My Celebrity comparison to DCL that nobody asked for...

[Saratoga2005]

Why only Celebrity?

We aren't only looking at Celebrity. Also considering Princess and Holland America and open to any line that has really good service.

 

[Saratoga2005]

I felt a little disappointed with some aspects of our two most recent DCL cruises too. It's strange, because I had a fantastic time in many respects, but something was a little off. It's hard for me to determine how much of it was redundancy, particularly with the food, onboard activities, and shows, and how much of it is a real decline in quality. I do think some of it is the loss of small little things over years that are now starting to have an effect bigger then their individual losses. It hasn't been anything major for us, just something that wasn't the same as past cruises. I still love DCL, but hope the next cruise, whenever it may be, is a little more like our experiences in years past. But, I do think it made me also appreciate Celebrity more. Having an entirely new ship experience, with noticeably better and diverse food, certainly helped me enjoy it.

That sounds like what we experienced. It wasn't one thing, it was a lot of little things that added up. DCL is still a good cruise line, but not as good as it was a few years ago.

 

[chamberlain]

Our experience sailing on the Celebrity Apex a year ago to the Norwegian Fjords was similar to OP’s. We have also sailed DCL 4x and RC 1x. On the Apex we enjoyed the flexibility on dining times and venues and were happy with the food quality. We were never approached to buy any dining or beverage package. There were many comfortable places around the ship to relax. The ship is beautiful but we do really enjoy the classic look of the Disney ships and missed deck 4 for relaxing. Also there were very few children on the cruise so no rowdy behavior to report.

In 2025 we have an Alaskan cruise booked on Celebrity and a Disney cruise to CC and Lookout Point. We are excited for both and so glad we branched out and tried Celebrity.

 

[John VN]

I love all the I only cruise concierge posts. I'm ecstatic when I get a deal on a balcony room. I'm not complaining I've traveled and cruised a lot to the point where it's become embarrassing. Concierges sounds amazing don't think I could ever bring myself to do it.

Once again, for VALUE in pricing AND SERVICES received.
We are one of those only cruise Concierge BUT it's because we have no overwhelming need for Disney while cruising and can go Concierge for equal TO or less than a regular Verandah.

March 10, 2025 Port Canaveral WISH Verandah, 4 night @ $4,959 - 243sq/ft or DeLuxe Family Verandah @ $5,367 - 284sq/ft

BTW - Concierge Family Verandah - $9,567 - 296sq/ft

March 9, 2025 Port Canaveral MSC Seashore Yacht Club DeLuxe Suite, 4 night @ $3,630 - 355sq/ft

 

[brentm77]

Our experience sailing on the Celebrity Apex a year ago to the Norwegian Fjords was similar to OP’s. We have also sailed DCL 4x and RC 1x. On the Apex we enjoyed the flexibility on dining times and venues and were happy with the food quality. We were never approached to buy any dining or beverage package. There were many comfortable places around the ship to relax. The ship is beautiful but we do really enjoy the classic look of the Disney ships and missed deck 4 for relaxing. Also there were very few children on the cruise so no rowdy behavior to report.

In 2025 we have an Alaskan cruise booked on Celebrity and a Disney cruise to CC and Lookout Point. We are excited for both and so glad we branched out and tried Celebrity.

I was just looking at booking the Apex for Norway next summer. How was the itinerary?

 

[DCLMP]

Once again, for VALUE in pricing AND SERVICES received.
We are one of those only cruise Concierge BUT it's because we have no overwhelming need for Disney while cruising and can go Concierge for equal TO or less than a regular Verandah.

March 10, 2025 Port Canaveral WISH Verandah, 4 night @ $4,959 - 243sq/ft or DeLuxe Family Verandah @ $5,367 - 284sq/ft

BTW - Concierge Family Verandah - $9,567 - 296sq/ft

March 9, 2025 Port Canaveral MSC Seashore Yacht Club DeLuxe Suite, 4 night @ $3,630 - 355sq/ft

I don't compare concierge prices on other cruise lines to verandah's on DCL. The point is to save money not spend the same, but that is me and you are you. I'm more interested in itinerary at this point, but again that' me.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with concierge if you have the money and that's your thing.

 

[John VN]

I don't compare concierge prices on other cruise lines to verandah's on DCL. The point is to save money not spend the same, but that is me and you are you. I'm more interested in itinerary at this point, but again that' me.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with concierge if you have the money and that's your thing.

