After 31 Days on Eurodam we went to Celebrity Apex and almost instantly regretted it!

[poffles]

I am Elite on Celebrity, it has been my primary go to cruiseline.  What drew me to sail them the first time was their version of all in that included the drinks package, whereas my prior (few) cruises on Carnival and NCL did not do that so I decided to give it a try even though I was nervous it might not fit my relaxed style (ie formal nights and such).  Even better was that I had been watching prices and when the promo started the cruise cost did not change even by a penny so it was literally bonus perks (they increased weeks later).

 

I have sailed the three Celebrity class ships, Edge a couple times and Apex just last November.  I agree with so much being said here, the Celebrity itineraries and cruise lengths getting so short, the Edge class being nice but more glitz than comfort, the infinite veranda (really ocean view), weird transparency with drink pricing, and the crazy cruise prices. As a beer drinker I feel they play with that pricing a bit too much and things that used to be included in their equivalent to Holland signature package are now often priced just above so you have to pay out of pocket one way or another.  A major thing that has kept me sailing with them was zero smoking anywhere inside the ship, casino included but now I discover that some Holland ships do too.

 

I am here lurking because I have been very interested to try Holland for the first time.  Looking at Panama full transit sailing and likely do Early Booking Bonus HIA though right now it appears that the Early Booking cruise further out is pricier than one that has just lapsed that window so it does seem they are just padding that cost to that pricing to encorporate the 'bonus.  More research needed 🙂

 

[PROCRUISE]

On 3/4/2024 at 1:58 AM, jlawrence01 said:

I was on the Celebrity Millennium, their oldest ship, a month after being on the Konigsdam and recently on the Eurodam.

 

I found the food to be better on the Millennium overall and the service in the MDR and buffet was excellent.  They recovered from the pandemic a lot faster than the Konigsdam.

 

There were three things that were unsatisfactory on the Millennium.  First, the main theater had one of the worst sound and lighting system that I have seen.  Honestly, my high school had better equipment.  Second, if you encountered any bad weather, the outside decks closed and there was limited space.  Third the entertainment did NOT match what was available on Konigsdam.

 

Having said that, I don't have a strong preference between HAL, Celebrity or Princess.  Excluding the new ships, they are all pretty similar and it really depends on pricing and itineraries.

 

Personally, I would NOT pay the price that the new Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships are commanding.  If I was going to spend megabucks, I would probably do a Windstar cruise where I can get excellent food and impeccable service for a similar amount of money.

Windstar is phenomenal!!

[shipshape sam]

On 3/3/2024 at 5:59 PM, daisy-mae said:

Even though we have cruised Celebrity in the past, we would not even consider trying their newer ships due to the lack of true balcony cabins.

We are with you too on not booking an IV cabin.  Our plans are for now sailing the S class ships which I really like anyway. 

[roboref]

On 3/5/2024 at 8:30 AM, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

Good line, I love it! 🤣

 

On 3/5/2024 at 6:40 AM, Real NHDOC said:

I also remembered that on the first day I asked our room steward for a pen and note pad (typically found in every HAL cabin upon embarking) so we could leave him a note if we needed anything and he told me “there are no pens and note pads are only given to guests staying in suites”. He said he would try and find me a pencil. I told him I would leave my notes in lipstick written on the mirror then. He found me a note pad and pen. 
 

They leave room service menus in the cabin but no pen to fill them out with?

 

And wine in the mini bar but no wine glasses?  
 

Who does this?

I hope you said that very nicely!

[leafsnation]

Just back from Equinox in March our 5th time on it. Love Celebrity food and service was amazing and great entertainment. All lines have there plus and minus.

Got Volendam booked Oct 2025 45 day NYC to Europe.

I find both HAL and Celebrity a cut above NCL and Carnival but get what you pay for.

Was cheap to upgrade beverage package on Celebrity.

Bob

[Niagarawine]

I have been on Celebrity in the past and loved it. So I booked the Apex last year in the aqua class with included beverage. When I called up about changing cabin I was informed that I did not have the included package. We chatted back and forth and then I insistently told no. So I switched to Rotterdam and had a great cruise for nine days rather than seven with better ports Curaçao and Aruba. I have been browsing Celebrity again , love the Si,houette but the prices are quite a bit higher. You pay for room service and now I am seeing these extra prices so I will happily sail with Holland. Just my observations.

[Blackduck59]

I decided to read through this thread, I took note when it started but didn't comment. We have not cruised Celebrity since before covid and had 2 cruises planed and cancelled because of covid; those cancelled cruises were both scheduled on Celebrity Eclipse. When it came time to try for a 3rd time to schedule that down under trip, Celebrity had changed to the "Edge" for that route and that was the end of that. I hate the edge class, they are ugly and the "Infinite Veranda" is an ocean view cabin with a large window that opens sometimes.

