Faithful RCI seeks 2nd line.... Celebrity or Princess?

[Pack My Bags]

We are very close to being Diamond plus members on Royal. We like the ambience, crowd, activities & offerings of RCI. We are looking to build a loyalty to a 2nd line that maybe offers more itinerary variety. We just turned 40, have very educated dining palettes and enjoy the fun activities such as the Piano sing-a-longs, Trivia, Quest, Love & Marriage, live music, etc.... In turn, we are cultured & used to frequent the art auctions.

 

We are mostly concerned with dining & on board activities closer to our age range. Celebrity would apply our C & A status to a comparable level & Princess... oh we hear good things... Of the two... which line do you think would be a better match?

 

Suggestions welcomed!

[Aquahound]

I had many of the same questions a couple years ago. DW and I went on the Celebrity Solstice and LOVED it. Since then, we have returned to Celebrity twice. Getting the Elite status reciprocity was a huge bonus.

 

Celebrity has a much larger alternative selections menu in the MDR. Every night, caprese, shrimp cocktail, and escargot are available. On one night, frog legs are served on the main menu. It's a delicious menu.

 

There was no Quest, but they did have the Love and Marriage game show, trivia, and plenty of live music. They have a 7 piece band that plays all around the ship, including the pool deck. Celebrity ships also have an acapela group that sings in different venues.

 

The martini bar is great.

 

We loved the service and general ambiance of the cruise line. Celebrity has become our 2nd line. Witch ever you choose, enjoy. :)

[Pack My Bags]

Although we love fine dining, we are simple people... We change right back into comfy clothes immediately after formal dinner and prefer to do that without receiving looks or snooty treatment from more traditional cruisers.

Which of the two lines are shall I say... Less fah-fah?

Thanks.

[cruisin'tex]

Our fav....Princess...

[iheartbda]

Although we love fine dining, we are simple people... We change right back into comfy clothes immediately after formal dinner and prefer to do that without receiving looks or snooty treatment from more traditional cruisers.

Which of the two lines are shall I say... Less fah-fah?

Thanks.

First of all, you have a leg up with Celebrity with your crossover status from RCCL. You will be starting at square one on Princess.;)

 

Food is so subjective that it's rather hard to give a comparison......everyone's opinion will differ. However, I found that several nights on Princess, I ordered from the "always available" menu because there was just nothing that looked great. On Celebrity, I had a hard time making a final choice since everything DID look good and everything I had was always great.

 

Sabatini's on Princess was wonderful in both food and service. There was one night on Princess when the service in the MDR was extremely slow but I don't think that was the norm and I don't hold it against them. The service we got on Celebrity every night was comparable to the service in Sabatini's.

 

I would go on Princess again in a heartbeat and thought the overall experience was comparable to Celebrity.:)

 

As far as which is less fah-fah? Both have similar dress codes and for the most part, people followed them. If you want to change into "more comfortable" clothes, you know the dress code going in so there's always the possibility of comments but you will not receive snooty treatment from the staff. BTW, none of my formal clothes are uncomfortable.;)

[Pack My Bags]

That was a slew of good stuff! Thank you so much. My formal outfits are purposely loose & comfy. It's DH that I feel terrible for! We are going to start renting tuxedos, so we dont have to lug it on flights! Yes we know the MDR deal... It's afterwards when I've gotten looks. When I'm in the bar & in a pair of jeans a top & flip flops while most are still in their sequined gowns.

 

The perks of staying on with sister Celebrity sound soo good.. Yet they come with a heftier price tag than Princess.

Oh decisions, decisions. Which one of the two is more lively?

[SuiteTraveler]

I've sailed on both Celebrity and Princess and am a similar age to you. IMO, of the two, you would like Celebrity better - especially the Solstice class ships. I do think that the food is better on Celebrity. I also think that the crowd on Celebrity is more lively and fun. And the beds are more comfortable and I also think that the ships are much more beautiful.

[fideauxdon]

Although we love fine dining, we are simple people... We change right back into comfy clothes immediately after formal dinner and prefer to do that without receiving looks or snooty treatment from more traditional cruisers.

Which of the two lines are shall I say... Less fah-fah?

Thanks.

 

If you love fine dining, either Celebrity or Princess would be a revelation compared to RCI, at least in my opinion.

[Pack My Bags]

We are Diamond members. Does anyone know what what corresponding Celebrity status this puts us in? What perks are available to us that I might not otherwise find on the Celebrity website?

[Langley Cruisers]

Hi you two,

 

Just wanted to quickly mention that the smoking policy is a big factor for us. Princess allows smoking in the cabin and on balconies; Celebrity does not. This may or may not matter to you but it does to us. We took a Princess cruise two years ago because of the itinerary, and enjoyed it. Have to say we were thankful the previous passenger did not smoke in the cabin (this nose is a blessing and a curse - I can smell everything). :o

 

We will most likely not book Princess again until/unless their smoking policy changes. As I said, it's important to us. I hope you enjoy whatever cruise line you decide upon. :)

[JanineM]

We are Diamond members. Does anyone know what what corresponding Celebrity status this puts us in? What perks are available to us that I might not otherwise find on the Celebrity website?

