid's activities (go carts, laser tag, water slides.)   This leaves much less area available for common areas (pools, tracks, etc.)   We were on a Canada N.E. cruise in September on Joy and there were very few kids, that left those kid's areas mostly entirely unused, and the remaining pool outdoor areas very crowded with adults.    It is almost better to have the kids on board to use those areas and having slightly fewer adults on board than on an adult only cruise.    Plus, having kid's on board has never bothered us.... 

 

Go Big Red.

 

[graphicguy]

2 hours ago, KKB said:

 

 

VERY excited for Prima...we managed to snag a balcony that is categorized as an Oceanview (so Oceanview price!), plus it was the last one & is accessible so extra large. 

Might not even get off the ship--love to enjoy a ship w/ few passengers aboard!

Just saw this posted on one of the Prima’s social media site….Looks like a grand time for you!!!!

 

”We've cruised NCL prior to sailing Prima 12/22/23. We loved Prima - she's a rare beauty! We're glad we went in with open minds, and loved the smaller spaces and shorter vessel. We observed some of the best performers ever, on any cruise line/ship - what talent! We were in the Haven and while our butler and steward were great, our Haven favorite was the Haven restaurant's server, Katherine - asked for her every time! While we don't take a lot of photos, we noticed that the ship seemed designed for photo opportunities - dining rooms, restaurants, rooms, public spaces; if you're traveling with family, take advantage of those arches, ceilings, and chandeliers! Onda by Scarpetti restaurant served amazing food, Haven's restaurant was fantastic. The buffet was just fine, though we loved Indulge's choices, spaces, and service - the guacamole was a favorite, as was the grilled pineapple! Take time to figure out Indulge, well worth the bit of effort. Haven guests from other ships will love the private elevators. Nicest theater in any cruise vessel thus far - and how much fun was Price is Right?!
Bottom line? If you go understanding that the joy's in the journey, and Prima provides a brand-new kind of cruise journey - and decide that the differences are just different, not worse, you will find yourselves like we did. We will remember this as our favorite cruise vacation yet, and would do it all over again in a heartbeat.”