Hopefully next time HAL, anyone cruised Celebrity?

[matondo]

Well, we tried but this cruise we were going with another couple and we could not sell them on the Zuiderdam. Believe me we tried. So we have booked the Celebrity Equinox. I am excited to try a new cruise line BUT we miss HAL. Our last cruise we finally got 2 star status. It looks like it will be a bit before we can start "working" towards that third star.

 

I know this group is quite well traveled. As a HAL lover is anything you would like to share with me about the Celebrity Equinox.

 

Give my love to the fleet and the 4 star service we have always loved.

[candbgirl]

The Equinox is an absolutely beautiful ship. I know food is very subjective but I loved each and everything I had on the ship. There are way more activities on Equinox than I remember on HAL. And you can also find a nice spot to just read. I think you'll enjoy your Equinox cruise.

[iancal]

It is DW's favourite ship. We have been on quite a few different ships and cruise lines. We spent two weeks on Equinox this past Christmastime.

 

No point in commenting about food/service/entertainment as this is so subjective and can change from crew to crew. But, Celebrity does have a very good, and an extensive wine list even in the moderate price range.

 

We like the layout. It is a larger ship but does not have the feel of a larger ship because it is so well designed. Anytime dining is very, very well managed. Lots of alternative dining venues to try as well.

 

A big plus for us is the smoking regulations. No smoking on the balcony or in most other parts of the ship. You can spend an hour in the casino without coming out smelling like an ashtray and needing your clothes dry cleaned.

 

Just go and have a great time. It is always good to sample another product/service.

Edited February 16, 2014 by iancal

[ORCRUISER]

Love Celebrity. We have done two cruise son Equinox's sister ships. Also have done two HAL cruises and I might just prefer Celebrity probably because the two ships we've been on were newer. I've never had a BAD cruise!

[whogo]

Per Cruise Critic reviews:

 

Zuiderdam - 77% of cruisers loved it http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=266

Celebrity Equinox - 93% of cruisers loved it http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=382

 

The pursuit of Mariner benefits does not make economic sense. What is it that appeals to you about three stars? $7.25 discount at the Pinnacle Grill? 25% off minibar purchases? A big, clumsy pin with three stars instead of two?

 

Take the Celebrity cruise and enjoy.

[Hlitner]

My thought is: try it..and you might like it! We are 4 Star HAL Maniners and Elite Plus with Celebrity. They are both excellent cruise lines with each having their pros and cons. But sometimes variety is a lot of fun (it is why we have been on 14 different cruise lines) and it keeps everything new and exciting. The Equinox (and her sister S-Class ships) have a wonderful design and they are our favorite Celebrity vessels. You should enjoy your cruise and might find it fun to compare the two lines (and different type ships).

 

What you left unsaid in your post was why your friends refuse to go on HAL...

 

Hank

Edited February 16, 2014 by Hlitner

[matondo]

My thought is: try it..and you might like it! We are 4 Star HAL Maniners and Elite Plus with Celebrity. They are both excellent cruise lines with each having their pros and cons. But sometimes variety is a lot of fun (it is why we have been on 14 different cruise lines) and it keeps everything new and exciting. The Equinox (and her sister S-Class ships) have a wonderful design and they are our favorite Celebrity vessels. You should enjoy your cruise and might find it fun to compare the two lines (and different type ships).

 

What you left unsaid in your post was why your friends refuse to go on HAL...

 

Hank

 

Interestingly enough why our friends did not want to go on HAL was the customer satisfaction reviews.

 

My DH has only been on one other cruise line aside from HAL and that was Disney. Disney was a 3 night cruise, way too short and too many children in the public spaces for him. DD and I loved it but it really is all subjective.

 

Thank you for the positive feedback about Celebrity!

[cruisetrail]

Well, we tried but this cruise we were going with another couple and we could not sell them on the Zuiderdam. Believe me we tried. So we have booked the Celebrity Equinox. I am excited to try a new cruise line BUT we miss HAL. Our last cruise we finally got 2 star status. It looks like it will be a bit before we can start "working" towards that third star.

 

I know this group is quite well traveled. As a HAL lover is anything you would like to share with me about the Celebrity Equinox.

 

Give my love to the fleet and the 4 star service we have always loved.

