Royal Caribbean recently extended status matching benefits to Celebrity Cruises, and I couldn't help but try Celebrity again.

I took my first Celebrity Cruises last year on two of their newest and biggest ships: Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Ascent. I enjoyed my first experiences on the sister brand to Royal Caribbean, but I was disappointed with the infinite balcony experience as well as the general state of entertainment.

That isn't to say I swore off Celebrity, but I was content cruising primarily with Royal Caribbean.

In June 2024, the new status matching was announced that provided greater parity between loyalty tiers among the lines. In fact, Pinnacle Club members were given the same top tier status in Celebrity and that piqued my curiosity.

To my surprise, I received a casino offer from Celebrity's Blue Chip club to get a significant discount if I booked a designated sailing.  Between the offer and the new perks, I had to give it a try.

I picked a cruise on Celebrity Reflection for a 3-night cruise that visited Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay. It seemed like an ideal match given that I would sail on Celebrity but get a Royal Caribbean day.

Going into the cruise, I was curious how closely my second go around would be to my first, and what the CocoCay experience would be like.

A surprisingly busy cruise ship

Celebrity Reflection is far from their newest ship, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much there was to do on the ship.

Reflection is the last of the Solstice Class ships, and began offering cruises in 2012. She's 1,017 feet in length and can handle 3,046 passengers.

That makes her roughly the same age as Quantum of the Seas and the has the capacity of a Freedom Class cruise ship.

I found there to be a good mix of venues onboard, from dining to bars, to pools and hot tubs. While Celebrity ships may lack all the signature top deck activities Royal Caribbean is known for, there's plenty to hold my attention around the ship.

Being that this was a weekend cruise, I think a lot of people were treating this sailing as a getaway trip. The pools were busy, the casino busy, and music events popular.

My go to spot on any Celebrity ship is Cafe al Bacio, and clearly everyone else on the ship had the same idea. There was always a crowd there, but I was able to find a spot each time I went by.

Cafe al Bacio is so much more enjoyable than Cafe Promenade because they have waiter service at the tables, that can bring you coffee and snacks.  

Speaking of the snacks, I like the higher quality food offered here as well compared to the snacks at Cafe Promenade. Croissants, cakes, and cookies galore.

Status matching benefits that impress

As a Pinnacle Club member in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, I was granted Zenith status in Celebrity's Captain's Club. This means I got the best benefits Celebrity has to offer.

To be clear, you'll get the status in Captain's Club, but you earn points separately. So you can't cruise on Celebrity to help boost your Crown and Anchor status unless you switch and go all-in.

To get your Captain's Club status, you should call Celebrity before your first cruise to confirm your enrollment. That will get you your Captain’s Club numbers and ensure they "see" your Crown and Anchor status.

I was really impressed when I got an email before the cruise that I got a free Premium drink package, which is a step up from Royal Caribbean's six daily drink vouchers.  That's a tremendous value off the bat.

Just like Royal Caribbean, I also got a free internet package for the duration of the sailing, access to the suite area, and priority embarkation.

When I sailed last year, it was before the status matching change and I was unimpressed with the perks I got at Elite Plus. This new parity between the programs is significantly better.

We got to board the ship in the suite line, and wait to board the ship in the Retreat lounge in Terminal 25 of Port Everglades.

We spent a lot of our evenings hanging out in Michael's Club, which is the suite lounge on the ship. Fun fact, the "Michael" in the lounge's name alludes to Michael Bayley, who was Celebrity's CEO before becoming Royal Caribbean's CEO.

I liked the bar set up in the lounge, along with the fact there are hors d'oeuvres served, self-service non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks from 7am - midnight, and live music on formal night.

No matter which level you're at in Crown and Anchor, it's a real boon to get added benefits on Celebrity off the bat. For those of us at the top tiers of Royal Caribbean, working in a Celebrity cruise is an easy fit.

My favorite policy on Celebrity

You can come up with pros and cons of cruising any cruise line, but I love the fact you can drop your bags off in your cabin immediately upon boarding.

On Royal Caribbean, staterooms don't open until 1 or 2pm, and there's no access to cabins until then.

Celebrity's cabins also don't open up until the same time, but the difference is you can go to your cabin to drop off your belongings and then leave.

Not having to take your carry-on items around (and get your SeaPass card) is fantastic, and it really made a difference in my enjoyment of embarkation day.

Speaking of my stateroom, I ended up in a Concierge Class balcony room.  

I did a last-minute upgrade a few days before the cruise to move up from an inside cabin to a balcony for only $292.

Concierge Class sounds better than it really is, and the only reason I picked it over a standard balcony is it was oddly cheaper. 

For a short weekend cruise, I wouldn't prioritize a cabin upgrade necessarily, but given the cheap price, I decided to pull the trigger on it.

What it's like to visit CocoCay

This is the first year Celebrity has been able to send some of its ships to Perfect Day at CocoCay, and I was curious to see how it compared.

Our ship was docked alongside Allure of the Seas, and as a Royal Caribbean fan, it felt good to step off the gangway and back onto a Royal Caribbean area. It wasn't that I disliked my Celebrity experience, just that it felt familiar again being on the island.

Considering how highly rated Royal Caribbean's private island has been among passengers, it's no surprise Celebrity wanted to get in on the fun.

On the island, there is a mix of crew members working from both ships.  The Celebrity crew members usually have a "X' pin on their shirt to signify which company they work for, but that's about the extent of the differences.

The Celebrity drink package and internet packages work on the island, just like Royal Caribbean's offerings.

We spent our day at Oasis Lagoon enjoying the music, refreshing water, and swim-up bar. It's been my go-to spot on the island since the Perfect Day makeover.

Tame nightlife

Unfortunately the major drawback to Celebrity I experienced last year remained on Reflection: lack of nighttime entertainment.

There are events held at night, but it pales in comparison to what's offered on any Royal Caribbean ship.

After 10pm, the choice of activities dwindles to a handful of choices. On the second night, there were exactly 5 events total to choose from in the Celebrity app. 

I missed having the choice of Schooner Bar, Pub, movies at the pool, karaoke, and the other typical nighttime activities on Royal Caribbean.

The casino became our go-to spot, but if luck isn't on your side, then it's hard to stay there for long.

One way to look at it was that we got to bed earlier than on Royal Caribbean, so we got more sleep and felt less exhausted each morning.

My favorite kind of casino

There's plenty of pros and cons to cruising with Celebrity, but I absolutely love their casino is non-smoking.

While Royal Caribbean's casinos are technically split between smoking and non-smoking, it really means one side is very smoky instead of the less smoky other side.

As a non-smoker, it's a welcome change to have a smokeless casino. It made me want to spend more time there.

It doesn't appear Royal Caribbean has any plans to adopt a non-smoking casino, but I'd love to see that change come over to Royal soon.

I want to try Celebrity outside of the Caribbean

We had a fun weekend on Celebrity, but part of me thinks I really need to experience them in Europe, Alaska, or somewhere else to take advantage of the experience.

I think some of the advantages Celebrity brings to the table are best enjoyed on other itineraries. Or at least, that's my working theory.

Namely sailing on a ship with less passengers, infinite balconies (on the Edge Class ships), and far more varied itineraries than on Royal Caribbean.

In general, I think I'll continue to cruise on Celebrity here and there from an opportunistic standpoint.  However, with the status matching now, I can't help but feel more compelled to take advantage of it.

They say the grass is always greener on the other side, and after twenty Royal Caribbean cruises, I booked my first Celebrity cruise. I thought I was ready for a change, but my seven nights onboard solidified my preference for Royal Caribbean.

I’ve been mostly “Loyal to Royal” ever since my first Royal Caribbean cruise three years ago. Even though I’ve occasionally ventured to other cruise lines, such as Princess and MSC, I’ve always found myself returning to my cruising roots.

Royal Caribbean, in my opinion, has the most innovative ships at sea. I’ve never once had a bad experience onboard, even when cruising on the line’s oldest and smallest ships. With high quality entertainment, top-notch dining, and a diverse array of onboard thrills, I had little reason to look elsewhere for a cruise vacation.

