Princess VS RCI?

[Schasz]

I am hoping that there are a few fellow cruise addicts that have cruised both lines as my family has cruised on Carnival and RCI (Enchantment). We are looking at another Caribbean cruise with my DW and daughters ages 16 and 21. If we go with RCI then we will most likely book The Mariner, and I understand Princess has a ship or two that would rival The Mariner in size.

 

Can anyone who has cruised both lines give me the pros and cons as they experienced them.

 

John & Shari

[CaptData]

I have sailed both lines, Princess and RCI. I like Princess better for a few reasons. On Navigator the 24 hours cafe only had a choice of two muffins after midnight both were ones I did not like (one had raisins which I can not have). On the Dawn, the Horizon Court had several choices of bread, muffins and cakes plus you could get juice, tea, coffee, milk, there was even some cereal and jams etc. The other thing is the 24 hours hot tubs and pools with freash water not sea water.

 

Please read review on the Carribean Princess re food and the Movies under the stars.

 

Now for entertainment for the young people depending on what they want the Voyager Class ships have several extra options in the Rock wall, ice ring. and roller blading. There is Golf on both Princess and Voyager ones.

 

Service, I found that Princess was better in both food and service. IMO. This is subjective because I'm disabled and ran in to problems on my Navigator trip (told to move out of their way and that I took up to much room on the elevator when staff wanted to do something. They were in a group in the buffet area and did not offer to help me at all, I had to ask for assistance. On Princess when I went to the buffet, someone came and asked if I needed assistance. Small point but a telling one.

 

Both lines were equal in the room things and both had good Room Attendents. Both had good Head Waiters although I thought the Princess ones were more fun. The Asst Waiter on RC was very good compared to Princess one (she laught and joked with us). The Princess Asst waiter did not speak english yet so that was the main problem.

 

The Voyager Class was easier to get around in for the disabled but I have not been on the Grand Class yet.

 

Both Alternative Restauants were good for diffent reasons. Food was good on both. The staff on Princess was more attentive but the RC ones were more fun. IMO

 

Hopfully a Hawiian Cruise

 

 Until we sail away on the ocean blue

 

 

 

Navigator of the Seas Western Crib 08/03

Dawn Princess - Eastern Carb

Dawn Princess Panamal Canal

 

[Coolcruise02]

We found our cruise on the Radiance of the Sea to be a little better than the Golden Princess.

We enjoyed both very much, but I found the Radiance had a lot more fun activities and a livelier group of people. The eating situation was not very good on the Golden and I'm sorry to insult anyone but Carnival's food is the best we have had. (and the best selection and availablity) The casino on the Golden was dead most evenings and the disco never had more than a handfull of people. We are in our late 40's so maybe we expected too much night life???

We have had a great time on every cruise, it's what you make of it!

 

 

 

Jubilee 03-02

Monarch of the Seas 09-02

Pride 12-02

Inspiration 5-03

Radiance of the Seas 11-03

Golden Princess 02-04

[karen2cruz]

Schasz,

 

Been on both now. This is a tough thing to answer. First, it depends on your daughters.

Royal Caribbean has smaller staterooms and balconies, but more activities for youth/young adults. There are more poolside activities on Mariner. My boys loved the arcade, ice rink and rock wall. The older teen activities didn't seem well-organized. My 17 year old daughter mostly hung out with me on the Mariner, or on the internet- lol

 

Agree with Capt Data on food.

 

I think it will also depend on what time of year you go. We had 1400 youth on our sailing on April 4th, mostly well-behaved, but alot.

 

We are going back to Princess on our next cruise.

 

Whatever you decide, have a great cruise!

 

Sea Princess 2/02

DisneyWonder 6/03

Mariner of the Seas 4/04

Golden Princess 1/23/05

 

 

[Brad1185]

I would stay with Princess, since RCI has started charging for hamburgers, ff and onion rings.

[ambullmom]

All I can say is that I have never had better service on the three lines I have cruised as I had on The Grand Princess. I didn't realize houw much service meant to me until I found the best. Its Princess for me now forever.

 

Mary Beth

 

PS regardless of the beauty of a ship, if the service is not good it can really ruin a cruise.

[torbs]

It looks like my opinion will differ from the rest but, I prefer RCI. Regardless of what the brochure might say for both lines, I would say the cabins on RCI are bigger, at least in the class I booked (outside balcony). RCI has enough room for a queen and a sitting area. Not the same on Princess. I feel the Voyager ships flow better in getting around if that makes sense. I will say, I thought the food on Princess was better however, RCI had more choices for dinner. The alternative restaurants on Voyager class (at least the steakhouse) blow Princess away. I did not eat in Sabatini's but I heard that was very good. I felt the entertainment on RCI was scheduled appropriately given there were only 2 dinner times. If PC is important to you then Princess would be a better option.

 

This of course is just my humble opinion! Which ever option you go with, enjoy. You are cruising baby!!!

 

Until 4/3 Caribbean Princess

 

 

Caribbean Princess 4/3/04

Navigator of the Seas 8/03

Voyager of the Seas 6/01

[Schasz]

I understand that service for adults can be an issue and it is good to know that some feel the service on Princess may be better than RCI. However, I don't think service is as much an issue for the younger crowd like my 2 daughters...they are looking for fun things to do.

 

As I previously stated, my experience so far is with Carnival and RCI. The service level was comparable on both, the fun things to do was also pretty much the same, but as far as quality of the food, then we all agreed that Carnival won that hands down.

 

From what I have read so far, I would kind of lean towards RCI and the Mariner. We are looking at a cruise over the Christmas/New Year period and it would be a large part of our daughters Christmas, so it is important for them to have plenty to do. The food and service are lesser issues with Mom and Dad on this cruise. We figure that there will be a day for us without our kids and then those things will be more important. I do appreciate everyones two cents worth.

 

John & Shari

[david d]

Did I read correctly--RCI charges for food? It syas that RCI charges for burgers, ff and onion rings? Is that aal the time or just off meal time? I hate to see the cruise lines chipping away even more at the all inclusiveness that seems to be eroding.

[sneekpeek]

We have also been on both. Just did our first Princess on the Diamond. We will stick to Princess from now on. The crew, service, entertainment, food, etc was outstanding compared to RCL which was pretty good. I do agree with the above post that the cabins are bigger on RCL, but we don't hang out in our cabin. The only thing that was better on RCL than Prnicess was the buffet. We thought the buffet on RCL was excellent. The Horizon Court on the Diamond was unorganized and the food was not very good. The other dining venues on the Diamond were excellent.

[igloo42]

Hi - just a quick note - RCI is only charging for burgers, etc in their "specialty" resturant Johnny Rockets - not on their normal buffet or resturants...this has caused quite a stir on the RCI forum and RCI is saying it is only a test...but time will tell.

 

igloo42

[Schasz]

I think that they are charging a $3.95 service fee at Johnny Rockets from what I have read on the RCI board. It did create a stir among the folks posting on that board.

 

Our cruise was on Enchantment of the Seas and that ship does not have a Johnny Rockets. In November, they did not charge us for burgers or fries on the Enchantment...I do think the charge is only for Johnny Rockets.

 

John & Shari