Making a move to Celebrity?

I am a loyal Royal customer, having been on 10 cruises, and just coming off the Oasis of the Seas with my husband. We are pretty much easy to please, not demanding (early 50's) taking one trip a year, husband works way too many hours and just wants to relax, eat and sleep and be detached from a cell phone. We love to sit by the pool by the day and catch a show at night and wake up to coffee on our balcony. Early to bed early to rise. So we were both somewhat disappointed in our last trip. We loved the ship, been on it before, the shows were good but something was off. We don't consider ourselves foodies, but we always thought the food on Royal was pretty good. This last time, not so much, the food and service seemed to have gone downhill.

I'm thinking that RCCL cut down on the number of staffers and like many other companies, doing more with less, so to speak. But we are now thinking of trying Celebrity (aware it's the same parent company). I am hoping my fellow CC's can ease my concerns about moving over to Celebrity. Hubby is concerned about Celebrity being too "fancy", the last thing he wants to do is put on a suit and tie to have dinner.

Do we give Royal another shot or should we make a move?

Thanks so much and if you want make a suggestion on which Celebrity ship would be a good fit for us, I would appreciate that input also!!!

LISA

Only you can decide. From the way you describe yourself, it seems CCelebrity would be right up your alley.

We have frequently cruised both. We believe Celebrity food is better. And while Celebrity may try to sell them as "fancy" (they call it modern luxury), and they may have dress codes that are a bit more stringent, they do not seem to enforce them often. We do enjoy dressing, so formal nights are fun for us and I always wear a Tux or Dinner Jacket, no matter what venue we choos to dine in. Having said that, there are smart casual options on Formal night, such as all Specialty venues, Luminae (Suite pax), Blu (Aqua Class pax) and the Ocean View buffet (have never done that for dinner in 27 cruises).

Good Luck! Either choice will be enjoyable, I am sure.

The biggest difference you will find with Celebrity is the lack of energy on board compared to RCCL. I found the entertainment livelier on RCCL and more opportunities for dancing. Shows are generally better on RCCL. I give food a higher grade on Celebrity as well as service. Celebrity is not fancy in terms of dressing. Both are good lines to cruise.

The biggest difference you will find with Celebrity is the lack of energy on board compared to RCCL. I found the entertainment livelier on RCCL and more opportunities for dancing. Shows are generally better on RCCL. I give food a higher grade on Celebrity as well as service. Celebrity is not fancy in terms of dressing. Both are good lines to cruise.

I don't disagree with you though I'd describe Celebrity's atmosphere as "relaxed" rather than "lack of energy". :)

I guess it's all in how you look at it. I would recommend the OP give Celebrity a try--it's definitely a more adult-oriented vibe, quieter, more relaxed. If you cruise during weeks that kids are likely to be in school it's even more so.

We're similar to you- just like to unplug and relax on cruises. Sometimes on Royal I feel like the staff is too focused on managing crowds and not customer service. We're trying our 1st Celebrity cruise this summer to Bermuda. It was easy to give Celebrity a try since RC doesn't spend as much time docked there. We've never been to Bermuda and it seems like a great island.

We would not be about to set sail on our second Celebrity Cruise if it was "too fancy" .

When we sail Carnival, we pack our shorts, jeans and a sport coat for DH.

Our Celebrity suitcase will have shorts for daytime, but Khaki's, collared shirts and sport coat for most nights and a very nice suit / tie/ dress shirt combination for the elegant nights. We could probably get away with the nice suit for elegant nights and go to alternative restaurants or buffet.

You will have a great time!

I am a loyal Royal customer, having been on 10 cruises, and just coming off the Oasis of the Seas with my husband. We are pretty much easy to please, not demanding (early 50's) taking one trip a year, husband works way too many hours and just wants to relax, eat and sleep and be detached from a cell phone. We love to sit by the pool by the day and catch a show at night and wake up to coffee on our balcony. Early to bed early to rise. So we were both somewhat disappointed in our last trip. We loved the ship, been on it before, the shows were good but something was off. We don't consider ourselves foodies, but we always thought the food on Royal was pretty good. This last time, not so much, the food and service seemed to have gone downhill.

 

I'm thinking that RCCL cut down on the number of staffers and like many other companies, doing more with less, so to speak. But we are now thinking of trying Celebrity (aware it's the same parent company). I am hoping my fellow CC's can ease my concerns about moving over to Celebrity. Hubby is concerned about Celebrity being too "fancy", the last thing he wants to do is put on a suit and tie to have dinner.

 

Do we give Royal another shot or should we make a move?

