Biggest difference between Celebrity and Royal Caribbean

[Norwegianlatvian]

..so I booked a 12 night cruise with Celebrity Constellation in November 2013, while I was on a 12 night cruise with Mariner of the Seas.

 

So far I got 4 cruises with Royal Caribbean. What is the biggest differences between a Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruise?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Keith1010]

I would say food and service.

 

Keith

[dln929]

To me, the biggest (and best) difference between the two lines is the smoking issue. I appreciate that there's absolutely no smoking allowed on the balconies. We had an incredible corner aft when we sailed on the Indy earlier this year, and it was ruined by the two smokers in the balconies below us. It was the only time it ever happened on a Royal cruise for us, but you know what they say about "it only takes one time..." :mad:

[cruisestitch]

I'll go with the smoking policy -- no interior smoking (casino, bars, restaurants, staterooms) -- no balcony smoking.

[Norwegianlatvian]

I love to hear about the smoking policy. Especially since I am a former smoker myself..

[ondeckatsea]

Better and friendlier service, much better rewards and incentives for repeat passengers, less sales push, hardly any announcements on the PA, no bellyflop or sexy legs contests, less glitz...more style. We love both lines but feel Celebrity is the best of the two.

[dln929]

I love to hear about the smoking policy. Especially since I am a former smoker myself..

 

With pleasure. This is what you should expect (cut and pasted from the Celebrity website):

 

For the comfort and enjoyment of our guests, our ships are designated as non-smoking; however, we recognize that some of our guests smoke. Therefore, cigarette, cigar and pipe smoking is permitted in designated outdoor areas of the ship. Smoking is not permitted in any dining venue, casino, theater, lounge, hallway, elevator or corridor. This policy includes smoking-like products such as electronic cigarettes. Smoking is not permitted inside any guest stateroom, nor on any guest veranda. If a guest is in violation of this policy, a cleaning fee of $250 USD will be applied to their SeaPass account and the guest may be subject to further action pursuant to the "Consequences Section" of the Guest Conduct Policy. Cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco must be properly disposed of and never thrown overboard. A guest must be at least 18 years of age to purchase, possess or use tobacco onboard.

 

Additionally, there is a non-smoking policy on all components of the land tour portion of all Celebrity Cruises cruisetour products. We appreciate your understanding and adherence.

[Notagoose]

I prefer the food and also the smoking policy on Celebrity, and really like that there aren't announcements over the PA every 5 seconds. I actually think the Royal Caribbean cruises are more fun and lively, with more activities for the younger set (of which I laughably include myself, at 39). Celebrity is a better choice if you just want to relax. I love both lines, but for me the clincher has been that I enjoy longer Caribbean itineraries, and Royal doesn't have many of those to choose from.

[Presto2]

We will have done 3 cruises on Celebrity by the time we do our 4 day cruise for my '21st' birthday cruise on the IOS in October next year. Our cabin is right at the front (balcony) so do not expect smoke to be a problem. Have no idea what to expect ----------- correction, I expect it to be lively !!!!

 

Whatever, am sure we'll make the most of it ------ fingers crossed for the weather from Southampton at the end of August ! ;)

[kimcheeboy]

I love how Celebrity offers cold water and chilled towels when you line up to reboard the ship. It's a small thing, but much appreciated after a long day on a hot island beach.

[RichardQ]

I would say. Food is better in Quality and Presentation on X. RC 3 main courses and X 4.

All standards are higher on X. More value for money on X. But being young and restless or with childeren: go for RC.

[tucker1865]

X usually draws a better class of passenger. Our last on Allure back to back was not as enjoyable as our last Celebrity. Passengers were loud, inpulsive and not as courteous as X. Been on Oasis and Allure and unless we take the grandchildren we won't go on these again. But the captain (Captain Johnny) on Allure is the best.

[Muushka]

Celebrity = calm and smoke free.;)

[JACH77]

We love Celebrity and the smoking policy. The food is better than RCCL and the staff are friendly and courteous. I love the cold water and towels given on returning the ship after an excursion. Also on embarkation day, champagne is served to passengers at the gangway.

Edited October 11, 2012 by JACH77

[hancock]

We're treated like adults. We don't have to sign out a towel every time we need one at the pool.

[Kartgv]

We've been on both RCI (Radiance 34 days, AU & NZ) and Celebrity (Century 10 days, Vancouver to San Diego) in the past 8 months. Both have their good and not-so-good points. We found the staff and service to be excellent and comparable on both. Surprisingly, we found the food to be better on RCI than on Celebrity, especially the buffet for breakfast and lunch. Dining room dinners were about the same, with a slight edge to RCI. Celebrity's smoking policy wins, hands down, and we did enjoy the absense of announcements, sales pitches, and photographers "in your face" at every turn. Celebrity also wins on allowing you to bring 2 bottles of wine per cabin onboard at embarcation. We'll do both lines again in the future, though probably would not do the Century again unless she is completely refurbished.

[Muushka]

Oh yes, I forgot about the lack of announcements on X!

