Help choosing between Princess and Celebrity

[20165]

Hi, we are trying to decide between Princess Sky and Celebrity Apex over the Christmas holiday this year.  Week before to be exact.  Im posting this in the Princess forum because we cruised Celebrity twice last year so we are pretty familiar with that experience where we havent cruised Princess since 2000ish...  From what we remember, we liked the experience, but if any of you that maybe cruise both, can you give us your preference on one or the other?  Both seem pretty comparable and we are ok with both itineraries.  We are cruising with our 2 sons, 20-17 in their own cabin and wife and i in an adjoining or next door. Mini suites for both.  Celebrity we are looking at a balconies and not the infinity varanda.  We had that last cruise and weren't huge fans. 

We liked the Celebrity experience and the kids did as well given they are old enough to enjoy a more adult experience vs. the RCL and NCL cruises we took prior.  Basically i think we have all outgrown those cruise lines are are looking for a more laid back upscale experience. 

[mtnesterz]

If "laid back," is what you want, Princess is better than NCL or Carnival, but X wins on that criteria.

"Upscale," you say? Relative to NCL and Carnival, yes, but that's a word I would more apply to Oceania and Azamara. Princess has more recently been engaged in upcharging, nickle and diming, which I do not associate with upscale lines.

What might frustrate you is that many things have changed about Princess in over a decade. Princess cruising is more complicated. You'll be spending your time learning new technology and quirks you already know on X. It is great to cruise with your sons. This is perhaps the last you will all vacation together as they move forward in life, marriage, college...

As you become empty-nesters too you may find you outgrow Princess. We are Elite, but with two more cruises booked with Princess, we will then move on to Windstar, Oceania, Azamara.

Edited April 9, 2023 by mtnesterz

[roxievegas]

In the beginning we only booked Celebrity.

Now only Princess - we are going out of L.A. and Celebrity does not offer many cruises

 

1.  pick which has the best itinerary for what you want to see

2.  Cost  (we count our pennies)

3.  I find Celebrity more upscale (my opinion)  

[Lady Arwen]

If you enjoy the casino on Celebrity then you may not love the casinos on Princess.  Smoking is allowed and it’s overpowering!  Just walking through the casino is nauseating.  Celebrity for a big win!

 

Food on Celebrity is better, now that Princess has cut back on quality.  Celebrity wins.

 

Mini suites on Princess are quite nice with a large bathroom tub/shower combo.  I prefer the large glass showers on Celebrity.  Standard Princess cabins, interior, ocean view and balconies, are very basic.  Bathrooms are tiny with shower curtains.  Celebrity wins.

Entertainment on Celebrity is very good.  Entertainment on Princess is okay.  

 

Celebrity has the Solarium, free to all adults with covered pool and  Aqua Spa Cafe for light meals or snacks.  Princess does not have anything like this without a fee for use.  Celebrity wins.

 

Service is equal, both very good.

 

Celebrity has a more upscale feel.  Princess is more traditional.

 

Princess does have some itineraries that are preferable.  Princess does Alaska better in terms of ports.  We love Southampton for British Isles cruises on Princess.
 

Princess is usually quite a bit less expensive than Celebrity.  Edge class is very expensive, compared to Princess.  

 

Will you enjoy Princess?  Probably, you will.  As much as Celebrity?  Only you know what is important to your family.

 

Wishing you happy sailings on whichever ship you choose.

 

 

Edited April 9, 2023 by Lady Arwen

[Steelers36]

35 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

If you enjoy the casino on Celebrity then you may not love the casinos on Princess.  Smoking is allowed and it’s overpowering!  Just walking through the casino is nauseating.  Celebrity for a big win!

 

Food on Celebrity is better, now that Princess has cut back on quality.  Celebrity wins.

 

Mini suites on Princess are quite nice with a large bathroom tub/shower combo.  I prefer the large glass showers on Celebrity.  Standard Princess cabins, interior, ocean view and balconies, are very basic.  Bathrooms are tiny with shower curtains.  Celebrity wins.

