Celebrity Cruiser Looking to try Princess! Help!

[Sea Hag]

12 hours ago, RV Queen said:

Princess has a self use laundry room on each floor. Only costs a couple of bucks. Way nice to wash cloths through out cruise. And pack clean clothes for home.  

I'm possibly the only person who feels this way, but I actually like coming home from a trip with all dirty laundry. That gives me the opportunity to have a full day of decompressing with a low-key, useful activity. 

[Esprit]

We've been on Millennium, Solstice and Edge class ships and would say the Solstice ones have the same vibe as Royal class ships.

Entertainment is better I think on Princess. There just seems to be more going on. I miss Morano's however as Sabatini's isn't as good.

MUTS is great, but Celebrity have TV screens too. Just not as big!

Like many have said, you will not be disappointed with the switch to Princess.

[WisCruiser2]

56 minutes ago, doghog said:

Just making the comparison where IMO, Celebrity CC is much better for that than Princess CC. A nice touch for a couple of hours. Elite and above. That would depend on your Princess CC tier level. Should be Platinum and Elite get at no charge drinks in the lounge during the CC HH.

What is CC?

[skynight]

20 minutes ago, WisCruiser2 said:

What is CC?

Captain's Circle?

[doghog]

39 minutes ago, WisCruiser2 said:

What is CC?

Celebrity - Captains Club

Princess - Captains Circle

 

[Torfamm]

1 hour ago, no1talks said:

 

We've not been on a Princess cruise. My wife and I are MSC fans and we are curious about the medallion system.

 

How are the delivery times? Drinks still fresh and food still hot? Thank you.

It haven't had any problem. Delivery time can vary but I think that's also true when ordering drinks from a server or if you consider the time you might spend standing and waiting your turn at the bar. We most often order coffees in the morning. On our last cruise we had it at our cabin in under 10 minutes.  I definitely wouldn't worry about cold drinks, it's well worth giving it a try.

[Torfamm]

1 hour ago, Sea Hag said:

I'm possibly the only person who feels this way, but I actually like coming home from a trip with all dirty laundry. That gives me the opportunity to have a full day of decompressing with a low-key, useful activity. 

I'd be happy to help by inviting you over anytime!!!! 

[FLAlaska]

1 hour ago, no1talks said:

 

We've not been on a Princess cruise. My wife and I are MSC fans and we are curious about the medallion system.

 

How are the delivery times? Drinks still fresh and food still hot? Thank you.

I know some people have said theyve had issues but I have not at all. I love it. Ive had food delivered to cabin & pool decks, drinks to various places including Princess Live, always worked to unlock my door as I walked up to it. I love the medallion.

[doghog]

6 minutes ago, FLAlaska said:

I know some people have said theyve had issues but I have not at all. I love it. Ive had food delivered to cabin & pool decks, drinks to various places including Princess Live, always worked to unlock my door as I walked up to it. I love the medallion.

Our first exposure to the medallions was on our recent Enchanted cruise. 27 March - April 6.  Was skeptical about them pre cruise. During the cruise, great. And we didn't even use the medallions to their fullest capability. Post cruise, wish Celebrity and RC would go with this technology.

[capriccio]

15 minutes ago, FLAlaska said:

I know some people have said theyve had issues but I have not at all. I love it. Ive had food delivered to cabin & pool decks, drinks to various places including Princess Live, always worked to unlock my door as I walked up to it. I love the medallion.

Our experience is similar.  We used it on two cruises last year (28 days and 7 days) and throughout the ship.  I can remember 2 times when we didn't receive our food orders.  We assumed they were delivered to someone else since the app read delivered.  They were quickly corrected.  Considering that we were using the delivery system multiple times a day I thought that was very good.

[no1talks]

12 minutes ago, capriccio said:

"Considering that we were using the delivery system multiple times a day I thought that was very good."

 

Are food and beverage options limited to the normal room service choices and standard nonalcoholic/alcoholic drink list?

 

In other words, I assume you can't order custom sandwiches or an unusual cocktail that requires an explanation.

[swjumbo]

We are similar to the OP.

