Want to try Celebrity Equinox--how does it compare to Princess or Carnival?

We are a long married couple in our late 50s and have cruised many times on Princess and Carnival. We want to try Equinox because it rates so high on CC. What makes it rate so high? How does it compare to Princess or Carnival in terms of food, pools, shows, and overall experience?

Thank you so much!

Like everything, it depends on what you like and want from a cruise.

We have sailed NCL but not Carnival.

Would mY be do NCL again but for us Celebrity just fits.

Not the piano bar like on NCL but there is enough to do.

Celebrity is just a little better 👍🏻

We prefer Celebrity over Princess and Carnival. We have sailed all three several times. We will be on Equinox in 25 days. Be sure and visit the Sunset Bar. The "S" class ships are the best.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

You will find that Celebrity and Princess offer very similar cruise experiences. Generally, Princess has more choices of entertainment, with more venues offering choices. Food is subjective, but Celebrity's buffet is better laid out with more choices than Princess, except that Princess Royal class ships are comparable. IMO, main dining room food is comparable, as are the specialty restaurants, although Princee charges less for theirs.

Celebrity has an indoor pool, which Princess does not offer. They also have a lounge with great ocean views forward, which Princess lacks, but most Princess ships have a nightclub aft, which are missing on Celebrity.

Service on both lines is comparable, with Celebrity maybe a bit more formal.

I cannot comment on Carnival because I've never sailed with them. I would think that NCL & Carnival are more alike than different.

We are a long married couple in our late 50s and have cruised many times on Princess and Carnival. We want to try Equinox because it rates so high on CC. What makes it rate so high? How does it compare to Princess or Carnival in terms of food, pools, shows, and overall experience?

 

Thank you so much!

Can't compare to Carnival , never cruised them. Celebrity is very similar to Princess . Especially the Solstice class. We preferred the layout of the buffet better than Princess. They handled my wife's GF diet very well in the buffet.

The MDR was great. Had Anytime dining , it was definitely anytime. . The menu was well mark for Vehetarian and GF diets. The wine steward was great .

Caveat here - have only sailed Princess once, and Carnival twice. Have sailed Celebrity 35 times with 10 more scheduled in the next 1 1/2 years. For mature adults, Celebrity is head and shoulders above Carnival in everything. (Carnival may be better for 20 somethings, or those with kids). I only have one Princess sailing to compare, but overall I find Celebrity nicer in every way except for entertainment (particularly shows) where I think Princess has the edge. It's all a personal opinion, but I think Celebrity offers a classier (without being stuffy) experience, better food, better service, and when comparing comparable cabins better real estate. They have a very nice loyalty program (not familiar with Princess based on one cruise). If pricing were similar, or $$ not the deciding factor I would (and have) definitely choosen Celebrity over Princess every time.

We just got off the Equinox last month after 25 Princess cruises. Overall, we like the elegant ambience of the Princess ships. Dining room service far superior on Princess as the maitre'd is more attentive, and personally we don't care for the two level dining roomsas they seem like a cheap wedding. And who is responsible for the odd decor of Celebrity ships and artwork anyway? Cafe al baccio nothing compared to the International Cafe. No laundry on Celebrity ships which is okay with me, but I like the option of touching up my clothes with an iron as on Princess. No coffee card, but the coffee on the Equinox is made fresh from beans...both Lavazza and/or Melitta. Always got a great cup of coffee! I must add that the buffet on the Equinox was absolutely amazing! Desserts awful though, but an outstanding selection of fruit. Quality and variety compared to none. While we enjoyed the Equinox and would go on the ship again if the itinerary was right, I still prefer Princess.

