Cruise Spotlight
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Celebrity Xcite vs Carnival Luminosa
The Celebrity Xcite is still being built and will debut in 2028. The Celebrity Xcite will be largely similar to its predecessor, Xcel. It's the evolution of the Edge Class design with enhancements over the original Edge with more outdoor space, a more open central atrium, and an improved Rooftop Garden, plus 7 new spaces that debuted on the Xcel. The Xcite is still under construction and Celebrity hasn't released all the details yet. It's 19 years newer than the Luminosa, which was built in 2009 and renovated in 2022. The Carnival Luminosa originally sailed with Carnival's sister cruise line, Costa Cruises. Because of that, it will has some differences compared to other Spirit-class ships and is missing some Carnival signature items like Guy's Burger Joint.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Xcite is considered a medium ship. Coming in at 1,072 feet long and 128 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor-trailers, and the same height as a 16-story building. Compared to the Carnival Luminosa, the Xcite is 53% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Celebrity Xcite holds 44% more passengers than the Luminosa based on double occupancy (two people per room). At full capacity, Celebrity Xcite holds 39% more passengers than the Luminosa.
When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Xcite has more space per person compared to the Luminosa. 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.
| Celebrity Xcite | Carnival Luminosa | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Edge | Spirit |
| Gross Tonnage | 141,420 | 92,720 |
| Length | 1,072 | 964 |
| Beam/Width | 128 | 106 |
| Passenger Decks | 16 | 12 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 3,260 | 2,260 |
| Passengers (maximum occupancy) | 3,937 | 2,826 |
| Crew | 1,416 | 926 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.8 | 3.1 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 36 | 33 |
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 Xcite has twenty different dining options like Fine Cut Steakhouse, Le Grand Bistro, and Dinner on the Edge. Of those options, seven are complimentary, or included with your cruise fare. The other thirteen options have an additional fee.
The Luminosa has eleven fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are JavaBlue Cafe, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, and The Chef's Table. Ten of these restaurants are complimentary and the other four have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Xcite might be a better choice. It has more than twice as many dining options as the Luminosa.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Luminosa might be a better choice than the Xcite. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Celebrity Xcite | Carnival Luminosa | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 20 | 9 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 7 | 10 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 13 | 4 |
| % of Included Options | 35% | 56% |
| See the options | See the options |
Bars and Drinks
The Celebrity Xcite has 4 more bars than the Carnival Luminosa. The Xcite has 14 bars like Il Secondo Bacio, Martini Bar and World Class Bar. On Luminosa, you can grab a drink at 10 different bars such as Altair Nightclub, Casino Bar and Ocean Plaza Bar.
| Celebrity Xcite | Carnival Luminosa |
|---|---|
| •Cafe al Bacio • Casino Bar • Craft Social • Il Secondo Bacio • Magic Carpet Bar • Martini Bar • Mast Bar • Oceanview Bar • Pool Bar • Sunset Bar • The Bazaar Bar • The Club • The Retreat Pool Bar • World Class Bar | •Alchemy Bar • Altair Nightclub • Atrium Bar • Casino Bar • Java Blue Cafe • Limelight Lounge • Ocean Plaza Bar • Piano Bar 88 • Serenity Pool Bar • Sunset Bar |
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 Barq's Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.
You can check out the recent bar menus for the Xcite and the Luminosa below.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Celebrity Xcite has a total of 5 pools and 6 hot tubs. 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.
Carnival Luminosa has fewer pools than the Xcite and fewer hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Luminosa. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools and two of the hot tubs are adults only on Xcite.
| Celebrity Xcite | Carnival Luminosa | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 5 | 2 |
| Pools - General Access | 3 | 1 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 1 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 6 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 2 |
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. On the Xcite, 69% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Luminosa, only 58% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Celebrity Xcite | Carnival Luminosa | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✗ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✗ | ✓ |
| Beyond the Podium Talk Series | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bingo | ✓ | ✗ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comedy Club | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cooking Class | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dr Seuss Breakfast | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✓ |
| Outdoor movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pickleball | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rooftop Garden | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| The Attic - Adult Gaming Area | ✓ | ✗ |
| The Bazaar Entertainment Space | ✓ | ✗ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn 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.
Carnival, 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 may 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 Xcite | Carnival Luminosa | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $18.00 | $17.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 20% | 20% |
| Soda Price | $4.75 | $3.25 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $9.99 See drink menus | $8.25 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $55 - $99 Learn more | $83 - $88 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $19 to $30 per device per day | $18.70 to $23.80 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.
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