JUST BOOKED ROYAL PRINCESS for ALASKA and I AM TERRIFIED I MADE A HUGE MISTAKE HELLP!!!????

[G03]

Hi Fellow Cruisers,

We are a couple in our 40s and typically sail Celebrity Concierge Class Aft balconies... After reading 2019's latest reviews for Royal Princess (Alaska) in conjunction with Princess vs Celebrity for Alaska; I think I'm having a MELTDOWN...

 

I JUST cancelled an aft cabin (CC1) on the newly renovated Celebrity Millennium with a $500 penalty because I was advised over and over Princess does ALASKA BEST and that their lodges are TOP NOTCH!!  But after reading all those reviews I'm concerned the food will be AWFUL or at best mediocre after spending 12K on cruise and Connoisseur land tour; and after reading the size of the Royal may not be allowed on some days into Juneau and no longer cruises the Inside Passage. Also, I booked an AFT cabin as should be done in Alaska and I read there is a HUGE SOOT problem on the aft balconies...

 

I'm FREAKING OUT!!! This is a 12K expense that I expect to be better then my Celebrity experiences as stated by Princess advertising.., but I fear it has turned into Carnival after reading reviews.  My Celebrity cruises had ALL been AMAZING, from the FOOD to the CREW, cleanliness, problem resolution, etc etc etc...

I checked to rebook my cabin on Celebrity and the price was 2K more in addition to I would have to figure out a land option all over again. 

 

If any of you have been on Royal Princess to Alaska 2019, am I freaking out OR is it going to be OK?? Should I cancel and beg Celebrity to take me back?

 

Best and THANK YOU,

G

Edited January 15, 2020 by G03
Addition

[reedprincess]

Yoire freaking out.

Royal is gorgeous, it never missed Juneau this past season, yes it often has to miss the Inside passage due to tides, sailaway from Vancouver ans the bridge, etc - minimal issue really, you're not seeing much of anything along there anyways.

Having sailed both Celebrity and Princess to Alaska, and being Wlite on Princess and Elite Plus on Celebrity, we'd choose Princess for Alaska virtually any time. They're on land and on ship programming is leaps and bounds ahead of Celebrity, along with having the concession to sail Glacier Bay, which is an absolute must for an Alaskan sailing 

Personally, we wouldn't have chosen a Connoisseur land tour (and haven't in the past, we've done their On Your Own ones)) as we prefer sourcing our own meals for the variety and local options, etc but you've already picked it.  The Connoisseur land tours do get high high marks, and Princess does an amazing job of their organization, etc. No doubt you'll enjoy 

Yes, there can be a soot problem on aft cabins, although having stayed in aft suites, we've found it to be a minimal issue, if that. A towel inside the sliding doors, room steward wipes down furniture, etc and we had no problems or issues with it. And they've installed better scrubbers, etc, in recent years. Still a concern, but hardly a reason to skip it..

Personally, I think you made a great choice, given our experience with both lines, particularly in Alaska.  I'd stop reading the negative reviews, and focus on the positives - the amazing programming, the puppies in the Piazza, the naturalists, and the gorgeous Alaska Experience.. 

 

[jennybenny]

I love the Royal Class ships! The Royal Princess is beautiful, we were on for Christmas. Bellini's is awesome. Crooners is great, love the Ocean Terrace for a quick snack. Vines is great, loved the Crown Grill. 

My husband would have killed me with a $500 cancel fee, but we almost had a $400 cancel fee due to a (kid) school conflict on a family cruise. So, I know sometimes the $$ loss is worth it. 😉

I have not sailed Celebrity, but I love Princess and the Royal Princess is my favorite ship. 

 

We did an Alaska cruise with Princess back in 2004. We didn't do a Connoisseur tour, but we stayed at Princess Lodges (you can book them without a tour). We rented a car, and had a great time. Much cheaper than the Connoisseur tours, but if I could afford it, I would do it. 🙂  

 

You will have a great cruise on the Royal Princess. It will be a different experience and I'm sure you will find things you like better on Princess and things you like better on Celebrity. Have a great time and enjoy the planning!

