Celebrity Cruises Vs Carnival? Everything You Need to Know

Are you planning on booking a cruise and comparing Celebrity Cruises and Carnival, to see which is best for you? Since they are both popular well-loved cruise lines, this is a great question.

While cruise lines all have similarities, Carnival and Celebrity have some big differences. As someone who has cruised with both Celebrity and Carnival, I know first hand that both cruise lines have a lot to offer.

Cruising isn’t a one size fits all experience, so finding the right cruise line that fits your needs, preferences and budget is important.

With that being said, here’s everything you need to know about Celebrity Cruises vs Carnival.

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Why Cruisers Like Celebrity

Celebrity Cruises is considered to be a premium cruise line. They also refer to themselves as “modern luxury”.

The clientele on Celebrity enjoys good food, service and a relaxing vacation experience. Celebrity cruise ships are known for their beautiful, modern and elegant design.

Food

Celebrity cruise lobster dinner main dining room

The food and dining on Celebrity is consistently very good. Whether you’re eating in the main dining room, the buffet or at speciality restaurants, the food is always amazing.

When it comes to mainstream cruise lines, it’s hard to beat the experience that Celebrity offers in the main dining room. The level of service is top notch and every meal is delicious.

Dress Code

Since Celebrity is an upscale cruise line, and the dress code in the main dining room ranges from smart casual to evening chic. Cruise passengers tend to dress nicely, as if they were going to a nice restaurant or elegant evening out.

Service

The crew members on Celebrity are there to accommodate all of your needs, which makes for a very pleasant vacation.

From bartenders to waiters, to cabin attendants that will clean your room twice a day, the service on Celebrity is better than many other cruise lines.

We’ve also found that Celebrity have a few extra special touches that are appreciated. These include citrus water being served, along with icy cold towels when guests return back to the ship on ports days.

Celebrity cruise towels placed on deck chairs

On the pool deck, towels are often placed on lounge chairs for guests, so you won’t have to find towels and sign them out.

On occasion, sorbet may be served on the lido deck and passed around to passengers, a nice unexpected treat.

Entertainment

Overall, the entertainment on Celebrity is very enjoyable and varied. You can expect Las Vegas style production shows with singers and dancers, guest entertainers including comedians and illusionists, and some incredible acrobatic original acts.

There are also live music performances in the different bars and lounges around the cruise ship.

Atmosphere

Even though the service and overall experience on Celebrity Cruises is upscale, the cruise ship atmosphere on a Celebrity cruise is fun, laid back and relaxed.

While Celebrity may attract an older clientele, there are a fair share of younger cruisers as well.

During the day, guests may hang out by the pools or in the different lounges throughout the cruise ship. There is live music, trivia, lectures and other activities, so everyone can find something to enjoy.

In the evening time, the martini bar is a big hit, before or after dinner or a show. The casino is a popular venue, and the night club can be “happening”, depending when you cruise. In our experience, holiday sailings, Spring Break and summer holidays attract a younger and more active crowd.

Onboard Attractions

When comparing Carnival and Celebrity, Carnival definitely has more “fun” attractions than Celebrity. However, Celebrity does have plenty of enjoyable attractions that are cater towards a different demographic of cruisers.

Some attractions onboard celebrity include resort style pools, adult only solariums, meditation classes, stretching classes and more.

On the Edge class ships, there is the Magic Carpet, which is a floating bar (13 floors above sea level). There is live music, comfortable seating and a full bar. Those who cruise with Celebrity absolutely love the Magic Carpet.

On the Celebrity Silhouette and Reflection you’ll find the lawn club. This is an area with real grass lawns where guests can eat, play games and relax on the grass.

All Inclusive Options

When you book Celebrity, you have a choice between a cruise only rate or an all included cruise fare. The all included cruise fare is a great value and it includes the classic beverage package, basic wifi and daily gratuities.

Itineraries

Celebrity Cruises offers a wide range of Caribbean itineraries ranging from shorter cruises (4-5 days) to longer sailings (10 days and more).

Beyond this, Celebrity has diverse itineraries including Bermuda, the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, the Baltic, Alaska, Galapagos Islands and more.

Celebrity’s focus on travel experiences attracts passengers that tend to be well travelled.

Kids Club

Considering Celebrity tends to target an older or more mature demographic, they actually have one of the best kid’s clubs at sea. Celebrities’ youth program is called Camp at Sea, and it’s really fun for kids.

Here are the age groups for Camp at Sea:

Shipmates (3-5)
Cadets (6-9)
Captain (10-12)
Teens (13-17)

Each age group has their own area where the kids can hang out, meet new friends and participate in activities. The youth staff is always super friendly and makes the kid’s club a really fun place to spend time.

Price

The price of a Celebrity cruise is on the upper end of the major cruise lines. Considering the great experience, high quality food and service, Celebrity is an excellent cruise line for a vacation.

If you have the budget and want to have a more luxurious cruise experience, without the price tag of a luxury cruise line, Celebrity is a great option.

Recommended Celebrity Cruise Ships:

Celebrity Apex
Celebrity Beyond
Celebrity Summit
Celebrity Silhouette
Celebrity Ascent

Why Cruisers Like Carnival

Carnival Cruise Line refers to themselves as “America’s cruise line”. They are a contemporary cruise line and one of the most popular cruise lines in the world.

Guests like to cruise on Carnival because it’s fun, family friendly and affordable. Carnival cruise ships are known for having incredible onboard attractions, a wide variety of restaurants and a very fun vibe.

Food

When it comes to food options on a cruise ship, it’s hard to beat all the dining options that Carnival has to offer. Carnival ships can have over 20 dining options onboard, so there is always something to eat for everyone.

Those who cruise with Carnival love Guy’s Burger Joint, Big Chicken and BlueIguanna Cantina. These are some included restaurants on Carnival, that have delicious food.