Compare Princess to NCL and Royal Caribbean?

[ferry_gal]

I've been on 41 cruises - 22 RCI, 16 Princess, and 3 NCL and here are a few thoughts:

 

• NCL has good price points but small, minimalist cabins with so-so food, service, and entertainment. NCL does a great job in Hawaii but the prices have gone up since they only have one instead of two ships in the Islands. . .it's all about supply and demand. Good Mexican itineraries. The overall service - both in the cabins and dining rooms - are not as good as either Princess and RCI.
  
• Princess by far has the best worldwide itineraries of the three lines, slightly larger cabins, but the food isn't as good as RCI and the entertainment is substandard compared to RCI. Princess excells on it's Alaskan cruise options and the big screen/movies under the stars are really fun. Princess is also one of the few cruise lines that offers laundromats on board which is a huge plus especially if you are on a longer cruise. It also does not take as many cruises to get to the Elite past passenger level. Another positive aspect about Princess is that they are far more reasonable about bringing your own wine onboard. . .Royal Caribbean reserves the right to kick you off the ship if they catch you trying to "smuggle" booze onto the vessel which is extreme in my book. Princess really takes care of their past passengers - particularly at the Elite level - and makes them feel very special. Princess also has some terrific last minute cruise fares available via email to help fill their ships.
  
• Royal Caribbean has a great mix of itineraries, onboard activities, comfortable, well-appointed cabins, a fantastic kids program, and great entertainment. RCI's ships have very innovative activities including zip lines, rock climbing walls, wave pools, aqua follies, ice skating rinks, Broadway theater shows, etc. The buffets are expansive with many food choices and have open settings with many stations so there are not long lines to endure. Of the three lines, RCI's food is slightly better than the others. RCI requires more cruises to get to the highest level of past-passenger perks, has no self-laundry, and has an outrageous no personal alcohol to be brought aboard rule. A great benefit for suite and Diamond Plus members is access to private concierge lounges that offers free internet, continental breakfast in a small, private room, nightly complimentary cocktails and snacks, free DVD/videos, priority access to sold out shore excursions, plus personalized concierge service to make arrangements for spa treatments, specialty dining arrangements, etc.
  

Hope this infomation is helpful!

[Two Tumbleweeds]

You will like the Coral Princess, we went aboard her to the Panama Canal and loved every day on board. Went to Alaska again this year on the Island Princess, and all we can say is "have your camera ready at all times in Glacier Bay and College Fjord" They are spectacular.

[Talisker92]

Hi, I saw another post that said the buffets were ridiculously small on Princess ships and that there were long lines. Did you find that true on the Coral? Thanks. Joyce

 

We just got back from the Coral Princess. There was a tremendous selection in the buffets, as an example, for lunch, among other things 4 different kinds of sausage.(yum)

There were no lines, except maybe a small one for the cooked to order omelets for breakfast

[deadzone1003]

The Coral Princess is probably the roomiest ship of all Princess ships - not the largest, just the most public sq. ft. per passenger. Granted the buffet can be crowded at breakfast and lunch - you can always eat in the dining room especially if all 20 of you want to eat together. I assume you are going southbound - pick the itinerary where you can see Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier as oppose to Glacier Bay and College Fjord. If you are getting a balcony, get one on the port side on the Carribbean deck - the balconies are very large except for the ones on the hump and towards the front. Night life is terrible in Alaska, due to the fact that alot of the passengers are families and older passengers, also the port days seem to start very early in the day.