Celebrity Solstice or Norwegian Pearl for 1st time to Alaska?

We are looking to go to Alaska some time next year, maybe May. I have no idea which ship to choose...the Celebrity Solstice or Norwegian Pearl? I want a nice indoor pool and I also want a quieter ship. I hate music blasting in my ear everywhere I go or hearing an announcement every 5 mins! (Royal!:rolleyes:) Any thoughts?

That is a little apples and oranges. Some reading of reviews might help you.

Also, what are the itineraries? That would be a common determining factor. Fares?

That is a little apples and oranges. Some reading of reviews might help you.

 

Also, what are the itineraries? That would be a common determining factor. Fares?

Hi, the itineraries are here:

http://www.ncl.com/cruises/7-day-glacier-bay-roundtrip-seattle-PEARL7SEAJNUSGYKTNVICSEA?sailmonths=4294937486&duration=8052&destinations=4294934553&numberOfGuests=4294915774&&itineraryCode=PEARL7SEAJNUSGYKTNVICSEA

http://www.celebritycruises.com/search/searchResultsVacationItinerary.do?packageid=SL07A096&dest=ALCAN&shipCode=SL

I would call them to get exact prices.

We are looking to go to Alaska some time next year, maybe May. I have no idea which ship to choose...the Celebrity Solstice or Norwegian Pearl? I want a nice indoor pool and I also want a quieter ship. I hate music blasting in my ear everywhere I go or hearing an announcement every 5 mins! (Royal!:rolleyes:) Any thoughts?

Sorry, your worry about "announcements" are important? Your "5 min" comment isn't reality and all lines make an occasional announcement.

Is the ship your only priority? As mentioned above, Cruise Critic has a big board with many listings for each ship you are looking for. Reading through several pages should give you more information.

HOWEVER, are you going to Alaska for any reason? The big difference with your 2 ships is Glacier Bay. Do you have any interest in where you go, or what you want to see? Have you taken any time and found out about Alaska? What brought you to chose the two ships you did?

Sorry, your worry about "announcements" are important? Your "5 min" comment isn't reality and all lines make an occasional announcement.

Wow, you NYers sure are rude!

Is the ship your only priority?

Yes, see my OP.

We are looking to go to Alaska some time next year, maybe May. I have no idea which ship to choose...the Celebrity Solstice or Norwegian Pearl? I want a nice indoor pool and I also want a quieter ship. I hate music blasting in my ear everywhere I go or hearing an announcement every 5 mins! (Royal!:rolleyes:) Any thoughts?

Pearl has better itinerary but Solstice will be a quieter ship.

NCL Pearl doesn't have an indoor pool, btw.

Pearl has better itinerary but Solstice will be a quieter ship.

Thank you!

NCL Pearl doesn't have an indoor pool, btw.

Not at all? Not even a solarium? :mad:

Not at all? Not even a solarium? :mad:

Not for "common" use, anyway. There's a private, high roller area called The Haven which is restricted to the expensive suites - it's a solarium at the top of the ship with a small pool.

If ship is your priority, best place to ask to get the most specific answers are the Celebrity and NCL forums.

Not at all? Not even a solarium? :mad:

The only indoor pool on the Pearl is in the "Haven" area. You must be booked in a Haven Suite to have access to the Courtyard area of the Haven. If you want quiet and away from the crowds, then book a Haven Suite -- they are GREAT! The VIP treatment is wonderful!

It sounds like the ship means more to you than Alaska - which is too bad since the cruise is all about Alaska - there are no real sea days but more of a see day or two - the rest of the time you are in port. There is really no time for the pool :D.

I was on the Pearl in AK in 2012 - the ship is nice and the crew is nicer and AK was wonderful as always. Glacier Bay is wonderful and should be done on at least one AK cruise - Tracy Arm is also a sight to see.

CMar00: While Celebrity and Royal Caribbean may be "sister" companies, they are a very different product. For example, Celebrity has minimal announcements during the day. At 10 AM (in the past this was done at noon, but the captains have been switching to 10 AM) the captain will address the ship, providing navigation and weather information. After the captain's statement the cruise director will go a fairly brief summary of some of the day's activities, often mentioning the evening show. When local authorities have cleared a ship at ports, there will be an announcement, and when a passenger is in distress you will hear the "star code" announcement for the crew.

