There was recently another thread comparing the lines for the very expensive suites. But, I would appreciate some feedback for a decision we are trying to make.
We currently have
DCL booked for an 8-night June 2022 Greek cruise, starting in Rome. The price for our family of four if close to 15K for standard verandah.
Celebrity offers an 11-night June 2022 Greek cruise, starting in Rome with all of the stops we wanted from DCL, plus Istanbul and a couple others. It is the Celebrity Reflection ship. The price would be 10K for concierge level.
We have two older children (20 and 17 at the time of sailing). We love DCL. Not as much for the Disney magic, which is fun, but because we feel like it is high quality, clean, and we know exactly what we are getting for our money. We like the style of the ships being more classical, less Vegas like. We like the corny entertainment. I think the food is good enough, but too plain, while it seems to please my wife's and daughters' pallets (youngest ordered two cheeseburgers for every dinner last time). Cleanliness is a high priority for some in our group. We like great service, but rarely ask for anything and just want to do our own thing.
We are debating a land trip, but I have some concerns about my wife's energy levels (due to some past health issues) and ability to spend much of our time moving from place to place, catching transportation, unpacking and repacking, etc. I could see the trip turning out bad if it is too exhausting.
I would book the Celebrity cruise in a heartbeat. In my opinion, we will be off the ship much of the time, and there is plenty of time to enjoy DCL in the Caribbean for much less money. And its a better itinerary! As long as we have a comfortable base to come back to each night, where we only have to unpack once, and where we are taken to place to place, I don't see a reason to pay a premium for a shorter cruise on Disney. My wife is less convinced - she likes to stick with what she knows she likes once she finds it. I think DCL is even more comforting for her in in Europe, since it is so far from home and it is familiar.
But, what should we expect with Celebrity compared to DCL? Rooms, food, service, entertainment, cleanliness, quality of the ship?