First Celebrity Cruise

[stleda124]

The title says it all. I am thinking of booking a cruise with Celebrity for the first time. After reading countless reviews, it seems like there may be a lot more additional costs once on board and certain areas that you can't go in unless you are booked in a certain stateroom. If you were to compare Celebrity to other more generic cruiselines such as NCL and Carnival, is it a better cruise line in your opinion.

I like to plan and go knowing what I'm going to spend. So additional cover charges and such I should know about are appreciated.

If I book through them I am planning on book with the 4 perks.

 

Any insight is appreciated.

[Doctor G]

The title says it all. I am thinking of booking a cruise with Celebrity for the first time. After reading countless reviews, it seems like there may be a lot more additional costs once on board and certain areas that you can't go in unless you are booked in a certain stateroom. If you were to compare Celebrity to other more generic cruiselines such as NCL and Carnival, is it a better cruise line in your opinion.

I like to plan and go knowing what I'm going to spend. So additional cover charges and such I should know about are appreciated.

If I book through them I am planning on book with the 4 perks.

 

Any insight is appreciated.

 

It is correct that there are some restaurants that have an extra charge and some that are limited to passengers in Aqua class cabins or suites. However, there are many venues for food that are included in the cruise price: the main dining room, the buffet, the aqua spa cafe. I have always found the food to be good and have not felt the need to go to the restaurants with a charge. The entertainment is free. If you have the drink package, you won't have to pay for drinks, depending on which package you have. The classic package has some limitations, but for me it includes everything that I drink. I think it is quite possible to have an enjoyable cruise without incurring extra charges. I have not been on the other cruise lines you mention, but from what I read Celebrity is a cut above those you mentioned. You will have a great time.

 

Carolyn

[1cruiselvr]

I agree with the above poster. We sailed on Constellation last month. We had 3 perks - classic bev, prepaid gratuities and $300 obc. Our biggest problem was trying to spend all the obc. Unless you want to upgrade to the premium package, dine in the for-pay venues, or spend a lot in the ship stores, you might have the same problem. :)

[llarosa]

We booked our first Celebrity cruise as well and leave in less than a month. (Yeah!) When I looked at Celebrity vs. others (including those lines you mentioned), I chose them specifically because it seemed they did not have as many extra charges. Most people seem to like the standard (no fee) dining on Celebrity and since the drink package was offered as a perk when we booked, it seems like most things are actually included. It seemed to me like NCL was a similar line but the included food isn't spoken about in the same terms and it seemed like everything was for an extra fee. I should be able to confirm that Celebrity is as good as I think it's going to be when I'm back in mid April.

 

(My last cruise was about ten years ago, but I have been on Princess, Carnival, Holland America and NCL in the past.)

[motherchic]

I have also sailed on Carnival (once), HAL and RCCL

All have some speciality restaurants that you can spend extra on.

All have spas and prices to go with them. Trinkets and photos to buy.

You can eat at the "free" venues and enjoy all immensely.

If you have the basic alcohol pkg you can also enjoy the specialty coffees.

I really like Celebrity. When they started the Aqua class on some ships, honestly it bothered me as I thought I had to pay more or I would feel the Aqua class is better and I was missing something.

Some cruisers love Aqua, I am certain I probably would too but I love never having tried it too :-)

For me, I enjoy having a balcony, I will pay more for that.

I say GO and have a great time. Norwegian, RCCL, Carnival, Princess, HAL and Celebrity all of them have ways you can spend extra money on, but you don't have to.

Have a great time !!!

[AZNative2000]

The title says it all. I am thinking of booking a cruise with Celebrity for the first time. After reading countless reviews, it seems like there may be a lot more additional costs once on board and certain areas that you can't go in unless you are booked in a certain stateroom. If you were to compare Celebrity to other more generic cruiselines such as NCL and Carnival, is it a better cruise line in your opinion.

I like to plan and go knowing what I'm going to spend. So additional cover charges and such I should know about are appreciated.

If I book through them I am planning on book with the 4 perks.

 

Any insight is appreciated.

Is it better? YES!

 

You can spend as little as you like on board. I've had friends on NCL and complain that they

nickel and dime you to death. And the sales announcements become a blur on Carnival. (IMHO).

