Is Celebrity Solstice worth $1000 more than NCL Jewel?

[Tapi]

Hello:

 

We're planning a cruise to Alaska for the spring of 2013 and we've been booked on the Norwegian Jewel for a few months now.

 

Recently, we learned that Celebrity Solstice will be in Alaska as well (similar itinerary and dates) so I've been SERIOUSLY considering switching ships.

 

Ever since the Solstice class came out, I've been eager to sail aboard one of their ships. My dilemma is that for a similar category, the cost of sailing on Solstice will be $1,000 more than sailing on NCL Jewel. Under different circumstances, the difference in price wouldn't be an issue, but in addition to the Alaska cruise, we are also budgeting for another cruise which will be much more costly. I CAN make it happen if the difference in the experience will be that much better, but I don't want to spend the extra money and learn that it was wasted money...

 

We haven't sailed on either cruise line, so no matter which one we pick, it will be a new experience, but we are at a point in our lives where we don't mind spending extra to experience a more upscale cruise.

 

If you've sailed on NCL (Jewel class) and Celebrity (Solstice class), would you spend an extra $1000 to sail on the Solstice? Is the experience that much different?

 

Thanks for any input that you may provide!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Just my opinion NO but here's the thing the Solstice will be the largest ship ever to cruise Alaska or at least pretty darn close to the largest. There will be a whole lot of cabins that Celebrity needs to fill. This year Celebrity has been having the darnest time filling the Infinity which has been newly remodeled and Solstized. The Solstice will be able to hold almost 700 more passengers based on double occupancy. Prices for the Indfinity this year have consistantly been dropping down below what HAL and Princess is charging. Oddly the high price leader in Alaska is RCI and for the life of me cannot figure that out since it is an old ship and not a great itinerary :rolleyes: But she is sold out at a premium.

I have never sailed the Jewel but have been on the Pearl, and have also sailed on the Solstice. Over all the cabins are larger on the Solstice in sq ft. I love NCL but I will also say that I think over all the food is better on Celebrity and with out paying to dine in a specialty restaurant. The ship is more ultra modern and quite a bit more upscale especially whenit comes tot he shops. Entertainment is good but then so is NCL. If considering a Suite NCL is still better lower than a suite then Solstice but over all HAL has much better larger cabins and amenities.

With Alaska I think one must look at itinerary more than the ship. Looking at ships sailing out of Seattle personally between NCL and Celebrity I would choose the Pearl with going to Glacier Bay National Park. Each year less and less ships are being granted permits to sail into Glacier Bay. HAL and NCL are the last two ships sailing out of Seattle to have this on a weekly basis. Princess has been granted some Trust me there will come a time that ships will not be sailing into Glacier Bay instead it will be a very expensive Shore Excursion.

But back to my original thought, if you want to try the Solstice then wait till about March of next year, trust me I honestly think they will be giving them away or at least wait till the end of this year. Celebrity has set the bar high hoping to make some big money. Trust me there will and has been many that will bite especially West Coasters that do not want to fly to the East Coast to have tried a Solstice Class ship and Celebrity will be banking on many of those that do not read chat boards and do not check prices who just buy it and forget about it ;)

[Starry Eyes]

I have sailed Jewel a couple times. I gave sailed X multiple times, but not yet S class. Soltice appeals to me, but I would not pay $1000 more over same itinerary on the Jewel. there are better uses for the money in my opinion.

 

honestly, I would not be crazy about either itinerary if this is the first and only AK cruise...I would ot wish to miss Glacier Bay. or Hubbard perhaps as second option. I would spend the money for flights to allow a one way cruise to see more of AK unless you have been before or plan to go again. Or I would do a land vacation to include the interior or Alaska...love Denali. a day glacier cruise gets one closer to ice than Soltice could ever go. Just my opinion...

[RuthlessBoss]

I would think cruising Solstice would be sailing for the SHIP, not the itinerary.

[sjbdtz]

I would think cruising Solstice would be sailing for the SHIP, not the itinerary.

 

 

My mother in law just took Soltice from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona....and HATED it.

 

She said compared to the Sapphire Princess the ship was boring, and the food was nothing to write home about.

 

 

I think the pics of the ship look beautiful, but said the reality was disappointing. I think she was looking for colourful, and was presented with 1,000 shades of beige.

 

 

Now she hasn't sailed NCL...

[MR NW GUY]

OK... with that being said. Is there anyone that has been on both as the OP requested? Or maybe someone that has been on something to compare with, say... in the last decade maybe?

[SuiteCruiser]

OK... with that being said. Is there anyone that has been on both as the OP requested? Or maybe someone that has been on something to compare with, say... in the last decade maybe?

 

See post #2, sailed both Solstice and the Pearl, which is a sister to the Pearl.

[RuthlessBoss]

See post #2, sailed both Solstice and the Pearl, which is a sister to the Pearl.

I give up, did you sail the Pearl or the Pearl?:D

[Turtles06]

My partner and I have sailed on five NCL cruises, including one on the Jewel, one on the Jade, and one on the Gem, so I'm pretty familiar with NCL's Jewel-class ships. Also, we recently returned from our first Celebrity cruise, a TA aboard the Eclipse, a sister ship of the Solstice. We've also been to Alaska, not just a cruise, but 10 days driving around the interior before the cruise. Here are my thoughts:

 

I agree with the comment above that Alaska is about the itinerary, first and foremost, not about the ship.