 

The Equinox is Celebrity second best ship after the Eclipse (newer ships Silhouette and Reflection are gradual increase in number of passengers and reduction in amenities and public space).

The Equinox retains the Solstice class original "signature" features: Hot Glass Show and the Grass Lawn.

 

Is it worth trying?

Absolutely yes.

Cruising is a pleasure. The more various cruise lines you try the better.

If your question were about the Carnival Breeze or NCL Breakawy - I would say the same: try it.

 

Besides the lawn and glass show you'll find a soaring atrium with glass elevators a la Royal Caribbean.

A stronger part of Celebrity product is extra charge dining. They offer more options than HAL, Cunard and Princess.

In my ranking Celebrity (overall) is below Cunard, HAL, Princess and Royal Caribbean due to major design flaws. This is what prevents us from planning cruises on Celebrity in the nearest future.

Just to mention the major ones.

The ship is lacking promenade deck, hydropool, separate open pool deck for adults. We did not like lack of privacy on crowded sun decks on Celebrity S-class.

 

"Modern Luxury" sounds like a marketing joke to me.

Public rooms are "stunnig" for first timers.

I found them nice looking but very generic, faceless. It's like a hotel. No taste of a cruise ship, no soul, no heart.

 

The Zuiderdam is the oldest Vista class ship in HAL fleet.

The Signature class ships are newer and have more amenities and public space.

 

Below is a summary chart that reflects what the ships have to offer - the whole "menu".

Celebrity has advantage in some areas.

 

Some cruisers are focused on limited number of items and don't pay attention to the rest of the ship.

It's subjective.

For example, we would use the whole menu.

Therefore Celebrity is never an option for us in comparison with Princess or HAL.

But my grandpa would focus on cabins, room service and public rooms.

So up to his priorities Celebrity would be in a good standing.

 

 

Enjoy your cruise!

Edited February 16, 2014 by cruisetrail

[BSinPNS]

We started off on HAL and like you made it to two-star before we switched to Celebrity. Have now been on 7 X cruises. We like the ships - especially the Solstice class. Love the modern look. We are now Elite on X and that brings far more benefits that four-star on HAL. I think HAL and X are more alike than different. Would we return to HAL - sure, for the right cruise. X only has 10 ships and one of those, Century, is going away in a year so there are fewer unique itineraries.

[cbr663]

We started off on HAL and like you made it to two-star before we switched to Celebrity. Have now been on 7 X cruises. We like the ships - especially the Solstice class. Love the modern look. We are now Elite on X and that brings far more benefits that four-star on HAL. I think HAL and X are more alike than different. Would we return to HAL - sure, for the right cruise. X only has 10 ships and one of those, Century, is going away in a year so there are fewer unique itineraries.

 

That is what I understand also, that X's passenger reward program offers better benefits than HALs. I have also been reading that X offers more amenities for its suite passengers, so I am guessing that after our Alaska cruise with HAL this Spring, we will be checking out X. We do though want to do the ABC islands with HAL.

[cruz chic]

I've taken two celebrity cruises and I'm not a fan. There is nothing to bring me back there. I hope you will let is know what you thought of it when you get back. Both Princess and Hal have a much better product IMO.

[grandgeezer]

I'm looking for a last minute seven night Caribbean cruise out oh Ft Lauderdale. There is a web site that shows last minute deals. There are Fourteen HAL cruises that have balconies for $599 p.p. The Cheapest Celebrity cruise is $749 p.p. Prices are determined by supply and demand. According to this, who has a better product?

[cruz chic]

I'm looking for a last minute seven night Caribbean cruise out oh Ft Lauderdale. There is a web site that shows last minute deals. There are Fourteen HAL cruises that have balconies for $599 p.p. The Cheapest Celebrity cruise is $749 p.p. Prices are determined by supply and demand. According to this, who has a better product?

 

I've found the celebrity gives better prices to those that commit early. Hal gouges those that book early and gives away the farm to those that book late. I think that is the conclusion you can draw from this. I don't think it speaks anything to how good the product is.

