1st and probably last time on Royal

[Tatka]

Wow, that cabin is definitely more modern than most of my Royal cabins.  Although I only see 1 wardrobe... that could be tough (or I need to pack less / share better).
 
Everybody seriously gets to use the T-pool on Celebrity?  That's an important distinction.  I was surprised to hear the O.P. say that Royal was priced higher than Celeb, because I've always seen the opposite, which is why I haven't been on Celeb yet.  But maybe i should be comparing the price of a spa room on NCL/Carnival to a regular cabin on Celebrity.

There was enough space for clothing. Maybe my pictures don’t do judgement.

T-pool is for everyone adult. It’s only on this size, larger ships have regular (still very nice!) indoor pool.
This class of Celebrity is called Millennium with Millennium and Summit already underwent “Revolutionary” upgrade and Infinity & Constellations are waiting. I don’t remember exact schedule.
All four had T pools from the beginning. They are amazing.

There are many smaller nice touches. Like ... when I went to gym there were head phones for everybody to use. Towels near pools are placed on loungers for guests to use. On next class of ships Solstice (we sailed on Silhouette) all loungers around the ship were padded.

If you are a Diamond Celebrity will match status so you will be an Elite, and Celebrity also has nice benefits.

[Tatka]

What I’m going to say is not to convince you to sail specifically on Royal again. It’s to convince you to give ANY cruise line more than one try before deciding that it’s not for you. 
 
My experience with Royal has ranged from the enormous Allure of the Seas down to the baby of the fleet, Empress of the Seas. And the experience has varied wildly from cruise to cruise, all with some superlatives as well as some negatives. But it has taken me a few cruises to get a much better picture of what Royal has to offer.
 
I have tried other cruise lines which I was ready to write off after one cruise, most notably MSC and Carnival. On both of these cruise lines my first experience was mediocre at best. On MSC in particular, I decided to give them a second shot in the Mediterranean on a brand new ship, and my perspective changed completely. They went from mediocre to one of my favorite cruise lines. Go figure.
 
I’m not guaranteeing that you’ll like Royal if you give it another try, but do yourself a favor and don’t dismiss them just after one cruise. Try a different class of ship, different destination, etc and see what happens! 
 
Enjoy! 

Were you able to like Carnival?
We gave up on them completely after 3 tries (would be 2, but 3rd was pure convenience of home port and time restrictions). Just complete mismatch!
MSC we like first time on Poesia even more than Divina. It was just more authentic Italian.

[Tapi]

36 minutes ago, Tatka said:

Were you able to like Carnival?

 

I did, but it took me 6 years to gather enough courage to try them again after a really bad cruise #1. For the second one we sailed on the (brand new at the time) Carnival Destiny. She was the first ship to break the 100,000 ton mark and we were mesmerized by her size. We had a very enjoyable cruise to Canada/New England which was a new destination for us. It was also the first time we’d ever experienced a balcony stateroom. So all those elements combined plotted to deliver a great cruise experience.

 

After that, I continued sailing on them for about 5-6 years. Some were great cruises, some I’d rather forget completely. But ultimately, I felt like I was ready for something else. They were a great choice for an inexpensive and unpretentious cruise experience during my 20’s and early 30’s when I was more interested in price over the quality of the product, but once my priorities started changing, I made the decision to branch out, and try new cruise lines and destinations. Now I don’t stick to one specific cruise line, and I make it a point not to repeat the same cruise line two times in a row. 

Edited November 5, 2019 by Tapi

[cured]

Isn't Celebrity to Royal Caribbean like Honda's Acura or Toyota's Lexus? Same company but different lines. Most everything is the same, but one has a few more luxury touches?

 

RCI still gets your money whether you sail Celebrity or Royal Caribbean 🙂

[davekathy]

1 hour ago, styxfire said:

Wow, that cabin is definitely more modern than most of my Royal cabins.  Although I only see 1 wardrobe... that could be tough (or I need to pack less / share better).

