First Time On Celebrity

[flhusker]

Hubby and I will be taking our first Celebrity cruise next April (2020).  We've been loyal the the Princess Cruises; however, some of the changes they have recently instituted we don't like.  Therefore, we are giving Celebrity a try.  We are on Celebrity Reflection Trans-atlantic from Ft. Lauderdale in April 2020.  Now for my question(s):

 

Laundry facilities:  Princess has self-service laundies on every deck so I can pack less clothes.  I understand Celebrity does not. 1-how expensive is it to have laundry sent out, 2-will they wash in cold water if requested, 3-will they bring back certain item (my undies and bras) so I can air dry in the room (I never put these items in a dryer).

 

One of the things I liked about Princess is we didn't have to walk through the casino every time we wanted to go somewhere.  How is the casino setup on Reflections, in particular.  Is it off to the side or right in the middle so that you have to walk through it no matter where you're going.

 

Princess has what they call a Daily Platter that lists everything going on that day. Does Celebrity have something similar?  I don't have a cell phone and don't want to carry around my Kindle constantly and spend money on internet service.

 

I know I have more question but that's good for a start.

[bEwAbG]

They have a list of laundry prices in the FAQ of the website.  It's toward the bottom of the page at the link below.  Sometimes they offer a "stuff the bag" special for less money (typically around $50) but that can vary.  That's also for wash and fold only.  It's an industrial laundry facility so while you can write "cold water only" on your form, I don't think there are any guarantees as the standard is hot water and hot dryer, so safest would be to send only pre-shrunk items.  I'd not send in anything delicate or that you treat with special care when you do it yourself.  Many people do hand washing in their rooms, especially for delicate items.  I'm sure someone will be along to offer their tips for that.  However, Cruise Critic is full of threads about doing laundry yourself if you use the search function.

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/company/customer-support/help-and-faqs/during-your-cruise/all-during-your-cruise-faqs

 

If you look at a deck plan for Reflection, the casino is on Deck 4.  That area labeled Shops on the Boulevard is a walkway that goes around the casino, so you can avoid walking through it.  You can also walk through the casino if that walkway is crowded.  The great thing about Celebrity is that the casino is non-smoking. 

 

The daily planner is called Celebrity Today.  There will be a paper copy provided in your cabin each night.  While Celebrity does have an app available that can replace this, it is not yet on every ship.  The app is available for Reflection.  You do not have to have an internet package to use it, should someone you're traveling with wish to download and use it once on the ship.  I don't know that it would work on a Kindle, though. It's offered for Apple and Android devices but I have no familiarity with how Kindle fits within those ecosystems.

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/celebrity-app/

 

 

[4774Papa]

56 minutes ago, flhusker said:

Hubby and I will be taking our first Celebrity cruise next April (2020).  We've been loyal the the Princess Cruises; however, some of the changes they have recently instituted we don't like.  Therefore, we are giving Celebrity a try.  We are on Celebrity Reflection Trans-atlantic from Ft. Lauderdale in April 2020.  Now for my question(s):

 

Laundry facilities:  Princess has self-service laundies on every deck so I can pack less clothes.  I understand Celebrity does not. 1-how expensive is it to have laundry sent out, 2-will they wash in cold water if requested, 3-will they bring back certain item (my undies and bras) so I can air dry in the room (I never put these items in a dryer).

 

One of the things I liked about Princess is we didn't have to walk through the casino every time we wanted to go somewhere.  How is the casino setup on Reflections, in particular.  Is it off to the side or right in the middle so that you have to walk through it no matter where you're going.

 

Princess has what they call a Daily Platter that lists everything going on that day. Does Celebrity have something similar?  I don't have a cell phone and don't want to carry around my Kindle constantly and spend money on internet service.

 

I know I have more question but that's good for a start.

We have never cruised on Princess, but know others that have and they all say Princess is comparable to Celebrity.

 

1) Laundry, yes, Celebrity has no laundry facilities, but they have specials on a bag of laundry that you may take.   I send all my underclothes, socks, polo shirts and kaki trousers to the laundry.  I don't send delicate fabrics.  You should consider hand washing some of your delicates.  Once you achieve elite status, you each get a free bag of laundry.

