MessyCat

Ship Royal Princess

Class

Deck Baja

Stateroom # B735

Category S2

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern Starboard Stern

Connects With Cabin # na

Accessible No

Quiet Yes

Balcony Size Oversized

View Normal

Privacy Issues None

Wind No

Soot Yes

Problems Yes - see Soot

Comments Disappointing lounge area. No Wet Bar; small fridge that did not accommodate large bottles. Plenty of storage. Only a washbasin in the guest bathroom - no toilet. Lovely large balcony, part covered, but with Soot issues. We had noticed soot deposits, although comparatively minor, right from our first day at sea. However, the deposits at Naples were excessive and it took the room steward most of the day to clean (not nice for him). Great view from the stern.

Ship Ocean Princess

Class Small Ship

Deck 6

Stateroom # 6002

Category S3

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern Port Bow

Connects With Cabin # 6004

Accessible No

Quiet No - Directly above anchor/winding gear? situated in the foredeck (see picture). The noise & juddering when leaving/arriving at a port was alarming to start with but we quickly got used to it & otherwise quiet.

Balcony Size Oversized

View Obstructed

Privacy Issues None

Wind No

Soot No

Problems None

Comments Loved this ship although not for everyone. Plenty of storage. The 'guest bathroom' consisted of toilet and hand basin which was very useful.

Ship Sea Princess

Class

Deck Baja

Stateroom # B421

Category MA

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern Starboard

Connects With Cabin # na

Accessible No

Quiet Yes

Balcony Size Normal

View Normal

Privacy Issues None

Wind No

Soot No

Problems

Comments Nice cabin layout

Ship Sea Princess

Class

Deck Baja

Stateroom # B410

Category MA

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern Port

Connects With Cabin # na

Accessible No

Quiet Yes

Balcony Size Normal

View Normal

Privacy Issues None

Wind No

Soot No

Problems None

Comments Nice cabin layout

Ship Sea Princess

Class

Deck Baja

Stateroom # B310

Category ME

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern Port

Connects With Cabin # na

Accessible No

Quiet Yes

Balcony Size Normal

View Normal

Privacy Issues None

Wind No

Soot No

Problems None

Comments

Ship Sea Princess

Class

Deck Aloha

Stateroom # A436

Category BB

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern Port

Connects With Cabin # na

Accessible No

Quiet Yes

Balcony Size Normal

View Normal

Privacy Issues None

Wind No

Soot No

Problems None

Comments

Ship Grand Princess

Class Grand

Deck 10

Stateroom # C410

Category Penthouse Suite

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern Port

Connects With Cabin # na

Accessible No

Quiet Yes

Balcony Size oversized

View Normal

Privacy Issues None

Wind No

Soot No

Problems None

Comments Balcony larger on Caribe deck and half covered. Nice cabin layout.

Ship Grand Princess

Class Grand

Deck 10

Stateroom # C614

Category Premium Balcony

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern Port

Connects With Cabin # na

Accessible No

Quiet Yes

Balcony Size Normal

View Normal

Privacy Issues None

Wind No

Soot No

Problems None

Comments

Ship Emerald Princess

Class Grand

Deck 14

Stateroom # 402

Category Penthouse Suite

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern Port

Connects With Cabin # na

Accessible No

Quiet No - Noise from upper deck; placing/dragging of sunbeds early hours of morning.

Balcony Size Normal

View Normal

Privacy Issues None

Wind No

Soot No

Problems None

Comments Nice cabin layout.

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/data/522/IMG_0944_-_Copy_640x427_.jpg

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We loved the suite on Ocean Princess (sister to Pacific). However, we were in a forward suite; right above where they drop the anchor etc and the noise frightened me when I first heard it. See first photo. Ok unless in the middle of the night. Prefer aft suites.

Spoilt me for other ships.

Regards Anne

Hello MyMimi

Sorry that I didn't reply earlier - I haven't been following CC as we had to cancel our hols for personal reasons. I understand you have sorted out the misunderstanding of cabin nos.

We thought Royal Princess was a lovely ship. International Café; Alfredos; Horizon Court; the Piazza entertainment; Gelato; Balcony Dinner; Dixieland Jazz; the Piazza and the Staff were all excellent.

Some not very good photos:

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Have an excellent cruise and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Kind regards

Anne

Sadly last year the Orchid plant soon became infested with small biting flies & had to be removed outside (not replaced).

Venice - we love & have got lost many times. Very busy. We get the People Mover (close by) for a few euros which takes you to a quiet part and then a longish walk to St Marks'.

Windy Mykonos we love. We normally get the pay for shuttle to the centre as road busy & narrow but lots of lovely winding streets & boutiques!

Dubrovnik - absolutely great for a wander round. Trips on your next time.

Naples - easy walk into centre. Be careful with your belongings. Again we love it but different from other ports. The Galleria has expensive shops but a lovely cake shop (if you can manage to eat anything else)

Livorno - The half day exc to Lucca is very enjoyable. Beautiful town.

The ship will wait for any delayed exc (travel hold ups etc) but not other passengers. We ensure that we are on ship's time and get back in plenty of time.

Envious - we had to cancel our Regal & Emerald cruises for personal reasons. So enjoy & don't miss the entertainment in the ship's Piazza.

A very sincere THANK YOU for all the hours you must have spent and for the enjoyment and pleasure given. You must have gained friends from around the world - from a sunny but cold England.