 

Everybody seriously gets to use the T-pool on Celebrity?  That's an important distinction.  I was surprised to hear the O.P. say that Royal was priced higher than Celeb, because I've always seen the opposite, which is why I haven't been on Celeb yet.  But maybe i should be comparing the price of a spa room on NCL/Carnival to a regular cabin on Celebrity.

It's a double. Plenty of hanging space and drawers in the closet and throughout the stateroom for two. We did 14 nights on the Summit and my wife is an over packer for both of us. 

[shopaholic6]

12 hours ago, italia103 said:

We are long-time Celebrity cruisers who recently took a seven-night Med cruise on Brilliance of the Seas. We had been looking to try another line and Royal's itinerary and timing seemed like the right time to get them a try. Based on our experience, I don't think we'll be giving it another go.

 

First, the daily pricing was higher. We did opt for a spacious veranda cabin but it wasn't any bigger than our previous Celebrity cabins and the interior was definitely dated. They probably lost us when we walked out on our veranda for the first time.  A dirty window and plenty of rust greeted us. We knew that Brilliance was an older ship but didn't expect to see such negligence since it was supposedly refurbished in 2018. While we thought the public spaces were generally beautiful, we hated the fact that smoking was still allowed in the casino. We also had a neighboring cabin who decided the non-smoking rule didn't apply to him but the ship responded quickly when we reported it. Shows were better than on Celebrity and we actually enjoyed the mini-golf course so we found other ways to be entertained.

 

The food was okay (especially in the MDR) and we liked the cafeteria space and the way it was set up but the scrambled eggs definitely tasted weird (do they use powdered eggs on Royal???), we couldn't get a poached egg and they closed the cafeteria every day from 4 to 6, actually locking the door to get to the back of the ship. Super inconvenient. Celebrity always keeps a station or two open offering afternoon tea or snacks of some kind. The only option for any kind of food during those hours on Brilliance was in the Solarium and that was definitely lacking.

 

We were also disappointed in the service on the ship, which I had heard others rave about on these boards. Often dishes laid on our table in the cafeteria until we eventually removed them ourselves. Our stateroom attendant, while pleasant, didn't do anything over and above and looked at me as if I had two heads when I asked her about cleaning the balcony window. (She did do it, tho.) The muster drill was chaotic and disorganized and took way longer than it should have.

 

Since we are definitely not candidates for Royal's massive new ships, I'm not sure we'd be willing to try Royal again. Anybody want to try and convince me otherwise?

 

 

Will Royal pay me commission if I do? Otherwise - nope!

[JamesEM]

Celebrity was our favorite cruise line until RCL bought them out, now RCL is my favorite.

[vacationlover_mn]

We LOVE royal, newer ships, and not repeating a ship.  While we also love the mega ships (so much to do!), I wish RCI would build some new, smaller ships.  However, it seems like that won’t happen.

 

We have friends that seem similar to OP, and they really just preferred celebrity to RCI, after giving RCI a chance.  What they do now, is try some other slightly higher end lines, like HAL, and they’ve had good experiences.

 

OP- maybe try HAL or something similar?

[UKWLDCruise]

I have done it the other way round.  I usually cruise with RC but I am open to travel on other lines if they are going where I want to go.  My single cruise on Celebrity was a minor disaster with docks booked with insufficient depth water for the ship, a written apology from the captain, everything running late, the crew disorganised and final disembarking that was a joke.  It was the first cruise after a TA so perhaps I should have known better.   That was a few years ago and I am about to give Celeb a second chance, of course this cruise may be the last with the line as well if this one is as bad as my first but I am hoping for better.

[Joseph2017China]

Funny thing about ships is that they sail in salt water, and get some rust on occasion.  The salt water leaves a film on windows also.  Kind of think that is part of the charm of sailing.  I pick ships based on where they are going because I like to travel around the world.  I like RCCL because they give me those options.  I don't care about the size of rooms, but I do care about entertainment and activities.  I love the bigger ships.  But accept the smaller, older ships if they take me to places I want to see.  When I go to the Caribbean, I pick the ships that offer the most entertainment because the ship becomes the destination.  For Europe, and Asia, the ship is the transportation, and the ports are the destination. 

