Comparing RCCL and Celebrity

[ritojuky]

We have sailed on HAL and RCCL. What is your opinion on Celebrity?

Thanks,
Tori

[yarlenna]

I did not care for Celebrity. Yes, the food was really good, but the entertainment was really poor and the service, while appearing proper, was rather snobby. We found the Sky "suite" on Century to be rather small. The butler on this particular cruise was useless. The dining room was way over-crowded.
I love HAL, though we haven't sailed on any of their newest ships. RCI was also a very good line, but recent cut-backs in food ingredient quality and numbers of service staff have made me nervous. I would rather sail on either HAL or RCI (or Carnival) than Celebrity. IMHO, they try to look classy, but they didn't fool me.

Work like a dog. Live like a pauper. Save all your money. Then Cruise!

[SUZCRUZ]

We think Celebrity is wonderful. Have been on the Constellation, Barcelona to Barcelona, last year. Beautiful ship, excellent food and great staff.
Have been on the Millennium twice. The last sailing was from Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale=Transatlantic. 14 blistful days away from the maddening crowd and WORK!(I'm one of the many nurses that take cruises)
The food was SUPERIOR or equal to any 5 star restaurant. I must say the crowd was a little older than anticipated.
As you can tell,DH and I are Celebrity fans.
Hoping RCCL will still be the top notch line, after reading about all the cutbacks, we have sailed on.
This month we are taking a cruise for the first time since being upgraded to Diamond members, on the Brilliance. Are so looking forward to it!

[saw1953]

Like yarlenna we did not like Celebrity. The evening entertainment was non-existent unless you like classical music. The staff on Celebrity are very nice but are much more reserved that the staff on Princess or RCI. We will stick to those 2 lines. Celebrity is not to our taste but that's why they have so many different lines. Different strokes for different folks.

Sheila

Link to Denise's Grandeur Album [url="http://members5.clubphoto.com/denise347521/1992824/owner-241b.phtml"]http://members5.clubphoto.com/denise347521/1992824/owner-241b.phtml[/url]

Til the Grandeur of the Seas
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;5;1;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]

Til the Regal to Alaska
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;8;14;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

Regal Princess 11/03
Summit 10/02
Enchantment of the Seas 09/01

[Family of 14]

We too were a little apprehensive about Celebrity. On the recommendation of our TA, she talked us into trying Celebrity. We were looking into a HAL ship at the time.

We LOVED Celebrity! Went last Spring Break on the Millennium. Plenty of different age groups. The service was the best and friendliest we have ever had. Dining room large. The ship was just outstanding! A Sorbet Parade around the pool on sea days (yummy lemon) and champaign handed out as you embark the ship. Iced towels handed out around the pool and when you return from hot excursions. Our stateroom was wonderful as well! We had an aft. Looking forward to another celebrity ship.

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=1913020557&r=1913020557#1913020557"]Are you sailing on the Mariner 7/18/04?...Click here! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img][/url]
[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=4933032747&r=9113028567#9113028567"]or HERE! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img][/url]

Disney Wonder 3/2000 ~ Disney Magic 9/2000 ~ RCI Vision 2/2001 ~ Carnival Victory 12/2001 ~ Celebrity Millennium 3/2003 ~ RCI Adventure OTS 9/2003 ~ RCI Mariner OTS 7/18/2004 ~ RCI Serenade OTS 9/26/2004

[BEVEROO]

We have sailed on both RCI and Celebrity. We like RCI better as there seems to be a lot more fun going on aboard ship than what was on Celebrity (with both the passengers and crew members). I have to admit the food was more gourmet on Celebrity but the food on RCI is good too. Each to their own.
Bev

Sail On Forever!!!!!!!

[yarlenna]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by saw1953:
Like yarlenna we did not like Celebrity. The evening entertainment was non-existent unless you like classical music. The staff on Celebrity are very nice but are much more reserved that the staff on Princess or RCI. We will stick to those 2 lines. Celebrity is not to our taste but that's why they have so many different lines. Different strokes for different folks.

Sheila

Link to Denise's Grandeur Album [url="http://members5.clubphoto.com/denise347521/1992824/owner-241b.phtml"]http://members5.clubphoto.com/denise347521/1992824/owner-241b.phtml[/url]

Til the Grandeur of the Seas
[url="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;5;1;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600"]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;5;1;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/url]

Til the Regal to Alaska
[url="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;8;14;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0800"]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;8;14;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/url]

Regal Princess 11/03
Summit 10/02
Enchantment of the Seas 09/01
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Celebrity's classical music was nothing to write home about either. Carnival had a better string group - and they actually showed up when they were supposed to play. Like Saw1953, I am really glad that there are still different lines out there. Some like Celebrity, others prefer something else.

Work like a dog. Live like a pauper. Save all your money. Then Cruise!

[hollym]

Depends on what you're looking for. Been there and done that and the two are distinctly different. For me there was no comparison. If you're younger than 50 and more into the entertainment aspects of a cruise, want to dress less formally and aren't terribly picky about the gourmet quality of meals you should choose RCCL. If none of the above apply to you, go to Celebrity. Nuff said.

[ritojuky]

Thanks to all.

Tori

[Murphy]

We've sailed on the Galaxy in a Sky Suite and the Century in an oceanview cabin on Celebrity and either Balcony cabins or suites on the Legend, Monarch and Grandeur. We loved them all. If you make generalizations, we found the food, staff, and room amenities to be more to our liking on Celebrity, the late night entertainment, room furniture and layout to be more to our liking on RCI and the activities such as pool games and trivia contests to be very similar on both lines.

