Comparing Princess and Celebrity

[Bimmer09]

rum did someone say rum?????????

 

Yes there is rum.

 

Oops! wait a minute. I just drank the last bottle of Myers.

 

Norris

[Tedferg]

This is great, thanks. We have only sailed Princess, four times with Grand coming in May for the fifth. I have heard suggestion to pick itinerary and then compare prices, then compare cruise lines - maybe ship comparison could be thrown in there too.

 

Looking for a Spring getaway we compared Princess and X for Caribbean. The 1,2,3 Go package was enticing. However Princess prices were lower and OBC from Future Cruise Deposit plus Veteran OBC on Princess gave them an advantage. Added to that is qualifying for Platinum on Princess on next cruise - not a big deal but a help as a tie breaker. The opportunity to sail Regal was a plus - not sure we will like the big ships but worth it to give it a try.

 

Our travelling companions suggested Mexican Riviera and so we changed plans - short drive to SFO; no air fare; sail under Golden Gate clinched it for Princess.

[Bimmer09]

 

Good German faucets. "Vee haff vays of making you lather". Hiding in the vanity are Bvlgari products-White Tea scent.

 

 

Bathtub and shower with Hansgrohe fixtures from Germany. There's a grab bar next to the shower controls but there's also a perspex screen to stop splashing which makes it difficult to reach the grab bar to get into or out of the shower.

 

 

 

A small but functional bathroom.

 

And lastly the balcony

 

 

The balcony maybe half the size of the Princess one (I'd guess 70+ sq ft) and consequently there is less furniture and less teak.

 

AFT SUITES ACCOMODATIONS?

 

ADVANTAGE PRINCESS

 

(For the double bathroom, 2 TVs, storage space, bedroom curtain and huge balcony. Free mini bar and wet bar also.)

 

BUT WHAT ABOUT SUITE ENHANCEMENTS?

[emelle]

;)

Just checking in for the review. Loving your humor, just as before.

 

We have a suite for our first PCL alaska this summer and like your insight.

 

Will grab an appropriate beverage later and have full photo inspection!

 

emelle

[RocketMan275]

Quick question. Why do you prefer the Penthouse balcony on a Grand v. the Vista balcony? We have a Vista booked on CB on Dolphin.

[Bimmer09]

Quick question. Why do you prefer the Penthouse balcony on a Grand v. the Vista balcony? We have a Vista booked on CB on Dolphin.

 

Vista on Emerald Princess Caribe deck C750

 

 

 

If you look at the far lounger-it's upright and the end is touching the glass wall.

I couldn't lay down or recline on it as the deck is about 3 ft shallower than a Penthouse balcony.

 

You'll also see the beam I mentioned between the loungers.

 

Scroll back a few posts to the Penthouse pic.

 

However a Vista will save you about $1000 which on a port intensive cruise was worth giving up the space for.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Norris

[G&Gcruisers]

Following

 

INTERNET EXPERIENCE?

ADVANTAGE PRINCESS

 

Agree with the internet experience. We also love the Princess Cruise Atlas for info and " cruise dreaming"

Margie

[Bimmer09]

There are a couple of things that make a suite on Princess even sweeter- the free priority laundry (back next day) and the free minibar. Free internet minutes come as you rise up through the Loyalty program. On the Ruby we were platinum and had 150 minutes each. You can get meals including dinner in your room but that is true of X too so that's a wash.

 

Celebrity suites have the following perks;

 

Free unlimited internet- we didn't know that going in but there was a card on our desk telling us the good news. It's $199 otherwise.

 

A butler: this is someone whose duties include; unpacking and packing your luggage, making restaurant reservations, bringing tea and coffee on demand, setting up in room parties, serving meals on your balcony,taking your laundry and on Formal Nights you have reserved seating held until 15 minutes before showtime in the Silhouette Theatre-dead center in the balcony so very good seats. So there's value there.

Suites have a dedicated restaurant called Luminae

 

 

and also have access to another restaurant called Blu which is for Aqua class and Suite Passengers

 

 

On Princess suite passengers (only) get to enjoy breakfast (only) in Sabatini's

 

 

So far looks pretty even.....

