Princess comapred with Royal Carribean

[mainecruzr]

My partner and I just returned from RCI Monarch of the Seas. We have heard friends be very loyal to one or the other cruise line. We have been on Princess twice (sapphire and carribean). This thread serves as my comparison of the cruise lines.

 

RCI Pros: Free lemonade and unsweetened iced tea

Promenade deck walk is one one level without stairs (deck 7)

Sound of Music theater had comfortable seating

 

RCI Cons: Many obvious attempts at up charges

No safe in our room (deck 6)

Chaos in windjamer. No clear pattern of line, entrance or exit.

Frozen pizza at Sorrentos

Anytime dining: Prepay gratuities & make resers each night.

Room service menu on TV station only (found on last day)

 

Princess Pros: Can bring bottled water on board

Can bring one bottle of wine per person (big money saver)

Fresh floral arrangements everywhere on the boat

Upkeep of boat. (crew members cleaning painting, washing, or cleaning the boat everywhere.

Pizza and ice cream are far superior to RCI.

Grill station has turkey burgers, onion rings (more selection)

 

Princess Cons: Reverse RCI Pros.

 

 

This is just my opinion. I would like to see this thread continue and have other peoples perspectives.

 

Pam

[bigeagle12]

We have sailed both Royal and Princess and although we prefer Royal (mainly because of the Voyager class ships) we would do either again in a heartbeat.

Here is just a quick comparison (our opinion) of the 2:

 

Embarkation - equal

Disembarkation - advantage Princess

Food - slight advantage to Princess - little better quality and more variety

Dining Room (service) - equal

Dining Room (decor) - advantage Royal

Cabins - advantage Princess - bigger closet - better layout

Entertainment - equal

Ship (Promenade vs Atrium) - advantage Royal

Casino - advantage Royal

Service (Dining Room) - equal

Service (Windjammer vs Caribe) - advantage Royal

Service (cabin) - equal

Johnny Rockets vs Trident Grill - advantage Princess (free)

Movies Under the Stars (MUTS) - advantage Princess

Promenade Cafe vs International Cafe - advantage Princess

Pizza - advantage Princess

Bars/Lounges - advantage Princess

Onboard Activities - advantage Royal

[Scotty G]

Here are our thoughts on the following:

 

RCI Cons: Many obvious attempts at up charges

Can you enumerate? Have not noticed 'Many" of those on Monarch.

No safe in our room (deck 6)

Sovereign class ships (Monarch and Majesty) have safes on decks 9 and 10 from our experience.

Chaos in Windjamer. No clear pattern of line, entrance or exit.

Monarch Windjammer has four main lines when fully used. Two entrances on port and two on starboard. There are also individual serving stations where they do individual meat carving or serve Indian food.

Frozen pizza at Sorrentos

Monarch Sorrentos pizzas are hand made, not frozen. The dough may come frozen but each pie is made by a chef assigned to Sorrentos.

Anytime dining: Prepay gratuities & make resers each night.

Have not used MTD but have not seen the folks making reservations every night, more like on day one.

Room service menu on TV station only (found on last day)

This is a recent change at RCL. If you had asked the cabin steward for a menu he/she would have let you know about it.

 

Pam

[whitshel]

Not much of a comparison, the sapphire and caribbean are much newer and larger ships, the Monarch is like 150 years old.:D It would be like comparing the dawn princess with Freedom.

[RM]

Please try a newer larger RCI ship. I don't think there would be so many cons. Monarch has a great crew but she doesn't compare to either of the Princess ships you mentioned.

 

We like both lines but mostly sail on RCI for service, ships, and crew.

[The Big Booper]

Not much of a comparison, the sapphire and caribbean are much newer and larger ships, the Monarch is like 150 years old.:D It would be like comparing the dawn princess with Freedom.

 

The comparison is absurd. The Monarch was designed in 1986 and went into service in 1990. The super-Grands are the newest ships in the Princess fleet. Sort of like comparing a mid-80s Princess ship to the Independence or even Oasis.

