Help Sea Princess or Celebrity Galaxy?

[SanFranBayCruiser]

Well it's deposit time for us - we will be cruising during the holidays in 2006 and, we're torn between booking Sea Princess or Galaxy. We'd appreciate your input since we haven't sailed either of these ships yet. We will be a small group - my husband and I (early 40s), my brother and his wife (early 40s) and their 1.5 year old daugther (age at the time of sailing), my parents ages 68 and 70, and some friends ranging in ages from late 30s to very late 20s.

 

Overall - we are an active bunch but, don't need to be in motion every minute of the day. Food is one of our biggest priorities - we have been to most of the ports on both itineraries so it's just a matter of enjoying each other's company and enjoying the food onboard. The casino is another big factor for the adults. We won't need a babysitter or kids club but, would like to be able to have a crib in my brother's cabin without a hassle.

 

So which do you recommend for foodies who like to spend a lot of free in time the casino and evening shows? Galaxy? Or Sea Princess?

 

Thanks!

[chrysalis]

Reports from the Sea Princess seem to indicate that the food has been some of the best that people have had in years. There are a couple of threads recently "live from the Sea" that you might want to review, as they contain a ton of up-to-date info.

 

We love the Sun Class ships, of which the Sea in one, and look forward to boarding her in March.

[PescadoAmarillo]

We just got off a 14 night Sea Princess cruise, and have spent 35 nights (3 cruises) on the Galaxy in the past year, so I will try to provide some information.

 

The Sea Princess food was very good to excellent, but still a notch below the food we had on the Galaxy. The dining room service on all three of our Galaxy cruises this year was nothing less than superb. The dining room service on the Sea Princess was (in PC dining) sometimes excellent and at other times very spotty. So, if food is the main criterion, I would say go with the Galaxy.

 

There is no comparison between the buffet food on the Galaxy (excellent) and the Sea Princess (average). The Galaxy has a wonderful made to order waffle and omelet areas in the buffet at breakfast, and excellent made to order pasta during lunch. It also has a sushi bar open every evening. It doesn't, however, have a 24 hour buffet or even a dinner buffet (there is an alternative restaurant in the buffet at dinner, with a rotating 3 entree menu).

 

However, the Galaxy is really showing her age. We've been on the Century, Mercury and Galaxy several times since 1999, and are a bit surprised at how worn the ship is looking (not dirty, just tired). On the other hand, the Sea Princess was in almost perfect condition, even though it is only a year or two newer than the Galaxy.

 

There is a small children's pool on Deck 9 Aft on the Galaxy (just outside the children's area). I don't believe that there is a children's pool on the Sea Princess.

 

The loyalty hostess on the Galaxy last winter (Roxanna Mois) was the best we've ever enjoyed meeting. The loyalty hostess on the Sea Princess (Bernadette) left a bit to be desired.

 

I used to say that Princess entertainment was much better than Celebrity, but the entertainment was fair at best on the Sea Princess.

 

Hope that helps.

[cruzzers]

jmb410- We will be on the Sea Princess in Feb. Have you posted any pictures of that cruise yet? Also, are there any paticular tours that you would recommend? We are anxious to go on the port intensive cruise and would love to hear what if any ideas you have for us. Thanks, and happy holidays!

[PescadoAmarillo]

No, no photos online yet. Part of the problem is that they resided in three places...1.) my digital camera, 2.) my husband's new video camera that also takes still photos and 3.) my husband's digital camera. I have the first two downloaded, but I need him to download the photos from his camera. He came home from the cruise and went right back to work and is crazy busy right now, so it may take a few more days. Of the photos I've downloaded, I'm a little disappointed in the content...most of them are sunsets (beautiful, but not very informative). But I'll try to get something together in the next week or so. And I also have kept out the Log of the Cruise to put some of that information online also.

[Charliesmom]

If it were my choice - Sea Princess or Celebrity Galaxy, I would choose the Sea Princess. The Galaxy is the same design as the Celebrity Mercury. One thing I noticed on our cruise on the Mercury was that the ship leaned in the wind. I do know that after we had cruised, they had an incident where it leaned precipitously whilie leaving Progreso - enough so that crockery went flying from the tables in the dining room.

 

On the other hand, the Sea Princess is so stable, you almost don't feel like you are on a ship. We have sailed on her at least three times (in a mini-suite).

 

Which would you rather be on during a storm?

 

Also - the mini-suites are MUCH nicer on the Sea Princess. They are two separate rooms with a walk-in closet and a two-room bathroom. You get twice the room of a balcony room for about 1/3 more money.

 

Roberta

[cruzzers]

JMB410..Looking forward to the pictures! I went in and looked at the ones you have posted and they are great. We were on the Sun last year and enjoyed it alot. We are hoping the Sea will be just as enjoyable and from the way everyone is talking, we shouldn't be disappointed at all.

[Pandaman]

I think it depends on what holds more interest for you. Food overall and buffet ( and room service ) were better on the Galaxy, but just by a notch. Buffet serving area is small in Princess, huge on Galaxy, so at peak times Princess can be hard to find a seat and get through the line. Pool area is larger on Princess, but Galaxy and two nice pools - midship and aft. More areas to relax in bars/lounges on Princess. I thought service all the way around on Galaxy was better, but the low-key, unobtrusive service on Princess grew on me. I really don't think you will be disappointed on either ship. I would look at cabin availability, cost and itinerary rather then the ship itself. Happy cruising!

[GSDsky]

Thank you again for the "live from" thread you did a great job.

 

2 weeks and our turn...

 

Pics??? where?

[chrysalis]

rotti,

 

have some "Zander" if it is on the dinner menu...first cousin to walleye

[GSDsky]

Your parcel got lost so will have an "eye" out LMAO...