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Aerial shot of Celebrity Apex in the Bahamas
Celebrity Apex in the Bahamas (Photo: VitaminSea53/Cruise Critic member)

Celebrity Cruises vs. Princess Cruises: A Cruise Line Comparison

Aerial shot of Celebrity Apex in the Bahamas
Celebrity Apex in the Bahamas (Photo: VitaminSea53/Cruise Critic member)
Contributor
Jason Leppert

Last updated
Mar 7, 2024

Read time
11 min read

Both Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises offer passengers an upscale cruise experience, adding modern accents and value to the typical onboard offerings. But, how do you decide between the two cruise lines?

Celebrity's ships are chic, swanky and, most recently, “edgy.” Young entrepreneurs, foodies and up-and-coming power couples gravitate towards the line's urbane onboard atmosphere and appreciate its partnership with brands like Apple and celebrity chefs such as Daniel Boulud.

Princess' ships take a more traditional yet still sophisticated approach, offering fresh trademarked Medallion (wearable) technology, fine dining from Rudi Sodamin and activities developed alongside Discovery Channel. Families, couples and friend groups of all ages can appreciate the line's simple refinement.

To help you decide which cruise line is the right fit for you, Cruise Critic pits Celebrity vs. Princess in a number of categories.

Celebrity vs. Princess: In a Nutshell

Caribbean Princess (Photo: Princess Cruises)
Caribbean Princess (Photo: Princess Cruises)

Celebrity Cruises: Swanky, Contemporary and High-Energy

Hip cruise line with a contemporary onboard vibe and an emphasis on trendy culinary experiences since its inception, high-energy entertainment and computer workshops (think macOS and iOS app lessons and retail).

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Princess Cruises: Laidback, "Old School" and Innovative

Relaxed old-school cruise line, once without a lot of bells and whistles but lots of loyal guests, that's slowly becoming bolder and more innovative with Medallion tech, Magic Castle entertainment and other livelier activities.

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Celebrity vs. Princess: Fleet Size, Ship Sizes and Ages

Celebrity Cruises' Fleet

Princess Cruises' Fleet

Celebrity vs. Princess: Pricing (or Rather Value Proposition and Category)

Celebrity Cruises Pricing and Value

  • As an upscale line, Celebrity will cost more that standard Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean but also offers elevated dining for an exceptional value

  • Package pricing model extending to all-inclusive options; The Retreat serves as the line’s most expensive and best ship-within-a-ship experience

  • Prices include dining in several main dining room venues, but specialty restaurants incur an extra fee; most daily activities and nightly entertainment are included

Princess Cruises Pricing and Value

  • Costs follow industry standards, but, in general, upscale Princess and its value-adds are a mite higher than most mainstream cruise lines

  • Package pricing model extending to all-inclusive options in addition to bundled accommodations

  • Prices include dining in several main dining room venues, but specialty restaurants incur an extra fee; most daily activities and nightly entertainment are included

Celebrity vs. Princess: Demographics Onboard

Eri Vincent, Sasha Sydnor, Carlos Martinez and Micah Ramos relax on a catamaran. (Photo: Naima Green/AIPP)
Eri Vincent, Sasha Sydnor, Carlos Martinez and Micah Ramos relax on a catamaran. (Photo: Naima Green/AIPP)

Celebrity Cruises Demographics: Age Onboard Is Dropping Yet Is a Wide Range

  • Median age: mid-40s to mid-50s, but observed to be getting younger

  • All ships draw couples and groups of friends ages 30s to 70s overall

  • Families are more prevalent during holidays and peak travel times

Princess Cruises Demographics: Age Onboard Is Older and Rising

  • Median age: mid-40s to mid-50s, but observed to be getting older

  • Caribbean and Alaska cruises draw families, couples and groups of friends in the widest range of age brackets

  • Ships sailing longer and far-off itineraries draw the oldest 55-plus crowd

Celebrity vs. Princess: Itineraries, Destinations and Homeports

Celebrity Cruises: Convenient U.S. Homeports and a Myriad of Destinations

Princess Cruises: Convenient U.S. Homeports, Top Line that Sails to Alaska and Robust Itineraries

  • Regularly navigates the California Pacific Coast, Caribbean and Europe; U.S. homeports are conveniently available

  • Seasonally offers Alaska (one of the most comprehensive regional programs in the cruise industry), Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal and Canada & New England itineraries

  • Far-off cruises visit Asia, Australia & New Zealand, South America and Tahiti & South Pacific

  • Even visits Antarctica on occasion and also offers world cruises

Celebrity vs. Princess: Cabins and Cabin Categories

Celebrity Cruises: Infinite Verandas, The Retreat, Aqua Class Cabins and Beyond

  • Offers a large variety of cabin categories, from inside staterooms without windows to palatial suites with exclusive access to private venues; specific to Edge-class ships are uniquely available Infinite Verandas that push the inside of the room all the way to a convertible balcony

