Cruise line alternatives for Celebrity enthusiasts

[Denny01]

What an amusing thread.

 

It seems quite a few people didn't catch the part about the OP wanting to pay less than Celebrity and are looking for entertainment and partying.

 

Quite a few of the lines mentioned have much of either. None of the luxury lines are going to fit either. Viking has no Casinos, for many people a big part of entertainment. Oceania & Azamara are both going to be too expensive, as well as anything above them.

 

Some of the recommendations are spot on though.

What has what the OP asked about have anything to do with what we post???? Wow man, you ruin all the fun of us getting to post our pet subjects over and over on various threads. I bet you bring a breathalyzer to parties........party killer! Or is it, Thread Cutter!

 

Den

[purpletequila]

MSC Yacht Club. Just cancelled a cruise in a sky suite which would have cost me $8,000+ with the single supplement. Booked a YC suite with NO single supplement for less than $2,000. No contest. MSC Yacht Club has the ship within a ship concept which Celebrity doesn't yet. So, for example, no need to fight for a chair by the pool. Yacht Club has a private pool. Oh, and MSC matched my Celebrity status with their highest status.

 

Really? Do you mind sharing which week that single yc price is for? Balcony?

[keithm]

I'm not stupid. I'm in a Yacht Club suite. Would not book MSC unless I were in the Yacht Club, ships are too large.

Never implied you were stupid! So lighten up a bit! There are some large cabins that TA's have booked clients into & they were disappointed they didn't come with the perks they thought they would get. So blame some stupid TA's OK?

[keithm]

What an amusing thread.

 

It seems quite a few people didn't catch the part about the OP wanting to pay less than Celebrity and are looking for entertainment and partying.

 

Quite a few of the lines mentioned have much of either. None of the luxury lines are going to fit either. Viking has no Casinos, for many people a big part of entertainment. Oceania & Azamara are both going to be too expensive, as well as anything above them.

 

Some of the recommendations are spot on though.

Not sure you even read the original post. Nothing on it about celebrity price point, either. They were just asking about other lines to get info. on.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Really? Do you mind sharing which week that single yc price is for? Balcony?

 

A Yacht Club suite has a balcony. The waived single supplement was only available for a very limited time. The cruise is in November 2019. The Yacht Club is sold out for that cruise.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Never implied you were stupid! So lighten up a bit! There are some large cabins that TA's have booked clients into & they were disappointed they didn't come with the perks they thought they would get. So blame some stupid TA's OK?

 

I'm not into blaming and I don't work with stupid travel agents.

[ORV]

Not sure you even read the original post. Nothing on it about celebrity price point, either. They were just asking about other lines to get info. on.

 

No, but their next post does. Perhaps people should read the whole thread before hitting post.

[riclop]

Princess.

[MITZZI2]

I don’t know whether you have looked, but 7 nights in a basic infinite balcony on Edge in Europe in the summer I saw running at $3800 plus taxes (all pp rates quoted) :eek:. An Icon Suite is only $28,000pp plus taxes. So, comparing it to the above, 10 nights in the Yacht Club is a steal ;p. 7 nights on Infinity in a Concierge cabin is $2500pp plus taxes :o - again, the prices are :loudcry: (eye watering) or in our case: not worth it!

 

$28K per person for a suite???

[deliver42]

To answer the previous poster about crowds in the YC. There are none. More than enough space in the Top Sail Lounge and pool area. The restaurant is anytime dining, and is never crowded. Except for shows, you really never have to leave the YC.

[mafig]

We were on Seaside in the YC week of July 7.

 

Prime kid season, right.? On most cruise ships, but not in the YC on MSC. Not crowded at all.:D

[villauk]

$28K per person for a suite???

 

 

 

Yes, for 7 nights on Edge in an Iconic Suite pp. Prices currently for suites and Aqua pp:

 

 

 

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[Mynki]

Yes, for 7 nights on Edge in an Iconic Suite pp. Prices currently for suites and Aqua pp:

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

I can almost understand the Iconic suite pricing. The thing is huge and there's nothing like it at sea at present. It's pretty unique. It's easier for me to get my head around that as opposed to the £630 + taxes per person per night for an S1!!!!

[villauk]

I can almost understand the Iconic suite pricing. The thing is huge and there's nothing like it at sea at present. It's pretty unique. It's easier for me to get my head around that as opposed to the £630 + taxes per person per night for an S1!!!!