Thanks so much and if you want make a suggestion on which Celebrity ship would be a good fit for us, I would appreciate that input also!!!

 

LISA

Well as a many time repeat customer of Celebrity I feel the same as you. Food has gotten worse, staffing has been cut, prices have gone up etc. Pretty ships but.... I also do not care for all the mew dining venues for Aqua Class, suite class etc. If you are part of the 1% crowd and can afford a suite things have gotten better. For the rest of us it is cuts, cuts and more cuts. I am looking elsewhere.

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It was our last two cruises on Allure and then Freedom when we just thought we had outgrown Royal Caribbean. We had found service a little low, and we were cruising in suites. Speciality restaurants were OK, not great but OK but the MDR just seemed loud

In recent years all cruises have been Celebrity, not looked back.

Don't get me wrong, we loved RCCL, it was great for us as parents, just not so good as we matured! We no longer want to be busy and entertained all the time.

Celebrity, Food much better, quiet, calm...sounds like just what you need.

Give it a try, you may find you like it.

There are two classes of ship M and S class. S are bigger, newer and more striking. We have had happy cruises on both.

Have a great next cruise!

After 20 sailings with RCI, we decided to try Celebrity for a lot of the reasons you mention regarding RCI. Reductions in staff, declining food quality, price increases and incessant upselling.

We are so glad we made the move. No obvious reduction in staff, sommeliers still in the MDR, no constant announcements for upselling 'opportunities', far better organised and tasty options in the buffet, similar food in the MDR.

If we hadn't booked our next RCI cruise back in 2014, way before we decided to sail Celebrity, I doubt we'd be back on RCI anytime soon.

Well as a many time repeat customer of Celebrity I feel the same as you. Food has gotten worse, staffing has been cut, prices have gone up etc. Pretty ships but.... I also do not care for all the mew dining venues for Aqua Class, suite class etc. If you are part of the 1% crowd and can afford a suite things have gotten better. For the rest of us it is cuts, cuts and more cuts. I am looking elsewhere.

 

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We are regular cruisers with Celebrity/RCCL/NCL and each of these has similar posts to this one. All of the mass market cruise lines seem to have disappointed guests. Unless you can afford to go up a notch to Oceania, Silversea, Crystal et al then I'm afraid we have to live with the cuts. Personally I still think cruising is the best value vacation. Things will have to get a lot worse before we would give up cruising.

We are regular cruisers with Celebrity/RCCL/NCL and each of these has similar posts to this one. All of the mass market cruise lines seem to have disappointed guests. Unless you can afford to go up a notch to Oceania, Silversea, Crystal et al then I'm afraid we have to live with the cuts. Personally I still think cruising is the best value vacation. Things will have to get a lot worse before we would give up cruising.

Agree with above post. All the mass market lines have cut back. Unless you want to pay for much better service, the cruise lines are very similar. People think if they switch to a different cruise line, they will get more value but you usually get what you pay for

We are regular cruisers with Celebrity/RCCL/NCL and each of these has similar posts to this one. All of the mass market cruise lines seem to have disappointed guests. Unless you can afford to go up a notch to Oceania, Silversea, Crystal et al then I'm afraid we have to live with the cuts. Personally I still think cruising is the best value vacation. Things will have to get a lot worse before we would give up cruising.

I'm a RCL/Carnival/NCL person, and like the others, the changes are obvious. RCL used to be a bit upscale, but recently on the big ships we felt like cattle. They all are going the nickle and dime route. I liked NCL because it is a bit laid back, no constant drink sales in your face, 24 hour cruise director announcements, but the $7.95 room service charge is a turn off.

I'm considering Disney, Celebrity, and Princess. Isn't there still any cruiseline that falls between Regent Seven Seas and Carnival. I don't mind paying more, because that is what you do with all these extra charges anyway, I just want all reasonable charges to be included.

Agree with above post. All the mass market lines have cut back. Unless you want to pay for much better service, the cruise lines are very similar. People think if they switch to a different cruise line, they will get more value but you usually get what you pay for

This is the truest statement and applies to all CC forums regardless of the Cruise line. Everyone should go and read the same dissatisfaction.

Agree with above post. All the mass market lines have cut back. Unless you want to pay for much better service, the cruise lines are very similar. People think if they switch to a different cruise line, they will get more value but you usually get what you pay for

Agree. It reminds me of switching poker machines at the casino and expecting a better payout.

Dh and I are also considering giving Celebrity a try. My fiftieth birthday is next November, and I would like to go on a cruise to celebrate. Most of our cruises have been with Disney Cruise Line, which has never failed to provide the best experience of the cruise lines we've tried, but it's too expensive for us right now. The same 7-day itinerary (departure ports and ports of call) is $500 per person more on DCL.

