Celebrity Nightlife?

[yankin]

OK seasoned cruisers, I have been going back and forth on where to take my first cruise and need the low down on Celebrity nightlife.

 

My family and I are trying to decide on a Med cruise June 2011. We are leaning towards Celebrity over NCL primarily because of the food, itinerary, and the drinks package. One thing does concern me...the reports on cruise critic in regards to the nightlife on Celebrity. I am not talking about the shows but the bars and dance floors. From what I have been reading there does not seem to be much "life" in these places. Once folks have dined and gone to the show is it lights out? My wife and I (mid 40's) are not party animals (should have seen us in the 80's:D) but like to have a few drinks and listen to music or dance ie a band or DJ. From what little info I have been able to gather it seems what music there is in the bars seems to be jazz or a band playing pre 1960's music.

 

We really would like Celebrity to be our first cruise experience but if the ship is like a ghost town after 10PM I am afraid we may get bored in the evenings.

 

So to those that have been around the Celebrity "block" what is the ships nightlife actually like?

[nubble88]

Hi Yankin,

 

Well, as far as the "nightlife" aboard Celebrity, me and my husband did not find any. We are not sure if it was just that particular cruise we went on, but there was not much to do after seeing the evening show.

 

I was very surprised that there was not a piano bar where you could sit, chat, have a drink and make requests until at least midnight.

 

This was my first Celebrity cruise, but I have done 7 Royal Caribbean cruises, and my NEXT cruise will be on Royal Caribbean. I did one Princess Cruise, and I would say that too was a better experience than Celebrity.

 

I found that there was not only nightlife, but the morning and afternoon activities were lacking too. If you are looking for complete R&R, then in my opinion, Celebrity is the way to go. If you want some fun and lively activities, then I can only tell you that RCCL has all that and more.

 

I personally think the food, entertainment, interaction with crew and activities to keep busy is MUCH better on Royal Caribbean. AND, if you prefer to just relax, you can do that too on RCCL. It is just great to have the options to do a lot of other activities if you want to. And, my husband did enjoy the volleyball, basketball, and dodgeball games he participated in. He did win the dodgeball event, and he has the Medal to prove it!!

 

I hope you do enjoy your first cruise experience, because if you do the cruise line that is perfect for you, then you may want to do another one, and another and another....!

 

Enjoy!

 

Kathy

[moogiechompy]

Hi Yankin,

 

Just got off a Celebrity cruise after 4 with RCI and I have to admit the one and only thing that let the ship down was the lack of nightlife. There was usually the Eclipse staff / band playing after dinner until about 12 in the atrium but when they finished that was it, the best entertainment was the Martini bar.

 

I'm 32 and would have appreciated a few nights in the nightclub - not sure why it was called a nightclub because it seemed to close at 12.30;), and another night in the Sky lounge it was us two and 5 bar tenders looking somewhat bemused.

 

There was an older demographic on the ship and I put this down to the reason why it was so quiet, one bartender told us the next cruise had many more young families because it coincided with UK school hols so it may well have been different on that and another passenger told us that their experiences on other celebrity ships were much better.

 

If anyone from Celebrity is listening - the nightclub could have a few cheesy nights - i.e. 70's 80's, Abba themed :D those type of nights cross the generation divide :)

 

That said we make our own entertainment and hasn't put us off booking another one :)

[Orlandocruiser]

Med cruises are hard work. Along with the jet lag there are not a lot of sea days to kick back. I assume you are not doing a Med cruise for the beaches so excursions in the hot sun day after day are tiring. Since I assume that every port on the itinerary will be new to you, you will want to do an excursion at every stop, after all it is not like the Caribbean where you may decide just to stay on the ship and enjoy the ship's amenities.

[royalcruz]

It seems to depend upon the ship and the passengers' ages. On the Millenium, we danced until late night to dj music at the lounge at the top of the ship, and on Solstice there was a nightclub on the main deck that had a dj until the wee hours. The lounges weren't crowded, but they were opened and there was club music. I haven't sailed Century for a long time but I remember it having little night life.

[yankin]

Thanks for the info. Your reports sort of match up with the other info I have been reading. We are looking to cruise mid June when the kids have finished the school year. This actually could be a deal breaker for us. Perhaps there would be a few "younger folks" to liven things up.

 

I am not looking for non stop entertainment all day long. Just somewhere we can let our hair down at the end of the day. I may be over 40 but I am not ready to drink a cup of cocoa at 9PM and call it a day:D.

 

Any other of you fine folks traveled Celebrity during school vacations and found there was more in the clubs than tumbleweeds:p?

[yankin]

I live in Italy and have traveled the Med extensively. We wont be hitting every port as our goal is to have a vacation.

