Celebrity Summit vs Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas

The Celebrity Summit was built in 2001. It was renovated in 2019. It's 23 years older than the Utopia of the Seas, which was built in 2024. The Utopia of the Seas is the first Oasis-class ship to run on LNG, a cleaner burning fuel.

Comparison Overview

Ship Size

The Summit is considered a small size ship. Coming in at 964 feet long and 105 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.7 football fields, as wide as 2 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 11-story building. Compared to the Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas, the Summit is 62% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Celebrity Summit holds 62% fewer passengers than the Utopia of the Seas based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Summit has more space per person compared to the Utopia of the Seas. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.

The Utopia of the Seas uses a neighborhood layout to break up large crowds across the ship, often making it feel less crowded.

Celebrity
Summit
Royal Caribbean
Utopia of the Seas
ClassMillenniumOasis
Gross Tonnage90,940236,860
Length9641,188
Beam/Width105211
Passenger Decks1116
Passengers (double occupancy)2,1585,668
Crew1,0272,290
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.12.5
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)4241


Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Summit has 13 different dining options like Le Petit Chef at Qsine, Blu, and Main Dining Room. Of those options, 8 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 5 options have an additional fee.

The Utopia of the Seas has 17 more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are El Loco Fresh, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, and 150 Central Park. 15 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 15 have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Utopia of the Seas might be a better choice. It has 131% more dining options than the Summit.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Summit might be a better choice then the Utopia of the Seas. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

Celebrity
Summit
Royal Caribbean
Utopia of the Seas
Total Dining Options1330
Complimentary Dining Options:815
Additional Fee Dining Options:515
% of Included Options62%50%
See the optionsSee the options

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.

There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. You can check out recent the bar menus for the Utopia of the Seas below.



Pools and Hot Tubs

The main pool on the Celebrity Summit
The main pool on the Celebrity Summit
One of three main pools on Royal Caribbeans Utopia of the Seas
One of three main pools on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Celebrity Summit has a total of 2 pools and 5 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are adults only.

Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas has more pools than the Summit and more hot tubs. There are more exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Utopia of the Seas. If you don't mind paying for exclusive access to areas in order to have less crowds, this might be a better choice.

Celebrity
Summit
Royal Caribbean
Utopia of the Seas
Total Pools25
Pools - General Access13
Pools - Adults Only11
Pools - Exclusive1
Total Hot Tubs57
Hot Tubs - General Access42
Hot Tubs - Adults Only13
Hot Tubs - Exclusive2



Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Summit. Only 50% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Utopia of the Seas, 84% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

Celebrity
Summit
Royal Caribbean
Utopia of the Seas
Adult Only Relaxation Area
Aquatheater
Arcade
Basketball
Bingo
Carousel
Casino
Climbing Wall
Comedy Club
Escape Room
Fitness Center
FlowRider
Ice Skating
Kid's Play Area
Laser Tag
Mini golf
Outdoor movies
Pool-side Movies
Shows - musical review
Spa
Splash park
Thermal Suites
Thrill Slide
Water slides
Zip Line
Learn moreLearn more

Cruise Costs

Celebrity is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.

Royal Caribbean, on the other hand, is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.

Celebrity
Summit
Royal Caribbean
Utopia of the Seas
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$18.00$18.50
Tip added to drinks & services20% 18%
Soda Price$4.00$3.50
Domestic Beer Price$8.00$8.25
See drink menus
Drink Package Price$60 - $125$70 - $125
Learn more
Internet Plan$20 to $30 per device per day$17 to $30 per device per day
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.

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