Is Celebrity Cruise really more upscale, or is it just a clever marketing ploy to make it seem that way? The cruise line is promoted as a more luxurious option compared to its sister cruise line, Royal Caribbean, and it’s usually more expensive than mainstream options like Carnival and Norwegian Cruise lines. I recently went on my second Celebrity Cruise. I must admit that my first experience with Celebrity Cruise left me feeling underwhelmed; it didn’t quite meet my expectations of luxury. So, this time, I was hoping for a more upscale experience. Having been on over 25 cruises, I will be comparing it with my experiences on other mainstream cruise lines. In full disclosure, this is not a sponsored article. It’s my honest review.
Ambiance
I must say the ambiance on Celebrity Cruise exudes an upscale feel. The furniture feels more high-end, and the carpet is more plush. Even the little details, like the cushy and comfortable theater seats and the solid, heavy main dining room seats, contribute to an upscale and premium ambiance.
The dining room and public spaces have a stylish, contemporary design with high-end furnishings. The cabin bathroom is more spacious than most. The Lawn Club area of the cruise ship emanates a sophisticated, upscale vibe. When it comes to the public space furnishing and vibe, Celebrity Cruise feels like an upscale cruise line.
Is it Upscale Where It Matters?
While Celebrity Cruise does deliver on its marketing promise of being an upscale cruise line in terms of public space furnishing and vibe, does it deliver on what truly matters on a cruise – the food and service?
Dining Room Service
I had high expectations for a luxurious dining experience on Celebrity Cruise. It did deliver in some aspects. Celebrity Cruise is one of the few cruise lines with sommeliers in the main dining room, which sets it apart from other cruise lines. The sommelier was very attentive, helping us select the perfect wine for our dinner.
The service from the waiters and assistant waiters in the main dining room was also exceptional. However, as great as the service was, it didn’t differentiate Celebrity Cruise from other cruise lines. Even more affordable options like MSC Cruise offer a similar level of exceptional service in their main dining rooms.
One issue I found with Celebrity Cruise was the crowded dining room seating. I expected a more spacious layout for an upscale cruise line, but the seating on the Celebrity Silhouette was disappointing. The tables were packed too tightly, with minimal room in between. I’ve encountered the same overcrowding issue on cruise lines like MSC Cruises. Considering Celebrity’s more upscale positioning, this seemed like a letdown.
So, is the Celebrity Cruise Line’s main dining room experience more upscale than that of other cruise lines? Aside from having sommeliers, the Celebrity Cruise Dining Room experience is similar to that of other mainstream cruise lines.
Food
The food menu on Celebrity Cruise is what I would expect from an upscale cruise. There is a wide variety of food options. There are always 9 entrée choices during dinner, including a fish dish, a chicken dish, lamb or stew, a vegetarian dish, and steak. There is also a wide selection of starters, including Shrimp Cocktail and Escargot.
Even at the buffet, there is a diverse range of food, from Asian food to Cooked-to-Order Pasta to Meat Carving. In an attempt to cater to the healthy upscale lifestyle, there are plenty of vegetarian options. (To be honest, I find the food slightly under seasoned and bland. However, that’s a discussion for another time.)
Celebrity Cruise also offers premium dishes such as lobster, steak, and baked Alaska on special nights (although there’s no souffle).
Is it upscale enough? Perhaps. But it’s not notably different from other mainstream cruise lines. The issue is that mainstream cruise lines have set the bar quite high when it comes to what’s on the menu. For Celebrity Cruise to truly impress me as an upscale cruise, they would need to do something different, like making Caesar Salad tableside or Cherries Jubilee tableside. In my opinion, the food offerings from Celebrity Cruise line is similar to those of other mainstream cruise lines.
Buffet
I had high expectations for Celebrity Cruise line’s buffet, assuming it would be a more serene and peaceful experience. Unfortunately, it was quite the opposite. The atmosphere resembled that of busier cruise lines such as Norwegian Cruise, where finding a table is always a challenge.