Entertainment on Celebrity is very good.  Entertainment on Princess is okay.  

 

Celebrity has the Solarium, free to all adults with covered pool and  Aqua Spa Cafe for light meals or snacks.  Princess does not have anything like this without a fee for use.  Celebrity wins.

 

Service is equal, both very good.

 

Celebrity has a more upscale feel.  Princess is more traditional.

 

Princess does have some itineraries that are preferable.  Princess does Alaska better in terms of ports.  We love Southampton for British Isles cruises on Princess.
 

Princess is usually quite a bit less expensive than Celebrity.  Edge class is very expensive, compared to Princess.  

 

Will you enjoy Princess?  Probably, you will.  As much as Celebrity?  Only you know what is important to your family.

 

Wishing you happy sailings on whichever ship you choose.

 

 

Excellent list.  I would add one more. 

 

Celebrity has long tossed away the requirement/request (whatever you want to call it) to dress formally.  See it here:  https://www.celebritycruises.com/faqs/onboard-dress-code

 

All Princess need do is change a few words and what they post would more align with what they practice.  Most certainly, the OP can dress the same on Princess as they would on Celebrity and have no concerns whether they go more or less casual/formal.  It's just that Princess is not very clear about it and X delivers it up very elegantly without confusion.  Translation:  X wins on paper, but you don't need worry about much difference in practice.

[Lady Arwen]

2 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Excellent list.  I would add one more. 

 

Celebrity has long tossed away the requirement/request (whatever you want to call it) to dress formally.  See it here:  https://www.celebritycruises.com/faqs/onboard-dress-code

 

All Princess need do is change a few words and what they post would more align with what they practice.  Most certainly, the OP can dress the same on Princess as they would on Celebrity and have no concerns whether they go more or less casual/formal.  It's just that Princess is not very clear about it and X delivers it up very elegantly without confusion.  Translation:  X wins on paper, but you don't need worry about much difference in practice.

Let me say, as a longtime Celebrity cruiser, guests on Celebrity really don’t need to be told what to wear, they know what’s appropriate.  The issue on Princess with shorts and ball caps is a total non issue on Celebrity, it just never happens.  
Dress codes aside, both Celebrity and Princess offer a good product which appeals to most people.  We prefer the Celebrity experience, but lots of people prefer Princess.  Lots of choices out there to choose from and  we are so lucky to have the luxury of being able to enjoy cruise vacations.  I’m sure the OP will enjoy whichever cruise they choose.

[marne-c]

Interesting thread!  Thanks to all.

 

My wife and I had many happy sailings on Celebrity in years past.  But 2-3 years back, I had read here on CC that a new Celebrity CEO had brought in the bean counters, causing service to suffer.  Since then, I have been avoiding Celebrity.

 

Now, after reading the posts here, especially @Lady Arwen's, it seems that I should re-think Celebrity.  In our last couple of cruises on Princess, the bean counters efforts there sadly had been much in evidence.

 

 

--Marne

 

[Lady Arwen]

2 minutes ago, marne-c said:

Interesting thread!  Thanks to all.

 

My wife and I had many happy sailings on Celebrity in years past.  But 2-3 years back, I had read here on CC that a new Celebrity CEO had brought in the bean counters, causing service to suffer.  Since then, I have been avoiding Celebrity.

 

Now, after reading the posts here, especially @Lady Arwen's, it seems that I should re-think Celebrity.  In our last couple of cruises on Princess, the bean counters efforts there sadly had been much in evidence.

 

 

--Marne

 

Service on Celebrity is stellar, so please don’t worry.  Edge Class ships are wonderful.  We’re sailing on Celebrity Ascent in 2024, with one of the brothers at the helm.  Captain Kate is still Master of Celebrity Beyond and she makes every cruise so special.  Wishing you safe and happy sailings in the future.

