Jumping Ship to Celebrity--Maybe

[FreesiaE]

Hi,

 

We have a New England/Canadian cruise booked for June through RCCL. We are starting to see a work scheduling conflict and may need to change to a different week. The other week that we were examining does NOT have a New England/Canadian sailing, so I was looking at the Equinox on in the Caribbean to Puerto Rico, St Thomas, & St. Maarten. We are also looking as some other cruises as well. So, to get down to the meat of it, we traveled on the Mercury to Alaska in 2004 and found it to be FABULOUS! All we could afford was a picture window (at that was $1200 a person with no credit or perks!) but we just loved it and even got to sit at the Captain's table one night :) Anyhow, I'm not too thrilled about the Caribbean in the summer, but I loved Celebrity. The price for that particular cruise is very comparable to the RCCL we are already booked on. Is the Equinox wonderful? I know that this is subjective and all, but I'd love to hear some opinions. In 2004 we had no kids--now we have 2 (ages 9 and 5 at cruise age). We aren't drinkers, but do like good food on vacations. We also enjoy nice beds on vacation (which sounds weird, but nothing worse than a lumpy/springy bed). My kids main goal on vacation are swimming and eating different cereals at breakfast that they don't get at home (like Fruit Loops), so they are pretty easy to please. Thanks in advance!

[spiritkat090909]

I'm Diamond on Royal...and tried the Celebrity Silhouette recently. LOVED it.. Celebrity is more like the 'olden days' of travel when the food was still exceptional and they met you with a free drink on boarding. Price being equal, I'd choose Celebrity over any cruise line we have been on previously...including Princess, Holland America, NCL, Carnival and Crystal.

[twincheryl]

We have primarily sailed Royal but decided to try Celebrity last time we went to Alaska. LOVED IT! There was just a different "vibe"... plus no interior smoking was wonderful. While we will still sail Royal, we have booked two more on Celebrity.

 

Give it a try!

[NordicPrince]

We've been on the Equinox three times. We stay in interiors on an upper deck so we're not swells who need to stay in a suite. IMO you will love the Equinox. It is a first class ship as are all the S-class ships. People complain about the food in the MDR but DW and I found nothing to complain about. It was all really good. If you can't find something you like to eat in the Oceanview Cafe then you're not trying hard enough.

 

The crew on the Equinox is fabulous and go out of their way to be helpful.

 

The only thing I would say about the cruise you are looking at is that St, Maarten was hit very hard by the hurrricane so it's not going to be 100% what it was a year ago. So if you can live with that you;d be doing pretty good.

 

The Caribbean is good during the summer because it never really gets boilin hot. There is always a tropical breeze blowing,

 

Some of the things we liked to do on the ship is having a drink at the Sunset Bar in the rear of the ship on deck 15 when the ship is leaving port and watching the wake of the ship as it leaves port.

 

DW likes to get a weekly pass to the Spa when we first get on which gives her unlimited access to the Persian Gardens. They have a limited supply of these so first come-first serve. They have tile thermal stone beds there which she likes tolay out on to soothe the aches and pains away.

 

We've done lots of cruises on RCCL and loved every one but IMO Celebrity is just that one step above. Perhaps the mood on RCCL is just a little more fun but the nicer touches on Celebrity make a difference, especially on an S-class ship.

 

Enjoy your cruising days.

[hcat]

The three Celeb ports were all impacted by hurricane....but may be back on track by summer,

 

Equinox is a great ship but summer cruises to the Caribbean can have weather issues....hot humid rainy...I'd go north or maybe Bermuda

[NordicPrince]

The three Celeb ports were all impacted by hurricane....but may be back on track by summer,

 

Equinox is a great ship but summer cruises to the Caribbean can have weather issues....hot humid rainy...I'd go north or maybe Bermuda

 

There's not many ships going north during the summer from continental U.S. unless you want to try doing a route like Voyage of the Vikings on HAL which I would never recommend with kids or going to Alaska.

 

Bermuda is lovely that time of year. You an get a ship from Cape Liberty in New York\New Jersey.

 

You can check the temperature charts for the Caribbean and make up your own mind. From my experience in the Caribbean if it rains it rains for 15-30 minutes and then it's over.

[39august]

We are Pinnacle on RCI and tried Celebrity in Dec. LOVED it. Will be sailing many more times on X, tho' not abandoning RCI entirely. Older and more sophisticated demographic. No kids sitting on stairs. No smoke in the casino. Great food. Great service. Will be on Equinox b2b in July but understand the experience will be different from 9 night in Dec. Nevermind, can't be bad!

[mek]

I was on Equinox in August and had a great time, but I like to sail on different lines which IMHO, keeps experiences fresh. I think people who sail exclusively on one line notice changes more than others do.

 

I think your children might enjoy the glass blowing demos - a very unique experience for a cruise ship. If they have never seen anyone blow glass it would be educational and fun.

[cruiseflyer38]

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=603318

[Keith1010]

My view is simple. Go for it. You will never know for sure until you try another cruise line no matter how much research you do.

 

Keith

[NordicPrince]

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=603318

 

What this has to do with a possible first time Celebrity cruiser is beyond me. This sound bite only expresses the commentator's disappointment that they didn't get an upgrade. Big deal, very few people do. No doubt the poster's own comment.

[FreesiaE]

Lots to think about, but thank you to all who replied!

[mailmama]

My children were raised on Celebrity, then when they got to be teenagers we switched to RCCL. They actually preferred the kids club on Celebrity. Smaller groups and they met friends who they hung around with the entire cruise. RCCL was just too crowded and the employees didn't know the kids personally where they will on Celebrity.

[FreesiaE]

Thanks everyone! We made the switch this week and are really looking forward to it!

[TeaBag]

Thanks everyone! We made the switch this week and are really looking forward to it!

Did you choose the Equinox? Hope you enjoy it.

[shippmates]

Just so you will not be disappointed. We just got off the Eclipse and went to the Corning glass blowing show. Another vendor is taking over this venue and will be charging for a hands on experience. They did not give any details just that they are being removed from all ships.

[FreesiaE]

Did you choose the Equinox? Hope you enjoy it.

Yes, we did!

[FreesiaE]

Just so you will not be disappointed. We just got off the Eclipse and went to the Corning glass blowing show. Another vendor is taking over this venue and will be charging for a hands on experience. They did not give any details just that they are being removed from all ships.

 

I’ve heard this—sigh. I am holding out hope that there is some sort of freebie demo day 1 to entice people to come do it for pay....we’d love just a 20 minute demo!

[awhfy]

The charge for the hot glass shoe is $40 & you get to keep what you make, it’ll be a real hands on experience. If your kids are “crafty” they’d probably love it. We love Equinox & Captain Kate will likely be your captain

 

 

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[Ashland]

I've always been loyal to Royal (25+)...but excited to try my first X cruise on an amazing itinerary...Ireland, Iceland & Scotland on the Eclipse....I don't considering this jumping ship at all...just going to expand a bit.

[DENIE]

We've been on several cruises and tried NCL, Holland America, Carnival, and MSC. Would do HAL and MSC again, but we booked a second cruise in 11/2018 with Celebrity, on the Silhouette. After our first cruise on the Infinity, we think we found a "home". The food was delicious in the MDR (did not do specialty dining), and the "vibe" fit us to a T. Loved the Martini Bar!!!:)

[Johnamac123]

I made a real "leap of faith". Traded a 7 day Western on Allure for a 9 day Southern and Caymans cruise on Edge. So many unknowns on Edge right now, but, how bad could it be??? It really looks awesome....