Comparing Princess and Celebrity

[2onboardagain]

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

 

They will if they can find a way. I can't speak for Princess or Celebrity (been a few years since we sailed with either one) but we have been on a couple of cruise lines that are now selling their bedding. (like our mattresses or duvets? We can ship one home for you)

 

 

John

[2onboardagain]

 

 

 

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.

 

Norris,

 

We met that lobster ages ago on Celebrity Millennium. It was a Fall Foliage cruise out of New York and Mr. Lobster was there to greet us in Bar Harbor Maine!

 

John

[chamima]

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

 

 

 

 

Last year on a cruise we became friendly with a British couple and (as we were sitting at the Molecular Bar which is just outside of the jewelry shops) the subject of buying jewelry and watches on board came up.

They said that the prices are a significant discount for them.

So perhaps it's only we Americans who don't find the prices so good.

Also, I would think they're hoping that those who win in the casino will feel like taking home something.

 

PS - I can see your photos just fine on my MacBook so perhaps it's the computer some people are on that cause them not to show.

[LuvCats!]

Can't see the picture in question either on my PC (win 10) or my iphone. Had to go check the latter out of curiosity. Not even the circle with X on the computer but it was on the iphone.

[El Crucero]

Pictures are posting fine for me, Win 8.

[Christine Frances]

I'm glad to say that we suffered far fewer art auctions on Eclipse last April. There was a permanent area set up by the word class bar but we didn't see them branch out anywhere else..

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

I agree. I have never ever seen anything like this. Sounds like it was a partial charter or something for "Art Lovers"

[2onboardagain]

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.

 

Oh don't get me wrong, we have used the polite step around too when the photos are taken at the foot of the gangway with the character du jour and it works out just fine BUT the photographers also like to go "retro" with that photo ON the gangway with the life ring depicting the port and there is just no room to step around on the gangway itself (maybe this technique is/or was limited to Carnival). I can tell you nothing gets your blood pressure climbing faster than this when you are trying to start a full day's tour in a port that you are visiting for the very first time.

Edited March 7, 2016 by 2onboardagain

[helenb]

Last year on a cruise we became friendly with a British couple and (as we were sitting at the Molecular Bar which is just outside of the jewelry shops) the subject of buying jewelry and watches on board came up.

They said that the prices are a significant discount for them.

So perhaps it's only we Americans who don't find the prices so good.

 

I too have seen/heard a lot of people who are not from Canada/US who say that the prices onboard are cheaper than at home. I often hear this comment regarding the 'Apple Store' onboard Celebrity ships, where they sell ipads and Macbooks. Sometimes the products sold onboard have not even been released in some passengers' home countries. I have seen Cruise Critic discussions about using OBC to purchase an iPad while onboard a Celebrity cruise.

 

Shopping is clearly a personal thing. I'm not a big shopper. For me, 'shopping' is finding my next cruise, planning excursions, buying airfare, etc. Once I'm on the cruise, I'm not interested in buying random stuff! But I'll never forget when I was on a Pacific Princess 16 day cruise of Asia with my husband. We were in our 30s and were by far some of the youngest people onboard. This didn't trouble us, as we got along well with most of the passengers. But the women were always shopping, and talking about shopping! I just ignored it, but one day we were chatting with a couple at dinner and the wife asked me what I had bought that day on shore. And I told her 'nothing'. And she was horrified, telling me that I *had* to buy something in every port, and then showing off some gaudy bracelet she got, telling me how it would remind her of this port forever. And her husband took mine aside and told him how he had to 'let' me spend money, because it was the job of a good husband.

 

My husband and I still laugh at that one! And I certainly do spend money... on our vacations. :D

 

So hey, different strokes for different folks.

Edited March 7, 2016 by helenb

[chamima]

Bimmer - I apologize in advance for a highjack of your thread but don't know where else to put this.

We've just returned from 14 days on the Eclipse followed immediately by 10 days on the Royal Princess.

Each ship and cruiseline has it's positives and negatives and I won't get in to that here but I just completed each post cruise survey and the differences were GLARING!!!

The Celebrity survey was general and short. Took me maybe 5 minutes.

The Princess survey was detailed and long, asking me about every aspect of our experience. It took me the better part of an hour!

What that says to me is the value each line places on the passenger's experience.

 

What do you think?

(Should I start a new thread on each board? )

Edited March 7, 2016 by chamima

[Cruise Junky]

Bimmer - I apologize in advance for a highjack of your thread but don't know where else to put this.

