Info About Trying Royal Caribbean by a Celebrity Cruiser

[dazey]

Have always sailed on Celebrity for years(once on Norwegian - a mistake).  Thinking we might want to try Royal Caribbean but have some questions:

 

1.  Should I call directly for pricing and advise we are Elite on Celebrity?  Not sure if it would affect pricing.

2.  We get offers from Celebrity's Blue Chip Club(casino club) and wonder is RC would match an offer.

 

Looking to try something different(cabins, restaurants, entertainment) but honestly is it is going to cost more it may not work for us.

 

Any comments on differences will be appreciated.

 

 

[BillOh]

With regard to pricing, there are balcony discounts for the various levels, so giving them your Captain's club number should help. Is that what they call it? After 23 Royal Cruises, we may try X soon.

 

[dazey]

Yes, it is called Captain's Club. I have found that Captain Club offers many benefits onboard but Blue Chip is how we save money for actual cruise.

 

We have almost as many Celebrity cruises as you do.  Thinking time for a change - will call directly.

 

 

[radarcruiser]

Call RC direct first and have them status match you to diamond based on your Celebrity Elite status.  This will get you a small balcony discount and also qualify you for onboard benefits like 4 free drinks per day.  

[leaveitallbehind]

Just be advised that RCCL is more similar to NCL than different, as they are direct competitors. Be prepared to find a lot of children on board. They are basically polar opposite from Celebrity.  Primary targeted demographics is families, and their ships - in particular Oasis, Quantum, and Icon class ships - are heavily oriented towards that with their venues and family oriented attractions and activities.  They are sometimes referred to as floating amusement parks. 

 

Their ships are, however, rather spectacular in design and quite different from Celebrity, other than with the Edge class ships. The entertainment in general IMO is excellent and far better than Celebrity. Food, which is always subjective, IMO is somewhat better on Celebrity with the complimentary offerings, but on a par with the specialty restaurants.

 

The aforementioned advise regarding contacting RCCL regarding their Crown & Anchor program to assure on board reciprocity of benefits is accurate. But note that your cruise points earned on board RCCL will remain with them and are not combinable with Celebrity CC.

 

Our kids grew up cruising with us and when they were young our cruise line of choice was RCCL for the above mentioned reasons.  Now that they are adults, we typically cruise Celebrity first for the opposite reasons as RCCL.

Edited April 15 by leaveitallbehind

[leaveitallbehind]

I should add that there is no pricing advantage to booking directly with RCCL. The fares they will offer is consistent with that which is published on their website, and would not reflect any available group fares.  In fact, travel agents will typically have access to those non-published group fares that often will be lower.

 

And generally RCCL base cruise fares are lower in our experience than Celebrity, even when compared to standard fares. They also do not offer any option for inclusive benefits such as that with Always. (basic WIFI, classic beverage package).  Gratuities, WIFI, and beverage packages are available at a separate charge, which when added may be more comparable to Always.  

Edited April 15 by leaveitallbehind

[dazey]

Good info.  Have to see what pricing is and decide.  WE are at a point where Celebrity is perfect for us.  Just thought a change might be nice but maybe not.  Appreciate all the help.

[leaveitallbehind]

33 minutes ago, dazey said:

Good info.  Have to see what pricing is and decide.  WE are at a point where Celebrity is perfect for us.  Just thought a change might be nice but maybe not.  Appreciate all the help.

RCCL is a very good cruise line - just wanted to point out the differences so you were aware.  The pricing likely will be lower, and not likely higher, so IMO that should not be an issue.  We have 50+ cruises combined with RCCL and Celebrity and still do both, depending on itinerary, ship, and circumstances.  Depending on ship class, the ice show and aqua theater shows are very unique and excellently performed and IMO well worth the experience.  The cruise lines are just are different animals and its good to know what to expect.

[TeeRick]

2 hours ago, dazey said:

Good info.  Have to see what pricing is and decide.  WE are at a point where Celebrity is perfect for us.  Just thought a change might be nice but maybe not.  Appreciate all the help.

