If Royal retained features it now has, but added bigger balconies.......

[rdsqrl]

I decided to go to the people that have sailed and chart their complaints by reading the reviews posted so far.

 

Out of 25 reviews:

 

7 complaints about the balcony size

2 mentions about the balcony size without complaints

7 cabin complaints

1 Promenade complaint

4 central stair complaints

5 toilet roll complaints

1 pool complaint (pertaining to diapers on toddlers)

1 AC complaint

1 casino complaint (smoking)

1 Internet complaint

8 service complaints for various departmeents

6 dining complaints

 

There were also many complaints about lack of party for maiden voyages, maiden voyage souvenirs, and embarkation problems.

Well, I'm wondering how many reviews of other ships even mention the promenade deck, the central stairs, the number of pools, or balcony size? Just the fact that these things are noted at all (out of a very, very tiny, almost statistically insignificant sample of 25 total reviews) should give one pause.

[JimmyVWine]

I see no reason to begin another thread...pro or con.

 

Can't argue with that.

[Renmar]

If Royal retained each and every feature it now has, but added bigger balconies, a full Promenade, a front Observation deck, a central staircase and more pools, would you consider that an improvement?

IMO this is an unrealistic question, like most IF questions.

 

Theo

[JimmyVWine]

IMO this is an unrealistic question, like most IF questions.

 

Theo

 

I'm not sure I follow this. Each of the features that form the basis of the poll could realistically been implemented on Royal without compromising any of its existing features. For example, the crew-only staircase could have been opened up to passengers. Another pool could have been added where wasted excercice space now resides. The Promenade was only chopped off so that they could add 10 or so "Obstructed View" balcony cabins. Lose those cabins and you gain a Grand Class style Promenade. Mini Suites and Deluxe Balcony cabins could have had a foot and a half or two feet added to their balconies without compromising the ship's ability to sail or dock anywhere. All of these improvements are (or were) very realistic. So I am missing your point entirely.

[Who Knew]

Mini Suites and Deluxe Balcony cabins could have had a foot and a half or two feet added to their balconies without compromising the ship's ability to sail or dock anywhere.

 

I keep thinking that if they lost 2 or 3 cabins on each side, they could have widened the remaining cabins then took some of the length to use for the balcony space. That would have left the larger space for the bigger atrium area. But I'm not a designer/architect and have no idea if that would have even worked. (By the way, this is not a complaint, but just a thought that I had)

[cruisetrail]

Not quite. The balconies were fully enclosed within the basic superstructure of the ship which we know because we were on the Ex 4 times (Love no-fly cruises out of NY). They were 5 feet deep from rail to sliding glass door, not 3 feet like the Royal. We always had standard E balconies.

 

I'll reserve final judgement on this ship until -

 

1. It does fully booked cruises which it still hasn't done and

2. It does fully booked cruises in warm weather out of Florida.

 

3,600 double occupancy plus 3/4 pax. on a 141,000 GRT ship is tight.

 

It will be something to look at.

 

RCI Freedom Class ships carry the same number of passengers but have about 155,000 GT, 4 pools + a flowrider, wrap-around promenade deck, front observation area, observation lounge, unobstructed views from all standard balconies that are quite spacious btw...

[Renmar]

I'm not sure I follow this. Each of the features that form the basis of the poll could realistically been implemented on Royal without compromising any of its existing features. For example, the crew-only staircase could have been opened up to passengers. Another pool could have been added where wasted excercice space now resides. The Promenade was only chopped off so that they could add 10 or so "Obstructed View" balcony cabins. Lose those cabins and you gain a Grand Class style Promenade. Mini Suites and Deluxe Balcony cabins could have had a foot and a half or two feet added to their balconies without compromising the ship's ability to sail or dock anywhere. All of these improvements are (or were) very realistic. So I am missing your point entirely.

 

That is my point entirely, those features "were" realistic and "could" have been done but they were not.

Now, IF (and here is an other IF) you are talking a few years down the road when the Royal would be due for a major overhaul and IF Princess is willing to spend the money then I would say Yes those features are an improvement.

 

Theo

[Cruise Junky]

The poll would have been better served with the addition of 2 other choices.

 

1. I plan to sail the Royal despite her design.

2. I do not plan to sail the Royal because of her design. ;)

 

I certainly couldn't answer that with a simple yes or no. We were super excited about Royal and booked the TA the first day. We have since cancelled. Would I sail her? I really don't know. The side balconies are a deal breaker for us, but a large balcony can be had if you book early enough and are willing to pay a pretty big premium..I think it was $500 extra for the 7 day Caribbean we were looking at. So the itineraries she's currently doing, that would be a no. Nothing special, can do better in another line or another Princess Ship. BUT, put her on a stellar itinerary, then yes, I'd probably pay that premium for an aft balcony.

[bdjam]

Frankly the "flaws" of this new ship have been discussed ad nauseum on CC. Who cares! If you don't like the design find another line. The ship is what it is. Nobody is twisting anybody's arm to cruise on her. Look hard enough and there is always something to gripe about - every line and every class ship. But why waste your time with such negativity. Enjoy and savor the good stuff - there's plenty of it.

 

As is known I haven't been a fan of Royal Princess since the first renderings were leaked...but I have to kind of agree with the above statement. Being able to cruise a couple of times a year is something not many are able to do, so I consider myself lucky. If there was a Royal Princess cruise that interested me, I'd give her a try - I don't know if the design deficiencies are enough to keep me away. But I would realize that she's inferior in my taste to good old Grand Princess that has the amenities I prefer - and that would definitely color my decision to choose Royal. Any of the Grand Class ships that were sailing would get my dollars first.

I'm sure Royal Princess is a fine ship and while some will like her and be willing to make her their ship of choice, in my view because of her deficiencies she is inferior.

[MauiLvrs]

I think that the question is a little confusing.

 

If it means that you took a grand class ship with all these features, a full Promenade, a front Observation deck, a central staircase and more pools, and added the new features of the Royal would you consider that an improvement?

(which is what I took the question to mean) the answer for us would be not really ... but we would at least consider sailing on her because the removed features are deal breakers for us and most of the ones added, we could really care less about. We don't need more places to go spend extra money to eat at, because for us ... the MDR food is very acceptable. We don't need a cabana.

 

If the question meant ... if you took the Royal and added back a full Promenade, a front Observation deck, a central staircase and more pools ... we would consider that an improvement! and would then consider sailing her or the Regal.

[MauiLvrs]

The poll would have been better served with the addition of 2 other choices.

 

1. I plan to sail the Royal despite her design.

2. I do not plan to sail the Royal because of her design. ;)

I think that that is a different pole with different questions.

 

out of those two ... we'd have to pick #2.

 

If the full Promenade, a front Observation deck, a central staircase and more pools were added back ...

We'd pick option #3 ... we would consider sailing the Royal/Regal. But it would be a less desirable option for us because the other "new features" and all the extra people onboard would push us to select another ship if possible.

[Smokeyham]

If Royal retained each and every feature it now has, but added bigger balconies, a full Promenade, a front Observation deck, a central staircase and more pools, would you consider that an improvement?

 

We were considering the Royal for a Baltic cruise, but each one of the factors you mentioned put us off going on that ship. Perhaps Princess could look at these issues when the ship goes in for a major refit in a number of years time.