Quick Comparison - Celebrity vs. Silversea - a 2025 WB TA

[canderson]

Wow.  What's up with this?  Next year's Connie TA certainly is popular!  We can usually book these 15 months out, but not this time.

 

Was looking at 2025 westbound TAs, and noticed that Constellation will be doing a 16 night (sweet!) Rome to Tampa, but Celebrity is already showing "Sold Out" for Retreat cabins.  I talked to one of the bigger agencies, and they didn't have any of our preferred cabins available, and showed only one Sky Suite in inventory.  Looks like we will probably be back on Silversea next year (LIS > FLL).  Given what we book on Celebrity, we'd do just as well for the money in a Silver Suite on Dawn again for a 14 nt, and we have plenty of those from which to choose... and is a somewhat more interesting itinerary.

 

For those that book Sky Suites, the Classic Veranda (it's an all-suite ship) on Dawn for the 2025 14nt TA runs $5700 pp, and provides a bigger cabin (387 sq ft is the min cabin size on this ship) and a slightly bigger veranda for those at-sea days.  A Sky Suite on the 14nt 2024 Constellation TA cruise is already currently going for $5673 pp, only $27 pp less.  Given the difference in food and service, it's worth a look if a smaller ship experience would be of interest.  The ship (built in 2021) is ~2/3 the size of Constellation, but with only ~25% the number of passengers on Constellation, but with ~40% of the number of Constellation's crew. 

 

[jelayne]

I’m not at all familiar with the Silverseas website and can’t locate the TA you mentioned.  What month is the sailing.

 

Also how do the deposits work. Refundable, non Refundable?  How far out is final payment?
Any info appreciated.

Thanks

[goofysmom99]

50 minutes ago, canderson said:

For those that book Sky Suites, the Classic Veranda (it's an all-suite ship) on Dawn for the 2025 14nt TA runs $5700 pp, and provides a bigger cabin (387 sq ft is the min cabin size on this ship) and a slightly bigger veranda for those at-sea days.  A Sky Suite on the 14nt 2024 Constellation TA cruise is already currently going for $5673 pp, only $27 pp less.  Given the difference in food and service, it's worth a look if a smaller ship experience would be of interest.  The ship (built in 2021) is ~2/3 the size of Constellation, but with only ~25% the number of passengers on Constellation, but with ~40% of the number of Constellation's crew. 

 

Don't forget your 10% Captain's Club discount (Elite and above).  I booked a veranda suite on Silver Ray (2024 build) for Nov 2025 TA for $300 less than a zenith-discounted sky suite on Eclipse (2010 build), identical cruises.  And my lower Silversea price was booked without the status match, just Silversea's solo discount (something X doesn't have).  

 

Silversea's deposits are now refundable.  When I booked my Nov TA it was not.  Final payment 150 days before.

 

Edited July 28 by goofysmom99

[canderson]

7 minutes ago, jelayne said:

I’m not at all familiar with the Silverseas website and can’t locate the TA you mentioned.  What month is the sailing.

 

Also how do the deposits work. Refundable, non Refundable?  How far out is final payment?
Any info appreciated.

Thanks

Need to avoid the extra "s".  silversea.com

 

The Dawn TA is late in the season compared to previous years.  Kinda jams us up close to Christmas, which is why I didn't start there for 2025:

 

https://www.silversea.com/destinations/transoceanic-cruise/lisbon-to-fort-lauderdale-florida-da251208014.html

 

Anyway, for Sky Suite and + Celebrity customers, Silversea is often worth a comparo look to see what options may exist.

 

Another thing I found about Silversea was that irrespective of the actual cruise cost, the bill at the end of the cruise was less as well.  While their included excursions aren't always that exceptional, they're as good as many for which Celebrity charges.  My bar bill was far less because for some reason, Silversea's wine prices by the bottle are far better than I've ever encountered aboard a ship - ocean or river - for those moments when the by-the-glass options don't quite fit.  Nothing I ever ordered from a bar or in the Arts Cafe coffee lounge ever incurred any kind of charge.  The price for the same number of minutes for a Swedish was better. 

