Experiences on Celebrity with kids - we've only cruised DCL.

[Flip flops in winter]

For those of you avid Disney Cruisers who have also sailed Celebrity with kids, I'd love to hear your thoughts on your experience (especially at-sea days & the kids' clubs). We would love to be able to see the Panama Canal. We are DCL loyalists, have been on all the ships, but Celebrity offers more PC dates (when kids are out of school!), and is just so much cheaper - even at Concierge level. Oh and the most compelling point for me is that we can embark from Ft. Lauderdale (we live in FL so that means no airfare). For a family of 5, airfare anywhere is quite a hit to the wallet. Plus, with 3 kids, flying is incredibly stressful. However, I'm concerned that having 5 sea days on a Celebrity ship will be boring for the kids. DH and I are worn out, we would love to veg with 5 sea days but the awesome thing about DCL is that the ship, etc entertains them for us. Please share your experiences on Celebrity with kids; good and bad. Thinking about the Beyond in particular. Thank you in advance!

 

[o&smom]

Following along, we are doing our 3rd PC cruise with Disney this October. Kids are now 12 and 19, so we are starting to have eyes for other options. Still want something that everyone will enjoy.

 

[hrhdhd]

I have not traveled Celebrity with kids, but note that "Concierge" on Celebrity means . . . not much. You get lunch in the MDR on boarding day and access to a Concierge, and that's about it. Suite level is called The Retreat on Celebrity. You might want to save some money and just get a regular veranda.

 

[DCLMP]

I read they also have a 18-20 group. I’m looking at them for next Summer because they are one of a few cruise lines sailing to the Baltic.

I believe I can book the cruise while on Royal and get the reduced deposit and OBC. That’s according to cruise critic. Does anyone have experience with this.

 

[Flip flops in winter]

I have not traveled Celebrity with kids, but note that "Concierge" on Celebrity means . . . not much. You get lunch in the MDR on boarding day and access to a Concierge, and that's about it. Suite level is called The Retreat on Celebrity. You might want to save some money and just get a regular veranda.

Thank you, this is very helpful!

 

[DCLMP]

Thank you, this is very helpful!

If kids are out of school there should be an active kids club. Maybe not Disney level crazy, but there will probably be a few kids onboard.
I didn’t know any cruise lines did PC in the Summer that’s good to know.

 

[soniam]

We have done Celebrity but not with our son. Our cruise was during the school year, so there were very few, if any, kids onboard. However, I have read that the European itineraries, especially on the newer ships, have many kids. Maybe not as many as DCL though. My impression is that the kids on these tend to be older though, pre-teen to teen. I would go ask on Cruise Critic (https://boards.cruisecritic.com/). There are some people there who have sailed both.

 

[Flip flops in winter]

If kids are out of school there should be an active kids club. Maybe not Disney level crazy, but there will probably be a few kids onboard.
I didn’t know any cruise lines did PC in the Summer that’s good to know.

I should have specified when - this PC cruise in particular is over the winter holidays. I haven't seen any in the summer.

 

[Flip flops in winter]

Well, so much for that idea. I finally got around to calling Celebrity, since for a family of 5 they force you to call for room rates (limited family verandas). They don't offer them on all sailings so the only suites that accommodate us start around $60k. Not exactly a savings over DCL. Adjoining rooms still come out to around $17k without extras. It's for DH's 50th and our 20th wedding anniversary so would be "worth it" but I just can't picture myself spending that for a cruise where folks are more likely to hate kids.

 

[beckicnm]

I have not traveled Celebrity with kids, but note that "Concierge" on Celebrity means . . . not much. You get lunch in the MDR on boarding day and access to a Concierge, and that's about it. Suite level is called The Retreat on Celebrity. You might want to save some money and just get a regular veranda.

You do get more Captains Club points (loyalty) for a Concierge room than a veranda. I have found a couple deals where the Concierge price was the same or less than veranda, it was nice to get the extra points.

 

[tidefan]

Well, so much for that idea. I finally got around to calling Celebrity, since for a family of 5 they force you to call for room rates (limited family verandas). They don't offer them on all sailings so the only suites that accommodate us start around $60k. Not exactly a savings over DCL. Adjoining rooms still come out to around $17k without extras. It's for DH's 50th and our 20th wedding anniversary so would be "worth it" but I just can't picture myself spending that for a cruise where folks are more likely to hate kids.

