Question for Past Celebrity Cruisers

[diane.in.ny]

Was wondering why you moved to Princess.

[Essiesmom]

We move around from line to line for their itineraries. And convenience of nearby ports (Carnival). EM

[moki'smommy]

While there were good things about Celebrity, there were also things that were less than amazing. Our initial move was for the itinerary, but then we learned that there were equally good things about Princess. And honestly, the Celebrity web site is a major pain--much easier to find what you want on Princess.

[villauk]

We were disappointed with our X cruise on Reflection in Europe last summer and decided to give Princess another try, especially as we noticed Princess offer a wider selection of itineraries from the west coast.

 

We realise we won’t get any of our usual perks and will be the lowest of the low on the ship :D, but we can handle that if we have a great cruise ;).

 

Presently, we’ve booked nothing for 2019 (very unusual for us), however we are shocked by the pricing on X for next year to the same old places. Even having 2 placeholders for X and 1 for Royal, we are still leaving judgement until after our Princess cruise to decide which way we move forward with 2019 ;).

[EMS8]

We had been loyal to Celebrity for over 20 years. We get the feeling that the new management doesn't value the longtime loyal customer anymore. We have found far more similarities than differences between Princess and Celebrity. And yes, there are things we like more about Celebrity than Princess AND vice versa. It seems that Princess appreciates our business more than Celebrity.

[diane.in.ny]

Very interesting answers.

 

Thanks

[reedprincess]

Was wondering why you moved to Princess.

We've been sailing both lines for 15+ years. Both have things they do well, and things they do not so well - and it's different by line, and even by ship . Both have good food, lovely ships, great staff, etc. We generally choose which one (or a different line) depending on itineray, price, dates, etc.

[davekathy]

We aren't loyal to any one cruise line. We like some verity. We do prefer Celebrity over Princess.

[Suzanne123]

We were disappointed with our X cruise on Reflection in Europe last summer and decided to give Princess another try, especially as we noticed Princess offer a wider selection of itineraries from the west coast.”

 

Can you tell me more about why you were disappointed with the Reflection? We are booked for a western Mediterranean cruise on the Reflection next September. Thanks.

[neverbeenhere]

1) After years of Celebrity only cruising, we decided to look around.

2) We currently live on the west coast and Princess has a larger presence. Many choices for quick get away cruises.

3) price - we can get what we want out of cruising from Princess and others for a smaller overall price.

4) we love love the Celebrity product, but we are alright with the princess and others products.

5) zenith status on Celebrity, while in reach for us, seemed not a worthy goal for cruising.

6) Princess has many more ships, thus many more itineraries every year.

7) entertainment on other lines has been better(different) after dozens of Celebrity cruises.

8) sometimes change sucks, other times you just need change for changes sake.

9) we could start cruising exclusively Celebrity again at anytime. Nothing really stopping us.

[upwarduk]

We took our first Princess cruise last May on Crown.

I was very impressed with the pre cruise web site.

Also that when you become Platimun, which we now have via P&O, you get 250 free internet minutes on a 14 night cruise. This aspect will encourage me to consider a Princess cruise if the itinnary is right.

However, I was unhappy with a few aspects.

The Captain decided that we were not going into Genoa ‘due to operational reasons,’ which I accepted, until we found out that Majestic Princess had managed to dock the day after we should have. I asked for a rebate on the bus portion of the trip we had booked Genoa to Portofino.

I was told, “ you went on a tender.”

But every passenger passenger on the ship was able to use the tenders to Santa Margarita!!

Eventually, on the last afternoon, I was told I would have a refund to my OBA. This came on the last morning, too late to use in the bars. This money was not refunded to my C.C on the last morning, as it would have been on Celebrity. I was told it would take between 4-6 weeks.

It still hadn’t been refunded 6 weeks after the cruise, so I rang Southampton. I was told the 4-6 weeks was for U.S customers only, my refund would have to be applied for and I would eventually be sent a sterling cheque, as automatic payments are only for U.S customers.

I am afraid this aspect has clouded my impression of Princess, so we are back to Celebrity in June 2018.

[gerelmx]

We just moved to Celebrity from RCI, Celebrity we like is an authentic cruise is not an amusement park onboard, we like its relaxed atmosphere no more mandatory penguin costume.

[HomelessBear]

We did a Baltic cruise on the Eclipse a couple of years ago and wouldn’t go back to Celebrity. The evening dining experience or buffet wasn’t good, and they dealt with our potentially dangerous food allergies by ignoring them and us.

Cabin steward was satisfactory but wasn’t particularly pleasant and only did the basics. The evening before we left, I’d left our next days clothes and carry offs in the wardrobe when we went to dinner. When we came back, he’d put all our things - including our bathroom toiletries on the bed and left open all of the cupboard doors & drawers! Felt like I was being kicked out and we didn’t leave until the next day.

Princess have always been very good at dealing with our food allergies and we’ve personally found most staff are more pleasant on Princess than on Celebrity.

Just my opinion.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[upwarduk]

Princess have always been very good at dealing with our food allergies and we’ve personally found most staff are more pleasant on Princess than on Celebrity.

 

 

I prefer the symbols that Celebrity use on their menus. I am dairy intolerant, so am able to order appropriate items from the menu. I found I had to be very careful on Princess, I would order food the night before, which they cooked appropriate for me, but they would leave the potatoes off. It took me a while to realise that I needed to request a baked potato and often the meal was served without it. I suspect it was the server who was at fault.