Throughout the past year, however, several of my fellow Royal Caribbean Blog writers have tried Celebrity Cruises for the first time. Reading about their experiences, I was intrigued by the cruise line’s unique itineraries, adult-focused ships, and more upscale atmosphere.

So when planning a summer cruise to Europe, I booked a 7-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on Celebrity Silhouette. I figured it was time to experience what Celebrity was all about.

I boarded my first Celebrity cruise feeling optimistic about my next week onboard, but I quickly realized that I preferred Royal Caribbean.

From the lucrative loyalty status perks to dining options, here’s why I’m going back to Royal Caribbean for my next cruise.

Crown & Anchor Society offers more useful benefits compared to Captain’s Club

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises enable guests to match their loyalty status from one cruise line to the other, but the benefits are not equal. For my travel style, I find Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society offers more lucrative benefits.

As a Diamond Plus member with Royal Caribbean, my status was matched to Celebrity’s Elite Plus status. This meant I could enjoy access to exclusive parties, a continental breakfast in a specialty restaurant each morning, discounts on select add-ons, and two complimentary bags of laundry, among other benefits.

Related: Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club loyalty program info, tips & secrets

I appreciated the benefits not offered by Royal Caribbean, including a free day of access to the ship's thermal suite and a complimentary scoop of gelato at the gelateria. That being said, I didn’t make use of all the benefits, especially because my travel partner did not have status in the Captain’s Club, so I didn’t care to go to private events alone.

I missed certain aspects of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society while on Celebrity, like grabbing evening hors d'oeuvres in the Crown Lounge and using my buy one, get one free benefit at specialty restaurants.

Most of all, though, I missed my free Diamond drinks.

My favorite benefit of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society are the Diamond drink vouchers, which offer a number of complimentary drinks each day depending on your loyalty status. As a Diamond Plus member, I receive five drink vouchers a day.

Onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise, I can use these drink vouchers whenever and wherever I want with very few restrictions. In addition, the vouchers can be used ashore at Perfect Day at CocoCay. I’m not a huge drinker, but I love utilizing the Diamond drink vouchers to sample cocktails around the ship, whether it be the Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned or Cucumber Martini.

Related: 21 best drinks to order if you have a cruise drink package

Celebrity Cruises also provides a drink benefit to those with Elite status and higher, but it pales in comparison to what Royal Caribbean offers.

You can order drinks from a Happy Hour menu from 5-7PM each evening. While you can enjoy as many drinks as you'd like during this time, the selection of beverages is extremely limited.

Forget trying the Martini Bar’s inventive Bananas Foster cocktail or a refreshing piña colada on the pool deck. The happy hour drinks were far more basic, such as a vodka soda or glass of wine.

I was still grateful to receive complimentary beverages during my sailing, but I really missed the flexibility of the Crown & Anchor Society’s drink benefit.

I thought I would prefer an adult-focused cruise, but I missed Royal Caribbean’s onboard activities

As a 20-something without kids, I occasionally find Royal Caribbean’s family-friendly atmosphere—particularly on the cruise line’s newest ships—unnecessary for my travel style. While I would have loved that carousel and trendy teen club as a kid, these features don’t necessarily appeal to me as an adult.

Nevertheless, it’s pretty easy to “escape” the kid-focused activities on Royal Caribbean’s ships. Most of these amenities are located in a few select areas of the ship, and by venturing elsewhere, you can find a quieter, adult-centered experience onboard.

Related: The best Royal Caribbean cruise ships for adults

Even so, the lack of family-focused activities on Celebrity Cruises caught my eye. Although the cruise line still has a kids club and activities like family karaoke, there’s a noticeable lack of thrilling attractions like water slides and zip lines on Celebrity’s ships.

I thought this would make the cruise more enjoyable as an adult traveler, since there would be (presumably) fewer screaming kids running around the ship.

Instead, I found myself missing Royal Caribbean’s unique attractions during my Celebrity cruise. Despite attending activities like watercolor class, trivia, and a murder mystery game show, I actually missed my workouts on Royal Caribbean’s rock climbing wall and afternoon rounds of mini golf.

It’s easy to assume activities like the FlowRider, indoor skydiving simulator, and bumper cars are meant for children, but these activities are a lot of fun for adults, too.

During my seven nights on Celebrity Silhouette, I came to the realization that I prefer high-energy, active activities onboard a cruise ship instead of just sitting on a chair for a round of trivia.

It’s unlikely that Celebrity will ever offer these types of thrills in the future, so I’ll probably book my future cruises with Royal Caribbean instead despite the higher number of kids and families onboard.

It’s hard to beat the variety of entertainment on Royal Caribbean

After sailing on five separate cruise lines, Royal Caribbean's entertainment has been the crème de la crème.

Entertainment is always quite low on my list of reasons to book a particular ship or cruise line. I always appreciate the amount of theater shows available while cruising, but if I’m being honest, I don’t always attend the shows. Most evenings I prefer listening to music at a bar instead or lounging on the outdoor decks to watch the sunset.

The exception to this is when I cruise with Royal Caribbean. Aside from the oldest Vision and Radiance Class cruise ships, all of the cruise line’s vessels offer unique entertainment venues, whether it’s the ice-skating shows, technology-focused performances at Two70, Broadway productions, or diving spectacles at the AquaTheater.

With so many unique venues, Royal Caribbean is more the exception than the rule. Traditionally, cruise ships have always offered productions in a theater, and theater shows were the only style of performance offered on Celebrity Silhouette.

I attended the ship’s production of “On Broadway” while onboard, which featured live music and choreography from a selection of Broadway shows, including Hairspray and Les Misérables. I didn’t have any complaints with the show, but it, of course, couldn’t compare to the full-length Broadway productions available on Royal Caribbean.

Both cruise lines fared equally well when it came to other entertainment, such as live bands and comedians. Yet if I had to pick a cruise line based on entertainment, I would choose Royal Caribbean in a heartbeat.

Celebrity offered upscale dining, but I prefer Royal Caribbean's food options

Nearly every review I read about Celebrity raved about the cruise line’s food, but I honestly prefer the dining venues on Royal Caribbean. Given the positive reviews, this was one of the biggest surprises of my vacation.

Food is so subjective that I was apprehensive to even include a food review on this list, so my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt. If you ask five cruisers to review food amongst a list of cruise lines, you’d likely see five drastically different rankings.

For instance, I found the food on both of my MSC cruises to be excellent; the emphasis on high-quality Italian food matched my palette perfectly. Others, however, rank MSC dead-last in their rankings on cruise ship food—some even call it inedible!

All that said, I thought the food on Celebrity Silhouette was not as seasoned as I prefer, and menu options were sometimes too elegant for my tastes.

As a traveler who loves spicy, international flavors, I’m not sure I am in the cruise line’s target demographic for menu options.

I enjoyed the variety of food at the buffet, Oceanview Café, and there were items I’ve rarely seen in Royal Caribbean’s buffet, including hummus, ceviche, and even lobster mac and cheese. Despite this, I felt that most dishes could have used more flavor.

Most of the time, I stuck to the stir-fry station so I could customize the dish to my liking with extra spice and seasonings.

As far as the Main Dining Room, I found myself missing Royal Caribbean’s menu. I love how Royal Caribbean incorporates a theme into each evening, whether Italian or French night. At times, I felt Celebrity tried a little too hard to make classic dishes elevated.

Related: 21 Tips for the Best Cruise Ship Main Dining Room experience

Instead of a classic basil pesto found in Royal Caribbean’s Main Dining Room, for instance, Celebrity offered a more enhanced version, made with walnut-arugula pesto, asparagus, tomato confit, and parmesan cheese.

While fancier, the dish was quite earthy in taste, and I felt the classic dish would have tasted better, despite being more simple.

Again, food is a subjective topic, and perhaps my palette is not as refined as other cruisers onboard. There were plenty of dishes I enjoyed during the week, especially the Indian curries, but I simply prefer the food offerings and menus offered on Royal Caribbean.

I’d still book a cruise on Celebrity, but mostly for the itinerary

Even though I preferred Royal Caribbean over Celebrity, one reason I would book a Celebrity cruise over the former is because of the itinerary options.

