Princess to Add 19th Ship to Fleet

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

Noooo. We are getting the new one. Why should we always get the hand me downs. :D We are not some poor country cousin. We have moolah down here.

 

Take them both & send the old ones back. :cool:

[Iamcruzin]

But I also gave information about the Ruby vs. Regal costs for 7 days out of Port Everglades the same week.

 

I would think this is an apples-to-apples comparison.

 

The Ruby insides start at 20% higher than the Regal. The Ruby balconies start at 28.6% higher than the Regal.

 

When a six-year old ship commands higher pricing than the newest ship in the fleet, there must be something about the newer ship that is not attracting passengers as much as it should.

 

Yes that is a good comparison considering they are both doing the same itinerary the last week in Nov with the exception of the Ruby making Turks and Caicos the 4th port of call. For $100 more I would sail in a balcony on the Ruby and truth be told if the Ocean view on the Ruby was the same as a balcony on the Regal I would still sail on the Ruby. With that said if the itineraries were reversed I would sail the Regal for the extra port of call. I'm not a fan of Princess Cays and I would probably stay on the ship. For me the itinerary trumps the ship or cruise line.

 

If they wanted to send the Royal to the west coast and run coastal, Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska itineraries I might be tempted to go. Canada and New England doesn't incise me. However the ship probably wouldn't pass the California emissions standard with that soot problem. Best to send it down under and I'm not speaking of Australia either.

Edited August 4, 2014 by Iamcruzin

[RickEk]

Send the Royal to Asia. The Regal is slightly better and hopefully #3 is even better. Would like to see the Sapphire back in US waters.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Royal Princess is supposedly scheduled to be refitted in 2018 with the aft (dipping) pool, as well as the smokestack and Retreat enhancements. This is a year after the new build is due to hit the streets. I guess they could do the Royal Princess refit in Asia?

 

I think it'd be a good bet that the plan is to send one of the Royal-class to Asia. RCCL is sending the new Quantum of the Seas to Asia, after a shortened season in New York, to one-up Sapphire/Diamond next year...

[Woobstr112G]

Take them both & send the old ones back. :cool:

 

 

Agreed.....:):):)

 

Bob

[Northender]

Take them both & send the old ones back.

 

 

Agreed.....:):)

 

Bob

 

 

So agree. Would love to have Sapphire back.:D:D

 

Dave, I am already thinking of cruising on the new build. I am hoping that Princess paid some attention to what we have told them. :)

[Woobstr112G]

So agree. Would love to have Sapphire back.:D:D

 

Dave, I am already thinking of cruising on the new build. I am hoping that Princess paid some attention to what we have told them. :)

 

Hi Adele;

 

Maybe a few, but I'm not holding my breath for anything drastic. I'm sure the new build will have the same small elevators, lack of any real promenade, the inability to enjoy a quiet dinner at the C.G., hideously small balconies and overpriced "Owner Suites, etc, etc, etc.....

 

Bob

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

Hi Adele;

 

Maybe a few, but I'm not holding my breath for anything drastic. I'm sure the new build will have the same small elevators, lack of any real promenade, the inability to enjoy a quiet dinner at the C.G., hideously small balconies and overpriced "Owner Suites, etc, etc, etc.....

 

Bob

 

I haven't been following all the reports on the Royal but what's wrong with the Crown Grill being to noisy? How could it be any worse than the other ships? :confused:

[Rick-cruiser]

It's funny how different things are important to people.... On the Royal/Regal I couldn't care less about:

 

1... The teeny-tiny balconies:. We prefer an inside cabin for "cozy" (ie, dark-while-sleeping) purposes, and found that we didn't use our balcony AT ALL when we got upgraded to one.. (Although I do think the size offering of the balcony on the Royal/Regal is nothing less than an insult to those that do love and enjoy their balconies).

 

2... The Promenade Deck:. Yes we like to walk around the ship - during the day and even during the night (especially when it's a little stormy/windy...:), yes we like to take in the sights of the ocean views and "people watch" while we're walking on the outside decks of the ship.. Do we necessarily NEED to have a Promenade Deck that goes all the way around the ship?. No...we can circumnavigate around the ship very nicely utilizing whatever deck plans are in place.

 

3... Lack of one outside pool:. We're not sun-worshipers, nor do we necessarily need to be seated in close proximity around a pool - nor are we big pool swimmers/waders while we're on a cruise ship... So having one less pool near which to put our lounger, or in which to swim, makes no difference to us.

