Why should we cruise with Celebrity?
We asked Celebrity why you should cruise with them, here's what they said...
Set sail on the vacation of a lifetime aboard one of Celebrity's award-winning cruise and river ships. The luxurious fleet merges cutting-edge technology with welcoming interiors and revolutionary venues. Discover the unrivaled luxury of The Retreat®. Experience visionary spaces, like the Magic Carpet®, that are like nothing you’ve seen before. On Celebrity's ships, you’ll cruise the world's oceans and Europe's rivers while enjoying the height of style, comfort, and service throughout your journey.
What destinations are Celebrity exploring this season?
Alaska Asia Australia Baltic Canada & New England Caribbean Central America & Panama Europe More...Celebrity snapshot
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The low down on Celebrity from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...
Celebrity Cruises is a premium “modern luxury” cruise line, and more recently a river cruise line as well. Known for their stylish design, and relaxed upscale atmosphere as well as their standout newer ships like the Edge Series and their new launched river ships. Compared with mainstream lines such as Royal Caribbean and NCL, Celebrity generally feels more like a contemporary resort at sea - ideal for couples and travellers who value dining, comfort and refined service over high-energy attractions. For travellers seeking luxury, The Retreat, onboard their ocean ships, offer exclusive lounge access and elevated suite-level benefits, while “All read more Included” pricing bundles drinks and Wi-Fi for better value.
Who cruises with Celebrity?
Primarily couples and solo travellers, including food and wine connoisseurs and travellers who enjoy modern luxury settings.
What are Celebrity known for?
A half-acre real lawn at sea, Michelin-starred chef-curated dining, a large wine collection and the Magic Carpet on Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex.
Are Celebrity's fares all-inclusive?
No. Celebrity Cruises have pre-packaged their most popular amenities - Drinks and Wi-Fi which is a common addtion to the base fare.
What extras will we need to pay for, on top of the cruise fare?
Specialty dining, alcoholic and some other beverages, shore excursions, room service charges after 11pm, WiFi packages and some onboard activities require additional payment.
Are gratuities included?
Gratuities are included for Australian and New Zealand passengers. They are not included for North American passengers.
Are shore excursions included?
No except on Celebrity's expedition cruises onboard Celebrity Flora.
Is there WiFi on board?
Yes. Charges apply unless Celebrity's Drinks & WiFi All Included Package is selected
Does Celebrity have a loyalty program?
Yes. Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Azamara offer reciprocal benefits to members enrolled in their loyalty programs.
Is Celebrity a family friendly cruise-line?
Yes. Children are accepted from 6 months, or 12 months on select cruises, with dedicated programs and facilities available. Expedition ships have some service limitations.
Are any onboard activities included?
Enrichment programs such as guest lectures and some onboard classes, with art and technology classes available on select ships. Most onboard activities and entertainment are included.
Are there casinos on board your ships?
Yes, except on Celebrity Flora
Are there any onboard activities that cost extra?
Yes. Charges apply for activities such as glassblowing and mixology classes; some specialised training programs and occasional special entertainment may also cost extra.
Are there specialty restaurants on board Celebrity's ships?
Yes. Specialty restaurants are available and charges apply.
Are there dining packages for purchase?
Yes.
Are non-alcoholic beverages included?
Yes. Juice, water, tea and coffee are available at stations across the ship, with select soft drinks at meals.
Are alcoholic beverages included?
No except on Celebrity's expedition cruises onboard Celebrity Flora.
Do Celebrity sell any beverage packages?
Yes, Celebrity Cruises have pre-packaged their most popular amenities - Drinks and Wi-Fi - one price, all included.
Do Celebrity offer room service?
Yes. Available 24/7, with a late-night fee applying.
Are spa and salon services available?
Yes. Spa and salon services are available and charges apply. Celebrity Flora offers smaller spa facilities.
Are there gyms onboard Celebrity's ships?
Yes.
Are fitness classes available onboard Celebrity's ships?
Yes. Group fitness classes are included complimentary, although some specialised training programs may incur additional charges.
Do Celebrity offer personal training?
Yes. Charges apply. Not avaialble on Celebrity Flora
Are there self-service laundry facilities?
No.
Do Celebrity offer a laundry service?
Yes. Charges apply.
Recent Celebrity reviews
Thank you Grace for looking after us we would recommend Grace as a travel agent nothing was to much bother and responses to our questions were always timely.
Celebrity's most popular trips this month...
Why should we cruise with NCL?
We asked NCL why you should cruise with them, here's what they said...
