How Does Celebrity Measure Compared To NCL & Princess?

So hubby and I have sailed numerous times on NCL and Princess, love them both but are considering expanding our search and looking at Celebrity cruises.

For those that have also sailed on NCL and Princess, how does Celebrity measure up? Anything you like more or less about one or the other?

We usually sail with a balcony or mini-suite and enjoy food events, adult beverages and sunshine. Any recommendations and/or experiences are very much welcomed as we attempt to expand our experiences. Thank you.

So hubby and I have sailed numerous times on NCL and Princess, love them both but are considering expanding our search and looking at Celebrity cruises.

 

For those that have also sailed on NCL and Princess, how does Celebrity measure up? Anything you like more or less about one or the other?

 

We usually sail with a balcony or mini-suite and enjoy food events, adult beverages and sunshine. Any recommendations and/or experiences are very much welcomed as we attempt to expand our experiences. Thank you.

Can't help you with Princess but can compare Celebrity to NCL. Food is hands down Celebrity in the MDR, specialty restaurants probably slight edge to NCL only because they tend to have more.

Entertainment was much better on NCL, both Main Theater and lounge acts. NCL had numerous varied acts in bars, while Celebrity has now gone to a primary focus on DJs.

Much harder selling on NCL and their announcements pushing bingo, etc.

Where Celebrity really shines in their smoking policy, Celebrity only allows smoking in four or five places all outdoors. There is not smoking allowed inside the ship including the casino. Also, no smoking in cabins and verandas. Sometime NCL was like being in a smokestack and I am someone who normally is not bothering by smoking.

Celebrity more formal in dress.

Thanks Don. Great post. I do recall all the announcements on NCL for bingo and such....and both NCL & Princess allow smoking in the casinos.....not a plus for us either.

How's the pools, fitness areas and spa on Celebrity? For some reason I have this vision of the Celebrity ships being so much larger than the two lines I have been on....that kind of scares us we tend to enjoy smaller, more intimate environments.

Thanks again.

Pam

Our 1st Princess cruise was in 1992, our last was the Ruby Nov 2012.

Our 1st Celebrity was in 1994, we sailed the Reflection Nov 2013 and are just off 11 days on the Equinox, our cruise to reach the Elite level in the Capt Club, ( ie: same as the Capt Circle ) and are rebooked for the 10 day next yr.

Only 1 time on NCL, cant get the wife to look at them again.

Some say that a cruise is a cruise, we get it. Sometimes it is hard to put your finger on the suttle differences. We are in our 60'ties, Princess feels old, comfy, and quiet, Celebrity is alive and vibrant, yet you can find a nice place to read a good book if you want, would be the best way to explain it.

IOHO you will not be unhappy with a cruise on a Celebrity ship.

EW

I have sailed all three and enjoyed them all. Celebrity is more similar to Princess, a little more formal and a little quieter. Entertainment is more limited on Celebrity, and in general the ships quiet down earlier in the evenings. You will find a lot of people on these Celebrity boards who feel that Celebrity's food is far superior ---- it used to be, but we don't find that is generally true any more. Food and service are usually better in Blu, the restaurant exclusively for Aqua Class passengers, although some prefer the main dining room. NCL, of course, is by far the most casual of the three, with the emphasis on the specialty restaurants. On Celebrity, pretty much everyone observes the dress code, and the atmosphere is sedate and elegant, with the emphasis more on enjoying the company of those you are with than on being entertained.

Both Celebrity and Princess both have ok food in the MDR. Have not eaten at MDR on Norwiegen. Have only eaten at there specialty restaurents. Norwiegen has the better entertainment Celebrity and Princess does not even come close. Also Norweigen has the best Casino program on the seas. We have never been bothered by smoke but a lot of people are and Celebrity has the best policy. The newer ships on NCL are state of the art. There is a younger crowd on NCL. We are old 68 and 65 but we enjoyed the younger people who seem to want to have a good time instead of the old fogies on celebrity and Princess who want to let you know there statis. Nice people but full of themselves. Also we enjoy kids and there isn't a lot on Princess or Celebrity. I don't think you can make a wrong choice here.

Thanks Don. Great post. I do recall all the announcements on NCL for bingo and such....and both NCL & Princess allow smoking in the casinos.....not a plus for us either.

 

How's the pools, fitness areas and spa on Celebrity? For some reason I have this vision of the Celebrity ships being so much larger than the two lines I have been on....that kind of scares us we tend to enjoy smaller, more intimate environments.

 

Thanks again.

Pam

I found Celebrity's gyms to be excellent, lots of machines, always clean but there are many things they do charge extra for like the classes.. Don't usually use the spa but we have had Aqua Spa cabins on several occasions, they are a category below suites in the pecking order. Main advantage to them is having their own restaurant, Blu which is smaller, food made more to order and features foods with lighter sauces. Its a nice concept.