 

4... Soot Problems:. Again, not having a balcony stateroom makes this point moot. (and I do believe they will resolve this problem shortly, if they haven't done so already - as it is indeed a serious safety and health hazard, besides the dirtiness issue).

 

5... Theater Seats which are much narrower (ie... think airline seats) and don't have cup holders for drinks:. Given my body type / stature... this won't be a problem for me, PERSONALLY.. However, I can see how this can be a big problem for other people.. (I must admit, I would LIKE to have a bit of elbow room between myself and the person/stranger sitting beside me....for many reasons.... BUT it is not a dealbreaker.. How a "larger" person is expected to sit in those seats to comfortably watch a show?, is beyond me.. And I don't drink, so the cup holder issue doesn't come into play for me.. Again, I can see how this can be an issue for other folks.... Where are they expected to put their drinks...on the floor?

 

6... Small, overcrowded elevators (especially the Central ones) with ever-present mobs waiting to get into them:. We don't take elevators, period.. We're able (thank God for now.. :) ), and actually PREFER, to take the stairs, whenever possible.

 

 

HOWEVER, the 2 most important things for ME, personally, are:

 

1... Lack of the Central Staircase:. See point 6, above.. Cannot tell you how many times, per 7- or 10-day cruise, I find myself taking the center staircase just to zip up or down between decks.... I mean, the central stairs are the most popular to do this with, right?... ESPECIALLY if one has a mid-ship cabin.. Now, if I had to wait and wait for an elevator (along with grumpy, frustrated passengers who are ready to kill each other) just to go, say, from deck 7 to deck 8 (WITHOUT having to walk ALL the way to the front or back...and then ALL the way back to the middle...) that would drive me crazy.... not being able to do something that would normally take me literally a few seconds.. (AND for what reason?!!, some executive decided they could save a few bucks by not putting in the Central staircase - and thus frustrate thousands of passengers... Yeah, smart).

 

2... Lack of the Explorer's Lounge:. As posted previously in this thread, it is one of our absolute favorite place on the Princess ships.. The design, set-up, comfortable/cushiony chairs - which you can arrange nicely around tables giving yourselves plenty of room.. When we're home thinking about a Princess cruise, one of the things I know that enters my mind.. are all the wonderful things we've done in the Explorer's Lounge.. Taking this trademark venue away in these new-builds.. is a travesty, in my opinion.

 

 

So there you have it.... some things are more important to people than others.. Some will agree with my "important" items 100%, some will disagree 100% (and most will fall somewhere in the middle).. Basically you have to judge for yourself what features are most important to you and which are not.. You can either decide that these are so important to you that you will not even sail on these new ships at all.... OR, you may feel you are willing to "give it a try", and see if these features really are indeed as important as you think... and keep an open mind that perhaps the other *positive* design features of the ship may supersede those that are lacking....for YOU.

 

This is how I think, anyway.

 

- Rick

.

Edited August 4, 2014 by Rick-cruiser

[caribill]

I haven't been following all the reports on the Royal but what's wrong with the Crown Grill being to noisy? How could it be any worse than the other ships? :confused:

 

Because the Wheelhouse bar is right there and noise from the Wheelhouse Bar area goes into the Crown Grill area.

[Colo Cruiser]

I haven't been following all the reports on the Royal but what's wrong with the Crown Grill being to noisy? How could it be any worse than the other ships? :confused:

 

It shares a venue with a band.

[Woobstr112G]

For all intent and purposes the Royal-class and Grand-class aren't that much different in their general layouts:

 

- Main showrooms (Princess Theater and aft main showroom) are in the exact same place.

 

- Main Dining Rooms (all three of them) are in the same exact place.

 

- Atrium and it's three main venues (International Cafe, Vines, Crooners) are in the exact same locations.

 

- The gift shops are all pretty much in the same area.

 

- Not all Sabatini's and Crown Grill restaurants are in the same place on all Grand Class, nor are all casinos, however...

 

- The Casino is still basically in the same place.

 

- The three elevator banks are in the same place.

 

- The alternate entertainment venue (Princess Live) is in the exact same place as it's corresponding venue on the Grand-class ships.

 

- The main interior thoroughfare on Promenade Deck (from Princess Theater at the very front of the ship to the aft showroom at the stern) still runs along the same path.

 

- The main pool deck venues (Prego, Trident Grill, soft serve ice cream, Mermaids Tail bar) are all in the same general areas as on the Grand-class.

