If you were going to upgrade from Celebrity, where would you go?

[hulamoon]

I disagree. You are paying a higher price for a bigger room; same entertainment, food, bars, etc. I would go to a luxury line before booking a larger suite on any mass market cruise line.

 

I am speaking of price being closer than not. So I am not sure we are disagreeing. At a thousand a day, there are a lot of options. Several people have experienced a Ritz type experience in the upper suites. I did once and then not when I tried it again.

 

I also said they are promoting a type of luxury experience. That statement does not say I agree it is luxurious. But they hope it is so, and the square footage is there.

[micmacmissy]

Comparing the two...

 

Viking Oceans 11-day Caribbean

$6,700/2 people in Deluxe Balcony (270 sq feet)

Includes airfare, specialty restaurants, beverage pkg, tips, shore excursions

 

Celebrity Equinox 10-day Caribbean

$6,798/2 people in Sky Suite (300 sq feet)

$ 600 /airfare for two

$7,398 includes tips/beverage pkg

+ at least $500 on shore excursions...so $7,989

+ 3 specialty dinners $180...so now we're at $8,169

 

...yeah, I think even with a suite on Celebrity...Viking is winning this one, hands down.

 

What do you guys think? Over $8K on a mainstream line seems really steep to me...(and I love Celebrity!)

[sammyboots]

It's so funny you suggested this...the PG has been on my list for AGES. I even sat my husband down to watch the Mighty Cruise Ship special on PG. I'm having a hard time convincing my husband on this one...he keeps saying, if you want a relaxing tropical vacation we don't have to go halfway around the globe...the price tag is also a little daunting (although now that I'm into my research, the PG seems like a bargain compared to some others!)

 

So this post was my, "okay, if we don't do PG...where else should I look?" Post. :)

 

Have to say, we also did Paul Gauguin in the South Pacific last Summer and it was THE most amazing cruise ever! I did an extensive review on the PG page if you would like more info. Seriously, I would consider it for a special cruise, very romantic!

[Host Jazzbeau]

I think I saw a press release recently that called X Modern Luxury and spoke of the luxury experience.

 

The suites are very high priced, so they are competing with other ships now. They are for me, I remember my last booking thinking, well now I have to price check this....

 

This would be a great time for another line to match loyalty benefits, but then again it would likely anger those who earned them elsewhere.

 

I believe MSC is doing exactly that, and their Yacht Club ship-within-the-ship experience is rated very highly. Private suites restaurant, private suites pool and sun deck [should mean no chair hogs], lots of other special treatment. Not all their ships have this, but the ones that do should be giving Celebrity a real run for the suite passengers' money.

[mcrcruiser]

Comparing the two...

 

Viking Oceans 11-day Caribbean

$6,700/2 people in Deluxe Balcony (270 sq feet)

Includes airfare, specialty restaurants, beverage pkg, tips, shore excursions

 

Celebrity Equinox 10-day Caribbean

$6,798/2 people in Sky Suite (300 sq feet)

$ 600 /airfare for two

$7,398 includes tips/beverage pkg

+ at least $500 on shore excursions...so $7,989

+ 3 specialty dinners $180...so now we're at $8,169

 

...yeah, I think even with a suite on Celebrity...Viking is winning this one, hands dow

What do you guys think? Over $8K on a mainstream line seems really steep to me...(and I love Celebrity!)

 

Couldn't agree more .Look what Viking cruise line includes & it is real luxury ,not just words of X "modern luxury" :rolleyes:.Additionally ,there is no casino & Viking is dedicated to very informative enrichment educational series for their guests .:D

 

Also Viking has far better itineraries & over nights ;because they can cruise into ports where the big ships are restricted :D

[Jade13]

Comparing the two...

 

 

 

Viking Oceans 11-day Caribbean

 

$6,700/2 people in Deluxe Balcony (270 sq feet)

 

Includes airfare, specialty restaurants, beverage pkg, tips, shore excursions

 

 

 

Celebrity Equinox 10-day Caribbean

 

$6,798/2 people in Sky Suite (300 sq feet)

 

$ 600 /airfare for two

 

$7,398 includes tips/beverage pkg

 

+ at least $500 on shore excursions...so $7,989

 

+ 3 specialty dinners $180...so now we're at $8,169

 

 

 

...yeah, I think even with a suite on Celebrity...Viking is winning this one, hands down.

 

 

 

What do you guys think? Over $8K on a mainstream line seems really steep to me...(and I love Celebrity!)

