I need help deciding between Celebrity and Princess

[TwoCruisers]

I am trying to decide if I should try Celebrity again. I have not been on Celebrity since a cruise on the Infinity in 2002. On my past five Celebrity cruises I found sea days boring, with nothing to do but sit and watch the ocean or spend time in the casino. I have found that Princess has lots of activities throughout the entire day. My question is, has Celebrity added day time activities? I have found a cruise on the Eclipse that I am interested in, but there are 5 sea days on the 14 day cruise. Princess has activities like: Trivia and other team games. Does Celebrity currently have day time activities like this?

[Iamcruzin]

I'm not much for activities but I think Princess has Celebrity beat on this. I have only been on one Celebrity sailing in 2013. Since then I have read threads and post on how Celebrity has cut down on their activity staff. Personally I found Celebrity less active than Princess.

[bobandalice]

I am trying to decide if I should try Celebrity again. I have not been on Celebrity since a cruise on the Infinity in 2002. On my past five Celebrity cruises I found sea days boring, with nothing to do but sit and watch the ocean or spend time in the casino. I have found that Princess has lots of activities throughout the entire day. My question is, has Celebrity added day time activities? I have found a cruise on the Eclipse that I am interested in, but there are 5 sea days on the 14 day cruise. Princess has activities like: Trivia and other team games. Does Celebrity currently have day time activities like this?

 

I was on a 14 day Eclipse cruise that had a bunch of sea days back in Feb of 2014. I must say that the ship is beautiful, the ports were awesome and the crew magnificent. But, it was quite subdued on sea days.

 

There was trivia that we hit up a few times and some art auctions and a few other activities that right now escape me as to what they were.

 

It's an older crowd especially that time of year (I am 62...draw your own conclusions :D ) and it was pretty laid back. But that can be good!

 

We have also done long Princess cruises and there are many more activities as I remember.

 

You can't beat the Eclipse, but if you are looking for action on a 14 day cruise, I think I'd lean more toward Princess.

 

That being said, we have an 11 day on the Equinox planned for next February.

 

I probably didn't help much. :rolleyes:

 

Have fun!

[Denny01]

Cruised both and Princess listed more activities. But I found more than a few of the Princess 'activities' to be infomercials such as a lecture on packing turned out to be just a commercial for that vacuum packer.

 

I've done a number of Large sea day cruises on Celebrity and found a lot to do each day. In fact my wife and I would pick things to do through the day and miss half of them. I'm not a big 'group activities' person so i'm probably not bothered by not a lot of those types.

 

I found the special lectures on Celebrity to be top notch.

 

I enjoy both Lines but Celebrity fits me better and I'm not the type who sits by the pool and read for extended times Very subjective on what is boring and what leasurly.

 

Den

Edited May 13, 2015 by Denny01

[wallie5446]

I am trying to decide if I should try Celebrity again. I have not been on Celebrity since a cruise on the Infinity in 2002. On my past five Celebrity cruises I found sea days boring, with nothing to do but sit and watch the ocean or spend time in the casino. I have found that Princess has lots of activities throughout the entire day. My question is, has Celebrity added day time activities? I have found a cruise on the Eclipse that I am interested in, but there are 5 sea days on the 14 day cruise. Princess has activities like: Trivia and other team games. Does Celebrity currently have day time activities like this?

 

Celebrity has cut back on day time activities in the last 18 months. So it will be even more boaring for you.

When were you last on Princess? We sailed the Ruby Nov 2012. Due to what the wifester feels was a very poor on board experience, she won't consider Princess again, our first sailing with them was in 1992. The Eclipse is one of the S-Class ships, and much different from the M-Class Infinity.

 

You should probably stay with Princess.

[gizmodog]

Go princess, celebrity is not what it once was, and I am elite on there line,

Edited May 13, 2015 by gizmodog

[OCruisers]

Celebrity is a perfectly nice cruise line but Princess is a much better "all around" fit for us.