  • While not on all ships, The Retreat is the top tier of Celebrity accommodations extending to a ship-within-a-ship of an exclusive lounge, restaurant and sun deck reserved only for guests therein

  • Other shared suite perks extend to the likes of priority embarkation and disembarkation, a free welcome bottle of champagne, reserved theater seating, included Wi-Fi access and complimentary premium beverages

  • Spa-inspired Aqua Class cabins (on most Celebrity ships) afford private access to the health-centric Blu restaurant, spa thermal suite, complimentary fitness classes, discounted treatments, spa concierge, pillow menu and more

  • Similarly, Concierge Class accommodations tack on other special services and amenities

Princess Cruises: MedallionClass, Mini-Suites and Signature Collection Suites

  • Large selection of stateroom categories, from usual inside cabins to spacious suites; all are considered MedallionClass with contactless boarding, keyless entry and ship-wide wayfinding

  • Distinctive cabin choices include Princess’ signature mini-suites, extending to those with cabanas first aboard Sun Princess; another staple amenity from the line is the Princess Luxury Bed developed by a board-certified sleep expert

  • Suite perks on all ships include dinner on the house at an alternative restaurant on embarkation night, priority disembarkation at tender ports, included laundry service, complimentary initial mini-bar setup and free bottled water

  • In its own form of a ship-within-a-ship, Signature Collection suites beginning on Sun Princess offer private access to the Signature Restaurant, Signature Lounge and Signature Sun Deck

Celebrity vs. Princess: Dining Options

Celebrity Cruises: Michelin-Starred Chef and a Variety of Choices, Including Le Petit Chef and the Magic Carpet

  • Following its Aqua Class ethos, dining on Celebrity can skew as health conscious or as decadent as desired, ranging from included main restaurants (multiple themes on Edge-class ships) to specialty dining rooms with a surcharge

  • Globally-inspired menus are developed by Michelin-starred chef Cornelius Gallagher, and leading the upper crust of specialty dining is famed chef Daniel Boulud

  • Several alternative restaurants are available on each ship (varies by vessel), with only a handful included in the cruise price

  • Only on Celebrity will you find the animated Le Petit Chef experience, as well as The Magic Carpet for cantilevered al fresco dining

Princess Cruises: Complimentary Dining, Casual Dining and Specialty Dining Categories

  • Dining options on Princess are broken down into three categories: Complimentary Dining (main restaurant, buffet, International Cafe, etc.), Casual Dining (small fee for pizzeria and pub fare) and Specialty Dining (surcharge for premium Italian, seafood and steakhouse offerings)

  • Showcased cuisine is crafted by head of Princess culinary arts and cruise industry veteran Rudi Sodamin

  • Fresh on select Princess ships is 360: An Extraordinary Experience, pairing local cuisine with immersive regional imagery; Good Spirits At Sea further showcases regional beverages onboard

  • Only on Princess can you have food and beverages delivered to wherever you are onboard thanks to the OceanNow function of said wearable Medallion and its accompanying mobile app

Celebrity vs. Princess: Pool Deck Fun

Celebrity Cruises: Two to Three Pools on Nearly Every Ship, Whirlpools in the Retreat and Wet Zone for Kids

  • Two to three pools on every ship (except on expedition ships) including one in the adults-only Solarium; plus half a dozen or so whirlpools on each ship and in said Solarium

  • The Retreat ship-within-a-ship comes with its own exclusive pool and/or whirlpools

  • Select Solstice-class ships have a Wet Zone vertical splash area for kids

  • The pool deck is used mostly for lounging and not boisterous poolside activities (don’t expect belly flop contests on Celebrity)

Princess Cruises: Three Pool on Every Ship, Several Hot Tubs, The Sanctuary and Movies Under the Stars

  • At least three pools on every ship, including a quieter aft pool and (on select ships) a pool beneath a retractable roof; most ships have at least half a dozen hot tubs as well

  • The adults-only Sanctuary (some of which have a pool) offers cruisers a quiet pool/sun deck alternative

  • Films shown daily on the sun deck as part of the line's Movies Under the Stars, and certain ships also stage bonus fountain shows around the pool

  • When sailing in the Caribbean, silly games are played poolside on sea days

Celebrity vs. Princess: Sports Deck Fun

Celebrity Cruises: Jogging Tracks, Basketball Courts, The Lawn Club and Unique Classes

  • All ships have a half-ship jogging track and basketball courts (except Celebrity Edge and its sister ships, which do not have a court); but the Edge class track uniquely meanders around several levels like a sporty Möbius strip

