why a Princess rather a Celebrity cruise ?

[motherchic]

I have always sailed on Constellation and Summit, and loved them. can you plese tell my why i should sail on your wonderful Princess, What make it wonderful and special???

 

On the summit i espscially loved their indoor thallo pool, with huge jets for adults only

.

We loved the lite cuisine served in the spa

loved having sushie before dinner,

enjoyed the entertainment and the casino

and the wonderful survice-always

nadine

[Jacqueline]

I love the Connie too. WHat I prefer about Princess and why I rebook most consistently on this line;

- the pools and jaccuzzis are open 24/7. THe pools look ugly when closed. Plus I like to swim or hot tub it after dinner. It also keeps the teens up on deck. This is there hang out place after dinner, rtather than running amuck all ove the public areas.

- there is food 24/7

- anytime dining. I really dislike that I can return from an excursion and just have tea sandwiches.

- better less expensive drinks

- better cabin set ups

- much better libraries and game rooms !

- laundry rooms and irons on every deck ! Not every inch is given up to revenue producing areas.

 

On the Connie I love the martini bar, but the prices are outrageous. The dining rooms are prettier on the Connie for sure, and I do like that there is a sommelier, but they did not always get to my table on time.....

The pasta is much better on Princess ! I guess a carrier over from the Sitmar days..;.

In any event you will not go wrong !

[montgomeryfamily]

Nadine, Celebrity is not positioning any ships in the Caribbean this summer (and neither is HAL),so if you are looking for a Caribbean cruise this summer, Princess is going to be the closest experience to Celebrity compared to the other options that are left.

 

Princess does have fresh water pools and the pools and hot tubs stay open late, some even all night on some ships. The Caribbean Princess has a very nice thermal suite in the spa and I understand the Crown Princess will too. While there is no T pool, there is a swim against the current pool which is adult only and another adult only pool.

 

I do agree that Celebrity service is better than Princess. But the food on Princess is quite good and the service is generally very good. And I agree, the pasta can't be beat on Princess!

[mr green]

I found Celebrity wanting! The line in my opinion is overrated, food fair at best, and they have a lot to learn about treating its passengers when there is a problem. I for one do not intend to sail with them again. Maybe my expectations were too high, but my cruise on Mercury was the worst that I have had! I am sorry to have to say this, as some of the staff were great. john

[espmass]

I much prefer Celebrity (Constellation) over Princess for just about every reason. However, the itinerary and Caribbean positioning is what drove me to rebook Princess for my 4/1 cruise. I also prefer the freshwater swimming pools on Princess. You'll enjoy Princess too.

[Oxo]

Princess is the better cruise line. Celebrity is overrated! Service is not what it use to be. Food is not what it use to be. Been on Mercury Nov 05 and the ship was really looking it age. The Sun and Dawn are basically the same age and look new compare to the dingy Mercury. Service on the Mercury was very slow, food unpredictable and even the head waiters would not recommend the lamb or steak on the menu on four nights out of 10. Celebrity repeater benefits are almost nothing compare to Princess. Go Princess and enjoy a cruise without the faux Crystal/Celebrity hype. I would choose HAL over Celebrity!

[Druke I]

Princess has, in my opinion, a much much better selection of itineraries, particularly their "exotics".

[espmass]

I almost forgot- the pizza on princess is much better than on Celebrity! As you can see by the various comments so far, everyone has their own opinion. It's always important to remember that people like different things and have different priorities. I think both lines are fine and you'll be happy with both.

[Coral]

I actually found found and service better on Princess. I thought the food looked better on Celebrity (presentation was better), but didn't actually taste better.

 

I found the whole experience on Celebrity overpriced. Once you get on Princess - the same items cost significantly less. On Princess - Internet is .35/minute, drinks are significantly less, shore excursions and transfers less, etc ... I actually feel ripped off when on Celebrity.

 

I also prefer the chlorine pools on Princess, pools being 24 hours, buffet is always open, pizza is better, the shows in the evening, etc .. .

 

In certain itineraries - I love Personal Choice dining (anytime dining). Definitely a plus on Princess.

[phillipahain]

I do still like Celebrity for many reasons however the repeater benefits are miserly on X and the itineries are boring in the extreme

 

Princess matches Celebrity in many many areas and they sure have the intineries

Overall the food is pretty much the same

Service just depends on the crew on the ship at the time thats the same on all cruise lines

 

HAL does not touch either x or Princess IMHE and i have done all 3 lines in last 6 months

[donnaw]

We do both and enjoy both. DH likes Princess better and I like X better. The links to the following reviews may help with more specifics. Each has a section comparing the X amenities/advantages to Princess. For us, there are no deal breakers but there may be for others. We are lucky since we can choose the itinerary and then choose the best ship and best pricing!

