Comparing Princess and Celebrity

[Colo Cruiser]

When they dedicate that much space to the photo gallery onboard (or any other money maker) you know its big big $$$$ involved.

[2onboardagain]

I was asked about ship's photographers which some luxury lines don't have anymore.

 

On Princess there are about 10 of them (that was the number on our last P cruise) and they have a huge area to display their work.

 

 

 

They have a shop

 

 

And they sell Nikon and GoPro cameras, accessories and binoculars.

 

 

The only time I find them intrusive is when they work the MDR on Formal Nights

 

 

On formal Nights all of them will be working and on deck 7 there will be posing areas along the main walkway and even outside some of the elevators. Starting around 4 pm couples and families in their best duds will be posing in the Piazza stairs so you may have to take a detour. The photos cost $20 for an 8 X 10. We just say "No thanks" when they offer to take our photo.

 

We visit the Photo Gallery each day and buy our photos if they turned out OK.

 

We don't mind the gangway photos that happen when you get off the ship in port.

The photographers usually have two of their colleagues dressed according to the port-e.g in Alaska when we get off there will be a gunslinger and a barroom floozie or they are wearing bear and moose costumes- good clean goofy fun and again-some thing outside your everyday experience ( I hope). In Italy they were Centurions or mustachioed Pizza chefs.

 

This pair of goofballs were waiting for us outside the MDR on a non formal night.

The girl with the crazy expression was from Northern Ireland so she and I had already struck up an onboard rapport. Photo from Emerald Princess.

 

The Photo team also have a videographer who records deck parties, sail aways and accompanies some of the excursions for a DVD that they sell at the end of the cruise. We usually buy those for $60.

 

 

Next up- X

 

Norris

The photo of the "pair of goofballs" seems to be missing from your post. Thanks for addressing my inquiries about both art auctions and ship photographers. I do wish that there were two gangways for departures (photo and non-photo) as we have been jammed up waiting to meet a tour guide while others posed with a lobster or whatever. In our earlier cruises we succumbed and bought those photos too but after a while we feel almost guilty about them processing and printing photos that we have no interest in buying (seems like it ultimately only adds to the cost for those who actually want them).

 

John

[KruzeKrazy!]

We always just politely decline the gangway photos. It's never an issue with the photographers and we just step around and go on our way. Plus it helps keep the line moving for everyone else and the more that step around the faster the line moves for everyone else.

[GUT2407]

Art auctions...

 

Well I must not be in the target market because I just don't get the point if them on a cruise ship (other than as another revenue source for the cruise line, of course).

 

I've never thought, "Hey, we're on a cruise visiting some great locations so let's buy an overpriced painting that we don't need of something totally irrelevant as a momento...":what:

 

Yep they're a money Spinner. They've been a part of cruising for a long time. You could ask the same about gambling and shops.

 

At one time they weren't all over priced.

 

Not sure if that's still true.

[KruzeKrazy!]

Yup - totally get the art being a revenue stream. Just never got how unrelated paintings relate to a cruise experience.

 

What's next, selling furniture...? Anyone want this nice beige sofa shipped home to commemorate their cruise experience? :D

[GUT2407]

Yup - totally get the art being a revenue stream. Just never got how unrelated paintings relate to a cruise experience.

 

What's next, selling furniture...? Anyone want this nice beige sofa shipped home to commemorate their cruise experience? :D

 

Never be furniture, it's too big, they sell stuff that takes up little room on board.

 

But again your argument also applies, to most of what they sell, watches, perfume, handbags, all pretty small, none take up much pace on the ship to store.

 

And again gambling, what has locking yourself away in the caino got to do with the cruise experience.

 

Then again what has Trivia, computers, bingo even shows got to do with the cruise experience?

 

Well in my opinion all of those things are what go together to make the whole experience, yep even the ones I don't take part in.

[KruzeKrazy!]

Was just joking about the furniture to make the point how absurd some of the revenue generators can seem.

 

And I agree - it all adds up to what today's cruise experience is and, all in all, I'll certainly take the "bad" with the good as we love to cruise and enjoy all it entails!

Edited March 6, 2016 by KruzeKrazy!

[chamima]

Never be furniture, it's too big, they sell stuff that takes up little room on board.

 

But again your argument also applies, to most of what they sell, watches, perfume, handbags, all pretty small, none take up much pace on the ship to store.

 

And again gambling, what has locking yourself away in the caino got to do with the cruise experience.

 

Then again what has Trivia, computers, bingo even shows got to do with the cruise experience?

 

Well in my opinion all of those things are what go together to make the whole experience, yep even the ones I don't take part in.

 

 

 

 

Our first cruise was our honeymoon - 45 years ago.

We were excited to play bingo, go to the casino and see the production shows.

It was part of a very elegant, otherworldly experience.

They didn't have art auctions (that I remember) but they did have a gentleman on board doing pastel portraits of the passengers. We sat for one and still have it! That's the kind of art that's actually a cruise memory. :D

 

Cruising has definitely changed (and I'd never buy the "art" that's on board, we're from Michigan where Park West is based and know WAY too much negative about them) but it's still a "take me away Calgon" experience for me.

