Celebrity Infinity vs Emerald Princess - Mediterranean

Hi all - we are sailing to the Mediterranean in Sept 2019 with 2 other couples. Currently we are booked in a mini-suite on Emerald for 11 nights. We are looking at switching to Celebrity Infinity for their 12 night itinerary. The other 2 couples are booked in balconies. We've all sailed Princess before but not Celebrity. After doing some research we have some questions:

• Balcony rooms on Emerald are similar in size to veranda on Infinity but definitely smaller than the mini-suite. The verandas do have a loveseat which is similar to the mini-suite but concerned about the overall size difference. Infinity doesn't seem to have anything comparable to mini-suite without going to full suite. Any opinions?
  
• Read some reviews mentioning smoking in Princess casinos. Do they still allow this?
  
• Are the showers larger on Infinity?
  
• Are beds more comfortable on Infinity or Emerald? I realize this is subjective.
  
• Has Infinity had a dry dock renovation lately? I ask this since it is an older ship.
  

Any other input would be greatly appreciated. We've never sailed to the Mediterranean either so this will be a new adventure for our group.

Thank you! :)

Stick with the mini suite on the emerald. We did a side to side. Princess mini suite on the star princess, and the concierge class balcony on the infinity seemed like a step down after the mini suite, even with the extra benefits concierge class includes.

One thing to consider. Princess mini suites have single loyalty credits, and concierge class is five points per day. That may make your decision up if you’re close to the next level. Also, celebrity has reciprocal loyalty levels. If you’re a diamond on royal. Caribbean, give them your c&a number,and you’ll be an elite on celebrity.

Infinity bed was horrible. We were considering getting odd at the next port. We called them at 2 am the first night, and they added some mattress padding, and we were able to stay on the ship.

We cruised emerald princess last May and liked it. We were in a VS. with the addition on club class, I think most mini suites are located away from mid ship.

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This is actually quite a coincidence for me. Initially we were booked on Emerald Princess in the Med for 2019. Because we're Elite with Celebrity (only Platinum with Princess), we cancelled with Princess and booked Infinity. Our benefits/perks are much better with Celebrity. To get a sofa on Princess you need a mini-suite and everyone gets a sofa with Celebrity. Also, there is still smoking in the casino and in another indoor venue (Churchill's), which makes it quite bothersome for us. As you're aware, there is no smoking anywhere indoors on any Celebrity ship.

That being said, Infinity is an older ship which will be in dry dock I believe in 2020. Others could give you more information on the condition of the ship. I have read lots of very positive reviews. There are some things better with Princess, the International Cafe, being one of them. We do find the food and service to be a tad better with Celebrity. I think you would be happy on either ship. It just works out better for us to choose Infinity this time.

We booked Mini-suites on Princess because the standard Veranda SRs were too small compared to the standard Celebrity Veranda SRs. The mini-Suites are certainly bigger, but definitely more costly which I assume you’ll see in comparing Princess to Celebrity standard, but you didn’t ask about that.

The Celebrity BR’s were the size of the mini’s and the shower was larger.

Smoking - as mentioned before, there is a smoking section in the Princess casino and in the cigar room. When we walked by the cigar room to get to the theater, you’d walk through the smoky passageway outside of it. And it was strong. Your can get around it going another way.

Beds? I found beds on both cruise lines to be just fine. I guess that’s subjective since a poster said they were ‘horrible’ on Infinity. Our experience was the opposite, and considering a few thousand cruise on Infinity over and over again, I think the huge majority find the beds just fine. the poster who complained probably had a very bad mattress since a pad fixed it.

My recommendation? Both Lines and ships are fine. the Princess mini has a much bigger veranda, ship does have smoking venues and fine beds; Celebrity has a bigger shower, and enough room in the standard (and I assume cheaper) SR, no indoor smoking and fine beds.

I go with Celebrity as my Line of choice because I find much fewer announcements, it’s more laid back and less sales pressure, although all Lines do that to some extent. I just found Princess did it more. I thought service was a bit better on Celebrity. I haven’t been on the Emerald, but the three other Princess ships I as on, the theater didn’t hold nearly enough and you had to get to the show at least 30-45min early to get seats together. Celebrity has much larger theater. Emerald may be different, but that’s what I noted on the three Princess ships I was on. Hated that.

Was on Infinity last year and it was in fine shape. Loved Her.

Whatever choice you make, I think you’ll enjoy.

Den

They put about three pads on our bed! They were hassling over a norovirus delay at the time, and I can forgive them. Especially, since they helped at 2 am. By that time, we'd tried very variation, and I was trying out the sofa. We had a concierge class right outside the library, so it turned into our go to place to hang out. They'd cleared out all the books due to norovirus, so few people were there.

We'd booked it on another Celebrity ship, and I had asked for the upgrade that was supposed to come w/ our Elite level. They stuck us in an irregular balcony that didn't have enough room but to stand. But we still enjoyed the floor to ceiling windows.

We booked Mini-suites on Princess because the standard Veranda SRs were too small compared to the standard Celebrity Veranda SRs. The mini-Suites are certainly bigger, but definitely more costly which I assume you’ll see in comparing Princess to Celebrity standard, but you didn’t ask about that.