I was anticipating some level of table service from the buffet staff, but it turned out to be mainly the bar staff pushing for paid drink orders. I was honestly expecting what I experienced at Princess Cruise, where the buffet staff go the extra mile and take your drinks order (even the complimentary water, juices and coffee) and deliver it to your table.
I was also expecting Celebrity Cruise buffet staff to be attentive like Princess Cruise staff, offering to help carry plates and get food for elderly guests like my mother-in-law. On our 12-night Celebrity Cruise, I hardly saw anyone assisting her except for one occasion. It seems like Celebrity’s buffet service lacks this extra level of care.
Cabin Service
An upscale cruise line should have amazing cabin service, right? However, my Celebrity Cruise cabin steward’s service was no different than what I’ve experienced on other cruise lines. I even had to request a bathroom reclean because of a persistent odor.
They did have turndown service at night, but that’s typical (even MSC cruise has turndown), and it’s what I expected from a higher end cruise line. The overall cabin service at Celebrity Cruises was standard, similar to what I’ve received from other cruise lines.
Cabin Amenities
Celebrity Cruise Line did have some upscale cabin amenities, including luxurious robes, umbrellas, and complimentary premium tote bags, which were a nice touch. In today’s world of cost-cutting, they even provided lotion and a shower cap in the bathroom, which was much appreciated.
But for me a sign of upscale hotel standards is plush towels and higher thread count sheets. If you’re expecting that from Celebrity Cruise, you’ll be disappointed. Their towels were not as thick and plush as expected, and the sheets were not noticeably softer or more luxurious compared to other mainstream cruise lines. It would have been great if they had offered upscale extras like a pillow menu to elevate the experience, but overall, it felt similar to any other cruise line.
Upscale Resort Experience
Celebrity Cruise did offer an upscale resort experience that I don’t always see at mainstream cruise lines. As promised, they catered to a more sophisticated crowd, and it shows in the little details—for example, you don’t need to sign in and out for pool towels. There aren’t too many photographers around, and there are no cheesy photo booths. Plus, there’s a smart casual dress code in place. Your mail is delivered in envelopes (even the spa and gift shop flyers).
However, there are some aspects of the upscale resort experience that I didn’t necessarily appreciate. For example, the cabin bathroom lacked a retractable clothesline and only had 2 small hooks. This seems to mimic upscale hotels like the Ritz Carlton, where guests are assumed to be too posh to do laundry in the sink. In my opinion, the absence of a retractable clothesline is a disadvantage.
Another thing that I found unappealing is the upscale pricing strategy—where everything is a bit more expensive. For example, the Celebrity Cruise laundry bag is smaller than usual, and wine bottle prices are higher than those of other cruise lines like Princess Cruise. I don’t particularly enjoy these things when staying at upscale hotels like the Ritz Carlton, and unfortunately, I noticed similar practices on Celebrity Cruise.
Is Celebrity Cruise Upscale?
Does Celebrity Cruise live up to its upscale reputation? While Celebrity Cruise does offer luxurious décor and a sophisticated atmosphere in its public spaces, it falls short in the areas that matter most to me on a cruise – the food and service. This is my second time on Celebrity Cruise, and I really wanted to have a luxurious and upscale experience with them. However, despite being marketed as such, they are similar to other popular cruise lines and don’t stand out as a more high-end option.
It seems like there’s a disparity between how Celebrity Cruise is advertised and the actual experience. It’s more comparable to mainstream cruise lines like Princess Cruise or Holland America, with a focus on attracting more adults and fewer families, but that doesn’t necessarily make it more upscale.
Would I sail on Celebrity Cruises again? Definitely. In fact, I’ve already booked an 11 night cruise with them to Italy and Croatia on Celebrity Constellation for next August. Nevertheless, if given the choice between a similar itinerary with another mainstream cruise line, I wouldn’t be willing to pay extra just to sail with Celebrity Cruise. Celebrity Cruise simply doesn’t provide enough additional value to justify paying more. Check out I’ve Been on Over 25 Cruises, Here are 17 Things I’ll Never Do on a Cruise
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