 

- The Horizon Court and Outrigger Bars are in the same place.

 

- The Sanctuary is in the exact same place.

 

Now, if you're more specific and say that that the new location of the Fitness Center wasn't where you'd like it to be, or the combination venue of the Crown Grill and Wheelhouse Bar doesn't work for you, or the atrium was too big for you, or the Spa location and Photo Gallery location was weird, then we have specifics. But that's all still just personal opinion.

 

I spent two weeks on Royal Princess and on Day 1 found it very easy to make my way around the ship. I'm sure having studied the deck plans for six months helped, but the general layouts of the Royal Princess really isn't that much different than Ruby Princess.

 

I didn't read through the entire 10 PAGES of this thread, but I'm sure it's the same Royal-class haters, lovers, and those in the middle that have "been there and enjoyed it, but still prefer the (insert name of favorite Princess ship)".

 

But as it was already mentioned, this 'war of words' has been going on for two years. And it's a sure fire bet nothing significant will change from the Regal Princess to this new build that will alter anyone's current state of mind about these ships.

 

And a question for Caribill:

 

Do you think maybe the lower entry cost of Regal Princes while sailing in the Caribbean compared to her fleet mate Ruby Princess is due to the potential of more onboard spending on the Regal Princess?

 

 

 

P.S. I too would love to see them place one of these three sisters in the Far East, and bring Sapphire Princess back stateside. But was she altered too much in her last dry-dock period for that to happen?

 

:D

 

Dave;

 

I think what was inferred was not that the layouts are different, it's what Princess did to the layouts when they built the Royal class......

 

Bob

[Woobstr112G]

I find it incredible that two years (that's right 2 years :eek:) since I first saw discussions and disagreements about the Royal class of ships, there still seems to be a great deal of acrimony. We were eager to book the Royal for its maiden transatlantic, which we did on the first day. Once we looked at the deck plans we knew it was not the ship for us so we canceled. No, we don't need to try it to know that, because it is lacking so many of the things important to us when we cruise and we don't care about many of the new features it has. We've moved on and continue to cruise with a cruise for me and our DD this year on the Emerald and one for me and my DH next year on the Emerald. We've also sailed on Seabourn and will do so again in 2 months. I don't understand why both those who love the new ships and those who don't continue to insist that the others are wrong. There are so many ships to sail on and we can all choose what we like for whatever reasons we may have. [/i QUOTE]

 

Ann;

 

I think the biggest problem, at least for me, is the way those of us who are not fond of the design are seemingly vilified from time to time and made to think that our opinions do not count simply because we do not like the ship.....

 

Bob

Edited August 4, 2014 by Woobstr112G

[RickEk]

Well, I, for one, would be willing to take a bet that they will open the central staircase to passengers on the new-build... ;)

[shredie]

I think the biggest problem, at least for me, is the way those of us who are not fond of the design are seemingly vilified from time to time and made to think that our opinions do not count simply because we do not like the ship.....

 

Bob[/size][/i]

 

There does seem to be a real hostility toward the "naysayers" (as said elsewhere) who don't like the new ships. I find it curious. One argument is "don't knock it until you try it." Fair enough. But there are several here who have tried it and didn't like it. In that case, the argument is then simply "don't knock it." Anyone who likes any of the ships is entitled to do so, and it should work the other way around. There are also people like me who have never been on the ships but aren't really tempted to do so. True, I might like the Royal if I sailed on her, but I probably won't do it anytime soon. I do not like big ships. I have been on my share of cruise ships, and I like the small ones. I really like them a lot. The CB is too big for me, so I think the Royal, et al. will be, too. I can't say from experience that I don't like the ship, but I can say from experience that I'm pretty sure I wouldn't.

[Northender]

Hi Adele;

 

Maybe a few, but I'm not holding my breath for anything drastic. I'm sure the new build will have the same small elevators, lack of any real promenade, the inability to enjoy a quiet dinner at the C.G., hideously small balconies and overpriced "Owner Suites, etc, etc, etc.....

 

Bob

 

Well said Bob.

 

Fix the soot issue. HUGE! :eek:

 

I am hoping there is a way to add some square footage to the balconies.

 

Elevator issue is huge. Especially for the handicapped. People did not care at all about them, just rushed to get on, no matter when they got to the elevators. It was almost sinful.

 

Center staircase is another problem, but to me not a huge one.

