Comparing Princess and Celebrity

[Bimmer09]

Bimmer09....that picture of the Sky Lounge is one of the numerous reasons I think Celebrity Solstice Class ships blow away Princess Royal Class. I think it's a shame Princess didn't put any lounges on their new ships with a view like that.

 

No argument here. The gym on the Grand Class ships gets the view that people in the Sky Lounge get!

 

The Royal design to me is a series of miss-steps....but don't get me started!

 

Thanks for the comment.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Happy Birthday. Thanks for all your hard work.

 

Thank you for the good wishes!

 

My celebrations started at midnight when the good townsfolk of Chicago laid down their guns to gather under my window and sing Richard Wagner's beautiful "Wach Auf" (Wake up) chorus illuminated by torchlight.

 

They do this each year and yet I am still touched.

 

When it was over I wiped the tears from my eyes and told them to "get back to your shooting".

 

The gunfire was the closest I got to a fireworks tribute.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Happy birthday Norris!

 

Hope you've enjoyed a great day celebrating.

Enjoying the comparison review here.

Best wishes to you .

 

🎉🍷🎁🎂🎈🛳☕️

 

Thank you Beth! Cake, balloons, wine and coffee? Quite the spread!

 

Cheers,

 

Norris

[Gettingwarmer]

No argument here. The gym on the Grand Class ships gets the view that people in the Sky Lounge get!

 

The Royal design to me is a series of miss-steps....but don't get me started!

 

Thanks for the comment.

 

Norris

 

The P&O ship Britannia (same class as Royal and Regal) has the Crows Nest bar at the front where Royal and Regal have cabins so it can be done.

 

[scorchestra]

Chris-thank you!

 

A day of treats ahead-

 

Lunch at our favorite tapas restaurant

 

An evening at the Opera

 

Indian food for supper.

 

Cheers,

 

Norris

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NORRIS! I hope you have a great celebration! So, what opera are you going to? : )

[lor74]

Happy birthday [emoji512][emoji482]

[Bimmer09]

As is the case in the Celebrity Atrium (which actually has a real tree) the Princess central hub, the Piazza, has waiter service where you can have a drink and listen to a band and dance if you want but it's on marble. You can watch jugglers and unicyclists and acrobats but they are difficult to dance to.You'll se the Piazza later when we have the Central Hub Shootout.

 

At the top of the Piazza is the very popular Crooners- a piano bar

 

 

Crooners has no walls or doors so people will be walking past as you sip (chug?) your Martini.

 

 

It has an intimate Nightclub feel

 

 

A room that does have walls and doors and a wooden dance floor is the large Wheelhouse Bar

 

It has a Nautical Theme and draws ship nerds like myself

 

 

Comfy Gentleman's Club furniture

 

 

There's a bandstand and look! a polished wooden floor to show your best moves as you Foxtrot, Waltz and Paso Doble. I don't dance but I like to see those who do catered for.

 

 

More.....

[richsea]

[quote name=mkazmer;49147257....

 

Comparing the M class ships to the Grand class ships of Princess' date=' for us Princess wins hands down. The Piazza is wonderful with the International Cafe and all that goes on there. The M class has nothing like that. We don't eat in the buffet, so the IC is perfect for us for some meals. Anytime dining on Princess is so easy - on Celebrity a chore (and you have to pre-pay gratuties). The flow of the Grand class ships makes us feel that there aren't that many people on board - and the adult pools on Princess (aft and forward) are lovely. I could go on and on, but the bottom line for us is that Princess is now our cruise line of choice.[/quote]

 

Hate to break in on Norris' fabulous comparison, but I thought I'd chime in. While the M class does not a piazza, the S class ships do. You no longer have to prepay tips for Select dining on Celebrity. We find anytime dining experience much the same on both; I think it depends on the sailing.

Funny you mention the flow of the Grand class; the one thing we don't care for is the "can't get there from here" obstacles on those ships. Like Norris, we feel there's much to like on both lines!

Now back to our regularly scheduled comparison!