[pamstravel]

We have elite status on both RC and X and have quiet obviously enjoyed both. In the past, we found X to have better food, enjoyed the lack of announcements and smoking policy. The last few years we have found that X has really gone down in the food department and is now about on par with RC. We have always found the entertainment to be far superior on RC. X pretty much rolls.up the streets by midnight.

[suekay]

Just back fom our first Celebrity cruise after 23 on Royal. We are "mature" , don't frequent the bars or "do" the entertainment apart from maybe a couple of shows. We found the lines to be very similar although Celebrity had more plus points for us. I've compiled a list of plus/minus points for friends and will post it once I get time. The major disappointment on Silhouette was the buffet - more limited opening hours, and much more limited food selection especially in the evening (DH dislikes foreign food so that put us at a great diadvantage) This is the first cruise where I've not put on any weight so that is going in the Plus section :) Only 10 points to go til we reach diamond plus with Royal. After that, we'll book based on itinerary and price as we enjoy both lines

[compman9]

Celebrity has a free jelly bean dispenser.

 

Now, if you extrapolate from there, and imagine everything else, all the little touches, you will see why Celebrity is a five star cruise line and RCI is a four star cruise line.

[suekay]

I've copied below a list of our thoughts about the difference between Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Remember - this is just our opinion regarding our preferences, It isn't a comprehensive list as some differences didn't affect us, and what we dislike, others may prefer

 

Celebrity win

 

Bigger bathroom

 

Bigger shower cubicle with non-spurt shower head

 

Nightlight in bathroom

 

Slightly larger standard balcony with reclining chairs and higher table

 

Elite benefits- 90 minutes free wi-fi in cabin or ship computer, 30 items free laundry (said wash and fold but came back ironed and folded), priority tender tickets in cabin, free fresh squeezed orange juice at Elite breakfast in Tuscan Grill

 

Fruit juices available on sundeck and all day/evening in buffet

 

Different flavours of ice cream available all day in buffet

 

Cushioned sunloungers

 

More selection for room service, especially breakfast where cooked breakfast was available (and arrived hot with the added items we’d written in)

 

Plain poached eggs at Eggs Benedict station in breakfast buffet

 

More selection on cabin TV including a large number of free on- demand and pay-to-view films

 

Sky News on cabin TV

 

More “always available” choices on main ding room menu (DH had French onion soup most times)

 

No smoking on balcony

Fewer public announcements

No canned music on Solstice deck



 



 

Royal Caribbean win

 

Much wider selection of food in evening buffet including many items from main dining room menu

 

Limited selection in Celebrity buffet outside breakfast 7-10.30am and lunch noon–2.30pm (some salad, grill, stir fry,pasta/pizza, Indian and Mexican food available around perimeter of buffet in the meantime, but for DH who prefers plain English/American to ethnic food this became monotonous so we had to time meals carefully)

 

Better lighting in main dining room at dinner (far too dark on Sihouette – some were using the table “candle” as a torch to read the menu!!) Tables 404 and 403 were an exception as they were well lit

 

Celebrity dining room service generally much slower than Royal (but this may depend on waiters as tables 404 and 403 with Eudel and Jerome had speedy but not rushed service))

 

A table for two is a table for two on Royal. On Silhouette a table for two is generally a table for eight with a 12” inch gap between the line of four tables, giving more elbow room but little privacy

 

Better “Happy hour” timings for Diamond (5.30-8.30 on Royal compared to 5-7 on Celebrity which meant we never went)

 

Chilled fruit soup every night

 

More storage space in Royal cabins. On Silhouette there are only 3 deep drawers (IMO 4 shallower drawers would be more useful) plus the overbed cupboards which are difficult to reach. Being aware of this, I followed Cruisecritic tips and brought 2 packing cubes for all the oddments which we kept in the overbed cupboard, and some wire coathangers so we could hang more clothes than usual without taking up too much space in the wardrobe

 



 



 

Edited October 12, 2012 by suekay

[Sinppu]

This thread is really good for me. I've only sailed Royal but am keen to try Celebrity. No looking back now :)

Thanks to everyone for their input, it is valuable.

[NancyIL]

X usually draws a better class of passenger. Our last on Allure back to back was not as enjoyable as our last Celebrity. Passengers were loud, inpulsive and not as courteous as X. Been on Oasis and Allure and unless we take the grandchildren we won't go on these again. But the captain (Captain Johnny) on Allure is the best.

 

I'd be very careful about making statements about the "better class of passenger" on Celebrity vs. RCI! The same people often sail on both cruise lines.

 

I cruised on Celebrity Silhouette for 12 nights in May, and then sailed on RCI's Brilliance of the Seas for 12 nights in June - both in Europe. The bathroom on the Silhouette was the nicest standard bathroom of any ship I've been on. Silhouette's buffet had MUCH more selection than Brilliance. As mentioned - the smoking policy on Celebrity is the best.

[Sinppu]

Passengers were loud, inpulsive and not as courteous as X.

 

I believe they are called "children".

[crock921]

how are the shows on X?

 

We are going on our first X next month! TA from Rome. Concerned about what goes down during 7 sea days