[MacMarauder]

From the title I assumed this would be a really horrible or dramatic situation.  However it sounds like the OP had a pretty typical cruise just a bit underwhelming.  I don't think there is any need to convince OP to sail Royal again, plenty of cruise lines out there.  My wife and I had a great time on Celebrity and probably would still cruise with them if we didn't have small kids!  

[GEORGIEGIRL]

I would suggest that you keep cruising with Celebrity. IMHO it is heads and tails different from Royal (I am D+). I personally

like both cruiselines for completely different reasons. They both have something to offer their clientele, which are completely different demographics.

 

I would say, try another class of ship and a different itinerary, maybe in the Caribbean that way you can a real feel for RCCL as awhole.

 

Either way, enjoy your vacations..

 

My moto is.. "The worst day of vacation is still better than the best day of work".

 

[Paulette3028]

On 11/4/2019 at 3:02 PM, italia103 said:

We are long-time Celebrity cruisers who recently took a seven-night Med cruise on Brilliance of the Seas. We had been looking to try another line and Royal's itinerary and timing seemed like the right time to get them a try. Based on our experience, I don't think we'll be giving it another go.

 

First, the daily pricing was higher. We did opt for a spacious veranda cabin but it wasn't any bigger than our previous Celebrity cabins and the interior was definitely dated. They probably lost us when we walked out on our veranda for the first time.  A dirty window and plenty of rust greeted us. We knew that Brilliance was an older ship but didn't expect to see such negligence since it was supposedly refurbished in 2018. While we thought the public spaces were generally beautiful, we hated the fact that smoking was still allowed in the casino. We also had a neighboring cabin who decided the non-smoking rule didn't apply to him but the ship responded quickly when we reported it. Shows were better than on Celebrity and we actually enjoyed the mini-golf course so we found other ways to be entertained.

 

The food was okay (especially in the MDR) and we liked the cafeteria space and the way it was set up but the scrambled eggs definitely tasted weird (do they use powdered eggs on Royal???), we couldn't get a poached egg and they closed the cafeteria every day from 4 to 6, actually locking the door to get to the back of the ship. Super inconvenient. Celebrity always keeps a station or two open offering afternoon tea or snacks of some kind. The only option for any kind of food during those hours on Brilliance was in the Solarium and that was definitely lacking.

 

We were also disappointed in the service on the ship, which I had heard others rave about on these boards. Often dishes laid on our table in the cafeteria until we eventually removed them ourselves. Our stateroom attendant, while pleasant, didn't do anything over and above and looked at me as if I had two heads when I asked her about cleaning the balcony window. (She did do it, tho.) The muster drill was chaotic and disorganized and took way longer than it should have.

 

Since we are definitely not candidates for Royal's massive new ships, I'm not sure we'd be willing to try Royal again. Anybody want to try and convince me otherwise?

 

 

DH and I have sailed 28 times on Royal....from their small ships to their mega ships....our first Celebrity cruise will be when we do the Panama Canal crossing next November.  Friends of ours who love Celebrity over Royal have warned me that I may be disappointed in the entertainment on the Celebrity sailing we are taking since it isn't of the caliber we have had on Royal.  However, not all of the ships we have sailed on Royal have had Broadway like shows, so I am sure that we will find the entertainment 'entertaining enough'.  Food is always very subjective and on that topic, DH and I are not difficult to please.    I read what you have provided with interest, yet also with a grain of salt.  I plan on going on the Celebrity cruise, as if it were my very first cruise ever.....and believe me, I can do that.  Everytime I walk on to a ship, I keep an open mind and just seek FUN.  It isn't a comparison competition.   No, I have no intention of trying to convince you of anything....just sharing.