We are E+ /D+ on these two lines so we sail each of them often.  We like to switch it up too.  We sailed a lot recently in The Retreat on Celebrity but then they started messing with it, raising prices dramatically and cutting services and suite amenities.  So we strayed!  We did O-Class this year (Symphony) on RCCL and very much enjoyed the CL suite we had.  The ship is huge but has everything imaginable.  Entertainment far better than Celebrity.  Loads of restaurants and bars.  Yes more kids, noise, and less of a serene experience but we don't mind that on occasion.  Service and staff were outstanding.  We did not do the MDR but mostly Coastal Kitchen and specialty restaurants (Hooked, Jamie's, Wonderland).

[PhillyFan33579]

Lots of good information already provided. I cruise frequently on both lines, although currently more often on RCI. The one point I would stress is the environment on RCI is completely different than on Celebrity. In general RCI ships always have something going on with lots of kids everywhere while Celebrity is a much more relaxing environment, which you obviously know. I am in my late 50s and cruising more and more on Celebrity. I don’t expect that to change in the future as I get older. Someone already mentioned this point, but if you didn’t like NCL, you probably won’t like RCI. People like to say the cruise line they are loyal to is best, but the reality is NCL, RCI and CCL have a lot more similarities than differences. 

[doghog]

5 hours ago, dazey said:

Have always sailed on Celebrity for years(once on Norwegian - a mistake).  Thinking we might want to try Royal Caribbean but have some questions:

 

1.  Should I call directly for pricing and advise we are Elite on Celebrity?  Not sure if it would affect pricing.

2.  We get offers from Celebrity's Blue Chip Club(casino club) and wonder is RC would match an offer.

 

Looking to try something different(cabins, restaurants, entertainment) but honestly is it is going to cost more it may not work for us.

 

Any comments on differences will be appreciated.

 

 

If it were us, we'd pick a itinerary we liked, book it and decide for ourselves. We like the differences and similarities between Celebrity and RC based on our own experiences and opinions. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Be advised if you are a non smoker, the casinos on all RC ships allow smoking in them at all times. AKA smoking lounge. A huge negative, IMO. 

Edited April 15 by doghog

[leaveitallbehind]

19 minutes ago, doghog said:

If it were us, we'd pick a itinerary we liked, book it and decide for ourselves. We like the differences and similarities between Celebrity and RC based on our own experiences and opinions. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Be advised if you are a non smoker, the casinos on all RC ships allow smoking in them at all times. AKA smoking lounge. A huge negative, IMO. 

Agree with your comments.  To add, some of the ships (Oasis class for one) have converted (or are converting) what once was the original Jazz Club to a small non-smoking casino.

Edited April 15 by leaveitallbehind

[cruisegal40]

We will be doing the opposite in September. Trying X for the first time.  We are not into the ramped up ships of RCCL any longer and hope this is a good fit for us. Trying the Beyond. and very excited for a bit toned down.  We love RCCL. however, it just does not fit our style any longer. Just wish X did the 4 drink/day because that's about what we need.  Not buying a drink package as hubs no longer imbibes.  We are diamond on R. ( just barely hahha).  We bounce between Princess, NCL and Royal.

[dazey]

Thanks for all the opinions.

 

We do not purchase the drink package on Celebrity any longer as we are Elite and enjoy happy hour and events providing beverages. We do purchase a bottle of wine(with discount) and maybe a mixed drink a few times.  Our cost never comes anywhere near the cost to what a purchased beverage package would be.  We are not big drinkers so it works for us.  And if only one of you does enjoy a beverage then for sure no beverage package should work.

 

Celebrity is quiet and stressless and we do enjoy it.  That said, if we find an interesting itinerary we might try RC just for something different.  The four drinks RC program would definitely work for us.

[bajathree]

leaveitallbehind is pretty spot on. We go back and forth between Royal and Celebrity due to the Club Royale offers along with we are D+ and enjoy the 5 free drinks daily each....it's what sways us more towards sailing with Royal. However if we had the same offers and perks offered to us on Celebrity we would always choose them over Royal at this point. If you are going to try Royal I might suggest looking at Odyssey...that is our favorite Royal ship as it's basically a Celebrity Solstice ship that has been Royal Caribbean'ized. Odyssey to us has a more Celebrity feel to it and we love 270. The only thing I didn't like on the new Edge class ships is the switch to the infinity veranda cabins....which actually has now come to Icon class (which I have no interest in at all). I have tried calling Blue Chip to see if they would switch one of our Club Royale offers over to Celebrity but they wouldn't.

