Interested in trying Celebrity

[kwokpot]

22 minutes ago, Tyler414 said:

And here we go again, another Celebrity thread way off topic on page 1.

To get this back on track I see the OP has sailed Carnival in the past, so they would be judging cruise nightlife against that. Celebrity isn't going to provide the nighttime fun they're looking for. There have been some CC posters that feel Virgin is sorta like Celebrity. I don't agree at all. I would say Virgin is an adult version of Carnival. The whole point of Virgin Voyages is having ADULT FUN. I don't cruise Celebrity looking for fun, I cruise Celebrity to look for a more relaxed, upscale and refined vacation experience.

Edited May 15 by kwokpot

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

1 hour ago, kwokpot said:

I don't cruise Celebrity looking for fun, I cruise Celebrity to look for a more relaxed, upscale and refined vacation experience.

 

And for some of us, the more relaxed vibe is adult fun.

 

Vegas-style partying sounds like hades on earth to me.

[Galaxy2004]

@WrittenOnYourHeart DITTO!!

[Harrisonkid]

I'm jumping in to day you will find a ton of layers night things to enjoy. And as stated less kids means more adult fun

[Lena11033]

27 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

And for some of us, the more relaxed vibe is adult fun.

 

Vegas-style partying sounds like hades on earth to me.

 

I mean sure when I was 19-20, not so much now. Now I'm a early to bed type of person

[Jim_Iain]

I think a lot depends on the demographics and location of the cruise.  In my experience Caribbean and some Med Cruises can have an active night life.    Alaska cruises due to the number of ports and early excursions tend to be very dead at night.    Trans-Oceanic cruises can often be very quiet at night.   

 

I understand I'm being a generalist and each cruise defiantly have a different demographic. 

[Liao]

8 hours ago, kelkel2 said:

Thank you! This is a kid free cruise for us, so I really want to make sure we make the right choice. Celebrity might not be what we’re looking for this trip.

 

I did a 9 nighter on Summit in Dec, though I made it a B2B of a 4 night and 5 night, the 4 night in particular was very much a booze cruise and the casino and the area just outside was rockin well into the night.

[kwokpot]

23 hours ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

And for some of us, the more relaxed vibe is adult fun.

 

Vegas-style partying sounds like hades on earth to me.

I was thinking how to respond to this. First of all Celebrity is my favorite cruiseline. The point I was trying to make is for one's cruise vacation, there are activities that one enjoys doing that are pleasurable and satisfying, but isn't necessarily fun.  Yes in the wider sense fun, pleasureable, and satisfying can be all synonyms of each other. But I was looking at the narrower definition of fun and I can enjoy two different cruiselines but for different reasons. I LOVE nothing more than spending early evening after dinner on a Celebrity cruise sitting at Cafe Al Bacio with my husband having coffee and just watching the comings and goings on the cruiseship. That is enjoyable and satisfying for me, but I wouldn't use the word fun. Going to the Scarlet Night pool party or the resident drag queen show on a Virgin Voyages cruise I would describe as FUN activities. 

https://inspirationlocation.com/2012/07/04/the-difference-between-fun-and-pleasure/

[kwokpot]

One of the better writeups of someone's first Virgin Voyages cruise:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/3003539-roguepersons-live-scarlet-lady-4212024-transatlantic/?do=findComment&comment=67367133

[rmalbers]

Four nights, just go for it and see what you think.  You might like other stuff about it that you don't expect.  Like late night hot tub, or the stars, or whatever.  X isn't a party cruise line but there are some other advantages when most go to bed early.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

1 hour ago, kwokpot said:

I was thinking how to respond to this. First of all Celebrity is my favorite cruiseline. The point I was trying to make is for one's cruise vacation, there are activities that one enjoys doing that are pleasurable and satisfying, but isn't necessarily fun.  Yes in the wider sense fun, pleasureable, and satisfying can be all synonyms of each other. But I was looking at the narrower definition of fun and I can enjoy two different cruiselines but for different reasons. I LOVE nothing more than spending early evening after dinner on a Celebrity cruise sitting at Cafe Al Bacio with my husband having coffee and just watching the comings and goings on the cruiseship. That is enjoyable and satisfying for me, but I wouldn't use the word fun. Going to the Scarlet Night pool party or the resident drag queen show on a Virgin Voyages cruise I would describe as FUN activities. 

https://inspirationlocation.com/2012/07/04/the-difference-between-fun-and-pleasure/

It's all good. Different strokes for different folks. 🙂

[kelkel2]

On 5/15/2024 at 2:35 PM, PTC DAWG said:

I agree with this take..

 

and re Virgin comments, I’m not sold on Virgin for two reasons, one is the drink package…I’m not sure if they are still offering $600 OBC or not, but if that’s just for the cabin, I doubt it would be enough, and when I price them it seems high per night to me..I understand the base rooms have some of the smallest bathrooms at sea..

 

My Wife doesn’t think she would like the constant in your face innuendos…IYKWIM. 
 

choices are good..