[Bimmer09]

Thanks for your comparisons Norris. I have never sailed Celebrity but seem to get emails every day from them. I have sailed with Princess, NCL, RCL and Carnival. One day I will try Celebrity.

 

Hi and thanks for reading along!

 

I get e mail every other day from X, Azamara, Princess and Oceania.

Once a month I get ads from Costa and Cunard.

I am interested in the first 4 currently.

 

If you sail Princess I think you'd like X too: relaxed vibe, luxurious surroundings and very good service and food.

 

Cheers!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Neither can we, especially when you look at the "art". My husband and I made fun of the art on our recent cruise on the Royal, to the point where he mentioned it in his post-cruise survey. I can't believe people actually buy this crap.

 

Also don't see the point of the high-end jewelry stores. Do people really buy expensive jewelry on cruises? I would much rather have some moderate-priced clothing stores on board, something I would actually purchase. I can't wear jewelry at work, so the stuff I have now gets unused, why buy more. Maybe that's just me.

 

Kimlovesfl (and so do I), I don't see many people shopping in those jewelry stores on the ship but the markups are so big that a couple of sales a day would make it worthwhile opening the doors.

 

The friend of mine who bought the Muhammad Ali/Beatles photo was "allowed" to do so on the condition that his Mrs would get some diamond bracelet she saw on board.

So he kept both of them happy.

 

And of course the ports support a vast number of jewelry stores.

 

I am sure the name stores on board (Michael Kors, Breitling, Omega, Effy) pay the staff and so the cost to the lines is minimal and they can be seen as high end and offering what a shoreside Mall can. The stores have exposure to 3,000 X 52 customers a year, many of whom are in a spending mood.

 

I've personally never bought jewelry. I wear a basic watch and have no aspirations to buy a Rolex. But I'm glad that people who do like luxury goods have somewhere to buy them.

 

Cheers!

 

Norris

 

 

[KruzeKrazy!]

Regarding the high-end shops I also agree why would some spend so much at them. And even though I live in Las Vegas and work in the casino business I feel the same way about so many super high-end shops on the Strip. And I say the same thing to my wife - at their margins they only need to sell a few...

[Bimmer09]

When they dedicate that much space to the photo gallery onboard (or any other money maker) you know its big big $$$$ involved.

 

Keith! Welcome.

 

Yes I am sure the photo gallery makes money and I'm all for that. Profit is good. Margin is King.

 

Formal Nights- or Elegant Chic night on X, are always busy with photographers and once you have posed and had your shots taken it's probable that you will buy them. I applaud transactions where both parties win and the bottom line grows.

 

I could never see us going on a cruise and not paying to dine in Specialty restaurants, not going on excursions, not buying photos and drinks. I know folks can rack up a lot of cruises (and good luck to them) avoiding paying beyond their cruise fare and the gratuities but we can only cruise twice a year (at best) and go with a "We're on vacation!" mindset and treat ourselves.

 

The Photo Gallery always gets our business.

 

Cheers!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris

The photo of the "pair of goofballs" seems to be missing from your post. Thanks for addressing my inquiries about both art auctions and ship photographers. I do wish that there were two gangways for departures (photo and non-photo) as we have been jammed up waiting to meet a tour guide while others posed with a lobster or whatever. In our earlier cruises we succumbed and bought those photos too but after a while we feel almost guilty about them processing and printing photos that we have no interest in buying (seems like it ultimately only adds to the cost for those who actually want them).

 

John

 

John, I am seeing that photo on my computer-even when you included it in a quote. Is anyone else having trouble seeing the pic with the pirates and the parrot?

 

That pic took me 90 minutes to find this morning- I have over 10,000 pics on my computer now (down from 31,000) and I searched high and low. Then I remembered that it might be in Carol's Google photos. I found it there and when I copied the URL it was half a page long...yikes. My Flickr ones are usually 5 lines long and I have to trim 4 of them out. I had my fingers crossed when I previewed it but there it was....and I still see it. Am I the only one?

 

John, which ship did they have the giant lobster to pose with? I want to book that ship next! LOL.

 

Norris, loving his costumed characters.

[KruzeKrazy!]

We, too, consider the photo gallery a part of our cruise experience and always get at least one photo set as a momento.

 

We've also found the staff (particularly for one whose job is to try to sell "extras") to be quite polite, nice to speak with, and even helpful.

 

And on our last cruise I even bought a memory card for our camera as I'd filled up the two I had brought. I was very pleased they had it stock, it worked just right, and it really wasn't too overpriced.

 

And we also always do both specialty restaurants - at least once each. All part of the cruise experience to us.

 

The bottom mine on the "extras" is they are optional - there for those who opt for them and no harm to those who don't.

 

Brian

[KruzeKrazy!]

Norris -

 

The pirates and parrot photo showed just phone on my phone. I won't ask which ones were the pirates and the parrot... ;)

[Bimmer09]

We always just politely decline the gangway photos. It's never an issue with the photographers and we just step around and go on our way. Plus it helps keep the line moving for everyone else and the more that step around the faster the line moves for everyone else.

