Being in my mid-20s and sailing primarily with Royal Caribbean, I was scared to take the plunge and book my first Celebrity cruise. However, the experience was far better than I could have imagined, and it's now my top choice for a cruise vacation.
Royal Caribbean is known for its mega-ships packed with unbelievable amenities. The fleet of over 25 ships includes everything from ice skating rinks to AquaTheaters hosting high-diving shows to bumper cars and more.
Celebrity, on the other hand, takes a more modest approach to cruising. Instead of large vessels with thrilling activities, Celebrity's ships are more low-key, focusing on world-class cuisine, upscale bars, and high-end entertainment.
Sometimes, Royal Caribbean's family-friendly dynamic isn't as appealing. Though I love the younger crowd, my only child is my 12-year-old dog! As such, environments with energetic children aren't necessarily my ideal vacation spot.
When Celebrity began offering cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay, I knew I had to try the upscale cruise line. I love CocoCay and assumed sailing to the award-winning private island on Celebrity was a winning formula. Now, passengers familiar with the Celebrity product can experience what makes CocoCay a fan favorite.
I've been on three Celebrity cruises, including two aboard the brand-new Celebrity Ascent, and have another to Norway in a few months! Suffice it to say, I fell in love with Celebrity Cruises.
Solid main dining
Decades ago, cruise ship dining was a much more formal affair. While ships still have elegant dining rooms, the ordeal is more casual, especially on lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival where I've found most dishes to be a hit or miss.
More often than not, however, Celebrity's dining evokes that older-era feel. Each night, you're given a trio of dips and butter to accompany the fresh bread selection, and the menu items are thoughtfully designed and executed.
For example, the Barolo Braised Beef Short Ribs are exceptional. The meat is tender and served with a creamy truffle polenta that could easily be its own entrée.
Read more: What the Food Was Like on Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Reflection
If you're cruising on an Edge Class ship, look out for the Cypriot Short Ribs in the Cyrpus Restaurant. It's similar but served with creamy olive oil mashed potatoes instead. Either way, the dish tastes like what might be served in a specialty restaurant on other lines.
Another one of my favorite dishes is the Yellow Corn Soup. It's not chunky with corn kernels. Instead, the rich, smooth broth is bursting with corn flavor. It paired perfectly with a crunchy baguette!
What else can you expect on Celebrity menus? Organic Roasted Red Beets, Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli, Wedge Salads, Turkey Parmesan, Chicory Apple Pear Salad, Sautéed Tilapia Tarts, French Onion Soup, Grilled Flank Steak, Lemon-Pepper Roasted Chicken, and more.
In short, I'm certain all cruisers will enjoy Celebrity's main dining experience, which is leagues above sister-line Royal Caribbean.
I've also found that Celebrity's buffet is far superior to other lines, especially the seafood extravaganza. I loved the made-to-order stir fry station on Celebrity Ascent, as well as the all-you-could-eat shrimp cocktail bar on the last sea day.
Worthwhile specialty restaurants
Though a great way to stick to a certain budget is to dine at the included venues, Celebrity's specialty restaurants at least deserve a thought. The food quality and intimacy of the restaurants help justify the extra cost, though not all cruisers will want to splurge on pricey meals like Le Voyage's $125+ dinner.
Still, I haven't been disappointed by the specialty experiences on Celebrity ships, even at casual joints like The Porch and the Rooftop Garden Grill. My all-time favorites would have to be Le Voyage, Tuscan Grille, and the Rooftop Garden Grill but all have been delicious!
In fact, I loved Le Voyage so much I'd easily splurge on another meal at the upscale restaurant. Everything from the Lobster Risotto to the Prime Black Angus Filet Mignon was top-tier and expertly crafted.
Tuscan Grille on Celebrity Reflection was also to die for! I started with the Crab Cakes before enjoying the creamy Lobster Rigatoni Alfredo and perfectly seared filet.
If you want an affordable specialty restaurant, consider the Rooftop Garden Grill. On Celebrity Ascent, the three-course meal was around $40 per person—an excellent value considering the quality of the food.
The macaroni and cheese was rich, creamy, and contained the perfect amount of cheesy goodness without feeling overly heavy. The chicken wings, barbeque chicken, and burger were yummy, too. It's a great option for cruisers who want a casual yet tasty meal!
My best advice to those considering specialty restaurants is to book them in advance through the Cruise Planner. Not only will it help save you money compared to the onboard pricing but you'll also have the most avability to choose from.
Read more: I ate my way through a luxury cruise ship. These are the 6 dishes I'm still thinking about
Boutique hotel-feel cabin experience
Celebrity's cabin experience on its Edge Class ships is unmatched. Everything from the abstract carpet to the pops of color and sleek marble lamps contributes to a sophisticated, modern aesthetic. The staterooms are truly designed with an emphasis on luxury and comfort.
The bathrooms, in particular, are stunning and spacious. The marble accents contrasted with the light wood woods were visually appealing, and the larger-than-usual shower elevated the cabin experience since I didn't have to worry about banging my elbows against the wall.
Compartively, I sailed on Princess Cruises' newest ship, Sun Princess, and was disappointed with my bathroom's size, which mirrored my bathroom aboard Carnival Celebration—not what you'd expect for a premium cruise line!
I even tried the new infinite verandah concept during my Greek Isles cruise. The massive floor-to-ceiling window provided panoramic views of the dramatic Greek cliffs. However, I missed having a traditional balcony to walk onto.
One con I quickly realized was that the cabin's air conditioning shut off as soon as the top half of the "balcony" was lowered. Plus, the stateroom stayed warmer than usual because the large windows invited a lot of sunlight into the cabin. Though I appreciated how spacious the stateroom felt, I'd weigh the pros and cons of an infinite verandah before committing to it!
Everything with my standard ocean-view cabin was identical to the more expensive infinite verandah, minus the extra "balcony" space, and cost a lot less.
As Celebrity Reflection is an older ship, my inside stateroom wasn't as modern as my cabins on Celebrity Ascent. Still, it was surprisingly spacious and comfortable, much more so than my interior staterooms on older Royal Caribbean ships like Freedom of the Seas.
My largest quarrel with the cabin was that I wish the layout had been designed differently to accommodate a small loveseat. The extra chair was nice, but so much empty space could have been utilized!
The bathroom wasn't over the top. However, it was functional and clean. What makes Celebrity's cabin experience stand out, especially on older ships, are the thoughtful details, including twice-daily housekeeping, extra toiletries, and nightly chocolates.
Worldy itineraries
Celebrity Cruises is great for the destination-focused cruiser. While many family-friendly lines focus on popular regions like the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe, Celebrity sails to far-flung destinations like South America, Asia, the South Pacific, and the Galapagos Islands!
Not only that but they're the only American cruise line to have a ship stationed in Europe year-round, meaning you can sail to Europe with Celebrity Cruises in December for Christmas!
While there's no denying that many of Celebrity's ships are a destination in and of themselves, the allure of Celebrity is its ability to combine world-class service with unique itineraries.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