2) Reflection is an S class ship and the casino is easy to walk through without dodging slot machines, etc.  There is no smoking in the casino, which is great.

3) Celebrity has something like a daily planner.  Also, many people buy an internet plan and use their computers and/or phones onboard.  We generally don't do that.

4) Dining is excellent on Celebrity, considering they feed 3,000 or so people at a time.  We generally dine in the MDR in Select dining where you choice when to dine.  The buffets on Celebrity are generally excellent and offer an omelet station as well as an eggs benedict station.  The salad bar at the buffet is excellent.

[roxievegas]

We did our first 7 cruises on Celebrity -  but then tried Princess because we did not want to fly and Princess has cruises that goes out of the LA port.

We would go Celebrity first, but if price comes in to play, then Princess is a go.  We get the Princess casino rate and we can get a much lower price.

My hubby enjoys the coffee on Celebrity, food in MDR, cabins are larger (we mainly go Balcony).  Specialty Restaurants you can bargain the price down, but then it is the same as Princess and $30 pp.  Having laundry room on Princess is nice if you are going on a long cruise (we went 28 nights), but on Celebrity we washed out our under garments and hung them up to dry.

I think you will find them comparable.

 

[ghstudio]

agree with the comments above.  You are trying Celebrity because of the changes on Princess, others are trying Princess because of the changes on Celebrity......"the grass is greener...." really applies.  Both are good cruise lines and both have their pluses and minuses.  When itineraries are somewhat equal, we opt for Celebrity because we have more earned perks than on Princess.  Without the perks, I think it's pretty much a flip of the coin.

 

You'll have a wonderful time on the Reflection....

[JRG]

15 minutes ago, roxievegas said:

My hubby enjoys the coffee on Celebrity

 

I too enjoy Celebrity's coffee.   Lavazza crema de gusto.

 

I found it on the big river website and now I have it delivered and it is surprisingly affordable.

[flhusker]

Told you I'd have more questions.  Princess has a Knitters and Knatters club that meets every morning on sea days, does Celebrity have anything comparable.  I'm a knitter and enjoy sitting with others and talk and knit and talk and knit.  Have no idea what a "knatter" is.

[MJSailors]

We are Princess customers (Platinum Level),but we have taken a few Celebrity cruises also.

I do like the convenience of the laundry rooms on Princess ships as a number of my clothes require cold water/ low dry and I would not trust them to be done by the ship’s laundry.

So, on the Celebrity cruises, I have done what others suggest. Hand wash and hang in the cabin to dry. On our last cruise this past July, I used Downy Wrinkle Release instead of ironing. Worked great !

So when we take another Princess cruise, I will pack that product and stay away from the irons in the laundry room !

We do appreciate that Celebrity ships have smoke free casinos,so if you do need to walk through, you do not experience smoke.

While Princess has theInternational Cafes for specialty coffee and treats, Celebrity has Cafe Al Bacio for similar coffee and treats.

The buffet on Celebrity has a grill area towards the aft where fresh meats and possibly fish are grilled per order.

I am not certain about a similar group of Knitters and  Knatters, but you can check the daily program (similar to the Princess Patter) for such an activity.

I hope you enjoy your Celebrity cruise !

While we are booked on the Sky Princess for March 2019,we would certainly consider another Celebrity cruise in the future.

 

Edited April 20, 2019 by MJSailors
Wrong date for Sky Princess cruise. It is March 2020

[MJSailors]

Oops !

Sky Princess, March 2020 is what I should have written !

[davekathy]

6 hours ago, flhusker said:

...I know I have more question but that's good for a start.

Formal Evening has been replaced by Evening Chic. No indoor smoking allowed. 

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

No walking through the casino at all. Everything is simple and easy to get to. There are only a few dislikes. We had an ocean view stateroom right by the atrium. It was an excellent location. However the state room had only 3 drawers for your belongings and no shelves and a small closet. The TV faced the couch and was not adjustable to view easily from the bed. The bathroom was excellent. A real nice shower and lots of room. The bed was comfortable. A/C was easily adjusted to your setting. It stayed at that temperature, day and night. The room was new as the ship was just refurb 2018. nice looking and clean. Music was nice, shows were excellent. Food was excellent also. +Check out my full review for this ship.

