Princess suites versus Celebrity? Convince me to switch

All,

I am looking for some advice regarding whether I should switch from Princess to Celebrity.

I enjoy penthouse suites on the Royal and Regal Princess. However, I am disappointed in the upcoming itineraries for them. I have never sailed on Celebrity, and I am very interested in doing so. What are the differences, pros, or cons of sailing in a celebrity or royal suite on Celebrity as compared to a penthouse suite on Princess or a Neptune Suite on Holland America?

I am in my late 50s, not a real party animal but not a teetotaler. I like to splurge on my trips, hence booking suites. I've got over 20 cruises under my belt with Norwegian, Carnival, Princess, and Holland America. Lately I've been sticking to Princess and HAL. I enjoy fine dining and some casino time. From what I have read, I think I fit the "demographic" for Celebrity.

What are your opinions/thoughts? I'm looking for an early summer cruise to the Med next year and a Caribbean cruise in early 2020.

Thanks in advance...

Celebrity suites have their own dedicated restaurant, with much better food than Princess suites get. Also Michael's Club as an exclusive lounge. There are many other ways that Celebrity suites pamper the customer, but to me the food is the deciding factor.

Not specific to suites but since you enjoy the casino, Celebrity has no smoking there, or in any other interior space.

Stay with Princess.

Hi

We recently took our first Celebrity cruise in a Royal Suite on Reflection.

All prior cruises were with Royal Caribbean.

The suite experience with the Royal Suite was great on Celebrity Reflection.

All specialty restaurants were included along with access to Luminae (suite restaurant) and Michaels club (suite lounge)

Not only was a premium beverage package included but we had an in room bar setup. Two bottles of liquor, champagne or wine. Any soda, water, beer, etc was constantly replenished.

We had priority boarding where they escorted us past all the lines and right into the ship.

Internet was included.

There was special seating for shows on formal nights.

The butler couldn’t do enough for us

We had priority tendering at our one tender port.

In a Royal Suite you definitely were treated like kings and queens.

What I missed on Celebrity that Royal Caribbean had for suites was a suite sun deck. But our balcony was great so we spent more time there.

I am in the midst of writing my review of our Reflection trip which includes tons of pictures if you want to see what the cabin looks like, the email from shoreside concierge, etc.

I have never cruised Princess but can tell you we were totally spoiled on Celebrity. I am sure I am forgetting some things, but it was a great trip.

I am writing on my cell phone so can’t link my review, but if you search for me on the Celebrity Board you will see it. It’s from 4/2/18 11 night ultimate Caribbean.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

The benefits of suite guests on Celebrity sway us that way, Michael's and Luminea offer that little bit extra and if you enjoy fine dining then that might be for you, but as with all things it's subjective and you will find many opinions on here. We choose X as preference, try others but always return.

I've been in suites in Royal Caribbean, NCL, HAL, Carnival, and most recently a CS on the Celebrity Silhouette. No doubt in my mind Celebrity offers the nicest product.

You eat in Luminae, the suite dining area. You may order off the Luminae menu OR the MDR menu which we did frequently. Service is the best I have experienced. EVERYONE in there takes care of you. OR you may dine in Blu, which we did once but service isn't a good as Luminae.

You also have access to Michael's Club, the suite lounge. The bartender makes anything you want basically. Most times there is something to snack on too. You may go to the cooler and get whatever is there to drink. Drink it in Michael's OR take it with you. Selection is huge. See picture BELOW...

We take two people taking care of the cabin needs....room steward and a butler. Literally the butler will and CAN do about anything for you. And WANTS to. Seemed like there was always some event to attend just for us. We loved it.

I can't see how you wouldn't really like it.

Neptune Suite... I can't say I didn't like it because I did. The Eurodam wasn't as crowded of a ship....that was nice. Perhaps a little more bathroom/dressing area in the Neptune suite. Aft NS suites have a huge balcony which I really liked! But overall the cabin wasn't nearly as large or as nice. No comparison Concierge Lounge to Michael's Club...really no comparison.

Stay with Princess.

Just curious, have you cruised in Princess suite and a Celebrity suite?

How about Celebrity’ Royal Suite?

Try Celebrity.......now Ill give you a few reasons. Ive not stayed in Suites, but your description of yourself sounds as if youll enjoy Celebrity.

