Never sailed Princess before..so need some info

[kearney]

We have sailed Royal quite a bit... and over the past year done a number of cruises on Celebrity this year.. but have wondered what we are missing on Princess. We have met a number of people who have spoken highly of the line. So I am wondering about the different types of ships and general info on how they handle specialty restaurants, drink packages etc. How are the cabins? Of course that may depend upon ships..what are their newest ships... Just starting to explore.. TIA

[capriccio]

I would start your exploration at www.princess.com.  It is a very easy to use website, especially as compared to many of its competitors. 

[JF - retired RRT]

7 minutes ago, kearney said:

We have sailed Royal quite a bit... and over the past year done a number of cruises on Celebrity this year.. but have wondered what we are missing on Princess. We have met a number of people who have spoken highly of the line. So I am wondering about the different types of ships and general info on how they handle specialty restaurants, drink packages etc. How are the cabins? Of course that may depend upon ships..what are their newest ships... Just starting to explore.. TIA

All the ships (new & old) have the same "feel". The newer ships have more bling, but they're all more relaxed than some other lines. There are no water slides, ice rinks, etc. No belly flop contests. Rarely see anyone who is a staggering drunk. Maybe fewer kids, but excellent kid programs.

Specialty restaurants: no sales (although some of the coupon books have a BOGO special). All the specialty restaurants are $29 or less (at least in my experience). The food is abundant and very good (YMMV depending on tastes).

Cabins are spacious to adequate depending on category. Insides are small, but there is room to move, storage is well organized. Ocean views are similar to insides with a window or porthole. Balconies are roomier than insides & OVs. Mini-suites are NOT in a suite category (the name is misleading), however they are larger, most have a tub/shower, 2 TVs and a sofa. Never been in a suite, but they are definitely bigger & more plush than other categories.

Drink packages aren't worth the price unless you drink like a fish. If you like wine, you can bring one bottle per adult at no charge. Additional bottles are charged a corkage fee ($14 or $15 can't recall which).

Soda packages seem well priced if you drink soda (I don't), but you can carry on all the water/soda you want at not cost.

Newest ships are Majestic, Regal, Royal. Smallest ship is the Pacific (the best of the bunch IMHO).

[MCC retired]

Booking a Princess Cruise can get you some nice $$$ benefits.

If you are active Military or veteran there is OBC

If you are a Carnival Corp Shareholder there is OBC

If you book with a Good TA , they can OBC and/or Discount Princess rates.

All OBC's are stackable .

Edited December 11, 2018 by MCC retired

[JF - retired RRT]

Just now, MCC retired said:

Booking a Princess Cruise can get you some nice $$$ benefits.

If you are active Military or veteran there is OBC

If you are a Carnival Corp Shareholder there is OBC

If you book thru Good TA , they can OBC and/or Discount Princess rates.

All OBC's are stackable .

And some are refundable.

[kearney]

Thanks everyone... this gives me a place to start. I have really loved sailing Royal and Celebrity... but have wondered what I might be missing... 

[voljeep]

Read as many of these threads as you have time for...

 

be sure to read a couple of the more entertaining ones ... formal night ... dress code ... drones ...

[kearney]

Drones? Well I will have to check that out...  I did not even mention formal night. With DH I can get him in a jacket, tie and dark socks for the first formal night by the second... just a dress shirt and casual shoes... best I can do after 40 years..or nearly of marriage.  We will be trying the Celebrity Edge before the end of the month..but I have been watch state room prices rise... specialty dining at higher and higher rates... even excursion prices rising.. So it might be time for a change... particularly given what is happening in the market. So I recalled our conversation with someone we met on another Celebrity sailing that made me think that perhaps it is time to expand my horizons.

[c-boy]

15 minutes ago, voljeep said:

Read as many of these threads as you have time for...

 

be sure to read a couple of the more entertaining ones ... formal night ... dress code ... drones ...

[JF - retired RRT]

1 hour ago, kearney said:

Drones? Well I will have to check that out...  I did not even mention formal night. With DH I can get him in a jacket, tie and dark socks for the first formal night by the second... just a dress shirt and casual shoes... best I can do after 40 years..or nearly of marriage.  We will be trying the Celebrity Edge before the end of the month..but I have been watch state room prices rise... specialty dining at higher and higher rates... even excursion prices rising.. So it might be time for a change... particularly given what is happening in the market. So I recalled our conversation with someone we met on another Celebrity sailing that made me think that perhaps it is time to expand my horizons.

DH's clothing choices will be fine.

 

BTW: if you don't use the FCD within 2 years, Princess gives your $$ back. Most cruise lines keep it.