We've just returned from 14 days on the Eclipse followed immediately by 10 days on the Royal Princess.

Each ship and cruiseline has it's positives and negatives and I won't get in to that here but I just completed each post cruise survey and the differences were GLARING!!!

The Celebrity survey was general and short. Took me maybe 5 minutes.

The Princess survey was detailed and long, asking me about every aspect of our experience. It took me the better part of an hour!

What that says to me is the value each line places on the passenger's experience.

 

What do you think?

(Should I start a new thread on each board? )

 

To me it's what they do with the information not what they ask. Frankly I would not be happy with an hour's survey.

[MustBCruzn]

To me it's what they do with the information not what they ask. Frankly I would not be happy with an hour's survey.

 

I agree. I think many people wouldn't bother to complete a survey that takes so long which may skew the results.

[chamima]

To me it's what they do with the information not what they ask. Frankly I would not be happy with an hour's survey.

 

To be clear - I chose to fill out comments in many areas that I could have just checked "good, bad or ugly - you know, the old rate us 1 -10".

I'm sure I could have finished it in about 10 or 15 minutes.

I am just saying that they gave passengers the opportunity to comment fully on each aspect of the cruise experience and asked some specific questions.

It felt a lot more like someone actually cared what we thought.

[Bimmer09]

Bimmer - I apologize in advance for a highjack of your thread but don't know where else to put this.

We've just returned from 14 days on the Eclipse followed immediately by 10 days on the Royal Princess.

Each ship and cruiseline has it's positives and negatives and I won't get in to that here but I just completed each post cruise survey and the differences were GLARING!!!

The Celebrity survey was general and short. Took me maybe 5 minutes.

The Princess survey was detailed and long, asking me about every aspect of our experience. It took me the better part of an hour!

What that says to me is the value each line places on the passenger's experience.

 

What do you think?

(Should I start a new thread on each board? )

 

Please- no need to apologize as you are not highjacking- this is a Princess/X comparison after all and you are comparing post-cruise surveys which weren't on my agenda. I don't remember the P one being so long though. I am usually content with 90% of the experience and now and then offer some improvements to for instance ; bars closing on time (not before) or lousy BBQ at P Cays (caused by them shutting the food heaters down early).

 

Do they read all the surveys? Unlikely I imagine as there could be a potential 3000 from each sailing. I imagine they pick a few at random.

 

Cheers!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Pictures are posting fine for me, Win 8.

 

Thanks for this- I thought I was the only one seeing them on my laptop and thought maybe there was a Privacy lock on Carol's google photos.

 

To the others who have also had success seeing it-thanks for telling me!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

I agree. I have never ever seen anything like this. Sounds like it was a partial charter or something for "Art Lovers"

 

Christine, hi and thanks for responding. I think you are correct and that Park West must have bought a considerable number of cabins to make it worth their while. I imagine they got a good rate on the rooms.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

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!

 

Thanks Annie- first day is behind me and I feel like I found a good job with stellar benefits.

 

Soon I hope to find a week when we can take another vacation whether it be a cruise or a land trip somewhere. We have one cruise booked as it stands but it is 10 months away (eek!). When is your next?

 

Cheers!

 

Norris...BTW have you ever checked out my Food Porn on TripAdvisor? It ain't cruise ship food!

[Bimmer09]

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.

 

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.

 

Nancy, thanks for the good wishes for today!

 

That photo was from Carol's Google pics and is the first I have ever used from there. If I can get it onto Flickr I'll repost it.

 

Regarding the Court Appearance I got to experience the wheels of justice turning and they need a little WD40. Plea bargaining is the order of the day and some charges get dropped to make a guilty plea more alluring-thus saving a lot of time and money on Court-appointed lawyers. The maximum he's likely to get in this case (he still has to answer to another armed robbery case) is 15 years which is 14 years 364 days more than I could stand in jail. I don't forsee Happiness in his future so will settle for that. I wasn't called to testify which is a pity as I was armed to the teeth with the truth and the Defense lawyer wasn't Perry Mason if you get my drift. A dangerous person is off the streets for the foreseeable future and that's fine by me.

 

Norris

[rdsqrl]

Thanks Annie- first day is behind me and I feel like I found a good job with stellar benefits.