 

 

Good perks. They've recently improved Captain's Club. We reached Diamond on Royal Caribbean and now sail exclusively on X! The best benefit is highlighted in red, although the laundry and pressing are pretty good, too.

 

Elite Member Benefits* (After 10 earned tier credits)**

• Exclusive Captain's Club Celebration event

• Complimentary pressing of 2 garment items

• One complimentary bag of laundry (wash, dry, fold) on every sailing‡

• One standard bag of laundry (wash, dry, fold) at a discounted price of $20 on all Celebrity cruises of 12 nights or longer

• Complimentary dry cleaning of 1 garment item

• Complimentary 90 minute Internet package (can be applied towards a larger Internet package)

• Access to the Captain's Club Lounge for coffeehouse style breakfast and evening social hour (open daily except embarkation and the evening of the Senior Officers’ Cocktail Party)

• Complimentary access to Persian Garden (on one (1) port day of your choice, while the ship is in port)

 

 

 

• Complimentary use of the Loyalty Desk member service center between cruises

• Complimentary access to the onboard Loyalty Host during your cruise

• A premium onboard discount booklet filled with special offers during each cruise

• Complimentary upgrade from ChoiceAir to ChoiceAir Plus when booking travel for your cruise

• Pre-sailing specialty restaurant reservations available before your cruise

• Annual member Reunion Cruise with additional member events

• One category upgrade prior to sailing (when available)

• Complimentary online Captain's Club newsletter with the latest program news and information

• Priority embarkation while boarding the ship (where available)

• Invitation to a complimentary wine seminar event

• Priority status on the shore excursion waitlist

• Invitation to the exclusive Senior Officer's Cocktail Party

• Access to the private shipboard departure lounge with continental breakfast during disembarkation

• Priority tender service status

• Priority waitlist status for dining room seating

• Invitation to attend the Elegant Tea Service event

• Ability to enroll in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society Diamond Tier

[Pack My Bags]

Langley -- Thank you for that very important piece of info. I have learned that the only thing worse than an non-smoker is an EX-Smoker like myself. After an evening in the casino I refuse to get into bed without showering, it feels dirty. I smoked for 15 years, quit 3 times for a year & a half & still went back. It took a morning of waking up literally breathless & an ambulance ride to the hospital that made me quit. After years of getting back my stamina & breath the slightest whiff of smoke in any hotel room or cabin is nauseating. My nose is an instant radar!! LOL!

-Ria

[Pack My Bags]

Waterbaby -- Thank you for doing the research for me. We are not big drinkers, but the Laundry perks alone are excellent!

-Ria

[wg6530]

with your reciprocal Elite status, Celebrity is a great fit (if the itinerary suits you). you will not need to build loyalty as you are already at the top the Celebrity's current program. I really like Celebrity's menus and their service. My Celebrity state room stewards have been excellent to amazing.

 

I have sailed Princess 3 times and enjoyed the cruises.From your description of yourselves, Princess would probably suit you well. Princess has some terrific itineraries. If one of those itineraries draws your eye (and you can't get it on X or can't get it at a similar price), go for it.

[denlishen]

Oh gosh, go for Celebrity. We did princess last year and could not believe what a joke it was. It's supposed to be more "upscale" - yeah right! I had a more luxurious time on Carnival (seriously) The only good thing I will say about Princess was it was very quiet on the decks and around the ship because they have no real "entertainment" on board. That was nice in Alaska. The few hours a day there was food available, it made me want to gag and I am NOT a picky eater. I think that RCCL & Carnival have great food. I hear good things about Princess, so it could just be me. YMMV.

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

Langley -- Thank you for that very important piece of info. I have learned that the only thing worse than an non-smoker is an EX-Smoker like myself. After an evening in the casino I refuse to get into bed without showering, it feels dirty. I smoked for 15 years, quit 3 times for a year & a half & still went back. It took a morning of waking up literally breathless & an ambulance ride to the hospital that made me quit. After years of getting back my stamina & breath the slightest whiff of smoke in any hotel room or cabin is nauseating. My nose is an instant radar!! LOL!

-Ria

 

Pack My Bags, you will be pleased to learn that on Celebrity there is no smoking in the casino.

[Pack My Bags]

QUESTION... If I go on celebrity my Diamond RCI status will be acknowledged. But if after I sail with celeb again, does that mean I will come in on the low end of the totem pole, starting over? OR will I continue to be given Elite perks? And if so, then why bother with joining the loyalty prgm? Can anyone help with this topic? Are there any differences between being acknowledged as a Diamond member & actually being an elite member?

[wg6530]

QUESTION... If I go on celebrity my Diamond RCI status will be acknowledged. But if after I sail with celeb again, does that mean I will come in on the low end of the totem pole, starting over? OR will I continue to be given Elite perks? And if so, then why bother with joining the loyalty prgm? Can anyone help with this topic? Are there any differences between being acknowledged as a Diamond member & actually being an elite member?