Celebrity Cruises offers a wider range of itineraries compared to Royal Caribbean—you can find cruises to countries like Argentina, Peru, Samoa, and India, along with more traditional itineraries. The line even offers cruises to Antarctica, which allow guests to sail by the continent and enjoy views from onboard, as well as expedition cruises to the Galapagos.

Related: The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler

Royal Caribbean still offers intriguing itinerary options, and I’ve sailed on the line in North America, Europe, and Australia. Nonetheless, as someone who chooses cruises primarily for the destination, Celebrity’s offerings are worth browsing.

If I were choosing between a similar itinerary, I would likely pick Royal Caribbean over Celebrity. If I wanted to book that bucket-list cruise to Patagonia, though, I wouldn’t hesitate to book another Celebrity cruise.

Sometimes it takes trial and error to find the best cruise line for you

Every cruiser has their own travel style. Some prefer the party atmosphere of a Carnival cruise while others enjoy a luxury experience onboard a cruise line like Silversea. There’s no right or wrong way to cruise, and sometimes it takes a few tries to find the cruise line that fits you best.

After taking so many Royal Caribbean cruises, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a better cruise option out there. Yet after trying five cruise lines in the past three years, I’ve come to appreciate the quality and consistency of Royal Caribbean's product.

Whether it’s the morning mimosa with my Diamond drink voucher, afternoon ride on the zip line, or evening stroll through Central Park, I love how diverse the Royal Caribbean cruise experience can be.

In the end, I’m happy I tried Celebrity Cruises. I made wonderful memories during my time in Norway, and I had nothing but great experiences with the ship’s condition, service from crew members, and itinerary.

Yet ultimately, I’m still loyal to Royal.

I was able to take advantage of a few smart strategies to help make my money go further on my first Celebrity cruise.

While I’m usually a budget cruiser, my recent cruise on Celebrity Silhouette initially proved otherwise.

I upgraded from my typical interior cabin to a balcony room, and I booked my airfare way too late, which set me back a staggering $1,400.

Additionally, my cruise itinerary was set to visit Norway, a country frequently listed as one of the most expensive in the world. I felt as if I were setting myself up for failure as far as budget was concerned, but I was still determined to save money wherever I could.

By utilizing Celebrity’s loyalty status perks, forgoing splurges onboard, and keeping in-port spending to a minimum, I was surprised with the savvy ways I was able to save money throughout my weeklong cruise.

Here are the five ways I saved money on my first Celebrity cruise.

I took advantage of Celebrity’s loyalty status matching program, maximizing benefits to save as much as possible

One of the easiest ways I saved money on my Celebrity cruise was through matching my Crown & Anchor Society status on Royal Caribbean to Celebrity’s Captain’s Club program.

Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean allow guests to match their loyalty status from one cruise line to the other, allowing passengers to reap the benefits of the reciprocal loyalty program—even if it’s their first time on the cruise line.

Related: Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club loyalty program info, tips & secrets

As a Diamond Plus member on Royal Caribbean, I matched my status to Celebrity’s Captain’s Club when I booked my cruise. My status matched Celebrity's Elite Plus status, the second-highest tier of the loyalty program.

This led to lucrative benefits during my cruise, including discounts on wifi and drink packages, a 15% discount at specialty restaurants, two complimentary bags of laundry, one free scoop of gelato, a day in the thermal suite, and access to exclusive events.

Although I didn’t take advantage of every benefit offered, a few select benefits led to great savings. The Elite Happy Hour, for instance, allowed me to enjoy complimentary alcoholic beverages from 5-7PM every evening, and I could also start each day with a complimentary latte from the onboard coffee shop, Café Al Bacio.

I was grateful for these benefits as they enabled me to minimize my onboard spending. I didn’t need to worry about paying for laundry or spending $15 for a single cocktail, and saving nearly $40 on the wifi package was an awesome perk, too.

I planned my own activities in port because Celebrity’s excursion prices were steep

Norway and budget-friendly don’t necessarily go hand in hand, but I was still surprised by the prices of shore excursions offered by Celebrity Cruises.

Having never been to Norway before, I was looking forward to exploring the four ports of call on my itinerary. The Norwegian fjords looked spectacular, and I knew I wanted to see as much as I could in each destination. As an active traveler, I was particularly interested in excursions involving hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor pursuits.

Related: Is it better to book excursions through the cruise ship?

Unfortunately, looking at Celebrity’s excursions ahead of my cruise left me disappointed. Organized tours to destinations like Briksdal Glacier and Pulpit Rock (Norway’s most famous hike) were over $200 or $300 a person. Even independent tours I found on GetYourGuide and Viator were expensive. Norway was already living up to its pricey reputation, and hadn’t even arrived in the country yet!

Before shelling out nearly $1,000 on excursions, I checked whether or not I could get to each port's top attractions on my own. Luckily, I found economical ways to do the same activities I wanted to book with a cruise-sponsored excursion.

Instead of booking a $170 excursion to hike Pulpit Rock, I booked a $40 shuttle bus that departed from central Stavanger and dropped me off at the trailhead. The return trip left five hours later, giving me more than enough time to finish the trail (and grab a well-deserved ice cream at the basecamp).

In Olden, I booked the Loen Skylift on my own to enjoy enchanting views of Norway’s Nordfjord. The cable car’s ticket was $53 for a roundtrip ride, and I got to and from the skylift in just six minutes on a local bus (just $3 each way).

My port days in Ålesund and Molde were easier to plan independently, as I planned to stay within the city centers. Each town offered charming, historic streets, quaint cafes, and gorgeous views from the waterfront. My expenses were minimal in both of these destinations.

I took public transportation to the port instead of a taxi or shuttle

One of the hidden expenses of a cruise vacation is the expense of getting to and from your cruise port. Although you might book airfare far in advance, it’s easy to forget about planning transportation logistics to the ship itself.

My cruise itinerary departed from Rotterdam in the Netherlands, but my flight arrived at the country’s main airport outside of Amsterdam. As always, I arrived a day prior to my cruise. I spent the night in Amsterdam with a plan of traveling to Rotterdam on embarkation morning.

Related: How to prepare for a cruise: Last minute things you should do

One of the most convenient aspects of cruising in Europe is the extensive public transportation network in major cities. In most circumstances, there’s no need to book expensive private transfers or call an Uber to the port when cheaper—and arguably more convenient—options exist.

So instead of booking Celebrity’s $40 transfer or shelling out over €100 for a taxi, I searched for directions to the port on Google Maps. An $18 train ride from Amsterdam brought me to Rotterdam’s central station in under an hour. From there, a short, $2 metro ride brought me just a 5-minute walk away from the city’s cruise port.

If you’re traveling with more than two people, or if you have large suitcases, there’s an argument to be made for private transfers. In my scenario, though, taking public transportation made the most sense whilst also saving money.

I kept souvenir shopping to a minimum and avoided expensive meals in port

After reading how fellow cruise writer Allie spent over $800 on souvenirs on her recent European cruise, I was worried about whether or not I could keep my shopping budget to a minimum. She stated how the cost of souvenirs in Norway was exorbitant, with $40 t-shirts and $60 crewnecks.

Reading this beforehand, I made a mental note to keep souvenir spending to a minimum. Of course, traveling with a carry-on suitcase helped, as I couldn’t fit much more into the bag anyway. So instead of purchasing heavy knickknacks and clothing, I bought small souvenirs like magnets, which were cheaper and easier to pack.

Related: Top 30 extra cruise costs that aren't included

Furthermore, I saved money by avoiding the more expensive dining options in port. On long port days, it’s inevitable that you’ll spend some money on food, whether a sit-down meal or grab-and-go snack.

Most restaurants in Norway are anything but budget-friendly; sit-down meals seemed to average around $25 for an entrée. I could see these prices breaking my budget on a land-based trip, but because I only had four days in Norway, spending $100 on four lunches while in port wasn’t a huge deal.

Even still, I tended to choose more casual dining venues instead of the fancier sit-down options. One of my best meals, in fact, was from a Thai food truck in Ålesund, and the meal only set me back $13. If I needed a quick snack, I could find a scrumptious pastry at a local bakery for around $3-5.

