Alternative to Celebrity

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Another vote for MSC Yacht Club. I cancelled my fall cruise on Celebrity and booked Yacht Club on MSC instead. Half the price of a sky suite on Celebrity. I don't know why people say the perks are not as good on MSC. Everything is included in the Yacht Club. Plus, it is a private, self-contained area with its own pool, dining room, etc. Celebrity has nothing like it until the Edge sails. And the suite prices on the Edge are astronomical. The status match is great. You take your first cruise at their highest level of status (black) if you are Elite+ on Celebrity.

[Sailfish]

Thanks again to all of you!

 

As mentioned before we really love the S-class ships. Mostly because of the ambiance. We are not really into party boats. We like to sit in Cafe Al Bacio or outside in the Oceanview Cafe after we had gone diving on Curacao, Bonaire. St. Lucia, Grand Cayman or Costa Maya. So, the itinerary is also highly relevant. On the other hand the food is not really so important. On the S-class ships we almost always use the buffet and sit outside enjoying the warm Caribbean air.

 

The main reason why I was asking for an alternative is the worry that X will continue to increase their prices even further. And at some point it is simply enough and inacceptable. Even for us as loyal X cruisers ( we have appr. 16 cruises with them) and even if we could afford it.

 

We are booked on the Reflection this upcoming December for a 14 day cruise. For next year December we still have options on the Silhouette for their 12 and 9 days cruises (B2B). Comparing the prices on a daily basis X increased the prices by 25% from 2018 to 2019. I strongly assume (and hope) that prices will come down eventually by September 2019. If not, I will give Royal a chance (Explorer and/or Serenade). Their itineraries in December 2019 are 9/10/11 nights long with nice ports of call. Based on your valuable inputs we have already paid some deposits. The final decisions have to be made in August 2019. So, let`s see how this will turn out. Thanks again for your support!

We also are divers, though we tend to dive in Asia more, as we have a home in Thailand. We have found for us, Holland America has great dive friendly ports. Loved Grand Turk and St Vincent!

 

Also, though we are Elite with Celebrity and get free drinks, I am finding happy hour on HA a great value. No perks for us, but really enjoying Elemis toiletries, great food and of course the ports. Entertainment is not great, but on a dive cruise, we tend to not stay up too late.

 

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[Baron Barracuda]

Frank,

 

Don't know why folks keep pushing MSC's Yacht Club (or Azamara or Seabourn) if as you say price is an important consideration. Suites are not in everyone's budget.

 

Totally understand and agree with the features of S class you enjoy. We have sailed Royal's Explorer many times and believe it could be a good substitute. As a diamond member you will enjoy free specialty coffees and drinks in the diamond lounge which is on deck 14 and has a great view. They also used to have a private diamond breakfast area in the mdr. The promenade cafe is a cut below cafe al bacio, but it's good for coffee, danish and people watching. Royal's entertainment, especially the ice show, is better than X. December 2019 pricing looks attractive.

[2chiefs]

Thanks again to all of you!

 

<<<SNIP>>>We are booked on the Reflection this upcoming December for a 14 day cruise. <<<SNIP>>>

 

I believe we are on the same cruise on December 7th. I hope to meet up with you. By the looks of your screen name, it appears you are in the German Navy? My wife and I are both retired from the US Navy. Perhaps we could meet up and compare notes?

Cheers

T

[german_navy]

I believe we are on the same cruise on December 7th. I hope to meet up with you. By the looks of your screen name, it appears you are in the German Navy? My wife and I are both retired from the US Navy. Perhaps we could meet up and compare notes?

Cheers

T

 

That would be great!! We (Barbara and I) would love to meet you onboard the Reflection. And yes, my name reflects my connection to the German Navy. I am retired as well but still in the German Navy Reserve.

[german_navy]

Frank,

 

Don't know why folks keep pushing MSC's Yacht Club (or Azamara or Seabourn) if as you say price is an important consideration. Suites are not in everyone's budget.

 

Totally understand and agree with the features of S class you enjoy. We have sailed Royal's Explorer many times and believe it could be a good substitute. As a diamond member you will enjoy free specialty coffees and drinks in the diamond lounge which is on deck 14 and has a great view. They also used to have a private diamond breakfast area in the mdr. The promenade cafe is a cut below cafe al bacio, but it's good for coffee, danish and people watching. Royal's entertainment, especially the ice show, is better than X. December 2019 pricing looks attractive.

