Celebrity vs Royal - My opinion

After reading the boards I decided to give Celebrity a try. Returned today from my first Celebrity cruise. Just a few differences I noticed.

Inside cabin had a night light in the room as well as in the bathroom

Large golf size umbrella in the cabin available for use

While tendering in Grand Cayman, Celebrity allowed my mom to use a collapsible wheelchair because her electric scooter could not be taken on the tender boat. The wheelchair was delivered to our cabin the night before

Food - good to excellent

Theatre tables had individual lights to allow cruisers and staff to see receipts

Lunch hours at the buffet extended to 3:30 or 4:00

Cloth hand towels in the public restrooms

Staff in the oceanview cafe asked a gentleman to leave when he entered in bare feet

After day 1 when people made a mess of the dessert table, Celebrity staff served all desserts. This includes the chocolate fountain

Guest Services was fully staffed and the line moved quickly. They answered the phone unlike Allure last month who didn't answer and when they did the rep asked us to hold and placed the phone down while we listened to her conversation.

The waffles were hot and slightly crisp. Last month on Allure they were soggy everyday

This morning I saw staff using fresh blueberries for the pancakes.

Well done Celebrity!! I would not hesitate to sail with them again. While Royal also does an excellent job, Celebrity impressed me with the small attention to details.

Thank you for the comparison. How did the price compare?

Thanks for the comparison. We too have sailed Celebrity and noted the same observations.

I noticed the closing time of Oceanview Café flexed during your sailing. On our sailings on both Equinox and Solstice, the opening time of Oceanview Café flexed according to the port arrival time. Unlike our recent sailing on Allure where Windjammer held "tight" to the same opening time of 7:00 each morning - which pressured the venue severely by everyone trying to get in to eat before heading into port.

We found the pricing very close to each other - all factors considered, e.g., promos, etc.

Staff in the oceanview cafe asked a gentleman to leave when he entered in bare feet.

Royal does this in the Windjammer as well.

After reading the boards I decided to give Celebrity a try. Returned today from my first Celebrity cruise. Just a few differences I noticed.

 

Inside cabin had a night light in the room as well as in the bathroom

Large golf size umbrella in the cabin available for use

While tendering in Grand Cayman, Celebrity allowed my mom to use a collapsible wheelchair because her electric scooter could not be taken on the tender boat. The wheelchair was delivered to our cabin the night before

Food - good to excellent

Theatre tables had individual lights to allow cruisers and staff to see receipts

Lunch hours at the buffet extended to 3:30 or 4:00

Cloth hand towels in the public restrooms

Staff in the oceanview cafe asked a gentleman to leave when he entered in bare feet

After day 1 when people made a mess of the dessert table, Celebrity staff served all desserts. This includes the chocolate fountain

Guest Services was fully staffed and the line moved quickly. They answered the phone unlike Allure last month who didn't answer and when they did the rep asked us to hold and placed the phone down while we listened to her conversation.

The waffles were hot and slightly crisp. Last month on Allure they were soggy everyday

This morning I saw staff using fresh blueberries for the pancakes.

 

Well done Celebrity!! I would not hesitate to sail with them again. While Royal also does an excellent job, Celebrity impressed me with the small attention to details.

I cruise both but prefer celebrity. I am a diamond member with royal and elite with celebrity, but wish and wish they would combine the programs since it is the same company.

I agree about pricing. I previously thought Celebrity was much higher. I sailed Christmas week and the pricing was comparable.

Additionally, Celebrity is the only cruise line to contact me and ask if I needed an interpreter.

The hand dipped ice cream was a nice touch also. Norwegian also serves hand dipped. The yogurt/ice cream machines on other lines appear to be broken at times and messy from spills.

Forgot to mention the entertainment shows are better on royal.

which Celebrity ship were you on?

How're the M class ships just as good as the S class?

Forgot to mention the entertainment shows are better on royal.

We were on the XSummit twice out of NJ, and were blown away by the quality and quantity of live music throughout the ship in every venue every evening. The production shows were excellent (3 on a 7 day cruise, with much larger and more talented troupe members). No empty lounges, no pianos with no one playing, troupe members had smaller shows throughout the week including a jam session of all the performers on the ship. It was significantly better than anything we've experienced on any RCI ship.

which Celebrity ship were you on?

Celebrity Constellation - smaller ship.

I also prefer Celebrity slightly over Royal. I Love that they don't have all the loud announcements, and also like their smoking policy. The suite perks better on Celebrity. I agree the entertainment is better on Royal.

We much prefer X over RCI for many of the reasons that you listed. Both are great cruise lines but X gives us more for what we like in cruising. Still love the Oasis class ships.

I also prefer Celebrity slightly over Royal. I Love that they don't have all the loud announcements, and also like their smoking policy. The suite perks better on Celebrity. I agree the entertainment is better on Royal.

Thanks for the reminder. I forgot no smoking in the casino.

The bread basket with various spreads at dinner was a nice touch.

I've also cruised both lines and agree completely. Royal and Celebrity are our two favorite lines but Celebrity is just a slight notch above Royal in some areas. I particularly liked how they had lemonade, ice water and ice towels after a day in port on Celebrity, and how they had poolside servers. While I think Royal has poolside servers too, I've noticed they're less common than on Celebrity.

We very much enjoy Oasis Class ships and can't wait for Harmony of the Seas, but we are also fans of Celebrity, most especially their elegant Solstice Class ships. I really wish Royal Caribbean would follow Celebrity's suit and stop smoking in the casino.

One thing Celebrity does not offer that Royal does is a dedicated 24/7 hours lounge for Elite amd Elite Plus members of the Captains Club which is the rough equivalent of Royal's Crown and Anchor loyalty club.