There are more daytime activities on Princess and the bar/lounge entertainment in the evenings is way lots better on Princess. :)

LuLu

[ECCruise]

If you are trying to avoid activities that are nothing but sales promos, I sure wouldn't look to Celebrity. Currently, considerably more than half of their daily activities are exactly that. We found far more sales activity on Celebrity than on Princess and we've sailed both many times, and both in the last 3 months.

 

We don't need daily activities any more (seen them all numerous times) but it is something that you should be aware of.

[makkblin]

Princess on a Cruise from Miami to LA had the following on daytime

1) A financial planner who had 4 lectures

2) The most boring monotone expert talking for a solid 10 hours

while we went through the canal

Princess on a Polynesian cruise- nothing on days on the water

 

Celebrity on an Alaekan cruise

1) A expert on Alaska for those who wanted to hear the lectures

Celebrity- Carribean cruise 14 Days in March of 2015

1) Inside the White House a four series program by the Former Head

Of the Whitehouse visitors office.

2) a five lesson program on Apple IPhones, IPads and notebooks.

Learned a lot about how to really use IPhones and IPads.

 

While the Princess Minisuites offer more space, we'll take Celebrity Aqua Class and Blu every time. After spending over 40 years in the Food Service Industry

there is no comparison- Blu is much better.

As far as Internet connections On princess I could rarely connect,

On Celebrity I used up the full 90 minutes that each received for being

Elite.

One thing Princess Does right- Self service laundry. Air conditioned with

TV. When our cabin was over 90F the laundry was a comfortable 75F.

We've been on over 40 cruises starting in 1977.

Celebrity has become our Cruise Line of Choice even though I'm a Carnival

Corp. stockholder since the day they went public.

[cynbar]

We cruise both Celebrity and Princess, and there is no question in my mind that there is more to do on Princess, day and night. We enjoy Celebrity, but the focus is more on enjoying the company of your companions in an elegant, sedate atmosphere. Celebrity does offer very good food, excellent service and lovely ships -- but they have cut back on their activities staff and there were fewer activities to begin with. Evening entertainment is good but there is less of it than on Princess. If you are looking for things to keep you busy, better stick with Princess.

[miched]

I am not paid by any of the cruise lines to promote them.

 

Stick with the one you love. Changing may not be worth taking a chance of things being any better.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

[A1A]

I am not paid by any of the cruise lines to promote them.

 

Stick with the one you love. Changing may not be worth taking a chance of things being any better.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

 

What he said! :D

[Denny01]

If you are trying to avoid activities that are nothing but sales promos, I sure wouldn't look to Celebrity. Currently, considerably more than half of their daily activities are exactly that. We found far more sales activity on Celebrity than on Princess and we've sailed both many times, and both in the last 3 months.

 

We don't need daily activities any more (seen them all numerous times) but it is something that you should be aware of.

 

I'll kindly disagree based on our experience. We never went to the Port Lectures where all the Lines push their tours and shops they are connected to. But all the other lectures and activities weren't infomercial type. But we all have different experiences.

 

Celebrity is getting too pushy with pressing us to buy tickets to some wine tasting when we buy a glass, but on a Princess, we went to a wine tasting at which they then offered upgraded wines during the tasting fior an additional price. That's what I'm referring to.

 

We do enjoy some of the Celebrity lectures and activities, but we enjoy socializing with travel steps or new friends we meet.

 

Den

[richsea]

if you were bored on your prior Celebrity sailings, you'll probably still be bored on Celebrity,as not that much has changed. We enjoy both lines, & find that sea days on each are comparable. Our last Princess cruise was in November of 2014, & while they did have a larger activities staff than Celebrity by double, they still had only 2 trivia games on sea days, same as Celebrity.

[TwoCruisers]

Thank you everyone for your comments. I’ll have to think hard about this decision. The Celebrity 14 day itinerary is very tempting.

[wallie5446]

Thank you everyone for your comments. I’ll have to think hard about this decision. The Celebrity 14 day itinerary is very tempting.

 

Let the temptation go! You will be back telling us what a lousy decision it was because Celebrity was to laid back and boaring because they could not entertain you. Don't give in!