Staying budget-conscious with souvenir and food purchases in port helped me avoid spending more than I wanted to. Luckily, I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything by doing so.

I stuck to only included dining options, despite the intriguing specialty restaurants

Although I usually cruise on a budget, one of the add-ons I frequently splurge for on a cruise is specialty dining. There’s not anything wrong with the included food on a cruise ship, but I prefer the enhanced dining experience of specialty venues, both in ambiance and cuisine variety.

Yet on Celebrity Silhouette, I forwent the specialty options and dined at only included restaurants. I split my meals between the Main Dining Room and Oceanview Cafe buffet. Outside of these venues, the ship offered complimentary burgers at Mast Grill, grab-and-go pastries at Café Al Bacio, and health-focused fare at Spa Café.

Related: What's included on a Celebrity cruise?

I also made sure to avoid food and beverage classes offered by Celebrity. Although the pizza making class they offered onboard was probably fun, I couldn’t fathom spending over $70 for the experience.

The included restaurants provided enough variety that I didn’t feel the need to spend extra at specialty restaurants. By spending nothing extra for food onboard, I could allocate these savings toward meals and snacks in port instead.

Sometimes splurging is worth the convenience, but I was happy to keep to a budget on my Celebrity cruise

At the end of the day, I’m glad I used these savvy tricks in order to save money on my Celebrity cruise. That being said, there’s a time and a place for using these budget-saving strategies.

There’s no denying that booking shore excursions through the cruise line is convenient, for example, and not all travelers want to deal with the hassle of planning port days on their own. Sometimes, spending an extra $100 on an organized tour is worth it for a stress-free trip.

Plus, add-ons like drink packages and specialty dining can greatly enhance a passenger’s onboard experience. There were times I wanted to try those picture-perfect cocktails at the Martini Bar, or that steamy bowl of ramen from Raw on 5, without thinking about the cost of each purchase.

At the end of the day, though, saving money on a cruise enables me to cruise more often. Every cruiser has a different travel style, and I’ll stick to even the tightest budget if it means I can continue booking cruises to far-flung destinations around the world.

Celebrity Cruises wants you to join them on a cruise with its top executives.

Celebrity Cruises announced the details, date, location, and ship of the 2025 President's Cruise. For the first time, Celebrity Cruises' President's Cruise will sail to the Fjords of Norway.

Guests onboard the 2024 President's Cruise just returned from their 6-night Caribbean sailing on Celebrity Beyond.

Celebrity Cruises President's Cruise offers members of the loyalty status program, Captain's Club, an opportunity to meet the line's leadership and hear exclusive upcoming news. 

Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, will welcome passengers onboard an eight-night sailing to experience the famous fjords, wildlife, and waterfalls of Norway.

Read more: I took my first Celebrity Cruise on a new ship. We had a great time, but I missed Royal Caribbean's entertainment

The 2025 President's Cruise is set to sail a "once-in-a-lifetime" itinerary

On May 17th, 2025, Celebrity Apex, the cruise line's second Edge class ship, will sail the wonders of Norway.

Balancing luxury cruising and big-ship amenities, the vessel has a capacity for 3,405 passengers and comes in at 130,818 gross tons. 

The President's Cruise is an exciting opportunity for loyal fans and members with Celebrity Cruises and a reminder of the brand's premium vacation experience. 

Cruisers can meet with the line's President and leadership, experiencing exclusive events, premier parties, and special announcements.

The eight-night cruise will visit scenic cities in Norway, providing ample opportunity to appreciate the famous landscapes of the area.

Guests will enjoy Norway's famous fjords, wildlife, and waterfalls on exciting shore excursions to be revealed later.

"Natural wonders and once-in-a-lifetime thrills await on this special sailing," the cruise line said in a press statement. 

The exciting Norwegian itinerary promises bucket-list opportunities for cruises to see marvelous views, historical sites, and exhilarating adventures.

“The President’s Cruise is a massive celebration of our Captain’s Club members, and the sailing is an incredible opportunity for me and my executive team to spend time with our guests,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, Celebrity Cruises President.

She touched on the unique opportunity she gets to come together with loyal Celebrity Captain's Club members, saying "It is incredibly rewarding to hear guests’ stories and experience Celebrity through their eyes."

Celebrity Cruises provides this option, not only for members to hear from leadership, but also so that the line can learn from its members.

According to Hodges Bethge, she receives valuable feedback while on President's Cruises.

"The feedback and ideas we receive while onboard are instrumental in shaping the future of Celebrity Cruises, allowing us to innovate and enhance our offerings in ways that truly resonate with our guests.”

The 2025 sailing promises an exciting week of surprises and exclusive rewards for Captain's Club members.

This year's sailing took place on Celebrity Beyond for an exciting cruise of exclusive benefits

This year, the 2024 President's Cruise took place on the much-hyped Celebrity Beyond.

The Edge-class has been called the best in the fleet, coming in at 141,420 gross tons with a capacity for 3,260 passengers at double occupancy.

Guests departed from Port Everglades, Florida, on Sunday, June 23rd for a 6-night Caribbean sailing that featured onboard entertainment, custom shore excursions, and a sneak peek into what Celebrity guests can expect for the next few months.

The sailing had two sea days packed with entertainment, including performances from Guinness World Record-holding hula hooping.

A pool party also featured a performance from members of the Team USA Artistic Swimming Team.

West End star Marisha Wallace and the captain of Celebrity Reflection, Captain Kyriakos Matragkas, put on an exciting and unique rock show.

Guests could also present unfiltered questions to the Celebrity executives and leadership team at a Q&A session called "A Conversation with Celebrity." There, they received honest answers to pressing questions about the cruise line.

The unique sailing also offered a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Celebrity Cruises just started sailing to the Royal Caribbean Group private island in the Bahamas in April of 2024.

Celebrity Cruises ships now visit the private island for a full day of enjoyment.

Read more: I went to Royal Caribbean's private island on a Celebrity cruise ship. Here's what surprised me about this visit

On the 2024 President's Cruise, passengers were greeted with surprise jet ski and flyboard stunt performers, Caribbean Junkanoo bands, and live DJs.

Coco Beach Club also hosted an afternoon soirée for Captain's Club members.

In Grand Cayman, Celebrity's executive team hosted group shore excursions tailored to the cruise line.

President Hodges Bethge hosted a private lunch at the oldest dwelling in Grand Cayman, the Grand Old House.

The President's Cruise ended with a stop in Bimini, Bahamas, where the cruise took over the island for a private beach club party and was sent off with fireworks.

The sailing returned to Port Everglades on Saturday, June 29th.

Loyalty club members can now have their status matched across brands

Members of the Celebrity Cruises loyalty program, Captain's Club, now receive more benefits than ever before.

The President's Cruise is just one of many perks Captain's Club members receive.

Members receive access to stateroom upgrades, spa discounts, exclusive onboard events, priority boarding and seating, and complimentary laundry.

In May 2024, Royal Caribbean Group announced that it would match loyalty statuses across all three of its brands: Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and Silversea.

No matter which line passengers start with, they can enjoy a one-to-one tier match and equivalent benefits.

Read more: I tried Royal Caribbean's new loyalty match program. I missed having drink vouchers, but it saved me hundreds of dollars

Now, Captain's Club members with Celebrity Cruises can enjoy even more benefits across the globe, sailing different ships over all of Royal Caribbean Group's fleets.

More than 50 ships sail to almost 1,000 destinations across all seven continents, providing more ways than ever to see the world while enjoying elite benefits.

Celebrity Cruises received 18 awards at the 2024 Wine Spectator Awards, increasing the cruise line's total to 136 over the last 12 years. 

“We are continually innovating and expanding our beverage offerings to remain at the forefront of trends and meet the preferences of Celebrity guests,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. 

“We are honored to receive continued recognition for our elevated wine program from the experts at Wine Spectator," the world’s leading authority on wine anchored by Wine Spectator magazine, a print publication reaching about 3 million readers worldwide. 

