Azamara vs. Celebrity vs. RCCL

[new2crusng]

I know that Azamara, Celebrity, and RCCL are all under the same ownership, and other than size, I am not sure what the difference in the experience is. Do you have a preference among the three?

[Atomica]

A lot will depend on what experience you're looking for.

 

Azamara: smaller, more intimate ships that run longer itineraries to more obscure ports.

 

Celebrity: medium to large ships that sail to all major areas of the world. Celebrity is generally regarded as being at the upper end of the mainstream lines.

 

Royal Caribbean: operates a fleet of large to super-large cruise ships with an emphasis on fun for everyone. Their ships can vary wildly, from the 'small' Legend of the Seas to the mammoth Independence of the Seas. Ships feature things such as rock climbing walls, surfing pools (The Flowrider), and ice-skating rinks. These ships carry lots of people.

 

You can judge for yourself if you visit each line's website - you'll probably be able to figure out very quickly which line you'd prefer. Personally, I had a lot of fun on Royal Caribbean, but I'd love to sail with Azamara for the smaller ships with less people and different itineraries.

 

http://www.azamaracruises.com/

 

http://www.celebrity.com/

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/

[Taxguy77]

Enjoyed our Celebrity cruise (TA) very much, and booked their newly aquired small ship Quest before they spun off Azamara. Did not enjoy it nearly as much, due partly to itinerary (we did not like it as well as expected) and partly things (including service) were not in place as they should have been by the time we sailed. Met a couple on our last TA who had been on the Quest since and said it was great. Read a lot, then make up your mind.

[kitty9]

RCCI: Huge ships and feels very crowded at times. We recently got off Navigator and always felt that we had to go through hundreds of other passengers to get from one place to the next. Service was just OK and the food was pretty poor. People raved about their specialty restaurant, Chops, and for us it was one of the worst meals with the cheese burned black on the French onion soup and the filet, though ordered medium, was served totally charred.

 

Azamara's standard cabins are quite small, IMHO. They used to be the Renaissance ships, and were converted to Azamara. If you want a lot in the way of entertainment and activities, you're not going to find that on Azamara since their ships are so small.

 

Celebrity is a very, very nice line. Their ships are not overly glitzy and their cabins are nicely appointed. Their service has always been way above average. The food on Celebrity is quite good and will get better with the new menu being introduced.

[eh2zed]

A bit of apples and oranges. The biggest differences are of course size of ship. Azamara quite small, Celebrity mid size and RCCl monster. The premium lines are all smaller ships. On a 6 star rating basis Azamara is considered to be a 5 1/2, Celebrity a 5 and RRCL a 4. This speaks to service and quality.

In the end you will have a good time on any.

[Aquahound]

I know that Azamara, Celebrity, and RCCL are all under the same ownership, and other than size, I am not sure what the difference in the experience is. Do you have a preference among the three?

 

Actually, RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd) is the parent company. The cruise lines of which you ask; RCI (Royal Caribbean International), Celebrity, and Azamara are three completely different lines....all of which are great in their own ways.

 

RCI - These ships are great for families and traveling with groups of friends/family. There is no shortage of things to do. Of all my RCI cruises, I have never gone hungry, so the food is not as bad as some will suggest. The entertainment is lively. The larger ships have ice skating rinks, surf simulators, etc. Even if you do not participate, the surfing is fun to watch, and the ice shows are a must see. This is my cruise line of choice for traveling with extended family or friends.

 

Celebrity - This cruise line is more elegant than RCI. The only announcements they make are the necesary ones....no bingo announcements, etc. Also, these ships have a strict smoking policy. Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the ship, including the casino. This is my cruise line of choice for sailing alone with my DW.

 

Azamara - I have never sailed them, but they supposedly offer a very nice, more intimate product. It is 100% resort casual with no formal nights. The ships are small and elgant, without all the bells and whistles. Some neighbors of mine cruised Azamara in the Med on an 11 night itinerary. They loved the cruise and the ship.