Victory or Caribbean Princess?

[FrannyK]

Trying to decide between these two ships. Seems like they are both older, smaller, maybe in need of some TLC, both get mixed reviews. They are both close in price for the 5-night cruise we are looking at. Flying into Miami and Fort Lauderdale is pretty much the same price. Don't care what ports we go to, just want to relax and enjoy. We've been on quite a few Carnival ships but have never been on Princess so would like to give Princess a try. Any opinions? Anyone been on both?

[A&Jfamily]

Trying to decide between these two ships. Seems like they are both older, smaller, maybe in need of some TLC, both get mixed reviews. They are both close in price for the 5-night cruise we are looking at. Flying into Miami and Fort Lauderdale is pretty much the same price. Don't care what ports we go to, just want to relax and enjoy. We've been on quite a few Carnival ships but have never been on Princess so would like to give Princess a try. Any opinions? Anyone been on both?

 

We have been on both ships.

 

We did a 4 day on the Victory and even though she shows her age a bit, she has those unique L shaped balconies that are just AWESOME! The shorter cruises on Carnival tend to be very party oriented. One night, we had to call security because the family reunion had moved stools into the hall and were carrying on past 11 pm when we were tired and ready to wind down. I am all for partying, just keep it on the public decks and not the room corridors.

 

CP has more decks than the Victory and feels more upscale with classier decor. Now we were on a 7 day, but comparing that to other 7 day CCL, it is a more adult, mature cruise experience with less of a party 24/7 feel. Pools are easier to access and hot tubs actually hot and fresh water on Princess

 

Hubby thinks Princess has better food, but I would probably give the nod to Carnival.

 

But again, we are talking very subtle differences and would sail both again in a heartbeat. If you just want to relax, and love a balcony, go L shaped Victory. Otherwise CP

[Cruisegirl6]

You didn't mention when the cruise will be I have my reasons for asking.

[mcgratru]

Go princess.

[Tapi]

We just did Princess for the first time in September. We were on the Golden Princess. The ship is 14 years old, yet you could've told me that it was brand new and I would've believed it. The ship was in impeccable condition and the decor was beautiful and timelessly elegant.

 

Overall, everything about Princess is of higher quality. The food, entertainment, decor, ambiance, etc. But do know that it's a more low key and sedated experience, so if you like the livelier ambiance found on Carnival you may be disappointed.

 

Feel free to click on my Golden Princess signature (link below).

 

 

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[Cruisegirl6]

Since I haven't gotten an answer yet, I DEFINATELY choose Princess, I love Princess I give you some pros and cons of Princess and don't have to tell you about Carnival as you already know that.

 

Pros:

Beautiful classy decorated ships inside and out

MDR food wow

Buffets so much more selection/variety and much higher quality

Service excellent overall everywhere

Shows so much better

Fresh water swimming pools and more pools

Adults only beautiful area with pools

Actual food to eat late night, fruit, cheeses, some pastries, salad, can't really recall because I ate the cheese ha and their pizza is much better than Carnivals

Skywalkers Lounge great place to sit with a view in day and turns into a club at ight with music

Sabatini's italian specialty restaurant excellent

Crown Grill very good

Nicer chaise lounges more comfortable

 

Cons:

Sometimes if the casino doesn't reach their quota with a certain amount of people there, they will close the casino at 1pm.

Its quieter at night, usually after 11 you may have a comedy show or the disco in sky wakers, people go to sleep earlier on Princess

 

If I had to make that decision without any doubt Princess!

[FrannyK]

You didn't mention when the cruise will be I have my reasons for asking.

 

We're looking at next month or beginning of March before Spring break. I know we are last minute this year :)

[Cruisegirl6]

Exactly what I needed to know...STAY AWAY FROM VICTORY SHE GOES INTO DRY DOCK MARCH 2015! I NEVER go on a ship that has plans for dry dock eight months out or sooner, trust me you will love Princess.

[FrannyK]

Since I haven't gotten an answer yet, I DEFINATELY choose Princess, I love Princess I give you some pros and cons of Princess and don't have to tell you about Carnival as you already know that.

 

Pros:

Beautiful classy decorated ships inside and out

MDR food wow

Buffets so much more selection/variety and much higher quality

Service excellent overall everywhere

Shows so much better

Fresh water swimming pools and more pools

Adults only beautiful area with pools

Actual food to eat late night, fruit, cheeses, some pastries, salad, can't really recall because I ate the cheese ha and their pizza is much better than Carnivals

Skywalkers Lounge great place to sit with a view in day and turns into a club at ight with music

Sabatini's italian specialty restaurant excellent

Crown Grill very good

Nicer chaise lounges more comfortable

 

Cons:

Sometimes if the casino doesn't reach their quota with a certain amount of people there, they will close the casino at 1pm.