[villauk]

More similar than different; we have recently looked at and taken Princess cruises (as someone pointed out above). 

 

No washing facilities on X as others have stated unless you pay for it and I’d never send anything delicate or ‘nice’ as you never know how it will be returned. Casino is non-smoking on X. Entertainment is better on Princess, but I’d give the food edge to X. No proper afternoon tea in the MDR like there is every day on Princess and no savoury treats at Cafe Al Bacio like there is at the International Cafe. X’s specialty restaurants are far more expensive, but bargain for a deal as they are generally very good 😉. Their buffets are also very well laid out. X’s drinks are more expensive than Princess. Balcony cabins are bigger on X (not counting Edge in the equation). X now has Chic night which basically means that ‘anything goes’. Reflection has more cabins than any other S class ship which we felt can result in overcrowding. X are phasing out the printed copies of the dailies according to several posts on CC. We found the internet charges less on Princess too (think ours was $99 for 13 nights on Princess, but we do get our free minutes on X from our CC status so swings and roundabouts). Obviously, all that I have stated is only my opinion and others may think differently. 

[Carnevale]

A couple of replies mentioned bargaining the price in the specialty restaurants (one said “Specialty Restaurants you can bargain the price down,“ and another “X’s specialty restaurants are far more expensive, but bargain for a deal as they are generally very good“).

 

 We are doing our first Celebrity cruise in the fall after lots of cruises on other lines.  We have always assumed the price is the price for specialty restaurants onboard.  Is this not the case on Celebrity?  How does it work when you bargain the price?

[Northern Aurora]

On 4/20/2019 at 7:50 AM, flhusker said:

Told you I'd have more questions.  Princess has a Knitters and Knatters club that meets every morning on sea days, does Celebrity have anything comparable.  I'm a knitter and enjoy sitting with others and talk and knit and talk and knit.  Have no idea what a "knatter" is.

 

 

I'd love to know what a "knitter" is too!  Celebrity doesn't have an organized knitter gathering, but every Celebrity ship has a on-board sign board (located near Guest Relations) on which such groups can organize.  There will be groups ranging from veterans groups, religious services, mah jong players and so forth.  On an Eclipse TA in 2016 there was a group of knitters as a cruise acquaintance participated.  Just ask Guest Relations to post a sign.  GR will prepare the sign for you.  And make sure that you mention your interest in such a group on your roll call.

[Northern Aurora]

1 hour ago, Carnevale said:

A couple of replies mentioned bargaining the price in the specialty restaurants (one said “Specialty Restaurants you can bargain the price down,“ and another “X’s specialty restaurants are far more expensive, but bargain for a deal as they are generally very good“).

 

 We are doing our first Celebrity cruise in the fall after lots of cruises on other lines.  We have always assumed the price is the price for specialty restaurants onboard.  Is this not the case on Celebrity?  How does it work when you bargain the price?

 

Depending on demand for your particular sailing there will likely be deals to be had.  There is generally someone from specialty dining outside of the Ocean View buffet during the buffet lunch times.  They will be at a table or kiosk.  Just approach them and politely ask for a discount.  If you are flexible as to when you want to book (i.e. are willing to book that evening) you can often negotiate a reduced price.

[Highpeaklad]

On 4/20/2019 at 5:50 PM, flhusker said:

Told you I'd have more questions.  Princess has a Knitters and Knatters club that meets every morning on sea days, does Celebrity have anything comparable.  I'm a knitter and enjoy sitting with others and talk and knit and talk and knit.  Have no idea what a "knatter" is.

 

A natter is to have a good chat or gossip. A better description would be knitting and chatting, but Knitter and Knatter is more allliteritive. 

[GUT2407]

The two lines are in my opinion more alike than different, No self serve laundry is on thing I miss on Celebrity on longer cruises, they have a patter equivelant, I can’t recall the name.

 

I’m sure you will enjoy it.