As a top-tier Diamond Plus Royal Caribbean cruiser, I’m obviously loyal to the cruise line! However, on my recent Celebrity Equinox cruise to South America, I started noticing the small touches that make Celebrity Cruises feel more luxurious and pampering.
After 14 nights onboard, I really came to appreciate these details, both big and small. Celebrity’s attention to detail and level of service can make a noticeable difference in your overall cruise experience.
Here are the small details that make Celebrity really shine compared to Royal Caribbean.
Twice-daily cabin service feels like a luxury again
One of the biggest differences I felt during our cruise was the daily cabin cleaning. Celebrity still cleans your cabin twice each day, while Royal Caribbean quit doing this back in 2023.
Let me be clear that I think once-a-day cabin cleaning is totally adequate. This is similar to staying at a hotel on land with maid service once a day.
I understand Royal Caribbean’s reason to cut expenses by only cleaning once a day. But, twice-a-day room cleaning makes you appreciate having it again! Getting your room refreshed with a new set of bath towels is very nice, and getting your cabin all tidied up is great to return to each evening.
A sweet evening touch
After the evening cabin cleaning, each bed pillow is topped with a small square of chocolate. Whether you are tempted by the sweet treat or not, the gesture is welcome! You probably won’t find the cute towel animals on the bed like you will with Royal Caribbean, but the chocolate is a tasty and nice touch.
I remember when Royal Caribbean used to provide nightly chocolate on your pillow years ago, so it was fun to have this small amenity again.
Fresh flowers add a lovely cabin upgrade
In our cabin, Celebrity also placed a small vase of fresh flowers. This may go unnoticed by many, but the scent of the fresh flowers adds to the cabin decor and makes the room feel a little more special.
We also received our flower at the beginning of the cruise, so we were able to enjoy it for most of the sailing! Again, it’s a small touch, but not something you’ll find on Royal Caribbean.
Bath robes ready and waiting
On a Royal Caribbean ship, we have to ask for a heavy, white terry cloth bath robe. I’m not sure if that is for our Diamond Plus status, or if it is available to everyone. For instance, on our last Royal Caribbean cruise on Utopia of the Seas in February 2026, my sister-in-law asked and got a robe, which she enjoyed with her morning coffee on the balcony. She only has Emerald status, but got a robe by just asking.
However, on our Celebrity cruise, there were 2 robes hanging in our closet without asking! That small convenience stood out right away. It was nice to have these waiting for us on the first night, and we enjoyed using them each day of the cruise.
A refreshing welcome back to the ship
After returning from a long excursion on a hot summer day, being greeted by a Celebrity crew member with a chilled, rolled-up wash towel to wipe your face was so refreshing! This, in addition to a cold glass of water, really hit the spot as we returned to the ship.
For example, we waited in the hot sun while waiting for a tender in Punta del Este, Uruguay. While waiting in the heat, Celebrity provided chilled towels and multiple options for fruit-infused, cold water. Royal Caribbean usually greets you back with a cool beverage or water, but the cool towel is such a nice added touch!
No-stress beach towels
Celebrity has beach towels stacked up in the pool areas for your use. Unlike Royal Caribbean, you don’t have to worry about checking them out and back in to avoid the $20 towel charge.
The fact that Celebrity trusts you enough not to track the towels under your cabin card is lovely! It is always a last-minute pain to make sure you personally return those beach towels before debarkation day on Royal Caribbean. I’ve even been charged for towels that I know I returned, which I had to dispute after disembarkation; what a pain!
Cozy blankets for cooler weather
In addition to the beach towels, Celebrity provides these really nice blue, black, and white plaid blankets. You can grab and use throughout the cruise if you are traveling in cooler weather.
Even on my Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska, I don’t remember that amenity, although that was back in 2010. The plaid blankets were being used everywhere while we sailed down to Cape Horn in Argentina in 40-degree weather! I even brought one back to my room to use while we sailed through the colder weather.
Complimentary sunscreen on deck
On the pool deck aboard Celebrity Equinox, we also noticed a large bottle of sunscreen available for cruisers to use. It was placed on a table in the middle of the pool deck and attached so you couldn’t carry it off.
They do sell sunscreen inside the onboard shops for around $20, so this is a thoughtful free alternative that Celebrity provides. I have never seen this on a Royal Caribbean ship!
Umbrellas when you need them most
In each cabin, Celebrity also provides an umbrella for you to use. This was especially useful on the Falkland Islands, where it was pouring rain during our penguin excursion!
Unfortunately, the wind destroyed our umbrella, but it was still very handy to have since we normally don’t pack one when we travel.
A handy tote bag, upon request
On my very first Celebrity cruise aboard Celebrity Edge, there was a nice gray cloth Celebrity bag placed on the chair when I entered our cabin. On this last Celebrity cruise on Celebrity Equinox, there was no bag at first.
But, as soon as we asked our cabin steward for one, he delivered it right away! We found this very convenient to use, especially on sea days. We used the bag to carry things like reading material, water, towels, and playing cards. It folds up easily to take home, and it’s also a nice souvenir!
Elevated touches in public restrooms
Public restrooms on both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are usually immaculate, as much as can be expected. However, aboard Celebrity, they offer cloth hand towels to dry your hands, in addition to normal paper towels.
They are neatly rolled up and stacked by each sink. This makes the experience feel more like home and more personal to dry your hands with a fresh cloth towel.
A completely smoke-free casino
The casino on Celebrity is smoke-free. Some Royal ships have small smoke-free casino areas, but I can’t usually find my preferred machines there. On Celebrity Equinox, and all Celebrity ships, the casinos are smoke-free.
This encouraged me to spend more time in the casino. When smoking is allowed, I can only tolerate sitting and breathing secondhand smoke for so long. I really appreciate this decision by Celebrity!
Attention to cleanliness in the fitness center
The ship’s fitness center was very busy, especially on sea days. While I was waiting for an open treadmill, I observed an employee cleaning the machines after each person finished.
I specifically asked him if he cleans all the machines between users, and he confirmed that he does. He added that some people also clean the machines after they are done, but he always does it regardless. This was very satisfying to watch, as many cruisers neglect to clean up after themselves. I have never noticed Royal Caribbean staff doing this consistently, but I really appreciated the extra cleanliness!
Dining room details that elevate the experience
The main dining rooms on both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity offer very nice experiences. One touch that I find very enjoyable is that every evening they bring a butter tray with three selections.
The middle one is always soft whipped butter, but the other two might be hummus, seasoned butter, or another flavorful spread to enjoy with the three different types of fresh baked bread! It is a delicious way to start your meal. Royal Caribbean provides delicious bread each night, but you won’t get the same variety.
Chef’s signature entrées and memorable desserts
Each evening in the main dining room, there was a Chef’s Signature Entrée. In addition to the full menu, the waiter would offer us another option to order.
Our waiter, Mario, was excellent and would let us know when the nightly special was one of his top picks. There were several evenings when the special meal became one of our favorites, including lasagna, teriyaki salmon, orange chicken, and surf and turf with shrimp.
One day, the Chef’s Special was actually a dessert option, and it was the favorite of our entire 14-day cruise: the Grand Marnier soufflé! All four of us ordered it and loved it so much that we even asked for seconds!
Excellent service on both, but extra touches matter
The service and politeness of the staff on both cruise lines is always excellent, especially compared to most services around the world. They both do a fantastic job with their “customer is always right” mentality.
Every time I cruise, I always notice and appreciate how hard the staff works to be accommodating! But it’s these touches I’ve mentioned, both big and small, that Celebrity truly gets right, and they’re exactly what I love most!