No schedules. No stipulations. Just award-winning entertainment and diverse dining options from the only cruise line built for versatile vacationing. NCL's award-winning ships are designed for you to enjoy as you choose while cruising to beautiful destinations around the world. Add a wide range of superb dining options and spectacular entertainment and you'll experience your best holiday ever.
What destinations are NCL exploring this season?
Alaska Asia Australia & New Zealand Canada & New England Caribbean Central America & Panama Europe & Med Greek Islands More...NCL snapshot
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The low down on NCL from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) stands out for its relaxed “Freestyle Cruising” style - more flexibility, fewer formalities, and a resort-like onboard vibe. NCL’s Free at Sea inclusions can add strong value for travelers who want drinks, some specialty dining, Wi-Fi and shore credits bundled into their booking, helping to make their total trip costs easier to predict. If you want a cruise that feels casual, choice-rich and good-value, Norwegian is often an excellent option; if you want the most family attractions, a more traditional cruise atmosphere, or a more premium “quiet luxury” feel, competitors like Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America read more or Celebrity may be a better match.
Who cruises with NCL?
Couples, solo travellers and families; freestyle cruisers who like to holiday on their own schedule.
What are NCL known for?
Freestyle Cruising with no fixed dining times, award-winning entertainment and top-deck innovation including racetracks at sea.
Are NCL's fares all-inclusive?
No.
What extras will we need to pay for, on top of the cruise fare?
Guests need to pay for shore excursions, WiFi, specialty dining, spa and salon services, selected onboard activities, some entertainment and certain beverages and services.
Are gratuities included?
Gratuities are included for Australian and New Zealand passengers. They are not included for North American passengers.
Are shore excursions included?
No.
Is there WiFi on board?
Yes, charges apply or is included in NCL’s Free At Sea™ package.
Does NCL have a loyalty program?
No. Latitudes Rewards only.
Is NCL a family friendly cruise-line?
Yes. NCL are a popular family option with family-friendly accommodation, comprehensive youth programs and family-friendly amenities.
Are any onboard activities included?
Sports court games, outdoor pools and hot tubs, select onboard presentations, the ropes course and ziplining.
Are there casinos on board your ships?
Yes, except on Pride of America.
Are there any onboard activities that cost extra?
Specialty onboard seminars, go-kart sessions, laser tag, video arcade games and bowling incur additional charges.
Are there specialty restaurants on board NCL's ships?
Yes. Specialty restaurants are available and charges apply. Upgrade to NCL’s Free At Sea™ to add premium beverages, specialty dining, shore excursion credit and Wi-Fi.
Are there dining packages for purchase?
Yes. Upgrade to NCL’s Free At Sea™ to add specialty dining.
Are non-alcoholic beverages included?
No.
Are alcoholic beverages included?
No.
Do NCL sell any beverage packages?
Yes. Upgrade to NCL’s Free At Sea™ to add premium beverages, specialty dining, shore excursion credit and Wi-Fi.
Do NCL offer room service?
Yes. Complimentary 24/7 room service is available; charges apply for alcohol orders.
Are spa and salon services available?
Yes. Spa and salon services are available for an additional charge.
Are there gyms onboard NCL's ships?
Yes.
Are fitness classes available onboard NCL's ships?
Yes. Charges apply.
Do NCL offer personal training?
Yes. Charges apply.
Are there self-service laundry facilities?
No.
Do NCL offer a laundry service?
Yes. Charges apply.
Recent NCL reviews
I liked the variety of food at the buffet and at Indulge. Dined at Hudson twice, it was very nice, beautifully decorated, gracious service - no one ever made me feel uncomfortable as someone dining solo.
Shore Excursions - Belfast to the Giant’s Causeway (I was on a waitlist - which never “officially” cleared, but there were some available seats at the last minute so I got on. I’d recommend booking those excursions ASAP) Cork — ship had to skip that port of call b/c stormy weather. Halifax - I went on excursion to Peggy’s Cove - cute, very New England, enjoyed a delish lobster roll.
Service - Cabin steward was efficient, friendly, helpful. Staff at dining establishments also very nice. Buffet got crowded but seating could always be found in the Palomar. Some of the staff for booking excursions or dealing with wi-fi were somewhat disorganized so definitely follow-up on questions or issues.
Downside: Ehe upselling! Starting from when I booked, all through the cruise. e.g. I missed getting daily itineraries and notices on paper delivered to my cabin - encouraged to always check on-line, but that wasn’t always up to date. Yes, it saves paper, but somehow the promos for pricey spa services and “art” auctions etc *were* delivered on paper to the cabin. I could barely hear announcements from the Captain but the announcements from the cruise director about opportunities to buy buy buy were always loud and clear. A friend had sent me a gift for the cruise — a 12-pack of bottled (actually canned) water, which I never received. And then it took weeks to get a refund (alto NCL reps kept calling back — to try and sell her a cruise). The nickel-and-dime-ing is annoying, but it’s probably the same on many other cruise lines.
