Don't have experience other than the Magic, but I've asked the same question elsewhere, and so have other people, and what I've gathered is that you will have fewer children onboard Celebrity, it is more geared to adults, but that people who go with their children (especially not the very youngest children) will have a good time.
Here are some comments I saw on other boards (I'll cut and past them):
"After carefully reading and re-reading your post, I would really think that a Celebrity cruise would be exactly what you are looking for.
Your family age makeup is very similar to ours. We currently have kids that are 6 and 9 years old and we are in our early 40's. Together we have been on four Celebrity Cruises including one this past Feb. Each time the kids have had a blast in the children's program (whether we were travelling during the school season or during school break) and us parents have enjoyed the other things that Celebrity has to offer (food, service, cabins, etc).
Each time, we really think that Celebrity has done an excellent job in providing a great product for our family and I think you would enjoy it, too. Most (but not all) of the negative postings on this subject have to do with other issues that are not as relevant to your question such as: does Celebrity market itself to families? Do other posters think that it is appropriate to bring your kids on a cruise (properly handling your kids on a cruise though is a relevant point)?"
Here's another one:
"Celebrity is for you and your family. We have travelled on four cruises with celebrity with our son and he has enjoyed all of them. We started when he was 9 years old and until this past February when he was 21 years old. We have been on different cruise lines over the years and I found that most have good childrens programs. The only negative thing that my son had to say was when he was in his late teens "15 or so" he found that celebrities teen program was not as good as on other lines. If you want some good info and pictures go to
www.cruisemates.com and read 4 post by David Chiang they are just what you are looking for. When you go to the site just click on Photo Gallery and I think it is on the second page where you will find David Chiangs four posts. Hope this helps. "
Personally, since my youngest is just 3 and will be 4 for our next cruise, I will most likely go on the Magic again. I do think it is the best for younger children. Later, I would like to try another line. I have heard good things about Celebrity and I have heard raves about the larger RCI ships -- apparently with older children, there is more for them to do and they love it.
With your children being 6 and 9, I think you could happily choose either cruise. The bottom line, if your children like Disney so much, is probably that your children will have more fun on a
Disney cruise, while you and your husband would enjoy the Celebrity cruise more. You all will have fun whichever cruise you pick!
Good luck.