 

The Dawn Princess went into service in 1996 or so.

 

There are no cafeteria lines in any RCI ship buffet, which most RCI cruisers like.

[Loralye]

Princess allows unlimited wine, champagne, soda and water at embarktation port. Yes as much wine you want. Even stated on the passenger contract.

[skandls]

Princess allows unlimited wine, champagne, soda and water at embarktation port. Yes as much wine you want. Even stated on the passenger contract.

 

That must be new - It used to be 2 bottles of wine on Princess. Holland America allowed unlimited wine from home.

[cruiserone]

As you can see we like both cruise lines (and Celebrity also). I think that we have never been on a vacation that we did not like. Comparing apples to apples is a fair way of doing it. Caribbean Princess is old too and the Sapphire is not far behind. Did the Monarch years ago and liked the "smallness" of the ship compared to others. All cruise lines are trying to squeeze all they can out of the old ships before selling them to smaller cruise lines.

 

You make what you can with what you have and enjoy your vacation. I never really compare cruises or lines, I just enjoy being away with my DH and not having to cook or clean.

 

We all break down a little as we age:D

 

Happy Sailing.

[ehfl]

It's probably not a fair comparison to use the oldest and smallest class in the RCL fleet.

[maitaiguy]

As you can see we like both cruise lines (and Celebrity also). I think that we have never been on a vacation that we did not like. Comparing apples to apples is a fair way of doing it. Caribbean Princess is old too and the Sapphire is not far behind. Did the Monarch years ago and liked the "smallness" of the ship compared to others. All cruise lines are trying to squeeze all they can out of the old ships before selling them to smaller cruise lines.

 

You make what you can with what you have and enjoy your vacation. I never really compare cruises or lines, I just enjoy being away with my DH and not having to cook or clean.

 

We all break down a little as we age:D

 

Happy Sailing.

 

Caribbean Princess old? Really? It went into service in April 2005 and we were on it in December 2005. Great ship with a similar passenger count to Voyager class ships. We were on Monarch in 2007 and Mariner in May 2010. I wouldn't try to compare Monarch to anybody's modern ship although what a great crew. Our new year's crew was special.

 

I would agree with most of the opinions expressed earlier in the comparison. We enjoyed Princess but have been on several RCI cruises since. We will cruise with them again sometime. LOVED Mariner! There is no comparison to

the Royal Promenade. My wife and I usually walked through there at 1 or 2 in the morning on our way back to the cabin even though we were staying on a deck above the Promenade.

 

I liked MUTS but Princess Grand class ships have their pool areas set up where you can opt out if it bothers you. The solarium pool on Mariner is a much smaller space.

 

As mentioned earlier, Caribbean Princess and Voyager class ships have about the same passenger count but look at the difference in tonnage. RCI spreads the people out much better during the evening. Princess has an advantage with more pool areas.

 

Try both and make your own comparison. Why stick to only one line? No lounge for diamonds on RCI any more? Not sure I will ever get to Diamond Plus. I don't understand the blind loyalty that some people have. Change is good.....now, don't be afraid......you are on a cruise! How do you know you won't like something else better?

 

I don't have 50 cruises under my belt. I have cruised NCL, Princess and RCI and my highest 'loyalty' level is platinum. I'm not expert but I have really enjoyed every cruise we've taken.

 

I'm not sure I'd cruise on a line that didn't serve mai tais at the bar though!:rolleyes:

[klingoncruiser]

I have been on Princess several times and am a diamond + on RCI. I no longer really care to go on Princess. My drawbacks are the odd chopped up layout of Princess ships, Food (always subjective) which is just not me. (Too European) and the completely silly layout of the buffet area on the last princess ship I was on. What a moronic layout that was.

 

Before any Princess people get their hackles up.... I do find the service and overall way things run pretty similar to RCI. Princess is a very fine line, but just not my style.

 

Thanks for posting your views.