[skynight]

2 hours ago, kearney said:

We have sailed Royal quite a bit... and over the past year done a number of cruises on Celebrity this year.. but have wondered what we are missing on Princess. We have met a number of people who have spoken highly of the line. So I am wondering about the different types of ships and general info on how they handle specialty restaurants, drink packages etc. How are the cabins? Of course that may depend upon ships..what are their newest ships... Just starting to explore.. TIA

Specialty Restaurants, Pre-book and pre-pay on line, directly to your credit card, or wait until you board where charges go to your on board account and net against any OBC. Normally two specialty restaurants on each ship, there are some differences by ship. Prices are generally $29/pp, but some experiences are less, like $12, some experiences more, some like Alfredo's are no charge. Additional dining experiences are available like chef's table, Crab Shack, Balcony Dining. There is no need to dine in a specialty restaurant. DR selections are pretty good. There is no dining separation or preference by loyalty status and cabin type except for full suites and Club Class mini suites which are entitled to Club Class dining, same menu plus an additional entree as the MDR. Club Class is a section of a MDR, not a separate DR. Full suite passengers are entitled to special breakfasts. 

Princess has basically three different classes of ships that service the U.S. market, Royal Class (newest ships), Grand Class and the Sun Class, Island and Coral. They also have a small ship, Pacific Princess, and a few others in Asia and Australia. You can see deck plans of them on line at Princess.com. Many like the Grand Class over the new Royal Class.

Drink Packages. Search https://www.princess.com/learn/cruise-gifts-celebrations/gifts-and-services/culinary-delights-wine/ and you will see the drink packages with all the fine print. Prices are the same on board or pre-purchase. The last few years the Premium Beverage Package was offered as a promo, Sip& Sail promo, in the June to August time frame.

Cabins have lots of storage. Most balconies on Royal class ships are small, 9' x 4', with some exceptions shown on the deck plans. Balconies on Grand Class ships are larger.

Princess has lots of live entertainment every evening. You can't do or see it all.

Edited December 11, 2018 by skynight

[Qcruise]

One pet peeve I've always had about Princess (and we are Platinum working on Elite status) is that their balcony cabins don't come with a couch seating area like most all other lines.  They're Royal class cabins now have a "deluxe" category which gets you a small loveseat sized couch, but otherwise one must book a mini-suite to get a couch.  But we do love the line and are working on moving up.

[nini]

We have cruised with Princess 6 times and it is our current favorite. (HAL 1 time, Celebrity 2 times).

We were on the Celebrity Reflection in October and the Regal Princess in September.

 

Wow, we will most likely NEVER go on Celebrity again. There was such a difference in in the general atmosphere of the entire ships. (however, our cabin steward on the Reflection was wonderful).

We LOVED the buffet on the Regal; so much variety, shrimp, fresh and SANITARY! I was able to get a different kind of "Eggs Benedict" each morning. I am vegan but cheat with fish; shrimp being a favorite.

On the Celebrity Reflection: Flies were buzzing around and landing on the food. Yuk! And Reflection buffet service was scarce and unfriendly and shrimp was non-existent. Dining Room food on Reflection was mediocre as was service. I had a Scampi Linguine one night and there was absolutely NO flavor. It took us at least 25 minutes one night to get our dessert after ordering it.

Whereas on the Regal, service was abundant and friendly. They tended to dirty tables in a very timely manner and there was always someone to come by and ask if they could get you anything to drink. BTW- Princess beverages cost considerably less.

 

Balconies: Balconies on the Regal are a good size if you are on the aft or forward. We were on the front of the ship in M101 and our balcony was about 15X15.  Our aft Reflection balcony was a nice size. Both of our rooms had sofas.

[Ep010835]

3 hours ago, nini said:

We have cruised with Princess 6 times and it is our current favorite. (HAL 1 time, Celebrity 2 times).

We were on the Celebrity Reflection in October and the Regal Princess in September.

 

Wow, we will most likely NEVER go on Celebrity again. There was such a difference in in the general atmosphere of the entire ships. (however, our cabin steward on the Reflection was wonderful).

We LOVED the buffet on the Regal; so much variety, shrimp, fresh and SANITARY! I was able to get a different kind of "Eggs Benedict" each morning. I am vegan but cheat with fish; shrimp being a favorite.

On the Celebrity Reflection: Flies were buzzing around and landing on the food. Yuk! And Reflection buffet service was scarce and unfriendly and shrimp was non-existent. Dining Room food on Reflection was mediocre as was service. I had a Scampi Linguine one night and there was absolutely NO flavor. It took us at least 25 minutes one night to get our dessert after ordering it.

Whereas on the Regal, service was abundant and friendly. They tended to dirty tables in a very timely manner and there was always someone to come by and ask if they could get you anything to drink. BTW- Princess beverages cost considerably less.

 

Balconies: Balconies on the Regal are a good size if you are on the aft or forward. We were on the front of the ship in M101 and our balcony was about 15X15.  Our aft Reflection balcony was a nice size. Both of our rooms had sofas.