Weve cruised Princess a few times and as I always say, there isnt a bad cruisse. but I found Princsess common areas to be more crowded and you had to get to the theater 45min prior to get two seats together. Very small for the numbers of passengers.

I thought the service was a bit better on Celebrity and I have a feeeling Suite service will be great.

Enjoy Princess but found Celebirty to be a bit lower key and to my liking. Very Subjective.

the only way to really know is to try it yourself.

Den

There are Princess supporters, there are Celebrity supporters. I happen to fall into the Celebrity camp. It's really up to you to decide what cruise you are taking and for what reason.Going outside your comfort zone can be a plus or a minus. I've usually found it to be a plus since I had a chance to experience some new things.

I love Celebrity's suite product and amenities but have only ever done Sky Suites. I'm also booked into a Celebrity Suite next year. However, having just gotten off HAL's Nieuw Amsterdam, the entertainment options on that ship (BB King's, America's Test Kitchen, Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard) are miles above anything Celebrity offers. A Neptune Suite was also much less expensive than what Celebrity is currently charging for Sky Suites on many trips, and the bathroom was better. Granted, I booked after final payment, which made a bigger difference in price, but in looking at future cruises, I can get a Neptune Suite today for a trip in 2020 for what I paid for a Sky Suite three years ago. The Celebrity Suite is a full $1,000 more per person versus the Neptune. With the main difference being Celebrity's suite restaurant & private lounge, it is not worth the premium Celebrity is asking these days on many itineraries. You can more or less buy the same experience on HAL with a dining package and drink package and still come out way ahead while having access to much better entertainment options. HAL also seems to be phasing out indoor smoking as they refurbish their fleet, which is why I decided to try them out finally (Nieuw Amsterdam now allows smoking only on one outside deck). I will continue to sail Celebrity because I do enjoy them, but they're no longer an automatic lock on my reservations.

I love Celebrity's suite product and amenities but have only ever done Sky Suites. I'm also booked into a Celebrity Suite next year. However, having just gotten off HAL's Nieuw Amsterdam, the entertainment options on that ship (BB King's, America's Test Kitchen, Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard) are miles above anything Celebrity offers. A Neptune Suite was also much less expensive than what Celebrity is currently charging for Sky Suites on many trips, and the bathroom was better. Granted, I booked after final payment, which made a bigger difference in price, but in looking at future cruises, I can get a Neptune Suite today for a trip in 2020 for what I paid for a Sky Suite three years ago. The Celebrity Suite is a full $1,000 more per person versus the Neptune. With the main difference being Celebrity's suite restaurant & private lounge, it is not worth the premium Celebrity is asking these days on many itineraries. You can more or less buy the same experience on HAL with a dining package and drink package and still come out way ahead while having access to much better entertainment options. HAL also seems to be phasing out indoor smoking as they refurbish their fleet, which is why I decided to try them out finally (Nieuw Amsterdam now allows smoking only on one outside deck). I will continue to sail Celebrity because I do enjoy them, but they're no longer an automatic lock on my reservations.

Not knowing how long the 2020 cruise you mentioned makes it hard to respond but if it's anything longer than a 7 nighter I have to disagree that Celebrity isn't worth $1000 more per person. We sailed in a Neptune Suite last summer in Alaska...nice room, but that's about it, nice room. The concierge service was minimal and the one time we asked them for a couple plates of snacks for the afternoon we were in Glacier Bay for 4 of us the food they brought was actually bad..... Not to say we didn't enjoy the cruise we did, but the food was nowhere near as good as what Luminae offers, not even close, nor was the service. Michael's Club is also a wonderful lounge for suite guests on Celebrity that we visited frequently, there is nothing to compare to that on HAL or Princess for that matter. The Butler service on X is also something you can't get on a HAL or Princess cruise. The entertainment on our last X cruise last month was the best we've seen in many years so that appears to be improving, although I will agree that HAL has added some good entertainment and they DO still have a piano bar player which X eliminated awhile back. Celebrity has done a great job with their suite package for sure...but that doesn't mean we won't sail other lines, but when we can afford to and the itinerary works we'll pick Celebrity.

Celebrity’s Solstice class ships are very nice. We’ve had suites on Princess before and although we haven’t stayed in a suite on Celebrity, We’ve had occasion to tour all of the categories, as well as been invited to many cruise critic parties in various Royal Suites, THE Penthouse suite (more like Presidential suite on the Equinox)

And hands down no contest, Celebrity. You get butlers on X, too.

