Will I Make the Transition From Celebrity "S" Class to the Grand W/O a Letdown?

[need2cruisesoon]

Been on a couple Solstice class ships and really like the feel and ambiance of Modern Luxury.

 

What can I expect on the Grand as I have 2 upcoming cruises on her?

 

My last cruise on (X) the Solstice June '16, heck we were even serenaded in the Oceanview buffet:

 

[Lucky TGO]

You have to decide that for yourself. I don't know what you like or not. Sorry that's my honest answer.

Tony

[4cats4me]

Well, the Grand is no Solstice when it comes to decor, but we had a better time on the Grand duecti better entertainment, nonstop entertainment. For a while we thought Celebrity was the be-all end-all, but then we realized each line has its own merits. Equinox had nicer ambience, but we found ourselves looking for things to do at night if we didn't want to go to the main showroom. We like the martini bar on Equinox but also enjoy Crooner's on the Grand. Cabins on Solstice class are far superior, but we aren't in our room that much. We went Aqua class on Equinox. A few months later we sailed in an inside cabin on Grand and had just as good a time. Buffet on Celebrity S class far superior to the Grand. They had buckets out to catch the water drips In explorer's lounge on the grand, but it did not dissuade us from booking again. We will be on the grand in 3 weeks again. We also just booked the Equinox again, too.

 

 

 

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[Cruise Raider]

For me, there is no fair comparison ... the Solstice Class ships win hands down.

 

But, as I notice it is between a long flight or a short drive to the pier ... I would pick the Grand again. She is missing the WOW factor of the S-class ships and IMHO, she has a major design flaw or two (no center staircase causing huge traffic jams on deck 7 by the photo area and a very smoky casino area that wafts over to the guest services desk). The Grand also just looks as though there is a lack of upkeep in some but not all areas. I would be hard pressed to find this on the Solstice class ships.

 

Now, the Grand is certainly not my favorite ship but we found the crew / staff to be most accommodating on both my Dec 2015 and Aug 2016 cruise on her. I also have booked another cruise on her for 2018 just because of the convenience of being so close to her home port. That is sometimes priceless.

 

The food was good and the entertainment on the Grand was also pretty good -- there could have been a little greater variety but the performers they had were all very talented.

[GUT2407]

If I was serenaded in the Buffett I'd get off at the next port.

[need2cruisesoon]

If I was serenaded in the Buffett I'd get off at the next port.

 

We did.....Seattle

[fishywood]

Worry too much about being let down and it will turn into a self-fulfilling prophesy.

 

On one cruise I sat with a gentleman at Afternoon Tea who more than a week in was still openly disappointed that he was not greeted by a waiter with a glass of champagne as soon as he stepped onto the ship like on Celebrity.

 

Will that be you? None of us here can determine that.

[jennybenny]

Have never been serenaded on the Grand, nor would I want that. :) As much as I enjoy mariachi music, I hate when they walk around the restaurant and sing to you, or ask you to pick a song... so being serenaded is not my thing, but I could see where some people enjoy it. :)

 

I've never been on and S class ship, so I can't speak to it, but I have found that if you keep an open mind you will more than likely enjoy your cruise.

I've never been on a cruise I didn't like and I've cruised Carnival in the past. :)

 

I have found things I like better on each cruise line, We've sailed Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney and Princess, and we keep going back to works best for our family, Princess. While that works for us, every person is different.

 

So, try to keep an open mind, and you might find there are things you like about each cruise line. Then ultimately, you will decide what works best for you.

 

Enjoy your vacation!!

[Aus Traveller]

If I was serenaded in the Buffett I'd get off at the next port.

We'll go with you. :D

[easyboy]

Been on a couple Solstice class ships and really like the feel and ambiance of Modern Luxury.

 

What can I expect on the Grand as I have 2 upcoming cruises on her?

 

My last cruise on (X) the Solstice June '16, heck we were even serenaded in the Oceanview buffet:

Don't know how you define Modern Luxury.

What Suite did you book on the Grand?

[ar1950]

Hey needtocruisesoon, don't chance it. Just turn your bookings over to me. I know that I will not be disappointed. :D

[need2cruisesoon]

OK just got back last week and happy to report that all was good. Again, that being said the ship really needs major refurbishment and updating, yes I know a dry dock in December so we'll see the outcome.

