Explorer or the Summit? I need your advice

[island04]

I need someone to tell me about the Summit. I would love to know the average age and whether the ship has a "stuffy" feel or not. I really enjoy Royal Caribbean, so I think the Explorer would be a safe bet, but the itinerary on the Summit sounds great. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Lois R]

Good morning:) I have sailed Celebrity 3 times but not the Summit....I love X....

To get first hand information about the ship you might want to post a thread on the Celebrity Boards. There are many people who have sailed her....and most of them have loved their experience:)

[kitty9]

We cruised the Summit last January and are booked on her again for March. It's a fantastic itinerary and we absolutely love the ship. There are major differences with RCCI and Celebrity, the most obvious being much better food and service on Celebrity. We've cruised with RCCI 6 times and while they are a good line, they in no way compare with Celebrity. The Summit is not at alll stuffy and we had a wonderful time on our cruise. The passengers and crew were great fun and the activities both during the day and at night were great.

[island04]

Thanks so much for the input! I really appreciate it. I had a good friend of mine who cruised the Summit this past Summer in Alaska and he was the one who told me it had a stuffy feel. I'm glad to hear you didn't have that same impression. Thanks again!

[saw1953]

I disagree with the previous posters. We sailed the Summit in 2002 and I don't think we will ever sail Celebrity again. The artwork on the ship is unusual to say the least. All of the music in the lounges was either big band or classical and in my opinion the food is no better than RCI or Princess. I agree with your friend that the feeling was "stuffy". There are folks who love Celebrity and that's why there are several different cruise line. Personally, I would sail RCI

[island04]

Wow! Thanks for your input, too! So, I guess he wasn't just being a little out there when he was telling me about the Summit. The itinerary looks so nice, but it's just not worth it to me if I don't care for the ship, the passengers, or the feel of the entire experience. I think I'll probably end up sticking with RCCL since I know I already love cruising with them. Thanks so much!

[Lois R]

Island, every cruiseline has their loyalists:)....I have been on X 3 times...once on Royal and once on HAL.

 

I guess that is what makes the world go round;)

 

Taz said if felt stuffy to her......I felt like I was treated fantastically:D ....actually, hoping to book another cruise on Celebrity this weekend!

[island04]

Hey Lois! May I ask what ship(s) you have cruised with Celebrity? Maybe that makes a difference. I know it has made a difference to me on other lines I've cruised. Thanks for your advice.

[Shifra]

I sailed the Summit this past April. It was a fantastic cruise, in fact we had one of the larger CC groups on board. I have also been on Celebrity Horizon. I loved that cruise also. Celebrity is one of my favorite lines.

 

You asked about the age of cruisers. On our Summit trip I would guess the average age to be late 40's - early 50's, and the friendliest bunch of people. If you are looking for a laid back, not so formal cruise then I would suggest staying with RCI. Myself, I like them all because of their differences.

[island04]

Thank you for your words...I understand liking cruises for their differences for sure. I have been on Disney Cruise Line, for instance, quite a few times and have always had a WONDERFUL experience with them. However, I still prefer RCCL. I guess at some point I will NEED to step out of my so-called comfort zone and experience Celebrity and Princess. I guess, too, I just KNOW that I'm going to enjoy a cruise vacation with DCL or RCCL and so I don't mind spending vacation time on one of those lines. I would just really hate to spend 10 or 11 nights on Celebrity and find out it's not what I had hoped for. Anyway, I need to just do it at some point and quit rambling about it. Thanks so much for all the input.

[Lois R]

Hi Island, I have been on the CENTURY twice and the MERCURY once. I am in the process of booking something for next month...either on CENTURY again or one of their newer ships, called the Constellation.

 

CENTURY and MERCURY are sister ships.....they are what are called "C" Class....smaller in size.

 

Connie is "M" Class...which is the same as the Summit.....larger in size.

 

Personally, I would recommend any of the Celebrity ships but if you feel going into you would not have fun, they you probably won't.

 

If you feel like (Inside yourself) you want to go on Royal...then go. Celebrity is owned by Royal but they are 2 different types of experiences. Some would say Celebrity is "The Big Sister".

 

I think Royal is probably a "more active" cruise experience. And for me...for a week on ship, I don't always care if I am active;) .....Lifting a glass to drink, while reading a good book is enough activity to make me happy!

Most of the Royal ships.......(the VOYAGER CLASS)......have ice skating, rock climbing, etc. so that tells you a bit of the difference. X has nothing like that on their ships.

Whatever you decide.....have a WONDERFUL Cruise:D

[koolcruiser43]

I sailed on the Milleniun a couple of years ago and it felt like a nursing home. The average age of Celebrity is much higher than 40's. More like 70's and 80's. I was in my late 30's and it was our first cruise so I didn't really know the demographics of the cruise lines. Recently our travel agent has described RCI as a ship for 35 - 55 year old and Celebrity as your parents ship. I would try the Radiance class on RCI which is the same size as Summit and more elegant than Voyager Class.

[island04]

Lois, thank you so much for your kind, informative, and encouraging words on which cruise I should choose. I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful cruise on whichever ship you decide to cruise on, as well.

