Celebrity vs Royal Caribbean: A Cruise Line Comparison

Table Of Content

• Celebrity Edge
• Celebrity Cruises: A Premium and Trendy Cruise Line
• Other factors to consider before you buy a Celebrity drink package
• Reflection Suites
• The Celebrity Cruises fleet
• What’s Included in a Celebrity Cruise?
• Celebrity Cruises Ships by Size, Age and Class (
• Alcoholic and Some Non-Alcoholic Beverages

There is now a room service charge of $9.95 per room per order, with the exception of continental breakfast which remains free of charge from 6 to 11 AM. If you do want to dine at one or more of these restaurants, reservations are highly recommended. Depending on your drinking habits, purchasing a Celebrity beverage package might be a better option than paying the a la carte pricing. The ship’s cast of singers and dancers will also feature different productions shows during the cruise. Cruisers with both early and late seating for dinner will have an opportunity to catch these performances as there are usually two showtimes each evening.

Celebrity Edge

True to their name, these rooms offer views of the ocean from windows that don't open, so although there are no in-cabin ocean breezes, there is natural light. As is implied by their name, they have no windows and no balconies for natural light or fresh air. These are stellar options for anyone on a budget or travelers who have trouble sleeping with any sort of light. Each features a selection of exclusive menu items — new American in Cosmopolitan, Mediterranean in Cyprus, French in Normandie and Italian in Tuscan — along with selections from the Celebrity Signature menu.

Celebrity Cruises: A Premium and Trendy Cruise Line

That leaves just two vessels that Celebrity typically will assign to Bermuda and Caribbean sailings. The last grouping of relatively big ships in the Celebrity fleet is the Millennium Class, made up of four significantly smaller vessels that debuted between 2000 and 2002. Eventually, the abovementioned rollouts will make the Edge Class the new core of the Celebrity fleet. For now, though, that title falls to the line's five-ship Solstice Class series.

Other factors to consider before you buy a Celebrity drink package

At night, your Celebrity cruise ship comes alive with plenty of entertainment options that won’t cost you anything. Here, there will be headliner acts such as comedians, singers, and other performers showcasing their talents. Further, guests staying in certain room categories will have the opportunity to dine in additional exclusive, complimentary restaurants on Celebrity Cruises’ ships. Luminae is exclusive for Retreat guests and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner at no additional charge for eligible guests. When we travel on a cruise vacation, we typically pay the upcharge to enjoy the spa thermal suite.

Celebrity's Solstice Class and Millennium Class ships are even smaller at around 122,000 tons and 91,000 tons, respectively. Other Celebrity Guests are pleased with the new change, as they are now receiving perks that they would have paid for regardless. Most guests state that they always purchased Internet and Beverage Packages, so the new pricing structure was a welcomed change.

The Celebrity Cruises fleet

Both the Edge Class and Solstice Class are known for ships with an inordinately large percentage of cabins that feature balconies. Celebrity is also known for one of the most innovative new cabin types in the cruise industry, the "infinite veranda" cabin. Found only on Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex, these are standard size balcony cabins with outward-facing walls that are almost entirely made of glass. The 12 main vessels in the Celebrity fleet are not nearly as big as the vessels operated by Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises — the three lines best known for giant ships.

What’s Included in a Celebrity Cruise?

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Most of these specialty restaurants on Celebrity Cruises have flat-fees, while a select few are priced a la carte. World-renowned experts, from historians to college professors and culturists, offer regional talks that vary from ship to ship and provide insight into the ports of call that you will be visiting during your trip. From water volleyball to table tennis, there are plenty of ways to burn some calories. Our sailing also had several other performances in the main theater, including a comedian and a musical act. While the app indicated that the Solarium closed at 10 p.m., it was closed at 9 p.m., and guests who were in the Solarium pool at this time were asked to leave. In addition to Oceanview and the main dining room, we also booked two excellent specialty dinners - the Tuscan Grill and Qsine (Le Petit Chef).

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When booking our Celebrity cruise, we were surprised at the lower prices relative to other cruise lines. Therefore, we opted to upgrade to the Concierge Class, for even more perks. In addition, we purchased the All Included package that includes the Classic Beverage package, gratuities, and the basic Wi-Fi package. It was nice to have almost all of our expenses covered once we were on board. Passengers staying in Aqua Class staterooms can also dine for free in Blu, an exclusive dining venue featuring healthy fare for breakfast and dinner, and free fitness classes.

Alcoholic and Some Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Sign up and score 25,000 bonus points after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening. They're not the least expensive vessels out there, but they're not pricey by any means. It's possible to find a week-long Celebrity voyage to the Caribbean or even Europe starting under $1,000 per person, not including taxes and fees — at least in the offseason. For 2022, some week-long Alaska sailings were selling for under $500 per person. Two nights a week on seven-night sailings, Celebrity upgrades the dress code to "evening chic," which is a new take on the old cruise ship formal night that is a lot less formal. The line says women should feel comfortable wearing a cocktail dress, or a skirt, pants or designer jeans with an elegant top.

This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit). There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and 3 points per dollar on dining. The spas on the Edge Class ships are also known for some of the most wide-ranging treatments found on any cruise ship.

Passengers also differ by itinerary, with three- to five-night Bahamas and seven-night Caribbean sailings attracting families and groups of friends. The line's eight- to 12-night Mediterranean itineraries draw more couples and retirees and fewer families, as well as more Europeans. (About half of passengers on Royal Caribbean's European itineraries are Europeans and travelers from outside the United States.) Alaska sailings lure multigenerational families and older cruisers.

If I want a shot of Godiva poured over my late-night ice cream, I don't really want to stop and wonder if it's included in my package. Many Celebrity cruisers have found it necessary to order their drinks specifically as "premium" beverages or to order by brand to avoid getting drinks made with the cheapest liquors. Celebrity Cruises' Classic package works for most drinkers who plan to consume several drinks each day. It will cover bottled water you can take into port with you to stay hydrated during excursions and sodas for lunch while providing for most of your beer, wine and spirits needs.

However, there is a dedicated concierge who is available to all Concierge Class cruisers. For an even bigger upgrade, Royal Suites come in at between 538 and 687 square feet with verandas measuring 72 to 195 square feet. Each has ample storage, separate lounging and sleeping quarters, and a generously sized bathroom with a shower and separate soaking tub that's perfect for relaxing after a day in port.

In addition, passengers staying in spa-focused AquaClass cabins on Celebrity ships have access to an exclusive restaurant with a spa-inspired menu called Blu (there's no per-visit charge; the cost is folded into your AquaClass fare). There's also an exclusive restaurant on Edge Class ships for passengers staying in The Retreat suites called Luminae. Celebrity ships offer a wide range of cabin categories at a variety of price points. You'll find everything from relatively low-cost, windowless "inside" cabins measuring just 181 square feet (perfect for vacationers on a tight budget) to massive, multi-room suites that are 10 times that size (and priced to match). Along with larger rooms and suites, certain cabin categories provide travelers access to exclusive dining venues and other areas of the ship, along with additional amenities. For instance, suites have access to The Retreat, while AquaClass cabins have access to the thermal suite and fitness classes.