Its quieter at night, usually after 11 you may have a comedy show or the disco in sky wakers, people go to sleep earlier on Princess

 

If I had to make that decision without any doubt Princess!

 

When it comes to Caribbean Princess many reviews say it is worn and filthy and in need of a dry dock (goes into dry dock in March). Athough, the reviews for Victory aren't amazing different. We don't mind if it's quiet this time, we need a rest! What is putting it in the running for me is it has the two specialty restaurants which Victory (I was surprised to see) does not.

 

Is there any shade in the adults only pool area? I thought I read you had to pay for adult area or sanctuary? Confused about that.

[A&Jfamily]

When it comes to Caribbean Princess many reviews say it is worn and filthy and in need of a dry dock (goes into dry dock in March). Athough, the reviews for Victory aren't amazing different. We don't mind if it's quiet this time, we need a rest! What is putting it in the running for me is it has the two specialty restaurants which Victory (I was surprised to see) does not.

 

Is there any shade in the adults only pool area? I thought I read you had to pay for adult area or sanctuary? Confused about that.

 

On Princess you do pay for the sanctuary - its on the front of the ship, mostly enclosed and blocked from wind. A large portion of the rear pool deck is shaded because it is tiered.

 

I think you will find that the consistent votes will be in favor of princess, especially if you are looking to relax and have quiet time. The main reason we found the Victory so relaxing was our L-shaped secluded room. Princess is a nicer "experience."

[FrannyK]

On Princess you do pay for the sanctuary - its on the front of the ship, mostly enclosed and blocked from wind. A large portion of the rear pool deck is shaded because it is tiered.

 

I think you will find that the consistent votes will be in favor of princess, especially if you are looking to relax and have quiet time. The main reason we found the Victory so relaxing was our L-shaped secluded room. Princess is a nicer "experience."

 

How much $ is the sanctuary? Is there any shaded area there? Is there a bar there?

[JinxyB]

Having been on both ships, I would definitely choose Princess. I cruised the Caribbean Princess back in 2009, but I remember it being a nice ship and the food is much better in my opinion (pizza is amazing). Ate at both Crown Grille and Sabatini's and thought they were great. Cruised Victory last summer on a 4-day and it was a big party cruise. Nothing wrong with that, but the ship was dated and I didn't care for the way the buffet was laid out. There were not as many amenities on the Victory vs. Princess.

[Pixelate]

How much $ is the sanctuary? Is there any shaded area there? Is there a bar there?

 

Prices recently increased, but they are as follows:

 

Half day: $20

Full day: $40

Full cruise: Possibly discounted depending on the sailing. Check at the Passenger Services Desk.

 

On days when the ship is in Glacier Bay or cruising the Panama Canal, prices are doubled.

 

There is a shaded area. There is no bar, but there are refreshments. If you want a drink, one of the attendants should be able to get you one.

[Tapi]

Is there any shade in the adults only pool area? I thought I read you had to pay for adult area or sanctuary? Confused about that.

 

 

You pay for the Sanctuary. But you DONT pay for the adults only pool, which is located adjacent to the Lotus Spa (one deck down from the Sanctuary).

 

There are loungers around the adult pool and many are shaded. It's TRULY and adults only pool. Fresh water, temperature controlled and not a kid in sight. Once again, it's FREE of charge.

 

 

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[FrannyK]

You pay for the Sanctuary. But you DONT pay for the adults only pool, which is located adjacent to the Lotus Spa (one deck down from the Sanctuary).

 

There are loungers around the adult pool and many are shaded. It's TRULY and adults only pool. Fresh water, temperature controlled and not a kid in sight. Once again, it's FREE of charge.

 

 

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Thank you Tapi. Now I understand the difference. The adult pool sounds wonderful! I will have to read up on the ship and sanctuary. This is all so last minute. Being able to get immediate answers and opinions has been so incredibly helpful.

 

Will make our reservations in the a.m. Hopefully all will work out.

[SNJCruisers]

Just the facts....Victory, built 2000, refurbished 2010, 101,000 tons with 3,427 passengers.

Caribbean Princess built 2004, refurbished 2010, 116,000 tons with 3,080 passengers.

 

The CP is 15% bigger with 10% less people

[Pixelate]

Just the facts....Victory, built 2000, refurbished 2010, 101,000 tons with 3,427 passengers.

Caribbean Princess built 2004, refurbished 2010, 116,000 tons with 3,080 passengers.

 

The CP is 15% bigger with 10% less people

 

CP is Sea Princess. CB is Caribbean Princess. :eek:

[sunlover5]

Have not been on Victory yet, going after drydock but did the C. Princess for a Canadian/NE cruise. Definitely very laid back and both my husband and I had a wonderful cruise but we think Carnival has the better food!! You will love the Princess...we thought she was a beautiful ship...we just would have liked a little more nightlife. Not the clubs or anything but after 9:30 the bars were even dead. Most was at the piano bar and it was in such a small venue you usually had to stand...too crowded.