  • The Lawn Club, a sizable Central Park-style space with real grass flanking the funnels, offering lawn bowling and bocce, is available on all Solstice-class ships

  • Three Solstice-class ships also offer hot glass demonstrations and classes in a covered area of The Lawn Club

Princess Cruises: Jogging Tracks, Shuffleboard and On-Ship Golf Activities

  • All ships offer shuffleboard and a jogging track; most also feature a basketball court

  • All ships provide some type of golf activity onboard from a practice cage to a nine-hole putting course (varies by ship)

  • A bonus ropes course and water park was introduced on Sun Princess

Celebrity vs. Princess: Indoor Fun

Celebrity Cruises: Dance Classes, Trivia, Wine Tastings, Tech Classes and the Grand Plaza

  • Daily activities can include dance classes, trivia, bingo, wine tastings and themed lectures

  • The Celebrity iLounge on all ships offers numerous Apple computer classes on website creation, blogging, Photoshop and other desktop and mobile skills

  • The Grand Plaza on Edge-class ships is the central location for social gatherings, martini mixology and other entertainment and activities

Princess Cruises: Dance Classes, Bingo, Trivia and Arts & Crafts

  • Daily schedules might include arts and crafts, dance classes, trivia, bingo, etc., all of which can be easily viewed from the Princess Cruises app

  • Destination-specific lectures and programs (like North to Alaska) are offered on sailings in Alaska, Hawaii, Asia and the South Pacific

  • Select ships have a multi-deck, piazza-style atrium, serving as a hub for activities, entertainment and dining

Celebrity vs. Princess: Nightlife

Celebrity Cruises: Cirque du Soleil-Inspired Shows, Live Music and Al Fresco Live Entertainment

  • Theater productions include stylized, revue-style production shows, Cirque du Soleil-inspired acrobatic shows and one-off comedy, magic and other cabaret acts

  • Nightly variety of live music, as well as DJ'd dance parties

  • Celebrity embraced al fresco live entertainment when it debuted the Solstice-class ships, continuing with Edge-class ones, and bright outdoor screens display films and other programming

  • The line famously added Eden to its Edge-class ships to bring provocative interactive entertainment onboard that has since been tamed down some

Princess Cruises: Musical Revue-style Shows, Movies Under the Stars, Live Music and The Love Boat

  • The theater stages musical revue-style shows, as well as one-off comedy and magic acts; besides performances curated by Stephen Schwartz, entertainment also extends to edgy digital performances and aforementioned Movies Under the Stars

  • Live music available nightly in almost every bar and lounge; all ships have a nighttime dance club

  • A permanent Magic Castle at sea was introduced on Sun Princess in the form of the speakeasy-esque Spellbound bar and performance venue

  • Princess is also known for theme cruises, highlighting its “The Love Boat” pedigree and more

Celebrity vs. Princess: Family Focus

Celebrity Cruises: Camp at Sea Kids Club and Small Selection of Family-Friendly Cabins

  • The children's club, Camp at Sea, comprises four age-specific subgroups for kids: Shipmates (3 to 5), Cadets (6 to 9) and Captains (10 to 12) and Teens (13 to 17)

  • Infants must be at least six months old (or 12 months old on certain sailings)

  • Very small selection of family-friendly cabin choices

Princess Cruises: Camp Discovery Kids Club and Kids' Splash Pool on All Ships

  • Camp Discovery is divided into three age brackets: The Treehouse (3 to 7), The Lodge (8 to 12) and The Beach House (13 to 17); each group has its own distinctive space

  • Onboard and shore excursions programming for kids is provided through a partnership with the Discovery Channel, primarily themed around TV shows from the Discovery, Animal Planet, Learning and Science channels

  • A kids' splash pool is available on all ships; select ships also have teen-only hot tubs

  • Select ships feature two-room family suites

Celebrity vs. Princess: Tradition and Innovation

Celebrity Cruises: Innovations on Edge-Class Ships Along with Traditional Lawn Club and Le Petit Chef

  • Celebrity's recent innovations are found mainly on its latest Edge-class ships, including said Magic Carpet and Infinite Veranda cabins, as well as The Retreat and Eden

  • Solstice-class ships still feature The Lawn Club, a half-acre of real grass on a top deck, and Le Petit Chef, across the fleet, takes projection mapping to the next level to elevate the line’s cuisine

Princess Cruises: Tradition Is Palpable but Innovative Medallion Tech and Entertainment Are Changing Things

  • Tradition used to be the name of the game on Princess where multiple main dining rooms, limited extra-fee specialty restaurants and musical theater shows with a minimum of special effects were commonplace

  • However, Princess is gaining a greater reputation for its very innovative Medallion tech and now high-tech entertainment that are definitely pushing the boundaries into some of the most modern offerings at sea

Publish date January 08, 2020
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