 

Bingo! And that's all you have to do-politely decline

 

They're just doing their job-providing you with memories and the cruise line with another income stream.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Never be furniture, it's too big, they sell stuff that takes up little room on board.

 

But again your argument also applies, to most of what they sell, watches, perfume, handbags, all pretty small, none take up much pace on the ship to store.

 

And again gambling, what has locking yourself away in the caino got to do with the cruise experience.

 

Then again what has Trivia, computers, bingo even shows got to do with the cruise experience?

 

Well in my opinion all of those things are what go together to make the whole experience, yep even the ones I don't take part in.

 

I agree. Even though there's a lot of things happening on a ship, which I don't partake in, I'm glad they are there to offer variety and appeal to as many different tastes as possible. You can't be bored on a ship and if you are you may need to look inwardly. Even if there is not one thing listed that appeals you can go up to the pool deck, grab a beer and find yourself talking to someone really interesting while enjoying the sunshine and sea air. One of my favorite things about cruising is meeting new people from all over the map and just shooting the breeze. If they buy me a drink then it becomes my absolute favorite thing!

 

Ships are also great places for reading a book, playing a few games of cards, marveling at the sea and the places the ship pulls into daily.

 

Cheers!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

We, too, consider the photo gallery a part of our cruise experience and always get at least one photo set as a momento.

 

We've also found the staff (particularly for one whose job is to try to sell "extras") to be quite polite, nice to speak with, and even helpful.

 

And on our last cruise I even bought a memory card for our camera as I'd filled up the two I had brought. I was very pleased they had it stock, it worked just right, and it really wasn't too overpriced.

 

And we also always do both specialty restaurants - at least once each. All part of the cruise experience to us.

 

The bottom mine on the "extras" is they are optional - there for those who opt for them and no harm to those who don't.

 

Brian

 

Brian-we are kindred spirits.

 

Now if you were on Celebrity Silhouette, "both specialty restaurants" wouldn't apply.

 

You only live once.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Folks I may not get to the X Photographers tonight, as I had hoped.

 

Life has been very busy lately as in the past week I have fitted in two Doctor appointments, a visit to the Dentist, several training sessions at the gym where my trainer has mistakenly got me booked to wrestle a gorilla at some Charity Event and I'm really not ready. Then there was the hairdresser and a Court Appearance where the miscreant pleaded Guilty (hooray!) and a few drives over to Michigan to check on some construction work and tomorrow I start a new job.

 

So it's all been happening.

 

So if the posts slow down a tad please excuse me.

 

Norris

[rdsqrl]

Take all the time you need; I'm in no hurry for the end. Like cruising itself, I enjoy your threads for the journey.

 

Congratulations on the new job!

Edited March 7, 2016 by rdsqrl

[G&Gcruisers]

Norris,

I do not see the pic of the pirate and the parrot. I just see a small circle with a line inside. I'll check on my phone.

 

All sounds good for you. :)

Mj

[suzyed]

Never be furniture, it's too big, they sell stuff that takes up little room on board.

 

But again your argument also applies, to most of what they sell, watches, perfume, handbags, all pretty small, none take up much pace on the ship to store.

 

And again gambling, what has locking yourself away in the caino got to do with the cruise experience.

 

Then again what has Trivia, computers, bingo even shows got to do with the cruise experience?

 

Well in my opinion all of those things are what go together to make the whole experience, yep even the ones I don't take part in.

 

I agree!

ALL those things have nothing AND everything to do with cruising!! Just as eating, drinking, photos, etc. have become part of cruising! ;)

[tnfcruise]

Norris,

 

I do not see the pic of the pirate and the parrot. I just see a small circle with a line inside. I'll check on my phone.

 

 

 

All sounds good for you. :)

 

Mj

 

 

Same here...no pic.

 

And, same here...all sounds good for you.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[perfect match]

At long last I am caught up! You're doing an excellent job with this comparison review, but then again, you do an awesome job on all of your reviews.

 

I'm glad the "miscreant" pleaded guilty in court. I hope the sentence he got by making that plea was enough of a punishment for all he put you through.

 

Hope you have a great first day on your new job.

 

John, I am seeing that photo on my computer-even when you included it in a quote. Is anyone else having trouble seeing the pic with the pirates and the parrot?

 

That pic took me 90 minutes to find this morning- I have over 10,000 pics on my computer now (down from 31,000) and I searched high and low. Then I remembered that it might be in Carol's Google photos. I found it there and when I copied the URL it was half a page long...yikes. My Flickr ones are usually 5 lines long and I have to trim 4 of them out. I had my fingers crossed when I previewed it but there it was....and I still see it. Am I the only one?

 

John, which ship did they have the giant lobster to pose with? I want to book that ship next! LOL.

 

Norris, loving his costumed characters.

 

I was not able to see this picture either. Like another poster mentioned, I got a circle with a line in it. I tried tapping on the circle to see if the picture would miraculously appear, but, alas, it did not. I am reading on my Samsung Galaxy tablet, if that makes any difference, and have had no trouble at all seeing any of your other pictures.

[KruzeKrazy!]

perfect match -

 

Sorry to say but on my Samsung Galaxy phone the photo shows just fine. :what: