Questions about Princess

[Cruisegirl6]

Hello,

 

I have made a few posts on here regarding Princess Cruises, I am a very experienced cruiser only have sailed Princess years ago and strayed away due to wanting to upgrade our status on other cruise lines.

 

My other half and I are debating princess or celebrity and he mentioned I should ask this board a few questions to enable us choose the right cruise line for us for our family cruise next year.

 

Why do you like celebrity, what does celebrity offer you that keeps you coming back?

 

About us:

My other half and I are 51, my father in law will be coming he will be 75, my daughter 22 with her boyfriend who is older, then my brother in law 53 and sister in law 52. My sister in law loves shows, my other half and I and father in law love to listen to live music and we do like to play late in the wee hours in the casino for fun. We normally do stay up late until around 2am and we love good food and service. We don't mind paying for specialty restaurants (our last cruise on the Allure of the Seas two weeks ago we only went to specialty restaurants) if we are getting better variety/quality and selection. Since we are up late, we do like to have a snack and sitting in our cabins for room service to come is out of the question, so hoping for a snack late at night around 12-1am, wondering what they have to offer.

 

Anything you have to tell us would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

[MicCanberra]

Hello,

 

I have made a few posts on here regarding Princess Cruises, I am a very experienced cruiser only have sailed Princess years ago and strayed away due to wanting to upgrade our status on other cruise lines.

 

My other half and I are debating princess or celebrity and he mentioned I should ask this board a few questions to enable us choose the right cruise line for us for our family cruise next year.

 

Why do you like celebrity, what does celebrity offer you that keeps you coming back?

 

About us:

My other half and I are 51, my father in law will be coming he will be 75, my daughter 22 with her boyfriend who is older, then my brother in law 53 and sister in law 52. My sister in law loves shows, my other half and I and father in law love to listen to live music and we do like to play late in the wee hours in the casino for fun. We normally do stay up late until around 2am and we love good food and service. We don't mind paying for specialty restaurants (our last cruise on the Allure of the Seas two weeks ago we only went to specialty restaurants) if we are getting better variety/quality and selection. Since we are up late, we do like to have a snack and sitting in our cabins for room service to come is out of the question, so hoping for a snack late at night around 12-1am, wondering what they have to offer.

 

Anything you have to tell us would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

 

In my experience, if you like Princess, then you will like Celebrity. The balcony rooms on X are larger than on Princess, the demographic on the cruises I have done are younger (not by much) on X and therefore the night life is more active. I am sure this varies depending on itinerary but a Caribbean cruise (I have not done one) would be similar no matter which of the two you are with.

 

I would go on the itinerary and the timing and then the price to select between the two.:D

[chamima]

Hello,

 

I have made a few posts on here regarding Princess Cruises, I am a very experienced cruiser only have sailed Princess years ago and strayed away due to wanting to upgrade our status on other cruise lines.

 

My other half and I are debating princess or celebrity and he mentioned I should ask this board a few questions to enable us choose the right cruise line for us for our family cruise next year.

 

Why do you like celebrity, what does celebrity offer you that keeps you coming back?

 

About us:

My other half and I are 51, my father in law will be coming he will be 75, my daughter 22 with her boyfriend who is older, then my brother in law 53 and sister in law 52. My sister in law loves shows, my other half and I and father in law love to listen to live music and we do like to play late in the wee hours in the casino for fun. We normally do stay up late until around 2am and we love good food and service. We don't mind paying for specialty restaurants (our last cruise on the Allure of the Seas two weeks ago we only went to specialty restaurants) if we are getting better variety/quality and selection. Since we are up late, we do like to have a snack and sitting in our cabins for room service to come is out of the question, so hoping for a snack late at night around 12-1am, wondering what they have to offer.

 

Anything you have to tell us would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

 

We sail both lines so I'll try to answer your questions.