Understand completely, I was just showing the figures that if one wanted to cruise Concierge it is possible to experience Concierge at a regular DCL Verandah price. Even if DCL drastically reduced its price for Concierge we would stay with YC

 

[chamberlain]

The Norwegian Fjords itinerary was amazing! Cruised from Rotterdam to Oslo, Geiranger, Flam, Olden, and Bergen. Disembark in Amsterdam. It was a 9 day cruise. We had an infinite balcony and it was great with the cooler climate. I may not love it as much on a warm climate cruise.

 

[mmmears]

I was just looking at booking the Apex for Norway next summer. How was the itinerary?

I was on one this summer (APEX in July) and I booked it specifically because it went to Flam, Geiranger, and Bergen. Those three were on my wish list (and non-negotiable) for our cruise to Norway, so we passed on the DCL cruise. I've sailed with DCL to Norway in the past, but we didn't stop at those ports.

 

[brentm77]

I was on one this summer (APEX in July) and I booked it specifically because it went to Flam, Geiranger, and Bergen. Those three were on my wish list (and non-negotiable) for our cruise to Norway, so we passed on the DCL cruise. I've sailed with DCL to Norway in the past, but we didn't stop at those ports.

I don't know anything about Norway ports, but it sounds like this could be a good option!

 

[mmmears]

I don't know anything about Norway ports, but it sounds like this could be a good option!

Flam and Geiranger are considered to be the most scenic of Norway's fjords.

 

[imbelle]

Flam and Geiranger are considered to be the most scenic of Norway's fjords.

Agree!

We did the DCL inaugural Norwegian Fjords cruise that embarked from Copenhagen but we flew into Oslo first. Spent a few days there seeing things like the Viking Ship Museum, Kon Tiki Museum, and Akershus. Then we took the Norway in a Nutshell tour with an overnight in Flam so that we could rent a car and see the Borgund Stave church (about an hour drive). Also hiked up to a waterfall and had "viking cuisine" dinner in a longhouse restaurant. Picked up the Norway in a Nutshell fjord cruise from Flam to Bergen. Flew from Bergen to Copenhagen. Did Tivoli, saw the Little Mermaid statue, etc, and boarded the Magic for the cruise.

The cruise from Flam to Bergen was fairy-tale beautiful and the cruise into Geiranger was impressively majestic. Norway was the top of our bucket list and it did not disappoint.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I generally like the DCL theming of the MDR's. But, they tend to cram tables together in one big room, where as the Celebrity MDR's felt smaller in a good way, with tables segregated into more divided spaces. It made for a quieter experience. It helped that there were few kids and no entertainment in the MDR's too, but I know many like the DCL dinner shows. They are just too loud for me and not what I want out of dinner most nights. Again, I will be happy to go back to DCL and enjoy the theming, but Celebrity was a nice change to add variety to cruising too.

The location did affect my opinion for sure. For example, most of the Edge's verandahs are "infinity verandahs." They were fantastic in Alaska. But they are more like a sunroom with a window that rolls down than a verandah, and climate control turns off when they are down. That would be terrible in the Caribbean. But in Alaska, they were great. First, you get floor to ceiling views that are better than a traditional balcony. Second, you can roll down the window to get the breeze and sounds from the outside, but still have some protection form the cold. They were a prefect spot to enjoy the glacier day. And with a room on both sides of the ship, we could move to whichever side had the best view at the time. It was great.

I also spent a lot of time listening to the naturalist, which wouldn't be the case in other locations. He was so entertaining and informative that it made the entire cruise better.

DCL had a naturalist onboard the Wonder as well. He gave several lectures in the WD Theater and spoke on the PA system (outside) while sailing through the fjord and viewing the glacier.
Fireworks shows are not on Alaskan sailings and IIRC, they use fewer outdoor lights at night.

During our time at the glacier (Tracy Arm Fjord) the CMs used some king of grappling hook/gaff to pull up a huge chunk of ice onto deck 4 that was floating after the glacier calved.

We sailed Alaska in 2012 which was the one year that DCL sailed out of Seattle and stopped in Victoria, BC for the required foreign port.
Sailing out of Seattle means less time in each port which is why they returned to sailing out of Vancouver.