 

You will receive reciprocal Elite status on your first cruise and will continue to be treated as elite on future cruises. Your captain's club webpage page should say elite. You will automatically start accumulating captain's club credits. If the program stays just as it is now, then, no, this credits will not really matter. If captains club changes in the future, I would suspect you be grandfathered as elite, but any guesses on future program changes are speculative.

 

I think X will treat you just like an other Elite.

 

On the X boards here on CC, I did read a thread where captains club elites expressed some resentment toward all the reciprocal guests who are on their first X cruise. so you could run into some guest who "earned" their elite status and feels you did not "earn" yours. I trust you can handle them (diplomatically or otherwise).

[Pack My Bags]

Thank you for that info. If people want to waste their precious vacation time making comments then so be it. I can easily ignore them. I will be on vacation & life is too short to waste on acknowledging bitterness. They too can choose to go on RCI and reap benefits there. Nobody's stopping them.

 

Thanks for the info. :)

[wg6530]

Thank you for that info. If people want to waste their precious vacation time making comments then so be it. I can easily ignore them. I will be on vacation & life is too short to waste on acknowledging bitterness. They too can choose to go on RCI and reap benefits there. Nobody's stopping them.

 

Thanks for the info. :)

I agree with you. In fact, I have done the reverse:),enjoying status on RCI based on Captain's Club. On my second RCI cruise, I was platinum based on my X status. On RCI cruises 3-8 and on upcoming number 9, I have been Diamond based on X status. After that cruise I would have D status under both systems. D+ may take a while...

 

I suspect any unpleasantness is an Internet phenomenon, and you probably will not experience any overt hostility. Certainly hope not. RCI is bigger with many D and above cruisers, so I guess I can understand how X cruisers might feel over-run now and then. still, I find it funny as it was easier/cheaper to get Elite status with CC balconies than jr suites on RCI (not that way intentionally, just the way the itineraries worked out). Even more so now that C&A had been revised.

 

The parent corporation obviously values our loyalty. That is all that matters.

 

Have a wonderful cruise.

[Pack My Bags]

We will be sailing in a C2 on the Summit. I found the price jump fron balcony rms to suites on X are greater than the jump from balconies to Jr suite pricing on RCI. Now that I have been in Jr suites I can't part with the square footage & don't want to go back! Haha!

 

Having earned my Diamond status after 10 cruises (with two more lined up)I am grateful that X offers this acknowledgement too. I agree that they really don't care if you are spending and keeping it in the family! Either way we were going to expand to X as our 2nd line.

 

We will enjoy our next cruise and you too! :-)

[Catladyesq]

I would select Celebrity -- over Princess. Have sailed both and prefer Celebrity all the way.

[cruisecriticmember]

That was a slew of good stuff! Thank you so much. My formal outfits are purposely loose & comfy. It's DH that I feel terrible for! We are going to start renting tuxedos, so we dont have to lug it on flights! Yes we know the MDR deal... It's afterwards when I've gotten looks. When I'm in the bar & in a pair of jeans a top & flip flops while most are still in their sequined gowns.

 

The perks of staying on with sister Celebrity sound soo good.. Yet they come with a heftier price tag than Princess.

Oh decisions, decisions. Which one of the two is more lively?

 

Perhaps the reason behind the "looks" was the fact that Celebrity asks iys guests to stay in the same style of clothes for the entire evening not just during dinner. Of course it's your cruise and for me one has the right to do what you do. Say: a sequined gown with flipflops would be quite a daring look!:)

On formal nights I wear a dark suit rather than a tux but try to jazz it up a red stripped fluffy big bowtie and matching bandera around my waist. Just for fun!:)

[shippmates]

The smoking policy on the cruise lines is changing after the first of the year. HAL will no longer permit smoking in the cabins but on the balconies. Princess is not allowing smoking in the cabins or on the balconies and only certain areas of the decks.

Enjoy your cruise whichever line you choose.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Oh gosh, go for Celebrity. We did princess last year and could not believe what a joke it was. It's supposed to be more "upscale" - yeah right! I had a more luxurious time on Carnival (seriously) The only good thing I will say about Princess was it was very quiet on the decks and around the ship because they have no real "entertainment" on board. That was nice in Alaska. The few hours a day there was food available, it made me want to gag and I am NOT a picky eater. I think that RCCL & Carnival have great food. I hear good things about Princess, so it could just be me. YMMV.

 

I don't know which Princess ship you were on, but on our four times on Princess, there was food available 24 hours/day from the time we boarded to the time passengers were disembarking. And there were many activities going on (maybe you just had a bad cruise director -- even though, on our last cruise, it was a temporary one, and there were still so many things to do, it was often hard to choose just one at a time from shows to trivia to dancing to making Hawaiian crafts).

 

I'm not a foodie by any means, but I usually was able to find something acceptable to eat. When I had lunch during a tour of a Celebrity ship, I found the meal pretentious. So to each their own, right?

 

And some dealbreakers for us (maybe not for you, but I'm sure we're not alone): Princess has a mini-fridge in every cabin, no matter what the category. And Princess has self-service laundries, which is important to us on our longer cruises as one member of our family is allergic to regular laundry detergent.