Celebrity Cruises Vs Virgin Voyages Our Honest Comparison
If you listen to Talk Virgin to Me, you already know how we feel about Virgin Voyages. It is our go to and what we know best. We sail it the most, and it is what we talk about constantly.
So when we finally sailed Celebrity Cruises for the first time, we knew this review needed to exist!
Not because we were switching sides. Not because it was sponsored. And definitely not because we suddenly stopped loving Virgin.
This sailing happened for one simple reason, we needed to bring our kids! We sailed over New Year’s, and leaving them behind was not an option. At the same time, we wanted to try something new.
Celebrity is often compared to Virgin Voyages, so we knew if we were going to talk about it, we needed to actually experience it ourselves.
Why We Tried Celebrity Cruises
We chose Celebrity because it is constantly compared to Virgin Voyages. People ask us all the time if Celebrity feels similar and if it is a good alternative, especially when kids are involved.
Since Virgin Voyages is adults only, Celebrity made sense for this trip. We wanted to see for ourselves how the two actually compare!
Overall Vibe Onboard
One of the first things we noticed was the overall vibe of the ship. Celebrity felt calm and quiet, but in a good way. It felt more traditional, but still really nice and updated. The ship was beautiful, and everything felt polished.
The energy level was very different from what we are used to on Virgin Voyages. Virgin feels much more social. There is music happening, the crew interacts more, and there always feels like something going on.
That difference stood out immediately, and it was not a negative thing. It was just different.
Staterooms
Celebrity staterooms were comfortable and clean. Everything worked the way it should, and the rooms felt nice overall! The beds were comfortable, and the storage made sense.
Virgin staterooms still feel more modern. The lighting, the technology, and the way the room is designed feels more intentional and more updated compared to Celebrity.
Food and Dining
Celebrity had great food. The Main Dining Room was solid, and the specialty restaurants were enjoyable. Overall, we were really happy with the food onboard!
Virgin dining is very different. There is no Main Dining Room, and all of the restaurants are included. Dining on Virgin feels less structured and more like part of the experience rather than something you have to plan around.
One thing that really stood out on Celebrity was New Year’s night. After partying, Celebrity had a late night buffet that was clearly planned for the occasion. It was exactly what you would want after a long night. Chicken nuggets, french fries, pizza, egg rolls, and all the fried food you are craving at two in the morning.
We talked about this a lot, because on Virgin the late night food options are very different. Virgin’s After Dark menu focuses more on eggs and breakfast style items, which is not always what you want after a night of partying.
Entertainment and Activities
Entertainment was one of the biggest differences we noticed.
Celebrity entertainment felt more traditional. There were production shows and scheduled activities, which felt familiar if you have sailed other cruise lines before.
We stayed busy onboard. Bingo was one of the things we did, and we actually won. There was also a slot tournament, plus a mixology class at the World Class Bar, which was a lot of fun and had really good drinks. We also went to Celebrity 101 and learned things about the ship that we did not know before!
Virgin entertainment feels very different. It feels more interactive and immersive, and it does not feel like you are just sitting and watching a show.
Comedy Shows
Another thing we really loved on Celebrity was the comedy!
The comedian we saw did not hold back at all. It was clearly labeled as adult comedy, kids were not allowed, and we were crying laughing the entire time.
We talked about how Virgin comedy has felt more toned down over time. On an adults only cruise, that is something we really notice.
Service and Crew
Celebrity crew members were professional and kind, and service felt consistent throughout the ship.
Virgin crew members interact more with guests and feel more involved in the overall experience.
Cruising With Kids on Celebrity Cruises
This was the biggest reason we chose Celebrity for this sailing.
There were kids onboard, but not a ton. Not like what you would see on Royal Caribbean. Our kids noticed it right away and were actually upset at first because they thought there were no other kids on the ship.
Eventually they did find other kids and ended up having a great time. There were about 300 kids onboard out of roughly 3,600 guests.
It worked out well for us, but it is important to know that Celebrity is a very different kid experience compared to something like Royal Caribbean.
New Year’s on Celebrity Cruises
We celebrated New Year’s onboard, and it was a lot of fun! The whole ship was celebrating.
There was a DJ, entertainment happening, a countdown, champagne, and light up wands. Everyone was out, and it really felt like a big New Year’s party on the ship.
Disembarkation
On Celebrity, you are expected out of your cabin early in the morning. It felt much more structured.
That is very different from Virgin, where you can take your time. You can go eat, shower, or even work out before leaving the ship.
That flexibility is something we really love about Virgin.
Final Thoughts
We are really glad we sailed Celebrity Cruises. It gave us the firsthand experience we needed so we could answer questions honestly, and we genuinely enjoyed it.
Celebrity Cruises and Virgin Voyages are very different experiences, and we would absolutely sail Celebrity again, especially on a different ship!
And as always, you float our boat!
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