[sailorboy05]

I've been on the Millennium for both Med and Alaska cruises, and was always able to find fun at night - whether Michael's Club (piano bar - our favorite), Rendezvous Lounge, Platinum Bar, Cosmos - we always found what we were looking for, even after midnight. Our last cruise was on Holland America through the Panama Canal, and while it was sea-day intensive, we got the feeling they "rolled up the streets" early; there was nothing after the 9 pm show; even the casino was empty. We're planning our next cruise - Celebrity Silhouette to the Holy Land next year, and are looking forward to exploring the newer fun venues. Incidentally, we're in our 60's (but remember -- 60's are the new 40's!), and our friends range from early 40's to mid 80's. Maybe it's because we always cruise with friends, but we never have to look for a party.:)

[GeorgeL]

OK seasoned cruisers, I have been going back and forth on where to take my first cruise and need the low down on Celebrity nightlife.

 

My family and I are trying to decide on a Med cruise June 2011. We are leaning towards Celebrity over NCL primarily because of the food, itinerary, and the drinks package. One thing does concern me...the reports on cruise critic in regards to the nightlife on Celebrity. I am not talking about the shows but the bars and dance floors. From what I have been reading there does not seem to be much "life" in these places. Once folks have dined and gone to the show is it lights out? My wife and I (mid 40's) are not party animals (should have seen us in the 80's:D) but like to have a few drinks and listen to music or dance ie a band or DJ. From what little info I have been able to gather it seems what music there is in the bars seems to be jazz or a band playing pre 1960's music.

 

We really would like Celebrity to be our first cruise experience but if the ship is like a ghost town after 10PM I am afraid we may get bored in the evenings.

 

So to those that have been around the Celebrity "block" what is the ships nightlife actually like?

 

Yes, after 10PM it is a "ghost town" most of the time. Nightlife/entertainemt is a weak spot for Celebrity, IMHO.

[Lois R]

After 10? I have been to shows that ended after 11;)

[richsea]

Based upon what you have said about what you're looking for at night, I would say that you would be better off on perhaps a Royal Caribbean ship. While Celebrity is our favorite line, I think that Royal Caribbean is a better fit for you. I think they will offer more of what you're looking for in terms of nightlife.

 

Whichever line you choose, have a great vacation!:D

[GeorgeL]

After 10? I have been to shows that ended after 11;)

 

Shows, maybe. As far as music/dancing (which is what the OP was asking), it is usually a "ghost town" on Celebrity.

[Lois R]

Shows, maybe. As far as music/dancing (which is what the OP was asking), it is usually a "ghost town" on Celebrity.

 

I wasn't trying to argue...just putting some levity there:):D. I saw what he/she was asking.

Oh and I have been up in the disco later than that......guess it depends on the sailing:)

[yankin]

Based upon what you have said about what you're looking for at night, I would say that you would be better off on perhaps a Royal Caribbean ship. While Celebrity is our favorite line, I think that Royal Caribbean is a better fit for you. I think they will offer more of what you're looking for in terms of nightlife.

 

Whichever line you choose, have a great vacation!:D

 

I have never traveled with RCI but my sister has been cruising with them for 15 years. This year she is going with Cunard-she feels RCI have slipped. Plus I really don't want to cruise with Shrek!

 

Celebrity really appealed to us. They appear to be a notch above the other lines-excluding the luxury lines. The food reviews for Celebrity are top notch along with the service-plus we liked the idea of the drinks package. Posed the same question on the Costa board-they are on our short list.

 

Thanks for the feedback

 

P.S. My wife and I have been known to create our own party:D

[GeorgeL]

I wasn't trying to argue...just putting some levity there:):D. I saw what he/she was asking.

Oh and I have been up in the disco later than that......guess it depends on the sailing:)

 

Lois, I knew you were not trying to argue and I never took is as that. Simply reading the post I took it at its face value where you were talking about shows rather than music. It often happens (as you certainly know) that threads seem to go a bit off subject so it seemed to me that it was starting on its way to doing that. My fault, I should have paid more attention to the little smile icons. :) :) :)

[Lois R]

Lois, I knew you were not trying to argue and I never took is as that. Simply reading the post I took it at its face value where you were talking about shows rather than music. It often happens (as you certainly know) that threads seem to go a bit off subject so it seemed to me that it was starting on its way to doing that. My fault, I should have paid more attention to the little smile icons. :) :) :)

 

Not a problem:D

 

I know from everything I have read on different forums other lines

do seem to put lots more emphasis on "nightlife". I don't call it

a Ghosttown because I have always been able to find what pleases

me. But I suppose if one is used to having music going on all over the

ship into the wee hours? Then yes, X would definitely be more in

"Mellow" arena.

