Nezmo

... Having said that, any reputable vendor is going to make sure to see his pax are back in time. They wouldn't be in business long if they kept getting people back to the ship late.

We took a risk in Barbados in March as all the relevant Princess tours were booked when we tried. We went private and were slightly nervous until the minute they greeted us and the first thing they said was "your ship leaves at x right?, we'll make sure you are back." And they nailed it.

I have been on three Carnival cruises and just completed our first Princess cruise. I like them both. I am 47 and my wife is 37. On Princess we appreciated the food in general (the upcharge places slightly disappointed - we actually feel Carnival wins there), the upscale feel, the more folks in formal dress when the occasion called (please don't flame me for liking that), and nice decor. On Princess we missed some of the liveliness of Carnival (yes, it can be crass as well and we do not like that) and we were disappointed the sidewalks seemed to roll up a bit early. Don't get me wrong, I'm good with sitting at a nice bar with my wife, sipping a well-made drink listening to some laid-back music but even at my age I would have liked a bit more life at night on occasions.

It's so subjective. We love to dress up and that can be done even on Carnival if you feel like it but it seemed to fit in more on Princess. I think we'll sail Carnival again, especially when we finally take our teenagers for their first cruise. I can see us on Princess again too. Perhaps as I get even older I may change my view and not want Carnival at all but I can't see it right now. Maybe I need to try RCCL.

Can you book a lounger without the full cabana? Cost?

 

Looks like it would be a great place while transiting the Panama.

I think that's "prancing", but I could be wrong. Tuckle? Could be tackle.

The PES event is held in Club 6 on the Royal.

We had B734 on the Royal in March. Some photos here:

https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=132990805%40N05&sort=date-taken-desc&text=b734&view_all=1

The Baja deck has the deeper balcony (not all do). You might enjoy this thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2344419

I'm not surprised they changed the furniture since it was corroding when we sailed in the owner's suite and it was only 6 months old! I'm glad they now have 4 chairs and hope they enlarged the balcony table so they can all be placed around it (the original table wasn't big enough for 4 chairs).

Edit: I found this photo of mine. You can just see the end of the loungers.

Dolphin and Baja are the best decks if you want cover and the largest balconies. We were on Dolphin and experienced little or no soot, no more than we've had on other aft balconies.

 

BTW, if you face the front of the ship, you're moving forward. It's really not an issue.

 

We would not book any other cabin on Royal/Regal since the other balconies are way too small.

As I said, we saw some soot but it was not bad at all. We were on the Baja deck.

Having cruised on the Royal Princess in an owner's suite (7 day cruise) and in a mini-suite (20 days) I wouldn't spend my money on the owner's suite on any Royal class ship ever again. We really liked our mini-suite with an extended balcony (C410) and thought it was an excellent value for the money spent. The owner's suite (D727), on the other hand, was a very poor value. See http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1956349

Edit: I take back my post. My memory is failing me. It was metal furniture but substantial with well-padded covers. We did have four chairs though.

Princess & most lines haven't used "Prime" cuts in many years(if ever)Perhaps Queens Grill(Cunard)Crystal Cruises/Sea Dream/Sea Borne/Hapog Lloyde's Europa still use them.

From a review I wrote talking about our Chef's Table experience on the CCL Liberty (admittedly from 2011):

"Frank (Executive Chef) also explained that Prime beef is served in the steakhouse and at the Chef’s Table, Choice is served in the MDR and Select is used for carvings in the buffet.

I honestly think the food I had at the Chef’s Table is the best I have ever tasted. The combinations of flavors show this food came from someone with extensive experience and excellent training."

Have they fixed the soot problem well enough that they don't lock the doors to balcony when the ship is moving?

No locking on our cruise.

The balcony will be larger but be aware the depth of the Owner's Suite balconies do vary by deck and deck 10 has one of the narrower ones.

See here:

Also, the Owner's Suites on the Royal/Regal are apparently not as large as those on other Princess ships and some have felt they are overpriced as a result. We were in one in March and were happy. I have photos if you want them. I'll hold off posting as you may have already done that research (they can be found in the third album in the link in my signature for the Royal cruise).

And, there are many reports of soot issues - less so on the Regal I believe. Even on the Royal, while we observed some soot early on, it was never enough to spoil anything. We were kept well stocked with towels for the loungers and Stewart mopped and cleaned regularly out there.

We did experience movement at times and it bothered my wife. I like it as it reminds me I'm on a ship.

We ate at the Crown Grill several times in March on the Royal. While it was not 'bad' I have to say I agree with some of the comments in this thread about the steaks. While many scoff at Carnival, I found their steakhouse food to be quite a bit better than the CG. My wife agrees and let me tell you, that lady can prepare a steak better than any high-end steakhouse we've eaten in. The CG steaks lacked flavor and were not tender. Service was good.