 

@goofysmom99

Geez.  Darned near forgot about the 10% discount for being E+ on Celebrity!  They'll throw in all of the free laundry and dry cleaning in a Silver Suite, but a Celebrity crossover with a status of anything from Select and above get that perk now, too.

 

Anyway, with all of that, even if you get a close match on price, you'll typically come out ahead on Silversea.

 

 

 

 

[jelayne]

Thanks @goofysmom99 and @canderson.

We will look into those for 2025 TAs.  The refundable deposit is a biggie for us now as I have encountered a serious health  challenge.  Although we are insured for our currently booked cruises any new ones will be more difficult to insure.

[mac_tlc]

18 minutes ago, jelayne said:

Thanks @goofysmom99 and @canderson.

We will look into those for 2025 TAs.  The refundable deposit is a biggie for us now as I have encountered a serious health  challenge.  Although we are insured for our currently booked cruises any new ones will be more difficult to insure.

I believe the “refundable” terms are that if you use a Port-to-Port or Door-to-Door fare, the deposit is refundable up to 151 days before sailing, except that $250 pp is issued as an FCC. 
 

We are seriously considering the Silver Nova Tokyo-Vancouver sailing in April 2025. 
 

 

mac_tlc

[canderson]

@jelayne

Bummer on the health challenge.  Seems we're all accumulating a longer and longer list of "preexisting conditions" over the years.

 

As has been noted, final is also 150 days out, an even greater argument for trip insurance to cover the contingencies. 

 

[canderson]

3 minutes ago, mac_tlc said:

I believe the “refundable” terms are that if you use a Port-to-Port or Door-to-Door fare, the deposit is refundable up to 151 days before sailing, except that $250 pp is issued as an FCC. 
 

We are seriously considering the Silver Nova Tokyo-Vancouver sailing in April 2025. 
 

 

mac_tlc

That's correct.  They only recently added the "Essentials" fare, which is now the one that doesn't have any refundable deposit.  Port-to-Port was the NRD stepchild until "Essentials" came along.

 

Still, if booking a suite with Celebrity, it's also going to be an NRD deposit, though not quite as large (at the usual 10%) as the 15% of the fare as is the case with Silversea.

 

[billc23]

1 hour ago, mac_tlc said:

I believe the “refundable” terms are that if you use a Port-to-Port or Door-to-Door fare, the deposit is refundable up to 151 days before sailing, except that $250 pp is issued as an FCC. 
 

We are seriously considering the Silver Nova Tokyo-Vancouver sailing in April 2025. 
 

 

mac_tlc

Join me in Japan! I'll be on the Nova's April 9th sailing B2B with the TP to Vancouver and then moving over to the Silver Moon for an Alaska sailing. I looked at the Summit Alaska sailing and the Moon is cheaper for a Classic Veranda suite than a Sky suite on the Summit. Nicer room too, with included in room beverages and great choice of dining options. Silver Ray review (same as Nova): 

 

Silver Ray cruise ship review: A modern-yet-classic luxury ship for foodies and explorers

 

 

[billc23]

4 hours ago, canderson said:

The ship (built in 2021) is ~2/3 the size of Constellation, but with only ~25% the number of passengers on Constellation, but with ~40% of the number of Constellation's crew. 

Chris, it is hard to go back to Celebrity if you are booking the Retreat with the current pricing after sailing on Silversea.

 

[hcat]

2 hours ago, jelayne said:

Thanks @goofysmom99 and @canderson.

We will look into those for 2025 TAs.  The refundable deposit is a biggie for us now as I have encountered a serious health  challenge.  Although we are insured for our currently booked cruises any new ones will be more difficult to insure.

sorry to hear abt a health challenge. hope it works out!

 

We always booked the Refundable rate on Celebrity until it became unaffordable. But for us Silversea fares are  not workable and not sure we like the ships..

 

 

[canderson]

12 minutes ago, billc23 said:

Chris, it is hard to go back to Celebrity if you are booking the Retreat with the current pricing after sailing on Silversea.