 

We did go to Crown Grill ONCE. Too noisy for us. But the food was delicious, the staff wonderful and everything cooked to perfection.

 

There are a few more on my plate. I am not a naysayer, in fact I felt overall the Royal Princess is a beautiful ship. I just would not recommend an aft balcony until the issue with the soot is taken care of. Perhaps it has been and I just did not read about it.

 

The next 3 years will be interesting. I would assume Ms. New Build will not sail out of Venice. Would love to know where tho.:D Just sitting back and waiting. It would be nice to fix a few of the drastic items.;)

[icat2000]

Take them both & send the old ones back. :cool:

Sure which ones do you want Sea, Sun or Dawn Princess?

[icat2000]

 

Agreed.....:):):)

 

Bob

Bob - You sure you want one of ours. The Sea Princess has been limping around for months. But if you insist happy to grant your wish :D

[bdjam]

I'd like to know what Jan is smoking in thinking they're successful. Her bar must be set pretty damn low

 

I don't think she'd admit publicly that the ships aren't successful. She'd be out of a job pretty quick. And while one would think that if the ships were not successful, they would not continue to build them, but we don't know what agreement has been made between Carnival Corp and the shipyard.

 

I would be happy to see these ships go to the Australian/Asian market if we can have Diamond, Sapphire and the Sun Class back.

[bhopal21]

while one would think that if the ships were not successful, they would not continue to build them, but we don't know what agreement has been made between Carnival Corp and the shipyard.

 

 

Good point!

 

Unbeknownst to us Carnival may have agreed to a 3,4 or more build of that design before the Royal was even announced.

 

Mike:)

[RickEk]

Good point!

 

Unbeknownst to us Carnival may have agreed to a 3,4 or more build of that design before the Royal was even announced.

 

Mike:)

 

That kind of contract is always on an option basis. If they didn't think the ships were successful, they would have exercised an option to get out of the contract. Carnival Corp. has enough clout with Fincantieri to make sure that happened..

[Ethel5]

I don't think she'd admit publicly that the ships aren't successful. She'd be out of a job pretty quick. And while one would think that if the ships were not successful, they would not continue to build them, but we don't know what agreement has been made between Carnival Corp and the shipyard.

 

I would be happy to see these ships go to the Australian/Asian market if we can have Diamond, Sapphire and the Sun Class back.

 

I agree with Diamond and Sapphire, but the Sun class is getting a little long in the tooth. What I REALLY would like is for some new builds to be like the old Regal.

[shredie]

I agree with Diamond and Sapphire, but the Sun class is getting a little long in the tooth. What I REALLY would like is for some new builds to be like the old Regal.

 

Yes!

[Loonbeam]

From reading their respective reports, RCCLs primary driver of profits is onboard spend, NOT room revenue. For any people that have been on RCCL, you will never complain about opportunities to spend money again, especially on the mega ships. Some ships have 19 or so FOR FEE dining options. They charge for certain items in the MDR too.

 

So if balconies are your preference they may be right for you.

 

On NCL, which is also sticking with slightly larger balconies, they are charging for some entertainment programs on some ships.

 

Stock price is NOT an indicator of approval or demand, its an indicator of profits and expected profits. How they get to the profits is not as much as a concern as the stability of that flow.

 

Which is what i said earlier. These ships are designed to make the passenger spend. It's nice to see RCL can still build ships with decent size balconies and their stock price is through the roof. They can exist but Princess has chosen the cheap route

[Loonbeam]

Where the Royal Class has a design weakness is certain itineraries. I do not think she will do well on Caribbean runs because of the relatively high number of sea days and the warmer temps. The lack of pool space will be aggravated on those runs. But Princess hasn't targeted that area as a profit center.

 

On more port intensive options, I think that class will do fine, and it would not surprise me at all to see one of them dedicated to Asia when the new builds come out (possible with the new one being designed more like the Diamond)

 

Actually, they are. Last fall, winter and spring, there were a ton of specials (really cheap specials) on the Royal Princess. This summer, tons of specials on both Royal and Regal Princess. They do not compare price was to RCCL's top ships - those are going for a premium when Princess is giving away the Royal at times.

 

They are filling the ships but not at the price they want.

[Working 2 Cruise]

I agree with Diamond and Sapphire, but the Sun class is getting a little long in the tooth. What I REALLY would like is for some new builds to be like the old Regal.

 

Well, that's not going to happen... I guess you can afford Seabourn or Silversea, von voyage!