[MrsPete]

Comments on several items:

 

No safe in our room (deck 6) -- All the newer RC ships have this feature

Anytime dining: Prepay gratuities & make resers each night -- anytime dining is a choice, so I can't see this as a negative

Room service menu on TV station only (found on last day) -- no matter what ship you sail, read all the materials in your in-room notebook on the first day! You'll miss out on things if you don't.

Can bring bottled water on board -- you can bring water & sodas onboard RC too; I've never had any problems, and with four teens, I brought a rather large quantity last time

 

I see that other people have brought up the main point I was going to make: You're comparing one of RC's oldest, smallest ships with the fewest ammenities to an average Princess ship. It's not really a fair comparison.

[Debde]

.

 

RCI Pros: Free lemonade and unsweetened iced tea

 

What does Princess offer to drink then???Don't they have the 'horizon court' which is like the Jammer?

Princess has to offer something besides water-yes :confused:

[50cruiser]

Ive been on both nunerous times . To me Id go on eather its a flip of the coin . I personall put Celebrity above both though. Just a little better all the way around . To me Its just a matter of which line gives me a better deal . I got a great deal Jan 3rd 2011 Balcony Bump cabin on the Jewell. So Im going . If Princess or Celebrity gave me a beter deal Id be on them . Im no longer Just going on one cruise line I like all 3 . I put Celebrity 1st Princess and RCI equil and HAL 3rd . Id go in a min on these 4 Ive been on 4 other cruise lines but I like these 4 the best . For anyone to just stay on one line you are nuts . Try the others you might like them . Ive found each of these 4 has a great offering . Each has its own bests . I really liked Celebrity Chefs table and movies under the stars this spring on the Celebritys Constilation . They had covers on the lounge chairs , Blankets to cover up with, fresh popcorn , Pizza delivered to your chair and waiters bringing cold pop and beer . What else whould you want . It beats the others hands down for a outdoor movie . Try the others you might find something you really like . Some people stick to one cruise line but I find all 4 has each its own offering CARL

[jwave]

That must be new - It used to be 2 bottles of wine on Princess. Holland America allowed unlimited wine from home.

 

Not new. I have been sailing Princess for 10 years and this has always been true.

[jwave]

What does Princess offer to drink then???Don't they have the 'horizon court' which is like the Jammer?

Princess has to offer something besides water-yes :confused:

 

Princess used to offer only coffee, hot tea and water for free in the horizon court. I think they now have lemonade and iced tea too.

[DonnaK]

Not much of a comparison, the sapphire and caribbean are much newer and larger ships, the Monarch is like 150 years old.:D It would be like comparing the dawn princess with Freedom.

 

 

I was just about to say the same thing. One cannot compare Monarch against Sapphire/Caribbean and draw any reasonable or accurate opinions of how the two lines stack up against each other.

 

Ridiculous.

[kborth]

Depends on the ship. They can vary widely in the same fleet.Disappointed with food, entertainment and facilities, Windjammer on Enchantment recently, same things great on Radiance class, my personal favorite. Have only sailed Caribbean Princess though and did not care for layout and number of passengers.Princess seems to have more ports on their crusies.I personally thought RCI ships were spotless and that Princess were alittle less fussy,also staff seems friendlier on RCI if you like that and I do.They also listen to comments while I felt Princess did not seem to care as much, just my experience,My big things are food,good mix of passengers and entertainment and good crusie director, one on Enchantment was not my cup of tea, yelled a lot and gave orders, cCaptain was lots of fun. I thiough there were too many rules and regulation on past Enchantment crusie and left more stressed than when I boarded. others in my group noticed this also.Maybe I will try Celebrity next year to Europe.Soem passengers love games and trivia and to amuse themselves but we prefer a bit more lively atmosphere, in my opinion last Enchantment cruise was dull, nothing but Bingo, triviam singalongs etc, felt like a nursing home at sea, I like seniors especailly since I am one but I didn't like being talked to as if I was deaf and dumb.Most of the passengers on this ship were Diamond and plus and proably knew more about the crusing deal than the staff so we didn't need to be herded in the theatre and treated like pre-schoolers. On Princess with ablacony room were were early to diembard, on enchantment near the last.