Anne

What would stop Princess writing to all passengers who have booked an aft suite/balcony along the lines of that they have a problem with soot which they are working on resolving. In the meantime, we really hope that you will continue with your booking and we will offer you xxx as compensation. However, if you do decide to cancel, you may do so with a full refund.

At least people would know where they stood.

Absolutely fantastic - I cannot imagine the number of hours and the patience this took. Also, so many places we seemed to have missed on the Royal; must try harder on the Regal!

What an advert for Princess Cruises - trust you receive all Royalties.

Thank you.

 

"Was this something you experienced daily? I am going to gather more feedback and then need to re-think my plans. I have a dolphin balcony booked and I wonder is anyone on that level on the same cruise could provide what their experience was like."

 

No, during our July cruise we had very minor soot deposits from our first day which were not a problem. Then a couple of days, when in our opinion, it was excessive.

 

If you read the LIVE FROM THE ROYAL PRINCESS thread there were a couple of OP who were in Dolphin aft cabins, one who was/is in aft corner suite who did not mention soot at all. I would really hope that by October they will have sorted this (not least as we have booked equiv. on Regal!!)

 

As previously stated we loved the ship and would hope that you are not put off from a wonderful cruise.

 

Thank you for sharing the pictures with us. Do you have a Facebook account? If you do, maybe you should consider posting the pictures there as well. Not sure how long Princess will allow the pictures to be up before they delete the message. But my point is to pass the word around so more people are aware of this issue. Thus putting pressure on Princess to rectify the problem rather than blame the cabin attendant. Remember that only about 1-2% of Princess passengers actually are members here on CC.

The reason we posted the photos was because we recently read a report of balcony soot/tar posted by another poster; and Princess not having responded to us with any explanation or to the effect the soot issue was being dealt with; we decided to publish.

As anticipation is a big part of a holiday, we were reluctant to cause any possible distress to future cruisers but feel that it has not been addressed.

(We do not have a facebook account)

[Yes I was referring to the size of the suite. I thing for what they charge, it should be more. Just my personal thoughts/observations.

Bob

Some months after booking suite similar to yours, we received a further email from Princess for us to check. Puzzled that the bed config was altered, but changed it back via Personalizer. On reading email again, realised that according to their brochure our stateroom category had been changed from suite to balcony. Rang Princess and were told we could have been upgraded. Not possible as booked S2 highest grade. Then told probably just a renumbering exercise. Requested something in writing - never received.

Some time later we saw the revised plans on line which indicated that an additional balcony stateroom had been added (B733) which, in our opinion, effectively reduced the size of suite. I did post before with photos showing the different config. They do, of course, have a let out clause re size etc.

Had hoped for something similar to Ocean Princess (have just posted photos in Gallery).

We had noticed some comments/queries re soot on aft balconies so posted the photos in order that people could see for themselves. We do not wish to put anybody off from booking. We stayed in B735 which is classified as an owner's suite on the starboard aft corner as per David's photos but this would presumably apply to aft balconies whether deluxe or suite. This was the July Venice to Barcelona cruise.

We noticed soot deposits, although comparatively minor, right from our first day at sea on leaving Venice. However, the deposits were excessive after sailing through the Straights of Messina.

We reported the soot at the Purser's Desk who sent someone to inspect. The answer seemed to be it was the room steward's problem and that he had to get on and clean it (all the balconies under his control). We thought this was unreasonable for him and requested that he was given some assistance but the answer was no. We were really sorry for him; he was very apologetic which of course was not his fault and he worked his socks off in an effort to clean the balconies.

We used extra poolside towels to cover the seats; were careful with light coloured clothing; and cleaned our shoes on additional towels placed at the balcony entrance.

We loved the ship; in particular the entertainment in the Piazza; breakfast in Sabatini's (the Head Waiter and staff were great); balcony dinner; Captain's lunch; Bellini's bar; Alfredo's; Horizon Court. We enjoyed the cruise and in fact have booked the equivalent suite on the Regal for next year so really hope they have got this sorted by then.

We wrote to the Customer Services Manager on 7th August in relation to the soot and have not had the courtesy of an acknowledgement or reply.

Photos of partially covered Aft Balcony B735

Hi Carole

We were in B735 and loved it. However, be aware that we experienced soot on the balcony; sometimes a few flecks but on one occasion it was quite bad. We wrote to Princess but have not yet received a reply (we were waiting for a response before commenting on this).

The aft suite configuration is not as shown on the website. As you enter on the right hand side there is a desk and chair; then a two-seater sofa facing a flat screen TV mounted on the wall; two armchairs and a small coffee table.

On the LH side, there is the usual fridge; then a door to the separate additional sink/countertop room. Further round the LH curve is the door to the main bathroom.

Following the RH side curve round there is two double wardrobes with hanging space, drawers & safe inside; then a dressing table/chair, flat TV on the wall opposite the bed.

I hope this makes a bit of sense!!

and finally, we have booked the same cabin on the Regal for next year.

By the way Carole, we loved your posting. You sound as if you thoroughly enjoy yourself and make the very best of everything and that is what holidays are for.

Regards - Anne

Hi Braselton: We were on Baja deck; I believe that Dolphin is larger but the size of our balcony was great

and yes Carole, the dinner and the whole birthday cruise was something special. Not long enough for us!!

capriccio - CORRECTION, sorry OH reminds me that we only had two chairs! Old age etc.

Hi capriccio

We did have four chairs (& the two loungers) on the balcony.