We have sailed both Princess and Carnival, and we prefer Celebrity. With that said, I have no idea which you would prefer.Just because we prefer it doesn't mean you will.:)

We sail both Princess and Celebrity, enjoy them both and also feel that the two experiences are similar. Celebrity is quieter than Princess, and the entertainment is not as varied or plentiful. Service is excellent and the S class ships (including Equinox) are lovely and modern. Food is very good on both lines, we miss the International Cafe when on Celebrity. No formal nights anymore on Celebrity, which we sort of miss. No piano bar, either. Celebrity does much more for their suite passengers, if you're into that. A Celebrity cruise is more about enjoying the company of those you are sailing with, in a quiet and dignified atmosphere. Fewer announcements, fewer activities. It's worth a try if you like Princess.

We enjoy both Celebrity and Princess. And we have had several very enjoyable Carnival cruises, among other cruise lines.

We find Celebrity and Princess more alike than dissimilar. We really think that much depends on the particular cruise as regards to food, entertainment, service and staff. It can be a crap shoot.

That said, Celebrity Solstice class ships are our all time favourites. Equinox is DW's favourite of the bunch. We have always disembarked as very happy campers for our choice of ships. Keep in mind this is very much based on personal preferences.

All things being equal we select based on ship vs. cruise line. We had a fabulous Australia/ Fiji cruise on Sun Princess. Our Feb South American cruise on Crown Princess was average=disappointing. Luck of the draw I guess.

We have been on Celebrity, Princess, NCL, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival. Every line is different and every one is great. We prefer Celebrity and Princess when cruising without extended family and NCL or Carnival with family. Royal Caribbean doesn't seem to have very good deals, but would possibly be my first choice if price was similar. NCL nickel and dimes a lot and the passengers on Carnival are generally are younger and louder than Celebrity and Princess, which are very quiet. Overall, we go for price and itinerary. If price were the same, we would choose Celebrity S class. I recommend you try a Celebrity S class ship. You surely won't be disappointed.

Been on Princess 17 times, Carnival once and X 3 times, with two more booked. Been on Equinox twice, with a third booked for Oct 6. We like the entertainment options more on Princess, but the buffet is better on X ( except for Regal princess, which is even better than X's buffet). We love the cabins on X. You get a sofa in all cabins, unlike Princess, where you have to book a mini or deluxe cabin to get a sofa.

Coffee better on X

Much prefer Cafe Bacio on X to the IC on Princess

Prefer the decor on X. Very sleek.

Prefer most cocktails on Princess and the prices are much better.

Prefer the indoor pool on X, much more relaxed and child almost free than the one on Princess ships.

Food in the MDR, a few years ago I would have said X.

But Princess has improved their MDR food significantly since 2012. However, we like Aqua Blu on X, which is actually better MDR Princess fare.

Pastries seemed a little better on X.

Bread rolls are better on Princess.

Pizza far superior on Princess at Alfredo's

Hamburger bar the same on both lines.

Pool furniture much nicer on X.

More shady spots available on X.

Embarkation and disembarkation equal

Bathroom amenities more plentiful on X, at least in Aqua and Concierge.

Better shower on X with a door not curtain.

Regarding Carnival, it's been 25 years and I hated that cruise, so that is all I really have to say about that [emoji3]

Nobody has mentioned that the main theater on Celebrity ships doesn't require you to arrive 1/2 hour in advance to get a seat...the number of seats is much better proportioned to the number of passengers than Princess ships' theater. That is one of the things I most liked about Celebrity vs. Princess.

That said, I haven't sailed on Princess for years--but I see this mentioned by others who have sailed it more recently so I think it's still valid.

I have never sailed on Princess. Have considered it but it always has been more costly then Celebrity.

Still need to try it one day. We have sailed on RCCL, HAL and Carnival. Liked RCCL, HAL was ok but everyone was asleep by 9pm:)

Carnival, went once took our three daughters. (the price was right) We had a great time because we were all together but it wasn't for me. Waaaay to loud and noisy. Even our girls, ages then were 28, 18 and 16 thought it was too loud.

I like Celebrity for all the reasons given. Their entertainment needs improvement but I love the way they always make me feel so special, like I was their very first passenger.