 

Soon I hope to find a week when we can take another vacation whether it be a cruise or a land trip somewhere. We have one cruise booked as it stands but it is 10 months away (eek!). When is your next?

 

Cheers!

 

Norris...BTW have you ever checked out my Food Porn on TripAdvisor? It ain't cruise ship food!

I shall endeavour to find you on Trip Advisor.

 

I've been keeping tabs on the Pacific's trans-Atlantic in late May and/or the subsequent "Midnight Sun/Summer Solstice" itinerary -- but the pricing is still in the stratosphere. We'll see what happens after final payment.

[Bimmer09]

I shall endeavour to find you on Trip Advisor.

 

I've been keeping tabs on the Pacific's trans-Atlantic in late May and/or the subsequent "Midnight Sun/Summer Solstice" itinerary -- but the pricing is still in the stratosphere. We'll see what happens after final payment.

 

Annie, one of my most recent TA reviews is In San Francisco -restaurant called Sutro's, written in December 2015....desserts to die for.

Title is "Always our first stop in San Francisco"

 

Good eats!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

The Photographers on X are fewer in number- I'd say there may be 6 and are less prevalent than on Princess. This may be good news to many of you. I never saw any of them while I was eating for example although it's possible they worked the MDR on Elegant Chic nights. Anyone know?

 

Their footprint on the ship is much smaller too.

 

 

GoPro cameras are sold as well as Nikon and Canon

 

 

They do have a gallery for the photos they've taken but it's a condensed version of the Princess one with much fewer photos (fewer photographers). They do have a Pirate or a Sailor on the dock for going ashore photos but only one at a time.

 

While I like the photographers as we buy the photos I know many don't want to be bothered unless it's something they volunteer for like Formal Night portraits.

 

Cost for an 8 X 10 on X is $25 (vs Princess $20)

 

With that in mind I will give the advantage to....

 

PHOTOGRAPHERS?

 

ADVANTAGE CELEBRITY

 

(FEWER OF THEM SO LESS INTRUSIVE)

[LuvCats!]

The Photographers on X are fewer in number- I'd say there may be 6 and are less prevalent than on Princess. This may be good news to many of you.

 

(FEWER OF THEM SO LESS INTRUSIVE)

 

Had to bump this! Way back on the 2nd page.

 

I like the sound of fewer but more specifically less intrusive photographers. I'm not fond of having my picture taken. I guess maybe on future cruises I'll try to have fun with them like you do though. Lol I don't have to look at the end result.

 

Still enjoying the comparison. Looking forward to what you come up with next. :)

[Bimmer09]

Had to bump this! Way back on the 2nd page.

 

I like the sound of fewer but more specifically less intrusive photographers. I'm not fond of having my picture taken. I guess maybe on future cruises I'll try to have fun with them like you do though. Lol I don't have to look at the end result.

 

Still enjoying the comparison. Looking forward to what you come up with next. :)

 

Thanks Natalie. Only when I am eating will I be reluctant to pose- if I am in the Sambuca and Espresso phase I don't mind so much. The great thing is that you don't have to pay if you don't like the photo. They can wash the print off and reuse the paper if memory serves (from Ultimate Ship Tour ).

 

I'm driving to Michigan today and hopefully I can post some more from there.

 

Norris

[AZJerry]

Not sure if you're done with all the reviews but I would appreciate a summary post of your conclusions.

[Bimmer09]

Not sure if you're done with all the reviews but I would appreciate a summary post of your conclusions.

 

Jerry-not quite done but getting there and there will be a summary for sure.

 

Another couple of days and then I'm off the air for a long time.

 

Cheers!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Each line has a tent on the dock where a cup of cold water (hot climates) and a cool most towel (ditto) is awaiting passengers returning from a long day's excursion.

 

Here is the Ocean Princess tent in the Med.

 

This is in Palermo a hot place but no cold drinks or towels today.

 

 

Here is what awaits when you return to Celebrity Silhouette...

 

 

Long walk from the Duty Free shop? Sit and rest for a moment before the next leg of your journey. There's a cold towel and drink awaiting. Once you climb the gangway there's security (at least two lines) followed by the no way to avoid it Purell Squeeze. Then the long walk to your cabin. It's also a place in the fresh air to wait for friends when going ashore.

 

The dock tent speaks of what's onboard to passengers on nearby ships-Modern Luxury.

 

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHIP?

 

ADVANTAGE CELEBRITY

 

(FOR OBVIOUS REASONS)