[AJs Grandpa]

You must decide what is important to you.

 

We found the service--from room stewards to deck hands to the dining room--great on both.

 

Food presentation the same on both, but taste slightly better on Celebrity.

 

The tie breaker for us--minisuites. We love the extra space, larger balcony, etc.

 

So toss a coin if cabin is not important to you.

 

If you like a great room and your budget is somewhere between inside and suite--give Princess minis a try.

[Jimsgirl]

Going on Princess for first time in April, Have done 10 on Celebrity and 10 on Crystal, 5 on HAL.

 

How does the dress question compare on Princess v Celebrity? I have traditional dining as I like having same table companions every night.

 

Mention has been made re the "perks" for repeat passengers, in what way are they better on Princess?

 

Thank you

[PescadoAmarillo]

We do both and enjoy both. DH likes Princess better and I like X better.

 

Same with us. My husband LOVES anytime dining, loves sitting in the hot tubs at all hours of evening and night, going to dinner whenever he wants, and the 24 hours buffet and washers and dryers. I love the way all the crew on Celebrity seem to want to be sure that I (me, personally, but I suppose every other passenger too ;) ) has the best cruise vacation possible. I also love the thalassotherapy areas on the Celebrity ships, and I think Celebrity's food (dining room, specialty restaurants and buffet) is about the best imaginable too. So, on a regular 7 night Caribbean or Alaska itinerary (which we don't often do anymore), we're more likely to choose Celebrity. Since Princess offers far more varied itineraries, longer in the Caribbean, and all over the world too, if we want anything out of the ordinary, we cruise Princess and are both very happy.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Going on Princess for first time in April, Have done 10 on Celebrity and 10 on Crystal, 5 on HAL.

 

How does the dress question compare on Princess v Celebrity? I have traditional dining as I like having same table companions every night.

 

Mention has been made re the "perks" for repeat passengers, in what way are they better on Princess?

 

Thank you

 

Princess does not have the whole "informal" dress thing, so all you have to take are formal clothes and smart casual clothes for dinner. The shorter Princess cruises (7 night or less) tend to be a bit less formal on formal nights than Celebrity cruises; the longer Princess cruises are just as formal if not more so than Celebrity's formal nights. But, for guys especially, Princess requires fewer dinner clothes...they can leave behind the sport coat altogether and they're just fine.

 

We love Celebrity's Captain's Club perks, but more because of the way we are treated and how special they make us feel, not because of the actual dollar value of the rewards. We are at the highest level and get the fresh flowers and generally get champagne in the room. The social hostess always make a point of getting to know us personally, and we are frequently invited to the Captain's table on one of the formal nights on a cruise. It is easier to rack up cruises on Celebrity too...2 cruise credits for cruises over 11 nights, an extra credit for suites, etc.

 

Princess offers unlimited internet at the Platinum level (after 5 cruises), which is very valuable IF you use the internet on a cruise. Of course, when it's free, people tend to use it a lot more than if they have to pay for it. :D And after the 15th cruise (which is looonnnng way off when you're first starting), you get one free bar set up and free laundry and dry cleaning. Both cruise lines offer tendering priority at the highest levels too.

[motherchic]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

I was only on RCI once. Our first cruise and honestly after that for several years we thought cruising just wasnt for us, then we treid celebrity and loved it. But, i would like to try another line.

The reason we didnt care for our RCI : the entire time the pools and hot tubs were so crowded that we could never ever get into them. People were LOUD and drunk from early a.m.

Since then when we took a chance and did another cruise ( on Celebrity ) we met many great people. No loud, obnoxious groups. Enjoyed the bars, always a space in the pool. Hardly any children. And more then anything met great friends thru these boards that we still keep in contact with.

Thanks again for all the replys. I will give it a chance one day.

Nadine

[Richard Stein]

I have elite status on both lines and enjoy both. Celebrity used to offer me the best price early but discontinued the practice several years ago. Princess sails to more places, and offers better prices early to me on balcony cabins. I will consider Celebrity in the future on a Happy Hour sale, but I get far better repeater benefits from Princess. This year I am sailing on RCCL, HAL and Princess, but not Celebrity. I have sailed Princess since the 80's.

