Loyal to Royal thinking about trying Celebrity

[MalteseMama2]

Do you know X are going through a refurbishment programme?

Looks like it will be done for your sailing

 

 

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I didn’t know this. Very exciting!

 

 

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[Tom47]

I agree that RCI entertainment is better. However, smoking only allowed on two outside decks and better food keep us going back to Celebrity. On our only RCI cruise, DW was served salmon that was dry and overcooked. It was inedible. Celebrity waiter advised DW that the chef cooks salmon medium rare. It was delicious.

[LisaAtlCruiser]

Thank you for all the info! Happy to hear the positive feelings for Silhouette. We are looking at her because she checks a lot of boxes for us: Southern Caribbean, leaving from FL, March 2020 sailings, Diamond + status honored.

 

 

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They match status up to Diamond. The "+'s" need to be earned separate on each line. Diamond and above are Elite on Celebrity as others have stated. But to get to Elite +, you have to earn it all on Celebrity (or Azamara).

[MalteseMama2]

I love reading all these comments, the good and the not-so-good. We want to make an informed choice.

DH & I rarely eat in MDR. We don’t attend most of the shows. We spend a lot of time in the Solarium, reading and relaxing. We enjoy getting to know other cruisers in the DL/CL. And we love sitting on our balcony, sipping wine and watching the waves.

This is sounding more & more like a good choice for us.

 

 

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[Hypo]

Regarding the call to setup your Captain's Club number, I don't think it is necessary anymore after the recent updating of the Celebrity and Royal online accounts. The other day, I went to create a Celebrity account for the first time. After filling in the appropriate fields with the same info used for my Royal account, my Celebrity account was created, my number was assigned, and my level was automatically made Select (equivalent to my Emerald status). On my Royal Caribbean account, my Captain's Club number was automatically being shown at the bottom of my Settings page.

Good info to know, it wasn't that way when I did the signup a few years ago. It is hard to believe that RCCL was able to correctly do something in the field of IT.

[MalteseMama2]

They match status up to Diamond. The "+'s" need to be earned separate on each line. Diamond and above are Elite on Celebrity as others have stated. But to get to Elite +, you have to earn it all on Celebrity (or Azamara).

 

 

 

If I am Elite on Celebrity due to My RCI status, will accumulated points as I cruise Celebrity count from 0 or from Elite?

 

 

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[LisaAtlCruiser]

If I am Elite on Celebrity due to My RCI status, will accumulated points as I cruise Celebrity count from 0 or from Elite?

 

 

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You start from zero on Celebrity. Celebrity and Azamara points count towards each other - but RCI does not.

 

I read your post a couple up from this one and you sound pretty similar to me. I generally don't eat in the MDR, I rarely go to the shows and I like finding a nice quite, relaxing place on the ship to read where there are not a lot of kids. Given that, I think you will really like Celebrity!

 

While they do not have a Diamond Lounge, Celebrity does have an Elite happy hour. It will not be on the first night and one other night. But for most nights they will have it and it is nicer (IMO) than the Diamond Lounge. I have always end up meeting some really quality people on Celebrity!

[boscobeans]

You start from zero on Celebrity. Celebrity and Azamara points count towards each other - but RCI does not.

 

I read your post a couple up from this one and you sound pretty similar to me. I generally don't eat in the MDR, I rarely go to the shows and I like finding a nice quite, relaxing place on the ship to read where there are not a lot of kids. Given that, I think you will really like Celebrity!

 

While they do not have a Diamond Lounge, Celebrity does have an Elite happy hour. It will not be on the first night and one other night. But for most nights they will have it and it is nicer (IMO) than the Diamond Lounge. I have always end up meeting some really quality people on Celebrity!

 

Crown & Anchor Society

Q: How do I receive equivalent recognition in Celebrity Cruises' Captain's Club? A: As a benefit of Platinum, Diamond and Diamond Plus membership in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, you will receive equivalent recognition in the Celebrity Cruises' Captain's Club. If you are currently a member of both loyalty programmes, you will automatically receive benefits based on your highest membership level of the two. For instance, if you are a Crown & Anchor Platinum member and a Captain's Club Classic member, you will automatically be entitled to the Select level in the Captain's Club. And if you are a Diamond or Diamond Plus member, you will automatically receive equivalent recognition as a Captain's Club Elite member. The benefits of the two programmes will remain independent, and the number of sailings a member accrues on each brand will not be combined. You will earn the cruise credit for the brand you are sailing with as long as you are a member of that brand's loyalty programme.