Celebrity Cruises won nine 2024 Awards of Excellence for the 12th year in a row:

• Opus on Celebrity Reflection
• Grand Cuvée on Celebrity Silhouette 
• Grand Epernay on Celebrity Solstice
• Moonlight Sonata on Celebrity Eclipse
• Silhouette on Celebrity Equinox
• Cosmopolitan on Celebrity Summit
• Metropolitan on Celebrity Millennium
• San Marco on Celebrity Constellation
• Trellis on Celebrity Infinity

They also received the 2024 Best of Award of Excellence for Le Voyage on Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Beyond; the 2024 Best of Award of Excellence for Tuscan on Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Beyond; the 2024 Best of Award of Excellence for Cyprus on Celebrity Apex; the 2024 Award of Excellence for Normandie on Celebrity Edge; and the 2024 Award of Excellence for Fine Cut on Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Beyond, and Celebrity Apex.

Guests sailing onboard one of Celebrity's ships have a selection of over 500 wines to choose from

Whether you're a wine connoisseur or a novice, Celebrity's trained sommeliers, who are available in every restaurant, are eager to assist, guiding passengers through the extensive list of onboard wines, including Celebrity's private labels. 

Guests may also choose from various wine-focused programs, such as World Wine Tours, Food & Wine Pairing Workshops, and Destination Wine Tours in ports around the globe.  

The World Wine Tour allows you to sample wines from around the world and learn about regional and varietal technicalities, all from the comfort of your ship. Food & Wine Pairing Workshops educate participants on the fundamentals of food and wine chemistry, including how the two interact. 

Destination Wine Tours are for those who want to immerse themselves in wine-producing areas worldwide. Sampling an Italian wine on the ship differs from the experience of visiting a local winery first-hand! 

Pricing varies; however, on my upcoming Celebrity Ascent cruise, the World Wine Tour and Food & Wine Pairing Workshop start at $55 per guest. The Premium Wine Tasting is more expensive, costing $199 per attendee. 

Seven ships have the acclaimed Cellar Masters onboard

On Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity Solstice, and Celebrity Summit, wine aficionados should explore Cellar Masters, which has a large selection of international wines, all hand-picked by Celebrity sommeliers. 

Cellar Masters was replaced by the Craft Social Bar on Celebrity Equinox. While wines are still available, it's more of a sports bar than a wine bar. 

Both the Classic and Premium Drink Package include wine, but the latter has a more extensive list of wine options

Celebrity's Classic Package is their basic option which includes select beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, frozen drinks, and wines by the glass up to $10 per serving. Though a few wines are available, your selection will be far more limited than if you purchase the Premium Package. 

The Classic Package costs $84.99-$89 per person, per day. Since the Premium Package includes a wider array of beverages, it is more expensive, costing as much as $109 per person, per day. 

However, you can save on your Celebrity drink package by purchasing it in advance through the online Cruise Planner. At the time of writing, for example, the Classic Package was advertised for $67.99 per day on my upcoming Celebrity Ascent cruise. The Premium Package was listed as $79.99 per person, per day. 

If you book a package and later discover the price has dropped due to a pre-cruise sale, you can cancel and rebook for no penalty. You will be refunded the full amount of the original booking. 

Guests who booked Celebrity's All Included fare will receive a Classic Package, as well as Basic Wi-Fi. Both can be upgraded to premium packages through the Cruise Planner or once onboard. You will get a better rate by purchasing the upgrade online, though. 

Your drink package doesn't dictate your ability to participate in one of the onboard wine experiences. They are available to all guests willing to pay extra. Even if you have a package for your cruise, you will have to pay for the wine-focused programs. 

Like with the packages, it's best to reserve your spot for the experiences beforehand, as they tend to sell out as the departure date approaches. If you want until you're onboard, the program you were looking forward to may be sold out. 

Just recently, Royal Caribbean Group announced enhanced benefits for their new Loyalty Status Match program. With the updated program, guests receive more equivalent loyalty perks across the cruise line’s three bands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and SilverSea Cruises.

While all three cruise brands are owned by Royal Caribbean Group, each cruise line has its own loyalty program. With status matching, you can receive similar perks regardless of which cruise line you sail with. However, the benefits between the programs are not identical and points earned on each cruise line are separate.

As a Diamond Plus member of Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Status, I was ecstatic about this announcement. The newly announced changes would go into effect just a few days before my recent cruise on Celebrity Apex. I couldn't believe how perfect the timing was!

Following the announcement, my husband and I were excited to utilize our new Elite Plus status for the first time. Here was my experience trying out Royal Caribbean’s new Loyalty Status Match program.

With Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society, I receive some very lucrative loyalty perks and benefits

Growing up, my family sailed religiously with Royal Caribbean, allowing me to achieve the second-highest loyalty status with the cruise line. I earned Diamond Plus status back in college and have continued utilizing the loyalty perks ever since.

The status benefits that I use most frequently include the following:

• Balcony discount
• Five free daily drinks up to $15
• Two free days of Internet
• BOGO specialty dining credit
• Diamond Lounge access
• One bag of free laundry
• One free professional photo

These loyalty perks have continued to incentivize me and my family to keep sailing with Royal Caribbean. Not to mention, my husband inherited my Diamond Plus status when we got married, allowing him to receive the same perks as I do.

The daily free drinks alone have saved us thousands of dollars over the years - it’s virtually a free drink package!

Even with these perks, my husband and I were wanting to expand our cruising horizons

Although Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are sister brands, the two cruise lines are distinct and appeal to different demographics. Celebrity Cruises is considered a premium cruise line compared to the family-friendly, more affordable Royal Caribbean brand.

For me and my husband, Celebrity Cruise’s ships and itineraries have become more appealing to us. Since we do not have kids yet, we appreciated the more upscale, adult-focused experience offered with Celebrity Cruises.

For our yearly summer vacation, we booked a 7-night Norwegian Fjord sailing from England to Norway and Belgium on Celebrity Apex. We wouldn’t have to entirely give up our loyalty perks either, which was a selling point for us!

When we booked our cruise, we originally received Elite status in the cruise line’s loyalty program, known as Captain’s Club. With the new Loyalty Status Match program, my husband and I both received a status bump from Elite to Elite Plus.

Similar to Royal Caribbean, this is the second-highest loyalty status in the Captain’s Club. Since we had already linked our loyalty numbers between Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean, the status change was automatic.

I was relieved to see the new status had already updated on our reservation a few days before we flew to London for our cruise. The boarding pass and SeaPass also reflected our new Elite Plus status - elevating our pre-cruise excitement even more.

We received an overview of Elite Plus perks in our stateroom on boarding day

Upon arrival in our stateroom, we received a letter outlining our Elite Plus benefits that we would receive during our cruise. These perks were similar to our Diamond Plus benefits with benefits for internet, drinks, specialty dining, spa, coffee, and more.

We were most excited to see that Elite Plus benefits included nightly happy hour with unlimited cocktails and free specialty coffees each day! Other benefits we planned to use included the 15% discount on specialty dining, 35% discount on internet, and two free loads of laundry.

Unfortunately, the nightly happy hour with unlimited cocktails excludes embarkation day for an unknown reason. Because of this, we immediately missed having our daily drink vouchers that we receive on Royal Caribbean. Loyalty drink vouchers can be used immediately after you board your cruise, which is always the perfect start to vacation.

On the first day of our cruise, we also purchased an internet package using the Elite Plus discount. The Premium Full Package Wi-Fi included two devices for $268.40 with a 35% discount applied. The loyalty discount saved us $144.53!

I appreciated having a percentage discount with Celebrity Cruises compared to Royal Caribbean’s two free days. For longer itineraries, you can save way more with Captain’s Club compared to Royal Caribbean’s static $52 discount for internet.

One of the best perks was having complimentary specialty coffee each morning!

My husband and I both prefer starting our morning with specialty coffee, like lattes or cappuccinos, compared to standard drip coffee. Considering specialty coffee is upwards of $7 per drink, this can add up quickly on a 7-night cruise between the two of us.

Celebrity cruise ships have a lovely coffee shop called Cafe al Bacio, where you can order specialty coffees. Cafe a Bacio also serves complimentary pastries, cakes, and goodies throughout the day.