 

Thanks for your valuable input! Indeed we do not care for suites. We rather spent the money for an additional week or two in a nice veranda cabin. On S-class ships we always spent our three weeks in a SV or C1 cabin. Totally sufficient for us.

[2chiefs]

That would be great!! We (Barbara and I) would love to meet you onboard the Reflection. And yes, my name reflects my connection to the German Navy. I am retired as well but still in the German Navy Reserve.

Great! We look forward to it. See you and Barbara on board. Also, if you aren't on the roll call already, there is an active roll call going for this cruise as well. Lot's of good information being exchanged on shore excursions....

 

T

[kittyluvrnurse]

I think the OP was looking for something a little less expensive than Celebrity. I would like to try Azamara if I could find a nice deal.

 

T

 

 

 

We had a simply amazing deal for Europe in 2016, 9 nt balc Mediterranean with 1600 obc incl for 4400!! I’m hoping we strike big again one day

 

 

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[gordylad]

we quite like the look of the Grand Princess so for anyone who has cruised with Princess could you tell me:

 

if they ever have perks like bev package [they have an offer on just now but not for residents of the UK] ?

do they allow smoking around the ship [we dont like that] ?

 

do princess have an air agent like celebrities choice air?

 

Any other points you want to make as we have only cruise Celebrity - eclipse, reflection, equinox

 

Cheers

Edited September 12, 2018 by gordylad
added question

[richsea]

we quite like the look of the Grand Princess so for anyone who has cruised with Princess could you tell me:

 

if they ever have perks like bev package [they have an offer on just now but not for residents of the UK] ?

do they allow smoking around the ship [we dont like that] ?

 

do princess have an air agent like celebrities choice air?

 

Any other points you want to make as we have only cruise Celebrity - eclipse, reflection, equinox

 

Cheers

We’ve never sailed The Grand, but by and large, have found that Princess provides a very similar experience to Celebrity’s. The Grand is the oldest of their Grand class ships. Their smoking policy is not as strict as Celebrity’s, as they do have a smoking section in the casino, but it is taboo pretty much everywhere else. Like Celebrity, there is a small area poolside where it is allowed. Princess’ version of air is PrincessEZ air, but we have never used it.

We have found that service and food is comparable on both lines, while Princess has more entertainment, with more choices that are simultaneously offered.

[villauk]

we quite like the look of the Grand Princess so for anyone who has cruised with Princess could you tell me:

 

if they ever have perks like bev package [they have an offer on just now but not for residents of the UK] ?

do they allow smoking around the ship [we dont like that] ?

 

do princess have an air agent like celebrities choice air?

 

Any other points you want to make as we have only cruise Celebrity - eclipse, reflection, equinox

 

Cheers

 

See post #17 on this thread, we’ve just cruised on the Grand. See my signature for past cruise history on different ships we have sailed to give you perspective ;). As Rich stated above, they are more alike than different.

[Denny01]

For me, the alternative to Celebrity is sitting at home frumping......I guess not if you see my signature list of upcoming cruises. But I do enjoy Celebrity as my favored Line right now.

 

Den

[keithm]

For me, the alternative to Celebrity is sitting at home frumping......I guess not if you see my signature list of upcoming cruises. But I do enjoy Celebrity as my favored Line right now.

 

Den

Nothing to cry about if you're going on Crystal;)

[Cruise a holic]

I would suggest royal. Try oasis class ships. They are great for all age groups. We especially enjoy suite perks.

 

We love Celebrity but our #2 is royal

[Germancruiser]

Hello to fellow German cruisers. I was very loyal to X - and before that to RCI. I switches to Cunard or Holland America- for I felt a decline and changes with X that wasn´t any more to our liking! I would opt for the Serenade though- they may be more like the Millenium Class of X- but have stunning views and very nice public rooms. Be prepared for the food to be a bit more plain with RCI- esp. at the buffets- those I avoid anyway! The idea of the yacht club with MSC sounds rather good to me- maybe I will try that one. If you are a ship buff- ship enthusiast you may find the Queen Mary 2 to your liking!