Itinerary usually determines which line we choose. Princess has much better choices in the Pacific (Hawaii, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand) but no longer has a true 14 day in the Caribbean so we sail Celebrity for that.

The main theater shows are similar on both. Celebrity used to have better options for different types of live music but seems to be scaling back recently just as Princess seems to be adding to their live music. If you like a sing-along live piano bar that's only on Princess.

As far as a late night snack I think Princess wins hands down. The International Cafe is open all night with pastries and other small foods. Celebrity has pizza and what look to be leftover foods in their buffet and I'm not positive but I think even that shuts down around 1 am.

If it matters, the casino on Princess still allows smoking but on Celebrity it's smoke free.

Also, to add in the mix is that lately Celebrity has included a "beverage package" (which includes a limited selection of alcoholic drinks) on most of their cruises . We upgrade ($11.50/day/pp) to their premium and , although we're not big drinkers, it has been fun to try things we'd never thought of. However, all liquor and wine prices on Princess are significantly less expensive than they are on Celebrity (and Princess has also introduced a package ) so that may even out the playing field.

Hope I've helped - not confused .

[Cruisegirl6]

Yes, you have helped and I am hoping to hear from other people because I am still in a little blank about a few things.

 

I did confirm what you said that Celebrity has no smoking policy in the casino (not that I didn't believe you but my daughter and her bf smoke the electronic/vapor cigarettes and just verified they treat that just like regular cigarette smoking......all of us would love that but not daughter and bf, plus hearing that Princess offers more lets say finger foods (besides pizza) late at night is exactly what we are looking for.

 

I pretty much am dismissing Celebrity based on those two issues above, but then I heard Celebrity gets very quiet around 10:30pm and hate to be kicked out of the casino as somebody told me on X board they got kicked out at 11:30 because the casino was empty, this is not good for our family.

 

So now, Princess and the RC Oasis of the Seas is on top of our list. We just got off the Allure (being my 53rd cruise and the best ship I ever been on, but the problem is the promenade deck has the same decor and has the very same places to go as its Freedom class ships which we have sailed over 4 times the past two years and just tired of that same look on that deck) and we were docked next to a Princess Ship at one port and loved her look, very slick and stylish I say.

 

If you don't mind us asking more questions to help us decide it be great.

 

1- What type of foods do they offer past midnight at the international cafe, any mini sandwiches/finger sandwiches, salad, fruit, cheese etc. besides pastries?

 

2- How is Sabatoni's and the Crown Grill? Has anybody been on the Allure/Giovanni's and Chops and can compare to Sabatoni's and Crown Grill?

 

3- Does anybody have the bar list/menu?

 

4- How is the Princess casino any fun and if they don't meet quota do they close the casino late at night?

[OCruisers]

You'd enjoy sailing on a Princess ship with an IC (International Café). The IC is open 24 hours and has a variety of tasty snacks. :)

LuLu

[CruisingJs]

I'm not really a late night person but I don't think I've ever seen the casino on Princess close except when in port...and we do spend considerable time there.:D

[Cruisegirl6]

I have to be both gluten and dairy free how is Princess in providing me with food items for my special dietary needs?

[caribill]

I have to be both gluten and dairy free how is Princess in providing me with food items for my special dietary needs?

 

Excellent.

 

Besides notifying Princess in advance, on the first evening meet with your headwaiter.

 

He will help you select appropriate items from that evening's menu and bring you the menus for the next day (B,L,D (lunch in the dining room is only on sea days)) and work with you to select items that can be made to fit your needs. This can be done if you are in traditional fixed dining or in anytime dining as your selected menu is kept by cabin number, not by table number.

 

Do let your waitstaff know about your restrictions. They cannot order anything special as the headwaiter can, but this will prevent them from serving you what you cannot have.

 

If you go to the buffet, speak with the headwaiter there about what is available you can have.

 

If you want to have dinner at a specialty restaurant, go there the evening before to work with the headwaiter there to plan your meal.