 

Have done many cruises on Celebrity in all classes. Came off our first Princess cruise last week.

 

We always feel deflated leaving a Celebrity ship…. even in port and couldn’t wait to go back onboard.

 

Totally opposite with Princess. We spent as much time as we could in port without getting back on board and were quite happy to get off.

 

PS We have only done speciality dining on board each and never an inside cabin.

 

Perks are better with X!

 

PS We really wanted to like Princess too but we’ve got the Celebrity bug! It just ticks every box for us.

Edited May 1 by swjumbo
To add the PS

[Sea Hag]

1 hour ago, Torfamm said:

I'd be happy to help by inviting you over anytime!!!! 

Traveling from California to Michigan definitely wouldn't be low-key. 🤣

[Lady Arwen]

28 minutes ago, swjumbo said:

We are similar to the OP.

 

Have done many cruises on Celebrity in all classes. Came off our first Princess cruise last week.

 

We always feel deflated leaving a Celebrity ship…. even in port and couldn’t wait to go back onboard.

 

Totally opposite with Princess. We spent as much time as we could in port without getting back on board and were quite happy to get off.

 

PS We have only done speciality dining on board each and never an inside cabin.

 

Perks are better with X!

 

PS We really wanted to like Princess too but we’ve got the Celebrity bug! It just ticks every box for us.

Same with us.  Don’t get me wrong, we do enjoy our Princess cruises.  We just let slide the things that bother us and move on.  Different experience on X!  More our style, I guess.  I never stop smiling the entire time and we love our casino evenings!  I’m sure we’ll be back on a Princess ship in the future with the right ship and the right itinerary.  I never say never.

[robbinsca]

Tried Princess for the first time last year and we were generally pleased. The Plus program is $60 a day, but gave the impression of being all inclusive. Celebrity onboard charges for the same things (drinks, wifi and gratuities) seem much, much higher. 
 

Princess entertainment was problematic- you needed to arrive 15-20 minutes before the show to get a seat. It seemed to be a little more “highbrow” with operatic performances and such. Celebrity used public spaces that overflowed into walkways for games and the showrooms were more of a Broadway/ Rock Concert style.

 

The Princess OV cabin seemed really small. There was not enough room between the bed and the side wall to fit a little nightstand on both sides. Our last Celebrity cruise was in a Concierge Class cabin so it was inherently nicer, but even that was a great deal on an older ship and the cabin price was less than Princess’s OV.

 

Celebrity’s service was a little better, and they offered reserved dining times at large group tables- which DW and I both like. Princess had better quality food outside the MDR and the specialty dining prices were more reasonable. Our friends won a free Specialty dinner on Celebrity, and while it was truly a special setting it was not worth our expense to join them.

 

Overall- I am happy to spend time on either one. I used to be a NCL guy but my choices would be either of these lines over NCL now.

 

 

[doghog]

6 minutes ago, robbinsca said:

Celebrity onboard charges for the same things (drinks, wifi and gratuities) seem much, much higher.

Celebrity's AI packages (CBP and PBP) no longer includes gratuities.  

[robbinsca]

2 minutes ago, doghog said:

Celebrity's AI packages (CBP and PBP) no longer includes gratuities.  

Correct, that is one of the advantages to Plus in my mind.

[doghog]

2 minutes ago, robbinsca said:

Correct, that is one of the advantages to Plus in my mind.

Agree. We were impressed with the Plus package. Didn't take advantage of everything it offers either. 

[FLAlaska]

25 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

Same with us.  Don’t get me wrong, we do enjoy our Princess cruises.  We just let slide the things that bother us and move on.  Different experience on X!  More our style, I guess.  I never stop smiling the entire time and we love our casino evenings!  I’m sure we’ll be back on a Princess ship in the future with the right ship and the right itinerary.  I never say never.

As someone who goes back and forth about trying out Celebrity,  I would love to hear more of what you love about celebrity? How is the vibe different? 

[Lady Arwen]

1 minute ago, FLAlaska said:

As someone who goes back and forth about trying out Celebrity,  I would love to hear more of what you love about celebrity? How is the vibe different? 