[helen haywood]

Norris, I don't know what miracle of lighting you performed to get the Ensemble Lounge that bright!! I feel I need a seeing eye dog to pass through that area...

[Bimmer09]

The P&O ship Britannia (same class as Royal and Regal) has the Crows Nest bar at the front where Royal and Regal have cabins so it can be done.

 

 

Yes it can.

 

When they designed the Royal I would have thought a conversation like this should have taken place before talking to the architect....

 

Why do people cruise with us-we don't have any waterparks, jungle gyms, lawns or ski slopes?

 

Um, we must have people who are interested on being on a classic ship and looking at the sea. (murmuring)

 

What can we give them?

 

Instead we got...

 

I think we should do away with the wraparound promenade decks and just have a couple of open air platforms with some furniture and cushions that can get wet.

This way the sea sniffers will have to come inside and buy a drink. They can walk up top and get a sunburn if they want.

 

I second that-those people standing on the bow doing their Leonardo di Caprio impressions are not spending. Could we put some slots machines out there?

Hey- if they want to see what's up ahead let's make them pay to use the Sanctuary for the privilege!

 

I say we lessen the number of pools and put a water and light show up there so that when it's windy the folks will get soaked and come inside for a drink. Ca-ching!

 

How's about we just load up the stern with more balcony cabins and forget the suites back there? We can always change our minds when the ship has already been built and just knock two balconies together into hastily-arranged suites. (this actually happened)

 

How's about we shrink the balconies? (applause)

 

Just a few of the things I don't like about the Royal Class.

 

Norris

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

Norris, I don't know what miracle of lighting you performed to get the Ensemble Lounge that bright!! I feel I need a seeing eye dog to pass through that area...

 

Yes, Helen, at night it's a coal mine so I took the pic in the daytime.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NORRIS! I hope you have a great celebration! So, what opera are you going to? : )

 

Hi again- it's the dreadfully long Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss (whose symphonic music I adore especially Death and Transfiguration.)

 

This one needs an editor.

 

Thanks for the birthday wishes!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Happy birthday [emoji512][emoji482]

 

Thank you!

 

The balloon animal Clown will be here in ten minutes!!

 

Norris

[hllwdcruiser]

Happy Birthday Bimmer!

 

I envy you eating some good Indian food in Chicago (I lived there for 10 years many eons ago). Chicken curry made with Sharwood's hot curry powder is a staple in my household....along with some homemade chutney and freshly made popodums. :)

 

What are you planning to have tonight? Please include some photos tomorrow if you are so inclined... ;)

[Cruise Junky]

Yes it can.

 

When they designed the Royal I would have thought a conversation like this should have taken place before talking to the architect....

 

Why do people cruise with us-we don't have any waterparks, jungle gyms, lawns or ski slopes?

 

Um, we must have people who are interested on being on a classic ship and looking at the sea. (murmuring)

 

What can we give them?

 

Instead we got...

 

I think we should do away with the wraparound promenade decks and just have a couple of open air platforms with some furniture and cushions that can get wet.

This way the sea sniffers will have to come inside and buy a drink. They can walk up top and get a sunburn if they want.

 

I second that-those people standing on the bow doing their Leonardo di Caprio impressions are not spending. Could we put some slots machines out there?

Hey- if they want to see what's up ahead let's make them pay to use the Sanctuary for the privilege!

 

I say we lessen the number of pools and put a water and light show up there so that when it's windy the folks will get soaked and come inside for a drink. Ca-ching!

 

How's about we just load up the stern with more balcony cabins and forget the suites back there? We can always change our minds when the ship has already been built and just knock two balconies together into hastily-arranged suites. (this actually happened)

 

How's about we shrink the balconies? (applause)

 

Just a few of the things I don't like about the Royal Class.

 

Norris

 

 

 

 

 

LOL...this could be the best summary of Royal I've read :)

[midwestchick]

Yes, Helen, at night it's a coal mine so I took the pic in the daytime.

 

Norris

 

 

We loved the Ensemble Lounge on Sillhouette. Indra from Indonesia was our favorite bartender. Is he still there?