[cruzsnooze]

Celebrity and Princess are more alike then different so relax. If you enjoyed Celebrity you will find Princess equally enjoyable. 

[Expat Cruise]

You did not make a mistake here would take Princess any day over Celebrity. Princess has a much better program for these cruises.

 

[leck57]

We did the Royal to Alaska in July, had an aft cabin, had a Connoisseur land tour and had the best trip we could have had. The tour, the ship and everything was first class. Relax.

[frugaltravel]

My question is why didn't you do your research BEFORE spending $12K rather than after? It just confirms what I have said all along - people do more research before buying a $500 appliance than before buying a MUCH more expensive cruisetour.

 

[skynight]

Princess has very nice land tours. The Royal is a nice ship.

[Coral]

Princess has great enrichment programs in Alaska and does go to Glacier Bay (which Celebrity doesn't do). Though I would not have picked the Royal Princess for Alaska. 

 

Next time do research. There is an Alaska board on CC.

[sunsetbeachgal]

I have sailed on the Royal Princess multiple times, although I can’t  comment on Alaska.  She is a beautiful ship, classy and elegant with great dining options.  We always like their entertainment as well.  And with an act cabin you will have wonderful views.  

 

Relax and look forward to your great trip! 

[kywildcatfanone]

7 hours ago, G03 said:

with a $500 penalty

This is the only mistake I would say you made.  The Royal is a great ship and you will have a great time.

[Daniel A]

Wow!  Take it easy on the caps!   

[dickinson]

Never sailed Celebrity but we sailed Royal Princess to Alaska last summer.  Stop reading the reviews!  It is a wonderful ship and Princess does Alaska best.  The only negative I found on the Royal P was the outside viewing area was not as good as the Golden Princess (which we took to Alaska years ago).  This was because they have more plexiglass panels above the railings so we were looking through them.  Not good for pictures.  We found the best viewing sitting on our balcony.  With an aft balcony you will have great views.  While in Glacier Bay they rotate the ship 360 degrees so you will see it all.  

 

I have read all great reviews of the Connosseur trip on this board.  We chose the Denali Explorer.  We wanted to be able to buy our own food as it would save us money over the Connosseur.  

 

As for food, it is very subjective.  Chefs and cooks change all the time.  If someone said food was not good they could have a different opinion if they cruised the same ship 6 months later as different people are overseeing the kitchen and cooking.  We have been on the Royal P 3x over 2 1/2 years.  Food was always good.

 

I am sure you will enjoy your trip on the Royal Princess.  She is our favorite!

[CineGraphic]

I would never sail again with a company that charges $500 to cancel this far out.

[Rusty10]

The Royal Princess is a beautiful ship. Last May at the Princess Lodge every morning a mother moose and her 2 babies came and visit. 
You will have a great time!

[MotownVoice]

I was on Royal last year around the British Isles.  I haven't any idea what you mean about sub-par food.  Princess does a flawless job on its entire fleet.  Anybody who says they do less either just has a bone to pick because of something unrelated (and we see people on that personal mission here daily for nearly every cruiseline), or it was just an anomaly that they got a bad meal.

You're going to have a grand time.  Relax.

[claudia814]

My favorite part of our Alaskan cruise, was having room service deliver breakfast and enjoying it on our balcony watching the ice floe float by while going through the Inside Passage. And on TV, you hear the naturalist explaining what you’re viewing. Our next trip will be a nine day Escorted Tour totally on land and staying at the Princess Lodges. Relax and enjoy your vacation!

Edited January 15, 2020 by claudia814

[RMMariner]

Been to Alaska on both Celebrity and Princess. Enjoyed the Princess trips more for all the reasons that have been brought up on this thread. Enjoy your trip. 

 

Also, I don't think you should have lost your deposit to Celebrity. Their refund schedule is the same as Princess and we are still a lot of days from final payment.

[nasa1974]

Relax and enjoy Alaska. Each cruise is what you make of it and expectations can ruin any vacation.

