Celebrity v. Carnival

[Dishbaby]

Good Morning, All! :D

My husband and I have been loyal Carnival passengers for the past 10 years. After our last cruise this past week, we are beginning to consider trying another cruise line for various reasons. Could you please explain to me the difference between a Celebrity experience v. a Carnival experience? I'm not necessarily looking for which one is better, etc., just wanting to know what the differences between the two lines are because I have a feeling there are many. Thanks in advance!

[K.T.B.]

Good Morning, All! :D

My husband and I have been loyal Carnival passengers for the past 10 years. After our last cruise this past week, we are beginning to consider trying another cruise line for various reasons. Could you please explain to me the difference between a Celebrity experience v. a Carnival experience? I'm not necessarily looking for which one is better, etc., just wanting to know what the differences between the two lines are because I have a feeling there are many. Thanks in advance!

 

I think, overall, they're very similar.

 

Service is basically the same, though I feel customer service is far better with Carnival. (Carnival will go out their way to make it right for you no matter what; Celebrity will not as to not affect others, even if it would be the right thing to do.)

 

Food is better on Celebrity, but food is subjective.

 

I think Celebrity offers a much better drink package than Carnival does.

 

Celebrity is a little more "sedate" than Carnival. (Sitting by the pool, you're not under constant bombardment of activities.)

 

I think Carnival it a little more on top of things when it comes to assisting passengers in terms of ports of call. (How to get around, where not to go, etc.)

 

Celebrity's ships are a definitely "classier", more geared towards a 40+ clientele than young-ish families. Though I have seen many families with young children on board.

 

Personally, if given the choice, I'd lean more towards Celebrity, but I wouldn't say no to a Carnival cruise. :)

[killsport]

As with a lot of cruising, it depends on the itinerary :)

We (wife and I, mid-40s) have sailed Carnival in the Mediterranean. We have sailed Celebrity in the Caribbean. Prior to being married, I cruised a weekend Carnival cruise in the Caribbean. In general, here's what I'd say...

The Caribbean itinerary from Carnival generally had a younger clientele (and many children). Many are there to drink and party, regardless of impact to the rest of the passengers. There are many more activities on Carnival, although many of them are party / pool - based. The social evening activities are much more varied, and last much longer / later. The food is average, but not particularly good.

The Celebrity Caribbean itinerary has relatively few children (even during spring break). The food is better, and the ship designs (S-class) are just outstanding. There are fewer activities (although there are some pool-based items). There also is the Solarium section, which is not supposed to have anyone under 16 in it, and generally is peaceful.

The Mediterranean Carnival itinerary had a similarly aged clientele to the Caribbean Celebrity, although a few more children. The food was significantly better than other Carnival ships. The entertainment was good.

If you identify what you like / dislike about Carnival, you may get some more targeted responses. Either way, enjoy your vacation!

[gibbetygibb]

Hi there,

 

Celebrity has a more "up-market" feel and is significantly more luxurious in most ways. It is designed more to cater for a relaxed tasteful holiday rather than a party cruise.

 

You may find the average age onboard to be slightly older than Carnival (this is also perhaps partly a result of Celebrity carrying a slightly higher price tag). This does not, however, mean Celebrity compares to the likes of Cunard and Fred Olsen which typically have a high mean age onboard. It seems to attract families too, so you get most ages apart from the 20 somethings (I'm an exception to this being 25 myself!).

 

I don't know anyone who has changed their regular line to Celebrity and then gone back. I'm sure some do, just no one that I know.

[Miaminice]

Celebrity and Carnival are not in the same league by definition...

 

I´d say Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL etc. are 4 star family cruise lines.

Celebrity, HAL, Princess cover the 5 star market.

 

And yes I know there are the even more luxurious lines like Azamara, Regent, Oceania etc.

 

If you like party and entertainment all over, stay with Carnival, try RCCL or the newer NCL ships (Escape, Getaway, Breakaway). No offense intented, but I´d say most cruise Celebrity because it it more sedate and quiet... I sometimes say more grown up. If that´s what you are looking for Celebrity is right for you.

