How is Celebrity different from NCL?

[dkjretired]

On 1/22/2019 at 10:55 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:

Sounds like you spend a lot of time in the casino.  You should know [may be good or bad for you...] that Celebrity does not allow smoking in their casinos ever.

 

That is a big difference, no smoking anywhere inside on Celebrity ships, our NCL trips when you were in the casino it was like being in a chimney.  

[poffles]

12 hours ago, Larbo03 said:

Hmmm, maybe Celebrity has changed their policy too?  I see on the website this language: "An 18% service charge will be added to Soda, Wine, Water, Classic and Premium Package prices at checkout." We have the $715.00 premium package include as a perk, so I'm not clear whether we'll expect to see a gratuity added per drink, on the hotel bill, or at all.  Does anyone here know the current policy?  We're going to be on the Eclipse in February.

 

The service charge is 'added' to the package cost at time of purchase, not when on board.  It is not a later per drink charge no matter how you came to have the package ... free or purchased.

 

So on Celebrity the 'free' drink package perk is inclusive meaning the 18% service charge is part of the 'free' park so not 'taxed' with the cruise cost.

 

On NCL the 'free' drink package perk is not inclusive of the service charge so they charge that and add it to the cruise cost.  This is evident if you mock book a cruise and choose the 'free' drink package perk and watch the cruise fee increase and you will see a new line item for the charge.  I think some other 'free' perks with them are also 'taxed' at purchase such as the specialty dining. Not my idea of free.  I have not had this perk on NCL so can't say with certainly that there are not per drink charges but given you pay it at time of purchase that would seem like a double charge and I have not heard of anyone having to pay per drink.

 

I was just on Celebrity in November so I know the above for sure, I also very recently booked one for this November, neither drink package perk added any cost to my cruise cost, nor did i pay any charge when i ordered drinks.  🙂

 

Happy sailing!

Edited January 24, 2019 by poffles

[lecky]

NCL also charges a "Port Charge" on ALL drinks inside US waters. Water is no longer part of NCL drink package and you are no longer allowed to bring water on board 

[CulverCityCruisers]

20 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Interesting. I wonder if that also includes the free drinks Elite passengers get during the 5-7 pm happy hour every night? You would think if that was the case you would see the gratuity charges on your onboard account a day or two after getting the drinks rather than just on the final bill without any advanced notice. 

 

I’ll find out next Monday for sure when we finish the first leg of our b2b we’re on right now on the Reflection. However, we’ve been on this first leg for 6 days now and haven’t seen any drink gratuity charges yet. 

There is NO gratuity charge at the FREE happy hour event, also if you have the Beverage Pkg as a "perk" you DO NOT pay the 18% gratuity charge on board or on your shipboard account.  No need to worry

[bboop51]

We cruised NCL once and decided it was not for us.  We found the ship to be crowded vs Celebrity.  It was also a very different demographic, that we did not enjoy as much as Celebrity . The thing that annoyed me just for GP was in the "regular restaurants"  the up-charge for certain items.  To me that's why you go to specialty restaurants.  Our best friends are loyal NCL  lovers (they love the casual dining aspect)  but they pay extra for the Haven and usually eat in the specialty restaurants.  However,  they just cancelled their July trip this year because they said the entertainment never seems to change.

I say each to their own .

[poffles]

My thoughts on the two.

 

First cruises were on NCL. (sailed twice - Pearl and Epic)

- loved the casualness, I don't love having to dress a certain way when on vacation.

- loved the shows on bigger ship sailed last (Epic)

- loved O'Sheehan's for a casual pub style area to sit and hang out

- hated smoking in casino that drifted throughout the center of the ship

- hated crowded elevators, service and debarkation on last cruising on Epic (was so bad)

- did not like having to hunt for cutlery in the buffet (always ran  out)

 

First tried Celebrity when they offered drink package as perk. (sailed three times - Summit, Reflection and Equinox and booked another on Equinox this November.)

- love the calmer feel to the cruise

- love boarding and debarkation (mostly just walked on though last one was a bit of a line)

- love the uncrowded elevators

- not impressed with entertainment (big negative)

- don't like having to dress up ... my inner casual attitude feels out of sorts

- feels more like a cruise and not like a playground on water (guess that's the calm I feel)

- LOVE no smoking anywhere inside the ship!

 

I know I am missing things but the reality is the comparison is not just about the cruise line, it really matters the ships being compared, the time of year, the itinerary and length of cruise as it all alters the experience.  I would sail on either if price didn't matter and offerings being comparable.  Ironically NCL works out more for me all the time now, guess they need to pay for all that entertainment and water slides.

 

 

 

Edited January 25, 2019 by poffles

[Covepointcruiser]

Because you are on a very short cruise the demographic will be much younger than on the 7 day cruise.    Usually Celebrity is not a party ship but that won’t be the case on your cruise.    You will certainly have only one chic night and the only thing ever questioned in the MDR were shorts and sleeveless T-shirts for men.

