Celebrity vs RCL

H

Hal

Guest
We have cruised three of the last 5 Christmas Holidays with Royal Caribbean. Although we have tried NCL (freesyle is way to informal for us) and HAL (too staid and old of a clientele), we have stayed with RCL. However, we have received a fair amount of mailings and e-mails from Celebrity (perhaps because of having sailed on the sister company's ships) and are interested in an unbiased reaction to Celebrity. We are in our late 40s with two sons (college senior - 20, and high school senior - 17) and are not looking for the senior citizen cruise (at least not yet) nor a college fraternity party. We certainly enjoy the formal nights (even our sons who now have their own tuxes for our cruises), good food, entertainment and the casino. Our shore excursions tend toward the historic and cultural and not the beach and bar. We would greatly appreciate some true words on Celebrity so that we might expand our base of ships this Christmas, when we have to cruise because of school holidays, including my wife's teaching schedule.

Thanks,
Hal
Enchantment of the Seas - Christmas 2005
Voyager of the Seas - Christmas 2004
Zaandam - Christmas 2003
Norwegian Sea - Christmas 2002
Monarch of the Seas - Christmas 2001
Color Festivale - Summer 2001
 
B

BSeabob

Guest
It is really hard to compare cruiselines. But I'll try. First you ask for an unbiased opinion and I wonder if I can do that.
So anyways here's what I say
First so much depends on the cruiser's expectations. So with that in mind I'll tell you that we have cruised
RCL X and HAL. We found them all to be just fine thank you very much. We started on RCL graduated to X and threw in a HAL here and there. Since you asked on the X forum don't be too suprised that since I hang out here it's my favorite.
Just a little better at most everything I guess. Nothing overwhelming but service, dining and the M class ships with lots of room on them would clinch it. They have a "Happy" crew and that makes a big difference.
Really at xmas with a lot of family stuff happening is a tough time of year to cruise. Not only pax are on a special holiday but the crew is working away from home and "Stuff" happens, or so often doesn't happen.
Fewer public announcements is nice. It means quiet but if your somebody who likes to take part in stuff it can mean a lot more studying the daily program. We often rely on a certain friend who has us going to the correct place at the right time..When she's not there we miss her.
You can see that it's the little things that make the difference and I think X has them. But I don't think you will find a great difference at all and wouldn't vary from my budget a lot expecting to gain the same difference and experience.
Here's where we've been an we started at about your ages
RCL Song of America & Splendour of the Sea's
X Zenith Horizon Infinity
Oh did mention the martini bar :)
Hal Veendam Oosterdam
 
F

Frank Black

Guest
I have been on both cruise lines many times. I was on the Radiance last August and will be on the Mercury in April.

They are both very similar. But I like the two alternative restaurants on RCL. I would sail RCl just to have the option of Chops and Portifino. Celebrity needs to start adding a few more alternative dining choices.
 
T

Ted_D

Guest
Like Frank, I have been on both more than a few times. The two lines are very similar in most ways. RCL megas have more / better high energy activities for young people -- rock climbing, ice skating, miniature golf. Celebrity has slightly better food in the main dining room, though the buffets are about the same. Celebrity is a bit more formal, with a number of small touches like welcome aboard champagne, live music during dinner, an escort to your room on embarcation, informal dinner with waiter service rather than a buffet, and butlers in suites. The Celebrity M-Class ships have superb alternative restaurants, though the C-Class and Zenith do not. The balance of both lines (spa, gym, internet cafe, library, bars, discos, show lounge, entertainment, pool, etc) are indistinguishable in my opinion, though Celebrity decor is a little more low key than RCL.

You will find a slightly older crowd on Celebrity, but still a very wide range of ages and circumstances.

Both lines offer a good product, and you will not make a mistake booking either one. Which ever offers the itinerary and price that appeal to you should get the nod.

Ted
 
P

Pandora

Guest
:daisy

Just joined....I saw this site hinted at on another board. Glad to be here.

Discovered Celebrity February 04. Have been on 6 of their cruises since then..Infinity, Constellation, and Galaxy....twice each. For a total cruising experience of 25 cruises over the years.

I was on RCL during hurricane Wilma in October. Have to tell you, the captain was wonderful!! Knew just what he was doing and how to do it without affecting anyone's lives.

But....food quality and choice can't compete with Celebrity. Cleanliness cannot come close to Celebrity. Ditto for upkeep. Same for cabin staff (she really seemed to be quite bothered when we asked for something - and we had been graciously upgreaded to a junior suite ) and most certainly a bar waiter was so highly insulting in main dining room, I had to and did report him.

Odors - scents seemed to be more noticible.

Two more Celebrity cruises booked
Constellation July 1, 2006
Infinity February 9, 2007

And....RCL August 6 (?) 2006

Ceep on cruising!

Lynne
 
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