Would You Pay More for Princess Cruise?

[poffles]

I can't believe how much I keep tossing back and forth between Carnival and Princess but Princess is about $150 more per person (both balcony) so I keep turning back to Carnival. My fear with Carnival is no adult pool area and that it may be too chaotic. The singing at supper time in the MDR doesn't sound too appealing either. What to do what to do. We are adults ... 2 in 40s and 2 in 60s. We are looking at Eastern carribean.

 

I'm not booking until June (for late November) and I am going to drive myself crazy until then!!!

 

Would you pay more for Princess? Why or why not?

[texkan]

I book would book with Princess. My favorite cruise line is Celebrity. I did sail with Princess Coral in Alaska. I did enjoy Princess in Alaska but I have to say that IMO the food is not as good as Celebrity.

 

I have never sail Carnival and probably never will. I believe that Carnival draws a much younger group of party cruisers.

 

Have you looked at Celebrity Solstice in the Eastern Caribbean?

 

You also might want to look at what other ships will be in port with ship you sail.

I do not want to be in port with any of the Mega ships (Oasis).

[poffles]

I should add that the other challenge is that my father, who will be on the cruise, is not one for dressing up (neither am I for that matter but will participate a little) so I don't want a ship that seems more classy than we are. I am therefore thinking Celebrity would not fit our comfort. Princess seems to be a little in the middle, though perhaps my expectations are totally wrong.

[jotabecu]

My personal response is I would go with Princess which I have sailed on several ocassions and thoroughly enjoy it.

 

I have also sailed on Carnival but do not feel the "fun" environment is quite to my taste.

[texkan]

I should add that the other challenge is that my father, who will be on the cruise, is not one for dressing up (neither am I for that matter but will participate a little) so I don't want a ship that seems more classy than we are. I am therefore thinking Celebrity would not fit our comfort. Princess seems to be a little in the middle, though perhaps my expectations are totally wrong.

 

Princess has the same requirements for MDR. On formal night 90% of cruisers were dressed for the evening.

 

If you do not want to dress for the MDR, there are option places to eat. I think that you have to study all the different cruise lines and see what they offer and do not offer. You pick the ship and ports that fit you best.

 

You might post your questions and concerns on the Carnival Board and on the Princess Board. Do you research and then go for it. Enjoy your cruise.

[sloopsailor]

Princess has the same requirements for MDR. On formal night 90% of cruisers were dressed for the evening.

 

If you do not want to dress for the MDR, there are option places to eat. I think that you have to study all the different cruise lines and see what they offer and do not offer. You pick the ship and ports that fit you best.

 

You might post your questions and concerns on the Carnival Board and on the Princess Board. Do you research and then go for it. Enjoy your cruise.

 

This is good advice. I also encourage you to become familiar with the cruiseline's 'style'. Avoid booking with a cruiseline that you don't agree with, and then insist on doing your own thing, such as wearing jeans in the MDR on a cruiseline that requests formal wear on certain evenings. It won't make your cruise any better by not adhering to the rules and poilicies, and might even cause some stress that could spoil some of the enjoyment of the experience. Try to match your lifestyle with the lifestyle aboard the cruiseline's ships, and you'll be happier for it.

[pat4mary]

We have sailed Celebrity, Royal, Princess, and Carnival. I REALLY believe Carnival gets a bad rap. We actually preferred Carnival over Princess. It was NOT a young rowdy crowd at all. In fact, Royal actually has a more rowdy feel for us. The food and service on Princess was not good. The food on Carnival was the best we've had! I did enjoy Celebrity very much. Please don't let a false reputation keep you from saving $$$.

[hubofhockey]

I can't believe how much I keep tossing back and forth between Carnival and Princess but Princess is about $150 more per person (both balcony) so I keep turning back to Carnival. My fear with Carnival is no adult pool area and that it may be too chaotic. The singing at supper time in the MDR doesn't sound too appealing either. What to do what to do. We are adults ... 2 in 40s and 2 in 60s. We are looking at Eastern carribean.

 

I'm not booking until June (for late November) and I am going to drive myself crazy until then!!!

 

Would you pay more for Princess? Why or why not?

 

Yes, I would pay $150 more per person. I would pay $250 more. I am not going to say negative things about Carnival because I have had very good cruises on Carnival and they have great itineraries and my kids really enjoy Camp Carnival. But I do like that Princess ships separate out their pool areas and there is less congestion there and the pools are bigger and they are freshwater pools. I also prefer Princess' buffet for lunch and breakfast and the multiple entertainment venues at night.

