Just Back: Comparing Celebrity with DCL (long)

[tvguy]

My mom loves Celebrity, she's cruised on the Mercury twice. Based on what she has told me, it's a great cruise, but no it isn't Disney. HOWEVER, you don't pay a Disney price either. My mom paid $399 for a 7 day with an inside cabin (last year), and $699 for an 11 day for an inside cabin (this year).

 

[jgalecpa]

My mom loves Celebrity, she's cruised on the Mercury twice. Based on what she has told me, it's a great cruise, but no it isn't Disney. HOWEVER, you don't pay a Disney price either. My mom paid $399 for a 7 day with an inside cabin (last year), and $699 for an 11 day for an inside cabin (this year).

WOW!

That is a phenomenal price.

I would agree that DCL is a "You get what you pay for line".

I also think that Celebrity showed you a VERY good time. Since the rooms were paid for by my generous in-laws, I don't really have the price to compare.

Was DCL TWICE the experience than Celebrity? Absolutely not.

I'd say it was about 20% better. So if price mattered, I'd be willing to shell out only 20% more, using my standards, but really no more.

When I retire to Florida, If you could give me a celebrity cruise for $57/night, All I can say is "Bon Voyage!"

Jim

 

[wide awake]

Thanks for the X review...we want to do an Alaska cruise next year, will probably try Holland America. We should never have done DCL...even my autistic DS when I talk about a cruise, always says "Disney cruise ?"...like I'm going to pick some ratty line w/ horrible rooms, food, and service. Our first cruise was Carnival, it was fine, no problems...but obviously not up to DS's standards. I lived in Fairbanks when I was very young, 3-6, and want to see what it is like now...I remember the earthquakes and floods, the earthquake was so strong it threw me out of bed...we went outside and the earth was actually tilting...so weird, a scene you never forget...we'll be doing a land tour for that part of the trip.

 

[lookingforward]

We loved Celebrity as I stated before. I have heard that Holland America is tops in Alaska because they are the "veterans" and have rights to the best glacier bays. It seems that there are good glacier parks and AWESOME glacier parks and Holland has been there so long they have rights to all the awesome ones locked up. Also, they offer the best land tours.

The scenic train tour in Skagway is offered on all cruise lines. The price is steep (about $90 per person) and if the weather is cloudy you won't see much. BUT, if the weather is great (which it was when we went) the views are pretty inspiring. The trip takes a couple of hours so little kids will be bored. I am glad we did it. Bring snacks and drinks!

Alaska is like another planet. Lakes that have shores that act like quick sand, icebergs millions of years old, mountains and wildlife abound. In Ketchikan we rented a float plane over the misty fjords. We saw eagles, otters, bears. Our pilot landed on a lake high on a mountain and we got out to breath the air. It stays light 20 hours a day..which is a little wierd. Island Wings was the tour plane we rented, they are great.