Is sanctuary pool open to public?

[58Piano]

Is the pool in the sanctuary on the Royal open to everyone? It seems on cruise critic that it is almost impossible to book loungers for the week. So can you use the pool? But you have no where to sit because the chairs are reserved? What about the other pool areas? Can you find a lounge chair in the shade easily?

[cattolica]

There is no pool in the Sanctuary. The Retreat Pool is for adults and is outside of the Sanctuary. Go to Princess.com and look at the deck plan for Deck 17.

Edited March 19, 2014 by cattolica

[dmwnc1959]

The Retreat Pool is open access and available to all adult guests. The Cabanas along the perimeter of the pool area are an additional charge to rent. There are loungers alongside the outer areas away from the pool and those are all at no extra charge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pam in CA]

Is the pool in the sanctuary on the Royal open to everyone? It seems on cruise critic that it is almost impossible to book loungers for the week. So can you use the pool? But you have no where to sit because the chairs are reserved? What about the other pool areas? Can you find a lounge chair in the shade easily?

As said, there is no Sanctuary pool on the Royal. The only ships which have a very small pool in the Sanctuary are the Coral and Island. Other than that, there's no pool in any Sanctuary area. If you're an adult, you can use any pool on the ship (other than the crew pool.)

[dmwnc1959]

What about the other pool areas? Can you find a lounge chair in the shade easily?

 

There are no loungers that are in permanent shade, but what you will find is that as the sun passes across the sky during the day, the ships superstructure and deck overhangs 'make' the shade happen.

 

 

 

 

If you don't need to be right at the pools, there were loungers on Sun Deck just aft of the pool area. One side always seemed to be shaded...

 

 

Edited March 19, 2014 by dmwnc1959

[dmwnc1959]

Lounge and seating areas nearby the pool...

 

 

 

 

 

[Pam in CA]

Here's a photo I just captured from a Princess post on FB. It shows less than half the ship. The Sanctuary is the small area at the very front of the ship. You can see the entrance doors which have six windows each. As you can see, the Sanctuary is only a small section on one deck at the very front where it's windiest. Not sure why people think this relatively small area impacts seating elsewhere but this is a visual to show that it doesn't:

 

[OCruisers]

dmwnc1959 .... Thanks so much for your time for the pictures! :)

LuLu

~~~

[Loonbeam]

Because Princess has done a horrible job of differentiating the Sanctuary from the Adult Pool.

 

Here's a photo I just captured from a Princess post on FB. It shows less than half the ship. The Sanctuary is the small area at the very front of the ship. You can see the entrance doors which have six windows each. As you can see, the Sanctuary is only a small section on one deck at the very front where it's windiest. Not sure why people think this relatively small area impacts seating elsewhere but this is a visual to show that it doesn't:

 

[Pam in CA]

Because Princess has done a horrible job of differentiating the Sanctuary from the Adult Pool.

There isn't anything in the Sanctuary description on Princess that says anything about a pool. On the Royal, the Sanctuary is accessible through big, heavy doors and a vestibule with a desk rather than the little gate on other ships so it's clearly differentiated.

 

http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/activities/daytime_activities/day_sanctuary/

[Loonbeam]

Too many people on here alone think there is either a fee for the adult pool area (regardless of ship) or the pool is part of the Sanctuary. There is definitely something lacking out there.

 

There isn't anything in the Sanctuary description on Princess that says anything about a pool. On the Royal, the Sanctuary is accessible through big, heavy doors and a vestibule with a desk rather than the little gate on other ships so it's clearly differentiated.

 

http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/activities/daytime_activities/day_sanctuary/

[Mom33]

Too many people on here alone think there is either a fee for the adult pool area (regardless of ship) or the pool is part of the Sanctuary. There is definitely something lacking out there.

 

I think the names "Retreat" and "Sanctuary" are part of the confusion.

[Pam in CA]

Too many people on here alone think there is either a fee for the adult pool area (regardless of ship) or the pool is part of the Sanctuary. There is definitely something lacking out there.

I think part of the issue is people posting misinformation or saying, "They heard..."

 

And yes, there could be confusion about the Retreat pool area and the Sanctuary, particularly by those who haven't been on the ship. People are jumping to conclusions. :(

[dmwnc1959]

dmwnc1959 .... Thanks so much for your time for the pictures! :)

LuLu

~~~

 

You're welcome!!! :D

 

 

 

I think part of the issue is people posting misinformation or saying, "They heard..."

 

And yes, there could be confusion about the Retreat pool area and the Sanctuary, particularly by those who haven't been on the ship. People are jumping to conclusions. :(

 

Never! ;) lol

 

:D

[MarKay525]

There is no pool in the Sanctuary. The Retreat Pool is for adults and is outside of the Sanctuary.

 

Follow this link:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1766069&page=68

 

Post 4571 of the above Everything Royal Princess thread has the spectacular photos of the ship posted by Dave. In the first picture the for-fee Sanctuary is the covered area. The free adult Retreat pool can be seen beyond the Sanctuary. Aft of the Retreat pool just a little bit of the public pool is visible along with the splash pool. The small pool below the bridge is for crew only.

 

In the second picture all of the public pool is visible. The entry doors to the Sanctuary can be seen near the top of the picture.

 

Dave - every time you post any of your pictures it takes me right back to my November cruise. :) Thank You!! Kay

[AKman2495]

The problem with the deck plans is that the Sanctuary and the Retreat pool area are both green, which I think must mean "adults only". Both areas are marked, but it is confusing.....