Have you considered Princess? We did the PC in December and had a great trip…

 

[Flip flops in winter]

Have you considered Princess? We did the PC in December and had a great trip…

No but I will now! Thanks!

 

[hrhdhd]

You do get more Captains Club points (loyalty) for a Concierge room than a veranda. I have found a couple deals where the Concierge price was the same or less than veranda, it was nice to get the extra points.

True, two more points per night. (I'm Elite Plus, so I don't really care about points anymore. I'll be dead before I reach Zenith.)

 

[Flip flops in winter]

Have you considered Princess? We did the PC in December and had a great trip…

Well, Princess chat was super easy and deposit was only $200 on a '24 December holidays PC, so I jumped on it. Family suite (although we are waitlisted) with all the suite perks for us was $12k. More than I want to spend but that includes gratuities and everything. For 12 nights for a family of 5 used to paying Disney prices, I kept waiting for the catch. So if anyone has feedback on Emerald Princess, I'm all ears! I really hope it doesn't suck!

 

[Marthasor]

We've sailed Celebrity with our DS and didn't find that people hate kids on Celebrity. We sailed over the holidays and there were many kids onboard - the biggest difference is the kids club is much, much smaller than DCL and they break the kids into smaller age groups so 3 year olds aren't playing with 12 year olds. The kids club also had more limited hours. Other than the kids club, there is really nothing to entertain children on a Celebrity cruise. If your kids need a lot of bells and whistles, you are probably better off looking at a more family-oriented line - Carnival, NCL, RCCL.

 

[tidefan]

Well, Princess chat was super easy and deposit was only $200 on a '24 December holidays PC, so I jumped on it. Family suite (although we are waitlisted) with all the suite perks for us was $12k. More than I want to spend but that includes gratuities and everything. For 12 nights for a family of 5 used to paying Disney prices, I kept waiting for the catch. So if anyone has feedback on Emerald Princess, I'm all ears! I really hope it doesn't suck!

Emerald Princess is a nice ship. We sailed her in 2018 to Alaska. The buffet area isn’t as huge as the newer Princess ships, but it is fine. That is a grand class, princess ship, and as such, it has an Explorers Lounge, which I think you will enjoy. Also, you’ll like the International Cafe on that ship. As an added benefit, like DCL, room service is included on Princess. In fact, with the medallions, you can order anything from room, service or drinks, or specialty coffees anywhere you are on the ship, and they will deliver them right to you.

For kids, since it’s a Holiday, there will probably be more on the ship. No waterslides/zip lines, but our daughter always enjoyed the kids areas on Princess ships.

Do you stop in Cartagena? Also, we had a really good excursion via Princess that we did this past Christmas in Panama. Went to see the Miraflores locks an old city in Panama City.

 

[hrhdhd]

So if anyone has feedback on Emerald Princess, I'm all ears! I really hope it doesn't suck!

Emerald Princess is a lovely ship, and it won't suck. I agree with tidefan's comments above, although Princess wasn't using the Medallion system when we sailed (or was testing it on newer ships). Go and have a great time.

 

[Flip flops in winter]

Emerald Princess is a nice ship. We sailed her in 2018 to Alaska. The buffet area isn’t as huge as the newer Princess ships, but it is fine. That is a grand class, princess ship, and as such, it has an Explorers Lounge, which I think you will enjoy. Also, you’ll like the International Cafe on that ship. As an added benefit, like DCL, room service is included on Princess. In fact, with the medallions, you can order anything from room, service or drinks, or specialty coffees anywhere you are on the ship, and they will deliver them right to you.

For kids, since it’s a Holiday, there will probably be more on the ship. No waterslides/zip lines, but our daughter always enjoyed the kids areas on Princess ships.

Do you stop in Cartagena? Also, we had a really good excursion via Princess that we did this past Christmas in Panama. Went to see the Miraflores locks an old city in Panama City.

Yes, Cartagena is a stop. Thanks for the excellent tips!

 

[jimmymc]

For a longer Panama Canal cruise on Celebrity, I would expect very few kids. The clubs will be open and I've heard the counselors are great, but if your kids want to meet others then they might be disappointed.