Splendour of the Seas vs Celebrity Century

I don't know how many people cruised Century but may be somebody can help me here... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

In a week we will board SOS in Barcelona..and this will be my first cruise with my husband since we moved to USA (from Ukraine).

Last Summer I cruised E. Carib on Century with my 11 years old and loved it but this time I convinced my DH to try it! The only way I could convince him was Med cruise (He loves Europe!).

Well... I understand Carib Cruise and Med are completely different in term of expectations for the ship. For example Med cruise is more port intensive and we'll spend less time on board but still... I want him to like cruising.

Another thing , on Century standard outside cabin is 175 Sq. ft and on SOS will have inside 138 Sq.ft or 149 Sq. Ft. If anybody used inside
cabin? Is it too small?

Overall how do these two ships, atmospheres compare?

Do you think it was a right choice?

(We are 31 and 32 y.o. professionals, not to picky, don't have unvbelievable demands and have only 7-8 days to cruise!)

Sorry for possible spelling errors, as English my second language.

Thank you

Natalia

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Less than 2 weeks till my dream Med vacation!

Splendour of the Seas May 15, 2004 (Europe!!!)

Century 07/12/03 Eastern Caribbean FFL-San Juan - St. Thomas - St.Maarten- Nassau -FFL
Komarno(Volga)07/91 Moscow - Astrahan' - Moscow (honeymoon)
Komarno(Volga)07/90 Moscow - Astrahan'- Moscow
Admiral Nachimov(or Nakhimov) (Black Sea)04/1986 Odessa - Batum

GO BRUINS!!!!

I can only answer half of the equation. I was on the Splendour in the beginning of April for their W. Caribbean itinerary. We had an outside cabin on deck 3 (not sure of the sq. ft.) It's small but we didn't spend much time in our rooms anyway - only to sleep and change for dinner! I imagine that on a port intensive tour like the Med., you really won't be in the room much. The ship is nice and well kept and we enjoyed all the staff we came in contact with.

~*~ Disney Wonder 9/02 ~*~ [url="http://community.webshots.com/album/133720649ZDrjtW"]RCCL Splendour of the Seas 4/04[/url] ~*~

Unfortunately, I can't offer a comparison. I can, however tell you that my recent trip on the Splendour was quite possibly the best of the five cruises I have been on thus far. She is an incredibly beautiful ship ... so tastefully decorated. Lacks the glitz of the Voyager class ... which was a trifle 'overdone' for me ... so she set quite a standard for any other cruise I will take.

As for cabin size ... much is made of the close quarters in any cruise ship. But I feel that it is part of the experience. The key is to go on a trip with someone you love ... then a tiny cabin brings you close, doesn't it?

Have a wonderful vacation ... and take care of her for me ... I may want to cruise on her again.

Sovereign of the Seas (2/88)
Nordic Prince (2/92)
Sovereign of the Seas (2/93)
Voyager of the Seas (7/02)
Splendour of the Seas (4/04)

Thank you very much for yor responces!

Anybody else has anything to add? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

------------------------------
Less than 2 weeks till my dream Med vacation!

Splendour of the Seas May 15, 2004 (Europe!!!)

Century 07/12/03 Eastern Caribbean FFL-San Juan - St. Thomas - St.Maarten- Nassau -FFL
Komarno(Volga)07/91 Moscow - Astrahan' - Moscow (honeymoon)
Komarno(Volga)07/90 Moscow - Astrahan'- Moscow
Admiral Nachimov(or Nakhimov) (Black Sea)04/1986 Odessa - Batum

GO BRUINS!!!!

We were on the Splendour last summer for the Med Cruise. We managed in an inside cabin with a family of 4. There was plenty of storage space and we didn't spend a whole lot of time in the cabin other to sleep and get changed after a day of touring.

Ship was great and so were the staff.

Splendour does not have the alternative dining like some of the other ships but we ended up eating each night in the main dining room and really enjoyed being pampered.

Hope you have a great trip.