 

Grüße

 

Michael

[Denny01]

Nothing to cry about if you're going on Crystal;)

Really looking forward to it.....And decide is the upgrade worth it. I now measure everything in ‘Cruises’, kind of like that old ad about $0.99 hamburgers - the guy would say, “that new shirt costs 25 hamburgers!! No way!”. I now measure all in cruise-costs: ‘No, don’t want that new yard fence.....that’s 3 cruises!”. So I’ll compare Crystal to Celebrity in how many Celebrity cruises I can take compared to a Crystal cruise....is it worth the reduction????

 

It's a tough life for us isn’t it. We kind of forget we are talking about taking part in something so many people can’t afford, whether it’s an Inside cabin or Top Suites, discount Cruise Line, Mainline or Premium Line?

 

Den

Edited September 13, 2018 by Denny01

[Germancruiser]

Danny- you are so right- what luxury " problems" we have. Couldn´t agree more!

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Really looking forward to it.....And decide is the upgrade worth it. I now measure everything in ‘Cruises’, kind of like that old ad about $0.99 hamburgers - the guy would say, “that new shirt costs 25 hamburgers!! No way!”. I now measure all in cruise-costs: ‘No, don’t want that new yard fence.....that’s 3 cruises!”. So I’ll compare Crystal to Celebrity in how many Celebrity cruises I can take compared to a Crystal cruise....is it worth the reduction????

 

It's a tough life for us isn’t it. We kind of forget we are talking about taking part in something so many people can’t afford, whether it’s an Inside cabin or Top Suites, discount Cruise Line, Mainline or Premium Line?

 

Den

 

What a riot. I've been measuring stuff in the cost of cruises for a long time. Just had stem cell injections in my knees. That was the cost of my fall cruise in a sky suite on Celebrity which I cancelled. Being able to walk without pain seemed like a better idea! And then I found a MUCH cheaper alternative in the Yacht Club on MSC, so that's going to be my fall cruise.

[jody75]

Don't know why folks keep pushing MSC's Yacht Club (or Azamara or Seabourn) if as you say price is an important consideration. Suites are not in everyone's budget.

If you are considering MSC Yacht Club, just check their smoking policy before you book - you may not like it !

[villauk]

What a riot. I've been measuring stuff in the cost of cruises for a long time. Just had stem cell injections in my knees. That was the cost of my fall cruise in a sky suite on Celebrity which I cancelled. Being able to walk without pain seemed like a better idea! And then I found a MUCH cheaper alternative in the Yacht Club on MSC, so that's going to be my fall cruise.

 

Yes, I’m awaiting your review :D. Hope the knees have improved?

[Denny01]

If you are considering MSC Yacht Club, just check their smoking policy before you book - you may not like it !

And what is the smoking policy? Sounds as if you know and would save us working through a ton of website documents that try not to make it clear so those bothered by extensive smoking wont go, or those that do smoke won’t understand the restrictions.

 

Please explain. I’m teaching a class on Travel and have found it difficult to pin down the various Line smoking policies and I us posts by helpful cruisecritic members to assist.

 

Den

[PROCRUISE]

Might want to just give a look at Viking Ocean cruises (excellent) and for real fun, Windstar Surf (really excellent.)

Beste Wunsche immer und gerne Kreuzfahrt!

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Yes, I’m awaiting your review :D. Hope the knees have improved?

 

Just had the injections on Wednesday, so too soon to tell. I've noticed considerably less swelling in my bad leg and my better knee is pretty much pain free. The real test will come when I'm walking around Chicago next weekend!

Will come back and report following the cruise. We sail October 13 in a Yacht Club suite with balcony. Looking forward to it!

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

If you are considering MSC Yacht Club, just check their smoking policy before you book - you may not like it !

 

According to what I understand, the only difference from Celebrity's smoking policy is that smoking is permitted in one area of the casino. Since I don't plan to spend time in the casino, that doesn't bother me.

[jakesnana]

According to what I understand, the only difference from Celebrity's smoking policy is that smoking is permitted in one area of the casino. Since I don't plan to spend time in the casino, that doesn't bother me.

 

Unless it has changed, I do not think that smoking is permitted anywhere in the casino on MSC, the same as Celebrity.