[cruisetrail]

I'm looking for a last minute seven night Caribbean cruise out oh Ft Lauderdale. There is a web site that shows last minute deals. There are Fourteen HAL cruises that have balconies for $599 p.p. The Cheapest Celebrity cruise is $749 p.p. Prices are determined by supply and demand. According to this, who has a better product?

 

Not that simple.

Global companies. Different markets, different strategies.

Different ships, different operational costs. Different ratio of inside/balconies/suites cabins...

 

Right now cruises are available for booking (March 2014):

 

Eastern Caribbean

 

MS Eurodam (4 ports) - from $449

Celebrity Reflection (3 ports) - from $449 + incentives

 

For the balconies the difference is as you said - I would spend it on hydropool on the Eurodam and get the ultimate cruise.

[Murray's Pop]

I have also been reading that X offers more amenities for its suite passengers....

 

That's not what we experienced. We found that the HAL suites and perks were much better than X. X has butlers, but ours was terrible - the folks in the Neptune lounge provided a much better experience. Also no Neptune Lounge, or breakfast in the Pinnacle.

 

Now the Premium Beverage package on X is, in our opinion, the best in the industry.

[Tampa Girl]

I've found the celebrity gives better prices to those that commit early. Hal gouges those that book early and gives away the farm to those that book late. I think that is the conclusion you can draw from this. I don't think it speaks anything to how good the product is.

 

I don't understand your comment. It has been my experience that if the price drops on HAL, you can get the reduction. So how is this gouging? One just has to stay on top of it, and this forum is wonderful for keeping us informed.

[Hlitner]

That is what I understand also, that X's passenger reward program offers better benefits than HALs. I have also been reading that X offers more amenities for its suite passengers, so I am guessing that after our Alaska cruise with HAL this Spring, we will be checking out X. We do though want to do the ABC islands with HAL.

 

When it comes to the reward programs, it is not even close. Celebrity wins by a mile. But that assumes you get to the "Elite" level where you start getting things like a free 2 hour daily cocktail party and quite a bit of free internet time. We are at the Elite Plus level where we get hundreds of free internet minutes, free laundry, free daily cocktail parties, free daily continental breakfasts which include free drinks like Mimosas and Bloody Marys, etc. As 4 Star Mariners on HAL we usually get 1 short free cocktail party (this is all we got on a 62 day cruise), free laundry, a nice discount in the Pinnacle, and 50% off of a couple of wine packages (which are overpriced before the discount).

 

There are other Celebrity benefits like upgrades....but no need to go into all the details. Suffice it to say that HAL lags horribly when it comes to their reward program.

 

Hank

[Taxguy77]

A few years ago we made a TA on X and enjoyed it very much.

Two years later, we made a TA on HAL. No additional comment.:(

[PROCRUISE]

The Celebrity Equinox is absolutely outstanding. Of all the vessels we've cruised on, The Equinox IS our favorite. :)

[cruisetrail]

When it comes to the reward programs, it is not even close. Celebrity wins by a mile. But that assumes you get to the "Elite" level where you start getting things like a free 2 hour daily cocktail party and quite a bit of free internet time. We are at the Elite Plus level where we get hundreds of free internet minutes, free laundry, free daily cocktail parties, free daily continental breakfasts which include free drinks like Mimosas and Bloody Marys, etc. As 4 Star Mariners on HAL we usually get 1 short free cocktail party (this is all we got on a 62 day cruise), free laundry, a nice discount in the Pinnacle, and 50% off of a couple of wine packages (which are overpriced before the discount).

 

There are other Celebrity benefits like upgrades....but no need to go into all the details. Suffice it to say that HAL lags horribly when it comes to their reward program.

 

Hank

 

IMHO, it's better to have them than not, but reward programs "benefits" are negligible (literally nothing) when it comes to cruise comparisons.

I don't think that these little things overweight tremendous lack of amenities on Celebrity in comparison with best HAL ships. :)

[cruz chic]

I don't understand your comment. It has been my experience that if the price drops on HAL, you can get the reduction. So how is this gouging? One just has to stay on top of it, and this forum is wonderful for keeping us informed.

 

I'm speaking of after final payment. How do you get the price reduction after that? Please explain how that is done. You spend a lot of time here so you should know you can't. I wish you would stop being so critical of everyone since I was nice enough to share the price check tool with you. Next time I'll just delete your email.