Both lines are doing a lot lately to attract those who book suites. I have been so envious on Celebrity when I'd see a staff person bringing a tray of pastries and cookies each afternoon to the suites a few doors down from me. That would have been such a nice perk.

I can't complain about Celebrity's entertainment but there have been some cutbacks. I miss the a capella quartet that used to sing throughout the ship and miss the string quartets, then trios and then duos that used to play in dining venues. Admittedly, it is very hard to beat the choices on Oasis Class ships for entertainment.

It is always interesting to read what how others compare Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Different passengers value different things in a cruise line. Often someone will mention something I didn't even notice. I learn a lot from others.

I forgot the champagne when boarding. Ok..maybe this is a sign I need to sail again and take better notes.:)

I also enjoy both cruise lines and when they are in the same ball park price wise we will chose one or the other. There are far more similarities than differences but our decisions usually come down to;

For similar itinerary and at a similar price we would chose Celebrity if the drinks package was part of the deal. We would never purchase a drinks package as we do not drink huge amounts and value it around $20 pp pd (this is because we get the diamond drinks on RCCL and can bring two bottles of wine aboard with no corkage costs). So if the Celebrity cruise is within that sort of mark up we would probably chose Celebrity.

If the RCCL cruise is cheaper (and the specials we have booked in Australia were significantly cheaper) we go Royal. Without the drinks package our diamond benefits suit us better than the elite ones.

One big difference for me is the on board activity staff. Celebrity used to be fantastic in this area but they trimmed the numbers significantly about a year or more ago and there are far less organised activities than there were.

Royal has more activities and far better variety of organised activities.

So from our point of view.

Cost.

We book specials as we are flexible and can travel whenever things fit our budget (spend less cruise more). Usually Royal wins out. Celebrity has the occasional great deal with drinks included and we jump on those when we can.

Food.

Celebrity very slightly ahead in MDR and a little more ahead in the buffet.(probably due to the ice cream and sushi.)

Entertainment.

Shows equal. Music/bands equal. Activities staff. Royal way ahead.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships sailing out of Australia have no smoking anywhere inside or on balconies. Just two smoking areas out on decks. They follow Australian laws.

I didn't note exact times, but the celebrity Solstice buffet seemed to be open longer hours than Voyager, plus more variety of food, although Voyager had enough variety. Longer hours works better for spreading the load of people, or it felt that way on Solstice anyhow.

We have been on 4 Celebrity Cruises - 2 on M class, 2 on S class & 1 RC cruise - Adventure of the Seas. One Carnival Cruise & 1 NCL cruise in late 90's/2000. Our favorite lines are Celebrity, RC, Carnival then NCL. I feel the food is better on Celebrity - especially the buffet - Windjammer is mediocre at best. The main dining room is almost equivalent but I feel Celebrity has the edge. I also miss the Molecular Bar that is available on Celebrity ships. The cabins are similar. Celebrity has better service - my husband once spilled wine on his pants at a show. One of the workers asked us for our cabin number - my husband went up to change & our room attendant asked him to leave the jeans on the bed & they laundered it for free, even though my husband spilled his drink through no fault of the staff. We have cruised to Bermuda 2x on Celebrity, Mediterranean in 2012 & Alaska in 2013. This past summer we did RC to Southern Caribbean. Because we can only travel during the summer we have branched out to try RC for the Caribbean itineraries. Celebrity ships also feel less crowded. The pools this past summer were so warm & you could see how cloudy the water was by the sheer numbers of bodies in it on sea days. The one are that RC exceeded Celebrity was entertainment & activities - more karaoke, the Quest & game shows which were fun. We did book another RC cruise this summer on freedom of the Seas so we do enjoy RC.

We've sailed Carnival 3 times, would RC or X be a better choice we don't like a lot of kids but better food and good onboard activities but no rock climbing or ice skating, flow rider but the reflection to The western Caribbean is 999 pp for an inside or the Oasis around 1000-1100 pp for an inside

I've also cruised both lines and agree completely. Royal and Celebrity are our two favorite lines but Celebrity is just a slight notch above Royal in some areas. I particularly liked how they had lemonade, ice water and ice towels after a day in port on Celebrity, and how they had poolside servers. While I think Royal has poolside servers too, I've noticed they're less common than on Celebrity.

I feel the same as you. I look at Celebrity as the RCI for adults. No water slides, rock climbing walls which leads to a lot less kids and a more laid back atmosphere.

When it comes to comparing RCI, NCL and Carnival.....RCI will win just about every time but Celebrity is a slight step up across the board except the entertainment when compared to the Oasis class which I feel is best in class.

It is hard to really compare because many differences are opinion, but I have sailed Celebrity 3 times and Royal once.

differences:

Royal no omelets in windjammer

No coffee early in the morning

Really bad coffee ( really strong) overall

Hard Beds

Better entertainment

HIGH Speed Internet!!!!!!!!

Celebrity

Comfy Beds

better food selection in Windjammer

Better desserts

Less smoking

On our Transatlantic the Celebrity ship had 1/2 the passengers of the Allure but 4 guest lecturers to Royals one.

I know people that payed for a suite or are a higher level will say for them they were able to get an omelet or use starbucks for better coffee that is not my point.

Royal is probably not for me due to hard beds to start with then the omelet and coffee issue along with the Windjammer hours, for most of the day you could always go to the windjammer on Celebrity and get coffee.

Haven't yet cruised celebrity, so don't have a lot to say. But I have had omelettes cooked to order in the windjammer on both rhapsody and Liberty.

:o

Haven't yet cruised celebrity, so don't have a lot to say. But I have had omelettes cooked to order in the windjammer on both rhapsody and Liberty.

Not on allure only one place that was so small was not even funny