My Royal Princess Review =)

[Highwaydude]

Greetings and welcome to my review of the Royal Princess. Sail Date Feb 8th. This was my 12th Cruise and my 5th cruise with Princess and my 1st cruise onboard the new larger class Princess Ship. Prior to this cruise I was always reading such negative reviews towards the balconies, and the lack of stairs midship. So i was quite nervous that I would be very disappointed once onboard the Royal. So lets get to it…

 

Originally we booked a Mini-Suite because I prefer the larger bathroom shower/tub combo. About two months before the cruise we were offered an up-sell offer from Princess from a Mini-Suite to a Suite for $399/person. We pounced on the offer and luckily we got it. Our room was

R603. The room was beautiful. The first thing I did was go to the balcony and see how narrow they are since all the reviews online talk about how small they are. Now considering I was in a suite, which was like having two balconies in one, I never thought they were too narrow thou. Now if you compare them to the mini-suites on the Ruby/Emerald/Grand class ships, then yes they are smaller because the balconies do not extend out further like those ships. But overall, my first thoughts were when I walked out on the balcony was..what are all those negative reviews for? It wasn’t that bad. So lets squash that complaint. Now I did tour a mini-suite on the Royal and I felt the mini-suites on the Ruby/Crown/Grand class ships were a tad better. I liked the bathroom but the main room seemed to lack some of the storage areas that I recall on the Ruby/Crown/Grand class ships.

 

One of the perks Suite Owners have is your own Concierge Lounge which offered a variety of snacks and drinks you could pick up and take back to your room. You could also make reservations thru out the ship with the Concierge Lounge staff. She took care of all our dinner reservations and request all week. Suite owners also get to have dinner on embarkation evening at any of the speciality dinning venues. We choose the Crown Grill and was very nice and quiet since only Suite guest can dine that evening. Another perk was breakfast in Sabatini’s which we ate at a few times for breakfast. The list of perks goes on and on so if you do get a chance for an up-sell offer to a suite I would highly recommend jumping on the offer.

 

Dining - we went with the anytime dinning and our 2nd night we dined in the Concerto Dining Room and that is where we got off to a bad start. Our service was slow and then the waiter goofed up on a few of our orders. So the 3rd night we decided to go to Symphony Dining Room and that is were we had excellent service from there on out. Our waiter Larry really made for some memorable dinning. The food I felt was very good as well thru out the cruise. I had no major complaints there. Even the buffet area which we dined in one evening was very good. So overall I was very satisfied with the food onboard the Royal Princess.

 

Entertainment - We went to both the major production shows and we had a taste of two different performing crews. The 1st production show was that crews last performances for their contract and they really performed the show well. The new cast who performed on the 2nd production show felt new and nervous since it was their first time performing on the ship. So I am sure as they get more comfortable in performing that will improve. My recommendation would be to find the string quartet who plays sometimes in the Piazza or near the Crown Grill and sit back and relax listening to these very talented young ladies. If you enjoy classical music played on strings, then this is a must see venue. As for the other entertainment, I can’t comment on since I didn’t go to those.

 

Overall Ship Layout - Yes especially on Day 1 those middle elevators are a nightmare as everyone is boarding the ship and using those. I did feel thou as the week went on I became used to the fact that the mid ship elevators are usually more crowded then the front/rear elevators and stairs. But was it a major nightmare that so many reviews say it is? NO. Just calm down people, your on a cruise and vacation so relax and enjoy yourself. If your familiar with the flow on the Grand/Ruby/Crown class ships then you’ll learn the layout of these ships very quickly as well.

 

Favorite Area to relax - Outrigger Bar in the lounge seats. At the end of the day this was the area we always migrated to for a drink and socialize with friends while looking out at the ocean.

 

Lotus Spa/The Enclave - We also purchased the Enclave package which is $175/person if purchase as a couple. You purchase this on embarkation day because they only sell 60 passes and you get access to a very nice relaxing area to wind down in. The large hot tub sure beats the over crowded hot tubs on the lido/sun decks. Plus you get steam rooms and many other features.