I haven't used the outdoor pools recently because I am a Melanoma patient. I absolutely love the Solarium on the Solstice Class ships. It is a decent size pool, indoors and adult only. Also has the Aqua Spa café which is open to everyone, another restaurant. Also, enjoy the burgers and hot dogs at the grill at the pool.

Having sailed on all three lines, we find ourselves coming back to Celebrity.

Smoking policy is a big factor as is food in Blu. We are in our early 60s and find their entertainment, activities, facilities, and overall atmosphere suits us best

We found NCL has much better entertainment and their Jr. Suites are a great value.

While their food in the MDR and buffet wasn't always great, we never went hungry.

Caribe balconies on Caribbean and Emerald Princess were some of the best cabins we have had. We found their food in the MDR was very good. Smoking more restrictive than NCL, but more liberal than Celebrity.

Our priorities when choosing a cruise are:

Ports

Schedule

Price

Cruise Line

All in all for us,a day on a cruise sure beats a day in the snow in Minnesota.

We have done seven cruises on Celebrity and five on NCL. Never cruised on Princess.

Advantages for Celebrity:

Better food, pizza station at buffet as well as eggs benedict station for breakfast

Better extras, small things like free champagne when boarding, free travel bag.

Generally more consistent and better service

Excursions tend to be less costly

Fewer pushy sales with photographers or announcements

NCL advantages

Entertainment is a little better

Specialty restaurants provide more variety

wine packages are a little cheaper

coffee maker in balcony cabins or higher

Fitness centers are about the same on both lines. We like the size of the Celebrity ships, not megaships like Epic.

Like the itineraries on Celebrity more. NCL can be a little cheaper on similar cruises.

We prefer Celebrity, but don't exclude NCL, depending on itinerary and price.

Also, NCL has changed its smoking policy, as of this month, with NO more smoking on balconies.

We've found Celebrity to be much more like Princes than NCL. ;)

I would also say that Celebrity is more like Princess than NCL, but Celebrity management seems to want to turn it into NCL with the emphasis on youth-oriented loud music.

Since you mentioned Princess mini-suites: be aware that on Celebrity S-class ships, all balcony cabins are the same size and layout. You can pay more for Concierge or Aqua, and you get some added amenities -- but the cabin will be the same as the cheapest Veranda. Balconies, on the other hand, vary in size depending on location -- be sure to check out the stickies at the top of this forum before you pick a cabin.

Sure am appreciating the comparisons. Thanks so much. :)

We are just off the 11 day on the Equinox and never experienced loud music in any venue. Sat and listened to some of the best oldie jazz and blues from Ray Brown Jr we have heard on any ship in years!

It was such an enjoyable and relaxing sailing we booked the 10 day back on the Equinox next yr! Along with 4 other couples.

Celebrity is a small step above Princess and many steps above NCL. We would never take another NCL cruise as the food was terrible in the MDR and the buffet. Also, far too many children.

Celebrity has great food in the MDR. Personally, we did not like Blu (Aqua Class). After a few nights there, we started going to the main dining room instead. We have also enjoyed the food on Princess in both the MDR and the specialty restaurants. You can't beat the pizza on Princess for a snack.

Celebrity ships are very well set up. Upon boarding you are greeted with either Champagne or a Mimosa. The ships have class. Another reason we like Celebrity is that there are very few children on board. It makes it so nice.

The non smoking policy is a large plus.

The gym has a variety of machines and plenty of them. We like the entertainment on both Celebrity and Princess.

If the routing was the same on all ships, we would choose Celebrity.

It seems everyone feels differently about the different cruise lines, so thank goodness there is a choice!

Again, thank you all so much for your posts with the comparisons.

So on Celebrity is there anytime dinning in the MDR's or do you have set times? Does Celebrity allow you to bring bottles of wine onboard for enjoyment in your rooms without a cork charge? I have to say, from the posts I am certainly looking a little closer at Celebrity. Thanks again.

 

Where Celebrity really shines in their smoking policy, Celebrity only allows smoking in four or five places all outdoors. There is not smoking allowed inside the ship including the casino. Also, no smoking in cabins and verandas. Sometime NCL was like being in a smokestack.

Beauty in the eyes of the beholder. And NCL is pretty restrictive as well so I'm guessing you have not been on NCL lately.

My preference is NCL due to the geriatric nature of the majority of their cruises. Entertainment a tad boring. The line is not "lively". Now in saying that I select cruises on itinerary, length, when as we can make our own fun.

We're on the EQ Dec 1 due to timing. We'll have fun regardless.

We preferred Celebrity except for the entertainment (liked NCL better) and the pricing on the specialty restaurants which we found very expensive by comparison.