It just feels more upscale and elegant.  Not stuffy at all, but sophisticated.  The Martini Bar is the best!  So much fun trying out new Martinis and watching the amazing bartenders do their thing.  Not as many kids onboard.  People dress casually for sure, but nice casual.  Zero indoor smoking, including the casino. Yay!  On Edge class the bathrooms, in all categories, are luxurious.  Very large glass door shower stalls.  Plenty of room for storage.

 

I could go on and on, but take a look at YouTube videos.  Some people prefer S class, with traditional balconies, but we prefer Edge class.  We sailed on Ascent over New years this year and it was fabulous!  Food is really good and service is exemplary.  You really need to try it!

[reedprincess]

1 hour ago, no1talks said:

 

Are food and beverage options limited to the normal room service choices and standard nonalcoholic/alcoholic drink list?

 

In other words, I assume you can't order custom sandwiches or an unusual cocktail that requires an explanation.

You can "customize" food and drinks, to some extent, on the app  ie choose bread type, mustard or not, things like that.

There is no way to customize a cocktail - it's the standard drink.  

Coffees - you can generally choose milk type, things like that.

 

You can try customizing a drink by calling room service, but I wouldn't hold my breath it'll come out correctly - have you ever played "telephone"?! Lol.  

 

For custom drinks, order in person... The app is handy for glasses of wine or beers or standard cocktails, water, soda..  not so much for anything fancier or customized . 

 

 

 

 

[galensgrl]

3 hours ago, doghog said:

Agree. Plus having limited smoking areas in the casino is a big joke. 🙄 Doesn't help with the smell. 

Trying Princess for the first time this Summer on the Enchanted. I am excited to try a newer ship, but it was very disappointing to find out about the smoky casino. Not sure I will spend much time there now due to smoky atmosphere so bad that the stink clings to ones hair and clothes, a common complaint here on the boards. But I'm all set to cruise and just know the casino on Princess won't be a good place for me. Hopefully Bingo is not held in the casino.                                                                                                                                                         

[doghog]

20 minutes ago, galensgrl said:

Trying Princess for the first time this Summer on the Enchanted. I am excited to try a newer ship, but it was very disappointing to find out about the smoky casino. Not sure I will spend much time there now due to smoky atmosphere so bad that the stink clings to ones hair and clothes, a common complaint here on the boards. But I'm all set to cruise and just know the casino on Princess won't be a good place for me. Hopefully Bingo is not held in the casino.                                                                                                                                                         

We were on the Enchanted 27 March - 6 April 2024. First time on the Enchanted. We really liked the ship and the staff. Don't let the smoking lounge, AKA casino be a negative for you. Unfortunately the ventilation system for the casino doesn't do the job it should. The smoke smell does drift into surrounding venues. We noticed the smell in the forward (close to the casino) seating sections of Crooners but not in the mid or aft seating (close to the bar) sections of Crooners. There is ways to avoid the smell.  We aren't gamblers so we always avoided walking thru the casino. We would walk thru Take Five or used another deck. Bingo is held in the Princess theater.  Enjoy your Enchanted cruise and judge for yourself. 🍻

Edited May 1 by doghog

[swjumbo]

We found the Royal class ship layout very confusing despite being 55 & 40 something.

Take 5, a Jazz venue is on deck 7! why?
Nowhere at the front of the ship to look out apart from The Sanctuary, which was lovely but you have to pay for access.

The elevators are confusing and one button only activates one or two elevators.

The Vista lounge has no view to talk of.

Theatre is small and not as opulent as any Celebrity ships.

No natural flow to the ship whatsoever.
 

I think we only mentioned the ‘C’ word (celebrity) around twenty times per hour! lol

[Torfamm]

5 minutes ago, swjumbo said:

We found the Royal class ship layout very confusing despite being 55 & 40 something.

Take 5, a Jazz venue is on deck 7! why?

Funny, I never thought about the deck number for Fiesta being confusing. (Take 5 refers to the jazz standard by Dave Brubeck, not the location.) It's on deck 6 probably because it's the only spot where they could fit a space with walls and doors.  My pet peeve about those ships is that the bar spaces all feel like I'm in a hotel lobby or train station.