NCL or Celebrity for fall European cruise

northbird · #1 (**permalink**) May 5th, 2009, 06:48 PM

Have been researching and debating which cruise line would best benefit myself, hubby, and teen age daughter this fall or even next fall for a european cruise. We want comfort, a great experience, and everyone (including the teenager) to be happy. NCL has larger suites in the same price range as a balcony on Celebrity. But the reviews I have read are more favorable for Celebrity. I sure could use some advise.

Trip · #2 (**permalink**) May 5th, 2009, 08:32 PM

Why not check out some of Kuki's reviews for NCL ships...he has been on several, a transatlantic, and I Med that I remember off hand....he loves the line...I sailed the Gem on a media cruise and really enjoyed it...I also have sailed Celebrity, and we had food and service issues, so read some reviews of both lines, at each cruise line forum and, see if that helps...I bet it will

Good luck!

brad813 · #3 (**permalink**) May 8th, 2009, 12:47 AM

For a European Cruise, especially a Mediterranian one you can't beat a suite on Celebrity. You get a private butler with a suite on Celebrity. Nice touch. Both lines are similar price, but remember the extra restaurants on board NCL's ship will cost a bit. You also have Pizza Delivery on Celebrity.

Kuki · #4 (**permalink**) May 8th, 2009, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad813

For a European Cruise, especially a Mediterranian one you can't beat a suite on Celebrity. You get a private butler with a suite on Celebrity. Nice touch. Both lines are similar price, but remember the extra restaurants on board NCL's ship will cost a bit. You also have Pizza Delivery on Celebrity.

A suite on Celebrity will cost considerably more than a suite on NCL. As the OP stated they can get a suite on NCL for the same price as a standard balcony cabin on Celebrity.

brad813 · #5 (**permalink**) May 8th, 2009, 03:28 AM

Well, I have been comparing alot and the prices were similar for what I compared. I guess it depends on itinerary. I also typically travel in the off-season.

colorcrazie · #6 (**permalink**) May 8th, 2009, 01:35 PM

You don't have to pay extra for dining on NCL. It is merely an option. We really enjoyed the food in the main dining room so much that we only did a "pay extra" once. I was disappointed. Had rack of lamb in the Bistro, had it the next night in the dining room and it was better in the dining room.
Marty

joeyanddavid · #7 (**permalink**) May 8th, 2009, 01:46 PM

Having never sailed NCL I am somewhat reluctent to chime in ...
However we used Celebrity for our Mediterrean cruise(Millennium) and for our Panama Canal Cruise(Summit)..

Very pleased we did on both itineraries..

Parrot Mom · #8 (**permalink**) May 15th, 2009, 09:43 PM

We have as of yet never sailed NCL Freestyle.. but we do not expect it to be of the same quality of Celebrity. We have cruised Celebrity on three t/a cruises and if it;s going from Barcelona.. your in for a treat.. The only ports I am bored with are the Canary Islands..

colorcrazie · #9 (**permalink**) May 16th, 2009, 02:01 PM

I don't sail Celebrity, but maybe someone else can answer the OP's question about their teenager and what activities there might be for that age group.
Marty

linco711 · #10 (**permalink**) July 13th, 2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colorcrazie

I don't sail Celebrity, but maybe someone else can answer the OP's question about their teenager and what activities there might be for that age group.
Marty

I'd be interested in this answer also. I want to do a mediterranean with my 19 year old daughter. We've done several caribbean cruises and had a ball, but now feel we're ready for more. Ours would be a summer cruise too. I just want to be sure there would be plenty to kep her entertained.

Parrot Mom · #11 (**permalink**) July 13th, 2009, 05:53 PM

Well, we will be doing the NCL Gem the end of November on a trans-atlantic cruise so I'll get a better idea of the new "free style"...Just saturday we booked another Celebrity.. the Equinox..the Holyland cruise..on what I consider a mega ship.. Right now if you haven't made a decision go for NCL.. alot of thigns she will love..

jaxon · #12 (**permalink**) July 14th, 2009, 12:01 AM

I'm partial to Celebrity, but I've sailed NCL to the med -- just couldn't beat the price. I don't care for freestyle, and I think the food in the non-pay dining rooms is inferior to Celebrity. We also like to dance to live music, and that is not an option on NCL -- dance floors are given over to pay restaurants. All that being said, Europe is so port intensive that by the time we got back to the ship, we were pretty spent, anyway. NCL does have the best entertainment in the theatre of any ship I've sailed.

You can't go wrong either way, so if it were me, and price were a factor, I'd go for the best deal.

Chuck Palm · #13 (**permalink**) July 15th, 2009, 11:03 PM

The worst Celebrity cruise is better than the best NCL cruise in my humble opinion.

erikhag · #14 (**permalink**) July 16th, 2009, 01:07 AM

Chuck Palm, can you tell us some of the bad things you have experienced on your cruises on NCL? It can be good for the OP to know why she shall avoid NCL.

Bovs · #15 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2011, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northbird

Have been researching and debating which cruise line would best benefit myself, hubby, and teen age daughter this fall or even next fall for a european cruise. We want comfort, a great experience, and everyone (including the teenager) to be happy. NCL has larger suites in the same price range as a balcony on Celebrity. But the reviews I have read are more favorable for Celebrity. I sure could use some advise.

Go with Celebrity which is a much nicer class of ships, especially the Soltice class of ships: "Soltice," "Equinox," and "Eclipse." We have been on NCL, RCL, Princess, HAL, and Celebrity, a total of 11 cruises, and we have come back to Celebrity. You will NOT be disappointed!

johnthed0g · #16 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2011, 01:02 PM

As the original post was some two years ago I wonder if they went & what they chose, I wish people would come back & say.

momofmeg · #17 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2011, 03:05 PM

NCL is probably better for your daughter-more things geared for kids to do on NCL-but I suspect you would prefer Celebrity-Celebrity is just classier. NCL is however a very good BUDGET line. Food is only so-so on NCL-much better on Celebrity-but NCL does have fairly decent shows in the show lounge.