Staci0615

Following as we are booked for next June in Blu.

One thing that I liked better on princess was the movie selection, both on the big screen and in the cabins. Having done California last year, but my next two are on Celebrity for the food and the itineraries.  

Going on a Celebrity cruise after being on Princess last year. They had a popcorn station next to the outdoor movie screen that made it nice to sit and watch a movie.  Does Celebrity also do this?

4 hours ago, billc23 said:

Yes, it really depends on what's important to you. (1) Celebrity entertainment is more high tech/spectacular and Silversea has to rely on the talent of the performer. (2) Silversea's included shore excursions are superior to Celebrity's. The bus that can transport 48 passengers usually has fewer than 24 - often 12 to 16. I'm currently on a Silversea sailing, Singapore to Hong Kong, to be directly followed by a Celebrity sailing, Hong Kong to Singapore. No difference in the variety or number of shore excursions between these 2 sailings. 

I do not feel the need to arrange independent tours when traveling on Silversea and I greatly prefer independent arrangements when traveling on Celebrity. (3) Celebrity has many more activities while Silversea has something going on all the time but not the variety that Celebrity has. (4) The cost... very similar to Retreat pricing without considering the included alcohol or shore excursions. More formal dress for sure - but many dining options that are casual too. Definitely an older crowd by about 10 years and fewer kids. No specific kids club. 

 

Celebrity has a class system that is very apparent - Silversea does not, but if you sail in an upper suite there is a small difference in service. The amount of public space on Silversea is much greater relative to the number of passengers. No lines to wait in, easy to get a seat by the pool, and the restaurant choices I listed in a prior post are to accommodate about the same number of passengers as Luminae does on an E class ship. Luminae on E class is more banquet style cooking while on Silversea the food is individually prepared. The logistics of  food preparation in the allotted time that Luminae is open for dinner on an E class ship dictate banquet cooking. 

 

If the reason to cruise around Japan is to see Japan, then I think it is important to look at how long the ship is in port, is it docked or tendered, and which port relative to the visited sites the ship is at to minimize the transit time to the sites (ie. long bus rides). Again, It really depends on what's important to you. If you want a large casino, to shop for used designer handbags and/or used watches onboard, or to buy artwork at the Park West art auction - then Celebrity is your ticket.

 

 

 

One other thing to consider is price point, while princess and celebrity are more class based it gives the opportunity for the lower classes to at least get the opportunity to see Japan.

9 hours ago, Piper1234 said:

I am traveling on The Millennium (Best of Japan) in August.  The ship arrives back in Yokohama at

4:30 am.  Does anyone know how early I will be allowed to walk off the ship with my luggage?  I want to book an 11:00 am flight to Bangkok.  Thanks.

 I will be doing this same cruise in 2025.....please report back 🙂

Thank you everybody for the guidance   So I booked with Celebrity as that went to Mt Fuji and an overnight in Osaka.   Booked in aqua class for the first time so hopefully the food will be better in blu……Japan here I come.  This will be my sons college graduation gift.

These are my only two choices for June 2025.  Cruised both in the past and am thinking Celebrity but has anyone experienced this in the near past. Post CoVid with all the changes?  Appreciate all thoughts.

Thank you for all the commentary and history lessons.  I was just asking because it is my American tradition and we will be on the discovery over the holiday.  This is my first princess cruise so I dont know what to expect.

Traveling over the St Patrick’s Day holiday….does princess do special menus?  I remember traveling on a cruise over thanksgiving one year and got the traditional turkey dinner on the menu….

The more I see the menus the more I am tempted to just eat in the buffet.  This is going to be my first cruise on Princess. I was on a Carnival ship prior to the pandemic and swore I would never book a Carnival cruise again, my bad for not realizing Princess was owned by Carnival before I booked but I liked the itinerary.  My expectations are not high, but if I see the grossness that I saw on Carnival I will speak up loudly.

1 hour ago, lucas34 said:

On my cruise in 1992 with Star Princess during gala night there was Malossol caviar and for main course pheasant, beef Wellington ja Maine lobster...those were the golden days of cruising!

And on my first cruise also early 90s I remember it was a five course dinner with frog legs and other very exotic foods and the waiters with the baked Alaska parading thru the dining room.

This is my fear too….since you booked EZ air are they going to fly you to the first port stop?

We are cruising on princess and arriving to port on Saturday booked a hotel near LAX for Saturday night with a shuttle for our Sunday flight home    Want to go to universal studios on Saturday  is it doable and what would be the best way. Would want to drop off our luggage at the hotel but it will probably be to early to check in

If I have booked Princess Plus for me and my 19 year old, and he is getting the non-alcohol package (which I am fine with as he wants to drink milkshakes etc.) Can I upgrade only me to the premier and leave him as the Plus or since we are sharing a cabin do both of us have to be premier in which case it isn't worth the up-charge and I will stay at plus.

I just realized we will be on board during St. Patrick’s Day, does princess do anything special?   Should I pack my green accessories?  Past cruisers please inform as this is my first princess cruise.

When do you know if your bid is accepted?   We are 23 days out and still shows pending even though others on our sailing have gotten their upgrades already…hoping we are not denied but I still see available cabins

We rented an electric car (pretty much a glorified golf cart) but that being said -there are charging stations in St George and Hamilton and ther is enough range to get to either place park and charge while you sight-see. It charged about 10-15% per hour but only use 25% to get from dockyard to st. George.  It is a good option for 2,  but driving on the left is tricky and the driver must be vigilant/cognizant of that especially on turns. We also saw a couple getting on the ship when we did with the wife on crutches and arm in a sling, saying that they wished they never rented a scooter. 

Just sailed on the Summit….over 40 signed up  never had it they said due to CoVid weren’t having it….we just made our own meet up at sail away.

Also deck 8 ocean view 8003 was a nice larger oceanview

I last cruised on the Summit in 2017 and I know it has since been updated, that being said I cannot find where the library is on my deck plans on the app.  Is it still there?   I used to like to hang out there and play cards.

Going on the Summit this Sunday    Will report back.

7 hours ago, jagoffee said:

In rough numbers, how much a day per person is the Cruise Only rate? (Compared to the AI?)

On the summit it came out 50 per day difference between AI and cruise only

Could it maybe have been that the bartender keyed in the wrong room number when applying, that has happened in the past also. 

So my takeaway from this as I sail in two weeks on the Summit is prepare for the worst,  pack meds and such and hope for the best….I have been lucky so far let’s hope it holds out

Yikes….scheduled to be on the Summit in two weeks.   Hope all the sick crew will have recovered Lol.   I am packing meds just in case though.