[Ken the cruiser]

We like both Celebrity and Princess, mostly because there is always a variety of fun things to do in the evenings and on sea days on both lines. In fact, we're boarding the Celebrity Eclipse in a little over a week to go on a 33-day transpacific cruise from Sydney to Vancouver. Then in July we're going on a 17-day Japan B2B circumnavigation cruise on the Diamond Princess, both of which I'll be posting our adventures in Live From threads. If you would like to see some photos from our recent Celebrity Summit (Aug 2022) and Regal Princess (July 2022) cruises, I've added my Live From threads from both in my below signature.

[Torfamm]

Not sure how long your cruise will be but one thing that hasn’t been mentioned is that Princess offers self-service laundry. I think it’s and advantage on longer trips. We hate sending our laundry out

[Lady Arwen]

1 minute ago, Torfamm said:

Not sure how long your cruise will be but one thing that hasn’t been mentioned is that Princess offers self-service laundry. I think it’s and advantage on longer trips. We hate sending our laundry out

That is certainly an advantage for Princess cruisers.  However, not many guests on Celebrity ships are interested in doing their own laundry.  I refuse to do laundry on vacation and have no problem letting ship personnel take care of it.  Just my own preference.

[Jagggg]

1 hour ago, Lady Arwen said:

If you enjoy the casino on Celebrity then you may not love the casinos on Princess.  Smoking is allowed and it’s overpowering!  Just walking through the casino is nauseating.  Celebrity for a big win!

 

Food on Celebrity is better, now that Princess has cut back on quality.  Celebrity wins.

 

Mini suites on Princess are quite nice with a large bathroom tub/shower combo.  I prefer the large glass showers on Celebrity.  Standard Princess cabins, interior, ocean view and balconies, are very basic.  Bathrooms are tiny with shower curtains.  Celebrity wins.

Entertainment on Celebrity is very good.  Entertainment on Princess is okay.  

 

Celebrity has the Solarium, free to all adults with covered pool and  Aqua Spa Cafe for light meals or snacks.  Princess does not have anything like this without a fee for use.  Celebrity wins.

 

Service is equal, both very good.

 

Celebrity has a more upscale feel.  Princess is more traditional.

 

Princess does have some itineraries that are preferable.  Princess does Alaska better in terms of ports.  We love Southampton for British Isles cruises on Princess.
 

Princess is usually quite a bit less expensive than Celebrity.  Edge class is very expensive, compared to Princess.  

 

Will you enjoy Princess?  Probably, you will.  As much as Celebrity?  Only you know what is important to your family.

 

Wishing you happy sailings on whichever ship you choose.

 

 

100 Percent agree with what you wrote. Great answer.

[Torfamm]

4 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

That is certainly an advantage for Princess cruisers.  However, not many guests on Celebrity ships are interested in doing their own laundry.  I refuse to do laundry on vacation and have no problem letting ship personnel take care of it.  Just my own preference.

Absolutely an individual choice. I am just too afraid of having things damaged by hot water or commercial dryers. For anything up to two weeks, I am with you. I generally just pack enough that laundry isn’t an issue regardless. 

[MissP22]

.

[Lady Arwen]

I’ve found that all you have to do is request cold water, light dry, hang to dry, whatever your preference is, they will accommodate you.  You can stuff a lot of clothes in those laundry bags!  We send out once per week (at about $20 per bag for most passengers).  We are Elite+ on Celebrity, so laundry and dry cleaning are complimentary.  Big perk!

[Perky1]

We find the people, both staff and passengers are more friendly on Princess than Celebrity.  I also find the atmosphere and decor on Princess warmer and more inviting. JMO

[Torfamm]

3 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

I’ve found that all you have to do is request cold water, light dry, hang to dry, whatever your preference is, they will accommodate you.  You can stuff a lot of clothes in those laundry bags!  We send out once per week (at about $20 per bag for most passengers).  We are Elite+ on Celebrity, so laundry and dry cleaning are complimentary.  Big perk!

Thanks for the encouragement! Maybe I’ll give it a try one day. We are elite on Celebrity so we do each get a bag of laundry each cruise. Up until now I’ve only sent socks 😎

[LACruiser88]

Here's a prior thread on same topic with many responses.