 

It certainly is.  Unless some radical changes occur, this will probably be our last with X. ☹️ 

 

That said, it annoys me to no end that RCG is laughing all the way to the bank if we book Silversea, taking our money from one of their hands, and placing it in the other.  There's no penalty for the silliness that way, and with bookings remaining high, no incentive to change anything.

 

 

[mac_tlc]

38 minutes ago, billc23 said:

Join me in Japan! I'll be on the Nova's April 9th sailing B2B with the TP to Vancouver and then moving over to the Silver Moon for an Alaska sailing. I looked at the Summit Alaska sailing and the Moon is cheaper for a Classic Veranda suite than a Sky suite on the Summit. Nicer room too, with included in room beverages and great choice of dining options. Silver Ray review (same as Nova): 

 

Silver Ray cruise ship review: A modern-yet-classic luxury ship for foodies and explorers

 

 

We very well may be with you! We always wanted to go to Tokyo Disneyland and this is a great opportunity. 

 

We really want to try SS to see if we will like it. I still think there is a place in our cruising portfolio for X. It's not all about price. We really like the E class activities/shows/casino. Reasonable pries can be found -- but it takes some hunting and luck. All of our future X Retreat sailings are under $390 pppd. The Silver Nova TP is under $370pppd. (Now, lets not add in the business class airfare on ANA in "The Room" or the Tokyo Disneyland portion 😶)

 

Interesting that we will either do SS or the 10 day Silhouette Repo from PE to NJ. But that X cruise would be in a regular veranda because the price even with AI is only $159pppd. 

 

I am expecting a different experiences on SS -- and that is OK! 

 

mac_tlc

Edited July 28 by mac_tlc

[billc23]

21 minutes ago, canderson said:

It certainly is.  Unless some radical changes occur, this will probably be our last with X. ☹️ 

 

That said, it annoys me to no end that RCG is laughing all the way to the bank if we book Silversea, taking our money from one of their hands, and placing it in the other.  There's no penalty for the silliness that way, and with bookings remaining high, no incentive to change anything.

 

 

I really don't care who I give my money as long as I have a great experience. I do have a cruise on the Apex in December and am probably going to book a New England sailing in Sept 2025 on the Silhouette - mainly because I am a 1.5 hour shuttle to the port in Boston and it looks to be a fun itinerary for a fall trip.

 

Silversea to me is what the old Celebrity ships (Mercury, Century) used to be so I currently have over 100 days booked. I really hope Royal does not make to many changes to the Silversea brand. 

 

FWIW, I tried a 3 generation family trip in the MSC YC and all of my group found it better than Royal - my wife and I preferred it to the Retreat. Plenty of activities for all to participate in and great service. Booked two more while on board so some of my dollars are flowing to non RCG cruises.

[jelayne]

44 minutes ago, hcat said:

sorry to hear abt a health challenge. hope it works out!

 

 

 

Thanks!  I have had a few over the last 19 year, won on 3 hoping the streak continues for #4.

[markeb]

I keep looking at Silversea (and Oceania and RSSC) as alternatives to Celebrity. We'd like to do the ABC's, and right now a Sky Suite on Celebrity still looks best. Part of that is probably having to "learn the language" of the others (Silversea, Oceania, RSSC, etc.).

 

Silversea has an interesting itinerary to all three, but it adds the complication of getting to and from Barbados versus an easy 2 hour or so flight to FLL (or to Cartagena and back from Barbados). And most of them for the time period we're looking at are waitlisted. We'll have to look more at other locations I guess. Some of their European itineraries are definitely interesting.

 

RSSC and Oceania are enough different from Celebrity in cabin size and designations that it's hard for me to look at comparables. Oceania does have an interesting 12-day cruise from Miami that I'll probably research. 

 

I like the activity level and mix of Celebrity. I have mixed feelings from posts on this board (it's more active than those boards) about what to expect on any of those lines. Yes, the wine is almost certainly better, but I'd like more than a pianist and a jazz quartet for a 12-day cruise! Like an electric guitar that occasionally hits 11...

 

 

[Lastdance]

20 minutes ago, markeb said:

I keep looking at Silversea (and Oceania and RSSC) as alternatives to Celebrity. We'd like to do the ABC's, and right now a Sky Suite on Celebrity still looks best. Part of that is probably having to "learn the language" of the others (Silversea, Oceania, RSSC, etc.).