 

However, Captain Wilson and the Princess singers/dancers made me feel welcomed.

 

 

 

Edited November 5, 2016 by need2cruisesoon

[DrivesLikeMario]

I think it's best if you DON'T compare the 2 ships. It's like comparing apples to oranges. Celebrity's S-Class ships are gorgeous; there's just no arguing that. The Grand is classic and beautiful in it's own way. Go with an open mind and don't expect anything similar to the S-Class.

[Colo Cruiser]

We stopped sailing the Grand when they removed Skywalkers and added One5. :rolleyes:

[easyboy]

OK just got back last week and happy to report that all was good. Again, that being said the ship really needs major refurbishment and updating, yes I know a dry dock in December so we'll see the outcome.

 

However, Captain Wilson and the Princess singers/dancers made me feel welcomed.

Most of the time, the crew and staff makes up for what is most wanting on the state of the ship .

[pris993]

Been on a couple Solstice class ships and really like the feel and ambiance of Modern Luxury.

 

What can I expect on the Grand as I have 2 upcoming cruises on her?

 

My last cruise on (X) the Solstice June '16, heck we were even serenaded in the Oceanview buffet:

 

 

We are elite on both X and Princess. We have cruised the Equniox, Eclipse, and Silhouette... did the Equinox and Eclipse in the Miditerranean and Eastern Miditerranean. Did a 7 day on the Eclipse in the Carribean and a 7 Day on the Ruby Princess back to back a few years ago... we did this because we had been feeling the Celebrity has a lot of PR but does not come through - comparing the two cruises back to back sealed the deal for us that we prefer Princess over Celebity. We always book a mini suite cabin on Princess... booked an Aqua suite on X... had BLU has our dining room .. we thought BLU was good but we were not that excited about for the extra fare.

 

Now ref your inquiry into the Grand.. we did the first cruise on the Grand when it was new ... l998, from Istanbul to Barcelona... at the time the Grand was the largest ship a float. It's design was new at the time but compared the "S" class and the new Princess and Holland America ships builted later, it is more traditional in design and layout.. this is the reason we like more than Celebrity. We also felt Princess has been more flexible when passengers want to order of menu compared to X. Entertaiment on X was creative but more hit and miss for us. We also missed no real library on the Silhouette... not even a "travel library" ... library was for decor only.

 

The buffet is one area I would rate higher on X. Lots of variety... but menu does not change daily like it does on Princess.

 

We have done 4 cruises on the Grand in the past few years, because it is home ported in San Francisco...we can take a taxi to the ship, which we love. Food, service and entertainment on the Grand has been very good. We did a new years cruise in 2015; going again this year 2016,

 

We really enjoy the Crown Grill, steak house on board. There is a variety of entertainment on board.

 

If you are trying to compare X to Princess... you may want to check out the Regal and Royal Princess ships... they have a similar design to "S" ships.

 

We are taking a TA on the Royal in 2017... from Barcelona to Ft Lauderdale... on a TA the ship is a destination ... so we will explore this new ship for the first time.

 

I hope you enjoy the Grand... not sure you will if you love the "S" class ships.

Only you can decide for yourself.

 

We did a cruise on the Queen Mary 2, last year... because many say... the QM2 is a unique experience, something to be experienced, it is an ocean liner. We had been on a sister ship, the Queen Victoria which we loved... booked 2 cruises on the QV... well, we were not impressed with the QM2.... food and entertainment on Cunard is very good. Cabins nice... but the over all layout of the OM2... flow of traffic on board odd. Any rate you don't know til you try a cruise.

 

Happy cruising.

[Cruise Junky]

 

The buffet is one area I would rate higher on X. Lots of variety... but menu does not change daily like it does on Princess.

 

.

 

The menu on my last two cruises changed daily in X in the buffet. Sure some stations stayed the same, the pasta, stir fry station and the freshly cooked station in the back with steak, chicken breasts and salmon are always present but the main proteins changed daily.

[pris993]

The menu on my last two cruises changed daily in X in the buffet. Sure some stations stayed the same, the pasta, stir fry station and the freshly cooked station in the back with steak, chicken breasts and salmon are always present but the main proteins changed daily.

 

Thanks for clarifying... we must have missed the menu changes on X, we only used the buffet at lunch... as I say lots of variety... we typically did a salad and or sandwich... X does have a very good buffet.