 

 

 

[Mike07]

16 minutes ago, Perky1 said:

We find the people, both staff and passengers are more friendly on Princess than Celebrity.  I also find the atmosphere and decor on Princess warmer and more inviting. JMO

 

That's actually a subtle and accurate point I've noticed as well. You explained a nuanced point in so few words.

 

@OP

Princess is good, though I have found the breakfast and lunch options to be far too repetitive lately. I don't know how I would manage on a Princess world cruise. I have a friend deployed on a carrier right now and her complaint is that the food is the same old, same old, but you never go hungry, and that's what I feel like Princess breakfast and lunch are.

[Lady Arwen]

49 minutes ago, Perky1 said:

We find the people, both staff and passengers are more friendly on Princess than Celebrity.  I also find the atmosphere and decor on Princess warmer and more inviting. JMO

Interesting, indeed.  My DH and I were just saying the exact opposite!  I think perspective is the correct word.  We find Princess cruises to be a tad boring, although the staff and crew are lovely.  To each their own. 

 

[reedprincess]

2 hours ago, marne-c said:

Interesting thread!  Thanks to all.

 

My wife and I had many happy sailings on Celebrity in years past.  But 2-3 years back, I had read here on CC that a new Celebrity CEO had brought in the bean counters, causing service to suffer.  Since then, I have been avoiding Celebrity.

 

Now, after reading the posts here, especially @Lady Arwen's, it seems that I should re-think Celebrity.  In our last couple of cruises on Princess, the bean counters efforts there sadly had been much in evidence.

 

 

--Marne

 

Be very prepared for the nickel and diming, and string class system, on Celebrity.

The changes that took place in January 2023 are painful, to say the least:

 

$9.95+18% gratuity for any and all room service except continental breakfast, unless you're in a suite. And very limited room service menu at all. Room Service is still 100% complimentary delivery on Princess, larger menu, with a few items that have an upcharge (sushi, steak and fries, specialty restaurant items). Also, Princess has their Ocean Now, which can get room service items delivered anywhere on the ship.

 

$17.99+18% gratuity for an additional lobster tail at dinner, unless you're in a suite. 1 tail, that's it, unless you want to pay $20+ extra. Still unlimited on Princess. 

 

Martini Bar martinis are now all $1 over the Premium package limits on Celebrity. They'll  make the smaller pours so they're covered, but why raise the price of the drink packages so drastically, then raise the price of drinks to be over the limits?  Fortunately, packages are still unlimited on Celebrity..Our Feb cruise had a lot of shortages though, about a third of the Martini Bar martinis couldn't be made or had substitutions, whole brands were out at different bars, etc. 

 

Limited dining hours. Buffet is closed for different hours during the day, and Le Grand Bistro, Aqua Spa, etc all had limited hours. If you wanted a snack around 4/4:30, it was pizza, a burger or room service. If you're a late riser, nothing between 10 and 12 except room service. Buffet opens for dinner at 5:30 or 6pm, so nothing there except pizza from 4-6.

Cafe al Bacio only has desserts, no savory snacks like IC, and not 24/7.

Versus Princess buffet open continuously from 6am to 10pm. International Cafe 24/7. Lido deck options til 10 at night (and the grill has a lot more options that Celebrity's grill). 

 

Our Feb cruise was short staffed, much more so than the Regal cruise 2 weeks beforehand.

 

Filet available on the kids menu every night on Celebrity (little known secret). 

Celebrity menus are much more extensive than Princess, even with the big cutbacks over December and January.

 

"Sommeliers" on Apex we're glorified bartenders, except one in Cosmopolitan. And a bit annoying that wait staff couldn't take any drink orders, had to go through sommelier, which meant long delays - even when we brought our own wines.  Bonus though, no corkage fee if you have a drink package.