Overall, I’ve learned to ignore the upselling, and enjoyed the cruise. I’d do it again (if the price hadn’t tripled since last year). There is an active FB group for NCL passengers, lots of reviews pros/cons there.
The $450 for the Internet cafe was expensive and the cheap, food and beverage package at $900 American dollars was outrageous - but at least it saved us the compulsory tip of 20% on every drink purchased.. The food on the ship was plentiful and filling but nothing special and the specialty restaurants at an additional cover charge of $120 American for the one specialty we took, was overpriced and over valued. And $610 USD for simple medical services that in Australia would've cost about $30 was a rip off and a packet of common antibiotics which in Australia would cost $24, was on the ship, $240 that is 8 USD s a pill!
And the crowning disappointment was with the one shore excursion we decided to buy from Norwegian. Immediately we paid for it my knee gave way making it impossible to do the walking on that tour, but there was no chance of getting a refund, - so that was another $140 American wasted. The cruz director and his deputy were absolutely hopeless and at the morning television presentation they told us little about what we should be doing that day but comprised mainly banal chatter between the two of them that we only watched once because we couldn't believe how bad it was. We saw mention of a turndown Service which never occurred in our mini suite, and the movies offered were awful.
But on the positive note, their tender operations were better than other lines, and nearly all of their wait staff were helpful and friendly although some had very little understanding of English. The couple of production shows were very ordinary and most of the entertainment seemed to consist of single or duo artists, or the cruz director interviewing and embarrassing guests, or yet another Trivia, which of course would cost the cruz company next to nothing! We would only cruise Norwegian again if it was the only ship going where we wanted to go at the time we wanted.
NCL's most popular trips this month...
The Verdict - Celebrity Cruises vs Norwegian Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) both operate large, modern ships, but the experience is quite different. Celebrity sits in the premium market, with a more refined atmosphere, sophisticated dining and contemporary design, while NCL is more casual and energetic, with its Freestyle Cruising approach, extensive entertainment and some of the biggest onboard attractions at sea.
Which ships will suit me best?
Celebrity’s ships have a polished, contemporary feel, with innovations such as the Lawn Club on Solstice Class ships and the Magic Carpet on its newer Edge Series. NCL’s larger fleet offers a broader mix of ships and generally more action, with features across its newer vessels including racetracks, waterslides, Aqua Slidecoasters, ropes courses and extensive outdoor dining and entertainment areas. NCL is also the more casual of the two, with no requirement to dress up, while Celebrity generally follows a Smart Casual dress code with one or two optional Evening Chic nights. Families are well catered for by both, although we’d say NCL has more to offer those looking for big-ticket family attractions, while Celebrity tends to suit couples and adults looking for a slightly more relaxed onboard experience.
Celebrity focuses more on dining, NCL on entertainment
Both offer plenty of complimentary and specialty dining, but Celebrity places more emphasis on the overall culinary experience, with sophisticated restaurants and exclusive venues such as Blu for AquaClass guests and Luminae for those staying in The Retreat. NCL generally offers more dining venues and the freedom to eat when and where you like, which is central to its Freestyle Cruising concept. Entertainment is a particular strength for NCL, with large-scale productions, tribute shows, live music, comedy and plenty happening around the ship, while Celebrity offers theatre productions, live music, guest entertainers and enrichment in a generally more subdued setting.
Which offers better value?
Both lines offer a lower-priced cruise-only fare and options to bundle popular extras. Celebrity’s All Included fare adds a Classic Drinks Package and Basic Wi-Fi, while Australian and New Zealand guests can upgrade to NCL’s Free at Sea package for a daily charge, currently including premium beverages, specialty dining, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credits. Which offers better value really comes down to what you’ll use onboard, so we’d compare the upgraded fares rather than simply looking at the headline cruise price.
Which has the better itineraries?
Both have extensive cruise programs across Europe, Alaska, the Caribbean, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and beyond. NCL has the larger fleet and therefore plenty of departure dates and itineraries to choose from, while its Pride of America cruises are particularly unique, sailing round trip from Honolulu and visiting multiple Hawaiian islands without having to cross the Pacific. Celebrity places more emphasis on longer stays and destination immersion and also offers a completely different style of cruising in the Galápagos aboard the 100-guest Celebrity Flora. For most destinations there is plenty of crossover, so the choice may ultimately come down to the ship and onboard experience you prefer.