 

 

What date are you looking at where Celebrity Caribbean before airfare and perks is running at approx a $300 per diem for a standard balcony. Sounds high.

[micmacmissy]

What date are you looking at where Celebrity Caribbean before airfare and perks is running at approx a $300 per diem for a standard balcony. Sounds high.

 

Feb 2017, and it's a Sky Suite on Equinox. (Regular balconies on Viking are just a shade smaller than Sky Suites, which is why I drew that comparison))

[micmacmissy]

Couldn't agree more .Look what Viking cruise line includes & it is real luxury ,not just words of X "modern luxury" :rolleyes:.Additionally ,there is no casino & Viking is dedicated to very informative enrichment educational series for their guests .:D

 

Also Viking has far better itineraries & over nights ;because they can cruise into ports where the big ships are restricted :D

 

My husband summed it up well while looking on the Viking website: "I bet they don't have a lady jamming shopping fliers in your hand as you line up to leave the ship on port days!" Amen to that!

Edited January 11, 2016 by micmacmissy

[micmacmissy]

Have to say, we also did Paul Gauguin in the South Pacific last Summer and it was THE most amazing cruise ever! I did an extensive review on the PG page if you would like more info. Seriously, I would consider it for a special cruise, very romantic!

 

So that was my #1 choice for our trip. Imagine my sadness when I found out PG will be in drydock for a several month period during/before/after our 20th anniversary!

 

So PG will have to wait until our 25th!

[james'mommy]

We somehow got on the mailing list for Oceania. I love their itineraries and that everything is included. And that they usually have buy one get one free and free air. Just waiting for DS to be out of the house before we try it out. We also have a river cruise on our wish list but they only sleep 2 to a room so another one that needs to wait until DS is older.

[maggie.1008]

I have booked a suite on Oceania Rivera for March. It will be the first on this line. Very excited about their Specialty Dining. Will do a review and compare with X suites when I return. Heather

[kelmac]

Celebrity Upgrade --

--Azamara (wonderful food, small ships, expensive) 9.3

--Oceania (smaller ships, excellent food, little entertainment) 9.5

--Cunard (Grills, MDR excellent, buffet poor) 9.0

 

Celebrity Downgrade--

 

--Princess (large crowded ships, so so food, poor alternative restaurants) 7.8

--Holland America (pretty good MDR food, mature passengers, smoking issues) 8.0

--Royal Caribbean (some ships are great, basic food, good entertainment) 8.3

--NCL (UDP upgrades the experience substantially, MDR for lunch/breakfast, avoid the buffet, entertainment good) 8.6

 

Note: I only listed cruise lines I have experienced

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

Edited January 11, 2016 by kelmac

[Rob the Cruiser]

Just got off the phone with Oceania.

 

Registered with Oceania 9 am this morning to receive email for future planning. They called me from their Florida operations just now.

 

Oceania has a host of special pricing for Canadians on their web site.

 

When I mentioned that I am a former Celebrity patron, the concierge was well aware of this site and the declining product offering from Celebrity. She quoted from this specific thread - indicating that Oceania is working to take business from Celebrity and grow their line in the premium category.

 

She asked what elements of the former Celebrity product were admired by me and I shared same.

 

She also asked what elements of Celebrity I currently dislike and I listed them.

 

Soooooo, FYI everyone.

 

ABoatNerd

 

I was hoping that Oceania is going after Celebrity cruisers but in talking to 2 separate agencies, both being high volume producers for Oceania, I didn't get that impression. On the positive side, both travel agency reps seemed to know more about Celebrity than Celebrity employees do. We talked in detail about how we enjoy Aqua, our loyalty status with Celebrity, sailing history and future cruises booked or on the radar for later.

 

Bottom line is the price published on Oceania's website and brochures is the price. No additional discounts or OBCs unless the agency wants to cut their commission. We would like very much to try Oceania but the numbers don't add up for us.

[mcrcruiser]

My husband summed it up well while looking on the Viking website: "I bet they don't have a lady jamming shopping fliers in your hand as you line up to leave the ship on port days!" Amen to that!

 

We wished that Viking ocean cruises was around years ago ;). Yes ,it is unfortunate that Celebrity has tarnished itself with doing what Carnival does at ports .:o

[mcrcruiser]

Another thing that helps Viking vs Celebrity is the sheer size of their ship ,like the Star Viking with fewer than 1000 pax on a ship at approx. 48000 tons . When in port so much easier to go ashore & then re board with less people to deal with . That also enhances the luxury feeling of Viking :D

[keithm]

We have cruised Celebrity a few times and really enjoyed those cruises- especially the S class.