[Essiesmom]

We have sailed Celebrity, Royal, Princess, and Carnival. I REALLY believe Carnival gets a bad rap. We actually preferred Carnival over Princess. It was NOT a young rowdy crowd at all. In fact, Royal actually has a more rowdy feel for us. The food and service on Princess was not good. The food on Carnival was the best we've had! I did enjoy Celebrity very much. Please don't let a false reputation keep you from saving $$$.

I totally agree. I despise people who advise not to sail Carnival because they have 'heard' they are a party ship. I have ten Carnival cruises, two Princess, two Celebrity, four HAL, one Cunard. The only thing missing on Carnival is enrichment lecturers. I believe in booking for itinerary and budget. If I can get it less expensively on Carnival, I will. By the way, I am 65. EM

[DonnaK]

I would pay more! We had a terrible experience on Carnival - service was atrocious and we did not care for the ship at all (very awkward layout). I think that Princess and Royal Caribbean are definitely worth the additional cost for a more elegant, more personalized service-oriented, crusing experience.

 

You can click on the links in my signature to read my reviews for more details about what we liked about Princess/RCI, and what we hated about Carnival.

[Cruisin' Chick]

We've been on several Carnival cruises before we tried Princess. If you want to avoid much of the crazy pool games, then I would go with Princess. They'll have some pool games, but not as full of double entredres (like the stuff a bikini type) unless you have a CD who's into that. Seems a bit more classy for the most part on Princess.

 

If you have a family member that doesn't want to do formal nights, the buffet is always casual (sometimes you'll find someone dressed for formal night in there getting a nosh to tie them over til their dinner or because they changed their mind about eating in the MDR). The buffet is also open 24 hours so you can eat whenever you want. Some people believe you should dress formally around the ship on formal night, but you'll find that even some of the people who dressed up for dinner might decide to change afterwards and then go to a show or the casino. There are one or two cruiselines that discourage you from dressing casually anywhere on the ship on formal night (expecting you to stay in your cabin), but Princess is not one of them, nor is Carnival.

[DTC]

Just came back from the Carnival Liberty Eastern Caribbean. We are in our 40's, our friends are too. My parents are in their 60's. I would say the average age of passengers was 40's. There were no obnoxious passengers, or unsupervised children (I have a 14 yr old who was with us). It was the best cruise I've been on!!

So to answer your question, NO I would NOT pay $150 to sail on Princess.

 

I've researched other lines, and price is my #1 priority, itinerary being #2.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide, but I HIGHLY recommend Liberty Eastern!!!!!

[travlnblueberries]

Add me to the list that would pay the extra.

[paul929207]

No question, I would pay the extra to sail with Princess.

[Bookish Angel]

I've sailed on both and much prefer Princess as it is more in line with what I want and expect; a more sedate and erudite experience.

 

DonnaK, how are ya? We have GOT to meet up on a ship one day. Can you imagine the book swapping amongst us?!!!

[DonnaK]

I've sailed on both and much prefer Princess as it is more in line with what I want and expect; a more sedate and erudite experience.

 

DonnaK, how are ya? We have GOT to meet up on a ship one day. Can you imagine the book swapping amongst us?!!!

 

 

Hey Angel! Fancy meeting you here. lol Someday we will meet on a ship and swap some books! happy cruising!

[Fattony]

This is good advice. I also encourage you to become familiar with the cruiseline's 'style'. Avoid booking with a cruiseline that you don't agree with, and then insist on doing your own thing, such as wearing jeans in the MDR on a cruiseline that requests formal wear on certain evenings. It won't make your cruise any better by not adhering to the rules and poilicies, and might even cause some stress that could spoil some of the enjoyment of the experience. Try to match your lifestyle with the lifestyle aboard the cruiseline's ships, and you'll be happier for it.

 

When we were on the Star Princess 2 years ago, far less than 90% of the people were dressed up all that much in the anytime dining room (there may well have been more formality in the set-schedule/table dining room). I wore slacks, blazer and shirt and tie on the formal night, and I did not feel out of place at all. Some others were more informal. I didn't wear the blazer or tie any other nights. We've done two Princess cruises (Cape Horn and Alaska). I didn't feel either one was formal, but I haven't gone with Carnival so can't compare. How informal is your father? Shorts, jeans and overalls? Bare feet? Or just not suit and tie every night for dinner?

[uppitycats]

I've been on both Carnival and Princess. I'd definitely book Princess before Carnival. Only way I'll get back on a Carnival ship is if there is an absolutely specific-to-Carnival itinerary, and no other way for me to see that part of the world.

[poffles]

Well this is certainly great feedback and definitely making me lean towards Princess again. Oh my.