[PIGSKIN]

I would try one of them now then try the other next. Everybody's taste is different so you need to try for yourself. If you just stick with one--you will never know what's out there. Remember it's your choice.

[chromered7]

We are on Connie in July on a two week cruise in a balcony cabin. We have decided that this will be our last cruise with X as the quality experience has eroded and unless you book a suite you are no longer a priority. They, X , are destroying the reasons why we cruised with them before. We are open to try other cruise line one of which will be Princess.

 

 

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[ClaudiaB]

That 14-day cruise is fabulous. We have done it twice. We went into every port and did stuff all day every day. We're so busy on the port days that we really love just hanging out on the sea days. We hit the ground running early a.m. at home and go go go all day long, so honestly a few hours of just relaxing with no big agenda is not boring to us, it's relaxing and lovely. I'm never bored - but that's just me. If you need to have ship staff encouraging to you join in this that and the other then maybe a different line is for you. Honestly I'm glad that Celebrity doesn't do that. I can make my own schedule and plan my day just fine. Sitting on my balcony or somewhere out on deck or in the ship's beautiful areas with a good book is pure heaven.

 

Oh yeah, we even spend time exercising up in the spa area. So we can enjoy a bit more of the food and drink.

 

We love the ship and in our case we don't need to be constantly entertained. The sea days have always had good lectures and just enough trivia and classes (I signed up for the watercolor class and it was a blast). I'm one of those who can't have enough of the Hot Glass Show, so that 2-hour slot a couple times a day is fun for me.

 

Other things I've enjoyed are the passenger choir, the flash mob rehearsals, and watching the Texas Hold 'Em tournaments (yea for no smoking in the casino!!)

 

I hope you make the right decision for you - I just wanted to give you a different take on what you've gotten so far. I think if one goes into a cruise expecting to have a great time on a ship where you have no chores, no cooking, and your biggest decision of the day is which bar to enjoy a glass of *something* - then you're going to have a great time. If you anticipate boredom then maybe you will be. I have friends and family who'd give 'anything' to be bored on a 14 night cruise!

[CathyCruises]

We just did a 14 day TA on silhouette, there was trivia 3-4 times per day, multiple lectures ranging from Marilyn Monroe to the Trojan Wars, jewelry making classes, art classes (both free and for fee), wine tastings, movies in the theatre, elegant afternoon tea, etc.

 

I've been sailing Celebrity since 1995 and honestly don't see the drastic cutbacks being reported here. I can guarantee you that the Eclipse will be a WAY more beautiful ship than Princess, I was depressed the whole week on Sapphire due to the horrid decor, floor plans, and nasty public bathrooms.

[wendyatpml]

We were on a Princess cruise around the British Isles for 12 days in August. I think there were four sea days. I found that there was nothing to do other than possible elevator roulette. This is one reason that we will not go back on Princess.

[BosoxI]

if you were bored on your prior Celebrity sailings, you'll probably still be bored on Celebrity,as not that much has changed. We enjoy both lines, & find that sea days on each are comparable. Our last Princess cruise was in November of 2014, & while they did have a larger activities staff than Celebrity by double, they still had only 2 trivia games on sea days, same as Celebrity.

 

I am surprised and somewhat saddened to learn of the number of people who require constant stimulation in their lives. Bored? Kids can be bored and I'll understand it. Adults should have developed inner resources to carry them through life. Sad to say, many haven't done that. Celebrity or Princess, it's what an individual makes of the cruise. Happiness or misery awaits but the cruise line alone is not responsible.

[workstocruise]

We sailed on the Constellation in May 2013 and the Sapphire Princess in Sept 2013. The difference is night and day. Celebrity is so much better from the service to the food to the crew. We never saw any officers on the Sapphire but they were everywhere on the Connie. Princess' buffet is not nearly as good as Celebrity's but the MDR is comparable, however the homemade ice cream served everyday in the buffet on Celebrity cannot be beat. We are never bored on a cruise most times there is too much to do and Celebrity meets our needs. We leave in one week for a Med cruise on the Equinox and can't wait. Try both and see what fits you. For us, it's now Celebrity.