[asctony]

We have Elite status on both Celebrity and Princess. We cruise Princess, HAL, Celebrity, RCI, MSC, and have cruised NCL and Costa. Everyone has a favorite and ours is Princess. All cruise lines have cut back in service, food, etc. However, overall, Princess gives us the most for our money in the way of the total cruise package and repeaters benefits. Princess recognizes us when we are on a cruise in the way of being a repeater. We have been recognized many times as being in the top three Most Traveled Princess cruisers. Been to many of the Most Traveled Princess Captain's lunch, too.

Celebrity used to have the best food presentation, but not any longer. Last year we cruised Princess, Celebrity and MSC for a total of 6 times. So, yes we are aware of the current status of these cruise lines. Celebrity has repeater benefits, however, they do not totally honor them. Would we cruise Celebrity again, Yes - if the right price and cruise were offered. Not for the service and food anymore. Both items are too subjective and not consistent. This could apply to all cruise lines. Happy Cruising!

[shipaddict]

I love the Summit as well. But we tried Carribean Princess this year on 2/11 to 2/18. This ship has 3150 passengers and no spa pool like the Summit. The entertainment, food and service is much better on the Summit. Yet we still enjoyed this cruise and have no complaints. It is fun to try other lines and compare.

[ce2000]

I like what I have been reading on this post. The Celebrity Summit in August 2002 was the best cruise I have ever been on. I have also been on Royal Caribbean, Carnival and NCL. NCL was my least favorite. I would like to book a cruise with my two kids, ages 19 and 15, on the Caribbean Princess this summer. Any idea how full to capacity this ship will be in July or August. Hopefully it won't be filled to capacity, I like to have a little space.

[ml64]

I just want to say Thank you to all you posters. This is by far the most positive thread regarding comparision's of ships that I have ever read. DH and I love Princess and have not yet tried another line. When we do, I'll add my opinion, but until then Thank you to all for giving such positive and informative opinions. Happy cruising to all.

Lynn

[donnaw]

I like what I have been reading on this post. The Celebrity Summit in August 2002 was the best cruise I have ever been on. I have also been on Royal Caribbean, Carnival and NCL. NCL was my least favorite. I would like to book a cruise with my two kids, ages 19 and 15, on the Caribbean Princess this summer. Any idea how full to capacity this ship will be in July or August. Hopefully it won't be filled to capacity, I like to have a little space.

 

Have done the Grand but not CP. However, many friends have done CP when full and said that it did not feel that way. Probably the best bet for a summer Caribbean cruise where they and you will also enjoy it.

 

Have fun!

[donnaw]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

I was only on RCI once. Our first cruise and honestly after that for several years we thought cruising just wasnt for us, then we treid celebrity and loved it. But, i would like to try another line.

The reason we didnt care for our RCI : the entire time the pools and hot tubs were so crowded that we could never ever get into them. People were LOUD and drunk from early a.m.

Since then when we took a chance and did another cruise ( on Celebrity ) we met many great people. No loud, obnoxious groups. Enjoyed the bars, always a space in the pool. Hardly any children. And more then anything met great friends thru these boards that we still keep in contact with.

Thanks again for all the replys. I will give it a chance one day.

Nadine

 

Nadine, A lot of what you didn't like on RCI can happen to some degree on any line. If you cruise during spring break, summer vacation, school holidays or take shorter cruises, it is more likely to happen. Choose wisely and you should have a great time on either!

[woodofpine]

Celebrity does some things better than Princess (linens, towels, interior decor, dining room deisgn); Princess does some things better than Celebrity (overall ship design, public rooms, pools, officer nautical-command competence). On a lot of levels, 6 one half-dozen the other.

 

Overall, like the forums, Princess cruisers are a friendlier bunch than Celebrity cruisers. Princess crews are likewise a bit friendlier and outgoing.

[Cindy]

If you cruise during spring break, summer vacation, school holidays or take shorter cruises, it is more likely to happen. Choose wisely and you should have a great time on either!

 

The reason we didnt care for our RCI : the entire time the pools and hot tubs were so crowded that we could never ever get into them. People were LOUD and drunk from early a.m.

Since then when we took a chance and did another cruise ( on Celebrity ) we met many great people. No loud, obnoxious groups. Enjoyed the bars, always a space in the pool. Hardly any children.

I am a principal, so I have to cruise during the "crowded times." This is one reason I really liked the Grand. Even though there were hundreds of children on our Spring Break cruise last year, we never felt like there wasn't room for us. The adults-only pools are very relaxing, and there are enough nooks and crannies on the Grand that I actually felt like I saw very few children (or loud, drunk adults).

When we cruised on the Rhapsody a few years ago at Thanksgiving it seemed a lot more crowded to me. That's one reason that this year when we had to choose between the two ships we opted for the Grand.