Review - Royal Loyal Tries Celebrity For First Time

[Aquahound]

How did she feel movement ways compared to RCCL ships?

 

Sorry for all the questions...heck I feel like a newbie all over again :)

 

No problem! That's how I felt before sailing. ;)

 

I felt more movement on this ship. The first few days were very smooth, but on Friday night, we had following seas that had to be 8-10 feet. I have not found this particular condition to be a big factor on Voyager Class ships, but it certainly did effect the ride on Solstice.

 

Given what I know about ships, I noticed they did not build aft stablizer fins behind the propellers like they did with Voyager and Freedom Class. I think this may be a cause for increased side to side movement.

 

That being said, it was not that bad. It was not to the degree of making people sick.

[BillOh]

Thanks for posting this, I've been considering something similar.

[BillOh]

In case I missed it, what was your port itinerary?

[Aquahound]

In case I missed it, what was your port itinerary?

 

It was supposed to be:

 

1. At Sea

2. San Juan

3. St. Martin

4. Tortola

5. Labadee

6. At Sea

7. Ft. Lauderdale

 

Due to a medical emergency after Tortola, we had to meet up with USCG in San Juan. This caused us to miss Labadee. On Saturday, we went to Nassau.

 

By the way, Tortola is now one of my favorite stops. The island was beautiful.

[ken_nyc]

Great review and fantastic photos! Thanks!

[BillOh]

It was supposed to be:

 

1. At Sea

2. San Juan

3. St. Martin

4. Tortola

5. Labadee

6. At Sea

7. Ft. Lauderdale

 

.

 

Thanks, one prime reason to do what you did might be to see new places. Our next cruise may be some of the ports served by RCI in the southern Caribbean. 3 and 4 would be new to me, I wouldn't mind seeing Labadee again.

[Ocean Boy]

I, too, thank you for this thread and your posts. We started our cruising "careers" with Celebrity and then moved to RCI. You make a return sound very tempting.

 

I think my biggest concern would be the formal dress code applying to the entire ship for the entire evening. Did you find that most people observed this or were there many that changed after dinner as happens on RCI? And I still can't figure out why Celebrity charges for casual dining in the evening. I am not sure that I could get my family to return to evening dining rooms. We much prefer eating in the Windjammer.

[Aquahound]

I think my biggest concern would be the formal dress code applying to the entire ship for the entire evening. Did you find that most people observed this or were there many that changed after dinner as happens on RCI? And I still can't figure out why Celebrity charges for casual dining in the evening. I am not sure that I could get my family to return to evening dining rooms. We much prefer eating in the Windjammer.

 

After dinner, most people stayed in their formal wear through the show. However, like on RCI, many people did change. This was not an enforced dress code.

 

Casual dining charge? :confused: I didn't eat dinner in the Oceanview Cafe, but I never heard anything about a charge.

[martini4me]

Thanks for the review, Paul. I just asked this question in another thread, before I saw this one. Do you know if they charge extra for some of the fitness classes in the gym? And if you were going to rate Celebrity (although I realize it's only one ship) against RC on food/room/show/service/public areas/etc., which would you prefer for each?

[Aquahound]

Thanks for the review, Paul. I just asked this question in another thread, before I saw this one. Do you know if they charge extra for some of the fitness classes in the gym? And if you were going to rate Celebrity (although I realize it's only one ship) against RC on food/room/show/service/public areas/etc., which would you prefer for each?

 

No, sorry, I did not use the gym and do not know if the classes had a charge.

 

As for comparison....I will compare just Solstice since this was my only Celebrity experience:

 

Food - Definite nod to Solstice.

Room - Design and furnishings go to Solstice, Storage space goes to RCI, Veranda goes to Solstice.

Shows - Even. However, there was nothing to compare with Quest!

Service - Without a doubt, Solstice.

Public Areas - Solstice was absolutely beautiful and very easy on the eyes. The public areas were very comfortable. But I have to give the nod to RCI because of their "wow" factor. However, Solstice did not allow smoking anywhere on the interior of the ship. This made the casino much more pleasant than RCI.

[cinnamon]

After dinner, most people stayed in their formal wear through the show. However, like on RCI, many people did change. This was not an enforced dress code.

 

Casual dining charge? :confused: I didn't eat dinner in the Oceanview Cafe, but I never heard anything about a charge.

 

On Constellation last year there was a $2.00 per person charge to cover the gratuitiy for the staff. They used the venue to train the new waiters and assistants. They were eager to please and having quiet dinners right by the window on light evenings in May was a joy. It also enabled us to eat at a different time from the second seating when we had a very early excursion the next day. It is a feature we will miss on Serenade next month as an alternative to the MDR.

[English Jane]

Great review - thanks for taking the trouble - and for answering questions, now I have another for you ...

 

I would love to know some more about the enrichment please?

[Ocean Boy]

On Constellation last year there was a $2.00 per person charge to cover the gratuitiy for the staff. They used the venue to train the new waiters and assistants. They were eager to please and having quiet dinners right by the window on light evenings in May was a joy. It also enabled us to eat at a different time from the second seating when we had a very early excursion the next day. It is a feature we will miss on Serenade next month as an alternative to the MDR.

 

Why would you miss it on Serenade? We ate every dinner in the Windjammer when we were aboard that ship. The food was very good and the atmosphere was excellent as was the wait staff that was in there. They, too, were very eager to please. And, there is no extra charge.

[Aquahound]

I would love to know some more about the enrichment please?