Try it, you won't hate it:)

Our problem now, is the extra perks make it hard to switch

We've cruised on all three (many times over the years) and prefer Princess. (y)

When comparing, Celebrity is much more like Princess ... than it is like Carnival. ;)

Princess is overall my favorite line, but we sailed on Equinox last month and had a wonderful cruise. I love the decor - it's like staying at a Westin,(cool contemporary), vs a Marriott, (classy traditional.) The entertainment was great, and the food was very good. I always miss the International Cafe and MUTS when not sailing on Princess.

I have seen a few people say that they missed the international cafe from Princess when they go to celebrity and go to Cafe Al Bacio.

Could people comment on what it is they miss? Is it the quality of the coffee isn't the same, or Celebrity doesn't have little sandwiches and food selection other than dessert / pastries?

We are about to take our second X cruise and will be on the Equinox October 6th as well. The reason we opted for it this time was the itinerary (ABC Islands) and the fact that I quit smoking 27 moths ago and no longer require a smoking casino or other available areas! We have been loyal to NCL, which we first tried for the Freestyle experience, which we grew to love, and then the drinks package! In fact, we managed to book a suite on the Dawn and get drinks, unlimited dining and $300 OBC for under $1000 each! This was at the start of the offer, where there were no extra charges for the gratuities on the packages and the dining was truly unlimited. In fact, we enjoyed getting appetizers in one restaurant and going to a different one for entrees! We just hit it lucky!!

We have never sailed Princess, but I'm sure it's on the list of lines to try, but Carnival is a whole different story. Our second ever cruise was on the Sensation out of Tampa, way back in 2003. Thankfully, it was a five-nighter, because by the end of the first evening, we were so disappointed, we wanted off! We vowed 'Never again'! However, we needed a break last year and the Carnival cruise fitted the days we had available. We looked at each other and decided that maybe after 13 years, things had improved and, while we didn't hate it as much as the first, we really did say 'never again' again and this time, we mean it! I must say, though, that the burgers at Guy Fieri's were the best I've ever had at sea and the Chef's Table, at $75 with wine, was not only great value, but an experience worth repeating!!

We enjoy both Celebrity and Princess. And we have had several very enjoyable Carnival cruises, among other cruise lines.

 

We find Celebrity and Princess more alike than dissimilar. We really think that much depends on the particular cruise as regards to food, entertainment, service and staff. It can be a crap shoot.

 

That said, Celebrity Solstice class ships are our all time favourites. Equinox is DW's favourite of the bunch. We have always disembarked as very happy campers for our choice of ships. Keep in mind this is very much based on personal preferences.

 

All things being equal we select based on ship vs. cruise line. We had a fabulous Australia/ Fiji cruise on Sun Princess. Our Feb South American cruise on Crown Princess was average=disappointing. Luck of the draw I guess.

I'd definitely agree with you: it depends on the actual sailing. Our last cruise on X was nothing like any previous ones. Made me smile when I read the comments above about a 'classier' experience - our last cruise on Reflection was anything but (and remember this is coming from someone who has sailed more than once on X ;)). The time of year, ship, itinerary and sailing can greatly alter the overall experience of your cruise. We're hoping our Christmas sailing will be more akin to the X we know and love, but we've also decided to give Princess another try next year to Alaska.

I have seen a few people say that they missed the international cafe from Princess when they go to celebrity and go to Cafe Al Bacio.

 

Could people comment on what it is they miss? Is it the quality of the coffee isn't the same, or Celebrity doesn't have little sandwiches and food selection other than dessert / pastries?

I miss the savory snacks at the International Cafe. We love sitting in the atrium with a coffee and a small sandwich or salad, maybe a cup of soup, followed by a pastry. Sometimes it's just enough, if we've had a big breakfast or are coming back from a long port day. Cafe al Bacio is lovely but only has sweets.

We are a long married couple in our late 50s and have cruised many times on Princess and Carnival. We want to try Equinox because it rates so high on CC. What makes it rate so high? How does it compare to Princess or Carnival in terms of food, pools, shows, and overall experience?

 

Thank you so much!