[vacationlover_mn]

Paula- Our good friends love Celebrity!  I am sure you will like it 🙂. Older crowd, less entertainment, but a step up in rooms, food, and service.  Looking forward to your review 🙂

[twangster]

Nothing wrong with preferring one line over another.   I stopped trying to convince people to sail or stay with Royal because it doesn't serve me any purpose to.  If demand goes up, so will prices.  If people don't like it, so be it.  There is nothing wrong with trying something and deciding the grass was greener where you came from.  We are different, what "floats our boat" (ship) will vary. Perfectly okay.

 

Celebrity has a smaller fleet.  Royal makes more revenue with it's newer ships (for the most part) so that is where it is sinking it's refreshment budget.  With fewer ships Celebrity not only can put money towards the M class but they have to - that is a good percentage of their fleet and total berths.  

 

Sailing M class until this year would have yielded many of the same observations.  Celebrity is halfway through addressing that.  

[George C]

We loved our aft grand suite on Europe cruise 3 years ago would be happy to book brilliance again, as for celebrity we had a celebrity suite on infinity earlier this year and it was following apart , large panel in bedroom separated from wall exposing wires , tile in bathroom looked like a 5 year old fixed it. But we still had a great cruise love there suite perks. 

[mayleeman]

Hmmm, dislike Celbrity all you want, but I booked a veranda with 2 perks on the Equinox on Tuesday evening, called last night when a mock booking showed it at $300 cheaper which they gave to me with no problem, and just now got it changed to 4 perks and another $186 off. None of the "new customers only" stuff you see on sales from places like Spectrum or Verizon. Total value of the lower price and higher perks is a reduction of almost a third of what we would have paid (with post-booking charges for bev pkg upgrade & internet) only 42 hours ago.

 

Patience might give you a different perspective in the long run!

 

[Mr305]

I've mostly cruise Carnival and recently tried Royal, Mariner of The Seas and Rhapsody of The Seas.  Found the MDR food to be boring and very repetitive, had better luck with Windjammer.  While on Mariner, decided to give the Steakhouse a try, it's definitely nowhere near what Carnival offers.  What finally sealed the deal for me was, seeing our waiter step out to the Windjammer to grab our dessert.

 

Shows were also a disappointment on both ships, guessing the Oasis class is a different story.  Carnival has done a good job of improving their entertainment, enjoyed all shows aboard Vista and Horizon as well as the Breeze.  Plan to try Celebrity next, leaving the kids at home to enjoy some adult time, looking at the Edge.  NCL is another cruise line that we plan on trying, like Royal, they tend to nickel and dime you for a lot of things.  Found Royal to be pricey for what they offer, at least on the two ships I've been on.

 

With regards to the earlier rust comments, I had to laugh.  The two times I've booked a cruise via Royal's sales department, their agents have ragged on Carnival and labeled their ships as rust buckets.  The funny thing is, I boarded Mariner shortly after its $125 million dollar refurbishment and my balcony was full of rust.  Rhapsody was no better and the way I see it, it's going to happen, its steel at sea.

 

Would like to try an Oasis class ship one day but they need to get their pricing under control, for what they are charging, it should be an all inclusive cruise.  At least give credit to NCL, they charge a premium but it is mostly all inclusive.

Edited November 7, 2019 by Mr305

[davekathy]

We would never book or not book a cruise line, ship or itinerary based on someones negative or positive opinions or experiences.  

[The Fun Researcher]

If you prefer the really small ships like the Brilliance then Celebrity may be your best bet.  If you also like the size of the Solstice class then I would try a Voyager or Freedom class ship on Royal.  They feel comparable in size hto me and have the wonderful huge inside promenade and lots of open views to the sea.  For us they are the sweet spot between mega ship and small ship.

 

Dan

[Miss Vickie]

On 11/4/2019 at 3:02 PM, italia103 said:

We are long-time Celebrity cruisers who recently took a seven-night Med cruise on Brilliance of the Seas. We had been looking to try another line and Royal's itinerary and timing seemed like the right time to get them a try. Based on our experience, I don't think we'll be giving it another go.

