Advice from X veterans that sail RCI please!

[jayoldschool]

We're Elite on X, and have only done a different line once. Princess, for our honeymoon, ten years ago, and we didn't like it as much as Celebrity. We're currently looking to book a ten year anniversary cruise for late June/early July, and we're torn between Bermuda (went there for 1st and 5th anniversary on X), or Europe.

 

However, I've found the 9 night July 2nd cruise on Liberty of the Seas on RCI, and I really like the itinerary. A huge benefit is we can drive to the port instead of spending over 1k on flights to Europe.

 

Can I get some opinions from cruisers that have traveled on both X and RCI? To provide some background, we're a couple with no kids. Both teachers, so we always have to travel at high season. We like the X formula, and appreciate the laid back atmosphere. Having done Bermuda a couple of times, we know that there will be lots of families on board, no matter if we are on Liberty or Summit.

 

Also, what perks do we receive on RCI being Elite on X?

 

Thanks in advance, hoping to book tomorrow!

Jason.

:D

Edited March 29, 2015 by jayoldschool

[az_tchr]

You are diamond. Go on the RCCL site to see. The best benefit is you have a private lounge open 24/7. Free drinks are either in that lounge or 3 in the bars with longer hours than X. Make sure when you book you give them your Captain club numbers.

 

As to specific benefits - they are a bit different. The value subject to each person for yea or nea. you will need to choose. We loved the private lounge!

[varoo]

We're Elite on X, and have only done a different line once. Princess, for our honeymoon, ten years ago, and we didn't like it as much as Celebrity. We're currently looking to book a ten year anniversary cruise for late June/early July, and we're torn between Bermuda (went there for 1st and 5th anniversary on X), or Europe.

 

However, I've found the 9 night July 2nd cruise on Liberty of the Seas on RCI, and I really like the itinerary. A huge benefit is we can drive to the port instead of spending over 1k on flights to Europe.

 

Can I get some opinions from cruisers that have traveled on both X and RCI? To provide some background, we're a couple with no kids. Both teachers, so we always have to travel at high season. We like the X formula, and appreciate the laid back atmosphere. Having done Bermuda a couple of times, we know that there will be lots of families on board, no matter if we are on Liberty or Summit.

 

Also, what perks do we receive on RCI being Elite on X?

 

Thanks in advance, hoping to book tomorrow!

You will be Diamond on RCI, but as I recall you should call the Loyalty Service Center at (800) 526-9723 to enroll for equivalent recognition.

 

Here is a link to

Member Benefits & Cruise Rewards: Crown & Anchor Society

 

We have found there to be fewer children on Celebrity than on RCI cruises during the same time frame. But that is to be expected as RCI is more oriented toward families.

 

We like both lines, but prefer X. We don't care for cruise ships that have the ambiance of an amusement park or shopping mall.

So when we cruise on RCI, we prefer their smaller Radiance class ships which are similar to the M-class ships on X, with few of the bells and whistles of their larger ships.

 

[wallie5446]

If you log into the Crown n Anchor section of the RCCL web site you should see you are set up as Diamond.

 

Our 1st RCCL was in 1990, and Celebrity in 1994.

The on ship experience on X is our choice, but enjoy RCCL too.

The speciality steak house on RCCL, Chops, is our favorite on any line.

RCCL is a tad younger and more Bourbon St'ish.

IMHO you would be happy with a sailing on Royal.

EW

 

ps: our 1st Princess was in 1992 and sailed the Ruby in 2012. It was ok, but not close to Royal, let alone X.

Edited March 29, 2015 by wallie5446

[royalcruz]

I think you will like the Diamond benefits. We've use the Diamond lounge for drinks hours and specialty coffees, the free photo, the free internet minutes, the discount phone minutes, and the BOGO wine. Each Diamond member get the benefits loaded to the card.

[Holly2]

I wrote a review of our first RCI cruise contrasting it with Celebrity. Ironically, all the touches which I said Celebrity offered but not RCI were no longer available on are last Celebrity cruise ( pillow choc, flowers in rest room,, washcloths in port).

Think you will find more similarities than differences. Diamond Lounge was a nice perk, food is buffet style (no food at Elite reception last time).

[Tiggertastic]

We find rccl not as laid back as celebrity or the food as good. We also find them lacking in officer visibility, I don't just mean greeting and doing games with passengers but literally not around when you need them.