 

I'm considering Disney, Celebrity, and Princess. Isn't there still any cruiseline that falls between Regent Seven Seas and Carnival. I don't mind paying more, because that is what you do with all these extra charges anyway, I just want all reasonable charges to be included.

We haven't sailed with Celebrity or Princess. I'm on this forum to learn more myself. We have sailed with DCL several times (a couple times without our children), and it never failed to wow us with its level of professional, friendly, and accommodating service staff. I can tell you of several occasions when a staff member went out of his or her way for a member of my family. I feel welcomed and very relaxed on a Disney ship. I've enjoyed NCL and Carnival cruises, too but definitely didn't feel the "magic".

We were loyal Royal criisers but now that we are older, (60's) find that we do not need all of the entertainment and activity options that Royal offers. We are happy with a quieter vibe and what we have experienced as better service on Celebrity. That may change down the road, but for.now we are very happy with Celebrity.

We have sailed on both RCCL and Celebrity almost exclusively for the past 8-9 years and found that the previous comments about the food are right on. Having said that, we do not pick a cruise based on the food, or the entertainment, or the on-board amenities. Our primary concern is the itinerary. It the ship is going where we want to go, we're on it. We are truly tourists at heart.

I'm a RCL/Carnival/NCL person, and like the others, the changes are obvious. RCL used to be a bit upscale, but recently on the big ships we felt like cattle. They all are going the nickle and dime route. I liked NCL because it is a bit laid back, no constant drink sales in your face, 24 hour cruise director announcements, but the $7.95 room service charge is a turn off.

 

I'm considering Disney, Celebrity, and Princess. Isn't there still any cruiseline that falls between Regent Seven Seas and Carnival. I don't mind paying more, because that is what you do with all these extra charges anyway, I just want all reasonable charges to be included.

Ano, Azamara and Oceania are supposed to be those in between lines. Luxury-Lite or Upscale is usually what they are called

Thank you all for your input. I realize there are many people out there in the same boat as I am (no pun intended). I know I shouldn't be afraid to try something new! I will take a look at the Soltice Class ships and check out the itineraries. Thank you again!

oh and regarding Disney, funny thing, so many people on our last Oasis trip told us to give Disney a try, top notch customer service etc. Even couples that we our age and older. My husband and I couldn't get over how many folks said that Disney was not just a "kids" cruise and told us we wouldn't be overwhelmed by all the children.

After being very loyal Celebrity cruisers since 2000, we cancelled our three upcoming cruises on Celebrity and are moving on. We just don't like the direction Celebrity is taking, and the changes made since Lisa Lutoff Perlo has made since becoming president. They lowered the number of crew to the point they're very over-worked to the point that service has suffered. She's getting rid of the Murano-type restaurants in favor of the cheaper to run Tuscan. And now they seem to be chartering more and more cruises, and pulling the rug out from under those who had already booked those ships. And now they're deploying yet another ship to Asia? So, we're moving onto Oceania. Maybe not bluer seas, but the only way to express our displeasure with all these changes is to vote with our wallet. They won't miss our booking the PH three times a year, but we will feel better.

Everyone has different experiences and expectations for a cruise. It's obvious that all cruise lines are cutting back, even the more upscale lines. Just rear the boards and you'll see the posts from long time patrons of that line lament on how things are changing, and not for the better. Go ahead and try a new line out. We are in our 40s, no kids, and are long time Royal loyalists, however over time, between the mega ships Royal is building and our likes changing as we've gotten older we decided we'd outgrown Royal. No saying we won't travel Royal again, but we now look at Celebrity first. but since our first. We thinks it's an elevated experience but still laid back and comfortable. I think you'll be very satisfied with what Celebrity has to offer.

It's certainly an interesting time, as all the lines seem to be changing, with lots of people abandoning one line and going to another. It makes my wife mad because we lose our gold or platinum status back to tin or bronze, but since the perks for those have been reduced so much as well, its not a big deal to me.

I think what is interesting to watch is that NCL, RCL, and Carnival have lots of bigger and bigger ships on order, and builders are shooting these out at unheard of speed. I don't see the number of cruisers growing much, so have to wonder what will happen? These lines are moving to China with hopes of lots of cruisers there, but that might be overestimated. Carnival, RCL, Princess, and Costa are all moving their biggest ships there.

Maybe ships are filled during peak times, but I'm seeing them have problems filling ships during off times. The ship I was just on to Mexico was much less than full (my guess) and it was offered cheap near the end, under $45/night for inside.