We are in our early to mid 60'ties.

First Princess 1992, last the Ruby in 2012.

First Celebrity 1994, Reflection 2013, and the Equinox 2014 & 2015, just had to cancel this Nov back on the Equinox! Entertainment goes to Princess, everything else goes to Celebrity.

Princess has formal nights, X has evening chic which is not as formal. X definitely quieter, especially on pool deck. Corning glass show is interesting. Love the wine and cheese sailaways on the lawn. Food venue hours longer on Princess.

We have been sailing since '93. Started with X, moved over to Royal once kids began sailing with us. Did a few on Carnival and Princess, but now that kids are grown we've pretty much stuck with X. We'll be on Equinox 11/6 and recently tried to talk dw into Regal Princess repo from NY to PE 10/26. Loved the idea of not having to fly to Florida and since haven't been on Princess for a while wanted to give them another try. Couldn't get her to go for it though, even at bargain price ($60/night for verandah). No included percs, reportedly slow internet (use for business), and low loyalty status make it hard to switch. They'll be running similar itinerary next fall though, so maybe then ....

We have sailed all three but much prefer Celebrity. We sailed on the inaugural of Equinox and love the Silhouette. We usually cruise AQ because, to us, the dining experience at Blu is well worth the cost. Others don't think so but Blu is much more intimate and the service is excellent. We find Princess to feel the most crowded because they added cabins to ships such as the Crown Princess when they were expanding the design of the Grand but didn't add to the common areas. There would just be no room in the bars and the lounge where they had the comedy acts was always packed with early diners and was too small to accommodate those who wanted to see it. We hate the food court on Princess as well. Very disjointed. We always had a blast on Carnival. They are truly the fun ships. They also have great cabin storage, something sorely lacking with Solstice class ships. Princess also has mini-suites that Celebrity does not. As we have aged up, our needs and tasted have changed. We are in our 60s now. Celebrity seems to be the best fit for us. With that being said, a lot of these issues are subjective and there are more similarities than differences. I choose our cruises based on itinerary but I look at the Celebrity site first.

Been on Princess 17 times, Carnival once and X 3 times, with two more booked. Been on Equinox twice, with a third booked for Oct 6. We like the entertainment options more on Princess, but the buffet is better on X ( except for Regal princess, which is even better than X's buffet). We love the cabins on X. You get a sofa in all cabins, unlike Princess, where you have to book a mini or deluxe cabin to get a sofa.

Coffee better on X

Much prefer Cafe Bacio on X to the IC on Princess

Prefer the decor on X. Very sleek.

Prefer most cocktails on Princess and the prices are much better.

Prefer the indoor pool on X, much more relaxed and child almost free than the one on Princess ships.

 

Food in the MDR, a few years ago I would have said X.

But Princess has improved their MDR food significantly since 2012. However, we like Aqua Blu on X, which is actually better MDR Princess fare.

Pastries seemed a little better on X.

Bread rolls are better on Princess.

Pizza far superior on Princess at Alfredo's

Hamburger bar the same on both lines.

Pool furniture much nicer on X.

More shady spots available on X.

Embarkation and disembarkation equal

 

Bathroom amenities more plentiful on X, at least in Aqua and Concierge.

Better shower on X with a door not curtain.

 

 

Regarding Carnival, it's been 25 years and I hated that cruise, so that is all I really have to say about that [emoji3]

Thank you so much for all of these one to one comparisons--very helpful!

Thank you everyone for all of your replies! Very, very helpful--thanks for taking the time. I know it is all subjective, but your comparisons really helped. It sounds Celebrity and Princess are fairly similar. I prefer quiet pool areas to loud ones and like the idea of the solarium. If you purchase the classic beverage package on Celebrity, does that cover drinks like martinis, or would we always be paying extra for them? Are the shows on Celebrity terribly disappointing, when compared to Princess, or not bad? Final question--we are fairly tall people--are those rounded bed ends too short for many? I am worried about that! Are the beds firm and comfy?