[Hlitner]

IMHO, it's better to have them than not, but reward programs "benefits" are negligible (literally nothing) when it comes to cruise comparisons.

I don't think that these little things overweight tremendous lack of amenities on Celebrity in comparison with best HAL ships. :)

 

Ok, let me put it in terms of dollars. DW and I are both social drinkers and probably drink more on cruise vacations then when at home. So on a typical Celebrity cruise we will go to the Elite Breakfast and DW will have a mimosa and I will have a Bloody Mary and a cappuccino. So by 10 am we have already had over $20 in benefits. And then we have the evening cocktail hour (actually 2 hours). Most of the time I will have 3 drinks (plus the free hot canapés) and DW will have 2 drinks. So that is 5 drinks worth about $40. This means that on a typical day we will have saved about $60 just in beverages. And because of these free drinks in the evening, we do not have any desire to purchase other pre dinner cocktails. So on a 14 day cruise, with just this one benefit, we will save well over $700. Now lets talk about the internet. On a similar HAL cruise I would normally buy a $100 internet package. But on Celebrity DW and will get about 400 free internet minutes (worth nearly $200 on HAL). So we have now saved about $700 on drinks plus at least $100 on the internet or a total of $800. Now, I am not even going to count other social events we get on Celebrity (that also give us free drinks and snacks). But we do not consider saving $800 "literally nothing."

 

Now most of our cruises are longer then 14 days (we cruise over 70 days a year) so you can do the math. And we have not factored in other dollar savings such as we get with normal Elite upgrades.

 

When we took a 62 day Prinsendam cruise we had a bar bill that ran into the thousands of dollars. If that same cruise had been taken on Celebrity ( they do not have that same itinerary) our booze bill would have been reduced by over $2000 and our internet bill by several hundred dollars. Again, this is not "literally nothing" in our world....but we do understand that some HAL cruisers have no interest in saving money.

 

Now let be very clear. We still do like HAL, will continue to cruise on the line (have a 39 day cruise booked with HAL later this year) because we think that HAL has some of the best itineraries in the industry. We think that every cruise line has their pros and cons, and have never been the type of traveler to get into a rut with a single cruise line, destination, etc.

 

Hank

[cruisetrail]

This calculation is interesting and makes sense for the way you cruise.

 

In our case the equation is different.

We don't buy internet on cruise ships - no time to use it.

We are not drinkers - a bottle of wine on a cruise at most.

With or without perks - we have nothing to do on Celebrity as major amenities that we like and use most of all are missing or worse than on Cunard/HAL/Princess/RCI.

[Tampa Girl]

I'm speaking of after final payment. How do you get the price reduction after that? Please explain how that is done. You spend a lot of time here so you should know you can't. I wish you would stop being so critical of everyone since I was nice enough to share the price check tool with you. Next time I'll just delete your email.

 

 

First, it was not clear that you were speaking of final payment. And, I would agree with you on that. Although, even after final payment, we were able to obtain a substantial OBC, which, after all, is another form of price reduction. Sorry that you thought I was being critical of you. I did not intend that. I clearly said that I did not understand your comment, which I obviously had not. Personal accusations, BTW, are neither necessary or appropriate.

[Hlitner]

This calculation is interesting and makes sense for the way you cruise.

 

In our case the equation is different.

We don't buy internet on cruise ships - no time to use it.

We are not drinkers - a bottle of wine on a cruise at most.

With or without perks - we have nothing to do on Celebrity as major amenities that we like and use most of all are missing or worse than on Cunard/HAL/Princess/RCI.

 

We agree that for non-drinkers the additional amenities are not a big deal. However, we find that on long cruises (we are talking over a month) it is hard for us to be totally out of touch with our family, friends and the world. So the internet becomes important as a way to keep in touch, pay bills, and even check and make reservations for things at various ports (we tend to avoid tours and travel independently).

 

A big complaint we often hear on our HAL cruises is the cost of internet. Most of the HAL competitiors give some free internet to their frequent cruises (i.e. Princess, RCI, Celebrity, etc) but on HAL all of us but 5 Star Mariners have to pay approximately 40 -50 cents a min for very slow service. This is probably the perk we miss the most on HAL.

 

Hank