 

Silversea has an interesting itinerary to all three, but it adds the complication of getting to and from Barbados versus an easy 2 hour or so flight to FLL (or to Cartagena and back from Barbados). And most of them for the time period we're looking at are waitlisted. We'll have to look more at other locations I guess. Some of their European itineraries are definitely interesting.

 

RSSC and Oceania are enough different from Celebrity in cabin size and designations that it's hard for me to look at comparables. Oceania does have an interesting 12-day cruise from Miami that I'll probably research. 

 

I like the activity level and mix of Celebrity. I have mixed feelings from posts on this board (it's more active than those boards) about what to expect on any of those lines. Yes, the wine is almost certainly better, but I'd like more than a pianist and a jazz quartet for a 12-day cruise! Like an electric guitar that occasionally hits 11...

 

 

You have stated many of my thoughts...we bit the bullet and have Oceania with a PH next May/TA itinerary.  The price was just excellent compared to a SS at only $350 pp per day.  Celebrity does have more glitz and glam, but Vista is a smaller ship and I only fly overseas one-way.  Celebrity is my comfy zone, but several moths ago I had a situation that made me look elsewhere; I am so glad that I did!  Sometimes adding a little risk is fun!

Edited July 28 by Lastdance

[mac_tlc]

36 minutes ago, billc23 said:

 

 

FWIW, I tried a 3 generation family trip in the MSC YC and all of my group found it better than Royal - my wife and I preferred it to the Retreat. Plenty of activities for all to participate in and great service. Booked two more while on board so some of my dollars are flowing to non RCG cruises.

And that is also on our radar for summer 2025! We have done a 3 generation (8 people) cruise every August since 2014 (except 2020 of course). All have been on Royal, with 3 being Star class (fabulous). But their prices make X's increases look like nothing. Our 2022 Harmony sailing was about $380pppd for the 4-bedroom Villa Suite --- on Symphony in 2025 its $680 pppd with a worse itinerary. MSC YC on Meraviglia comes in at about $385 pppd. And lets not even consider Wonder, Icon or Star......

 

 

mac_tlc

[bethtex]

if looking at Silversea, in addition to the discount for status match with Celebrity, it also now has the shareholder on board credit.  Just started doing that last year I think.  

We enjoy the lunch buffet on Celebrity and the evening entertainment.  But the overall experience on Silversea is amazing.  We will probably continue to do both depending on price and itinerary.  

There is currently a sale on Silversea that ends July 31 that is pretty good.  Quite a few cruises price at under $400pppd with the 10% status match discount for Elite and above.  

[hcat]

11 hours ago, jelayne said:

Thanks!  I have had a few over the last 19 year, won on 3 hoping the streak continues for #4.

you always show a can do attitude.. so hope it will get you through! 

[Jim_Iain]

I"ve noticed the same on many of the Premium Lines I've been booking with.   The top end Cabins and the bottom end cabins book really quickly when reservations first open.    Even though the deposits are higher -  You can cancel and only pay a low $100 pp processing fee.    I think many book and then cancel later.   Use to be very common on Celebrity also.

 

[markeb]

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I"ve noticed the same on many of the Premium Lines I've been booking with.   The top end Cabins and the bottom end cabins book really quickly when reservations first open.    Even though the deposits are higher -  You can cancel and only pay a low $100 pp processing fee.    I think many book and then cancel later.   Use to be very common on Celebrity also.

 

 

That's interesting, Jim. I'll keep that in mind. The ABC cruises I've been looking at (not too seriously, in all honesty) on Celebrity look to have already largely sold out on Sky Suites for most dates. A Celebrity Suite is as more per day than a PH2 Penthouse Suite on Oceania! We normally just wouldn't go to that price point, so that's probably a moot comparison, but it does get your attention. Silversea doesn't have what we were looking at. We might look elsewhere (Southampton to Lisbon looks interesting). 

 

And that's without going through USAA or the great credit card site in the sky. A Sky Suite would still win, at least today, on price, but...