Celebrity Cruises Guide

Celebrity Cruises is a premium cruise line known for modern ship design, elevated dining, attentive service, and a more sophisticated atmosphere. It offers an upscale experience without moving fully into the ultra-luxury cruise category.

Cruise Style: Premium ocean cruising
Best Known For: Modern design, dining, service, and a more sophisticated atmosphere
Ship Size: Mid-size to large ships
Best For: Couples, adults, multigenerational travelers, food and design enthusiasts, and travelers looking for an elevated cruise experience
Not Ideal For: Travelers primarily looking for massive onboard attractions, a traditional cruise atmosphere, or an ultra-luxury experience

Celebrity is known for taking the traditional premium cruise experience and giving it a more contemporary feel.

The ships emphasize modern design, quality dining, service, and spaces that feel more like a stylish resort than a traditional cruise ship.

Celebrity also benefits from its relationship with Royal Caribbean Group. While the two brands share some similarities, Celebrity is positioned as the more upscale and sophisticated experience, with less emphasis on large-scale attractions and more emphasis on design, food, and service.

A Celebrity cruise tends to feel polished, contemporary, and relaxed.

There are plenty of activities and entertainment options, but the overall atmosphere is generally less high-energy than Royal Caribbean.

You can spend the day exploring a port, relaxing by the pool, taking part in an onboard activity, enjoying a cocktail, or sitting down for a longer meal.

Celebrity works particularly well for travelers who want a little bit of everything without feeling like the ship is trying to overwhelm them with attractions.

Celebrity can be a strong fit if you:

Celebrity may not be the best match if your priority is:

Dining is one of Celebrity's strongest areas.

The cruise line offers a mix of included and specialty dining, with an emphasis on presentation, variety, and quality.

Depending on the ship, dining options can include:

Celebrity also places an emphasis on bars and lounges, making the food and beverage experience an important part of the overall cruise.

For travelers who consider dining a major part of their vacation, Celebrity is one of the premium lines I would put near the top of the list.

Celebrity offers a broad range of entertainment without making onboard attractions the entire focus of the cruise.

Depending on the ship, you may find:

Celebrity's newer ships also feature more distinctive public spaces and entertainment venues that reflect the cruise line's modern design philosophy.

What's included in a Celebrity cruise depends on the fare, package, itinerary, and promotions available when you book.

Your cruise fare generally includes accommodations, main dining, many onboard activities, and entertainment.

Depending on the fare or promotion, additional inclusions may include things such as:

Additional costs can include:

Celebrity frequently offers fares and promotions with different combinations of inclusions, so comparing the total package is important when evaluating the price.

Celebrity sails to destinations around the world, including:

The cruise line offers both shorter itineraries and longer voyages, depending on the destination and ship.

Celebrity occupies a particularly interesting position between mainstream and luxury cruising.

Compared with Royal Caribbean: Celebrity offers a more sophisticated and relaxed atmosphere, with greater emphasis on dining, design, and service. Royal Caribbean focuses much more heavily on activities, attractions, and family entertainment.

Compared with Princess: Both are premium cruise lines, but Celebrity has a more contemporary and design-forward feel. Princess retains more elements of traditional cruising and has a particularly strong destination focus.

Compared with Holland America: Both offer relaxed premium cruising, but Celebrity tends to feel more modern and contemporary, while Holland America has a stronger connection to traditional cruising, music, and classic service.

Compared with Seabourn: Celebrity offers larger ships, more activities, and a significantly lower price point. Seabourn is a substantial step up in personalization, intimacy, luxury, and inclusions.

Compared with Oceania: Both appeal to travelers who prioritize dining and destinations, but Celebrity generally offers larger ships and a broader range of entertainment and activities. Oceania provides a smaller-ship experience with an even stronger culinary focus.

Celebrity is one of the cruise lines I would consider when a traveler tells me they want to step up from mainstream cruising without jumping all the way into luxury.

It offers a nice balance. The ships feel modern, the dining is a genuine strength, and there is enough entertainment and activity to keep the vacation interesting without making the ship feel like an amusement park.

I particularly like Celebrity for couples and travelers who want their cruise to feel like an upscale resort experience while still having the opportunity to explore multiple destinations.

If Royal Caribbean feels like "there's always something to do," Celebrity feels more like "there's always something you could do, but you don't have to."

Choose Celebrity if: You want a modern premium cruise with strong dining, thoughtful design, attentive service, and a sophisticated atmosphere.

Consider another line if: You want mega-ship attractions, a highly traditional cruise experience, or the intimate and highly inclusive service of a luxury cruise.

Choosing the right Celebrity ship, itinerary, fare, and package can make a significant difference in the overall experience.

If you're considering Celebrity, I can help you compare itineraries, ships, promotions, and inclusions to find the right fit for your trip.

Back to Cruise Lines Guide →

Continue with Cruising 101 →