[ATLgirl15]

Sounds like Celebrity is a perfect choice for you. And the library on s-class is to die for! A lot of avid readers on board. We started Celebrity as elite by transferring our RCL diamond status. Perks seem to be comparable although slightly different. Our favorite is the free bag of laundry.

 

We love Royal and Celebrity for different reasons and have never been bored on either. Royal for sure has more “wow” factor particularly on Oasis class. The entertainment is top notch. There is a lot of energy day and night. And even though we are adults we love the parades and cartoon characters. But we love the laid back atmosphere on Celebrity, higher quality food (and coffee-royals is undrinkable), live music, lack of children and non smoking casino. The specialty restaurants are really good although more pricey than Royal. We always sail in suites and the perks are more plentiful on Celebrity.

[Baron Barracuda]

We're booked on Silhouette 3/15/20, so if that's your sailing we're glad to have you join us.

 

Now that our kids are grown we've pretty much switched from Royal to X. Just a little more sedate and the food is a bit better. Royal still does some things better, especially entertainment.

 

We're currently on Anthem where we just enjoyed an amazing Journey tribute band. The other bands on board are also wonderful. X doesn't have anything to compare. On the other hand at dinner tonight, for the second time there was a lengthy announcement pushing specialty dining. Very tacky. Have never before had my dinner interrupted on any cruise line. You certainly won't hear anything like it on X.

[parrotfeathers]

I didn't see where anyone mentioned you need to call the Captains Club to setup your Elite status. Also, if you enjoy suites, they're a little smaller than Royal's but they're better value with their all inclusive perks. Silhouette is a great ship.

 

Great thing about suites on Celebrity is the suite restaurant on every ship.

[Big_G]

Great thing about suites on Celebrity is the suite restaurant on every ship.

Yes and while CK is great, Luminae is better.

 

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[Oceans16]

We usually cruise Royal but are trying Celebrity Silhouette in November. I have heard they have scaled back from friends that have previously cruised with CCL. We got a decent package on deck 12 with drinks but concerned with other aspects. Doesn't sound as "fun" or has as much active events as RC but worth a try. We shall see.

 

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[Myrtleskid#5]

• • Access to the Captain's Club Lounge for daily coffee house style breakfast
  
• • Evening Cocktail hour (excludes embarkation and evening of Senior Officers' Party)
  
• • Complimentary 90-minute Internet package ******This PER PASSENGER and can be used a little at a time.
  
• • 20% discount on any digital or print photo package at the Photo Gallery
  
• • Complimentary access to Persian Garden (on one port day of your choice while ship is in port)
  
• • Complimentary dry cleaning of one garment item *******This is PER PASSENGER
  
• • One complimentary bag of laundry (wash, dry, fold) on every sailing*****This is PER PASSENGER
  
• • A private shipboard departure lounge, serving continental breakfast
  
• • Priority Tender Service in Tender Ports of Call
  
• • Priority wait list in Main Dining Room
  
• • Diamond Level enrollment in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society‡
  
• • Earn Double Club Points if you travel solo in a stateroom (as of July1)
  

Excellent bathroom amenities

No slides, aqua parks or bumper cars... But very nice ships, service and food.

 

 

We've sailed on her twice and love this ship even though we prefer smaller ships. (things of the past)

 

 

bosco

If you prefer smaller ships, give Azamara (Journey, Quest, or Pursuit) a try - less than 700 passengers. They are under the RCCL umbrella so your Royal/Celebrity loyalty level carries over. We love them!

Midge and Mike (Myrtleskid#5)

 

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[boscobeans]

If you prefer smaller ships, give Azamara (Journey, Quest, or Pursuit) a try - less than 700 passengers. They are under the RCCL umbrella so your Royal/Celebrity loyalty level carries over. We love them!

Midge and Mike (Myrtleskid#5)

 

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We go back to the days when ships like the Zenith and the slightly larger Mercury were our choice. Over the years we learned we could find the small ship experience on the newer and larger ships, just had to look for it while on board.

 

Now we look for ships that sail the Caribbean during the tightly restricted times we can travel. Over the years we have also decided to choose departure ports closer to home, that being New York. After too many days wasted in airports, pre and post cruise hotels and all the added expenses associated with flights to Florida or Puerto Rico we now claim Boston, Cape Liberty and Baltimore as our home ports, as any of them are within fairly short driving distances.

 

Our destination for almost all of our cruises has been the Caribbean during the early winter months and has been the same for over 18 years. Granted the smaller ships did and still do manage a few smaller ports but after all, the differences between most Caribbean islands are not that major.

