Celebrity Reflection vs. Caribbean Princess

[Itchy&Scratchy]

On 2/14/2024 at 8:10 AM, 20165 said:

However, we are stuck on the 2 extra days and are now looking at Enchanted princess compared to Reflection. 

absolutely YES for Enchanted.

We loved her in 2022 and are really looking forward to sailing on her again this June.

[cruisemom42]

Caribbean Princess built 2004. Reflection built 2012. 

 

Also, Celebrity ships (at least pre-Covid) always seem to be better maintained over time. I feel Caribbean Princess is very dated.

 

That said, for me neither cruise would be ideal as I wouldn't want to sail for less than 7 days ever again.

 

[mufflogan]

My wife and I have been on Princess 4 times and Celebrity 14 times.  We love both.  We've been on both Reflection and Caribbean Princess.  All that to say we have opinions about Caribbean Princess.

 

We were on CB in July 2023.  It was our worst cruise.  I know how that sounds.  Cruising is amazing... every single one of them.  But this one was rough.  

 

A/C - It was a very warm ship.  Our room was too warm.  We found ourselves choosing spots to hang out in during the day that were the coldest places in the ship.  Wheelhouse Bar, Club Fusion...  It was strange to walk through the ship and to get blasted by warm spots and then slightly cooler spots and then warm spots again.  The A/C just couldn't keep the ship comfortable... especially our room. 

 

Smoke - The casino is right next to the atrium and throughout the day it was really difficult to find a spot to sit where you weren't constantly being attacked by the smell of smoke.  Our favorite bar was Crooners... it has an amazing drink menu.  But there was at least 2 times/day when we had to get up because the smell was too much for us.  Again that's an "us" problem.  I don't know your tolerance for the smell of smoke.

 

Lights - Our cabin had automatic lights(in the closet area and in the bedside tables).  I get up to use the restroom several times in the night and every time my wife would wake up because of the amount of light in our cabin.  I brought tape to cover the sensors(which other people had recommended on CC).  That helped to some degree but they would still come on... sometimes randomly too.

 

Ship propulsion - The ship was having issues with one of its engines.  We missed 2 of the 4 ports we were supposed to go to because we just couldn't get there.  Also, the time we spent in the other 2 ports were reduced. And we were supposed to get off the ship in Belize but couldn't because the tender situation was ridiculous.  3 hour wait times...  The cruise you are thinking about going on is that exact itinerary essentially.

 

Sorry for the long post but I think I would choose Reflection over Caribbean Princess if it was cruising the lake in my backyard.  Just my 2 cents...  hope that can help.