[SHIP TRAVELER]

1. I read this to see what others would say and felt that you are a Blue Chip player (as are we) that you not count on being able to gamble on a Royal ship.  When we were on the Allure with a group last year we found that the large casino did have a non smoking side but the only craps and black jack games open were usually on the smoking side.  Heavy gagging smoke.  Every table had someone smoking while playing.  We spend a lot of time in the casino on Celebrity but we detour around it on Royal.  Any non smoking room would likely have slots only.

[dazey]

Ship Traveler:  Smoking allowed in casino on Celebrity was being allowed many months ago as a test but people complained so much they cancelled that idea.  Celebrity thought if smoking was only allowed on one side of the casino that would be okay. Surprised they listened but glad they did.

 

Since Covid there have been many casinos that continued with no smoking. Only good thing that came from Covid.

 

Appreciate your comment.

 

  

[doghog]

2 hours ago, bajathree said:

The only thing I didn't like on the new Edge class ships is the switch to the infinity veranda cabins

When we sail on the E Class ships we always stay in the DPVs (Deluxe Porthole Verandas). There are also SVs (Sunset Verandas). Both traditional balconies. 

[doghog]

17 minutes ago, dazey said:

Ship Traveler:  Smoking allowed in casino on Celebrity was being allowed many months ago as a test but people complained so much they cancelled that idea.  Celebrity thought if smoking was only allowed on one side of the casino that would be okay. Surprised they listened but glad they did.

 

Since Covid there have been many casinos that continued with no smoking. Only good thing that came from Covid.

 

Appreciate your comment.

 

  

What months was that? What ship(s)? First I've heard/read that and never saw anything about it on the CC Celebrity forum(?).

[cruiselvr04]

2 hours ago, bajathree said:

 we are D+ and enjoy the 5 free drinks daily each....it's what sways us more towards sailing with Royal. However if we had the same offers and perks offered to us on Celebrity we would always choose them over Royal at this point.

This would be true for us.  We booked several with Celebrity that got cancelled due to covid. We are trying again but will miss the free perks on Royal.  It’s too bad the offers aren’t the same as they are a sister line. I know we’d book more with Celebrity if the perks were the same. 

[LeeW]

You shouldn't need to call to get your Crown & Anchor number.  Just log in to the Royal site with your email and Captain's Club password and you will see your status on Royal.  Note the C&A number and try a mock booking with entering that number.  Will show any balcony discount (assuming that the existing promotion doesn't exclude the balcony discount).

 

You are likely Diamond on Royal, so you get the 4 drinks each day automatically at most bars or dining room.  Good for cans of soda, water as well.  Note that on Royal if you buy the soda package it doesn't include cans, just fountain.

 

You may not get casino offers right away, but you can sign up for them at https://www.clubroyaleoffers.com/NotGettingMyOffers.asp

 

You will also get instant offers for future cruises onboard when you hit various number of points.

Edited April 17 by LeeW
correction

[dazey]

Doghog: On my way out but will find it on Cruise Critic for you.  It went on for days if I remember.  Hope I recall this correctly.

[dazey]

 I tried to find it on Celebrity side of CC.  Will continue but I think it was about vaping on one side of casino and it was being allowed on just one ship as a test.  Not announced but people saw the sign indicating such.  

[dazey]

Doghog:  It was a test run on Equinox and possibly Eclipse around June or July 2023.  Never passed the "test" after many complaints.  

[doghog]

1 hour ago, dazey said:

Doghog: On my way out but will find it on Cruise Critic for you.  It went on for days if I remember.  Hope I recall this correctly.

No need. The failed trial in the casino was for allowing vaping not allowing smoking, again. For obvious reasons that didn't last long. Kudos to Celebrity  for not going forward with it. 👍 👍

Edited April 17 by doghog