Help deciding

[gabbygrrl]

We have a 7nt cruise booked for late 2024 on the Apex. It will be our first Edge class ship. We have a sunset balcony (which we love) and the classic drinks/wifi package. We are also Elite. My question: Princess, which we have never sailed, has a great price on a similar 7nt in a Premium Deluxe Blacony with the “Premier” package included, on their new ship, the Sun.It would save us about $1000 (that includes the ship gratuities that Celebrity does not include).

We love to gamble and it seems like the Princess casino is quite small-and allows smoking-which is a HUGE negative! We are torn over the savings vs the downside of the casino. 
It also seems like the Princess package includes a lot more, like dining and room service where you can use the drink package. 
Any feedback? We keep going back and forth and are hoping for some insight or opinions. I can think of a lot of ways to use that $1000 but the thought of all that cigarette smoke makes me cringe. Help!

[PTC DAWG]

Non smoking casino is one of my favorite things about Celebrity..that and it’s not owned by Carnival. 
 

Sunset and Martini bars are nice too..watch for sales on the drink upgrade to premium if you book Celebrity. 

[champagnecruiser]

9 minutes ago, gabbygrrl said:

We have a 7nt cruise booked for late 2024 on the Apex. It will be our first Edge class ship. We have a sunset balcony (which we love) and the classic drinks/wifi package. We are also Elite. My question: Princess, which we have never sailed, has a great price on a similar 7nt in a Premium Deluxe Blacony with the “Premier” package included, on their new ship, the Sun.It would save us about $1000 (that includes the ship gratuities that Celebrity does not include).

We love to gamble and it seems like the Princess casino is quite small-and allows smoking-which is a HUGE negative! We are torn over the savings vs the downside of the casino. 
It also seems like the Princess package includes a lot more, like dining and room service where you can use the drink package. 
Any feedback? We keep going back and forth and are hoping for some insight or opinions. I can think of a lot of ways to use that $1000 but the thought of all that cigarette smoke makes me cringe. Help!

Pluses for Princess - new ship, drinks delivered to you anywhere including your room and the medallion opening your door as you approach……

Celebrity wins for me and I agree with PTC Dawg re looking out for drink package upgrade on Celebrity

Regular dining on Princess can be ‘chaotic’ and not just on the first night. 
Keep your Sunset Balcony and smoke free Casino in my opinion 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

[May B]

If you love to gamble, and hate cigarette smoke, how can you possibly consider Princess?

 

Of course keep your eyes and ears open, in case they suddenly make their casino non-smoking.

[dogsdogs]

We were on the Caribbean Princess in September.  There is no free solarium,  they wouldn't give us a table for two unless we went to the dining room very late, their classic drink package only includes wine  they choose--you only get to decide on what varietal category, their buffet isn't nearly as nice as X.  That said, our dinners were better on Princess.  I know that is subjective, but the menus were more inspired and the cuts of meat we had were better too.  More vegetable variety as well.  We were in the casino about every night and it was tolerable until someone sat down next to you and lit up.  I really like the non-smoking casino.

[-Lew-]

Stick with Celebrity!  We have done 50+ Princess cruises and for a number of reasons we won't do another one.

[ccqueenanne]

I'm assuming the itinerary is similar, or that you sail for the ship, not the ports.

 

If the casino is very important to you, I'd stick with X. Even being at slots in a corner, far from the smoking "side" on Princess - it's still pretty dismal. And if you want table games you cannot avoid the smoke at all. (Maybe it would be better on Sun, being new?) Hopefully, you'll be able to take advantage of a discounted upgrade to Premium drinks on X. The martini bar on X beats anything Princess has, in my book.

 

However, I do really enjoy ordering comp delivery on Princess to wherever I am, via Medallion. And I looove getting (included) cocktails delivered to my cabin. Princess Premier really does include a lot, it's pretty cool if you will take advantage of the different inclusions, like the included casual dining, 2 specialty dinners, etc.

 

If the casino isn't critical, I'd save my money and get more inclusions on Princess. 

[Crazy planning mom]

On 12/10/2023 at 3:10 PM, gabbygrrl said:

We have a 7nt cruise booked for late 2024 on the Apex. It will be our first Edge class ship. We have a sunset balcony (which we love) and the classic drinks/wifi package. We are also Elite. My question: Princess, which we have never sailed, has a great price on a similar 7nt in a Premium Deluxe Blacony with the “Premier” package included, on their new ship, the Sun.It would save us about $1000 (that includes the ship gratuities that Celebrity does not include).

We love to gamble and it seems like the Princess casino is quite small-and allows smoking-which is a HUGE negative! We are torn over the savings vs the downside of the casino. 
It also seems like the Princess package includes a lot more, like dining and room service where you can use the drink package. 
Any feedback? We keep going back and forth and are hoping for some insight or opinions. I can think of a lot of ways to use that $1000 but the thought of all that cigarette smoke makes me cringe. Help!

Why not book the Sun Princess for 2025 and keep the Apex sailing assuming you sail every year.