[cruisestitch]

Celebrity has no smoking inside, no smoking on balconies

[ClaudiaB]

Someone once explained it like this: If you need/want to be entertained all the time from the moment you wake up until the moment you go to sleep - with staff around urging you to do this and do that and announcements on the PA system many times during the day with reminders - then sail Carnival.

 

If you can read the daily that is placed on your bed each evening and make your own decisions about what to do and what not to do - if you don't need to be urged and reminded about what's going on - and you don't need to have glittery and glitzy decor but you like the style of a nice hotel - then sail Celebrity.

 

We personally do not want to sail on a ship that has an amusement park somewhere on the deck or smoking anywhere at all indoors or on balconies or a PA system that comes on more than once a day for 5 minutes. We can entertain ourselves, we don't need to *BE* entertained.

 

There's a ship for every taste. Hope you find yours.

[carolslc]

I've sailed both and loved both! To me, as long as I'm in a balcony cabin, it's more about the itinerary than anything.

 

The differences to me, based on our experiences - your mileage may vary -

 

- on Celebrity the crowd is quite a bit older, and it is dead in the evenings. You have to make your own fun. On Carnival, we had a blast in the disco and deck parties. We don't have to be entertained constantly and did none of the activities during the day, but we like to dance and have fun after dinner.

- I liked the Celebrity Solarium area for adults much better than the Serenity area on Carnival. It wasn't as crowded, it's more protected from wind, and in addition to drinks you have the Aqua Spa Cafe.

- MDR food both good. I think the buffet on Celebrity is much better.

- Room service menu on Celebrity is better.

- The Celebrity ships felt less crowded in general - maybe because there are many more families on Carnival so more people per cabin.

- Overall atmosphere is classier on Celebrity

 

I still pick based on itinerary and price. But if those two are comparable, I'd choose Celebrity, and did, for our next one. But we are bringing friends this time. We may be dancing by ourselves in the disco. :-) If Carnival has a killer deal in the future on a great itinerary, then sure, I'd sail Carnival again.

[VitaminSea1]

Celebrity and Carnival are not similar in any way! Celebrity is a premium line in most ways and Carnival is a discount line.

 

From elegant, posh (not in your face colors, sparkly etc) interiors to attentive service and more mellow cruisers (very few kiddos), and outside facilities made for total relaxation, Celebrity stands out in a good way.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Susanbf]

We cruise on both lines, love them.

 

 

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[sound_guy0918]

The biggest difference we noticed was that X was MUCH quieter. No in-room announcements. Quieter background music. Less poolside MC'ed events blaring. Music (live or recorded) was older and more subdued.

 

With CCL we set our expectations for a Holiday Inn caliber dining and hotel experience, and we were thoroughly satisfied.

 

With X, our expectations were for a downtown Sheraton / Radisson experience, and we were also thoroughly satisfied, and in some cases (dining at the Normandie) we were absolutely blown away.

 

Considering the value of the drink package and OBC from X compared to CCL's lower PP pricing, the actual out-of-pocket cost to cruise was almost identical.

[Kentucky816]

We prefer Celebrity but if you want to try Carnival may I recommend the "Breeze" or the new "Vista". We like the Breeze, hoping to try the new Vista as some point.

[Island2Girl]

We have taken a few cruises on both. In my opinion,

Carnival is "louder". More activities, more shows and more announcements. And way more rowdy activity at the pool (Think hairy chest contest) Carnival pax are more casual.

Celebrity is more quiet. No in-room announcements are a joy! Celebrity pax are less casual in dress and actions. No hairy chest contest at the pool. Think pool olympics instead.

 

Celebrity does not allow smoking except in very defined areas of the ship. No smoking in the casino.

Carnival allows smoking in the casino.

 

Deserts: Carnival, chocolate melty cake!

Celebrity: Souffle and pastries from Cafe Bacio!

 

Carnival, best comedy shows EVER!

Celebrity, shows are pretty good.

 

Celebrity drink package, no daily limit

Carnival drink package, daily limit

 

I'm sure there are more that I am not thinking of right now.