 

Shipboard life is much calmer and more relaxing on Celebrity so, again in my opinion, you will love Celebrity. Which ship?

 

Cheers!

[Rosethorn40]

Each of the major cruise lines do things just a little bit differently, and each will have their supporters and detractors. I have never sailed on Celebrity, but I have booked a cruise with them that sails in about 7 weeks. I like that they have an adult area (The Solarium) that has no fee. I love Princess' Sanctuary, but it comes with a hefty charge. NCL has the much coveted and difficult to get Vibe passes, that have a fee, while Carnival's Serenity (Adult) area is free, but often crowded. NCL leads the pack with upcharge dining, but all the major players in the US market have a fee food venue or two.

 

I think a lot will depend on what ships you are considering. Usually the newer and bigger the ship, the more "extras" that you pay for.

[ChiGal1962]

Yes, there are things that have an extra charge. More than there used to be, for sure. But for me, other than the premium drink package upcharge (I do like the larger selection of wines) and the occasional wine seminar (again....), I generally don't spend much more on board than my cruise fare. And I absolutely don't feel like I'm "missing out."

 

The upcharge vibe is much more subtle on Celebrity, too. Very few announcements and "in your face" sales pitches. Just things listed in the daily program.

 

As for the venues that are cabin class-specific, that is growing, and is a little annoying. I was apparently one of the few that enjoyed Michael's Club on occasion, but no more. And navigating the MDR is a little more awkward with the Luminae carve-out. Oh well.

 

But still, I'd rather sail Celebrity than any other. Still a great value that delivers what I am looking for in a cruise.

[MarKay525]

The title says it all. I am thinking of booking a cruise with Celebrity for the first time. <snip>.

Any insight is appreciated.

 

One major difference between Celebrity and the other lines you mention is the average age of the passengers. While Celebrity is working to attract a younger audience, their average age is easily in the 40 yr. old - 60 yr. old range. I've seen complaints from younger cruisers that late night activities are minimal.

[SPacificbound]

You will have extra costs only if you choose to.

 

Eating in specialty restaurants for example is extra, but you don't have to do that, we don't.

 

Drink packages are extra, but only if you choose them.

 

Soda and mixed drinks are extra but again, only if you choose to have them.

 

Internet is extra if you choose to have it.

 

We could easily go on a cruise and not have any additional expenses, however we do choose to have the internet and a few drinks along the way, and have laundry done.

 

Hope that helps.

[4774Papa]

We have sailed 9 times on Celebrity and 5 on NCL.

We prefer Celebrity, as the food quality is excellent and good service is consistent.

 

I think the drinks packages are way overpriced, so we never buy them. Yes, if you are in a Suite you have a few places that others can visit, as well as Aqua with BLU, but there is no atmosphere of a class system.

[karpela]

Hi, I think if you book your cruise with the 4 perks, you could use your OBC to spend on speciality restaurants if you wanted to, then you really shouldn't have to pay for anything else.

We love Celebrity and always try to book with a free drinks package nowadays.

We spend very little extra onboard.

Enjoy :)

[Jem 12]

The title says it all. I am thinking of booking a cruise with Celebrity for the first time. After reading countless reviews, it seems like there may be a lot more additional costs once on board and certain areas that you can't go in unless you are booked in a certain stateroom. If you were to compare Celebrity to other more generic cruiselines such as NCL and Carnival, is it a better cruise line in your opinion.

I like to plan and go knowing what I'm going to spend. So additional cover charges and such I should know about are appreciated.

If I book through them I am planning on book with the 4 perks.

 

Any insight is appreciated.

 

 

Hi we have just returned from our first NCL cruise after many on Celebrity apart from the weather (Canaries) the cruise far exceeded our expectations, there was hardly any announcements, the included drinks package was far better than the classic package that Celebrity usually gives as a perk. The entertainment on NCL was 10 times better than Celebrity in our opinion, so many different options. A evening nightclub that actually had a live DJ that was open every evening.

[1cruiselvr]

Hi, I think if you book your cruise with the 4 perks, you could use your OBC to spend on speciality restaurants if you wanted to, then you really shouldn't have to pay for anything else.

We love Celebrity and always try to book with a free drinks package nowadays.

We spend very little extra onboard.

