Pinnacles to E class?

[39august]

I wonder how many P's who want some smaller ships will decide to try the Celebrity E class? These are the biggest and newest ships that Celebrity has, but considerably smaller than Oasis and Icon classes.  I'm just off Beyond and I can see that appealing to P's.  The production shows have a real wow factor, so that helps in the entertainment department. 

Edited May 31 by 39august

[cruisegirl1]

All of our Celebrity cruises have been on Solstice  class ships.  How does this class compare to solstice class?  
thx. 
 

[39august]

More passengers, more ship space, cutting edge theater, new venues, larger venues, shiny new. Different design altogether. 

[George C]

E class as by far the best entertainment.

[leaveitallbehind]

Just to add perspective. Celebrity in general appeals to most higher tier RCCL cruisers, not just Pinnacles, as most of us earned those points while cruising with children as they grew as families are the prime demographic for RCCL.  Plus the RCCL Crown & Anchor program is one of the best in the industry (and measurably better than Celebrity) which helps retain their customer base while advancing them through the tier levels.

 

But a number of years ago we started shifting our preferences as our children became adults and Celebrity appeals more to us now. So as Diamond Plus we too find all Celebrity class ships appealing, not just E class, and have sailed many times since as a result.  Although our reciprocal status is now Elite+ we are just shy of Elite on our own cruise merit with Celebrity.  It would be nice if Celebrity would adopt more of the higher tier benefits that RCCL has into their own program.  But we don't sail for loyalty benefits - its just a nice perk.

Edited May 31 by leaveitallbehind

[steveru621]

Only if Celebrity has a better itinerary.

[cruise wizard]

We have made the switch to Celebrity about a year and a half ago..........now with the status match - what a great decision. We enjoy all of the Celebrity ships as each has it's own plusses. The Edge class is our favorite - clean, bright, spacious and like the 4 choices of main dining rooms.

 

Steve - we hope to see you on an "X" ship!!!

[leaveitallbehind]

While from time to time we still sail on RCCL depending on ship and itinerary, for us the shift to Celebrity was simple.  RCCL's primary demographics is families, and their ships, in particular Quantum, Oasis, and Icon class are essentially floating amusement parks with a very high child demographics ration. As touched on before, that was fine when our family was young as RCCL was our cruise line of choice while raising our family.  Now that they are all adults Celebrity offers the direct opposite and appeals to us now far better. With the mass market lines, Celebrity is now our cruise line of choice and first look for our cruises.

Edited June 4 by leaveitallbehind

[George C]

I definitely think going to a more adult cruise line is something many would prefer . Also if in suites perks are way better. I was going to book rccl again in 2024 but instead will do a celebrity and a MSc yacht club both totally superior suite perks.

[leaveitallbehind]

4 minutes ago, George C said:

I definitely think going to a more adult cruise line is something many would prefer . Also if in suites perks are way better. I was going to book rccl again in 2024 but instead will do a celebrity and a MSc yacht club both totally superior suite perks.

RCCL is making an effort to improve that with their newest launch ship in Oasis class, Utopia, and at least one more to follow, and their Icon class ships.  

Edited June 4 by leaveitallbehind

[George C]

40 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

RCCL is making an effort to improve that with their newest launch ship in Oasis class, Utopia, and at least one more to follow, and their Icon class ships.  

From what I read I agree , But I cruised my normal grand suite last november on harmony I had looked at the newer oasis class grand suites and price was about 2k per person more than my harmony and newer ship still have the 3 hour happy hour and will not serve doubles like Yacht Club and retreat. 

[leaveitallbehind]

1 hour ago, George C said:

From what I read I agree , But I cruised my normal grand suite last november on harmony I had looked at the newer oasis class grand suites and price was about 2k per person more than my harmony and newer ship still have the 3 hour happy hour and will not serve doubles like Yacht Club and retreat. 

I agree that in general, RCCL suite class lags behind others.  Even Celebrity, with the Retreat, only has the complete and better suite class with the truly dedicated area on a few of their ships.  MSC Yacht club has a very good suite class, but IMO their staterooms lag far behind RCCL, Celebrity, and NCL in terms of size and opulence of their larger suite offerings. IMO their Yacht Club experience is probably very good, but in average to small suite stateroom sizes.  Their largest Royal suite is about equivalent to the original Owners suites on RCCL's older ships.  Unless that is changing on their newer launches.

Edited June 4 by leaveitallbehind

[George C]

20 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

I agree that in general, RCCL suite class lags behind others.  Even Celebrity, with the Retreat, only has the complete and better suite class with the truly dedicated area on a few of their ships.  MSC Yacht club has a very good suite class, but IMO their staterooms lag far behind RCCL, Celebrity, and NCL in terms of size and opulence of their larger suite offerings. IMO their Yacht Club experience is probably very good, but in average to small suite stateroom sizes.  Their largest Royal suite is about equivalent to the original Owners suites on RCCL's older ships.  Unless that is changing on their newer launches.

I agree , I have always liked the grand suites on rccl ( except for tub/shower) and loved owners suite, but other perks are the problem only newer have CK and CK is inferior to other suite restaurants . We buy UDP on rccl so we don’t have to eat in CK except for breakfast and some lunches. Also loved the live music all night in yacht club lounge . We had done some suites on Hal which were very nice but even rccl has better perks. Butler on yacht club will escort you to shows if you want and escort you off the ship . I will most likely return sooner or later to rccl because of entertainment and I do like my diamond plus perks . 

[little britain]

7 hours ago, steveru621 said:

Only if Celebrity has a better itinerary.

You’re kidding aren’t you? 🤷‍♀️

Celebrity itineraries are far better than RCI which just visit the same old same old year after year. 

