DCL vs Celebrity

[Lthouseprincess]

we have sailed DCL 4 times and are trying Celebrity. Has anyone sailed both. What are the pro's and cons.... Tell me before I pay

 

[rundogrun]

We've done Disney twice and Celebrity three times (most recent this past Feb on Millenium). We're heading back out on Disney in two weeks.

As always, it boils down to how much of a premium you're willing to pay for the "Disney" touches, i.e. characters, themed pools, etc.

Disney service is good, but we've always felt that Celebrity was better - escorts to your room upon boarding, staff in the buffet to carry your trays, little extras like these. Food is much better on Celebrity as well, although not quite as good as it was a few years ago.

Staterooms on both are nice...you can get a better category on Celebrity for the same price. Disney does have the extra half bath if that matters. If you're booking suites, the amenities on Celebrity (butler service, etc.) are far superior at that level.

I've never been to Celebrity's private island...in fact they cut it out of the itinerary right before our cruise last February. In any case, I can't imagine it would be as nice as Castaway Cay. Here Disney clearly shines.

Kids programs are comparable, although you'll find fewer kids on Celebrity. My 4 yo and 6 yo loved the Shipmates program and would have stayed in there all day if we would have let them.

Either way, you get a first rate cruise. But in my overall opinion, I'd give the edge to Celebrity, based on price alone.

 

[Lthouseprincess]

Thanks!! You are making me feel much better! I would cruise disney again if it wasn't for the fact that this time we are brining my mom and that is pretty expensive for the 3 and fourth passanger.

 

[DISNEYWORLDBORN2SHOP]

We cruised Celebrity in 2000. We thought the dining room food on Celebrity was better than DCL but the junk food (chicken nuggets, pizza, etc.) on DCL was better than Celebrity. We also found the availability of food other than dining times to be far superior on DCL. The Magic was far more beautiful than the Galaxy. DCL we boarded and disembarked at a beautiful terminal in Port CAnaveral. Celebrity we boarded and disembarded at a tent in San Juan. We had an oceanview room on Celebrity and a verandan on DCL so I can't compare those. The entertainment on both lines was very good. But, DCL wins hands down for the best overall experience.

 

[stephmarty]

We cruised on Celebrity's Galaxy in 2001 when my wife was pregnant with our first child. Then we went on Disney Magic with our daughter in 2002. Both were terrific vacations, and we're going on the Magic again in October because we love to watch our daughter get so excited with Mickey and the other characters (my wife also loves the characters). She lights up now every time she watches the DCL video (she's seen it at least 50 times now). HOWEVER, our trip on the Galaxy will go down as one of my favorite vacations of all time for these reasons:

1) very romantic, especially as we celebrated our final vacation w/o kids. There were few children and we enjoyed laying around the pool (indoor and outdoor pools). There were very few children around and a lot of couples.
2) great ports. In one 7 day cruise, we saw San Juan, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Lucia and Barbados. Great for those that love excursions, beaches and port intensive itineraries (w/DCL, the being onboard is the highlight of the cruise. w/Celebrity, ports were our favorite part).
3) the spa. My wife had the best massage ever on Celebrity--may have been because she was nearly 7 mos. pregnant and her back hurt, but she never had any more back pain the rest of her pregnancy following that massage.
4) service. DCL service is great, but they are more geared toward making sure your kids are entertained and catered to in my opinion (which is necessary. Crying kids=stressed parents). But on Celebrity, we're too were shown to our room personally and had excellent cabin service even though we were in the lowest priced inside room available. No kids, and we still got the towel animals, chocolates and other extras each night.
5) Celebrity feels more classic. The restaurant was so classy as was the rest of the ship--it really did feel like I was cruising on one of the classic old cruises of the past when everyone dressed for dinner and cruised in style. This is precisely what many people dislike about cruises, which makes DCL's more relaxed atomosphere a blessing (especially w/kids).

In summation, if I didn't have kids (and I hate to say this as hard as DCL tries to appeal to the adults w/o kids) I would prefer Celebrity just for the port selection alone. Please don't throw things at me all you Mouse-lovers!! There are many on the board who would disagree, I'm sure. Just one guy's opinion who has done both.

 

[tecdavidt]

We have cruised on DCL 5 times and Celebrity twice. The difference is simple for us, DCL with children and Celebrity for adults only. Our children would of been bored out of their minds if they went with us on the Galaxy and Millennium. Celebrity has better food in the dining rooms but I agree the junk style food is better on DCL. Celebrity has a casino on board which DCL does not. The pools were salt water and cold on the Celebrity ships. Celebrity has the wonderful Thalassotheraoy pool in their spa area, it was free on the Milli and free on the Galaxy if you were in a suite which we were. The service on Celebrity is fantastic but we were always in a suite. On DCL we have cruised in a cat. 3 once and cat. 6 four times. We are trying Princess this New Year's Eve cruise just hubby and myself. Kathy

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by stephmarty
Please don't throw things at me all you Mouse-lovers!! There are many on the board who would disagree, I'm sure. Just one guy's opinion who has done both.

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