Century vs Navigator vs Golden Princess

[suezqt]

We are considering taking a cruise on the Century. We have previously cruised on the Navigator and the Golden Princess. I would be interested in knowing am I going to be happy with Century. I loved RCCL's ship(Navigator) but disliked the food. I liked Princess dining and service, but didn't love the Ship.

I've heard that Celebrity is a step above both. but am concerned about the age of the century and the fact that there are very few balcony cabins.We've only had balconies in the past

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

[Lois R]

Hi[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Century is my favorite ship! Have sailed her twice in the last year!
I haven't been on either of the ships you mentioned but I have seen the Golden from outside...I think she is WAY BIGGER than the Century. And I think the Navigator is too. I believe they would both be considered "Voyager Size"..right?
Century is 74,000 tons...much smaller in size.
(Perfect size to me [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]).

The Century was built in 1995 but she is kept beautifully clean. She is a classic ship...not glitzy, more "real wood"...as opposed to chrome of newer ships.

The service and food (In My opinion) has always been 1st class.

As for balconys....I only do an outside or inside. I know they have balconys, have been in a couple of them (by invitation). They are lovely...as balconys are part of suites.

As you can probably tell, I love the Century. I haven't booked anything for 2005 yet...but she will be one of my cruises next year too[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img].

For a wonderful week...I would recommend her highly[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img].

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

See My Century and Mercury Pictures at:
[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/lovescruising"]http://community.webshots.com/user/lovescruising[/url]

[suezqt]

Thanks Lois.. Is there a particular cabin that you liked?

[Lois R]

Hi...nope LOL...first cruise I was inside 9161.
That was in May 2003. Sailed her again in January and had an outside 8068.
I only use my cabin to sleep, shower and change clothes [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]. I sail solo so its more $$$ and I go for the better price rather than the higher category!
Once I am on board I am rarely in my cabin!

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

See My Century and Mercury Pictures at:
[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/lovescruising"]http://community.webshots.com/user/lovescruising[/url]

[Bridge Maven]

Sue, I sailed on the Century last December and would recommend it. The ship was in very good condition and its effective age is considerably less than its actual age. If you book a sky suite, which we did, you will have a balcony. The term sky suite is a little misleading because it is just a larger than average room with a balcony.

[Guest]

Sue ~ I've been fortunate enought to be on all three (well, almost -- I've been on Explorer and Mariner which are sisters to Navigator). Actually, come to think of it, I've been on all three vessels twice (WOW ... I'm very lucky).

In our opinion (my husband is sitting next to me and quickly said - CENTURY) there is no comparison. We prefer Century over the other two ships. But what we like may be different from what you like. We prefer the smaller ships -- fewer people, more of a ship feeling than a hotel feeling.

Navigator and Golden are significantly larger than Century (Century is 70,000 tons - 1750 passengers; Golden is 110,000 -- 2,600 passenger and Navigator is 138,000 - 3114 passengers). For us, Century is the perfect size. Big enough to have everything you'd want in a cruise ship; but small enough to have a manageable number of people on board.

While we've never had a bad cruise, our cruises on smaller ships have all been more enjoyable than those on larger ships -- and that goes for everything from service, to food quality, to attitudes of the passengers.

We just came off Golden Princess last Saturday (April 24) and while we had fun (and the crew and food was very good) the ship was in pretty bad shape overall. She was heading to dry dock after dropping us off but she needed maintenance long before now.

I've sailed on Century twice (about three years ago and again in the past year). Both cruises were equally enjoyable. Our teenager daughter was on both cruises with me; my husband on the most recent. All three of us loved the ship and the cruise. I wouldn't put the average age of passengers on Century any different from the Voyager class or Grand class ships. You'll find a wide range of ages on Century. You'll also find great service and great food. You won't find several alternate restaurants (but then that's not important to us) and you won't find the shopping mall atrium you have on Navigator, either. But you will have one terrific cruise ship.

You are right. There aren't a lot of balconies but there are balconies. The first time we were in an outside with a large window. Actually, it was a very nice cabin except it was under the aerobics room (avoid this area of the ship) and last year we had a Sky Suite (very, very nice).

I've yet to find people who haven't enjoyed Century. In fact, when we were on Golden last week and were next to Century in port, I kind of wished we were on Century.

So, I think it depends on what is important to you. Give Century a try. If you enjoy cruising, I'm pretty sure you will enjoy Century!

