Just came back from first cruise, now I need to analyze

[randys]

the various different lines and what they offer.

I went on Carnival (eastern caribbean) and stayed in a penthouse suite, that suite cost $3800 for one week, the same cabin on celebrity would be maybe twice as much? If so, I would not be able to pay that much next time...

What does Celebrity do different from Carnival?

What I didnt like on Carnival was the pool, too small and prefer hotel type pool designs, this one was weird to me. I didnt care for the food other than the formal meals which were great, but the buffets were very ordinary i thought. Although the burgers were good

The overall approach by the line was to have fun, and I sure did do that....

Any input is welcome.

[sunlovermtl]

Originally Posted by randys

the various different lines and what they offer.

I went on Carnival (eastern caribbean) and stayed in a penthouse suite, that suite cost $3800 for one week, the same cabin on celebrity would be maybe twice as much? If so, I would not be able to pay that much next time...

What does Celebrity do different from Carnival?

What I didnt like on Carnival was the pool, too small and prefer hotel type pool designs, this one was weird to me. I didnt care for the food other than the formal meals which were great, but the buffets were very ordinary i thought. Although the burgers were good

The overall approach by the line was to have fun, and I sure did do that....

Any input is welcome.

Well having been on Carnival 5 times and Celebrity 4 times (Princess once, Holland America 3 times, RCCL once) I would defintely choose Celebrity hands down. They are a more refined cruise line. They have the ultimate in service, food and itineraries. We were in a Celebrity suite for a 12 night and it was only $ 1695 each. They do offer great specials from time to time but it depends on the itinerary. The M class ships have a spa cafe which a is wonderful alternative to the buffet for breakfast and lunch. The MDR is great and the alternative restaurant(s) are like being on a ship in the 30's with the white glove service and table side cooking. You will like the Thalasso therapy pool in the spa area. It is a salt water humungus hot tub. Their pools are ok but kind of small like Carnival. They all seem to have the standard rectangular salt water pools. The concierge class is a nice balcony room with extra amenities.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask more questions.

Claudette

[raudacruise]

You can't really compare a Penthouse Suite on Celebrity vs. Carnival. PH on Celebrity are HUGE. They have 6-8 person sitdown dining tables, a full size refrigerator (aka butlers pantry that also has a microwave), and very large balconys (and a piano, how did I forget that). A better comparison would be comparing a Royal Suite on Celebrity with a PH on Carnival from what I can tell (never been on Carnival but did take a peek at their web site). RS has the jet tub, walk in closet but also bedroom area separate from living area and a 4 person sitdown dining area.

Apples and oranges. RS are typically less that 50% of PH on Celebrity so you are in the same cost area.

[Sparkle2009]

Originally Posted by raudacruise

You can't really compare a Penthouse Suite on Celebrity vs. Carnival. PH on Celebrity are HUGE. They have 6-8 person sitdown dining tables, a full size refrigerator (aka butlers pantry that also has a microwave), and very large balconys (and a piano, how did I forget that). A better comparison would be comparing a Royal Suite on Celebrity with a PH on Carnival from what I can tell (never been on Carnival but did take a peek at their web site). RS has the jet tub, walk in closet but also bedroom area separate from living area and a 4 person sitdown dining area.

Apples and oranges. RS are typically less that 50% of PH on Celebrity so you are in the same cost area.

I'm sorry, did I read that right? They have a piano in the penthouse??

/oneday

[jackdiamond]

Originally Posted by Sparkle2009

I'm sorry, did I read that right? They have a piano in the penthouse??

/oneday

Yes!

[raudacruise]

Originally Posted by Sparkle2009

I'm sorry, did I read that right? They have a piano in the penthouse??

/oneday

You betcha. Its both a player type as well as manual. They have a couple of CD's that will run the player but its better when its played by a person.

[jcpc]

I've stayed in a Cat. 12 (Penthouse Suite) on Carnival Legend and a Penthouse Suite on Century (no piano, but there is a piano in the PH Suite on Celebrity M-class ships and above). As raudacruise states.......There is no comparison between Penthouse on Carnival and Penthouse on Century.....apples and oranges is correct!

[randys]

Originally Posted by jcpc

I've stayed in a Cat. 12 (Penthouse Suite) on Carnival Legend and a Penthouse Suite on Century (no piano, but there is a piano in the PH Suite on Celebrity M-class ships and above). As raudacruise states.......There is no comparison between Penthouse on Carnival and Penthouse on Century.....apples and oranges is correct!

assumed so, but also price is way higher too i assume

[raudacruise]

Originally Posted by randys

assumed so, but also price is way higher too i assume

That's why I recommended going with a Royal Suite on Celebrity. I will say the prices on even these vary greatly depending on which ship (the newer the more expensive it would seem). The sizes and accomodations however are about the same fleetwide.

We've been in a PH once on Summit. We've been in RS on Mille, Infinity and Mercury. We have a reservation for Century for a TA Nov/December. FYI, our 14 day cruise is less than $6000 - comparable to the $3800 you spent for 7 day on Carnival (or better).

The PH on Summit was just too honking large. We had several parties and had folks over for dinner but a lot of it was wasted space.

Yes, we are addicted to RS on Celebrity. Can smell the breakfast delivered in the morning by the butler already. We'll probably have to another rehab in January .

[dzcruisers]

Originally Posted by randys

the various different lines and what they offer.