[MustBCruzn]

That 14-day cruise is fabulous. We have done it twice. We went into every port and did stuff all day every day. We're so busy on the port days that we really love just hanging out on the sea days. We hit the ground running early a.m. at home and go go go all day long, so honestly a few hours of just relaxing with no big agenda is not boring to us, it's relaxing and lovely. I'm never bored - but that's just me. If you need to have ship staff encouraging to you join in this that and the other then maybe a different line is for you. Honestly I'm glad that Celebrity doesn't do that. I can make my own schedule and plan my day just fine. Sitting on my balcony or somewhere out on deck or in the ship's beautiful areas with a good book is pure heaven.

 

Oh yeah, we even spend time exercising up in the spa area. So we can enjoy a bit more of the food and drink.

 

We love the ship and in our case we don't need to be constantly entertained. The sea days have always had good lectures and just enough trivia and classes (I signed up for the watercolor class and it was a blast). I'm one of those who can't have enough of the Hot Glass Show, so that 2-hour slot a couple times a day is fun for me.

 

Other things I've enjoyed are the passenger choir, the flash mob rehearsals, and watching the Texas Hold 'Em tournaments (yea for no smoking in the casino!!)

 

I hope you make the right decision for you - I just wanted to give you a different take on what you've gotten so far. I think if one goes into a cruise expecting to have a great time on a ship where you have no chores, no cooking, and your biggest decision of the day is which bar to enjoy a glass of *something* - then you're going to have a great time. If you anticipate boredom then maybe you will be. I have friends and family who'd give 'anything' to be bored on a 14 night cruise!

 

Ditto, ditto, ditto. Couldn't have said it any better! :D

[Muushka]

Princess on a Cruise from Miami to LA had the following on daytime

1) A financial planner who had 4 lectures

2) The most boring monotone expert talking for a solid 10 hours

while we went through the canal

Princess on a Polynesian cruise- nothing on days on the water

 

Celebrity on an Alaekan cruise

1) A expert on Alaska for those who wanted to hear the lectures

Celebrity- Carribean cruise 14 Days in March of 2015

1) Inside the White House a four series program by the Former Head

Of the Whitehouse visitors office.

2) a five lesson program on Apple IPhones, IPads and notebooks.

Learned a lot about how to really use IPhones and IPads.

 

While the Princess Minisuites offer more space, we'll take Celebrity Aqua Class and Blu every time. After spending over 40 years in the Food Service Industry

there is no comparison- Blu is much better.

As far as Internet connections On princess I could rarely connect,

On Celebrity I used up the full 90 minutes that each received for being

Elite.

One thing Princess Does right- Self service laundry. Air conditioned with

TV. When our cabin was over 90F the laundry was a comfortable 75F.

We've been on over 40 cruises starting in 1977.

Celebrity has become our Cruise Line of Choice even though I'm a Carnival

Corp. stockholder since the day they went public.

 

What?? Sorry, you said a lot of interesting things in your post, but your cabin was over 90F????:eek:

 

if you were bored on your prior Celebrity sailings, you'll probably still be bored on Celebrity,as not that much has changed. We enjoy both lines, & find that sea days on each are comparable. Our last Princess cruise was in November of 2014, & while they did have a larger activities staff than Celebrity by double, they still had only 2 trivia games on sea days, same as Celebrity.

 

Just to be clear, are you saying that they only had 2 games of trivia on sea days (only?)?

On all of the X cruises we have been on, we have had trivia at least twice a day on all days (sea, port...)

 

Ah trivia. I believe this particular activity has suffered with the cut backs.

I guess because the activities employees are being stretched too far, trivia for me is no longer enjoyable. The games don't seem to have any thought given as to the questions and themes. My husband loves it and I enjoyed playing with him and meeting new people. But in thinking about our next cruise, I'm going to find something else to do. It's a big beautiful ship!

(I'll still play the progressive trivia though):D