The barista confirmed on the first morning that we could have specialty coffee for free with our Elite Plus status. There were seemingly no restrictions or limits, except for alcoholic coffees.

Each morning, we would stop by Cafe al Bacio before starting our day, along with a delicious sticky bun to share. This was a perk that would require a drink voucher with Royal Caribbean, so we appreciated the indulgence each morning!

Although we missed having drink vouchers, the nightly happy hour was a great perk

Before the pandemic, Royal Caribbean provided a nightly happy hour with unlimited cocktails for those with Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle status. After the cruise restart, Royal Caribbean changed how loyalty drinks would be served to mitigate crowding in the Diamond Lounge.

The cruise line updated this benefit to include daily drink vouchers, which could be used for almost every cocktail from any bar throughout the day. There was no longer a specific time frame when the drinks had to be used either. Most would agree this was an enhanced benefit!

On the other hand, Celebrity Cruises still only provides a nightly happy hour from 5pm to 7pm each evening for Elite, Elite Plus, and Zenith loyalty members. The perk is nearly identical to Royal Caribbean’s old system.

As such, we planned our days around this nightly happy hour, as we certainly wouldn’t miss out on our free drinks! We only had two sea days with four port stops, meaning most of our time was ashore. Luckily, most of the bars onboard Celebrity Apex participated in the happy hour around the ship.

Read more: Celebrity Cruises Drink Package Info, Tips, Pros & Cons

We were allowed to order unlimited cocktails from a limited menu, including cocktails like a Manhattan, Apple Martini, Cosmo, Screwdriver, and Sidecar. Other drinks included a selection of beer and wine. Trying the many bars around Celebrity Apex was a highlight of our time onboard!

However, we missed the flexibility of Royal Caribbean’s drink vouchers. While unlimited cocktails during happy hour is definitely a lucrative loyalty perk, I wish Celebrity Cruises would integrate this benefit from Royal Caribbean.

With the 15% specialty dining discount, we splurged on two restaurants during our cruise

One of the bigger perks that comes with Elite Plus status is a 15% discount for specialty dining cover charges. Since Celebrity Apex has some of the best specialty restaurants in the fleet, we were excited to try this benefit.

When we cruise with Royal Caribbean, my husband and I both receive the buy one, get one free specialty dining cover. This is essentially a coupon for 50% off, which we always use! Comparatively, Celebrity Cruises offers 15% off all specialty cover charges, which can be used as many times as you want.

During our cruise, we decided to try dinner at the Rooftop Garden Grill. Although it was freezing outside, the meal was fantastic! The 15% discount saved us around $16.20, with the entire meal costing $91.80.

In addition, my husband is a big fan of sushi and wanted to try Raw on 5. We decided to come here for lunch during our first sea day. My husband loved the oysters and the sushi, while my pork belly was just okay. We saved about $5.40, which isn’t anything to write home about but I will take any discount!

Overall, we typically save more on specialty dining with Royal Caribbean’s BOGO discount compared to Celebrity’s 15% discount. We only saved a little over $20 on this cruise with the discount compared to $100 on Royal Caribbean. However, we were always planning to try a few of Celebrity Apex’s specialty restaurants, so the status bump saved us money!

Although not as lucrative, my husband loved the laundry benefit!

Laundry isn’t necessarily an exciting topic - at home or on vacation. Royal Caribbean provides Diamond Plus guests with one free bag of laundry for each cruise. With this, my husband always sends his laundry to be done with our loyalty perk.

He finds the onboard laundry worthwhile when cruising so he has less to do when we get home. It’s not bad logic, and he is always grateful when we get back home and has less laundry to do than me!

So, you can imagine he was excited to see Celebrity Cruises allocated two free bags of laundry with Elite Plus. He utilized both of his free laundry coupons during our 7-night cruise. One bag of laundry on Celebrity Cruises is $50 for a bag, so this benefit was worth $100 to us!

We only used a few of the benefits, but still saved hundreds of dollars with the new status match program

Overall, we were really impressed with Royal Caribbean’s new status match program. I always appreciate being rewarded for my loyalty. Not to mention, my husband had never set foot on a Celebrity cruise ship and he still received the second highest loyalty status with the program.

We ran out of time to utilize all of the Elite Plus benefits on our cruise, such as the Captain’s Club Continental Breakfast, Wine Tasting, and Private Departure Lounge.

However, we were thrilled to save as much money as we did on our Celebrity Apex cruise. I am already looking to plan future Celebrity cruises to continue taking advantage of these loyalty benefits.

Construction for Celebrity Cruises' fifth Edge Class cruise ship has reached a major milestone.

Celebrity Xcel's keel-laying ceremony took place on June 13 at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, signifying the start of the ship's physical construction. At the ceremony, Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group; Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises; and Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique lowered the first 739-ton steel block for the new ship. 

“Today, we not only mark the start of construction, but we are laying the foundation on which countless memories will be created,” said Liberty.

“Each new ship also represents an opportunity to advance our journey to net zero, and with Xcel, we are building our first methanol capable ship, which helps advance our transition to the energy platform of the future.”

The new Edge Class ship is scheduled to enter service in November 2025, offering 7-night cruises to The Caribbean and Bahamas.

The 5-night inaugural voyage is slated to depart on November 18, sailing to Bimini, Bahamas and Cozumel, Mexico. Interior and ocean-view cabins have already sold out, despite the voyage being well over one year away. 

Prices for veranda cabins start at $1,139 per person, with suites within the luxurious Retreat going for as much as $32,800 per sailor. 

Once completed, the ship will join Celebrity Edge, Apex, Beyond, and Ascent as one of the most revolutionary cruise ships at sea, with features such as infinite veranda cabins, the Magic Carpet, and innovative entertainment options in state-of-the-art venues. 

“We can’t wait to debut Celebrity Xcel and her unrivaled guest experiences, living up to her name in every way with surprises that confirm ‘Nothing Comes Close’ to a Celebrity vacation,” said Bethge.

“We are grateful for the continued partnership of the Chantiers de l’Atlantique team for lending their craftsmanship to further elevate the innovative design and world-class features of our beloved Edge Series ships.”

Celebrity Xcel's coin ceremony

During the keel-laying ceremony, a newly minted coin was placed on the first piece of steel to symbolize good fortune during the ship's construction process and seafaring career. 

"The Olympic Games symbols and the representation of NASA’s Saturn V rocket engraved on the coins pay tribute to the values of team spirit, commitment, and respect promoted by Chantiers de l’Atlantique as well as the innovative characteristics of Celebrity Xcel," wrote the shipyard's Facebook.

Celebrity Xcel will feature the world's first tri-fuel capable engine

Unlike liquefied natural gas (LNG), Celebrity Xcel's engine will be able to use three types of fuel, including methanol. 

This is a first for the company and represents a crucial steppingstone on Royal Caribbean Group's journey to Destination Net Zero, their ambitious aspiration for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, was Royal Caribbean Group's first LNG ship. 

The next major milestone in Celebrity Xcel's construction is the float-out

As more blocks are welded together throughout the coming months, the ship will start to take shape. Eventually, Celebrity Xcel will be ready to move from a dry dock to a wet dock, marking a significant moment in the construction process. 

The float out isn't a quick process. Utopia of the Seas', for example, took 15 hours and more than 46 million gallons of water. 

Once afloat, the ship will undergo further outfitting before embarking on its sea trials to test certain functions that cannot be done when docked, including the main engines, hull, brake systems, steering, vibration levels, and more. Even when complete, more work has to be done before the ship can be delivered to the cruise line and welcoming guests onboard. 

Read more: How long does it take to build a cruise ship

Celebrity Cruises just sold two of its cruise ships sailing to the Galapagos.

On December 28, 2024, two ships will set sail for the final time under the Celebrity brand before being transferred to the Lindblad fleet in January. The two ships sold represent less than 1% of the total capacity for Royal Caribbean Group. 

Celebrity Flora, the cruise line's newest, 100-passenger Xpedition ship, will remain in the fleet and continue to offer sailings to this unique archipelago; however, the 48-passenger Celebrity Xpedition and 16-passenger Celebrity Xploration are set to undergo extensive multi-million dollar renovations before joining Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic and doubling the size of their fleet. 

