carribean princess or century?

[jamjam]

We are booked for the carribean princess for july 31 2004. We are considering the century, since it has the same western ports of call and a proven track record. Celebity has a bit better pricing stategy then princess! Any one sail century that would sail over the carribean princess? Should we switch our booking?

[montyone]

I can't speak about the CP, but the Century is my absolutely favorite ship out of 15 cruises! I'm sure you'll have a great time whatever you choose. Have fun!

[jorjen9]

I sailed Century last summer and it was absolutely wonderful. The ship was beautiful and the service impeccable, This summer we are sailing Caribbean Princess. I am looking forward to a brand new ship and hoping that it was be as great as Century.

Caribbean Princess- 6/5/04

[bappo]

we sailed the century last july. she was a beautiful ship, and we had a great time.

[melcoug93]

We haven't cruised on the CP but I can say that we wouldn't hesitate cruising on the Century again. I think the newer ships have more of a "Wow!" factor to them, but that's not something to base your decision soley upon. The Century was immaculate and it would have been hard to guess how old he was.

It all depends on what about a cruise is important to YOU. Both lines have fantastic service, but we keep choosing Princess for the freshwater pools open 24 hours a day and the food (which we think is just slightly better than Celebrity).

With the same itinerary,if prices were equal, we'd book CP no question. But if going with the Century saved us more than say $200, then we'd probably go on Celebrity.

[img]http://animatedgif.net/food/wine_e0.gif[/img]
98 Destiny
01 Century
02 Star Princess
03 Golden Princess
03 Canival Pride
Anniversary Cruise on the Golden 9/19/04
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[Kylie]

We are also cruising July 31 and looked at the Caribbean Princess, Celebrity, and HAL Zuiderdam. We ended up going with the Zuiderdam (first time with HAL) because of the great price and interesting itinerary.
Just a thought.

[jamjam]

Hi Kylie, thanks for the reply. My wife and I are both in our mid 30s. Would we fit in with a holland america crowd? Most people say it is for older cruisers!

[dimonzr4me]

We went on the Zuiderdam last summer, it is being marketed to families but the experience was not as fun as Princess or Carnival, however we had a suite and that part of the cruise was fabulous. The kids enjoyed it, they were 12 and 15 at the time.
We considered the Century also becasue they had great prices on the sky suites, a TA told us we would not like it as much as Princess. Anyway we decided for the same $ we would try our first 10 day cruise and we will be doing the Dawn next April.

4/9 2005 Dawn Princess
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[Seayalater]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]we sailed the Western Caribbean on Century in 2000. It was our first cruise and
we totally loved it. I posted a long [I]epinion[/I] of it on that site.

Century 2000
Millenium 2002
Caribbean Princess 2004

[Kylie]

jamjam
Can't tell you about the HAL crowd since this will be our first time with HAL. My husband & I are in our upper 40s so are 'older' than you. I have only read good things about the Zuiderdam so we are anxious to try it. We have also cruised Princess, Carnival, and RCCL but thought we'd try something different although I have nothing bad to say about those other cruise lines either.
I do want to check out the CP sometime (quite a bit more expensive now) and decided not to go with the older Celebrity ship this time. My husband and I are both teachers and got a great deal especially for teachers (also military, police, and firemen) on the Zuiderdam after we had already booked that was more than $200 less than our original price.
Let us know what you decide. I'm sure you won't go wrong with whatever you chose!

[LovingFL]

I'd say Caribbean Princess. Only because of the freshwater pools. If I want saltwater...I can walk no more than 100 feet from my back door.... The water might look prettier in the Caribbean...but it still feels the same...sticky...
Ok..so I like an up-scale hotel on the water... Am I the only one?


Mark

Until Caribbean Princess 9-4-04
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[jamjam]

Hi guys! Kylie, my wife and I are probably going to stick with Princess. This will be our second cruise with them. We had a great first experience on the Grand summer 2002, we will hope our instincts will put ourselves on the right ship.

[Guest]

Jamjam ~ Caribbean Princess and Century are very different ships. Century is much smaller and more intimate. Caribbean Princess carries nearly twice as many passengers as Century. We just came off the Golden and re-confirmed our preference for the smaller ships and fewer people. The layout of the Caribbean Princess' public area is very similiar to the Grand/Golden only they have an entire deck of additional passenger cabins with the same amount of public space.

For us, we prefer the smaller ships and smaller crowds. One could hardly navigate the Horizon Court on Golden Princess this week. I can't imagine what it will be like on the Caribbean Princess.