[cublet]

33 minutes ago, little britain said:

You’re kidding aren’t you? 🤷‍♀️

Celebrity itineraries are far better than RCI which just visit the same old same old year after year. 

Hello,

 

To be honest, I would prefer some 'same old, same old' to the nothingness we've got in 2025 on Independence.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

[TeeRick]

9 hours ago, George C said:

I agree , I have always liked the grand suites on rccl ( except for tub/shower) and loved owners suite, but other perks are the problem only newer have CK and CK is inferior to other suite restaurants . We buy UDP on rccl so we don’t have to eat in CK except for breakfast and some lunches. Also loved the live music all night in yacht club lounge . We had done some suites on Hal which were very nice but even rccl has better perks. Butler on yacht club will escort you to shows if you want and escort you off the ship . I will most likely return sooner or later to rccl because of entertainment and I do like my diamond plus perks . 

We like the Retreat particularly on E-Class.  On RCCL, we have a 2-BDR GS reserved on Indy next year.  We do not get WiFi included and CK is not on this ship.  It is a 12 night cruise with a great itinerary but we will miss the suite benefits and areas on our last RCCL ship (Symphony).  We are thinking of purchasing the UDP but only two Specialty restaurants on board (plus Izumi with ala carte fee).  Not enough selection and value for UDP on a 12 night cruise.  We can use our BOGO for D+ on nights 1-2 and maybe get a 3 night dining package.  Still thinking about what to do.  

[RFerrington]

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

We can use our BOGO for D+ on nights 1-2 and maybe get a 3 night dining package.  Still thinking about what to do.  

I wish they would bring back the 5 night dining package for the longer itineraries.  I absolutely understand the concern with having so few specialty options on these older ships....but I would still prefer repeating a restaurant a time or 2 to having to suffer through the MDR more nights.

 

We always do the 3 night pkg + BOGO for the shorter cruises but for the longer ones, a 5 night package would be great.  I don't know if they even offer it anymore.

[TeeRick]

1 hour ago, RFerrington said:

I wish they would bring back the 5 night dining package for the longer itineraries.  I absolutely understand the concern with having so few specialty options on these older ships....but I would still prefer repeating a restaurant a time or 2 to having to suffer through the MDR more nights.

 

We always do the 3 night pkg + BOGO for the shorter cruises but for the longer ones, a 5 night package would be great.  I don't know if they even offer it anymore.

The RC website Q&A (answer below) on dining packages claims a 5 night package is available for longer cruises like the 12 night one we are taking.  But when I go to my cruise I am not given options other than 3-night or UDP.  Maybe when I board?

 

Royal Caribbean offers 4 different types of dining packages:

• Chops +1 (Not offered on 10+ night sailings)
• 3-Night Package (Not offered on 3 to 5-night sailings)
• 5-Night Package (Only offered on 10+ night sailings)
• 10-Night Package (Only offered on 15+ night sailings)
• Unlimited Dining Package

[RFerrington]

3 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

The RC website Q&A (answer below) on dining packages claims a 5 night package is available for longer cruises like the 12 night one we are taking.  But when I go to my cruise I am not given options other than 3-night or UDP.  Maybe when I board?

 

Royal Caribbean offers 4 different types of dining packages:

• Chops +1 (Not offered on 10+ night sailings)
• 3-Night Package (Not offered on 3 to 5-night sailings)
• 5-Night Package (Only offered on 10+ night sailings)
• 10-Night Package (Only offered on 15+ night sailings)
• Unlimited Dining Package

Well, maybe it still exists but it’s just elusive.  Our 10 night EX cruise isn’t until next Feb so maybe it just hasn’t been put into the CP yet.  I’ll just have to wait I guess…

[Another_Critic]

2 hours ago, RFerrington said:

I wish they would bring back the 5 night dining package for the longer itineraries. 

Odyssey (14-night) TA:

 

[RFerrington]

4 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

Odyssey (14-night) TA:

 

YAY !

[Tatka]

We absolutely LOVED Edge!

Prior we sailed on Century, Mercury, Summit (2), Silhouette.

 

Edge was by far the best X ship for us although we loved all X cruises.

 

Things that we liked, but some people do not. I do not think Edge had assigned seating for dinners. We did book dinners through X version of My Time Dining - Select.

 

Menus were different in 4 included restaurants. Not like during Royal's Dynamic Dining when 100% of dishes were unique in each restaurant, but part of menu was different. Restaurants included French, Italian, Mediterranean/Greek and Steakhouse.

 

Entertainment was great. Ship feels somewhat similar to Quantum class of Royal.

Edited June 4 by Tatka

[orville99]

On 5/31/2024 at 12:09 PM, 39august said:

These are the biggest and newest ships that Celebrity has, but considerably smaller than Oasis and Icon classes.  I'm

We moved to X primarily because we don’t have any desire to sail on an amusement park of the seas. Stopped booking Oasis class ships more than a year ago, and once we burn through our booked Adventure cruises, all of our new bookings are either on X E class, Solstice class, or Silversea. 

[cruisegus]

With the new tier match Pin = Zenith, which includes wifi and full drink package, we are going to book Celebrity, fitting one in now and then most likely all future cruises. 

 

Before this match I was much more hesitant because we didn't want to go to a only 2 hour happy hour and have to purchase internet.

 

The final reason  to push us will be the loss of guaranteed access to CK for dinner on Royals larger ships, which is what made us book those ships.

 

Do wish Celebrity sailed out of Galveston though.

Edited June 4 by cruisegus

[FOXTROT]

On 6/4/2024 at 1:24 AM, little britain said:

You’re kidding aren’t you? 🤷‍♀️

Celebrity itineraries are far better than RCI which just visit the same old same old year after year. 

😀Transatlantic cruise are usually better on RCL, for one.