Celebrity Equinox or Ruby Pincess??

[cruiseaholic13]

We have been on several cruises all on RC and are ready to try a different cruise line. We have narrowed it down to these two...Celebrity Equinox or Ruby Princess. We are a married couple in our early 40's and this is our annual "kid-free" vacation. We enjoy a mixture of socializing and relaxation. Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has been on either or both of these ships. Pros, Cons and caparisons to RC. Thank you!!

[jackdiamond]

We ahve cruised both; Ruby in mini-suite and Equinox in AQ. We love both, but Equinox in AQ is better in our opinion. Ruby is rated five stars, while Equinox is rated five and one half stars.

[cynbar]

We have cruised Ruby Princess and Celebrity Eclipse, and both have pros and cons although they are more aline than different. Eclipse had a cool, modern decor while Ruby Princess is warmer, with soft blues and greens and lovely mosaics (with a touch of ruby red) in the atrium. Princess has the mini suites which we love for the extra room and large bathroom with tub, more entertainment , MUTS, and the International Cafe ---- also a laundry room on each deck with an iron (no irons allowed on Celebrity.) Eclipse had Blu and the Persian Gardens and Relaxation Room (we were in AQ), Qsine, and the drink packages which gave the cruise an elegant, all inclusive feel. Celebrity always seems quieter to us in the evenings, if that matters to you. Some posters here swear that Celebrity has better food but honestly, we didn't find that --- both ships had food that was fine but not spectacular. Anyway, you can't go0 wrong with either one.

[u2cruiser]

I have sailed on P&O, RCI, Princess (Emerald) and Cel Equinox. Of the 4, I found the Equinox to have that little extra with very well trained crew and a more personal service. The extra half a star is very much in evidence.

 

I found cafe Al Bacio a nicer, more relaxed and comfortable place than Princess's International Cafe. Loved Crooners for cocktails on the Emerald, but the Martini Bar on Equinox more than makes up for it.

 

I wouldn't hesitate to sail on any of them again, but Celebrity has that edge for me.

[cruiseaholic13]

Thanks you all! The feedback so far has been extremely helpful. My inclination is in line with what you all have confirmed...Celebrity seems just a little nicer, a bit more upscale but quieter. It sounds LOVELY but I am concerned with the lack of activity. We have 3 days at sea...I would be perfectly happy just laying by the pool, but my hubby would NOT. He needs to DO SOMETHING. We also enjoy meeting people on the ship...I'm a bit concerned that Celebrity will have more of an "older" crowd. Any advice on these concerns?

[bdpnatl]

When we sailed on the Equinox, we always found plenty to do on the ship. We did spend one sea day doing nothing but relaxing in the solarium, but we also enjoyed the shows, bars, gym, and casino. We did not even get a chance to see the hot glass show or any of the lecture series. We did meet some very nice people on our cruise. Some of them on excursions and others at dinner. It did provide other people to do things with. We have never sailed on Princess so I cannot comment on the activity level there.

 

On all he cruises we have taken on Celebrity (even the ones around spring break) there have never been alot of families traveling with children. They were very much in the minority.

[cruiseaholic13]

When we sailed on the Equinox, we always found plenty to do on the ship. We did spend one sea day doing nothing but relaxing in the solarium, but we also enjoyed the shows, bars, gym, and casino. We did not even get a chance to see the hot glass show or any of the lecture series. We did meet some very nice people on our cruise. Some of them on excursions and others at dinner. It did provide other people to do things with. We have never sailed on Princess so I cannot comment on the activity level there.

 

On all he cruises we have taken on Celebrity (even the ones around spring break) there have never been alot of families traveling with children. They were very much in the minority.

 

Perfect!! I am sure we will LOVE it!! Thank you so much!!!

[Lsimon]

I'd say Equinox.

 

We were big Princess fans before our first Celebrity cruise years ago. We took one Princess cruise shortly after that and haven't been back since. Now we're big Celebrity fans.

 

The Equinox is a beautiful ship. The service is better than what we've experienced on Princess. The mainstream food is as good or better and the specialty restuarants are incredible. Frankly, we liked some of the theater entertainment on Princess better (it depends on your preferences and style) but at least on Celebrity they have enough seats for everyone as the ship doesn't seem as crowded.

 

All that said, I'll admit I've not been on the Ruby nor any other Princess ship in past 5 years.

[BettyCruiser]

I think you will find a similar demographic on either ship, more families during school breaks, more mature when school is in session.

 

We are booked on the Ruby this January and I can't wait to try an S-class for the first time in December next year:)

 

For similar itineraries I lean toward Celebrity these days, I love the drink packages:D

 

Another point for Celebrity is that your past RCL cruises will earn you equivalent past guest status on Celebrity.

[retiredtogolf]

We have been on the Sapphire and Coral Princesses and the Equinox in the past year and a half. Minis on Princess and AQ on the Equinox. The minis are a little bigger, but the AQ has a much better shower and flat screen interactive tv. Also liked eating in Blu on the Equinox. Sailing in Dec. on the Silhouette in AQ. Guess that says what my opinion is.....Don't miss the Hot Glass show!

[Snorkel Dawg]

I have sailed each in the last two years. Very similar IMO & you would be happy with either. Loved both ships. I feel the quality of the food was quite good on both. I'd vote even.

 

Eclipse Pros-The Martini Bar, the lawn club, the Sunset Bar!

 

Ruby Pros-The International Cafe, the adult aft pool area, & MUTS!

 

I actually thought when we sailed Ruby which was during spring break the clientel was a bit older. Regardless, you'll have a most enjoyable cruise on which ever you choose. Really can't go wrong with those 2 ships!