 

However, we're looking for a 20th anniversary cruise (possibly Alaska, or a different 10-day itinerary in Caribbean) and we're thinking of going a little more deluxe. Important for us: nice ship, great itinerary, good food. We're not big on nightlife or activities.

 

Anyone out there who has enjoyed Celebrity and upgraded to a different line? Which lines are worth looking at? Was it worth the extra cost? Or would you stick with Celebrity and just do a suite instead?

 

Any suggestions or pointers for us? Thanks in advance!

We've done Celebrity(Eclipse) 2 times. We liked the food very much & found the entertainment enjoyable. You could try the suites on the Celebrity "S" class ships. The new Luminae Rest. is supposed to be quite nice. I would also suggest trying the Queens Grill suites on Cunard(most especially the QM2)We found the attention to detail absolutely superb.(yes, it's still our favorite line)Crystal does have an excellent reputation. I'd also check out Silversea or Seadream. They are generally among the most expensive, but their ships can get in almost anywhere. If money is NO object, the Hapag Lloyd's Europa1 & Europa2 are simply the most elegant ships afloat. They will, however really put a dent in the old wallet!

[ORV]

We somehow got on the mailing list for Oceania. I love their itineraries and that everything is included. And that they usually have buy one get one free and free air. Just waiting for DS to be out of the house before we try it out. We also have a river cruise on our wish list but they only sleep 2 to a room so another one that needs to wait until DS is older.

 

Not panning it but make sure you understand that the 2 for 1 pricing is their marketing gimmick. It's always been that way. No one ever pays the full price. Also the air really isn't free, it's included, if you don't want their air you get a credit, but generally it's hard to get air for the credit they offer.

 

Having said all that I like them a lot.

[jan-n-john]

Also the air really isn't free, it's included,

 

Not to be cheeky, but isn't that true of about everything in life?

[hypercafe]

We have tried some luxury lines and also Oceania. We have come to the conclusion that for us its better to spend the extra money on a better cabin on a mainstream line. This is because we have found the other lines to be too quiet, on the edge of being boring at times. To each their own.

[micmacmissy]

We have tried some luxury lines and also Oceania. We have come to the conclusion that for us its better to spend the extra money on a better cabin on a mainstream line. This is because we have found the other lines to be too quiet, on the edge of being boring at times. To each their own.

 

Quiet and boring is exactly my speed on vacation! :):)

[chamima]

Quiet and boring is exactly my speed on vacation! :):)

 

:D

 

I like the way you think

 

 

 

:D

[stillhott]

Agree, Princess is not an upgrade. We did Regent, smaller ship, all verandas, excellent food, all inclusive

[mgfraser]

I have enjoyed Celebrity 3 times, but when we wish luxury I would definitely pick Seabourn,

 

We have been on Crystal once and Seabourn twice, and definitely the latter is preferable.

 

The service was better on Seabourn, the cabins are far superior on Seabourn.

Crystal is not even close. Food is about the same but service on Seaborun is much better. On Crystal it was very evident that if you were a frequent Crystal cruiser you received better service.

 

Seabourn by far the better cruise line for the average upscale cruiser.

 

Regards,

 

Malcolme

[captain99]

Looking to book a cruise in Alaska for 2017 with Celebrity. Everybody said how important is the itineary but it's not clear for me. Celebrity offer many itineary but which is the best for a 7 nights cruise?

Thanks!

[Blondie008]

We are taking our 20th anniversary cruise this year to Alaska. We have just an AQ cabin - have travelled on many lines in many suites - but as we get older - cruise more and travel further and don't miss the suite life at all. (surprising but true!). Alaska is all about the ports - we have already started booking excursions - there are some amazing trips to be had - We are taking three days in Seattle - which to us is mindblowing - we can have Europe any old day of the week - USA - its exciting for us! On our actual anniversary we are cruising up Tracey Arm Fjord and on to Juneau - could not have wished for better timing. So its an adventure day finished off with dinner in Murano.

 

I know as I set about planning - our time will be spent a great deal OFF the ship - this is unusual for us, we like sea days - But Alaska - its all about the adventures -

Azamara - I would do the Grand Prix in Monaco! Now That's the place for Azamara!!