We love the Royal class. There are always good and bad with each ship and each company. Everyone's expectations and experiences are different. We have done Alaska twice and have another trip planned in August. We haven't had a bad experience at any of the Princess lodges we have stayed at and you don't have to drag your luggage with you, Princess takes care of all of it.

Good luck, relax and enjoy. Get on your roll call and start meeting other folks that will be on board with you.

[aimee0715]

I really can't fathom cancelling a cruise and taking a $500 loss just because someone said Princess was better.  We usually sail Princess and we have also sailed Celebrity.  They are both perfectly fine.  We took Princess to Alaska and it was wonderful.  I'm sure you'll have a great trip.  I'm sure you would have had a great trip with Celebrity as well.  Alaska is really amazing.  I thought for years that everyone was overselling it until I saw it for myself.  

[weedpindle]

Don't yell!!!

[WatchHill]

I've sailed with both Princess and Celebrity to many places throughout the world. Also done AK with these two companies and given a choice, would do Princess without hesitation. IMO, Celebrity concierge is over-priced nothing, dining room lunch when I board.....rather go to Alfredo's on Princess for a relaxing, light meal, and a big carafe of sangria. 

 

Whenever we've done AK , we plan our own land portion, renting a car and doing things we want to do on our own schedule. 

 

Darcy

[4cats4me]

We’ve been on the Royal Class ships half a dozen times, and also Celebrity 4 times.  We’ve done Alaska with both Celebrity and Princess, 1 on X and 3 on Princess, 

first cruise to Alaska was on the sister ship to Millennium.  Those aft cabins are amazing, or at least used to be.  

On the Royal, Unless you booked a full suite on  Baja or Dolphin deck, your balcony won’t be covered very much.  Also, there is definitely a soot problem in many of those aft facing.   However, the steward will clean off your furniture every day.  

I just went through this process of choosing a cabin for my friend for his first cruise, and on this same ship and itinerary, and ultimately he chose a corner full suite on Dolphin since it is covered.   

 

At any rate, both cruise lines are very nice, and the Royal has  a beautiful atmosphere with a beautiful atrium and a nice martini bar to rival the one on the Millennium.  In fact, it’s nicer. 

 

Since you’re only accustomed to CC class on X, then you won’t be missing all the bells and whistles of AQ, or else I would say that you would be in for a bit of a disappointment on Princess.   

Celebrity service isn’t what it used to be 20 years ago, so I find the two lines to be more comparable now.   

 

We definitely prefercthe food on Princess.  The stewards are friendlier, the waiters are more engaging, too.  The activities are better and more plentiful.  Also, the most important thing:  We’ve found Princess to have the best itineraries and port times.    

[BarbinMich]

4 hours ago, dickinson said:

Never sailed Celebrity but we sailed Royal Princess to Alaska last summer.  Stop reading the reviews!  It is a wonderful ship and Princess does Alaska best.  The only negative I found on the Royal P was the outside viewing area was not as good as the Golden Princess (which we took to Alaska years ago).  This was because they have more plexiglass panels above the railings so we were looking through them.  Not good for pictures.  We found the best viewing sitting on our balcony.  With an aft balcony you will have great views.  While in Glacier Bay they rotate the ship 360 degrees so you will see it all.  . . .

Our first cruise to Alaska was on the Celebrity Horizon in 1996 so the company has been up there for a long time.  It's true they don't have lodges in AK as Princess does, but on that Celebrity cruise we did a 3-day post-cruise extension to Fairbanks--where we stayed in a Princess lodge <g> and rode on a HAL train <g>.  Personally, I would never do the Royal or Regal in AK.  We've been on the Royal twice for a total of 24 days and would say it's not the best ship for AK.  We were last up there on the Star P and it has the wraparound covered deck which is ideal for AK IMHO (Royal/Regal don't have those).  Plus they brought around hot toddy-type drinks <g>.  I spent hrs out there, esp. in Glacier Bay, taking in the scenery and photographing it.  We've also done AK on HAL, which is also a good choice for that itinerary---only time we stopped in Sitka.

[fluffybunny22]

This is why I put down deposits on multiple cruises and then research and release as we slowly come to a decision.  We did Alaska on the Millie 2 years ago and were very happy with our choice.