 

 

I know. My original post was actually saying how much a Concierge cabin was for 7 nights - $100 less than the Aqua prices quoted above :eek:! And the taxes have to be added on to that too!

[Gordoncruickshank]

I can almost understand the Iconic suite pricing. The thing is huge and there's nothing like it at sea at present. It's pretty unique. It's easier for me to get my head around that as opposed to the £630 + taxes per person per night for an S1!!!!

 

These used to be around £3,500 a week or £6,000 for two weeks per cabin. While currency devaluation will have an impact that is around 10%. What has happened is that if you book onboard you get all 4 "perks" which you had to pay extra for - Drinks $1074, gratuities $250 On board spend $300 and internet at $199 each. Over $2000 or £1,500 a week. That is what has boosted the costs of the S suites. Quite how the RS has got to where it is now I have not got a clue as the extras are mostly covered by the 4 perks other than the free specialities.

 

We have just booked the YC for 9 nights next October to give it a try. Cost £1,988 per person, Gratuities £81pp. Some difference. Our view is that, at that price it is worth a try. We may just like it after what will have been 20 cruises in a row on Celebrity.

[Mynki]

I know. My original post was actually saying how much a Concierge cabin was for 7 nights - $100 less than the Aqua prices quoted above :eek:! And the taxes have to be added on to that too!

 

I'd deffo pay $100 a week more for AQ. Just so you have the added flexibility of dining in Blu if nothing else.

 

The Edge sky suite is priced at almost exactly three times what we paid for an Eclipse sky suite. Admittedly that was in the Caribbean where it's way cheaper to cruise, but would it be three times better?

 

Am I the only person thinking that Edge pricing is crazy and that the itineraries lack a lot of imagination right now?

[villauk]

I'd deffo pay $100 a week more for AQ. Just so you have the added flexibility of dining in Blu if nothing else.

 

The Edge sky suite is priced at almost exactly three times what we paid for an Eclipse sky suite. Admittedly that was in the Caribbean where it's way cheaper to cruise, but would it be three times better?

 

Am I the only person thinking that Edge pricing is crazy and that the itineraries lack a lot of imagination right now?

 

We’re thinking exactly the same which is why our family is considering a 13 night cruise on Princess in a balcony during the peak summer season for less than 7 nights on X on one of those ‘lack of imagination’ itineraries ;). The YC is also now on my radar having read quite a few recent threads. I’m interested to hear what Linda (HappyCruiser) thinks after her sailing :confused:.

[kelmac]

To answer the previous poster about crowds in the YC. There are none. More than enough space in the Top Sail Lounge and pool area. The restaurant is anytime dining, and is never crowded. Except for shows, you really never have to leave the YC.

 

We were on Seaside in the YC week of July 7.

 

Prime kid season, right.? On most cruise ships, but not in the YC on MSC. Not crowded at all.:D

 

I agree 100%. We were onboard the Seaside YC the last week of March (Spring Break time) and there was never a crowd anywhere in the Yacht Club zone. Very relaxing and calm experience. Not sure I would do MSC in an non-YC cabin?

Beautiful ship, but very crowded in most areas. (Similar to NCL's newer, larger ships)

 

Enjoy!

Kel:D

[CYNSport]

I can almost understand the Iconic suite pricing. The thing is huge and there's nothing like it at sea at present. It's pretty unique. It's easier for me to get my head around that as opposed to the £630 + taxes per person per night for an S1!!!!

 

The Iconic Suite is sold out for that cruise, so I guess Celebrity was correct about the demand for that particular Suite :o

[villauk]

The Iconic Suite is sold out for that cruise, so I guess Celebrity was correct about the demand for that particular Suite :o

 

It’s been coming on and off though (was available yesterday), so possibly not definitely sold ;). Additionally, it’s way before final payment so it may be a totally different picture 90 days out to what’s apparently reserved at this stage ;).

[CYNSport]

It’s been coming on and off though (was available yesterday), so possibly not definitely sold ;). Additionally, it’s way before final payment so it may be a totally different picture 90 days out to what’s apparently reserved at this stage ;).

 

So true! :D

[Shadow9612]

To answer the previous poster about crowds in the YC. There are none. More than enough space in the Top Sail Lounge and pool area. The restaurant is anytime dining, and is never crowded. Except for shows, you really never have to leave the YC.