 

With 24 hours notice, pizza near the pool can be prepared without gluten and without cheese.

[NorCal123]

Here is a tasty link to the International Cafe thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1835544

[NorCal123]

Here is a link to Princess Bar menu http://www.alcademics.com/2012/07/the-princess-cruises-cocktail-menu.html

[Cruisegirl6]

You guys are wonderful!

[dd57]

After pre-arranging with the Maitre D on the first day aboard, I was able to get gluten free muffins at the IC each day. I made it a standing order. Also, you can get GF pizza at the pizza place on Lido deck. You do have to tell them the day before to guarantee that a GF crust is available. Sorry, I can't help with dairy free at these venues. Once you board, go talk to the Maitre D during the published hours and you can get more information about how to make requests and what venues can accommodate you.

[Colo Cruiser]

After pre-arranging with the Maitre D on the first day aboard, I was able to get gluten free muffins at the IC each day. I made it a standing order. Also, you can get GF pizza at the pizza place on Lido deck. You do have to tell them the day before to guarantee that a GF crust is available. Sorry, I can't help with dairy free at these venues. Once you board, go talk to the Maitre D during the published hours and you can get more information about how to make requests and what venues can accommodate you.

 

 

What ship?

[erber]

We have been on many Princess cruises. We traveled with my sister in law on several. She cannot have gluten. Princess was very accommodating. Meals were discussed the night before in the dining room so that she could arrange for gluten free dinner the following evening. Even when in the Horizon Court buffet someone would help to make sure she made appropriate selections. She was even able to have gluten free options at afternoon tea (this was also arranged the day before so that the options would be available). We were sailing on the Royal on one trip with her and Alfredo's (the sit down pizza restaurant) was able to make her gluten free pizza. She did not ask for gluten free pizza on the Lido deck but I have heard other people arrange for it up there as well.

 

As for the International Cafe. It is a wonderful spot for a late night snack. While gluten free options are not as plentiful, they always had a least one gluten free dessert available at the IC (and also in the Horizon Court, which is the buffet that is open until 11:00 or 11:30 p.m. in the evenings).

[Cruisegirl6]

Royal Princess April 18 caribbean

[dd57]

What ship?

 

We were on the Emerald Princess, TA and Baltic.

[telcom]

I have to be both gluten and dairy free how is Princess in providing me with food items for my special dietary needs?

 

I have to follow a gluten-free diet...entered this in the cruise personalizer and called the 800 number. They require a fax to the dietary coordinator indicating your special dietary needs.

 

A cruise this past January on the Celebrity Solstice was the first cruise I've taken since being diagnosed. It seemed to be no trouble for them (having notified them ahead of time)...they even had made-to-order pizzas at the buffet...used separate utensils. So, in a few weeks I'll see how it goes on Princess.

[Cruisegirl6]

I cross my fingers everything goes perfect for you!

[dorisis]

I think Princess does a better job with the special restaurants and if I remember they are also cheaper than Celebrity or RC. Pizza on princes is excellent especially on the upper deck with good choices.

[OCruisers]

A manager of the Horizon Court Buffet was telling us he wished more people realized they could meet special dietary needs up there as well and were extremely careful with cross contamination. Seems a manager or assistant manager will walk around with you to point out suitable selections.

LuLu

[Kamloops50]

My wife eats gluten free for health reason. We get an Email with instructions. They say on the first night in the MDR ask to talk to the Maitre de. He or she will indicate what is gluten free . They will give you the next night's menu. You'll be to l d what is gluten free and what can be made gluten free.

 

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Forums mobile app

[MicCanberra]

A manager of the Horizon Court Buffet was telling us he wished more people realized they could meet special dietary needs up there as well and were extremely careful with cross contamination. Seems a manager or assistant manager will walk around with you to point out suitable selections.

LuLu

 

The staff often will sort out any issue, but they need to know. It is just a matter of asking rather than complaining.:D