But it is rare to have an announcement, and when one does happen the entire ship goes silent. We were on the Celebrity Century in October 2012 on a RT to Hawaii when there was a major earthquake off of British Columbia. At 8 PM the captain made an announcement from the bridge, and read the latest tsunami warning which had been issued for Oahu. We were being seated in the MDR, and the entire room instantly went silent, with waiters stopped in their tracks.

Most Princess ships also have indoor pools. I doubt you will find blaring music and constant announcements on any ship in Alaska. I've been to Alaska on both Carnival and Princess, and neither had loud music. Cruising in Alaska is a different experience than the Caribbean.

Don't limit your choices. Look at itineraries more than the ships themselves.

We are looking to go to Alaska some time next year, maybe May. I have no idea which ship to choose...the Celebrity Solstice or Norwegian Pearl? I want a nice indoor pool and I also want a quieter ship. I hate music blasting in my ear everywhere I go or hearing an announcement every 5 mins! (Royal!:rolleyes:) Any thoughts?

You must have been on a different Royal than I've been on because it's not even remotely like you describe.

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You must have been on a different Royal than I've been on because it's not even remotely like you describe.

It's possible. I was on The Oasis in the Caribbean, you were on The Radiance in Alaska. :rolleyes:

It's possible. I was on The Oasis in the Caribbean, you were on The Radiance in Alaska. :rolleyes:

I think that was their point. You cannot compare your experience with any cruise line in the Caribbean with what that same cruise line is like in Alaska. I would most likely never sail on Carnival in the Caribbean or Mexico, but they were quite sedate in Alaska. Like I said in my previous post, you aren't likely to encounter loud music on deck on any ship in Alaska. There are noise ordinances in Alaska, so you definitely won't have anything loud in or near ports, and since Alaska is so port intensive, that comprises a good deal of your cruise.

Start looking at itineraries, port times and excursions, then see which cruise line/ship fits what you want to see and do.

We are looking to go to Alaska some time next year, maybe May. I have no idea which ship to choose...the Celebrity Solstice or Norwegian Pearl? I want a nice indoor pool and I also want a quieter ship. I hate music blasting in my ear everywhere I go or hearing an announcement every 5 mins! (Royal!:rolleyes:) Any thoughts?

I can understand your concerns and I certainly won't flame you for your preferences. Anyone with common sense would understand what you meant by your "5 min" comment. I get it.....frequent announcements can be really annoying.

I've been on the Solstice and a NCL ship very similar to the Pearl. For what is important to you, there is no comparison here, the Solstice is your ship. The Solarium pool area is very welcoming and surrounded by glass. Pearl, as mentioned, has no indoor pool unless you book the most expensive suites. Also, Celebrity prides itself on one daily announcement. You don't get all the BINGO BINGO, etc announcements on Celebrity.

Also, not sure if this is important to you, but the smoking policies are drastically different. Smoking is not allowed on balconies on Celebrity, nor in the casino or other indoor venues. NCL still allows it.

Solstice is your baby. You can swim laps in the heated solarium pool. Food is some of best in the premium category.They have an 11NAlaska cruise too.

Avoid NCL. Very cheap line. You have to pay for everything once onboard.

Avoid NCL. Very cheap line. You have to pay for everything once onboard.

As I suggested on your other response. Listing what you spent extra on, would offer more detail.

Avoid NCL. Very cheap line. You have to pay for everything once onboard.

I was kind of wondering about this once I saw that they charge for their pizza. :eek: Lobster was included on Princess. Royal charged for popcorn when they had their movies under the stars which really irritated me. (Popcorn was included on Princess as well.)

I would read about each ship on the respective cruise line boards and also read the reviews.

To me from just a ship perspective the Celebrity will be better.

I would also study the itineraries.

Keith

I was kind of wondering about this once I saw that they charge for their pizza. :eek: Lobster was included on Princess. Royal charged for popcorn when they had their movies under the stars which really irritated me. (Popcorn was included on Princess as well.)

If I remember well, NCL charges for Pizza only if you ask for delivery. It is free if you go to their buffet. Haven't been on Princess but from what friends said their loved the 24hour restaurant on NCL Epic more than Princess cruise they took. Plus, Ncl cruises cost several 100 dollars less than princess.