Enjoy :)

The fourth perk is free internet. 1) free classic bev pkg 2) prepaid gratuities 3) $300 obc 4) free wifi

so yes you can use obc for dining at specialty restaurants.

Edited March 12, 2016 by 1cruiselvr

[davekathy]

OP...something nice that Celebrity does is welcomes you aboard with a glass of Champaign or Orange Juice.

[stleda124]

Thank you so much for all your replies. I have decided to book the Celebrity Reflection on January 7, 2017 out of Miami, FL. I am booking through a TA and have decided to upgrade to the "Go Best" on both rooms. That will give us $300 OBC from the cruiseline on each room and then the TA is offering $325 OBC on each room. I figure with the $1250 worth of OBC that will pay the gratuities for the one person in which it isn't included on. It will also pay to upgrade the drink package for the one person that doesn't have it. Plus we can have some pay for food dining with the additional amount.

 

The only thing left for me to decide is whether to book us both in a balcony room next to each other. Does anyone know if you can remove the glass between the two balconies?

 

I will be booking at the end of next week and am very exciting and now counting down the days till Christmas to give this to my family as a surprise. This has literally been my dream to give to my parents and am very excited to do it!!!!!!

[livingasia]

My Partner and I took our first cruise end January for 5 nights on the Millennium. We had not cruised before and my only experience was as a teenager with my parents.

 

We had the same 4 benefits as part of our junior suite offer. I only booked the Suite deal as the price was lower than paying for those separately in a regular balcony cabin. The $300 OBC I did not even include in the calculation and just considered it a 'very nice to have'.

 

We struggled to spend money onboard. Basically our spending was limited to once in Qsine which I thought excellent because it is not what we were expecting. Once in Bistro on 5 and half a dozen pics. I think our total came to something like US$250 from memory. We used most of the OBC at the casino and using their $500 turned it into $950 which was given to us as cash in the casino.

 

We loved the cruise and found the night time entertainment to be good. I have investments in bars and clubs in Asia so was not that bothered about ultra lively nightlife as I witness it every time I check on said investments. The bar overlooking/underneath the bridge was still going with music and never closed before we left which was around 1-2am most nights. The casino was still going strong at that time as we made our way back to the cabin.

 

Just one note to keep in mind. I have made 2 more reservations since returning and using the current promotion have plumped for the Classic drink package + 24/7 Internet and regular balcony cabins. I struggle to justify to myself why I would spend another $550+ each (on 12-14 night cruises) to get $150 of OBC + gratuities pre paid which are about $150-$170 for each trip. It's like spend $500 and get $300 max of benefit. Even if we upgraded onboard to Premium drinks package, I think it's max $150 odd upgrade charge. End result is the total cost of these extra's if purchased onboard is less than the promotion upgrade. Even more so when I discount the 'worth' of OBC. Unless I have overlooked something, the 4 perk deal is a pretty poor option right now with the 2nd perk. I can however imagine not everyone prices it out in the way I did. The drinks are a major perk. The variable was the 24/7 internet on 12-14 night voyages. I just guessed, the cost of the 24/7 internet for 2 of us is bound to be higher than the $150-$170 cost of gratuities for each of us. The 24/7 internet is a must have for both of us, not because we are always on it, but because I cannot be bothered to log in and out every time as I know I'll forget to log out and burn through all the minutes in first day !!!

 

Anyway, that aside, I am sure you will have a great time as we did.

[Doctor G]

The only thing left for me to decide is whether to book us both in a balcony room next to each other. Does anyone know if you can remove the glass between the two balconies?

 

I have not been on Reflection, but on other Solstice class ships the balcony dividers can be opened.

 

Carolyn

[MarKay525]

Thank you so much for all your replies. I have decided to book the Celebrity Reflection on January 7, 2017 out of Miami, FL. <snip>

I will be booking at the end of next week and am very exciting and now counting down the days till Christmas to give this to my family as a surprise. This has literally been my dream to give to my parents and am very excited to do it!!!!!!

 

Thanks for coming back and letting us know what you decided - what a wonderful surprise this will be for your family! :D:

[liverpoollad]

Hi we have just returned from our first NCL cruise after many on Celebrity apart from the weather (Canaries) the cruise far exceeded our expectations, there was hardly any announcements, the included drinks package was far better than the classic package that Celebrity usually gives as a perk. The entertainment on NCL was 10 times better than Celebrity in our opinion, so many different options. A evening nightclub that actually had a live DJ that was open every evening.