[New Hampshire]

I'm a lover of Celebrity. I have found the seven day itineraries in the Caribbean to be very active until the late hours of the evening. The longer cruises seem to attract an older crowd and though the ship offers nightlife, not too many people show up. Much depends on the make-up of the passenger load. Our Baltic cruise had a lot going on at night and there were a wide range of ages, including lots of kids, but it seemed that people went to bed on the earlier side. The days were exhausting with so much to see and do. The bottom line is that nightlife is scheduled, but if few show up, it ends on the early side. If crowds show up, it goes on much later.

[richsea]

P.S. My wife and I have been known to create our own party:D

 

 

 

Now you're talkin' !!!

[eandj]

First of all comparing a NCL to Celebrity cruise is more than nightlife differences. :eek: Altho I haven't cruised NCL, I do have a few family members and friends that have and who swear never again...for reasons like unsavory food, poor service, too glitzy interiors, too casual crowds etc.

 

Will you find X lively enough for you? Well, depends on the group cruising. Know that if your cruise is more than 7 days, it will have an older demographic as on all cruiselines. Between cost and length of time away from work, the median age (not average which can be confusing) ) on that kind of cruise might be 55 or so. That being said there are people of all ages that enjoy music and you'll seee them out and about at midnight. ;) However, with a port intensive ititeneray and early arrivals at ports, most CHOOSE to head to their cabins to get rest for the next long day. The cruise nights probably run later in the beginning days of the cruise. Some people just get over the late nights somewhere along the trip.

 

So... personally between NCL and X, no question ..choose Celebrity for a finer experience. :D Happy planning!

[karpela]

Hi, we just returned yesterday from the wonderful Equinox.

This was our first cruise so were unsure about many things including nightlife.

We are late 40's and like to have a good time and we thought the evenings after dinner were pretty lively.

The sky lounge often had live music and was full of people.

The Martini bar was always busy.

I must admit we were shattered at the end of the day and went to bed beween 12 and 1 am but we always had someone to have a drink with before we retired. The Quasar nightclub was always still blaring tho!

We loved the night times!!:):):)

[DivasDare]

Last year I was on RC Nav of Seas for a Med cruise, and while the ship was beautiful, it was DEAD in the clubs. That was one of the complaints that the group that I toured with had. We were on the ship June 14th I think for seven nights. Coming from Carnival they were disappointed. We were told that Med cruises are not as lively as Caribbean itinerary.

 

I am currently counting down for my first Celebrity cruise and I am hoping that the group that I am traveling with will be a more lively one. I know that we have a party planned one night that is themed, so I am looking forward to it.

 

You'll enjoy cruising, but I can't tell you which cruise line has the best night life. I've yet to see it myself. BUT I LOVE cruising.

[yankin]

Hi, we just returned yesterday from the wonderful Equinox.

This was our first cruise so were unsure about many things including nightlife.

We are late 40's and like to have a good time and we thought the evenings after dinner were pretty lively.

The sky lounge often had live music and was full of people.

The Martini bar was always busy.

I must admit we were shattered at the end of the day and went to bed beween 12 and 1 am but we always had someone to have a drink with before we retired. The Quasar nightclub was always still blaring tho!

We loved the night times!!:):):)

 

I'm pleased you had a good time. Most of you folks are correct-a lot of the nightlife depends on the passengers themselves. It sounds as if the nightlife on Celebrity ebbs and flows according to the time of the year and the duration of the cruise. I did look at the Baltic but my family may find it a bit port intensive, hence the decision to hit the Med next summer.

 

I really believe that Celebrity will be a great first time experience for my family. We have always said we would never cruise as we are the independent type. However with airports being the way they are now my wife is not so keen to travel. It took about ten minutes to convince her that the time was right for us to try cruising. Our children are 15 and 17 and they are so looking forward to it.

[Softball20]

Based upon what you have said about what you're looking for at night, I would say that you would be better off on perhaps a Royal Caribbean ship. While Celebrity is our favorite line, I think that Royal Caribbean is a better fit for you. I think they will offer more of what you're looking for in terms of nightlife.

 

Whichever line you choose, have a great vacation!:D

 

But the food and service are sooooo much better on Royal. We've only been on one Celebrity cruise thus far, but I would take it over Royal any day. We always found something to do in the evenings, and we were always so tired by the end of the day, anyway, that we couldn't last much past 11:00 - 12:00 anyway :)

[Lois R]

But the food and service are sooooo much better on Royal. We've only been on one Celebrity cruise thus far, but I would take it over Royal any day. We always found something to do in the evenings, and we were always so tired by the end of the day, anyway, that we couldn't last much past 11:00 - 12:00 anyway :)

 

Hi:) did you mean to say the food and service are much better on

Celebrity?....just wondering?

[Softball20]

OOPS! Big mistake! Yes, hands down the food and service are better on Celebrity!!!