I went on Carnival (eastern caribbean) and stayed in a penthouse suite, that suite cost $3800 for one week, the same cabin on celebrity would be maybe twice as much? If so, I would not be able to pay that much next time...

What does Celebrity do different from Carnival?

What I didnt like on Carnival was the pool, too small and prefer hotel type pool designs, this one was weird to me. I didnt care for the food other than the formal meals which were great, but the buffets were very ordinary i thought. Although the burgers were good

The overall approach by the line was to have fun, and I sure did do that....

Any input is welcome.

The upgrade fairy came for us on our one Carnival cruise and we had the penthouse suite. We did not get any extra amenities. We were told there are none. The cabin was not as nice or as large as a regular suite we had on Galaxy. The service in our Concierge class cabin on Summit was much better than the service in the penthouse suite on Carnival Glory. This is the only time I've not tipped over the recommended amount to the cabin stewart. He didn't deserve what he got. I'm not usually a complainer.
The only difference between the penthouse suite and the aft cabin we originally booked was the size of the cabin and there was nothing special about the decor. The bathroom had a tub that was barely accessible because of the way it was installed.

Celebrity is the right cruise product for us. We like to feel a little spoiled.
The demograhic on Carnival was considerably younger for the most part.
We had a great dinner table, a college professor, a doctor, an engineer and us who own our own business. The food was very good. Food is much better on Celebrity. IMHO We were trying Carnival out to see if we would want to take a longer cruise. We went back to Celebrity.

I must say Carnival was most honorable about the upgrade. They contacted us to see if we would give up our aft cabin to someone already in it, who wanted to do a B2B, for an upgrade to the Penthouse suite. We said yes. Knowing what I know now I would have said no.

Two different products Carnival is a fun ship! Celebrity has a different more refined style. Different demographic appeal.

[Bruin Steve]

Randy,
I've cruised seven different cruise lines, many of them multiple times...
Each cruise line will give you a lot of the same things...but they each do some things differently...and some do certain things better than others...

We all have different standards, criteria, expectations, etc.
What is important to the average working guy cruising with his family is different than what is important to the well-to-do retiree...the guy who eats at Denny's and TGI Friday and Applebees at home has different expectations than the guy who eats at gourmet restaurants...

So, there are different cruise lines for different people...

Here is my basic run-down of the major lines:

Carnival: They advertise low prices and "Fun", they cater to the average guy looking for a good deal on a vacation, younger cruisers, party people, folks who stay up late and want lots of activity...The negatives are that they crowd far too many people on their ships, the service is, IMHO, not very good...it's not very elegant or refined, decor is tacky...

NCL: They also target bargain hunters with low prices and attract a lot of first time cruisers with their combination of no assigned seating and no dress code...Not known for great service or food...

Royal Caribbean: Attracting a younger crowd, lots of families, etc. with amenities no other cruise line has: Ice Skating rinks, Wave-generating surfing pools, Rock climbing walls, etc. Definitely the most unique and attraction-filled ships on the sea

Disney: Excellent product for families with younger kids--obviously themed to the Disney characters. Very good product but a slightly inflated price.

Princess: The old line "Love Boat", now owned by Carnival and a little upscale from Carnival...but also fairly crowded ships (theater, for example, far too small for number of passengers--on most ships--but Princess does have a variety of ships).

HAL: very good food and service...a little more elegant and spacious but with a reputation for an "older" clientele.

Celebrity: Very spacious ships with fewer people per gross ton...excellent food and service. Traditional elegance. a wider range of age groups than on HAL.

Oceania and Azamara--Two very similar lines...Smaller (less than 700 passenger) ships, excellent food and service with open seating and no formal nights...A little less entertainment and activity but a very comfortable cruise experience...

The "luxury" lines (Seabourne, SilverSeas, Regent, Crystal, etc.): High prices, top of the line service small ships, older demographics...

You really have to figure out what it is YOU want in a ship...

Also, I wouldn't get hung up in getting a suite...I would much rather sail in a standard cabin on Celebrity than a suite on Carnival...Ask yourself how much time you actually spend in your cabin anyway? And, what do you do there? Sleep, change clothes, use the bathroom? Even the "standard" cabins on most lines are ample enough...

And, depending on itinerary, time of cruise, time of booking, supply and demand, etc., you may find that the differential from one cruise line to another might not be that large. find a good TA and have them run you comparisons on similar cruises...Say you want to go to the Mediterranean in June...You'll find several different cruise lines doing similar itineraries...have a TA price similar category cabins on a few of them for you at the same time...You may find that the prices or the price comparisons are not what you imagined.

As to my recommendations, I would choose Celebrity for most cruises over any other line...If I had kids or teens going with me, Royal Caribbean may become my first choice. I like Oceania or Azamara for certain more unusual routes (the small ships can dock places the big ones can't)...I will likely never cruise on Carnival again...and it will take something extraordinary to get me back on Princess or NCL...But, that's just me...I look first for roominess--I hate the cattle call approach of Carnival...I appreciate more individual attention and better service (even if I'm not in a suite)...I am a traditionalist--I like 2 hour dinners with waiters who get to know me...

Other people may differ...

[raudacruise]

Great list. You only missed Cunard which I've never sailed on and would be hard pressed to pigeonhole. Extra formal and very class oriented. I think =X= with the blu restaraunt might be the only other line that segregates dining based on staterooms (and only on the two ships that have it).

[randys]

thanks bruin, will refer to this when i get ready to go again