Although we’ve been on Princess almost 20 Times, we still prefer X, having sailed them only 4-5 Times.

We have sailed Aqua on X, and loved having the private restaurant. You will have that in Luminae on X. When we stayed in suites on Princess, it wasn’t that big of a deal, IMHO, which is why we went back to insides, obstructed ov, et cet. LOL

Thanks to all for your thorough responses. I definitely see a "thumbs up" for Celebrity, so I went ahead and booked both a cruise from Venice and a Caribbean cruise in Celebrity Suites. Bon voyage!

Not knowing how long the 2020 cruise you mentioned makes it hard to respond but if it's anything longer than a 7 nighter I have to disagree that Celebrity isn't worth $1000 more per person. We sailed in a Neptune Suite last summer in Alaska...nice room, but that's about it, nice room. The concierge service was minimal and the one time we asked them for a couple plates of snacks for the afternoon we were in Glacier Bay for 4 of us the food they brought was actually bad..... Not to say we didn't enjoy the cruise we did, but the food was nowhere near as good as what Luminae offers, not even close, nor was the service. Michael's Club is also a wonderful lounge for suite guests on Celebrity that we visited frequently, there is nothing to compare to that on HAL or Princess for that matter. The Butler service on X is also something you can't get on a HAL or Princess cruise. The entertainment on our last X cruise last month was the best we've seen in many years so that appears to be improving, although I will agree that HAL has added some good entertainment and they DO still have a piano bar player which X eliminated awhile back. Celebrity has done a great job with their suite package for sure...but that doesn't mean we won't sail other lines, but when we can afford to and the itinerary works we'll pick Celebrity.

I'll continue to pick Celebrity as well but it will depend on the itinerary. The $1,000 per person price difference I'm seeing is for a 7-night Caribbean, which is what we book every year to escape the cold & what the OP was also referencing (at least the Caribbean part).

The other differences you cite are of course a matter of personal preference. Dinner at Pinnacle Grill equaled Luminae & Murano for menu choice, food taste, & ambiance. We had reservations elsewhere & also wanted to try the main dining room, but I could have easily dined in Pinnacle every night & not have the same dish twice. They also did a French brasserie pop-up one night that was excellent. I found Michael's Club not much different than the HAL concierge lounge except for the free booze (& soda) aspect in MC. The concierge team booked reservations & got us preferred dining times & hosted a cocktail reception & otherwise did the things that the MC concierge also does. It also seemed a lot more utilized throughout the day because there is always a food spread put out versus the ghost town I often experience in MC, which I've only seen busy during pre-dinner cocktail times. I've never found the afternoon snacks on Celebrity anything to write home about & we don't utilize the butler for anything that our HAL stateroom attendant couldn't handle (or our Celebrity stateroom attendant couldn't handle, for that matter). I honestly wasn't expecting to be as impressed with HAL as I was. There are still aspects of Celebrity that I prefer, but the value proposition of Celebrity seems to be out-of-whack with the prices they're asking on many itineraries.

I'll continue to pick Celebrity as well but it will depend on the itinerary. The $1,000 per person price difference I'm seeing is for a 7-night Caribbean, which is what we book every year to escape the cold & what the OP was also referencing (at least the Caribbean part).

 

The other differences you cite are of course a matter of personal preference. Dinner at Pinnacle Grill equaled Luminae & Murano for menu choice, food taste, & ambiance. We had reservations elsewhere & also wanted to try the main dining room, but I could have easily dined in Pinnacle every night & not have the same dish twice. They also did a French brasserie pop-up one night that was excellent. I found Michael's Club not much different than the HAL concierge lounge except for the free booze (& soda) aspect in MC. The concierge team booked reservations & got us preferred dining times & hosted a cocktail reception & otherwise did the things that the MC concierge also does. It also seemed a lot more utilized throughout the day because there is always a food spread put out versus the ghost town I often experience in MC, which I've only seen busy during pre-dinner cocktail times. I've never found the afternoon snacks on Celebrity anything to write home about & we don't utilize the butler for anything that our HAL stateroom attendant couldn't handle (or our Celebrity stateroom attendant couldn't handle, for that matter). I honestly wasn't expecting to be as impressed with HAL as I was. There are still aspects of Celebrity that I prefer, but the value proposition of Celebrity seems to be out-of-whack with the prices they're asking on many itineraries.