 

The Retreat takes up a lot of deck space - only one outdoor pool for non-Retreat guests and the chair situation was ridiculous. Fortunately, a couple awesome deck staff who very much policed the towel game.  

The solarium is lovely, but the chlorine smell gets too much at times and have to leave. Losing so much deck space to Retreat guests only really shows at times.. 

 

The no smoking casino is amazing. No complaints, although higher table limits than Princess.  

 

Shows are fantastic, we always go on Celebrity, rarely on Princess. 

 

Lots of differences. Overall, we'd sail either depending on itinerary. But the Celebrity product of even 2022 is quite different now, and loads more extra charges, etc. We'd sail Princess first, itinerary being similar.  Lots less extra onboard charges, and not so many restrictions, plus - so far - less class system... 

 

Those Edge class ships are spectacular though.. 

[Texter2]

Concur with above. We generally choose for itinerary and can find enjoyable itineraries on both lines. 

 

Love the new Celebrity edge class ships. Hoping to try new Sun Princess in Fall of 2024. Preference to Celebrity for food quality, except for three (or maybe four) cheese pizza on Princess. Do like being able to wash clothes on Princess without paying $49 (was the cost for “special” on day 10 of 14) for one bag.   

 

 

[deultgen]

6 hours ago, 20165 said:

Hi, we are trying to decide between Princess Sky and Celebrity Apex over the Christmas holiday this year.  Week before to be exact.  Im posting this in the Princess forum because we cruised Celebrity twice last year so we are pretty familiar with that experience where we havent cruised Princess since 2000ish...  From what we remember, we liked the experience, but if any of you that maybe cruise both, can you give us your preference on one or the other?  Both seem pretty comparable and we are ok with both itineraries.  We are cruising with our 2 sons, 20-17 in their own cabin and wife and i in an adjoining or next door. Mini suites for both.  Celebrity we are looking at a balconies and not the infinity varanda.  We had that last cruise and weren't huge fans. 

We liked the Celebrity experience and the kids did as well given they are old enough to enjoy a more adult experience vs. the RCL and NCL cruises we took prior.  Basically i think we have all outgrown those cruise lines are are looking for a more laid back upscale experience. 

 

If you are looking for "laid back and upscale" I think you would be happy with both.

 

We have sailed both lines multiple times.  Both lines offer excellent service and amenities we like.

 

We generally prefer Celebrity.  I think Celebrity has a more upscale feel to their ships both public areas and staterooms, better food, and excellent entertainment.  

 

The past two cruises we looked at comparable cruises (same dates and itineraries) and found in  both cases the Princess cruise was FAR less expensive.  

 

So if the cruises you are looking at are similar in price, I would choose the Celebrity.   

[UpcountryTravelers]

We have sailed both Princess and Celebrity.  (and 4 other lines, which do not make the top cut).  Our favorite is Princess, with Celebrity a close second.  Itinerary comes first (our last cruise was Princess, our next is Celebrity).  They are similar in many ways.  One better in one way, the other in another. A lot is about personal preferences. However, Celebrity is significantly more expensive, especially in onboard costs. (A favorite drink of mine is $8 on Princess and $12 on Celebrity, for example.)

  Now that we have done 36 cruises, my feeling is that Princess is comfortable and upscale, Celebrity is interesting and upscale. Both provide a great vacation. (The other 4?  Royal Caribbean is acceptable, Disney is great with grandkids, we have outgrown Carnival, and MSC is "not no, but HELL no".)

[20165]

Thanks for the great info everyone.  Sounds like both are a step up from the mainstream, RCL, NCL, etc.  Sorry if i misused upscale, what i really meant was a step up from they other mainstream lines.

So it sounds like X is a bit better than Princess in most opinions, but given the cabin types, Mini suite on princess vs. veranda on X, i think that may be the deciding factor.

It’s only a 7 day cruise so laundry isn’t really an issue and we aren’t gamblers so smoking in the casino isn’t an issue.  We do like getting dressed for dinner so its a bummer that its not as formal on Princess.  

Anyway, great info everyone, thanks again.