 

There were two week-long enrichment seminars that each consisted of 3 or 4 sessions. One was by a Dr. Fred Broder, author of "Does Your Life Need A Laxative?" His speeches were very motivational.

 

The second was an expert in CSI work. She lectured on the differences between Hollywood and reality, educated on the subject, and even played a game, "Can You Be a CSI?"

[hcat]

On Constellation last year there was a $2.00 per person charge to cover the gratuitiy for the staff. They used the venue to train the new waiters and assistants. They were eager to please and having quiet dinners right by the window on light evenings in May was a joy. It also enabled us to eat at a different time from the second seating when we had a very early excursion the next day. It is a feature we will miss on Serenade next month as an alternative to the MDR.

 

There's no charge for the buffet at night on Solstice. It is a fairly limited buffet but you'd be OK for some dinners there.. It also has the Bistro that costs $5 pp & the fee based alt restaurants where dress code applies .(I think) Celebrity still encourages adherance to the suggested dress but there are fewer formal nights now--everything else is Resort Casual or better (not shorts!)...

[RicardoC]

Hey Paul,

Glad you enjoyed your cruise and what a great review! Awesome pics also! I'm sorry about you guys not making to Labadee but how was it to see the Solstice in Nassau for the first time?

[Aquahound]

Hey Paul,

Glad you enjoyed your cruise and what a great review! Awesome pics also! I'm sorry about you guys not making to Labadee but how was it to see the Solstice in Nassau for the first time?

 

Ricardo, I am not a huge fan of Nassau. In fact, I think it sucks. One, because I have been there many times and two, there is really nothing to do other than tour Atlantis.

 

It was a little exciting knowing that we were the first to ever sail Solstice into Nassau. What was more fun was watching the excited crew members run off the ship to see old friends serving on the Celebrity Constellation, which was also in port. Apparently, two Celebrity ships in port is not a common thing.

 

Another thing I enjoyed was watching the reaction of Monarch of the Seas passengers as they walked past the area where Solstice was serving cold towels and had palm trees set up. :D

 

Nassau was no substitution for Labadee. Although I think RCCL is ruining Labadee, I still would have much rather gone there than Nassau.

[BroncosFan2010]

Glad to hear you liked it, I cannot wait to try Celebrity!

[julesbeara]

This has been a very informative and interesting thread. I haven't cruised on Celebrity yet, but we are thinking about it. Is the pricing more, less, or equal to RCCL???

[uktraveller]

We have also decided to dip our toes into Celebrity waters for the first time. We are booked on Solstice next February to celebrate my 50th :eek::eek: birthday ...and having read your review and seen your photos....we really cannot wait!! Thank you.

[rolloman]

Excellent review from one of the most reliable posters on Cruise Critic. Sorry you had problems with the Elite Status. I have not had that issue but probably because I was already a Captains Club member going back to the days when you actually had to pay to join the club. I do agree as well the membership benefits are weak.

[Aquahound]

I haven't cruised on Celebrity yet, but we are thinking about it. Is the pricing more, less, or equal to RCCL???

 

I booked a category 1B veranda. I believe this would be the equivilent of an RCI D2. The booking price was $1200 pp, which isn't bad for a new ship. However, like RCI, Celebrity also honors Military, Police/Fire, and Residency discounts that they tend to apply closer to cruise time. By cruise time, my rates dropped to $749 pp!!!!

[RicardoC]

Ricardo, I am not a huge fan of Nassau. In fact, I think it sucks. One, because I have been there many times and two, there is really nothing to do other than tour Atlantis.

 

It was a little exciting knowing that we were the first to ever sail Solstice into Nassau. What was more fun was watching the excited crew members run off the ship to see old friends serving on the Celebrity Constellation, which was also in port. Apparently, two Celebrity ships in port is not a common thing.

 

Another thing I enjoyed was watching the reaction of Monarch of the Seas passengers as they walked past the area where Solstice was serving cold towels and had palm trees set up.

 

Nassau was no substitution for Labadee. Although I think RCCL is ruining Labadee, I still would have much rather gone there than Nassau.

 

 

I have to agree Nassau is not that interesting....we've also been there a couple times(maybe 3 or 4) and are comming back in Deember so might go to the water park at Atlantis for the day(never been there)....oh yeah It is awesome to see the crew meeting old friends from other ships...I've seen that with Royal Caribbean ships :) And I also enjoyed to see people from other ships to see all the Solstice amenities....in St Maarten there were 2 other ships(2 were Carnival :eek:) so It was really funny.....and the people from the ship side-by-side to the Solstice "starring" at the pool areas....HAHAHA....so funny :p:cool:

I have to disagree about Labadee....yes they are building more but it is not that many buildings and the dock does not seem to ruin the place....It seems the beaches will not be able to see the dock....not that bad...especially if you are booked to be one of the 5,000 people on the Oasis going to Labadee :rolleyes::eek:

[Aquahound]

I have to disagree about Labadee....yes they are building more but it is not that many buildings and the dock does not seem to ruin the place....It seems the beaches will not be able to see the dock....not that bad...especially if you are booked to be one of the 5,000 people on the Oasis going to Labadee :rolleyes::eek:

 

I guess what upsets me the most about Labadee is the destruction of my favorite beach; Hideaway Beach. Also, rumor has it that the pier can accomodate 2 ships. I dred the day Oasis and a Freedom Class are both there at once.

[Cruzaholic41]

Paul, I also replied on the other board, but wanted to let you know that I downloaded that one photo of the 3 cruise ships bows together in San Juan and am using it as my desktop background.. Great Photo! (among many).

 

Thanks for the great review and wonderful photos. :)