We ate at Pinnacle once and enjoyed it but it was more like dining at Murano's on Celebrity not Luminae. The food was very good, very rich and the service very professional. All good things. But we prefer the more personal service we receive in Luminae and we like the food more too. We haven't been back to Murano in several cruises, even though on our last trip we could have eaten there for free every night. We just didn't enjoy the concierge lounge on HAL, there were very few times when we saw anyone there and the 2 times we asked the concierge to make reservations for us they told us they couldn't do any better for times than we already had, without even calling. So we just didn't feel it added much as a perk.

Now having said that, I agree that on a 7 night cruise $1000 more per person is too much and I wouldn't do it either.

Also the one thing that HAL over EVERYONE else was the bed in the Neptune Suite. BY FAR the best mattress I've slept on. I was amazed at how well I slept!! I would consider sailing with them again just to sleep on that mattress again!!! :D :D

Having sailed in both a Grand Suite on Princess and a Royal on Celebrity, IMO Celebrity wins hands down. Luminae, Michael's Club, premium beverage package, specialty restaurants, unlimited internet, laundry, butler, etc. The only thing amenity we received in the Grand Suite was laundry and mini-bar setup, and that was because of our status within their Captain's Circle program, not because of the suite category we were in.

Apples to oranges in my book...

They're not in the same ball park. If you can swing a suite on Celebrity do it. You get so much more.

We've been in a few suites on Princess, and recently in a Sky Suite on Celebrity. We're just off of a cruise on Princess in Club Class.

Hands down for a suite Celebrity. As others have mentioned Luminae and Michael's are a big draw. (We don't book high enough to get free specialty dining, and since we are happy with the size of the Sky suites it would be cheaper to get a dining package for every night than upgrading the suite for that perk.)

Princess offers dining, but it's the main dining room with excellent service and one or two special menu items each night. Whereas in Luminae you have a full menu (small, but 3 or 4 things in each course) plus the ability to order from the main menu. They are also like a Michelin restaurant in that there is an amuse bouche and a palette cleanser. Just a whole level above.

We also liked Michaels and the concierges who, on our cruise, got things done. For example, we wanted to switch the time of a tour. The Shore Ex desk told us it couldn't be done and we couldn't wait list. The concierges were able to make it happen.

On one of our last Princess cruises in Club Class, we wanted to go to the Crown Grill. They told us they were completely sold out. One of the perks is supposed to be priority reservations at specialty restaurants. Didn't make any difference, and there was no one to help us.

We didn't use the butler much, but he was very nice. I'm sure he could have done more if we'd asked.

After our last cruise DH said Princess only for short cruises and Alaska, Celebrity for the rest.

Thanks to all for your thorough responses. I definitely see a "thumbs up" for Celebrity, so I went ahead and booked both a cruise from Venice and a Caribbean cruise in Celebrity Suites. Bon voyage!

Just a reminder that you know what perks you have with your CS. You have Michael’s and Luminae (and drinks and internet if it was part of your package it is not included in all deals).

Free laundry, in room bar set up and unlimited speciality dining start for RS and PH.

Thanks to all for your thorough responses. I definitely see a "thumbs up" for Celebrity, so I went ahead and booked both a cruise from Venice and a Caribbean cruise in Celebrity Suites. Bon voyage!

Nice choice! We just found Celebrity after a lot of cruises on the other lines and really enjoyed X.

The one thing that keeps me sailing with Princess is the Sanctuary. I know it has nothing to do with Suites or Suite Perks, but it eliminates every having to worry about chair hogs or finding the right spot to enjoy some sun and a comfy chair. The service is also special...

Be sure to transfer your Royal Status to Celebrity. Diamond on Royal = Elite on Celebrity. The crew will notice, but you really don't get anything else as the "Celebrity Suite" comes with the perks...

I think Royal does a little better job in the evening with the Suite Lounge because of the snacks offered. I enjoy lounges with windows and really like what Royal has done on the Harmony. Suite lounge & Coastal Kitchen all in the Crown. Best views ever....

Enjoy Celebrity.

Celebrity's suite experience on Edge when it launches later this year will have a separate pool area and dining/lounge area. The other Celebrity ships might incorporate this concept to some degree over the next two years in the announced ship refurbishments.