rccl vs princess

[j&b'smommy]

I usually sail on Princess (Grand, Golden, and Dawn). I am sailing on Serenade of the Seas in November. Can anyone tell me what kinds of differences I can expect between the Serenade and what I am used to on Princess?

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[jkrislc]

I made some comparisons between Princess and RCI in my review of the Star Princess to Alaska last June. You can access that review if you wish in the review section of this website.

In general, I believe the lines are more similar than they are different. RCI has a much better "loyalty" program, which wont apply to you since you are a first time cruiser, but can payoff in the future. RCI also had better drinks at the bar and superior entertainment. However, I felt Princess had much better food and better service.

In essence, the two are very good lines. While I might give a slight nod to Princess overall, I've sailed RCI once since last sailing Princess, and will be taking my mom on here first cruise this Friday, also with RCI. Thus, Princess hasn't won me over. However, if price and ship's ammentities were the same, I'd probably give Princess another try.

KLC
UPCOMING CRUISES:
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MONARCH OF THE SEAS (04/04)
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;4;16;17;30;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]
PRIDE OF ???????-HAWAII (01/05)
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2005;01;2;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-1000[/img]

PREVIOUS CRUISES
-------------------------
RCI's Monarch of the Seas (01/04)
Star Princess (6/03)
RCI's Rhapsody of the Seas (4/01)
Carnival's Ecstasy (6/96)
RCI's Viking Serenade (1/94)

[bscottsmith]

Here are some other juicy threads on the topic:
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI> [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=887097554&m=1103033477&r=5353026477"]Posted on Princess Thread[/url]
<LI> [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=2323013477&r=2473013477"]Posted on RCI Thread[/url]
<LI> [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=887097554&m=4733057577&r=2453038577"]Thinking of trying Princess[/url]
<LI> [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=56110189&r=69110299"]Princess vs RCI[/url]
[/list]

[kbt2]

I agree with what the other poster has said..they are similar and you won't be disappointed at all, but Princess does have better food and service.

Kim
Dawn Princess
Regal Princess
Grand Princess
Mercury - Celebrity
Windward - NCL
Monarch of the Seas
Voyager of the Seas

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[cruiserforlife]

Probably won't be disappointed with either but in my opinion (for what that's worth! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]),Princess has it over RCL on the following points:

Much,much better food (at least the last time I sailed Princess).
Freshwater pools open 24/7 (for the most part).
nicer & larger pool areas.
More soothing colors & textures in the interior design.

RCL advantages over Princess:

Service.I must disagree with the other posters,we felt the service we received was much friendlier than on Princess which can be lukewarm at best.Four cruises with Princess and one with RCL.
Entertainment.Here,RCL gets a slight (very slight actually) nod over Princess.both lines offer fantastic entertainment.

RCL caters to a younger crowd with more pool games and more ship activities.Princess's guests tend to be older.

Both lines offer a good value for the money...for now.The ways things are changing in the cruise industry,these comments may already be off-base by the time you cruise.

"a bad day at sea is better than a great day at work and a lousy day at sea is still pretty damn good!"

[London, Canada]

I wasn't going to respond to this one, as I have done so on another post but when I read:

I agree with what the other poster has said..they are similar and you won't be disappointed at all, but Princess does have better food and service.

From kbt2 - I thought - hmm, our tastes must be much different...

I felt the food on the Dawn Princess - 02/04 was horrible compared to the food on AOS 02/02. Unless AOS has completely gone down the toilet in the food department -- there is no comparison -- returning to the AOS in 02/05...we will never cruise with Princess again...horrible, horrible, horrible. And we are not picky people.

[cruiserforlife]

That's why food is so subjective.We have never,ever had a problem with Princess's food but could barely eat in the dining room aboard NOS last september.

Who knows,by now Princess's food may have slipped through the cracks.

We thought the quality of the RCL's food on the whole was lacking.

"a bad day at sea is better than a great day at work and a lousy day at sea is still pretty damn good!"

[arosenbe]

cruiserforlife,

You are bang on with the statement that food is subjective. We sailed NOS last October and had no prblem whatsoever with the food, either that or they made MAJOR changes between Sept. and October, which I doubt. Five star, NO, So bad barely edible, NO, better than I was going to cook, YUP!

Al Rosenberg

Navigator of the Seas 06 November 2004
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FF0000&cdt=2004;11;06;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Radiance of the Seas 03/04
Navigator of the Seas 10/03
Carnival Pride 03/03
Norwegian Sun 10/02
Dawn Princess 03/02
Sensation 09/01
Carnival Destiny 03/01

[Host Karen]

We sailed Princess and RCI three times each and I would say neither are my "dream" cruiseline. I would give Princess the nod in service (especially in the diningroom where most of the waitstaff seem to be older, longterm employees of the line); desserts; bingo prices; pools; and shore excursions. I would give RCI the upper hand in ship decor, beauty and layout; activities; entertainment; buffet; crew friendliness; and bar staff. I think the service, friendliness and food quality on the larger ships of both lines are lacking compared to the Sun class or Radiance class ships.

Although we have cruises planned on Celebrity and RCI, I would like to try Princess again. Perhaps one day we will sail enough on one line to make it to the second loyalty level.

Karen

Read my [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=6873085377"]2/6/04 Brilliance review[/url]

Infinity in... [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;12;5;21;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

Brilliance 6/05
Infinity 12/04
Brilliance 2/04
Adventure 11/03
Brilliance 2/03
Grand Princess 3/02
Dawn Princess 11/01
Ocean Princess 5/00