 

😳

[OCruisers]

You will find Princess to be more like Celebrity than RCCL.  

[CaliforniaDon]

Welcome Princess virgins!

I will yield to others on these thoughts, but Princes seems less expensive than, say, Celebrity. Princess, in my opinion, is more ethical in their policies, too. I am mad at Princess since it took them nearly a full day to post my two on board credits for being a stockholder -- My Royal stock? - let's say I sold it after my second attempt to get the credit which was "not combinable with other discounts" -- EVERY cruise, ALL OF THEM - I got my veteran's credit. 

 

You likely can upgrade to a mini-suite on Princess and still be competitive with Celebrity.  Their cabins did seem a bit roomier.

 

There is a phenomenon that I have seen where one takes the best from every prior cruise and wants that on their next cruise plus some new treats.  We get pickier as time goes on.  I want the free drinks from Celebrity, but not when they show a lower  price without the free drinks.  I wish Princess had Celebrity's shower doors - etc.

 

If you go at it with an open mind, they are all better than staying home.  Enjoy.

[satxdiver]

Princess is more a competitor of Celebrity than RCCL.  I picture Princess as more of an adult cruise than a younger cruise meaning the more athletic opportunities are not present like the climbing wall, ice rink etc and certainly no silly pool games.   I have been on RCCL but not X so maybe I will have to give them a try sometime.  One pet peeve about RCCL is the FCD policy which is no refund and OBC is not stackable.   Princess sweetens the deal with a generous military OBC which is always applied once they receive a copy of your DD214.  

[broberts]

No a fan of having to pay for a brewed cup of coffee.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

On ‎12‎/‎11‎/‎2018 at 10:53 AM, kearney said:

Thanks everyone... this gives me a place to start. I have really loved sailing Royal and Celebrity... but have wondered what I might be missing... 

great food and free on-demand movies in your cabin.

 

We have sailed with RCI 4 times and 3 times on Princess. If you decide to give Princess a try, definitely go with the new ship.

 

Princess is a lot more subdued and more less-active adult oriented than RCI. RCI has a ton of great entertainment and activities for all, but Princess is more like an upscale resort for adults only. There is little to nothing to do with kids, unless they are willing to spend all day in the kid's club. My kid doesn't do kid's club, so he tags along to everything. Thank goodness for tablets...

 

Princess's entertainment (aside from free on-demand movies on Regal and Royal Princesses, and I think also on Caribbean now) is average.

 

Royal and Regal Princesses have regular brewed coffee in the buffet.

 

So, we basically sail on Regal Princess for its food (fabulous!) and on RCI for entertainment and great family activities. We just gave Norwegian a try but it flopped badly, since the ship broke down.

Edited December 12, 2018 by Itchy&Scratchy

[roxievegas]

Our first six cruises were with Celebrity.  We then booked our first Princess - 28 night out of LA roundtrip (Hawaii/South Pacific). 

Comparison with Celebrity:

Food quality was equal but the prices were cheaper for Princess in the other eating venues.  We enjoyed "the vine" which has free sushi if you order a drink.  We also liked having a coffee card and having the food in the international coffee area.  We did not have a drink package and we survived just fine with an occasional drink.

We enjoyed the movies under the stars on Princess

We like the bathrooms in Celebrity (we normally book a balcony) because of the glass door on the shower.  Princess has a shower curtain.  Princess wins with the layout of the closet area, but they do not have a couch in the balcony cabin as Celebrity does.

Our decision to book a cruise now is based on itinerary and price - not cruise line.  We have a bucket list of places to go and we will chose based on who has the best of those criteria.

I don't think you will be disappointed if you book Princess

[BarbinMich]

We've done over fifty cruises:  31 on Princess, 11 on Celebrity, and 8 on HAL.  We started with Chandris (precursor to Celebrity) on a group cruise in 1994.  We did 4 more cruises with Celebrity, then tried Princess in 2000 and essentially never looked back.  We did return to Celebrity in 2014 for a western Mediterranean cruise on the Eclipse out of Southampton because it had many ports we hadn't been to.  That ship had its pluses and minuses.  Loved the horseshoe-shaped theater with balcony; didn't like the dreary (poorly lit) casino open-to-the-walkway-to-the theater; loved the "lawn" on Deck 15; loved the buffet (esp. its cooked-to-order grill offerings), didn't like the dining room (decor); didn't care for the cabin:  had a couch which was the size of a twin-bed (secondary use if one needed it--we didn't); very small desk mostly taken up with a tea service; closet with sliding doors opened into the cabin, about a foot from the bed.  The cabins on HAL are larger and have a real couch which can convert to a third bed, if necessary.  We're comfortable in Princess cabins even tho smaller than those on HAL.

 

Edited December 13, 2018 by BarbinMich