We then started looking at Princess and booked a shorter East Coast Canada cruise to try them out. Then Princess decided to go all in on the "Medallion" even though the system was full of bugs and failed often. We cancelled that and tried Viking, which was a one and done because we didn't think it represent value for money charged. We then decided to try HAL for the East Coast Canada trip we had cancelled on Princess.

We enjoyed that cruise even though it was the smaller, older Zaandam. This cruise suited our needs although the main stage entertainment was okay it didn't wow us. There was only one thing that was absolutely unacceptable for us and that was a "Presentation" in the main stage about "Canadian Icons" which this proud Canadian found offensive. It was taken care of in a satisfactory manner. We decided to book our Down Under adventure with HAL for next year (3rd time lucky?) while we were on board. We later decided to eliminate the long haul flight home by extending our cruise to include the 29 day trans Pacific which will bring us home.

One thing is certain we will never sail on a Celebrity "Edge" class ship and I guess we will continue with open minds about HAL in General and Westerdam in particular because that will be our home for 6 weeks next year.

[albingirl]

On 3/5/2024 at 1:18 PM, cruisemom42 said:

 

Okay, this is verging into the realm of sensationalism. Complaints about cost of food and drinks, fine. Service, fine. 

 

But...who amongst us makes a decision about a cruise that costs thousands of dollars based on whether or not there is a pen and notepad in the cabin???

 

Does anyone really travel without a pen of some kind?

 

(And perhaps I am thinking of another line, but I believe that on Westerdam last year, we only had a small pencil in cabin. I despise writing with a pencil, but I didn't complain about it. There were far more serious deficiencies on that cruse...)

 

I keep a pen on me at all times to avoid cooties.

[Ride-The-Waves]

1 hour ago, Blackduck59 said:

I decided to read through this thread, I took note when it started but didn't comment. We have not cruised Celebrity since before covid and had 2 cruises planed and cancelled because of covid; those cancelled cruises were both scheduled on Celebrity Eclipse. When it came time to try for a 3rd time to schedule that down under trip, Celebrity had changed to the "Edge" for that route and that was the end of that. I hate the edge class, they are ugly and the "Infinite Veranda" is an ocean view cabin with a large window that opens sometimes.

We then started looking at Princess and booked a shorter East Coast Canada cruise to try them out. Then Princess decided to go all in on the "Medallion" even though the system was full of bugs and failed often. We cancelled that and tried Viking, which was a one and done because we didn't think it represent value for money charged. We then decided to try HAL for the East Coast Canada trip we had cancelled on Princess.

We enjoyed that cruise even though it was the smaller, older Zaandam. This cruise suited our needs although the main stage entertainment was okay it didn't wow us. There was only one thing that was absolutely unacceptable for us and that was a "Presentation" in the main stage about "Canadian Icons" which this proud Canadian found offensive. It was taken care of in a satisfactory manner. We decided to book our Down Under adventure with HAL for next year (3rd time lucky?) while we were on board. We later decided to eliminate the long haul flight home by extending our cruise to include the 29 day trans Pacific which will bring us home.

One thing is certain we will never sail on a Celebrity "Edge" class ship and I guess we will continue with open minds about HAL in General and Westerdam in particular because that will be our home for 6 weeks next year.

Good comments, Blackduck.  We agree with your perspectives.  Enjoyed sailing Celebrity 5-plus years ago: good ships and great crews.  Good entertainment as well.  Sailed a Med cruise on Silhouette class in an after "porthole" balcony which was great - despite the long walk from the mid elevators.  Who builds a large ship with no aft elevator bank?  Loved the cabin, found the food average and entertainment ok to good.  

Also a frequent sailor on Princess and too, many cruises on Royal.  Royal has priced themselves out of the market they wanted, mainly families.  Not for us anymore: too much glitz and no polish.  Last sailed Royal on Quantum and its was horrible.  Couldn't wait to get off.  

Last year tried Holland America: Zaandam though the Panama Canal.  Great cruise, excellent food and superb crew/staff.  So good that we booked a Neptune Suite for an upcoming trans-Atlantic.  Pre-pandemic we loved sailing Azamara.  Have not sailed since they were sold to an investment company and don't have future plans either.  If the upcoming trans-Atlantic is a good as hoped then we likely have found our new favorite line.

Did a "one and done" on Apex.  Horrible dark ship and dangerous stairs.  The Infinity window and the cabin was good, better than the "standard" veranda cabin.  Hated the ship!

FYI, mu first "cruise was 1949 on Holland across the pond.  My dad was transferred to Amsterdam as a tech rep with KLM.  

Edited May 5 by Ride-The-Waves

[Ride-The-Waves]

11 minutes ago, albingirl said:

I keep a pen on me at all times to avoid cooties.

But you live incootie central: Florida!

[albingirl]

1 hour ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

But you live incootie central: Florida!

Not at all