[Pierlesscruisers]

I saw the subject of this thread and though "Oh, boy, this could be one very interesting thread!" Well,it has been an interesting thread to read but not for the reason I was expecting. For one of the relatively few times, this has been a very positive thread that hasn't had any rants, at least that I've seen, and has been a really positive explanation of viewpoints of people who have both likes and dislikes about different lines and the way they perform. I believe that you should all be complemented on they way you have expressed yourselves about your feelings. It seems like most of you believe as my wife and I do, that it's a great thing that everybody doesn't like the same cruise line. We feel that that would mean that we would all be trying to get on the same line which would make it really hard for us all to cruise as we'd be all trying to get on that same cruise line. Boy, would that make a lot more expensive to go on that line and would put all the other lines out of business which would make it still harder to get on a cruise!

 

 

Hope that everybody's next cruise is better than your last one, but not as good as the one after that! ;p

 

 

Tom

Edited April 30, 2018 by Pierlesscruisers

[neilrr]

I will throw in my 2 1/2 cents...:D We have been traveling with both lines for approx. 17 years. I actually prefer Celebrity a bit more than Princess, though Princess has come a long way. My Partner likes Princess a tad more. The food on Princess has greatly improved over the years and the service has generally been very good to excellent. Princess does nickel and dime you a bit more than Celebrity.

 

We go back to the days of Chef Michel Roux on Celebrity and you had to pay $35 to join their loyalty program - best money we ever spent (years later they gave us a $50 credit when it became free to join). Celebrity is also a bit more generous in its loyalty program. Now that we made it to the top of Princess' loyalty program the benefits are better. Generally, for us itinerary and our schedule play the role in our booking of a trip. Both lines generally cater to the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's demographic. We have been on RCL 2x -food was average at best and too many kids; NCL 1x not to be discussed in our house again - not an option, we also stay away from MSC and Costa.

 

IMHO - Celebrity and Princess are as good as it gets for the mid-priced, mass-market lines before you make the jump to Oceania, Azamara, Crystal, etc...

 

Happy Sailing!!!:D

[DrivesLikeMario]

We went the opposite way - from loyal Princess cruisers to Celebrity a few times simply for the itineraries. Princess doesn't do certain areas like sailings out of SJU anymore or a full week in Bermuda. We cruise for the itinerary first, then the ship. We really enjoyed all of our cruises with Celebrity but feel more at home on Princess.

[diane.in.ny]

Wow ... this is great!

[villauk]

We were disappointed with our X cruise on Reflection in Europe last summer and decided to give Princess another try, especially as we noticed Princess offer a wider selection of itineraries from the west coast.”

 

Can you tell me more about why you were disappointed with the Reflection? We are booked for a western Mediterranean cruise on the Reflection next September. Thanks.

 

We went in the peak summer season to Europe and you could definitely tell that there was an extra deck of cabins on the ship. The grass was covered on sea days - bodies were inches, and I mean inches, apart all over the lawn as there were insufficient loungers. Not a chance of playing any games etc. Compared to all the other S class ships (and we’ve sailed them all), it was noticeably more crowded. First time we’ve also witnessed pax who had obviously used their beverage packages to the extreme - just the general feel of the cruise was off. We said that it would have to be a very special itinerary to get us back on Reflection in the height of the summer season in the Med again.

[Nebr.cruiser]

We like Celebrity just fine but are not loyal to any one line; have cruised on at least 5 different cruise lines and have enjoyed each one.

 

We have cruised more on Princess than any other because we do like the product and the price is usually better than Celebrity.

 

We chose cruises on itinerary, price, time of year, etc. but not on which cruise line it is, with some exceptions.

[CRUZBUDS]

We left Celebrity because they and Royal Caribbean have pretty much abandoned the west coast - Princess serves us very well, but we still give an edge to Celebrity.

 

We have sailed many lines -- Princess and Holland are a close 2nd to us and we're happy to sail either line, (We still also enjoy Carnival) -- We have yet to have a bad cruise :D

[Flafun888]

I adore Celebrity - only did one Princess on Grand and enjoyed it a lot...but still felt X had the edge for what we liked/wanted. But Princess has way better pizza, embarkation day lunch and the 24 hr cafe - big points there!!! Biggest negative for us was the smoky casinos - we wouldn't even go in...just walking by was tough.

 

Since Princess is so well known for its AK cruises -and has the glacier bay permits, Celebrity wasn't even in the consideration set for our first AK cruise next year. So looking fwd to another comparison. :D

 

Really can't go wrong on either.

 

(Totally embarassed to admit it, but I also enjoy the 24 hr Love Boat broadcasts ----on our last Princess cruise, I watched them each day on the gym treadmill. So there's that too. What can I say?) :o

[moki'smommy]

(Totally embarassed to admit it, but I also enjoy the 24 hr Love Boat broadcasts ----on our last Princess cruise, I watched them each day on the gym treadmill. So there's that too. What can I say?) :o

Hope you enjoy the new safety video and muster drill.......

[bighairtexan]

I prefer Celebrity (Elite plus) but cruise a lot of other lines too. I'd put Princess as my close 2nd choice. I wanted to do a Pacific Coastal w/ some friends so I'll be on Celebrity in September, Royal Caribbean in October and Princess early next year.

[caribill]

After more than 20 years of Princess cruises, we had our first Celebrity cruise last year, 27 days on the Constellation. Did this because of itinerary combined with good pricing.

 

We found that overall the two cruise lines had a similar experience, with (as someone else also said) some things better on Princess and some things better on Celebrity.