But everyone is different and prefers different things. Go with what you think you'd enjoy most!

~Host Anne

[jemingway]

We did the Century last July and would definitely take it again. We are on the Carib this July and expect it to be very different. Too early to compare, but I believe pricing is better on Carib, since there are very few balconies on the Century.

JV

[Michlotz51]

Kylie, we went on the Zuiderdam and it was one of the worst cruises I have been on (total 18) [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] I would most certainly go with the Princess (1st choice) or the Century. I've been on the Century and it was nice, we are going on the Caribbean Princess May 15. It will be my 4th with Princess, you can't go wrong with Princess. Happy Sailing [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

Michele

[bostonlass]

For those of you who like the Century....did you find that it has a much older crowd than the Princess cruises and if so did that effect you at all?

[Helen]

My sister and I were on the Century last summer and absolutely loved it! Smaller than the ships I've been on but very intimate and couldn't ask for a better crew. We loved our dinner mates who were very diverse in age (I'm in my forties) and we saw many who were much younger. It was so much fun the whole week. I have been on 4 Princess cruises and getting ready to go again on the Caribbean on June 12, but would go again on the Century tomorrow. The food and service were great.

[Michlotz51]

Bostonlass, I wouldn't say it was a much older crowd than the Princess, but most of the activities were geared around a little older people. It certainly didn't affect my cruise being my hubby is much older than I. I am used of being around older people and find that I like it very much [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] IMO If the Century and Princess were sailing and the Century was less than $500 from Princess I would still take Princess. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Michele

[bostonlass]

I'm in the same predicament which is why I have so many questions as well. Were the shows/comedians geared toward an older crowd on the Century?

[jemingway]

The summer crowd on the Century is much younger than the crowd other times of year, so it was not too old for us.

JV

[Vale]

Just off the 4/17 cruise of CP. Would recommend the Century. Sailed Century and it was much better. I don't think there is so much "WOW" on the CP. Just a lot of people in the buffet, cannot find tables. Sailed the Grand and liked it much better. Problems with PC dining. Hopefully CP gets their act together soon!

Carnival Spirit, HAL Zuiderdam,Carnival Spirit, Amsterdam, Alaska, Grand Princess, HAL Valendam, Nordic Empress, Enchantment of the Seas, Celebrity Century, HAL Ryndam, Seawind Crown,Dawn Princess, Island Breeze.

[superbugs]

I am going back to back on CP & Century in Oct. can't wait to see both of them. 10/16 on CP then right after off the ship, i will hop onto Century. there are so many good reviews on Century about its food and service. These 2 cruiselines seem to be in the very competition line. so happy to compare them and i will tell you which one wins!

[goldengirl]

hi

been on the century 2 times it is an older ship but kept nicely and has great food. entertainment was so so. will be sialing carribean princess
on 5-22-04, 1st princess. i hope i have made a good decision as i have read
mixed reviews, i do not expect the food to be better than Celebrtiy.

so i will post on the board once i return and let you know.

it seems that the century prices are always good.

i hope i have helped a little, it can be mind boggling to figure out what ship to cruise to. i also have heard that Century is the training ship for celebrity cruise lines and that is why service is so good.

[sparkle56]

I've been on both and thought both were great.

Century is smaller, slightly more upscale, has nice touches like teak promenade deck, five story atrium (gorgeous), beautiful two story dining room, a very formal tea one afternoon, superb food, midnight Grand buffet, really fun theme nights. It has more of a "classic" feel to it.

Caribbean Princess is huge but they handle crowds quite well, they have freshwater pools that are open 24 hrs. a day, good food, 3 story atrium, one story dining rooms (3 of them)with low ceilings, lots of balcony cabins.
I don't think Princess does as good a job of theme nights or of engaging as many passengers in activities, and there is no midnight buffet.

Most people can't eat at the midnight buffet anyway but it is certainly beautiful to look at.

I think they are about the same, age-wise. . .saw all ages on both ships.
Made lasting friends on both ships.

[Rustynail]

We sailed the Century in December and loved the experience. The cruise did have more seniors aboard that I expected but they were alot of fun and enjoyed themselves as much as anyone else.

We are booked on the CP this Jan partly because I do like that 'wow' factor of a large ship conpared to the beautiful but more intimate Century.

If you chose the Century you won't go wrong.

Rusty

[img]http://www.animatedgif.net/animals/dogs/stikdog_e0.gif[/img]

CARRIBEAN PRINCESS JAN 2005
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CARNIVAL'S LEGEND JAN 2003
CELEBRITY'S CENTURY DEC 2003
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