[varoo]

Someone once explained it like this: If you need/want to be entertained all the time from the moment you wake up until the moment you go to sleep - with staff around urging you to do this and do that and announcements on the PA system many times during the day with reminders - then sail Carnival.

 

We agree. The constant announcements and rah-rah prodding to join in this activity and that activity were what we disliked most about Carnival.

 

The food and service on Carnival were fine.

No complaints there. (Although the ice-cream is much better on Celebrity.)

We have met very nice people on both lines.

 

We prefer Celebrity, but have no hesitation about cruising Carnival when they offer an itinerary that we want.

 

Celebrity cruises have a more relaxed, laid-back vibe with nice little extra special touches.

We really like Celebrity's smoking restrictions.

 

 

Carnival got its crowded party boat reputation from their short spring break cruises, but on their longer cruises during times when school is in session, the atmosphere is very different and the ships are less crowded.

 

 

Since Celebrity started including the beverage packages, we have seen more drunks on Celebrity cruises than we ever saw on Carnival.

 

 

But having said this, in fairness I should add that we only sail on Carnival's longer cruises and avoid school break times.

Additionally, we prefer to stick with Carnival's smaller Spirit class ships and avoid the amusement park type monster ships with all the bells and whistles that tend to attract more "lively" passengers.

 

[ShawninFL]

Although both Carnival and Celebrity can both provide a cruise vacation to similar ports, the similarities end there. One is not necessarily better than the other, but personal tastes will definitely push an individual one way or the other. I prefer Celebrity over Carnival, but with that being said, I'd still sail on Carnival. Here are my observations

 

Ships: Carnival ships are decorated in a very bright and "loud" style. Celebrity ships have a more refined and softer stylish decor.

 

Food: Overall, my best dining experiences have all been on Celebrity ships. Of the mass market lines, I believe Celebrity tops the field. I've always found Carnival's food to be basic and just acceptable. Their buffet many times has been poor. With that being said, on my last Carnival cruise this past September, I found the food in the MDR to be excellent - but this was a first for me.

 

Pool: Carnival ships will have lots of activities around the pool in my experience with lots of children (which I have no problem with - if you're in a pool you have to expect you're gonna get splashed). There will be some type of waterslide somewhere on the ship and the activities staff will have a sexy legs or belly flop competition on sea days. Celebrity ships are going to have a pretty tame pool experience without any of the sometimes fun but other times hokey belly flop/sexy legs competition. Newer Celebrity ships also have more shaded areas around the pool and nicer lounge chairs with cushions all around the pool deck. There will be few children and in my experience not many kids even on holiday sailings.

 

Nightlife: Hands down Carnival wins if you're looking for a "night" out. The Casino, lounges, and night club will be jammed until the early hours of the morning. The Celebrity ship will be a ghost town by 11 or 12 every night. It's rare I've even been in a packed Celebrity casino. I find a casino much more fun when it's busy.

 

Entertainment: I personally find cruise entertainment to be pretty consistently, non consistent, even within the same cruise line. Some things will wow, some will be good and some will make you cringe.

 

Drink Packages: Here, Celebrity kills Carnival. Carnival is very restrictive. They strictly limit what is included and how much. I like a Meyers float on my daiquiri, not on Carnival. Do a shot before your evening cocktail, not....well wait 5 minutes. Hand the bartender a nice cash tip to get the float...nope. Refused everytime. Celebrity, unlimited unless you get out of hand and then they will cut you off. Tip your bartender or server and they'll get you what you want. We just have always had a better experience on Celebrity (and Royal Caribbean) in regards to the drink package vs. Carnival.

 

We started off as Carnival cruisers and had awesome trips. Then we tried something different just to see what it was like and decided we liked that even better. As we got older (now in our mid 40s) we now prefer Celebrity as our first choice. Give Celebrity a try and see if it meets your needs. However, any cruise that doesn't sink, break down, or burn down is still better than a day at home and especially a day at work.

[Viva_la_Vida]

Good Morning, All! :D

My husband and I have been loyal Carnival passengers for the past 10 years. After our last cruise this past week, we are beginning to consider trying another cruise line for various reasons. Could you please explain to me the difference between a Celebrity experience v. a Carnival experience? I'm not necessarily looking for which one is better, etc., just wanting to know what the differences between the two lines are because I have a feeling there are many. Thanks in advance!