 

Koolcruiser43, thanks for your input, too. I think you're right. I have been hearing rumblings about X being an "older" crowd. I'm more active and like to be entertained. I think I will stick with RCCL for now. The Radianc Class ships do sound really nice. I've been reading their reviews. I'll try to keep you all posted on my choice after I've made one for sure. Thanks again and keep having fun cruising!

[Noni]

We have cruised on both and much prefer the Explorer. As others have mentioned, the Explorer is a bit less "stuffy".

[wallie5446]

5x RCI and 4x Celebrity, with a few others thrown in. Celebrity is our line of choice. But you could not go wrong with either ship.

[Bonnie Voyager]

I have never sailed on Celebrity so I can't compare that, but I have sailed on many ships and I can tell you that Explorer is my all-time favorite ship! :D For me, the decor is a big factor in how much I like a ship. Don't get me wrong, I have loved every ship I've sailed on, but I absolutely LOVE RCCL's decor and that keeps me coming back for more! ;) I found Explorer to be stunningly beautiful. I've seen many Celebrity ships from the dock and have seen loads of photos of the interiors of Celebrity ships and they mostly have a decor that does not appeal to me. They seem to have a very sleek and classic, perhaps minimalist, type decor with nice wood and deep tones. And while that is certainly pleasing to many, it is "boring" to me. I love the pastel and brass and often whimsical decor of RCCL. I also enjoy being "entertained". I love the silly games and shows. I'm sure Celebrity does a fine job entertaining too, but I think the area where they reportedly "shine" is in the Dining venues and that is something that is not highly important to me when I cruise. I am happy as long as I don't have to cook the meal, but I am not a "foodie" and I don't cruise to eat. RCCL is the perfect line for me at this point in my life. People change though and I am open to experiencing any cruise line! But anyway, the point I was intending to make before I started rambling was.....Explorer is a great choice if you decide to check her out!

[island04]

Bonnie...WOW!!! What a reply! I appreciate your honesty and words of advice. I appreciate the nice woods and deep tones that you cite as being part of Celebrity's decor. However, I love to cruise for the pampering and entertainment. Sometime food is a factor, but not very often. I eat every day, so that's nothing new. Although, the views from Chops or Windjammer have been quite nice in the past! I'm planning on sticking with RCCL at this point. Still trying to decide which ship to choose, but that will come in time. Thanks again for your input. Have a great day!

[Lois R]

Island, let us know what ship you pick:)

 

I booked on Celebrity...they are my line of choice....going on the Constellation....have not tried her yet...and I was able to get a fantastic price too....and my FIRST BALCONY as well:D .

 

Bonnie is correct...we all have different reasons for our love of cruising and why we choose different lines and ships too.

 

Whatever you decide...have a wonderful time:)

[patnjohn]

We sailed on the Summit (10/15-11/5). Our 1st on Celebrity. The only place we found "stuffy" was The Normandie. We were uncomfortable at first. Then the waiter loosened up & all was well. Everyone we met, cruiser or worker, was very nice & friendly. No stuffy there!

[island04]

For those of you who have posted here...may I please be so bold as to inquire of your ages or at least age ranges? Thanks for any replies.

 

patnjohn, thank you for your input. I appreciate it.

 

Lois, sounds like you will have a ball on the Constellation! I sure hope you do. I'm sure you deserve it.

[lb1cruiser]

37 yr. old married F here- we LOVED the Summit. We're fairly quiet yet friendly types and were very comfortable with the classy yet relaxed atmosphere. We've been on Carnival and felt like two Amish in Las Vegas, so the Summit was such a nice mellow change. We had a great time in the casino and at the shows, great food, fun waiters, fun discos when we felt like shaking it up a bit. Definitely an older crowd but I'm there to be with my husband so I don't really care what age the people are, just that they're not drunk, swearing, etc. in the public places (which they weren't on the Summit- at least the cruise we were on.) However, if you're young and traveling without a partner (and perhaps looking for one) I'd probably steer you toward the RCL cruise, just because Celebrity attracts an older group.

I don't know, but I wonder if it isn't a case of: they say stuffy, I say classy; they say "fun ship", I say drunken party ship. Just a thought.

[Noni]

Hubby and I are in late 40's. Others in our group on Summit were mid 30's and mid 50's. You will find all ages on any of the ships....interesting tho, that you can enjoy visiting and cruising with people of all ages.

[Lois R]

Good morning:) 46 here!

[bilgeboyPa]

I'll add my 2 cents. Why not :-). I was on the Explorer in May of this year. I did a review of my experience on the Cruise Critic ship review.. I aabsolutly hated this ship. It was a nice looking ship. Very modern. The food was horrible and the staff was less than accomadating to say the least. It was too crowded, took forever to on it and forever to get off. Half my party missed their flight because they were so disorganized. I am back to Celebrity and right back on the Century next month. I'm with Lois. Lets do the 12 ounce curls in the Martini Bar!!

Jeff

[patnjohn]

We are 56 & 59. The longer the cruise, the older the cruiser. There was a nice mix on our ship from newlyweds to a couple married 60 years (who were a hoot). The best part was the friendliness of the staff. I don't know how they keep those smiles on their faces no matter what time of day or night. The cold towels at poolside & at the dock when you returned from a port were the best. The poolside delivery of sherbert was great too. I think Celebrity is a "cut above" RC.