~Host Anne

[suezqt]

Anne,

Thanks for your comprehensive report on the Century. It was most helpful. I do have one more question. The difference between concierge class with an ocean view and a mini suite is almost $800 more.
I've checked several websites and even called a few TA's on this. Do you have a particular reason why? or is it the TA's that I'm dealing with.. Also the Suite that you had were you happy with the location and service. Was it concierge class as well and would you mind telling me the cabin #.

Also before we decided on the Century, I had priced other Celebrity cruises for the same time, eastern and southern itinerary, and for a concierge class balcony it was about $300 cheaper than the Century as well. I wonder if people are just willing to pay more for this particular ship?

Regards.. Susan

[suezqt]

Anne,

Thanks for you comments. I don have some more questions though.. When I priced the cruise the mini suite was about $800 more than the concierge ocean view cabin? This seems high to me as before I decided on the century, I had priced other Celebrity cruises around the same dates and for a concierge class balcony they were about $300 less than what I was quoted for a mini suite.. Any thoughts?

Also did your suite come with concierge service?

[nealberk]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by suezqt:
Anne,

Thanks for you comments. I don have some more questions though.. When I priced the cruise the mini suite was about $800 more than the concierge ocean view cabin? This seems high to me as before I decided on the century, I had priced other Celebrity cruises around the same dates and for a concierge class balcony they were about $300 less than what I was quoted for a mini suite.. Any thoughts?

Also did your suite come with concierge service?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, the Century does not have as many balcony rooms as some of the newer ships do. Then there might be the issue of supply and demand. Between Lois and the Century thread, demand may far exceed supply for the ship! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[Guest]

Susan ~ when we had the Sky Suite on Century, they did not yet have the Concierge Class of service so unfortunately, I can't compare them for you. The Sky Suite was very nice and we did have the services of a butler, but quite honestly, we didn't use him very much (although he was a wonderful person and would do anything you asked). We just tend to take care of ourselves [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]. As I recall, we booked the Sky Suite because on our sailing it was a good deal. I'm not sure that's the case with your sailing.

Century is a smaller ship and like all things with supply and demand (and the time of year) she could be priced higher than other Celebrity ships.

I'm also not sure if the suites automatically come with Concierge Service ameneties. Your TA (or another cruise critic member) can probably quickly answer that for you.

I don't think the Sky Suite is worth $800 more (is that per person or for two in the cabin?). Either way, I don't think it's worth it. Our oceanview stateroom on Century (our first cruise on Century) was actually very nice.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful on these questions.

~Host Anne

[usha]

suezqt, we've been on Century and Golden, but not Navigator. Given the choice of returning to Century or Golden, I'd pick Century without a moment's hesitation. The service on Century was much better than on Golden, and the comparable cabin categories are roomier and better laid out. The bathrooms on Century, especially the shower, is a giant improvement over Golden. I haven't been in a balcony on either ship, but I agree the outside cabins on Century are very roomy and quite nice. The main diningroom on Century blows the diningrooms on Golden right out of the water.
My husband and I are booked on a Century back/to/back for next Feb. That'll be my 5th and 6th cruise on that ship. We sort of like it. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[mslaabs]

My husband and I have been on 2 cruises, both of them were on the Century. Both times the service was fantastic and every crew member we met was very friendly. The food was great, the only complaint (if you can even call it a complaint) was that the pepperoni pizza could have used a few more pieces of pepperoni [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] In 11 days we'll be sailing on the Navigator. We are a little leary of moving to such a large ship, but we figured we would give it a try.

Sheila

[Tatka]

We (I and my 11 yo son) sailed Century last summer.

I loved the cruise ..perfect service and size. I usually love everything BIG but ...when I was going between the pool and our outside aft cabin on the 4th floor many times a day I was happy with Century size!!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

I absolutely loved food and dining room!!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]


My husbad and I are going to cruise Med sea in two weeks and if Splendour of the Seas will impress me as much as Century I will be happy!!! (I know Century and SOS are about the same age and size but worry about service and food)

Less than 2 weeks till my dream Med vacation!

Splendour of the Seas May 15, 2004 (Europe!!!)

Century 07/12/03 Eastern Caribbean FFL-San Juan - St. Thomas - St.Maarten- Nassau -FFL
Komarno(Volga)07/91 Moscow - Astrahan' - Moscow (honeymoon)
Komarno(Volga)07/90 Moscow - Astrahan'- Moscow
Admiral Nachimov(or Nakhimov) (Black Sea)04/1986 Odessa - Batum

GO BRUINS!!!!

[Tatka]

Sorry double post

[Tatka]

Sorry double post