RCCL vs. Celebrity

[ggo85]

We've been loyal RCCL cruisers for more than a decade and have been fortunate enough to be able to travel in suites most of the time. We just booked a suite on Reflexion for our 20th. It will be our first time on Celebrity and we're very excited as we've heard such great things about the line.

 

For others who've cruised RCCL and Celebrity, we'd love to know what things we will probably enjoy more on Celebrity and anything we'll miss from RCCL.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Mr. Click]

Better food in general, better service in general. We did 3 southern caribbean cruises on Royal and enjoyed them but had to go to Celebrity for a Med cruise that had the itinerary and just loved it. After that we stuck with Celebrity ever since except on time when we went with friends to try the mega ship experience on the Allure. That was the nail in the coffin. Terrible food in the MDR, worse service all over the ship. Game, Set, Match Celebrity.

[wallie5446]

Our first RCCL was in 1989, we are Diamond. Our first Celebrity was in 1994, we are Elite. Mariner 2007, Freedom 2011, and our last 3 have been back on Celebrity.

 

Don't know your age but Celebrity is more like an upscale country club, where Royal is like a theme park.

Reflection is our favorite ship of the 7 lines we have cruised on.

 

You will wonder why you waited so long to try X.

[Luvcrusn]

There is also much less smoking permitted on Celebrity, none in the casino. On Royal we generally have to avoid the casino completely as I am very sensitive to smoke and cannot even walk through. Generally there are fewer children and young families, although we tend to sail longer itineraries so that is also a factor. We have found the service much better on Celebrity and have enjoyed the food more as well. There's the chilled rolled towels and cold drinks when returning to the ship dockside on hot days and broth on cold days. Those are a few of my favorite things!

[Myke729]

I have found a few differences in the lines from our previous cruises. We sail Royal a lot and are Diamond so we are very used to their offerings and love the environment and ships. Celebrity affords us a more upscale experience without being stuffy. We have found the food on Celebrity to be better than that of RCCL, especially in the Ocean View Cafe compared to the Windjammer.

[JMG]

We are D+ on Royal and have completed 5 cruises with Celebrity.

 

We have found that Celebrity is a better value. The perks that we get are great.

On Royal they have the D Lounge. You have to go to get your appetizers and hope the trays are not empty. On Celebrity, (Elite Cocktail hour) they have servers going around the room offering you an appetizer.

 

We love the atmosphere on Celebrity. Boarding the ship, you are offered a glass of champagne/Mimosa/or orange juice. A very nice Welcome. During the day, there is usually just one announcement and that is the Captains Daily Report. The CD is not constantly announcing shipboard events. Shows on Celebrity are not the same WOW as Royal but they are entertaining. The Staff Officers on Celebrity often are the focus of some of the entertainment. Officers Vrs Passenger pool volley ball...dancing with the Stripes...are examples.

 

We did find the stateroom storage to be a little tighter on Celebrity ships but it is manageable. The chilled towels and cool drinks offered on the pier are a nice treat to help you cool off after a hot day on shore.

[bigbenboys]

The suite life is great. You will have use of Luminae for most meals. You can also order off the MDR menu. I tend to order off both menus. Michael's Club is very nice with afternoon tea 3 to 4pm and appetizers about 5pm. The Concierge in Michael's Club will book excursions for you. Also will book small excursions groups for suite guests.

[4774Papa]

We love Celebrity and prefer them even though we have done some cruises on NCL.

 

I agree with the posted comments above, but one thing hasn't been discussed is the price increases for Celebrity over the past couple of years.

 

Also, the bundling with promos that we don't want adds to the high pricing.

 

We wanted to talk a NZ cruise and compared Celebrity against RCI for Spring 2018 and found Celebrity's price, one promo included was more than double RCI's and the RCI cruise was one day longer. We eventually booked our first two RCI cruises out of Sydney, one to NZ and return, then after five days a TransPacific all the way to Hawaii. Prices were great and we are diamond due to being elite on Celebrity.

 

We still have an eclipse TA booked for October and looking forward to that cruise. Someone posted a review of major cruise line pricing for the last few years and it revealed that Celebrity's prices have gone up more than any other major cruise line. We hope this trend is not permanent.

[Leeleesmith]

Rccl is so much better then celebrity, rccl makes experience so fun and entertaining the invest more on their ships to make them amazing especially the oasis class, other ship are great too.

 

our last celebrity cruise was not too impressive, it lacked excitement and it was not at all like rccl. at all huge difference.

 

if you want excitement and tons of things to do onboard, pick rccl they have never disappointed us

[riclop]

We've been loyal RCCL cruisers for more than a decade and have been fortunate enough to be able to travel in suites most of the time. We just booked a suite on Reflexion for our 20th. It will be our first time on Celebrity and we're very excited as we've heard such great things about the line.

 

For others who've cruised RCCL and Celebrity, we'd love to know what things we will probably enjoy more on Celebrity and anything we'll miss from RCCL.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Nothing at all RCCL is a lot more fun and much better entertainment.

[Pier290]

X !!

 

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[Cruizen Susan]

We cruise X most of the time, and Royal when we leave from Port Liberty. While it's convenient to not have to fly to the port in New Jersey for Royal, X is hands down by far the more quality cruise line.

[Cruise Raider]

We've not sailed in a suite on either line so can't speak to that.

 

In my opinion, RCCL is geared more towards families and Celebrity, more to adults.

We've recently sailed on both so here are my comparisons:

 

The food is so much better on Celebrity, however, the specialty restaurants on RCCL are more reasonably priced and equal in quality.

 

RCCL allows you to bring 2 bottles of wine onboard with no corkage. On Celebrity, if you want to take one of your bottles to a dining room, the corkage fee of $25 is charged.

 

Celebrity does not have a dedicated Elite Lounge as you can find on RCCL -- Diamond Lounge and Concierge Lounge.

 

Our most recent sailing on RCCL was on the Explorer of the Seas, which is the most beautiful ship on which I have sailed in over 50 cruises. But, there were lines everywhere we went ....lines, lines, lines!

 

Ice skating show on RCCL is amazing. They also have a more unique style with the promenade and outdoor activities.

 

The beds are more comfortable on Celebrity ... I mean way more comfortable. The cabins are equally as nice.

 

Celebrity restricts smoking more than RCCL. On Celebrity, there is never smoking in the casino.

 

RCCL had interactive screens with the day's schedule and map of the ship so you could always find out what was going on and where ... and how to get there. Kudos!!

 

RCCL gives you 3 drinks loaded on to your card for Diamond and above as well as a free photo of your choosing. These freebies are not (always) available on Celebrity.

 

Celebrity has way better perks that come with booking ... prices do tend to be higher, though, based on the Itinerary so that might be a wash.

 

For us, Celebrity works out better for our likes and wants. However, there seem to be a couple more west coast sailings on RCCL than on Celebrity, but we sometimes get the Infinity over on this coast.

 

Booking a Celebrity cruise seems to be a lot easier and more clear cut. Every time I book an RCCL cruise, there are many stipulations and end up getting this taken off or charged more for this or that. Very frustrating!!

Celebrity does give you a one category upgrade once you've sailed on them. RCCL gives you up to $225 off for a balcony cabin or better ... but only sometimes will it equal the full discount.

 

Lastly, the service on Celebrity takes the lead. The room stewards are great on both but we've found much better service at guest services, excursion desk, captains club host and dining room service on Celebrity.

[SPacificbound]

We cruise both lines and feel that generally the shows are better on Royal, but we enjoy the lack of noisy silliness that is sometimes found on Royal.

 

Which one we cruise with is based on what itinerary we like most.