A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson indicated the selling of the ships is about focusing on newer purpose-built vessels, "As we continue to optimize our fleet, we remain committed to the Galapagos Islands, offering sailings on Celebrity Flora and Silver Origin – two ships we’ve purposely built to sail in the archipelago year-round."

Sven-Olof Lindblad, Founder and CEO of Lindblad Expeditions celebrated the acquisition, "We recognize and appreciate the immense privilege our Company has to operate and grow our expedition cruise offerings in the Galápagos Islands."

Read more: Celebrity Cruises guide

"By sourcing well-appointed vessels and onboarding the most experienced crew and staff who meet our exacting standards of responsible exploration, we're able to transport guests from around the world to the iconic archipelago and help them understand the importance of protecting and preserving its wonders and wildlife, as a consequence of their personal experience."

Bookings will open later this month when the names of the new ships are revealed. The sale price was not disclosed. 

The two ships will join the 96-guest National Geographic Endeavor II and 48-guest National Geographic Island II

Combined, both ships offer more than 100 Galapagos departures annually on six different itineraries ranging from 7- to 16-day voyages. The company is also known for its global expedition trips to remote destinations, including the Arctic, Antarctica, Australia's Kimberley region, and Alaska's Walker Cove. 

"When my father, Lars-Eric Lindblad, led the first international citizen expedition to the Galápagos nearly 60 years ago, I don't think he ever could have dreamed it would serve as the foundation for ecotourism in the archipelago and would be the catalyst for meaningful, positively impactful connections," Lindblad continued.  

"We look forward to not only bringing more Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic guests to the islands with the growth of our fleet, but also to having a greater positive social impact supporting conservation, education and the creation of livelihoods."

Guests booked on Celebrity Xpedition or Celebrity Xploration in 2025 were given two choices 

First, they can select another sailing aboard the same ship between October 5 and December 14, 2024. They'll receive a complimentary transfer to a price-protected similar or upgraded cabin. 

Should they opt to remain in their original cabin category, guests can rest assured knowing the price will either be protected at the original rate or reduced to the current fare, whichever is lower. 

Those who booked their flights with Flights by Celebrity will have their airfare automatically adjusted. Guests who made their own travel arrangements will be reimbursed up to $400 USD per person for non-refundable, pre-purchased change fees.

The second option allows passengers to move to Celebrity Flora, the cruise line's first-ever ship built specifically for the Galapagos, at no extra cost. 

Guests must choose a sailing departing on a like weekend or one week before or after their original departure date. Holiday sailings are excluded unless originally booked on a Celebrity Xpedition or Xploration holiday cruise. 

Moreover, the original stateroom category price is protected at the original rate or reduced to the current fare, whichever is lower, excluding taxes, fees, and other non-cruise fare items. 

Flights by Celebrity will automatically take care of rebooking flights, while those who made their own arrangements are eligible for reimbursement of up to $400 USD per person for non-refundable, pre-purchased change fees.

Celebrity Flora will remain Celebrity's sole ship in the Galapagos

The departure of Celebrity Xpedition and Celebrity Xploration will reduce the size of the Celebrity's fleet to 14. The Galapagos isn't the company's main focus, however, with the majority of their fleet encompassing larger ships that fit within the mainstream cruising experience. 

Their vessels, which range in size from 91,000 to 140,600 gross registered tons (GRT), are designed to cater to thousands of passengers, offering a variety of onboard amenities and dining and entertainment options. Coming in at just 5,739 GRT with a maximum capacity of 100, Celebrity Flora is the exception. 

In addition to Celebrity Flora, Silversea, Royal Caribbean Group's luxury cruise line, operates a ship year-round in the Galapagos. Silver Origin, like Celebrity Flora, was purpose-built for the region. Though Celebrity's Galapagos presence is diminishing, the company is still committed to the Galapagos. 

Read more: Celebrity Cruises ships by age from newest to oldest

Sailing onboard Celebrity Flora to the Galapagos differs from traditional Celebrity cruises. There's so much more included in your fare, from pre-cruise hotel stays to flights, beverages, shore excursions, and menus designed by Michelin-star chefs. 

Moreover, every stateroom onboard is a suite that features Celebrity's outward-facing concept. Unlike standard cruises to The Bahamas and Europe, the cheapest cabins include breathtaking views of the Galapagos, ensuring you don't miss a moment of the region's stunning landscapes. 

Celebrity Cruises has officially begun regular visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas. 

After departing Fort Lauderdale, Florida on April 21, Celebrity Reflection sailed to CocoCay, arriving shortly before Wonder of the Seas. This marks the first time that Celebrity has called at the island since the $250 million renovation that was completed in 2019. 

The enhancement included a pier, as well as numerous attractions targeting thrill-seekings, including Thrill Waterpark, a zip line, and a helium balloon.

Celebrity Reflection, along with Celebrity Beyond, are scheduled to regularly visit the island on itineraries ranging from 3 to 7 nights. 

From the moment I stepped onboard, it was evident that Celebrity was heavily leaning into CocoCay promotional materials. 

CocoCay advertisements frequently appeared on television screens throughout the ship, and the Cruise Director even held an information seminar about the island at 2:30pm before sailing away. I heard the "Perfect Day" song playing in the buffet during lunch, too! 

They really seemed to want to give passengers every bit of information possible to help them plan a "perfect" day ashore. 

When we returned to our inside stateroom after dinner, we discovered that our cabin steward had left us some complimentary CocoCay swag, including a baseball cap, towel clips, and a small misting spray bottle. 

From receiving identifiable wristbands to having my basic drink package treated like the premium one, here's everything that surprised me on my visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay with Celebrity Cruises. 

The hero photo is credited to Chris Yansick, who is currently sailing onboard Wonder of the Seas. 

Read more: I went to CocoCay for the first time, and here's what I'd do differently

Guests onboard Celebrity Reflection were asked to wear wristbands to help staff differentiate who was cruising on Royal Caribbean versus Celebrity

In addition to the destination-specific goodies that we received in our cabin, we were also provided two orange wristbands. 

"...we kindly ask you to wear [them] while visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay. Doing so will help us shape your future experiences at this exclusive, private destination, as we will learn about our guests' needs, preferences, and expectations," read the informational sheet. 

Many guests seemed to respect Celebrity's wishes, as the majority of passengers who disembarked at the same time as I did had them on. Plus, there were a lot of people wearing them at the adults-only Hideaway Beach. I was asked by the couple sitting next to me what the bands were for, so they had noticed a lot, too!  

Though I'm not surprised by what seemed to be more Royal Caribbean guests at Hideaway due to Wonder of the Seas' capacity, it was hard not to notice all the bright orange bands throughout the day. 

While the younger crowd that typically frequents Royal Caribbean may be more likely to pay for admission to Thrill Waterpark or the zip line, the bands will help the company learn what Celebrity guests are seeking on the island. 

Around 11:30am, I left Hideaway Beach to get an idea of where Celebrity guests were congregating the most. 

While there was certainly no shortage of guests at Hideaway Beach, I found that because of Wonder's capacity, it made Celebrity's presence seem more scattered. 

Rather than observing a lot of Celebrity passengers at Chill Island, Oasis Lagoon, or South Beach, the excess of Royal guests was exceedingly noticeable. In fact, I was surprised by the abundance of empty lounge chairs, especially since it was a little bit before peak lunch times. 

Hideaway Beach definitely seemed to be popular for cruises on both lines. 

I was worried Wi-Fi and drink packages wouldn't work on the island

Though Celebrity is part of Royal Caribbean Group, I wasn't sure if my packages would work ashore. When I initially stepped foot on the island, my Wi-Fi seemed to be cutting out a lot. 

Since I upgraded to Celebrity's Premium Wi-Fi, I had higher hopes for the connectivity. In the end, I'm glad I paid the difference because my partner's Basic Package was even more restrictive. She was able to open apps on the ship that she wasn't able to on the island, such as Instagram and TikTok. 

Moreover, Celebrity offers passengers two alcoholic packages, whereas Royal Caribbean only has one: the Deluxe Beverage Package. Those who purchase Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package receive a relatively all-inclusive experience, with cocktails made with top-shelf spirits included. 