[Pixelate]

Have not been on Victory yet, going after drydock but did the C. Princess for a Canadian/NE cruise. Definitely very laid back and both my husband and I had a wonderful cruise but we think Carnival has the better food!! You will love the Princess...we thought she was a beautiful ship...we just would have liked a little more nightlife. Not the clubs or anything but after 9:30 the bars were even dead. Most was at the piano bar and it was in such a small venue you usually had to stand...too crowded.

 

In 2009, Princess paid quite a bit more per diem for food than Carnival. Unfortunately the numbers aren't more recent, but with Carnival's food quality devaluation, I'm sure the number is significantly less.

 

The numbers you are looking for are very carefully guarded secrets in the cruise industry. The cruise lines are even reluctant to give them to each other.

 

The numbers do vary quite a bit as well, depending on ship, itinerary, and time of year.

 

Here is a general break-down, per passenger, per day:

 

Seabourn, Silver Sea - $24 - 26 per day

Oceania, Regent - $18 - 20 per day

Celebrity, Princess - $12 - 15 per day

RCCL, HAL - $12 - 13 per day

Carnival - $8 - 10 per day

NCL - $7.50 - 8.50 per day

 

Bear in mind that itinerary has a lot to do with these numbers:

 

Flying tons of food from USA to a ship in Europe is very expensive.

European Cruisers have paid substantially more for a cruise and have higher expectations. Their menus are usually pricier.

 

Caribbean Cruisers generally pay far less for a cruise. Their expectations are generally lower, so menus carry less expensive items. Loading food in the Caribbean is usually far less expensive as well.

 

Alaska Cruises are generally pricier, people eat more there and spend more time in the restaurants. Shipping and loading are more expensive in Alaska. Menus are generally higher cost on these itineraries.

 

Transatlantic cruisers eat far more than those on a "regular" cruise. This pushes costs about 50% higher.

 

Cruises with more sea days have far higher food costs than cruises that are port-intensive. It seems that when cruisers are not going ashore, they are eating, eating, eating.

 

Most passengers gorge themselves for the first 3 or 4 days of their cruise. When they finally realise that they are eating themselves sick, they back off a bit and eat more normally. As a result, food costs on a 3 or 4 day cruise are far higher than on longer cruises.

 

Repositioning cruises usually attract the bargain hunters. The mass market cruise lines just wants to break even on fuel costs to get the ship from the old itinerary to the new one. Most of the higher priced items disappear from these menus to cut costs.

 

By the way, there will be a percentage of readers on this board who will say that these numbers are impossible. Next time you want to complain about food quality on a ship, think about how they are able to sell you such a low priced vacation..................

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=22159681&postcount=4

[Cruisegirl6]

Carnival has better food no way unless.....you like hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers and all that fast food types.....oh lets not forget the meatloaf thats on the dinner menu too and all that other inexpensive type foods that you get on Carnival but NOT on Princess.

 

Here is a copy of one of the menu's of Caribbean Princess, if you say Carnivals is better than that it give me the days big laugh or the days most stunned moment.

 

http://www.beyondships2.com/uploads/8/2/4/5/8245255/dinner.pdf

Edited January 24, 2015 by lyndamr

[Cruisegirl6]

Carnival has better food no way unless.....you like hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers and all that fast food types.....oh and you never find meatloaf on princess for dinner and the flat iron steak which carnival offers is better than higher quality steaks!! No way!!

 

Here is a copy of one of the menu's of Caribbean Princess, if you say Carnivals is better than that it give me the days big laugh or the days most stunned moment.

 

http://www.beyondships2.com/uploads/8/2/4/5/8245255/dinner.pdf

Edited January 24, 2015 by lyndamr

[Pixelate]

Carnival has better food no way unless.....you like hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers and all that fast food types.....oh and you never find meatloaf on princess for dinner and the flat iron steak which carnival offers is better than higher quality steaks!! No way!!

 

Here is a copy of one of the menu's of Caribbean Princess, if you say Carnivals is better than that it give me the days big laugh or the days most stunned moment.

 

http://www.beyondships2.com/uploads/8/2/4/5/8245255/dinner.pdf

 

No offence, I think their 50th Anniversary formal night menu is terrible. It has become our new Crown Grill night.

[Cruisegirl6]

I don't know what you mean...show me if you can this menu?

[Pixelate]

I don't know what you mean...show me if you can this menu?

 

I took a picture on my recent cruise, but I'm not next to my phone or computer at the moment. I'll upload it in a bit for you.

[Cruisegirl6]

Thank you I like to see it.