[Lin336]

Norris, so glad you are doing the comparison. Mike & I enjoy cruising both Princess and Celebrity. We also very much enjoy your reviews and look forward to reading more!!!

 

Linda & Mike

[donswife]

Happy Birthday Norris! I just popped open a cyber Guinness for you!

[Bimmer09]

Happy Birthday Bimmer!

 

I envy you eating some good Indian food in Chicago (I lived there for 10 years many eons ago). Chicken curry made with Sharwood's hot curry powder is a staple in my household....along with some homemade chutney and freshly made popodums. :)

 

What are you planning to have tonight? Please include some photos tomorrow if you are so inclined... ;)

 

Thanks for the birthday greeting!

 

I have been eating the same Indian dish for over 30 years since I discovered it in London, the capital of India.The first time I ordered it, it was called Lamb Phal (like vindaloo but one more on the danger scale).The waiter asked me "Are you sure?". Yes I am. When it came to the table and I started eating (and sweating) I looked up and there were two faces watching me from those kitchen door portholes. LOL! I never order anything else since I left London.

 

Lamb Vindaloo ordered Indian Hot as I like to break out into a sweat, and have my nose and eyes run at the same time.

 

Basmati rice, mango chutney and a ridiculous number of papadums (Masala Papad). Keema Nan to wipe up the plate with. (Keema is Nan stuffed with a thin layer of finely minced lamb in case you are not familiar)

 

Carol's go-to is Chicken Tikka done in a Tandoori oven.

 

Our starter is usually Aloo Gobhi-potatoes and cauliflower spiced up nice.

 

I wash it down with a cold crisp Czech beer.

 

Alas I don't take food photos at home.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

We loved the Ensemble Lounge on Sillhouette. Indra from Indonesia was our favorite bartender. Is he still there?

 

Alas, I never drank there.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris, so glad you are doing the comparison. Mike & I enjoy cruising both Princess and Celebrity. We also very much enjoy your reviews and look forward to reading more!!!

 

Linda & Mike

 

Thank you Linda and Mike!

 

This is a big project I have taken on but it's also reminding me what I like about both lines as I rummage through 10,000 photos.

 

I'm glad you are reading along.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Happy Birthday Norris! I just popped open a cyber Guinness for you!

 

Thank you- it is nice and cold and has a shamrock etched in the suds.

 

Nice!

 

Norris

[Gettingwarmer]

You are right. I love sitting on a large Caribe balcony and watching the sea. That's why I go on ships, to see the sea and new countries. I don't want a hotel on the water.

 

Princess is my cruise company of choice but often go on P&O. Cruised on Celebrity Millennium some years ago and will be on the Eclipse in April. Love reading your comparison.

Edited February 20, 2016 by Gettingwarmer

[Bimmer09]

For stand-up comedy shows, string quartet recitals and pop bands we next stop at Explorer's Lounge which is open on one side where the deck 7 walkway is. It holds 280 people in comfy armchairs. Waiters work the room.

 

 

 

Moving to the stern on deck 7 (Promenade deck) is another 280 seat venue called Club Fusion

 

Live pop and dance bands play here. It's also the scene for Karaoke contests.

 

 

Look at this shiny wooden floor! Do ya wanna dance?

 

 

It's huge!

 

 

Wait-there's more!...

[charlie52]

Norris, we are so enjoying your reviews and comparisons of Celebrity and Princess. We switched over to Celebrity years ago because of their strict smoking policy. My wife is very sensitive to smoke. I like to play blackjack after dinner and the smoke in the casino was just too much for her. Other than that we really enjoyed Princess. I realize that you are a smoker, so you may not be able to answer, but I am wondering if any of the policies have changed. I must say that I am also spoiled to dining in BLU and the thought of a MDR experience does not rank very high. Are their other venues for dining on Princess or just specialty restaurants? Would we need to book a suite and if we did does that change the dining experience? Thanks again for the comparison. We are toying with going back to Princess mainly because of the itineraries.