This is exactly my deterrent. For a 3-4 night cruise it’s pretty high and the no drink package makes it hard to commit to that. 
 

thank you to everyone who gave me advice. I’m going to keep shopping around.

its just hard to justify the cost of virgin when there’s deals out there like NCL is offering with the drink package included that still is cheaper. We have some decisions to make for sure. 

[20165]

we were on the 4 night silhouette last November out of Miami and definitely not what you are looking for.  On other lines, a 4 nighter would be considered a booze cruise, but not silhoutte which was just fine with us. we did stay out late one night, well late for us, maybe 1230ish, and it was very dead. I think they did have some music in one of the bars, but it was laid back and not dance music.

But we loved the ship. Smaller, easy to get around, very well laid out.  

[keesar]

We did one of the RCL big ships.  People were out late and there was plenty of activity.  Then we went over to Celebrity and it was quiet after 11.  This could be due to the older cruisers on Celebrity --and i mean older.  Ignore those that they show in their ads.

[kwokpot]

3 hours ago, kelkel2 said:

This is exactly my deterrent. For a 3-4 night cruise it’s pretty high and the no drink package makes it hard to commit to that. 
 

thank you to everyone who gave me advice. I’m going to keep shopping around.

its just hard to justify the cost of virgin when there’s deals out there like NCL is offering with the drink package included that still is cheaper. We have some decisions to make for sure. 

Looking more into your situation, I see that Virgin is going to be more right off the bat despite having some more inclusives. I see why you had originally considered the Celebrity Silhouette, The prices are actually quite competitive for a Celebrity cruise. But given your concerns, I think NCL is the way to go. I was looking at the Escape which is a 5 nt cruise 1/6-11 and It's probably the best deal at under $2K for a balcony with drinks, a specialty restaurant meal, and gratuites. Couple that with a big newish ship and one more day than the Celebrity cruise and better nightlife options I would say that's what you should do!

[ScottC4746]

On 5/15/2024 at 9:04 AM, kelkel2 said:

Can you tell me about the nightlife on the ships?

we’re not looking for a ship that closes up shop at midnight. We’re looking for a ship that has an active nightlife and possibly a dance club open until late into the morning. 
Does Celebrity have that? We’re looking at a 4 night in January on the Silhouette if that makes a difference. 

You will find X (as it is shortened to due to the logo) is not exactly a party ship to the wee hours.  Usually about 11 or 1130 the sidewalks start rolling up and there may be a venue or two still having music until 1 AM.  Just IMHO, if you want a party ship, this isn't it.  There are not thumpa thumpa thumpa night clubs that the music pounds you into the ground.  They do have dancing but not really the hardcore dance clubs.

[kelkel2]

5 hours ago, kwokpot said:

Looking more into your situation, I see that Virgin is going to be more right off the bat despite having some more inclusives. I see why you had originally considered the Celebrity Silhouette, The prices are actually quite competitive for a Celebrity cruise. But given your concerns, I think NCL is the way to go. I was looking at the Escape which is a 5 nt cruise 1/6-11 and It's probably the best deal at under $2K for a balcony with drinks, a specialty restaurant meal, and gratuites. Couple that with a big newish ship and one more day than the Celebrity cruise and better nightlife options I would say that's what you should do!

This is what we’re leaning towards! 

[rmalbers]

37 minutes ago, kelkel2 said:

This is what we’re leaning towards! 

My brother was on that ship 2 months ago and he said there were lines for everything.  He traveled on it (or a sister ship) just as things were restarting and loved it but it wasn't close to capacity.  Now it is.   Anyway, good luck with your decision whatever it is, there are so many ships out there and even more on the way is crazy hard to pick.  And really, the weather you get on a cruise is probably the biggest thing, and there's nothing you can do about that.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

14 minutes ago, rmalbers said:

And really, the weather you get on a cruise is probably the biggest thing, and there's nothing you can do about that.

Overall, right. But choosing to sail out of NJ in February pretty much guarantees a cold first day and a half to 2 days and a cols final day and a half to 2 days. I was on a sold out Anthem of the Seas over Presidents' Week and those days were horrible - SOOOOOOOO many people with nowhere to go but wander inside. I made that choice once. Never again - I'll fly to Florida for cruises in February!!

Edited May 18 by WrittenOnYourHeart

[hcat]

On 5/15/2024 at 12:04 PM, kelkel2 said:

Can you tell me about the nightlife on the ships?

we’re not looking for a ship that closes up shop at midnight. We’re looking for a ship that has an active nightlife and possibly a dance club open until late into the morning. 
Does Celebrity have that? We’re looking at a 4 night in January on the Silhouette if that makes a difference. 

No is the short answer.  Some late night parties on  E Class..but late night is not the norm...

[NMTraveller]

Carnival is your party line …

[rmalbers]

3 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

Carnival is your party line …

Just for fun I actually did a dummy Carnival booking in a suite for a Canada/Greenland cruise.  The pricing was really good, probably 1/2 of what I expected and 1/3 of X.  I would be almost temped to try it.  Nice, huge,  wrap around balcony.  I think it was a Vista suite.