why a Princess rather a Celebrity cruise ?

[PescadoAmarillo]

Here is a detailed comparison I put together about a year ago, when I did a 30 night Sapphire Princess, 3-11 and 12 night Celebrity Galaxy and 2-7 night Grand Princess cruises within 3 months, and this was all very fresh in my mind. Some things could and probably have changed since then. These things were based just on those ships, and I tried very hard to stick to the facts, and not inject any (or too many, at least) opinions and judgements.

 

Celebrity

 

Service

-Champagne and escort to cabin upon welcome

-Almost always an offer to carry your tray in the buffet

-An offer to refill coffee during breakfast and drinks during lunch in the buffet

-Cold towels and drinks when returning to the ship on port days

-Cold towels and sherbet around the pool on sea days

 

Dining

-Five course dinner menus

-Intermezzo sorbet pre-entrée course on formal nights

-Utensils are all laid out in the place settings

-Escargot and shrimp forks and intermezzo spoons

-Sommeliers, bar stewards, waiters, assistant waiters AND assistant maitre d’s

-Captains table on formal nights

-Dinner beef entrées are generally steaks

-Salmon, grilled chicken, sirloin steak offered in addition to menu items every night

-Made to order omelet bar in buffet

-Made to order Belgian waffle bar with toppings in buffet

-Made to order pasta bar at lunch in buffet

-Casual dinners must be reserved before 5:30pm each day, but feature three rotating sit down menus; however, pasta and pizza bar open till 1 am

-Breakfast room service menu includes scrambled eggs, ham and cheese omelet, bacon, sausage and ham in addition to continental breakfast

-Still have two midnight buffets on most cruises – island night fruit and sherbet buffet and incredible Gala buffet on final formal night

-Three juice offerings plus two more on request in the buffet at breakfast

-Lemonade and two fruit drinks offered in the buffet at lunch

-Free hot chocolate available in the buffet (as well as coffee and tea) 24 hours a day

-Ceramic dishes and bowls in buffet

-Small coffee cups and drink glasses in buffet

-Unlimited soda stickers average $5 a day for the length of the cruise

-Only one size of soda glasses

 

Entertainment

-Full pool bands with singers

-Live music during dinner in the dining room

-No freshwater pools (including children’s pool)

-Hot tubs close by 9 pm each evening; pools even earlier (varies by ship/itinerary)

-One alcoholic drink size, and all alcoholic drinks are more expensive than Princess

 

Amenities/Cabins

-Large showers

-Thicker bath towels than Princess

-Easy to use ship layout pamphlets in cabin upon arrival

-Robes for some cabins are really thick

-Unlimited pool towels in all the pool areas

-Gym towels in the fitness center

-Large towels for use on shore (great for the beach)

-Free tote bag in cabin (disposable, but lasts for one cruise)

-Umbrella in cabin

-Shampoo (with conditioner) and lotion dispensers in shower and bathroom – no little packets to have to tear open

-Plastic bag liners in all cabin trash cans

-No antibacterial wipes in fitness center

No individualized entertainment system in fitness center

-Fewer free classes in fitness center

-Steam room on Century class ships is extra charge for most people

-No TV programming guide in cabin

-“Telemarketing” channels on TV promoting ship products and services 24/7; similar commercials during TV programs

-Ability to check shipboard account balance on TV in cabin

-Ability to book shore excursions on TV in cabin

 

Loyalty Programs

Nice when you get to Select and Elect levels

 

Ambiance

-Waiters in buffet wear long sleeved white shirt, black bow tie, black pants and cummerbund

-Shorts never really appropriate in the evening unless you eat pizza or pasta and then go back to your cabin or up on an outer deck area; ditto jeans.