 

I just did a quick comparison review of my experience going to carnival from Celebrity. Feel free to check it out

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2338252

[royalcruz]

To me the main differences are:

Carnival passengers are younger and rowdier.

Carnival is noisier (announcements, people, entertainment).

Celebrity ship staff are much better at customer service and resolving issues.

Celebrity buffet areas are much nicer.

 

I've only been on 2 Carnival cruises and they've been the worst cruises I've been on.

[SWFL Cruisers]

To me it's like;

Carnival = Walmart

Celebrity = Nordstroms

[K.T.B.]

To me the main differences are:

Carnival passengers are younger and rowdier.

Carnival is noisier (announcements, people, entertainment).

Celebrity ship staff are much better at customer service and resolving issues.

Celebrity buffet areas are much nicer.

 

I've only been on 2 Carnival cruises and they've been the worst cruises I've been on.

 

To me it's like;

Carnival = Walmart

Celebrity = Nordstroms

 

Well, that's definitely disparaging of Carnival passengers.

 

I will say Celebrity does have less announcements than Carnival, but the worst customer service I've ever received for any vacation was when I was on Silhouette. I was treated as if I was a second class citizen.

[gopro63]

No water slides, no Kids water fountain Better yet taken away. If having that type of fun. Your choice.

 

No other activity that nature but a basketball court some adult horse shoes and bochie(sp) mini gol maybe 1 hole if locky. if volley bal is out its because of the Staff wanting you to participate as well mini golf or what not you at the pool

 

Never been on a Carnivalso if you

[carolslc]

Well, that's definitely disparaging of Carnival passengers.

 

I will say Celebrity does have less announcements than Carnival, but the worst customer service I've ever received for any vacation was when I was on Silhouette. I was treated as if I was a second class citizen.

 

I will say that on our last cruise on the Carnival Magic, we had the BEST customer service ever - after two Celebrity cruises. Celebrity beats Carnival in other areas, but in our experience, Carnival staff were the friendliest, most over-the-top helpful.

[K.T.B.]

I will say that on our last cruise on the Carnival Magic, we had the BEST customer service ever - after two Celebrity cruises. Celebrity beats Carnival in other areas, but in our experience, Carnival staff were the friendliest, most over-the-top helpful.

 

My Silhouette experience could have been truly horrendous if it was not for Koray Savas, who was the Food and Beverage Manager of Silhouette at the time I sailed her. He definitely went above and beyond to correct any and all slights. I truly commend him for his efforts. It was not his fault that, by that time, it was a little too late. Be that as it may, it's basically because of him that we booked Celebrity again. :)

[Blondie008]

There are many contributing factors to Carnival V Celebrity.

For sure one is length of cruise. I have been on Carnival 4 nights, 6 nights and 8 nights. 8 nights was a fantastic experience- 4 nights - well - similar to other lines who do 4 nighters - it becomes a booze cruise.

And yes, even on Cunard, 4 night cruises entertain hen & stag dos'.

I have an open mind with cruiselines. My only never never never again would be P&O, I doubt very much I would cruise Royal Caribbean again - had a pretty bad experience on the Royal Suite on there - but those aside - I keep an open mind.

Some of Carnival's new ships are looking pretty spectacular - and yes, their crew are awesome. They put up with a LOT - I have a close friend who works for Carnival and the horror stories she tells me - :eek:

Celebrity of course has the edge for mass line "a notch up" - But our experience on the TA last year was by no means perfect -

Carnival and Celebrity are two entirely different lines - cannot really compare - each has pluses and minuses.

[starri]

My husband and I did a five-night on the Connie back in March. There was a group of NY Jets fans for an official Jets cruise onboard as well. They were also pretty rowdy the first evening.

 

Things quieted down a lot by the second day, to the point that I wondered if some of them had been put off the ship in Key West.

 

My point being that any cruise, even on a more upscale line like X, can be a little wild.