 

We still do sail them and use the diamond lounge ad hoc and find them more interesting with the entertainers but if X and rccl were doing the same itinerary we'd choose X

 

If rccl was doing the itinerary we wanted and X weren't, we would book it.

[phoenix_dream]

Here is a review I wrote last year as a loyal Celebrity cruiser sailing on Freedom, which I think is a sister ship to Liberty. I think you may find most of what you were looking for, at least from the viewpoint of our experience

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=264598

[Got2Cruise]

There will be many more kids on Royal than you have ever encountered on Celebrity. As a fellow teacher I'm giving you a heads up. Lol

[ljk76]

There will be many more kids on Royal than you have ever encountered on Celebrity. As a fellow teacher I'm giving you a heads up. Lol

 

A couple of years ago we did the Celebrity Summit to Bermuda out of Bayonne during the summer. (Also a teacher!) There were over 600 children aboard. Never ever again and I love kids.

 

Now we do Europe most summers, and although we haven't done X or RCI for Europe we definitely would.The airfare can be pricy, but there are so many options for adventures.

[Got2Cruise]

A couple of years ago we did the Celebrity Summit to Bermuda out of Bayonne during the summer. (Also a teacher!) There were over 600 children aboard. Never ever again and I love kids.

 

 

 

Now we do Europe most summers, and although we haven't done X or RCI for Europe we definitely would.The airfare can be pricy, but there are so many options for adventures.

 

 

The worst is having a kid from your class as a fellow pax! lol It has happened a couple of times to teachers in my school. lol

[hcat]

While we prefer X, Liberty may not attract as many kids as the new ship, Oasis and and Allure. But reality is that there will be many kids/teens on board as it is a family vacation time.

 

Music will hopefully be better on Royal...more live bands and choices. More nightlife available in clubs, and fun to watch the Parades and see the ice show..go early to everything to get seats..The pvt lite breakfast area is usually nice and the Diamond get together is usually better than on X.

 

Suggest you book as much Specialty Dining as possible and find spaces where you can enjoy some peace and quiet....even your balcony.... hit the pools early in the day and leave as the crowds build,If you like the spa and thermal suites, those might be nice spots as well.

 

Most of all ENJOY!

[jayoldschool]

I've seen students on almost every one of our xmas and March Break cruises. No big deal, I get along well with my kids. I know that would be a major issue for others, though.

 

I'm leaning towards Summit.

 

;)

Edited March 29, 2015 by jayoldschool

[Mr. Click]

We have 4 trips on RCI and 2 or X with 2 more booked on X. We really enjoyed RCI until we tried X because they had the itinerary we wanted a few years ago in the Med. Our last trip on RCI was on the Allure, won't do that again, ever. The ship was always crazy, our one venture into the MDR was a disaster so we spent the money and went to specialty restaurants every other night but one and then we settled for bad pizza. We are sticking with X for now, as long as they don't keep cutting the quality.

[skandls]

For your tenth consider a European cruise. The dollar is strong and airfares may keep going up as the economy improves. I have learned that if you put things off that you really want to do one of you may never get the chance. Just realize that the Bermuda laid back cruise will not be the port intensive 'have to see it' cruise. If you decide on Europe - make sure to check choice air. And join the discussion for the cruise you choose. Book private tours or join with others as the tours are a better value than the cruiseline tours.

 

As to the Royal vs X question - I think the food is better on X but the entertainment on royal wins (by a really big margin on the Oasis class ships.). I like Blu but I do like the open atrium (noisy) on the Solstice class.

 

Ask yourselves - laid back and relax cruise (sleep in) or explore and see new things.

[Got2Cruise]

I've seen students on almost every one of our xmas and March Break cruises. No big deal, I get along well with my kids. I know that would be a major issue for others, though.

 

I'm leaning towards Summit.

 

;)

 

There's no bad cruise. Have you considered NCL and The Haven on their ship? NCL wrote the book on the Suite Life. Totally different experience than the general population

[awhfy]

We're Elite on X & took our first Royal cruise last year. We really enjoyed the 24 hour access to the Diamond Lounge & having 3 drinks automatically loaded on our card (no blasted coupons!). Shows were ok, ice show was great. Free photo & much lower cost photos were very nice. Food wasn't as good, lots more kids, & hated the smoke in the casino. Would we do another Royal cruise? Sure, if we liked the itinerary. Not having to fly is huge

Edited March 30, 2015 by awhfy