We tried Celebrity because we got the included bevy package and have booked 2 more because of it. We found it much more relaxing to have it all inclusive and not think about what our tab would be upon check out.

Yes, Celebrity has anytime dining, they call it Select. If you want this, put your selection in when you book as it is very popular and fills up quickly. Other choices are Early and Late Traditional where you will be assigned to a designated time and table. Other evening options are the buffet, where I hear they now have a grill where they will cook you steak or fish to order, the specialty restaurants, and room service where you can order from the MDR menu during posted dining hours Don't know about the wine, sorry.

Again, thank you all so much for your posts with the comparisons.

 

So on Celebrity is there anytime dinning in the MDR's or do you have set times? Does Celebrity allow you to bring bottles of wine onboard for enjoyment in your rooms without a cork charge? I have to say, from the posts I am certainly looking a little closer at Celebrity. Thanks again.

Yes, there is celebrity's version of anytime dining called "Select Dining". You dine in the MDR when you want. Depending on if that time is popular, you may want to make reservations first.

Celebrity allows you to bring two standard sized bottles of wine per stateroom. This is only upon embarkation at the beginning of the cruise. At any of the ports of call, any bottles of wine will be taken and returned to you at the end of the cruise.

Bringing on beer or alcohol is not allowed.

Celebrity is a small step above Princess and many steps above NCL. We would never take another NCL cruise as the food was terrible in the MDR and the buffet. Also, far too many children.

Celebrity has great food in the MDR. Personally, we did not like Blu (Aqua Class). After a few nights there, we started going to the main dining room instead. We have also enjoyed the food on Princess in both the MDR and the specialty restaurants. You can't beat the pizza on Princess for a snack.

Celebrity ships are very well set up. Upon boarding you are greeted with either Champagne or a Mimosa. The ships have class. Another reason we like Celebrity is that there are very few children on board. It makes it so nice.

The non smoking policy is a large plus.

The gym has a variety of machines and plenty of them. We like the entertainment on both Celebrity and Princess.

If the routing was the same on all ships, we would choose Celebrity.

It seems everyone feels differently about the different cruise lines, so thank goodness there is a choice!

Looking at your list of sailings the only NCL cruise you listed was a one day cruise back in 2009. Were there others that you didn't list? I sure hope so; to make a statement that the food was terrible in the main dining room based on one meal is just plain wrong. The smoking policy on NCL has changed and only in the casino is smoking allowed inside the ship. It's been a few years since I have sailed on NCL but it is my understanding that they have made a concerted effort in the last few months to improve the food in the MDR.

Not been on NCL slightly prefer Princess to Celebrity but really the difference was so slight that I'd choose on itinerary and $$$.

Hi

Scanned all the replies and no-one has mentioned cabin space--Princess you have to go to a mini suite for a sofa but Celebrity it is standard in balcony cabins.

Personally only 1 NCL cruise and not for me

Hi

Scanned all the replies and no-one has mentioned cabin space--Princess you have to go to a mini suite for a sofa but Celebrity it is standard in balcony cabins.

Personally only 1 NCL cruise and not for me

Yes the sofa is a plus. When I first started with Princess our balcony had a sofe but they seem to have disappeared from all except, I think, Pacific.

And feel Celebrity is most like Princess than RCL & DCL.

DH & I both felt Celebrity was a small step above the other lines in service & class.

Interesting, we have only felt the average age on Princess was older once--the week after Thanksgiving. For the Marriage game, the newlyweds were in their 50s! Otherwise we have always felt the average age to be 35-65, with an assortment of all ages. And I have never felt (on any line) that there were any "old fogies trying to show off their status"...

Love both lines & would be happy to try them again. But Celebrity has our ticket right now with the promo that gets us free drinks, gratuities & OBC. Basically it allows us to get a balcony at a price that is excellent for an interior.

I'm Gold on NCL, cruised twice on Princess last year, and have been on several Celebrity cruises.

Of those 3, Celebrity is my clear favorite. Where I think Celebrity excels over Princess is their standard staterooms, including balconies, ship design and decor, on board technology, and ship crowding (or lack thereof). It's been mentioned already, but Celebrity rooms have couches and are a lot more comfortable than Princess rooms. However, that walk-in Princess closet design is better than Celebrity's closets.

Princess seems to be stuck in the 80s with decor. Celebrity is very modern and has interactive TVs on all ships. The only area I think Princess excels over Celebrity is evening entertainment. Celebrity seems to shut down earlier, and Princess does more game show type shows at night.

Regarding NCL, I think Celebrity is clearly superior. I'm not a NCL fan. I really tried to be, but after my Dawn cruise, I was really put off to NCL and it'll be a while before I consider them again. Celebrity food and service is much, much better. But like Princess, NCL does have much better entertainment than Celebrity.