My comparison between Celebrity and Princess

[chamima]

Thanks. We agree with MOST of what you said. However, must say the buffet on the Royal Princess is FAR superior to anything on any other ship we have experienced, including Celebrity Reflection (where the service is non-existent). And I hope they don't change the Princess beds. I have an old back injury and need a firm bed.

 

 

 

 

Just off the Royal (preceded by the Eclipse) and I agree about the buffet.

On Celebrity the buffet looks good the first day but then you start to realize it's the same things every day.

In general I really dislike buffets but we had to walk through the Royal's buffet to get to the pool and more than once I ended up taking something (when I wasn't hungry and had no intentions of eating) just because it looked so good. (And ended up tasting just as good).

 

Don't worry about the beds. They were more comfortable than the old ones but still REALLY firm.

[want2bcruizin]

We did our first Celebrity cruise last year on the Equinox last year and loved it. When our friends wanted us to join them on the Royal this year we were leary but really enjoyed it. Here's my hit and miss list.

 

Celebrity hits

 

Cabin design and bathroom design

Quiet pool areas

Loved the martini bar

Sunset bar

No smoking in the casino

Ship design in general was lovely

Bed was comfortable

Entertainment

 

Celebrity misses

 

Price of speciality dining was more expensive

No brewed coffee at cafe area. Only espresso based

No self serve laundry

Buffet times more limited and not a good option for dinner

A few issues with cabin service. Late getting room made up and bathroom was not done at all one evening.

 

Royal Princess

 

Hits

Balcony room was small but better storage

Beds was comfortable

Buffet area good food and better designed

Beverage service at the buffet

Afternoon tea

Self serve laundry and iron available

Love the IC

Loved the pizza place

Enjoyed the Beatlemaniacs and the comedian

 

Royal misses

 

Balcony size

Pools smaller and lacked shady loungers

Seems like less wine and beverage options available

Smokey casino and tight slots

 

I really enjoyed both cruises and would do either of them again in a heart beat. If I had to decide it would come down to price and itinerary for me between these two. The beds on the Emerald last time were so bad It was a real deal breaker for me. Not so on the Royal.

 

 

 

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[sjh422]

We have taken 10 cruises on Celebrity to date with the latest one being Alaska on the Millennium in 2013.

Then in November 2013 we sailed on the new Royal Princess. After that experience, I will pick Princess any day for these reasons:

 

Mini Suite is nicely decorated, has 2 tvs with a wide range of broadcast stations as well as current movies, a comfortable sofa, a walk in closet and so much more storage space.

 

The Piazza just wowed us. On the newer Celebrity ships such as the Solstice, Eclipse, etc the have a small area on deck 4 or 5 in which their ship wide events take place. You have to arrive there about an hour earlier than the events as it is so small with few chairs and not much standing room.

 

There is so much more entertainment on Princess. On our Celebrity cruise there was only the Love and Marriage game while on the Royal we had a game show almost every night in addition to the pool games and the production show in the theatre.

 

We found the food comparable on both lines but CEL does not have pizza like Alfredos.

 

Princess has now become my cruise line of choice.

[pris993]

We just did a B2B on the Celebrity Eclipse and then the Royal Princess.

I wrote about it on the Celebrity boards under "Has anyone else noticed less crew per passenger lately? "

We were in Aqua class on Celebrity and so dined in Blu not the main dining room.

 

I agree with pretty much everything you had to say.

We found the food much better on Princess . (We were on the new Royal so had the HUGE new buffet.)

We also felt the crew was friendlier and there were more of them (not being stressed might have accounted for the friendlier) on Princess.

 

Each line has it's pluses and minuses but for the time being I think Princess has the edge.

 

Agree with your comments.

 

We are elite on Princess, elite on Celebrity, 2 Star on HAL, cruise Cunard and NCL recently.

 

We too did a back to back, one week on the Eclipse - Celebrity and one week on the Ruby a year ago. Had a Aqua Class, Blue Restuarant on Celebrity and a mini suite on Princess/late traditional dining on Princess. Comparing the two cruise experiences I would give the edge to Princess on food, service and cabin experience.

 

We still cruise both lines and other lines mentioned above. When we cuise Celebrity, we skip the MDR because too crowded - food/service hit and miss for us, since we prefer to order off menu. Celebrity does not do as well with requests off menu ... Princess does much better. The buffet on X is extensive and so we opt for it over the MDR.

 

Have to agree perks on Princess the best as well.