However, men have gotten away with shorts on the first evening (didn’t get their suitcase) and last evening (already packed any long pants).   You won’t have any hairy chest/legs type contests on Celebrity.

[NantahalaCruiser]

On 1/23/2019 at 8:58 PM, Larbo03 said:

Hmmm, maybe Celebrity has changed their policy too?  I see on the website this language: "An 18% service charge will be added to Soda, Wine, Water, Classic and Premium Package prices at checkout." We have the $715.00 premium package include as a perk, so I'm not clear whether we'll expect to see a gratuity added per drink, on the hotel bill, or at all.  Does anyone here know the current policy?  We're going to be on the Eclipse in February.

As is often the case, the website is poorly worded. The quote is intended to say that if you purchase a package, then there is an 18% service charge added to the cost of the package at the time of purchase. You only pay this if you purchase the package and not if you receive it as a perk.

 

There is no 18% gratuity per drink charge unless you order a drink that is priced above the maximum limit for the package - and then it is only on the upcharge; e.g. you have the Classic with the $9 limit and order a $13 drink - you pay a per drink upcharge of ($13 - $9) x 1.18 = $4.72.

[Arzeena]

14 hours ago, bboop51 said:

 

I say each to their own .

Completely agree! Different strokes for different folks.

I find that when you cruise should also be counted in.... for instance, Celebrity normally has a different demographic, but  an August cruise on Celebrity last year brought on the cream of the crap, which I would normally expect on certain  NCL cruises out of NY. Don't get me wrong, I love cruising on NCL, but some times, OH MY!!!! .....those times I wish I was on Celebrity. But that one time on Celebrity was like OH MY I wish I was elsewhere!  Complicated, I know.. but in the end it comes down to each to their own.  And and in the end I am thankful to be able to cruise.

[davekathy]

I think we'll stay with Celebrity and RC. 

Edited January 25, 2019 by davekathy

[LaDave]

I like both NCL and Celebrity but one thing I notice that has not been mentioned in this thread in the differences between the two is that on the Beverage Package Perk on Celebrity it includes specialty coffees, sparkling water bottles and cans of soda.  That is not the case with NCL.  For me that is definitely a thumb's up for Celebrity.

[clskinsfan]

On 1/25/2019 at 12:11 PM, davekathy said:

I think we'll stay with Celebrity and RC. 

 

I will say we preferred NCL to RC. But that is just us. RC cruising is even more feeling like a sardine than NCL. Unless you want to cruise on their older ships. I have cruised Carnival a ton, RCL a few times, NCL twice and HAL once. I still havent found that "perfect" line yet. Now that the wife and I are nearing 50 maybe Celebrity will be it. We have never had a BAD time on a cruise. They have all been fun. Just different. Carnival was great when we were younger with the kids. We couldnt afford Disney so Carnival worked for us. Yes drunks and rowdiness are part of the deal with them. But it worked for us. Royal is a step up from Carnival for sure. But not by much IMO. Better food and service for sure. But A LOT more expensive as well. NCL was like a mix of the two. You could party if you want to or not. It was up to you. The MDR food is just bad on NCL IMO. But the specialty rest's are outstanding. HAL was like cruising in a nursing home to us. I mean if you were still awake at 11 you had the entire ship to yourself. Completely dead and boring. I hope Celebrity is like a mix of an older RC boat and NCL. Less crowded with maybe a little night life happening until at least 1AM. And good food. I will find out in May.

[4774Papa]

We have done 10 on Celebrity 7 on NCL and 1 on Royal C.

Overall, we like Celebrity the most, then Royal and last NCL.  However, we can still go on any of the three, since we have loyalty benefits on each.  The Itinerary and price are huge.

Unfortunately, except for Repos and TransAtlantics Celebrity bundles its prices, as does NCL.  Royal C. does not and its prices are beating both X and NCL.

 

Celebrity ships have the best designs and you get to see more of the ocean.  Entertainment on Royal C is as good as NCL and Royal C has ice shows on some of its ships.

The food is the best on Celebrity, but NCL has improved its dining in the MDR.  Celebrity still has the best buffet with a great salad bar.  

[SRQMom]

Agree with most of the posts about Celebrity having MUCH better food in the main dining (if you don't want to do the specialty dining that's a plus), better staff ratio, and a more chill atmosphere.  Nothing stuffy or pretentious by any means.  Just not the boisterous party feel we've seen more on NCL and Carnival.  We've been on a short 4 day and longer week one with Celebrity now.  Both on the Silhouette which we really liked.  Been on all the most  cruise lines at this point and sticking with Celebrity.  But it's a personal choice on what you are looking for in a cruise.