 

Azamara visits almost the same exact ports as the larger ships and does require flights to and from Miami for the most part. So although we do PREFER the smaller ships we now settle and choose our cruise based on Date, cruise length and Port of Departure.

 

It looks like we may manage to get one more sailing or two out of Baltimore before the Grandeur stops its run, like the Celebrity ships before it, and leaves us then with Cape Liberty since Royal is doing basically shorter Bermuda cruises from Boston.

 

Having a few dozen cruises on Celebrity, Royal C, HAL and one mistake on NCL under our belts we will survive and manage to continue sailing from the Northeast to all those familiar places in the sun, always managing to find something new to see, taste and enjoy on both the larger ships and the same ports of call.

 

Being based in Florida does offer a much wider catalog of cruises, but that isn't our situation.

 

Thanks for your response and we probably should have looked into Azamara years ago, when they got started and we were still willing to put up with the T.S.A. and everything else involved with flights.. LOL

 

bosco

[TeeRick]

If you prefer smaller ships, give Azamara (Journey, Quest, or Pursuit) a try - less than 700 passengers. They are under the RCCL umbrella so your Royal/Celebrity loyalty level carries over. We love them!

Midge and Mike (Myrtleskid#5)

 

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Yes but Azamara prices are a much higher overall than Celebrity or RCCL.

[upwarduk]

Yes but Azamara prices are a much higher overall than Celebrity or RCCL.

 

 

 

I can see Celebrity‘s leaping up when the $500m ‘Renovation’ is completed.

Azamara does included gratuities, drinks (wine & beer) and also Shuttle service in ports.

 

 

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[TeeRick]

I can see Celebrity‘s leaping up when the $500m ‘Renovation’ is completed.

Azamara does included gratuities, drinks (wine & beer) and also Shuttle service in ports.

 

 

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$500M seems like a lot to spend for a fleet upgrade (much needed) but it is far less than the price of one single new ship on either RCCL or Celebrity. Not sure that the Revolution renovation will drive pricing per se, other than attract more customers especially to the older ships. A Celebrity suite of any size includes gratuities, premium drink package, WiFi and OBC and it is still at a price point below Azamara. Also compare a Sky Suite on Celebrity (with 4 perks, access to the suite lounge, and dining in Luminae) to an equivalent size Jr Suite on RCCL (which includes nothing - perhaps dinner in CK on some ships if it can be reserved).

[George C]

I know it all depends on ship and when you cruise buy celebrity even sky suites cost more than junior suites on rccl, was looking at edge for November 2019 and sky suite was over 4K per person, as said great perks. My owners suite this November oasis cost me 2500 per person. msc is much cheaper than either with similar suite perks, have that booked for next year.

[MalteseMama2]

Thanks again to everyone for your responses. After days of discussing Celebrity vs RCI my DH decided he is OK with booking a cruise that leaves from a San Juan. This was my first choice from the beginning. We went on Jewel from there once and I would like to use that port again.

We will cruise on a Celebrity ship when we go to the Galápagos Islands - 1 of our bucket list trips!

 

 

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[ATLgirl15]

Edge and Oasis are really not comparable. You're looking at a brand new revolutionary designed ship that hasn't even debuted yet and comparing to a 9 year old ship that has 3 other more modern versions. Don't get me wrong, Oasis is one of my favorite ships, but it doesn't have surge pricing anymore. I looked at the 3 day introductory Edge sailing and it was the same price as a week on an S-class ship.

[rjrpar]

Sillouete was the last ship we sailed on and it is a beautiful ship. I am not brand loyal to any line, but I have to say the food and service is awesome. Thy are a cut above other lines in those areas. They honored my Platinum status from RCCl.

 

Not our experience, have been on the Eclipse twice and never had a meal that we would consider better than standard mass market cruise quality. Service and the overall experience are a little better but not the food.

[Tom47]

Thanks again to everyone for your responses. After days of discussing Celebrity vs RCI my DH decided he is OK with booking a cruise that leaves from a San Juan. This was my first choice from the beginning. We went on Jewel from there once and I would like to use that port again.

We will cruise on a Celebrity ship when we go to the Galápagos Islands - 1 of our bucket list trips!

 

 

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We cruised on Celebrity Xpedition in 2015, 45th anniversary, and recommend it. We did 10 day Galapagos package.

[George C]

Really was not impressed by food and service in MDR on Celebrity there suite restaurant however is great

[Baron Barracuda]

We cruised on Celebrity Xpedition in 2015, 45th anniversary, and recommend it. We did 10 day Galapagos package.

 

We did Expedition last year. Truly a bucket list item.