 

We did a NCL cruise in January & don't think the drinks package is better, Celebrity include specialty coffees NCL don't. Regarding entertainment I think you might be right as it was excellent on NCL & this is now my worry on our forthcoming Celerity cruise. Celebrity are still our favourite line but may change our view if the entertainment is poor.

[keithm]

The title says it all. I am thinking of booking a cruise with Celebrity for the first time. After reading countless reviews, it seems like there may be a lot more additional costs once on board and certain areas that you can't go in unless you are booked in a certain stateroom. If you were to compare Celebrity to other more generic cruiselines such as NCL and Carnival, is it a better cruise line in your opinion.

I like to plan and go knowing what I'm going to spend. So additional cover charges and such I should know about are appreciated.

If I book through them I am planning on book with the 4 perks.

 

Any insight is appreciated.

I'll use our 2 trips on the Eclipse as an example. First there are NO restrictions on the ship unless you're in a suite. You would then dine in Luminae. There are Extra cost rest..Murano/Tuscan Grill/Qsine. Bistro on 5 has a "nominal" charge. I have read here that they are phasing Bistro out for another venue. The MDR. has generally very good to at times excellent food(Jan. 2015 was last trip)

As to cruiseline, sorry, but I wouldn't sail NCL/carnival for any reason!! Way TOO casual dress for me. That's not to say you'll se tuxes & gowns everywhere. There will be some. Just better dressed pax on average is what you'll find. Food quality on both NCL/Carnival is the lowest quality of ALL the lines. That is not to say it's garbage, but the food costs are much higher on Cunard/Celebrity/Princess. So the quality is better. There are obvious food & beverage packages & their costs do vary. It's pretty easy to check the websites of various lines & get prices. As to Celebrity we like the Solstice class ships. They seem to have a really nice blend of elegance & modern décor.

[keithm]

OP...something nice that Celebrity does is welcomes you aboard with a glass of Champaign or Orange Juice.

Yes, that always was a nice touch!

[dkjretired]

I'll use our 2 trips on the Eclipse as an example. First there are NO restrictions on the ship unless you're in a suite. You would then dine in Luminae. There are Extra cost rest..Murano/Tuscan Grill/Qsine. Bistro on 5 has a "nominal" charge. I have read here that they are phasing Bistro out for another venue. The MDR. has generally very good to at times excellent food(Jan. 2015 was last trip)

As to cruiseline, sorry, but I wouldn't sail NCL/carnival for any reason!! Way TOO casual dress for me. That's not to say you'll se tuxes & gowns everywhere. There will be some. Just better dressed pax on average is what you'll find. Food quality on both NCL/Carnival is the lowest quality of ALL the lines. That is not to say it's garbage, but the food costs are much higher on Cunard/Celebrity/Princess. So the quality is better. There are obvious food & beverage packages & their costs do vary. It's pretty easy to check the websites of various lines & get prices. As to Celebrity we like the Solstice class ships. They seem to have a really nice blend of elegance & modern décor.

 

Blu is also restricted and predated Luminae by several years.

[Jem 12]

We did a NCL cruise in January & don't think the drinks package is better, Celebrity include specialty coffees NCL don't. Regarding entertainment I think you might be right as it was excellent on NCL & this is now my worry on our forthcoming Celerity cruise. Celebrity are still our favourite line but may change our view if the entertainment is poor.

 

 

Hi Yes you are right about the special coffees but we get that as a perk already on Celebrity as part of our loyalty and while I enjoy them try not to drink to often wasted calories lol.

The other benefit on Celebrity is the bottled water that you don't get on NCL.

On NCL They also had horrible pump Pepsi rather than cans, but when I queried why I couldn't have a can of Pepsi instead of a $15 drink they said I could have a can but it had to be poured into a class weird!!!!

I think I may have been a bit unfair on Celebrity's drink package as it has been a couple of years or so since we had it, but hubby enjoyed Hendricks gin on NCL which you can't get on Celebrity.

[stleda124]

I enjoy coffee and I drink roughly 8-10 bottles of water a day so for me personally, Celebrity has a much better beverage package

 

 

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