-Cruise directors appear on TV morning show in a suit and tie

 

Princess

 

Service

-On line pre cruise support (Cruise Personalizer) with shore excursions charged to shipboard account

-Very limited (almost no) offers of coffee and beverage refills in the buffet

-Assistance with carrying food to table only if it appears you require it

 

 

 

Dining

-Personal Choice (Anytime) Dining as well as traditional dining

-24 hour buffet

-Four course dinner menus (but you can make them five course by ordering soup AND salad)

-Salmon, grilled chicken and steaks no longer available every evening in dining room

-Plastic dishes in buffet

-Soufflés offered for dessert most evenings

-Theme restaurants/menus on Sapphire and Diamond Princess

-No sommeliers, bar stewards and assistant maitre d’s (have head waiters, but fewer of them)

-Unlimited soda stickers average $2-$3 per day for the cruise duration

-Sodas in the bars/pool areas are offered in two or three sizes

-Ice tea is the only cold drink available at lunch and dinner for no charge

 

Entertainment

-24 hour freshwater pools and hot tubs

-Champagne waterfall on final formal night

-Multiple sizes of alcoholic drinks; lower prices than Celebrity

-Morning show with cruise director humorous, less formal

 

Amenities/Cabins

-Self service laundries

-Pool towels allocated to cabins, not unlimited although you can ask for more from your cabin steward

-No larger towels for beach use in ports

-No gym towels in fitness center

-Antibacterial wipes for fitness center equipment

-TV programming guide in cabin

-No ability to check shipboard account balance on TV; must go to Guest Relations desk

-Thinner bath towels than Celebrity

-Shampoo, conditioner and lotion in individual use packets

-Individual entertainment system in fitness center

-Free steam rooms in spa

 

Loyalty Programs

-Unlimited free internet when you get to your 6th cruise

-Free laundry when you get to your 16th cruise

 

Ambiance

Wait staff in buffet wear tropical shirts and shorts

Cruise director appears on morning TV show in casual attire

[montgomeryfamily]

Ce2000, it is likely the ship will be booked to capacity in July and early August. In addition to prime sailing times because of school schedules, there is less capacity in the Caribbean this year due to Celebrity and HAL not positioning a ship in the Caribbean this summer. However, I understand that Princess does limit the number of kids, but I have no idea what the total limit is in the summer. I do know that there are a lot of them, though, as you would find on the other cruise lines.

 

Our August 19, 2006 Caribbean Princess Cruise Critic group cruise will probably not be as crowded because of many schools going back into session by that time. Princess has already lowered the rates on this sailing. Our group rates, which are very good, are even lower now because of Princess lowering the rates--you would need to check the the travel agent handling the booking for the latest rate information--for that info click on the links in the banner below or email me at kacruiser@ev1.net.

 

In addition to great rates, our cruise has $50 shipboard credit (cabin), a photo voucher, and some other freebies including CC merchandise. Also, our group rates are combinable with the $25 Princess referral credit and future cruise credit.

 

Having sailed on the Caribbean Princess, there are some "tricks" we use for avoiding crowds. In addition, the Caribbean Princess has a lot of nooks and crannies which often have few or no people. If you would like more info or have questions, please feel free to email me at kacruiser@ev1.net.

[Oxo]

Thanks for the info. By chance did you do a detailed comparison of the benefits of Celebrity and Princess for Repeat Customers at the different levels? Would love to see that. Some of the below is fluf regardless of cruise line. Meaning they would apply to any cruise line, not only Princess or Celebrity. LOL Apparently some of those items listed below have changed as we did not see or experience them on our previous cruises.

Here is a detailed comparison I put together about a year ago, when I did a 30 night Sapphire Princess, 3-11 and 12 night Celebrity Galaxy and 2-7 night Grand Princess cruises within 3 months, and this was all very fresh in my mind. Some things could and probably have changed since then. These things were based just on those ships, and I tried very hard to stick to the facts, and not inject any (or too many, at least) opinions and judgements.

 

Celebrity

 

Service

-Champagne and escort to cabin upon welcome

-Almost always an offer to carry your tray in the buffet

-An offer to refill coffee during breakfast and drinks during lunch in the buffet

-Cold towels and drinks when returning to the ship on port days

-Cold towels and sherbet around the pool on sea days

 

Dining

-Five course dinner menus

-Intermezzo sorbet pre-entrée course on formal nights

-Utensils are all laid out in the place settings

-Escargot and shrimp forks and intermezzo spoons

-Sommeliers, bar stewards, waiters, assistant waiters AND assistant maitre d’s

-Captains table on formal nights

-Dinner beef entrées are generally steaks

-Salmon, grilled chicken, sirloin steak offered in addition to menu items every night

-Made to order omelet bar in buffet

-Made to order Belgian waffle bar with toppings in buffet

-Made to order pasta bar at lunch in buffet

-Casual dinners must be reserved before 5:30pm each day, but feature three rotating sit down menus; however, pasta and pizza bar open till 1 am

