Hi everyone!
My husband and I are having trouble deciding on which cruise line to take for our April 2010 Panama Canal cruise. We have narrowed it down to the Sea Princess, Celebrity Infinity, and HA Zuiderdam. All of the itineraries are similar, and prices are similar. The differences are only the cruise line and the room size.
We have cruised with Holland America a few times, to Alaska, Carribean, and Mexican Riviera. We have not cruised Princess or Celebrity before. (other lines have been RCL, and Cunard). We are not big on spending much time in our room, but do want a verandah. (i like to sit out and read in the mornings). We like assigned seating for dinner, but would not mind trying the "freestyle" dining. We do like a nice bar to sit and relax in as well. We love shore excursions! It's hard to tell right now which ones would be better off of which ship.
Which ship do you like better? Any rooms that we should avoid? Or ask for? Which ship has better excursions? Any Panama Canal advice?
We will accept all and any advice anyone has for us!
Thanks so much,
H & D

I cruised with RCCL and Princess, and found Princess a step above RCCL.

Do "advance search" on Fodor's for more advices, and check out CruiseCritic.

I suggest to search cruisecritic and compare passenger reviews of the three ships. As for the PC we cruised full transit last Feb. As you are traversing the canal trygoing to different spots on the ship for various looks. I found it interesting to be at the bow whne the lock opens and closes. Its an amazing feat of engineering and its worth the journey. If you search here by my user id you can find my TR. Have fun. Larry

My grandmother did a cruise to the Panama Canal and she told me it was an experience of a lifetime. I don't know which cruiseline but she did go with a tour group. I agree by doing research to find out which cruiseline has what you need and what you like to do.

I personally liked Princess's cabin lay out. Cabins on most ships are about the same size anyway.

I also prefer "any time dining". I can have a table for 2 or join different people or have dinner with new frinds that we met on baord and not limited to having dining with the same people (that we may like or dslike) every night. With any tinme dining, if you don't like the server, you are not stuck. However, if you want to have dinner at the most busy time, be preapre to wait unless you've made reservations.

I tip the Maitri'd the first night, book a standing reservation for the entire cruise for a table for 2. I would call and change time or number of people if the need arises. If the service staff is great, I'll keep the table. If the service is substandard, ask for a different table and different server. Never have any problems with dinner.

The last cruise on Princess, we have "our" table by the window for the entire cruise.

Most ships offers similar shore excursions so I won't pick a ship based on shore excursion.

All 3 ships you mentioned has decent "personal" space. Take a look at the crew to passenger ratio and # of passengers to public space ratio and determine if the ship will be crowded, is there lots of staff etc.

Celebrity is known for their food. HAL caters to more mature audience. Princess managed to do everything well enough (as good enough but not great) and does not rise to the top in any category. They fit in between the mature crowd of HAL and the much younger crowd of Carnival.