[Snorkel Dawg]

I would add the Ruby Princess had a much more relaxed policy regarding bringing beer or wine aboard.

[austinlw]

Do both! We are booked on an Oct Equinox Eastern Med cruise and on a Ruby Princess Caribbean cruise the week after Thanksgiving. I guess that's like winning the cruise ship lottery! We have been on Princess twice before, but not this ship, and this will be our first Celebrity cruise. Only reason we are doing both so close together is that a great Equinox deal became available months after we had already booked a very good deal on the Ruby Princess cruise.

 

So I'll let you know how the 2 ships compare in December. But I can say now that if you are familiar with RC, which we have cruised with 3 times, in general Princess is more similar than different. IMHO not quite as many fun activities as RC, the cruise directors weren't as entertaining, and the ships' public rooms seem more "compartmentalized" rather than the open spacious public rooms on RC. However, I thought in general the production shows were better on Princess, the casinos more up-to-date, the cabins a little nicer, and the food was more consistently very good. We like RC and Princess both a lot, and we would make any decision between the two based on itinerary and price, if that helps.

[royalcruz]

I've sailed on Ruby and Solstice (sister ship to Equinox) in the Caribbean in the last year and have sailed both lines several times over the last few yrs. Both lines tend to have an older crowd than RC, but X and Princess ages are generally the same. Solstice class ships are more modern and upscale than Ruby. Ruby offers many more planned activites and entertainment options than X; it seemed like there was twice as much to do after dinner, and the cruise directors were much more memorable. I've been to a few really fun parties on Princess: New Years Eve party late night on a spring cruise and British Pub Night on the Emerald.

[sunshine nana]

We have been on great cruises on Emerald and Crown Princess and have had wonderful sevice and food, but I want to go to Istanbul next and last year the Ruby dropped that port after final payment, but before cruising (so it was not weather related). To avoid that, I booked our first Celebrity cruise on Equinox for the Med cruise next year.

[ClairetoCruise]

Sorry double post of #17

[ClairetoCruise]

Two votes for Ruby Princess.

 

Main reason is Equinox has "a sorry excuse for a promenade deck" (DH).

 

Equinox buffet is better for breakfast and lunch but not good for a dinner option.

 

Ruby Princess has more variety in lounge areas and music.

 

Claire & DH

[Denny01]

Two votes for Equinox. we've cruised on 11 Celebrity and 3 Princess. We go with Celebrity as our cruise line of choice and go to another for itineraries. We enjoyed Princess and cruised on the Island Princess, the sister ship of Ruby, and enjoyed it......but....

 

- If it is before Jan 12, smoking is allowed in Princess SRs and Balconies and ends 15 Jan 12. Two Princess SRs were OK, one had to be cleaned twice and we aren't anti-smoke fanatics. Celebrity has probably the most restrictive smoking guidelines of standard cruise lines. Princess will continue to allow smoking in the Casino.

-The shower in the standard Island (ruby) SR is Very small. we aren't big people and you had the shower curtain wrapped against you all the time. Equinox has a rounded shower enclosure which gives much more room.

- The standard Princess SR is good, but no room to have friends over and sit and socialize. we upgraded to a mini-suite for more social room. Equinox standard SR has a couch and seating area for socializing...not huge but adequate. Island/Ruby has more storage.

- I found the Celebrity common areas to be less crowded. Their design and crowd flow seemed to be well setup especially on the Solstice (Equinox is one) Class. Enjoyed Princess, but their theater didn't seat near enough and people were going in 1hr early to get seats. On Equinox Class, we went in 15min before and got seats...on Princess, no seats together on popular nights if you 'waited' until 15min before. I personally don't go into a venue and sit for an hour.

- Dining: I enjoyed both MDR experiences. Thought Celebrity had a bit more choices, and I loved the buffet setup on the Equinox Class - has stations instead of buffet lines. Loved it. Princess has 'modified' stations.

- Service. Both lines had great service. Much better than any other standard cruise line we've gone with. I'd give the edge to Celebrity, but that's because I think Celebrity is overall the best Line.....for us.

 

So, yes, we like Celebrity more. Princess had more activities, but we aren't 'joiners', we cruise with friends or make them on the cruise and don't go with a lot of the ship programs. Some...but not a lot.

 

So there is a Very Biased and subjective opinon.

 

Enjoy.....I've never been on a bad or even mediocre cruise with Any Line.

 

Den

[Rivington90]

Another point for Celebrity is that your past RCL cruises will earn you equivalent past guest status on Celebrity.

 

 

Hi BettyCruiser could you tell me please what I need to do to achieve this - can't find anywhere that I can notify Celebrity of my history with RCCL. Many thanks in anticipation that you can point me in the coreect direction. Best:) wishes

[pasto5]

We were Princess fans only until we cruised on the Eclipse last January. For us , what we miss most from Princess is MUTS. There is nothing like it on Celebrity. But we loved the decor, the small musical groups that are scattered throughout the ship, the glass show, the lectures and classes, food tours and events, the service and the speciality restaurants on Celebrity. We would sail Princess again but it would have to be in itinerary that we couldn't get with Celebrity. Good luck with the decision.

[BettyCruiser]

Hi BettyCruiser could you tell me please what I need to do to achieve this - can't find anywhere that I can notify Celebrity of my history with RCCL. Many thanks in anticipation that you can point me in the coreect direction. Best:) wishes

 

1-800-760-0654

 

After booking the cruise call the captains club at the above number and they will create a captains club account with equivalent status.