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The lowdown on all the ways Celebrity and Crystal cruises compare and contrast.
Discover how the two cruise lines measure up on everything from gratuity charges and family friendliness to dining and the option to dress up to the nines at night.
Then go ahead and book with the one that suits you the most.
| Feature | Celebrity | Crystal | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where does it sail to? |
|
| Crystal sails to more destinations. |
| Does it have Wi-Fi? | Yes, for a fee. | Unlimited free Wi-Fi on all ships by October 2018. | Crystal offers free Wi-Fi. |
| Does it provide towels? | Yes. | Yes. | Both supply towels. |
| Contact options |
|
| Celebrity offers a live chat service. |
| Is it all-inclusive? | No. | Yes. | Crystal is all-inclusive. |
| How much is the deposit? | 1-6 nights: $200 7-14 nights: $400 15+ nights: $800 | 20% per guest. | Longer cruise duration deposits are lower with Crystal. |
| Does it have a gym? | Yes. | Yes. | Both have gyms. |
| Does it have hairdryers, laundry and irons? | Hairdryers – yes. Laundry and ironing is charged and is not self-service. | Yes, all are free. | Crystal offers free self-service laundry. |
| Does it include food? | Yes. | Yes. | Both include food, but some Celebrity dining options are additional. |
| Does it have casinos? | Yes. | Yes. | Both have casinos. |
| Does it have an ATM? | Yes. | No. | There are no ATMs on Crystal’s ships. |
| Does it have formal nights? | Evening Chic nights where cocktail dresses, skirts trousers or designer jeans are acceptable. | Yes. | Both offer formal nights. |
| How much are drinks? | Prices onboard are in US dollars. $6-$7 for a beer, $9-$11 for wine. | Included. | Crystal includes drinks. |
| Is it good for families? | Yes. Kids’ clubs and family dining. | Yes. Kids’ clubs, kids' menus and family savings are available. | Both offer family facilities. |
| Does it have childcare? | Yes, for children 1+ years. Fees apply. | Babysitting at a cost. | Both offer childcare. |
| Does it have virtual balconies? | No. | No. | Neither have virtual balconies. |
| Does it have a waterslide? | No. | No. | Neither have waterslides. |
| Does it have a promenade? | Yes. | Yes. | Both have promenades. |
| Does it have free room service? | Yes, from 6am-11pm. | Yes, 24-hours. | Free room service is 24-hours with Crystal. |
| What are my payment options? |
|
| They offer the same payment methods. |
| Can I price match? | No. | No. | Neither price match. |
| Does it allow for cancellations/changes? | The minimum cancellation charge is the deposit. Charges apply to certain changes. | Cancellation charges apply to certain bookings. | Cancellation charges apply on both lines. |
| How much are airport transfers to the departure port? | Fly-cruise packages include transfers to the ship. | Free. | Both offer fares that include transfers. |
| How much are gratuities? | Daily gratuity charges are added to onboard bills. These are $14.50 per person per day for interior, oceanview and balcony staterooms. | Gratuities for housekeeping, restaurant, bar and Penthouse butler staff included in the fare. | Crystal includes most gratuities. |
| Has a ship ever sunk? | No. | No. | No ships have sunk with either line. |
For a 16-night Auckland to Perth cruise with eight ports of call, prices start at $2,749 per person with Celebrity.
For a 15-day Auckland to Perth cruise with nine ports of call, prices start at $6,185 per person with Crystal.
The verdict?
In a like-for-like comparison, rates for Celebrity Cruises comes out much cheaper. However, Crystal is a more inclusive and luxurious line, and it only operates a select number of sails locally. There tends to be more space onboard for guests and more staff per passenger.
All of Crystal’s cruise ships – Esprit, Serenity and Symphony – are rated as 5/5 on Cruise Critic. Passengers praise the quality of the food and the in-depth shore excursions.
Crystal also offers river and yacht cruises as part of its portfolio.
Celebrity Cruises’ deals pages advertise early-booking deals that reduce the deposit and offer a price guarantee.
Other deals include a weekend sale event that offers a half-price fare for the second guest and a free drinks package for two.
On Crystal Cruises’ offers page has early booking savings and cruise-only fares.
The verdict?
Both cruise lines offer some great deals, especially if you book early and can be flexible about the destinations you want to visit.
Up to USD$200 OBCs on 10-night Queensland cruise
Up to USD$200 OBCs on 9-night Australia cruise with Celebrity Cruises
Up to 20% off international cruises with Celebrity Cruises
6-night Tasmania cruise from $1,805
3+ nights last-minute cruises from USD$180
Australia and New Zealand cruises from USD$228
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