Susan

Splendour of the Seas - August 9, 2003

Tatka,
My wife and I have been on both ships. Century in the Caribbean and Splendor, out of Barcelona (Med Cruise). Both ships are great!
The food is much better on the Century, however, the Splendor did it's morning buffet breakfast in the main dining room, and I would have to say, it was the best breakfast of any cruise ship we have been on. For Dinner, or lunch, Century wins hands down.
The Med cruise is very port intensive, so you will spend very little time on the ship during the day. Both have good entertainment, and good cruise staffs.
I would have to give Celebrity the edge in service. Seems the waiters and asst' waiters have more people to serve on the Splendor. Same is true for the cabin stewards, as the Century people seemed to have fewer cabins to clean.
The Splendor had a great mix of people, with about half the ship European. Of course, that also means more smokers, which is a negative for us. We would cruise both ships again!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Enjoy your cruise! Kel

[url="http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USAK0225?from=search_city"] link to Skagway weather[/url]

Tatka,
I forgot about the cabins. Yes, the Century inside cabins are larger, but the Splendor inside cabins are set up to feel a bit larger than they measure. We spend so little time in the cabin, that size is not the big an issue for us. One thing, I'm 6'2" and the Century's shower is much larger than the Splendor's shower, so I got to know the shower curtain a little more than I wanted to. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif[/img]
Enjoy! Kel

[url="http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USAK0225?from=search_city"] link to Skagway weather[/url]

Thank you Susan and Kel...

Now I am breathing easier. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

My DH wasn't on Century with me so he won't notice a difference between service [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

I am happy to hear that Splendour is a beautiful ship too!

------------------------------
Less than 2 weeks till my dream Med vacation!

Splendour of the Seas May 15, 2004 (Europe!!!)

Century 07/12/03 Eastern Caribbean FFL-San Juan - St. Thomas - St.Maarten- Nassau -FFL
Komarno(Volga)07/91 Moscow - Astrahan' - Moscow (honeymoon)
Komarno(Volga)07/90 Moscow - Astrahan'- Moscow
Admiral Nachimov(or Nakhimov) (Black Sea)04/1986 Odessa - Batum

GO BRUINS!!!!

Interesting question! We were just on the Century in Jan. and had one of the best cruises ever! We are on the Splendour Aug. 28th and I'm feeling the same way (worrying that my husband will be let down by RCI!!!) Darn! The food is an issue with us as is the smoking, but we'll hope for the best (and amazingly a lot of times that's exactly what happens...the best! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img])

Please don't forget to post for us, Natalia!

Nanette

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;8;28;19;00;00&timezone=GMT+0100[/img]
...until our August 28, 2004 Splendour of the Seas

Tatka I hope you enjoy the Splendour as much as I did. It was my 6th cruise and my best, I hate to see her leave Galveston but hopefully the Rhapsody will be an equal.

<font face=arial size=3>[B]Fantasy ~ 10/01[/B]</font>
<font face=arial size=3>[B]S/S Norway ~ 04/02[/B]</font>
<font face=arial size=3>[B]Jubilee ~ 11/02[/B]</font>
<font face=arial size=3>[B]Ecstasy ~ 04/03[/B]</font>
<font face=arial size=3>[B]Norwegian Sky ~ 09/03[/B]</font>
<font face=arial size=3>[B]Splendour of the Seas ~ 04/04[/B]</font>
<font face=arial size=3>[B]Rhapsody of the Seas ~ 10/04[/B]</font>
<font face=arial size=3>[B]Elation ~ 4/05[/B]</font>
<font face=arial size=3>[B]Total sea days 30[/B]</font>

[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/funshiplover"]Cruise Pics[/url]

[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/splendour2004"]My unfinished Splendour album[/url]

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<font face=arial size=2>[B]Countdown to the Rhapsody Of The Seas:[/B]</font>

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[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=221100&cdt=2004;10;10;16;00;00&timezone =GMT-0800[/img]</A>

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<font face=arial size=2>[B]Countdown to Elation
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2005;4;24;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img] </font>[/B]

Randy, my husband is sitting here looking at your pictures and he wants me to tell you that they are the best he has seen of the Splendour! He said you did an amazing job! Better than the RCI site for sure!!! I'm glad you had a great trip and hope the Rhapsody is wonderful too!

Thanks again for sharing!!!

Nanette

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;8;28;19;00;00&timezone=GMT+0100[/img]
...until our August 28, 2004 Splendour of the Seas

I've been on Celebrity's Horizon, and the Med cruise on the Splendour. We loved both cruises, and agree that the food on Celebrity is a little better, BUT....hubby found the food bland on Celebrity.

I disagree about the service on the Splendour: we had the best waiter we've ever had. He's Paul Paraschive, and he was the consummate professional!

You won't be disappointed with the Splendour. Evenings were wonderful, and your husband will be delighted with the European ports.

We want to got back!

Peggy - RCI since 1973