7 previous cruises, Hawaii on Legend scheduled May 2004, and Enchantment Oct 2004

[y14]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Family of 14:
. . . We LOVED Celebrity! Went last Spring Break on the Millennium. Plenty of different age groups. The service was the best and friendliest we have ever had. Dining room large. The ship was just outstanding! A Sorbet Parade around the pool on sea days (yummy lemon) and champaign handed out as you embark the ship. Iced towels handed out around the pool and when you return from hot excursions. Our stateroom was wonderful as well! We had an aft. Looking forward to another celebrity ship.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi Fellow 14! Did you have your children with you and did they have fun?


Rhapsody
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2004;6;6;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]

Monarch of the Seas
Disney Wonder

[Hoosier Cruiser]

We prefer Celebrity when it is just the two of us, RCCL when we have the kids. We have always found plenty to do and enjoy on Celebrity for us and will take the kids on a Celebrity ship when they are all a bit older. Right now they love the variety of things to do on RCCL. (There are six of them, ages 5 - 22.) But DH and I love the pampering on Celebrity. We always feel so relaxed and well-taken care of on Celebrity. Last cruise with them in January, we didn't leave our balcony (aft family stateroom - huge balcony!) at all on the sea days until dinner - very relaxing, very lazy vacation which was just what we needed. That being said, we always have a lot of fun on RCCL. We make our ship choice dependent on the circumstance of the cruise itself. Next up, family cruise in January 2005 with kids, my parents, some siblings and their families; so we are going Navigator Eastern itinerary, because of the diverse group of travelers - something for everyone, I'm sure. Can't wait!

Veracruz 1/84; Meridian 8/97; Sovereign 9/98; Mercury 1/99; Monarch 1/02; Enchantment 8/02; Millennium 10/02; Sensation 5/03; Glory 7/03; Millennium 1/04; Navigator 1/05

[CACruizer]

Understand that most have a preference of cruise line they like, activities, etc.

Celebrity (owned by Royal Caribbean) is a more classier operation like the old way cruising used to be in the 80s and they (Celebrity) is currently updating the smaller ships to be in line with their bigger and newer ships. I don't feel nickeled and dimed on Celebrity like I do on other cruise line, plus they don't have the "photographer in your face" every time. Plus the Aqua Spa is wonderful!

Royal Caribbean to me is more relaxed less stuffy atmosphere, great for families and to let your hair down (so to speak). Don't get me wrong, I do like Royal Caribbean and plan on cruising on them soon again.

These two lines are definately not like Carnival, thank god. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Next Sailing: TBA

Past Included...
Mercury/Mex. Riveria (03/04)
Millennium/Transatlantic(4/03)
Silver Shadow/Med (5/02)
Dawn Princess/Alaska (9/01)
Rhapsody of the Seas/Alaska (6/01)
Crown Princess/W.Caribbean
SS Norway/E.Caribbean (twice)
Royal Viking Star/Pac.Coastal
Royal Viking Sky/Panama Canal/Alaska
Royal Viking Sea/Mex.Riviera
Nordic Prince/Bermuda
Sun Princess I/So.Caribbean
MS Skyward/E.Caribbean
Plus other 3-5 day cruises.

[cruiseorbust]

We have been on many Celebrity ships and others. We have taken our children with us for the past 14 years. If you ask us, we prefer Celebrity. If you ask the children, they prefer Celebrity. The food, service, activities, and just the extras are to our liking. My children are now ages 24, 20, and 14. We also liked Royal Carribean, but food was much better on Celebrity.

Big Red Boat
Royal Majesty
Sensation
Ectascy
Destiny
Celebration
Horizon
Zenith
Century
Mercury
Galaxy
Summit
Horizon
Galaxy
Century
Mariner

[reggierail]

I found the food and service to be much better on Celebrity than on RCCL. All of the cabins on Celebrity provide bathrobes for use during the cruise, cotton swabs and cotton balls in the bathrooms, carafe of water in the cabin and generally larger cabins.
The homemade ice cream available for free on the ship was excellent. There were many little extras available including, cloth hand towels in the public restrooms, champagne on boarding, cold towels when returning from excursions, larger cabins and larger bathrooms in the cabins.
There were complimentary sorbet and cold drinks offered at the pool by waiters and the midnight buffets or gourmet bites were available every night. The buffet line had servers that actually placed the food on your plate rather than self serve and the omlette and pasta stations were very nice. The cabin service was far superior on Celebrity and one of the 2 attendants seemed to always be available.
I found the entertainment to be very similiar as far as production shows and the lounge acts to be varied although a little more reserved on Celebrity.
I've got 10 RCCL cruises and 2 on Celebrity and will sail both again.
I definitely prefer Celebrity.

Reggie [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2004;10;17;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Rhapsody 10-17-04

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2004;12;06;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0700[/img]
Mercury 12-06-04

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2004;03;29;17;30;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img] Monarch 3-29-04

Viking Serenade 1998
Viking Serenade 1999
Voyager of the Seas 2000
Viking Serenade 2001
Majesty of the Seas 11-2002
Norwegian Sea 11-2002
Vision of the Seas 11-2002
Mercury 5-03-03
Monarch of the Seas 6-09-03
Mercury 10-12-03
Monarch 11-17-03
Monarch 1-19-04

God bless the USA and all freedom loving people. May God protect all those who fight and die to protect those freedoms.