 

The Celebrity BR’s were the size of the mini’s and the shower was larger.

 

Den

Thank you for all the info. This may be a stupid question but was is a Veranda SR and BR? I'm not familiar with Celebrity.

Thank you for all the info. This may be a stupid question but was is a Veranda SR and BR? I'm not familiar with Celebrity.

Not sure what you are asking. But I was talking about a BR in a Veranda SR.

Den

They put about three pads on our bed! They were hassling over a norovirus delay at the time, and I can forgive them. Especially, since they helped at 2 am. By that time, we'd tried very variation, and I was trying out the sofa. We had a concierge class right outside the library, so it turned into our go to place to hang out. They'd cleared out all the books due to norovirus, so few people were there.

 

 

 

We'd booked it on another Celebrity ship, and I had asked for the upgrade that was supposed to come w/ our Elite level. They stuck us in an irregular balcony that didn't have enough room but to stand. But we still enjoyed the floor to ceiling windows.

What SR had a balcony that didn’t have two chairs and a table and only room to stand up in?

Den

Not sure what you are asking. But I was talking about a BR in a Veranda SR.

 

Den

Ohhh, are you referring to bedroom and sitting room?

Ohhh, are you referring to bedroom and sitting room?

I’m sorry. BR is Bathroom and SR was Stateroom. Oops. Not your error, mine.

Den

Thanks for clarifying. Not your fault.

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Ah glad someone has done this thread as also considering a Med cruise on these ships for next summer!

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What SR had a balcony that didn’t have two chairs and a table and only room to stand up in?

 

Den

I think it may have had the furniture in it, but not enough room to sit on them. The table took up the entire space on between the window and the railing, and the railing was at an angle, and slanted toward the door. I think we had one chair against the far wall, but no way to get past the table to sit at it. I think the other chair was in sideways. So, no way we could really sit and look out. We were right next to the Century Suites. On my site that shows (google) Cruise Deck Plans, it has some photos of similar rooms on the Millennium. At least they removed the tables from the Millennium. Gave a little room. I just had enough room to set up my tripod and shoot photos.

As I mentioned before, it was very convenient to the library and their comfortable stuffed chairs.

Ah glad someone has done this thread as also considering a Med cruise on these ships for next summer!

 

 

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If we were in a balcony like the other couples we are cruising with I don't think this would be such a difficult decision. But since we are booked in a mini Suite on princess there's more than a hundred square foot difference in the size of the veranda on Celebrity. That makes a big difference for us. But we also have to go with what the other couples want to do.

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We've been watching some YouTube videos of both ships and I think we are going to stay with Princess. My husband and I really don't want to give up our mini-suite. We've sailed in one before and really like the extra room. The one thing we dislike is the smoking in the casino. I remember smelling smoke the last time we sailed which I admit was quite a while ago.

Thanks to everyone for their input! You were all very helpful and quick in responding. Might try Celebrity another time on a shorter cruise to check them out.

I've started a Roll Call for the cruise so if anyone else is on this cruise please check-in the roll call.

:-)

Appreciate you coming back and letting us know your decision. So many come on line, ask a question, many give the time to give info/advice, and you never hear from them again. We’ve committed a bit of time to respond and its always nice to see what was decided.

I agree, the Mini-Suite is very nice and roomy, and Princess is a good Line. Enjoy!

Den

We've been watching some YouTube videos of both ships and I think we are going to stay with Princess. My husband and I really don't want to give up our mini-suite. We've sailed in one before and really like the extra room. The one thing we dislike is the smoking in the casino. I remember smelling smoke the last time we sailed which I admit was quite a while ago.

Thanks to everyone for their input! You were all very helpful and quick in responding. Might try Celebrity another time on a shorter cruise to check them out.

 

I've started a Roll Call for the cruise so if anyone else is on this cruise please check-in the roll call.

:-)

Having just returned from a Princess ship, the beds are definitely better than those on Infinity. We do like M class ships, but unless you are in a suite or FV, your balcony will be larger on Princess in a mini.

We found that even though we were travelling on an old ship, The Grand, it was better maintained than some of X’s M class ships. We preferred some things on Princess more than X, and vice versa. The smoking policy is more in line with what we like on X, but we loved the extra choice in the International Cafe compared to Cafe al Bacio. The entertainment was far better on Princess and we didn’t have to be as early as some suggest above (each sailing may be different - who knows :confused:). The beverage package on Princess was more inclusive than the Classic on X. The buffet is better on X than on Princess, so we avoided that venue ;).

See that you have stayed with your Emerald booking - enjoy and have a great cruise :).

Thanks villauk!

So I'm back again to the Celebrity board.  We did decide to stick with Princess for the Mediterranean but are now considering a TA from Rome to Miami for the return to the US.  It would be on Celebrity Infinity.  Any comments about the OV cabins on deck 3?  I like the larger windows in the cabins next to the conf room but have read some reviews about some noise.  Wondering if the category 05 cabins are quiet.