Celebrity's Classic Package is more restrictive, as it only includes drinks up to $10. While I could have paid to upgrade to the Premium Package, I figured that there would be a decent selection of drinks to choose from. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case onboard, as the majority of cocktails cost anywhere from $12 to $17. 

I wasn't sure how the package would be honored ashore, though. To my surprise, the Classic Package was treated like the Premium. 

There was no cap on beverages; my finacée was able to order a Patrón soda for no extra charge. However, all the bartenders I spoke with said that they're still trying to figure out Celebrity's packages since this is Celebrity's first sailing to CocoCay. There's a chance that this will change in the future. 

Having visited Perfect Day at CocoCay numerous times, the experience ashore felt extremely similar to my Royal Caribbean sailings

It's truly a winning formula. Those who want to enjoy Celebrity's upscale amenities will be able to do so, while also being able to visit the award-winning island. Celebrity ships are about giving the Celebrity customer a product with high guest satisfaction to enjoy, too. 

While I enjoyed my time at the upbeat Hideaway Beach, it was nice returning to a low-key ship. Plus, there were definitely fewer children onboard. 

As someone in their mid-twenties with no kids, it was nice to be surrounded by adults onboard while also being able to enjoy everything that CocoCay is known for. Now, those interested in visiting CocoCay have options, whether they're seeking a family-friendly vacation or a more adult-oriented and refined experience. 

According to Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley, the demand for Perfect Day at CocoCay is “exceptionally high.” Out of 100 global destinations, it's the number one rated port that Royal Caribbean sails to. 

Celebrity Cruises' President, Laura Hodges Bethge, acknowledges that Celebrity's clientele doesn't want to be left out of this private island experience. “

By introducing this new program," she said, "we can meet this demand and offer something new and historic to all our guests.”

Celebrity Cruises is scheduled to call at Perfect Day at CocoCay on Monday, April 22. It’s the first time Royal Caribbean’s sister line will visit the private island since its $250 million renovation.

Celebrity Reflection, a Solstice Class ship that was launched in 2012, is set to depart from Fort Lauderdale on a 5-night cruise on Sunday that'll visit CocoCay and Cozumel. 

She will be docked alongside Wonder of the Seas on Monday. On Tuesday, Celebrity Beyond and Freedom of the Seas are scheduled to visit CocoCay. 

By the end of the year, Celebrity will have sailed to CocoCay 47 times on cruises ranging from short 3-night getaways to weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

Fares start as low as $277 per person for a 3-night cruise onboard Celebrity Reflection. 

Prior to Celebrity’s expansion, access to the island was reserved for those sailing on Royal Caribbean ships. Now, passengers can enjoy the family-friendly amenities during the day before returning to one of Celebrity’s upscale ships. 

Onboard, you won’t find any thrills that have come to define the Royal Caribbean brand, such as the FlowRider surf simulator, zip line, and AquaTheater high diving shows. 

Instead, Celebrity focuses on delivering a refined experience with world-class cuisine, high-end accommodations, and top-tier entertainment.

Typically, Celebrity’s itineraries highlight more unique ports across the globe, with two ships stationed year-round in Asia and Europe. 

Due to the demand for cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean, Celebrity will now offer sailings throughout the year, many of which will call at CocoCay. They will also tap into the weekend cruise market.

"Our customers are consistently asking for more opportunities to visit this stunning region year-round, have more weekend options so they can get away easier, and have expressed a desire for a private island destination,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises.

“By introducing this new program, we can meet this demand and offer something new and historic to all our guests.”

Read more: 5 things I hope Royal Caribbean steals from Celebrity Ascent (and one they shouldn't)

Perfect Day at CocoCay is a popular destination that’s known for its beautiful beaches, thrilling water slides, and upscale amenities

According to Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley, the demand for Perfect Day at CocoCay is “exceptionally high.”

"CocoCay is the number one destination that Royal Caribbean goes to in the world out of 100 global destinations, because it’s a curated experience designed and built to deliver a high-level experience to the customer,” Bayley said.

Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, is scheduled to enter service in July 2024. 

It’s the first new build for the line that’s beginning with 3- and 4-night cruises, as transitioning from weeklong to weekend sailings is typically a hallmark of older vessels. The ship will visit CocoCay twice per week, compared to Icon of the Seas' singular weekly visit. 

Additionally, Royal Caribbean recently completed the island’s adult-only Hideaway Beach expansion, bringing the island’s capacity to 13,000 passengers per day.

Read more: I just spent 11 days on Celebrity Edge – did it live up to the hype?

Though guest satisfaction is paramount, sailing to CocoCay benefits Royal Caribbean Group from a financial perspective

With CocoCay located about 140 miles from Miami, it’s a quick and convenient destination, which helps reduce the company’s fuel consumption and costs.

Plus, visiting private destinations, including Royal Caribbean’s Labadee, Haiti, helps keep more profits in-house.

There’s no competition for shore excursions, ensuring that passengers spend money with Royal Caribbean or Celebrity, rather than a third party.

It’s easy to find cheaper operators in ports like Nassau and Cozumel. On my upcoming Celebrity Reflection cruise, for instance, an ATV tour in Mexico starts at $85.99 through the cruise line, whereas a tour through Cozumel Tours by Johann and Sandra is just over $100 for a shared vehicle.

Though CocoCay has complimentary beach chairs, a large freshwater pool, and plenty of dining options, the island is known for its paid activities, ranging from Thrill Waterpark to the upscale Coco Beach Club.

It’s not uncommon to see admission to the waterpark starting around $150 per person, with overwater cabanas sometimes costing upwards of $4,000 or $5,000.

Read more: I rented a $2,000 cabana at Royal Caribbean's adults-only area of CocoCay

Members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society can have their loyalty status matched within Celebrity’s Captain’s Club

Climbing the ranks of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society is rewarding. From complimentary drink vouchers to exclusive events, discounts on laundry, and more, the company excels at keeping fans “Loyal to Royal.”

Though Celebrity and Royal Caribbean are owned by Royal Caribbean Group, the lines appeal to different crowds. According to Celebrity Cruises, 51% of guests on 7-night cruises are 60 years old and older. Additionally, Baby Boomers make up the majority of guests onboard Caribbean sailings, with anywhere from 47% to 63% of passengers coming from this generation.

Royal Caribbean is the more family-friendly of the two, with activities geared towards even the youngest sailors onboard.

Whether you've been a devout Celebrity or Royal cruiser, you don't have to give up all of your loyalty perks. Depending on your cruising needs, you may find yourself wanting to try the other line, as they both have a lot to offer! 

Perhaps, for instance, your children are grown and you're seeking a more refined vacation, but you've only ever cruised with Royal. 

You are able to match your Crown & Anchor status to Celebrity's Captain's Club once you accumulate 30 cruise points. Similarly, those within the Captain's Club can match their status to the Crown & Anchor Society upon reaching the Select tier. 

Though the programs aren't identical, you can benefit from perks like complimentary drinks, discounted Wi-Fi, upgraded bathroom amenities, and more. 

The only caveat is that you cannot match into the top level for either program. Those who are part of the elusive Pinnacle Club won't be able to become a Zenith Captain's Member. Instead, the highest you can match into is Elite. 

Similarly, the highest status you can achieve via the status match in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society is Diamond. 

Currently, you only earn points on the line that you're sailing with, so if you're cruising on Celebrity, you won't earn Crown & Anchor points. 

In September 2023, Andrea Shay, AVP of Loyalty for Celebrity Cruises, mentioned that there's a possibility of consolidating Royal Caribbean Group loyalty programs

Shay acknowledged that the current status matching program doesn't thread the Royal Caribbean Group brands together. 

"We have some status match between the brands today, but there's such a huge opportunity for us to do more and really take advantage of the connection and us being part of the same family," she said. 

Celebrity is working with sister brands to hopefully reveal more information about what this could potentially look like. With Celebrity now sailing to CocoCay, an integrated program would make sense, as it would provide greater value and recognition for guests while fostering a stronger connection between Royal Caribbean Group brands.