NCL vs. Celebrity on Transatlantics - Questions

[Turtles06]

Is formal night, and other dress codes enforced on Celebrity? NCL's resort casual appeals to us as well.

 

On formal nights, if you want to eat in the MDR, you'll need to adhere to the dress code, which is "looser" than strict formal attire, and defined by Celebrity this way:

 

Ladies: Cocktail dress, gown, or dressy pantsuit. Gentlemen: Tuxedo, suit, or dinner jacket with slacks. Only required in the Main Restaurant on formal evenings.

 

As a female, I've been just fine wearing dressy slacks and a dressy jacket, and many other women are similarly attired. Many men don't wear a tux.

 

There are, however, options for dining on formal nights that don't require formal attire. The specialty restaurants are "smart casual" every night, or you can eat in the buffet (I don't recommend this, it's very limited at night), or order room service. Also, passengers staying in Aqua class cabins dine in Blu, which is "smart casual" every night.

 

My spouse and I are not big into dressing up, especially on vacation, and when we took our first Celebrity cruise, after five on NCL, the whole idea of formal night was a little off putting. But we found it was sort of fun (in that special way), and kind of nice to be on a ship where people were dressed up for an evening. We just returned from our second Celebrity cruise, and I think we pretty much have the clothing thing "down" now (and have our third Celebrity cruise booked). The biggest pain, frankly, is having to bring a pair of dress shoes.

[Atlanta_Cruiser]

Thank you all for such great replies. I really appreciate it. One thing that popped out was the word "SMOKEY"! Is smoking allowed in the casino and in venues?

 

For Celebrity: they do offer anytime seating in the main dining rooms, which I always choose. Never a long wait (1-10 minutes) and they will seat you at your own table or at a larger table.

 

Celebrity solstice class ships had great TA entertainment. The Constellation was elevator music and violinists. The Sailaway band (I think they were staff singers and, bless their hearts, were singing 70's love songs; "desperado", "take me home, country roads" and sang them as slow ballads. Again, upper deck around the pool... Sailaway. Ouch. I guess I was expecting more upbeat toe-tapping music. The entertainers... The comedian I was considering asking him for the mike and just taking over his show. The funniest and best was the host/Entertainment Director JC and his sidekick. They really should have their own comedy series on TV. Hysterical. The Staff and Service on the Connie was A+. Food is very subjective and since I live in Atlanta and have an opportunity to dine at some great places, I found the dining room food bland and uneventful. But the specialty restaurants were excellent and pricey. But I don't cruise for food. I cruise for entertainment and destination/ports/excursions. Formal nights: Celebrity does not allow extreme casual in the dining room or jeans. I wore flip flops because of a foot injury and they didn't ever say anything. I bring one simple black cocktail dress on a TA and dress it with different jewelry. Everyone is different and everyone always seems to have a delightful time.

 

Again, thank you for all your feedback. It's really helping me decide my next cruise.

 

Cory from Atlanta

 

 

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[Demonyte]

One thing that popped out was the word "SMOKEY"! Is smoking allowed in the casino and in venues?

 

Only inside venues where smoking is permitted are casino and possible cigar lounge etc. Smoking is not allowed in restaurants and bars in general.

[anandaindonesia]

On X, the sauna and steam rooms are free. Albeit small, in the locker room, but functional and free. :D

 

On the Epic, I'll need to factor in the Spa Pass. I'll need sauna and steam rooms especially for the long sea days, and Epic needs money. :p

 

Edited: Ooops.... sorry! Is it free on X, or not? My memory blurred.... maybe I get it mixed up with Crystal....?

Edited December 25, 2013 by anandaindonesia

[Charles4515]

Thank you all for such great replies. I really appreciate it. One thing that popped out was the word "SMOKEY"! Is smoking allowed in the casino and in venues?

 

 

Smoking is allowed in the casino on NCL. I don't know about Epic but on Breakaway the casino did not really have walls so I could smell it in the venues in the center.

[Charles4515]

On X, the sauna and steam rooms are free. Albeit small, in the locker room, but functional and free. :D

 

 

On X there is a free sauna in the locker room. A coed sauna and steam room is in the Persian Gardens. There is a fee for the Persian Gardens unless you a book Aquaspa Cabin. If you book AQ the Persian Gardens are included.

[grandgeezer]

I have done three transatlantics on Celebrity and loved every minute of each of them. I've done one Panama Canal on Norwegian, and wasn't impressed with any aspect of it, but that was over five years ago. I found a fourteen day transatlantic on the Epic next fall and it was only about $1100 for a mini suite. That intrigued me so I started doing some investigation on the ship by reading the reviews here on CC. I have read a lot of reviews on a lot of ships and I have never read so many negative reviews. Are these a true representation of this ship? If so, I wouldn't go on it, even for free.