We enjoyed Sabatini's more but again, it wasn't quite as good as the hype I had read in here had lead me to expect.

We tried both places multiple times to give it a fair chance. Just not that impressed.

If you find the right photographer and show them you're willing they will have fun with you. They like dealing with folks who are in to it. We recently had an amazing experience. The photog spent a great deal of time working with my wife, and me and we came away with some terrific shots - and I am one who often gets upset at their prices. It was so much fun I took pictures of him setting my wife up and taking his photos.

On the Royal in March we did the $149 for 10 photos deal. It included a 4x6 photo frame and two albums which I didn't really want but it was still a decent deal on the photos alone which would have been $25 each otherwise (too much).

What's really cool about this for me is the first ship I cruised on with my now wife is the Conquest and that's in the background. And then we just had our honeymoon on the Royal.

I have a question about the unlimited beverage package and specialty coffee. How do I purchase my mocha from the international café. Do I get a coffee card or do I have a special sticker for my cruise card?

When I bought espressos at the IC in March on the Royal they never once asked to see my card. It was odd. Maybe they saw me flash it the first time and were good thereafter? No idea.

Or is that a shipload of boats?

I was amused when I looked out our hotel window before joining our cruise on 3/13. And the Oasis is hiding behind her Royal Highness as well.

We did have about a 10-15 minute wait at the Hilton for a taxi/shuttle. Once we got that it was a breeze to the Royal. We were the first drop off.

Smiling at your excellent question. It echoes a little talk I had with DD before we sailed in that Suite with our noob Blue Cards.

The Preferred Boarding Passes (print in color if you can, the top border is GREEN to indicate your boarding priority) are useful in the case you don't get handed a Preferred Boarding Slip. It varies by Port and sometimes by Sailing, whether or not the Slips are used to help identify Preferred Boarding status. Heck, it may vary by check-in agent from what I have seen.

 

Once on board, the Boarding Pass holds no magic any more. Put Pass and Slip into the scrapbook.

 

On Board! Yay!

 

PES "events" include priority tendering (you get tickets in your suite for this, so no worries), the PES evening lounge, the separate line at Passenger Services, and well, Suite Breakfast. Your first visit to Sabatini's (or CG) breakfast the Headwaiter notes your suite number and memorizes your faces. So that leaves only the Lounge and Passenger Services express-line as possibilities for awkward encounters with "aggressively helpful" fellow cruisers. Princess personnel: will not challenge you as long as you advise them of your Suite number. Passengers: packing your patience and sense of humor is the best Pro Tip here, and each situation would be different.

 

My DD and I are both very confrontation averse but there weren't any BlueCard related flare-ups at all, at least that I remember. I told her to stand her ground, politely, and remember she *is* in the right place unless/until the Princess Crew advises her otherwise.

 

I did a Bon Voyage Experience last month; I'm Platinum now but the cruise card I got for the BVE was ...blue. Aah nostalgia! [emoji64]

Great reply.

We had no issues being blue and in a suite. In fact, we walked right in the party thing in Club 6 without even realizing what was going on (it was low key and no one looked at anything). BTW, never went back to that - it didn't seem much of a big deal.

do both people in the cabin have to get the drink package? or can just the "drinker" get it!

As is evidenced in this thread and the many others that get opened on the same subject, whether or not to get the AIBP is purely a personal decision. For some it makes absolutely no sense and for others it's a no-brainer. And it could depend on the cruise.

One just needs to be clear on what is included and what isn't (very little) so an informed decision can be made. And know that not every adult in the same cabin needs to purchase it unlike some other cruise lines.

I wondered if it would be a good deal for us on our recent 10 day cruise because we had a lot of ports. We decided to go for it and I know we made out like bandits. Once you realize water bottles and coffee is also included it becomes a lot easier to see how it can be a good deal.

It was a good deal for us even counting the fact we got our morning Mimosas and Blood Caesers included with breakfast.

I remember our cruise (most of it anyway, lol). It was nice not worrying about what you were spending on drinks. And I tried a few things I might not have otherwise as the risk was zero.

Well, the the Royal was 141,001 tons when we boarded on 3/13. You should have seen our luggage.

Super random question but did they say if that centerpiece was a Chihuly?

Thanks for the great pictures. I have a question, is the pool in the Sanctuary open to all adults or do you have to pay for the Sanctuary? If not, it seems funny for a ship this large to not have an adult pool. Thanks!

Note that the Retreat does have for rent cabanas too but you don't have to pay for any of the other loungers in the Retreat - just first come first served ([sARCASM] you know, get up at 5am and put your flip flop on it and then come back when you feel like it [/sARCASM]).

I was reminded by a poster in another thread that they bring you afternoon tea as well. How could I forget, lol.