[Bimmer09]

We got a phone message one day-it was the Concierge saying she would love to meet us and hoped to see us in Michael's Club. We walked past it each day on our way to breakfast in Blu and never stopped in. So one night we did.

 

We walked into the lobby

 

 

We were immediately welcomed by the Concierge, a European Fashion Model called Anca. She showed us around.

 

 

This was the kind of intimate cosy venue that Perry Grant used to play in before moving to Royal Princess.

 

The drinks here are free to Suites and Elites -name it and it's yours. No need for any beverage package. Xenia (?) the European Film Starlet bartender brought us our drinks. I had a Baileys on the rocks. Anca showed us the industrial sized Nespresso machine and we bowed down before it.

She pointed out the drinks cooler along the wall

 

 

The beer section gets locked at midnight but 24/7 you can come in and help yourself to sodas, juices and bottled water. Nice!

 

Now, was there anything she could help us with?

 

I told her our butler had made a reservation in Tuscan Grille but couldn't guarantee a seat by the window (it's on the stern and we wanted to watch the wake).

 

"Just one moment" and she got on the phone. "Come, I will escort you"

 

She led us to the TG and introduced us to the Maitre 'd and he led us to our window table. Thank you Anca.

 

If you want a personal tour of the bridge, galley, theatre etc- ask the Concierge and she can make it happen. Want to have dinner with an Officer? Let her know.

She will also help you off the ship with your carry ons on disembarkation.

 

So with that I have to say I was impressed.

SUITE ENHANCEMENTS?

 

ADVANTAGE CELEBRITY

[lor74]

This is the best comparison thread I have ever read....great job, looking forward to the rest. Thanks!

 

P.s. I managed to get through the first 23 pages of your Silhouette review today...also a great read!

Edited February 19, 2016 by lor74

[Bimmer09]

This is the best comparison thread I have ever read....great job, looking forward to the rest. Thanks!

 

P.s. I managed to get through the first 23 pages of your Silhouette review today...also a great read!

 

lor, thanks very much for the compliments!

 

I'm glad you are finding it useful/informative.

 

I have only got to page 11 on the Silhouette review so you're leaving me in the dust!

 

Cheers,

 

Norris

[need2cruisesoon]

Norris, hope you don't mind but for Princess people here is the location of your cabin aft port side:

 

[ar1950]

Norris, great and interesting comparison. I haven't ever seen one with pictures and a play by play narrative like yours.

 

I have pulled up the deck lounger. However, due to health considerations I will pass on the muffins. The libations are another matter. Adjustments will be made to compensate.:D

 

Waiting for the rest! :cool:

[Working 2 Cruise]

Thank you Norris! This is, once again, fabulous!

 

II'm going to start on your review of the Silhouette... :D:D

Edited February 19, 2016 by Working 2 Cruise

[GUT2407]

Great thread thanks all.

[Bimmer09]

On Princess you have a few options if you board early enough. There is of course the Horizon Court buffet, the International cafe (snacks), the excellent burgers and brats at the Trident Grill, the Pizzeria by the pool and from noon to 1.30 (but many people are unaware of the fact) is lunch in the MDR. Staff will sometimes not tell you about that option and when you get there you may find the door closed- go on in if it's within the time frame.

 

On X the free venues for non-suites/aqua class are the Mast Grill for burgers and fries and the fantastic Oceanview cafe-the buffet. That's it for the free ones.

 

If I am missing something perhaps a seasoned X cruiser can chime in? (Aqua Spa cafe?)

 

As suite guests we ate in Luminae which was open from 11-2.30-very generous serving hours.

 

MDR lunch on the Ruby

 

My rustic Tuscan Chickpea Soup (of the Gods)

 

 

My Beef tenderloin with roasted red potatoes and broccoli

 

 

And Carol's Bay shrimp with avocado

 

 

And in Luminae

 

My celebrity Signature Burger with truffle fries

 

 

And Carol has the Seafood brochette

 

 

Now the service in Luminae is that of a fine dining restaurant-impeccable and polished.