Thank you for this... Very good to know.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

We’re thinking exactly the same which is why our family is considering a 13 night cruise on Princess in a balcony during the peak summer season for less than 7 nights on X on one of those ‘lack of imagination’ itineraries ;). The YC is also now on my radar having read quite a few recent threads. I’m interested to hear what Linda (HappyCruiser) thinks after her sailing :confused:.

 

Sadly, my cruise is not until next November. So it will be a while. Mafig recently cruised in Yacht Club. Perhaps she will share her experience.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

 

Am I the only person thinking that Edge pricing is crazy and that the itineraries lack a lot of imagination right now?

 

No. My thoughts exactly.

[Dr. Cocktail]

I'm going to break a bit of an unwritten rule and repost something I placed on another thread earlier (because I got the theads confused and thought that I was actually posting on this one!)

 

I have altered it a bit and responded to some other comments that I have seen.

 

Five years ago, I said a not so fond "farewell" to Celebrity after about 250 nights on board (with a lot of suites ... but before Luminescence ....)(Luminae - really? Who makes up these names ....).

 

I have since (among others) sailed in The Haven 8 times and in the Yacht Club on Divina and Seaside.

 

So .....

 

I absolutely loved the Haven. I have completely laughed at some of the comments here where people sniffily(is that even a word?) dismiss NCL or MSC while viewing Celebrity as some sort of Divine Creation. Get it through your heads people - Celebrity is among the higher end of the mass market lines. It unfortunately is not the be-all-and-end-all and is in fact lagging behind and lacking in many areas.

 

Our first Haven (one year after the Summit) was a revelation. Superb meals in the Haven dining room, NEVER having to fight for a deck chair, great cocktails and congeniality in the Haven lounge and drop-dead gorgeous suites. The entertainment blew Celebrity out of the water and we loved the various lounges all with live music. To the poster above, no - it is not a "gimmick". Having your own private world of about 200 guests (if everyone was there at the same time!) on a ship of 400+ passengers is fantastic.

 

The NCL specialty restaurants put the generally train-wreck specialties on Celebrity to shame ... and trust me - I stopped eating in the main dining rooms on Celebrity years ago. We only ate in specialties ...

 

But (there's always a but ...) the Haven dining room menus never changed and because the production shows were usually reduced versions of Broadway shows, there are only usually two main stage shows a cruise and they never really change.

The other big "but" is the cost of the Haven ... it usually is now (seriously) far cheaper to cruise on Seabourn. (although I'd be bored out of my mind ....)

 

MSC Yacht Club is presently the best value in cruising today. Lovely, albeit, small suites but with a fully stocked (and complimentary minibar), a super (but with minimal shade) private sun deck, a marvelous (included) outdoor bar and a fabulous private observation lounge with private restaurant. The food is .... fine. The service is so lovely and the atmosphere so relaxed, it makes up for any deficiencies in the food. Seaside is a spectacular ship and completely different from what we are generally used to. It's Italian insane in the best sense of the word .... the ship's decor is supervised by the owner's wife (yes, MSC is privately owned ... no pesky shareholders to satisfy) and you are subject to Mrs. Aponte's tastes and whims. Totally non-corporate , individual and interesting.

 

Holland America has really amped up their entertainment but the main dining room experience is pretty miserable and the specialties are hit and miss. Much of the decor up until Koningsdam combines colours that look like someone threw up a million Skittles after having too much on the Beverage Package.

 

In contrast, my last Celebrity cruise had 1) mold and mildew overtaking the bathroom because 2) the bathroom ventilation didn't work in any of our segment's bathrooms and 3) intermittent hot water (alternated between scalding and icy ) because in the hotel managers's words: "we're waiting for parts from France". Uh-huh.

 

So ... a Suite on Celebrity gets you private dining and a nice lounge but ... you're still fighting for a deck chair and a cocktail on deck. Oh ... have I mentioned that you never pull out your Sea-pass while you're in the YC?

 

But (yes, there's more buts ....!), now that Celebrity is introducing the retreat, I have actually eaten my words and booked two cruises on the newly "Revolutionized" ships. One cost far less than the Haven I cancelled and and the other had a similar price to the YC I cancelled.

 

Contradictory behavior? Absolutely ....

 

My final answer: ultimately, all are/will be likely great! Pick a date and a price and see who wins!