 

First, the daily pricing was higher. We did opt for a spacious veranda cabin but it wasn't any bigger than our previous Celebrity cabins and the interior was definitely dated. They probably lost us when we walked out on our veranda for the first time.  A dirty window and plenty of rust greeted us. We knew that Brilliance was an older ship but didn't expect to see such negligence since it was supposedly refurbished in 2018. While we thought the public spaces were generally beautiful, we hated the fact that smoking was still allowed in the casino. We also had a neighboring cabin who decided the non-smoking rule didn't apply to him but the ship responded quickly when we reported it. Shows were better than on Celebrity and we actually enjoyed the mini-golf course so we found other ways to be entertained.

 

The food was okay (especially in the MDR) and we liked the cafeteria space and the way it was set up but the scrambled eggs definitely tasted weird (do they use powdered eggs on Royal???), we couldn't get a poached egg and they closed the cafeteria every day from 4 to 6, actually locking the door to get to the back of the ship. Super inconvenient. Celebrity always keeps a station or two open offering afternoon tea or snacks of some kind. The only option for any kind of food during those hours on Brilliance was in the Solarium and that was definitely lacking.

 

We were also disappointed in the service on the ship, which I had heard others rave about on these boards. Often dishes laid on our table in the cafeteria until we eventually removed them ourselves. Our stateroom attendant, while pleasant, didn't do anything over and above and looked at me as if I had two heads when I asked her about cleaning the balcony window. (She did do it, tho.) The muster drill was chaotic and disorganized and took way longer than it should have.

 

Since we are definitely not candidates for Royal's massive new ships, I'm not sure we'd be willing to try Royal again. Anybody want to try and convince me otherwise?

 

 

We tried Celebrity first in 2009, on Summit.  And hated it.  It didn't look anywhere near as well maintained as what we were used to on Royal, there were rust spots on our balcony, many areas of the ship weren't well maintained, there was a slop bucket with dirty water and cigarette butts sitting on the promenade walkway all the time, our neighbors smoked on their balcony (and they were supposed to be nonsmoking), and we were under the Sunset Bar, and had to endure cigarette and cigar smoke and detritus on our spacious balcony, the concierge cabin was smaller than the D1 aft balcony cabins on the Radiance class ships we were used to, found the entertainment boring (and we aren't partiers), we didn't like the food in the MDR,  or the set up of the Ocean View cafe, we found the crew unfriendly, and felt like we were being chased off the ship on our last full day, when our steward took that sea day to remove things they were afraid we'd pack, took our flowers but left the dirty water, took the bowl holding fruit and left the fruit sitting on the table..., took any spare hangers out of the closet, including a padded hanger which belonged to my sister, which was for the dress she was wearing at the time.  There were soft squishy spots in the dining room floor, that could have broken an ankle.  We didn't think we'd ever be back to Celebrity.  And we got absolutely slammed on the Celebrity boards when we reported our experience. 

 

Flash forward to 2016.  We decided to give Summit another chance for the itinerary, and while we were on Jewel of the Seas booked Summit for January 2017.  The cruise got chartered out from under us and we ended up on Equinox instead.  And loved it.  Since then we've cruised on Silhouette, Eclipse and will be back on Summit in February, 2 refurbs after our initial experience on her.  We've been back on Jewel in that time, too, and found that at this point we're happier on Celebrity.  But for the right itinerary and price, we'd be happy to book a Voyager or smaller ship (we don't want to do the larger ships either).

 

I'm not doubting your experience.  We've been on all the Radiance class ships, with the exception of Brilliance, multiple times.  But things change, and I wouldn't say now you'd never give it another try.

Edited November 7, 2019 by Miss Vickie

[Iamcruzin]

While I’m not one to look for rust on a vessel that is stationed in sea water 24/7 all year round I will agree with the lack of service. We experienced the same from both our room attendant and in the MDR on our Anthem cruise. I will also comment that the buffet on our Summit cruise was the worst experience in 30yrs of cruising. With that said, I would sail on both those ships again. I have found by bouncing around that there is no longer a 100% perfect experience on any line we sail.

[okgladmom]

Interesting things that bothered you. I think you should probably stick to Celebrity.