 

The MDR staff on the Ruby are not of that calibre. However the food they brought us was the best MDR food we have had on the line and I remarked to Carol how good it was and she nodded in agreement. I still remember it. It was better than the following Emerald cruise by a marked degree so I can't claim that all the MDR kitchens can offer that quality of preparation every day. It outshone the meal in Luminae in terms of flavor.

 

We are not rampant foodies. I am fine with eating Bush's Baked Beans from the can and also enjoy Michelin Star cooking in Chicago, San Francisco and New York.

Foie gras and truffles-I'm there! My taste in food is the same as my taste in music-wide. We both cook at home a lot-I'm the meat and potatoes and Indian curries chef while Carol can cook anything that has a recipe (Italian and French mainly). We eat well.

We enjoy chef shows on TV and learn from them. We like food seasoned while it's cooking-salt and pepper shouldn't be needed at the table. We found Luminae food under seasoned . We didn't share bites-wow you gotta try this! which is a barometer of our enjoyment at the table.

 

EMBARKATION LUNCH?

 

ADVANTAGE PRINCESS

 

(FOR THE VARIETY OF FREE DINING VENUES AND THE QUALITY OF THE RUBY IN THIS EXAMPLE)

[Bimmer09]

Norris, hope you don't mind but for Princess people here is the location of your cabin aft port side:

 

 

need2cruisesoon (is that your real name?) I like the message in it!

I certainly don't mind you helping out at all and thank you for the photo! That was very considerate of you.

 

Here's another shot taken in St Maarten. Carol is on the balcony wearing a pink shirt.

 

 

[exarkkun]

Norris, I was only able to read the introductory paragraph and I'm already in love. I don't know if my husband and I will ever get a chance to sail either Princess or Celebrity, but you make me want to.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Bimmer09]

Thank you Norris! This is, once again, fabulous!

 

II'm going to start on your review of the Silhouette... :D:D

 

Nina, thank you!

 

Looks like a lot of reading in your future!

 

Norris

[GUT2407]

I like both lines.

 

Each has some things I like more than the other.

 

We mainly cruise Princess, but I big issue in that is that they have ships here year round (between 3 and 5) whereas Celebrity only have one here for six months and the odd quick visit. Plus Priness charge in Aus$ and that exchange rate can be a killer.

[DMCruiser]

Norris, I followed your review of the Emerald late last year and closely followed your recent Celebrity review. I am one of those who took a Celebrity cruise years ago and have not been back. However, your review has peaked my interest. Looking forward to this update!

 

Thanks for taking the time to write this comparison!!

 

Diana

[bottomfeeder]

Love your review style! I cruised Princess years ago and if I wasn't afraid I might run into my ex-husband there I'd try Princess again! ;)

 

Yes, Aqua Spa Cafe is open for lunch, no charge, on Celebrity ships including on the day of embarkation.

[Bimmer09]

I like both lines.

 

Each has some things I like more than the other.

 

We mainly cruise Princess, but I big issue in that is that they have ships here year round (between 3 and 5) whereas Celebrity only have one here for six months and the odd quick visit. Plus Priness charge in Aus$ and that exchange rate can be a killer.

 

Gut, I like both lines too.

 

With 18 ships vs Celebrity's 10 I can understand the bigger presence of Princess down under.

 

Thanks for the response!

 

Norris

[GUT2407]

Gut, I like both lines too.

 

With 18 ships vs Celebrity's 10 I can understand the bigger presence of Princess down under.

 

Thanks for the response!

 

Norris

 

G'day Norris

 

Loving your comparison.

 

Possibly another issue for us is that Princess was our "first".

 

Wife says if Princess added an Aqua Spa Cafe and a Sanwuch Bar she'd be as happy as...

[senior lady]

love your comparison........

I've cruised Celebrity also, but I stick with Princess because of the perks I get for being Elite and also my Carnival shares.

Very hard to give up:confused: