luvabeach

Thank you so much for the most informative and interesting review I have ever read. Just booked next year April 27th with 5 days in Moorea at end of cruise ( my 60th)! Cannot wait after reading this!!!

Another view of deluxe balcony on Royal Princess! Minuscule and absurd for price of cabin!

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We couldn't reserve anything in the Sanctuary or a retreat Cabana....they were all booked the 10 day cruise of Feb 27th. Called minute we got on ship. Extremely annoying, but in actual fact, it saved a fortune of money as it was so windy every day at the retreat pool. Really think this is a very weak link of Princess. Not enough chaises and an unfair process to book Sanctuary or Cabana. Really don't understand why one cant book ahead (even make it a penalty for cancelling) for all services even restaurants. It seems to work for other cruise lines just fine!

We just returned from the Royal Princess on March 19th. The mattress was excellent, as one would expect from a new ship. We eventually decided to take the Royal Princess rather than the originally planned Celebrity Equinox cruise for several reasons...liked the itinerary, new ship, and the price of the cruise was a no brainer. The cruise was a great success in all respects. In any event, based upon this string and various other board comments, I would have to assume the overall mattress quality and therefore longevity on Celebrity is a step above Princess. Also, I did contact Celebrity, and was told mattresses on the Equinox are original, are "flipped" after every cruise, and would be changed out at the next dry dock, which may be next year if I remember correctly. Would still very much consider the Equinox Panama Canal as an option.

We did the February 27th Royal Princess Caribbean cruise and the 2 previous cruises were on the Equinox. Both my DH and my opinion was that, the celebrity mattress was far superior than the princess's . We asked for an extra pad to be put on and it was still rock hard! The pillows were also awful...we both like thin, soft, feathers and they just don't have those on the Royal Princess. For that reason alone, celebrity gets our business from now on.....sleep is important to us and I just never had a good nights sleep!

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Thanks for all the good information. We just decided to cancel our Royal 7/15 cruise in favor of the Silhoutte embarking Amsterdam for the British Isles.

 

The overnight in Edinburgh and good reviews of the Silhoutte were the deciding factors.

You will be so happy!!! Great decision....we are booking silhouette for September too....probably that exact same itinerary!

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I have cruised almost every Celebrity Solstice Class ship, and I have cruise both Royal and Regal Princess. Princess is a nice cruise line, but their new ships fall way short of being in the same league as Solstice Class. Rooms remain tiny. Decor remains dated. Entertainment remains meh. If you've sailed Solstice Class and are looking for similar impressiveness on Royal Class, you'll be disappointed.

Completely agree!!!

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Having just returned from a Caribbean cruise on the Royal, with the 2 previous cruises being on the Equinox, my personal preference is unequivocally the Equinox. The Royal is just too big ........my DH and my opinion. Being only 18 months old, the "wear and tear" is more noticeable than any ship I've ever been on. It seems there are too many people using a limited space. We also felt the crew was phenomenal, but totally understaffed and overworked. Maybe this is just a sign of the times...however, never felt that on Equinox.

Agree with previous posts that there are definite pros and cons for both lines. Love laundry on Princess and way prefer bathrooms on Celebrity. Food, in our opinion, was better in Horizon Buffet vs. celebrity buffet, while main dining room no comparison.....celebrity wins here hands down. Also love specialty restaurants on celebrity.

The general layout of Equinox, once again just our opinion, better flowing, easier to navigate and more to our liking.

Saying that, it does seem that Princess has better itineraries, but we love sea days, so am going to stick to Celebrity for now.

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An on ship right now....we disembark in a few hours. I will work on my review when I get home but just want to say, this ship is huge! So many people and not convinced it's actually Noro. The staff are vigilant about every person washing hands prior entering the Horizon buffet but I was amazed that there has been no soap or hot water in ladies room outside princess theater all week. Really feel it's just too large a ship to keep immaculately sanitized, and not sure what else besides making sure there is soap and hot water in public bathrooms, the staff can do!!!! Will go into more detail as I said from home.

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Ok....coming to terms with not getting chaises...you are right we have zero chance and as we are spg members....will get a late checkout from hotel and just find a market and buy lots of Lysol!!!! Well go very late....last on board!

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I have same problem with my elderly father who needs wheelchair assistance. I really wanted to get on early ( and we , too, are dolphin) and are not platinum but ruby level...to be able to reserve a chaise for entire week in the sanctuary for him. He is not going to get off the ship for the entire week. Does anyone have a phone number for the special needs department. I got no where calling princess this evening and speaking to a supervisor. Dolphin deck is now last to board, so guess we're out of luck ...the chaises get booked up quickly by those that board first. This'll be interesting as it might be last princess we will be going on ....if he has to struggle to find somewhere to relax...especially sea days when all chaises are taken.

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Loving it!!!!

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Loved your posts...thank you so much! Please let us know you got home safe and sound!

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Have a wonderful cruise....we sail today 3 weeks and I hope to keep this amazing thread going strong! Living it already and I just can't wait!

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Love, love your posts...even sick you are a superb writer! Inspiring me a little to do a "live" post end of Feb. Just not nearly as witty and slick a writer as you are...and am a bit intimidated....would never do as great a job as you are doing. Please please feel better tomorrow, hope you are snoozing away every cold germ you have right now and wake you as right as rain!

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Is it at all possible to find out who the next cruise director will be? We board on 27th. Feel better and drink lots and lots of WATER with your vitamin cc

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We are booked at Sheraton airport and cruise one......think about 8,000 points

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Loving it......so glad you are feeling better...you are an amazing writer...thank you so much and please keep the posts coming!!

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Holland America .....cabanas

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Thanks so much for this review Tracie. We are leaving on the feb 27th -March 9th and I am starting to work myself into a frenzy regarding getting into the Sanctuary for entire cruise. Please let me know how full it actually is the days you go....did people get turned away??? Not sure why they do not let one reserve ahead of time, seems absurd. Most other cruise lines have a far better system.

Have a wonderful 10 days and I look forward to hearing every detail!!!! Thanks again.

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Thanks so much for review. I am going on my third Princess cruise in February...the Royal, and am nervous about the reviews of ship in particular cabin size and bathrooms. We love Celebrity and hope Princess surprises us and is a great alternative.

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No n. Amsterdam was quoted as 14 day

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We've decided on Royal......prefer 10 day and itinerary.

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Royal more expensive - and does not spend longer in ports

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Cannot understand why there is such a price difference for similar itineraries as both are new ships? Help?!

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You can actually get a pillow of your choice in any cabin....I always request a feather and it is never a problem....a regular cabin just maybe doesn't advertise that.