-Breakfast room service menu includes scrambled eggs, ham and cheese omelet, bacon, sausage and ham in addition to continental breakfast

-Still have two midnight buffets on most cruises – island night fruit and sherbet buffet and incredible Gala buffet on final formal night

-Three juice offerings plus two more on request in the buffet at breakfast

-Lemonade and two fruit drinks offered in the buffet at lunch

-Free hot chocolate available in the buffet (as well as coffee and tea) 24 hours a day

-Ceramic dishes and bowls in buffet

-Small coffee cups and drink glasses in buffet

-Unlimited soda stickers average $5 a day for the length of the cruise

-Only one size of soda glasses

 

Entertainment

-Full pool bands with singers

-Live music during dinner in the dining room

-No freshwater pools (including children’s pool)

-Hot tubs close by 9 pm each evening; pools even earlier (varies by ship/itinerary)

-One alcoholic drink size, and all alcoholic drinks are more expensive than Princess

 

Amenities/Cabins

-Large showers

-Thicker bath towels than Princess

-Easy to use ship layout pamphlets in cabin upon arrival

-Robes for some cabins are really thick

-Unlimited pool towels in all the pool areas

-Gym towels in the fitness center

-Large towels for use on shore (great for the beach)

-Free tote bag in cabin (disposable, but lasts for one cruise)

-Umbrella in cabin

-Shampoo (with conditioner) and lotion dispensers in shower and bathroom – no little packets to have to tear open

-Plastic bag liners in all cabin trash cans

-No antibacterial wipes in fitness center

No individualized entertainment system in fitness center

-Fewer free classes in fitness center

-Steam room on Century class ships is extra charge for most people

-No TV programming guide in cabin

-“Telemarketing” channels on TV promoting ship products and services 24/7; similar commercials during TV programs

-Ability to check shipboard account balance on TV in cabin

-Ability to book shore excursions on TV in cabin

 

Loyalty Programs

Nice when you get to Select and Elect levels

 

Ambiance

-Waiters in buffet wear long sleeved white shirt, black bow tie, black pants and cummerbund

-Shorts never really appropriate in the evening unless you eat pizza or pasta and then go back to your cabin or up on an outer deck area; ditto jeans.

-Cruise directors appear on TV morning show in a suit and tie

 

Princess

 

Service

-On line pre cruise support (Cruise Personalizer) with shore excursions charged to shipboard account

-Very limited (almost no) offers of coffee and beverage refills in the buffet

-Assistance with carrying food to table only if it appears you require it

 

 

 

Dining

-Personal Choice (Anytime) Dining as well as traditional dining

-24 hour buffet

-Four course dinner menus (but you can make them five course by ordering soup AND salad)

-Salmon, grilled chicken and steaks no longer available every evening in dining room

-Plastic dishes in buffet

-Soufflés offered for dessert most evenings

-Theme restaurants/menus on Sapphire and Diamond Princess

-No sommeliers, bar stewards and assistant maitre d’s (have head waiters, but fewer of them)

-Unlimited soda stickers average $2-$3 per day for the cruise duration

-Sodas in the bars/pool areas are offered in two or three sizes

-Ice tea is the only cold drink available at lunch and dinner for no charge

 

Entertainment

-24 hour freshwater pools and hot tubs

-Champagne waterfall on final formal night

-Multiple sizes of alcoholic drinks; lower prices than Celebrity

-Morning show with cruise director humorous, less formal

 

Amenities/Cabins

-Self service laundries

-Pool towels allocated to cabins, not unlimited although you can ask for more from your cabin steward

-No larger towels for beach use in ports

-No gym towels in fitness center

-Antibacterial wipes for fitness center equipment

-TV programming guide in cabin

-No ability to check shipboard account balance on TV; must go to Guest Relations desk

-Thinner bath towels than Celebrity

-Shampoo, conditioner and lotion in individual use packets

-Individual entertainment system in fitness center

-Free steam rooms in spa

 

Loyalty Programs

-Unlimited free internet when you get to your 6th cruise

-Free laundry when you get to your 16th cruise

 

Ambiance

Wait staff in buffet wear tropical shirts and shorts

Cruise director appears on morning TV show in casual attire

[FLACRUISER99]

And now a much better Carry on Wine Policy on Princess:D