 

I don't know what itineraries the OP is looking at, but the itinerary (and the possiblity of land-based travel before or after) is what would be driving me in terms of an Alaskan cruise.

 

In terms of the two ships the OP is considering: now that I've been on the Eclipse, I can see why people rave about Celebrity's S-class ships. What a fantastic ship. Much nicer than the Jewel. And there's no comparison between the food on X (really good, even in the buffet) and the food on NCL (adequate but nothing special). Also, I love X's no-smoking policies -- NO smoking in the cabins or on balconies, or in the casino. Just in a few designated smoking areas. How refreshing, literally.

 

That said, NCL's freestyle dining is great, and for Alaska, where you want to be free to be out and about on deck, or touring in ports, I think freestyle dining is a good way to go. X has its own version, Select Dining, as do most other cruise lines, but it's not the same.

 

If the OP wants "a more upscale cruise," that will be on X, not NCL.

 

Bottom line for me: I would spend more money to sail with Celebrity, but doubt I'd do it in Alaska (all other things about the itinerary being equal). I'd do it on a trip like a TA, where you are on board a lot and the trip really is about the ship. In Alaska, you want the most flexibility to be on deck and ashore, not checking out the interior of the ship and having two-hour sit down dinners or formal nights (really, even on a 7-day X cruise, there will be two of them).

 

OP: happy to answer more questions.

 

Whatever you decide, have a great trip!

 

Edited to add: I read the OP's post to my partner, and she says she would not spend $1K more for Celebrity in Alaska. She'd use it for another trip!

[SuiteCruiser]

I give up, did you sail the Pearl or the Pearl?:D

 

Classic! The Pearl is a sister to the Jewel. :)

[gadaboutgal]

Turtles06 is right on the money-I have sailed NCL Jewel and Celebrity Solstice and couldn't agree more with everything said. Do the Jewel and sail Celebrity later in the Caribbean where it would be cheaper.

[purrfect007]

With all the thoughts and ideas I'd throw the two into a hat on two pieces of paper and draw...

[Tapi]

Great feedback on both this board and the Celebrity board. The consensus seems to be that, even though the Solstice is nice, a cruise to Alaska is about the destination and not so much the ship, so I'll save my money and keep the reservation on the Norwegian Jewel. :)

 

With that said, I'll keep my eyes open for price drops on the Solstice, and if prices do drop close to what we are paying now, we'll reconsider at that time.

 

Thanks everyone for the input! :)

[Jenbo57]

I was having the same dilemma, and ultimately chose the Solstice. This will be our fourth trip up to Alaska, 2nd on Celebrity. We've also sailed up there on HAL (which was my favorite, based on itinerary alone) and NCL.

 

We were on the Pearl last summer, and as soon as NCL opened the bookings for Alaska for next year, booked the Jewel. But then we found out the Solstice was coming, and jumped ship. The price difference for us was minimal (less than $50, I think), and the cabin we have on the Solstice is superior to the one we had booked on the Jewel. Would we have paid $1,000 more? Most definitely not. We lucked out by booking as soon as we could.

 

Alaska truly is the star; I'd go up there on a tug boat or barge and still think I'd died and gone to heaven. You'll have a great time on the Jewel, and undoubtedly decide you want to do it again...

[tiffygirl]

my mother in law just took soltice from fort lauderdale to barcelona....and hated it.

 

She said compared to the sapphire princess the ship was boring, and the food was nothing to write home about.

 

 

I think the pics of the ship look beautiful, but said the reality was disappointing. i think she was looking for colourful, and was presented with 1,000 shades of beige.

now she hasn't sailed ncl...

 

now that is funny!!...but true..if you think about it!! Ha!

[kwokpot]

Turtles06 is right on the money-I have sailed NCL Jewel and Celebrity Solstice and couldn't agree more with everything said. Do the Jewel and sail Celebrity later in the Caribbean where it would be cheaper.

 

I also 100% agree with Turtle06's post; having sailed on 2 Solstice class ships and at least 5 cruises on Jewel class ships there really is no comparison-X's is a far, far more upscale experience. The ONLY place that NCL excels at is their spa offering. RCL & X have NO ships that have spas that are comparable to NCL's Jewel Class or Epic spa.

 

Having reviewed the OP's past cruises, I would agree that I would go with NCL and save the money for another cruise!

[dwjoe]

For an Alaska cruise, I think an important factor is viewing the scenery. So consider which ship has the best spots to view it from. A forward observation lounge is a big plus. I don't know which of Jewel or Solstice has those but the info should be here on CC somewhere.

 

I've sailed Solstice (but not Jewel). Solstice offers more in terms of formal elegance... some say the MDR food is better... is it worth more? Well if that's your thing I'd say $250/pp for a 7 day cruise might be fair. $1000 more (assuming that's for 2 people) seems a bit steep.

[aamiee]

I've been on Solstice & Pearl I would save $1000 and go with NCL:)

[pris993]

I have not cruised NCL for 10 years, going on the JADE next spring. Have cruised Celebrity both the Eclipse and Equinox, which are sister ships to the Solstics. I am afraid, I was not impressed with either the Eclipse or Equniox. Booked a CC cabin on the Equinox, booked Aqua class on the Eciplse. Celebrity is a lot of hippe. Took the Ruby Princess for a week, and the Eclipse for a week, back to back in March. Really liked the Ruby better than the Eclipse. For a $1000 more I would stick with NCL.