 

My father is a jeans and t-shirt person, will even jack the heat up in the house and wear shorts every chance he can. That said, he is aware we expect him to get a little dressed up at least on formal night though he may just rather do the buffet which we are all okay with. We may have a struggle with how dressed up but will cross that bridge later :-) He could always go to the buffet everynight. Understand too that we do not have too many dress up type restaurants in my area so casual is the norm for us.

 

Thanks everyone!!

[GTO-Girl]

Well this is certainly great feedback and definitely making me lean towards Princess again. Oh my.

 

My father is a jeans and t-shirt person, will even jack the heat up in the house and wear shorts every chance he can. That said, he is aware we expect him to get a little dressed up at least on formal night though he may just rather do the buffet which we are all okay with. We may have a struggle with how dressed up but will cross that bridge later :-) He could always go to the buffet everynight. Understand too that we do not have too many dress up type restaurants in my area so casual is the norm for us.

 

Thanks everyone!!

 

I don't mean to add to your confusion, but we are in our late 50's and we did not care for Princess at all. Maybe we are just too laid back because it was just too stuffy for us. I don't consider classical music in the atrium all day and napkins folding classes a form of cruise entertainment.

 

The ship was beautiful and the crew was wonderful, but we felt like everything was catered to a much older crowd (even older than us :D ).

 

My husband does not like to dress up a lot, so he wears his khaki's and golf shirt most nights and on formal nights we tend to eat at the buffet so we can wear whatever we please (yes even shorts/jeans).

 

We have cruised with Carnival several times and do not find it to be a "party atmosphere" as some would like you to believe. Sure if you are out around the pool when they have games going on it's going to be loud, but for the most part you can be as lively or calm as you wish.

 

Hope this helps........

[cruiserbryce]

we have sailed both and enjoyed the on board experience and layout of the princess ships more...for that small of a difference I would book with Princess

[Shifra]

Yes I would pay the extra $$$ for Princess. I have not been on Carnival but I definately know it wouldn't suit me. I am not into dancing and singing waiters, saltwater pools, or raunchy pool games.

 

Princess has more pools on their ships which makes it less crowded and are all fresh water. There is always lots to do both day and night or places to just relax. I have been on Celebrity and find it a nice cruiseline but a bit stuffy and somewhat more formal than Princess.

 

Let us know what you decide.

[SantaFeFan]

Well this is certainly great feedback and definitely making me lean towards Princess again. Oh my.

 

My father is a jeans and t-shirt person, will even jack the heat up in the house and wear shorts every chance he can. That said, he is aware we expect him to get a little dressed up at least on formal night though he may just rather do the buffet which we are all okay with. We may have a struggle with how dressed up but will cross that bridge later :-) He could always go to the buffet everynight. Understand too that we do not have too many dress up type restaurants in my area so casual is the norm for us.

 

Thanks everyone!!

 

Your father and I have similar tastes in what we think is comfortable. I wear shorts and sweatpants and T-shirt around the house, and jeans and T-shirt most often when I go out, even in winter, and even to the local restaurants, unless it's an upscale one. Shoes are only worn when going outside. Having said that, I dress up in slacks, a nice dress shirt, and sometimes a tie, for dinner on a cruise, and will rent a tux for formal night. For me the cruise is something special, something very different than being at home. I enhance that specialness by doing things different than at home, so for dinner I put away my jeans, T-shirts and sneakers, and use the opportunity to enjoy a dress-up evening, something I don't get to do very often at home. It makes the experience better, makes my wife very happy, and I feel pretty good about myself. It's one of the things I look forward to the most on a cruise. Your father might feel the same given a chance. Whatever he choses to do, I hope the cruise is something he'll have fond memories about.

[hubofhockey]

I haven't seen anyone here refer to the "party atmosphere" on Carnival as a huge negative. Quite to the contrary, Carnival has become much more family oriented. To some, that's part of the problem. On my last Carnival cruise, hot tubs were overrun with kids who use the things like pools swimming in them and bumping into people's legs (ouch). The pool area is also congested and chaotic. Yes, there are the very active cruise directors with their AM and PM radio style zoo shows going on and that has appeal to many and that is what you see on Carnival that you don't see on Princess. That doesn't make Princess stuffy. It does make it more relaxed. It's a little bit different of a vacation.

 

OP, bring a navy sportsjacket for your dad (and a couple pairs of khakis). It is not that hard to adhere to Princess' dress rules.

[lovevacadays]

If the $150 per person isn't too much of an issue with you I would definitely choose Princess. I believe the Ruby Princess is the ship that will be doing the Eastern Caribbean in November. Ihaven't sailed the Ruby but here she is beautiful. I have sailed sister ship to her the Crown Princess and loved it.