 

Now to my complaints I didn’t like. I miss the wrap around promenade which you could walk around the ship. Very sad that Princess decided to get rid of this. I sure hope in future new builds that they bring this back. My 2nd complaint was the lack of bar service staff while laying out in the sun or just sitting outside relaxing. Almost all times we would have to go to the bar to get a drink instead of ordering it from a bar waiter walking around serving drinks. Which brings me to the subject that we learned thru staff that they were running the ship on a smaller staff then they should be. Now I don’t know if this is related to the fact that the Royal was scheduled for dry dock soon and many of the staff’s contracts may have expired, but overall I just felt that area of service was lacking onboard this ship.

 

Overall I was very please with the cruise and I would give it a solid 4 stars out of 5.

 

Now for a quick dis-embarkation tip - for $20 you can have Princess check you into your flight and print out your luggage tags and you place them outside your room the last evening of the cruise and you pick them up when you get back to your home airport. That means no hauling around your luggage in taxi’s or to the airport and just made coming home so much easier. Highly recommend taking advantage of that option.

 

So if your soon to be cruising on the Royal Princess, don’t get all nervous from some of the negative reviews on here. Just go and relax and enjoy yourself. I sure did. =)

[TracieABD]

I have been on the Royal twice and am planning another cruise in June. I love the addition of the Concierge Lounge. Thank you for your review!

[davekathy]

OP...thanks for sharing your Cruise.

Edited February 22, 2016 by davekathy

[riclop]

Thanks for your review.

[dforeigner]

Thank you for taking time to write a review.

[Nezmo]

Thanks for posting. We're on her 3/13 and cannot wait.

[Woobstr112G]

OP;

 

Thanks for taking the time to write and post your review.....:):):)

 

Bob

Edited February 22, 2016 by Woobstr112G

[kimlovesfl]

We were on this same cruise, and we loved the Royal. I think most of the complaints are unfounded. I also wrote a review, (well, more of a diary) of my aboard the ship.

[jennybenny]

Loved your review! Thanks for sharing.

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for the comments.

[spingal]

Highwaydude,

 

Thanks for your review! And your help with my Enclave question.:D

 

One more question.....do you know if American was one of the airlines that allows you to check luggage at the pier?

[caribill]

Suite owners also get to have dinner on embarkation evening at any of the speciality dinning venues. We choose the Crown Grill and was very nice and quiet since only Suite guest can dine that evening. My experience has been that the venue is not restricted to suite guests that evening, but that very few others want that long of a dinner on embarkation day. That is the reason they only allow suite guests to have the free dinner on embarkation day, lack of demand from other passengers.

 

Now for a quick dis-embarkation tip - for $20 you can have Princess check you into your flight and print out your luggage tags and you place them outside your room the last evening of the cruise and you pick them up when you get back to your home airport. That means no hauling around your luggage in taxi’s or to the airport and just made coming home so much easier. Highly recommend taking advantage of that option. Note that there are time restrictions on this (for example, at FLL flights must be after 11:30 AM). Also, it is only offered at a few disembarkation ports.

 

 

Thanks for your report.

Edited February 22, 2016 by caribill

[Coolmama_1]

Thanks for the review. We were on the Royal last April and will be on again in the fall.

[Keith1010]

Thank you for your review.

 

Keith

[trystran72]

Thanks for the review! Sounds like a great trip! I would love to try out that enclave someday.

[Highwaydude]

Highwaydude,

 

Thanks for your review! And your help with my Enclave question.:D

 

One more question.....do you know if American was one of the airlines that allows you to check luggage at the pier?

 

We flew United and Princess checked us into our flight and printed out luggage tags the last night on the cruise. The next time I saw them was when I got back home to O'Hare in Illinois. I would think it works for all the airlines.

[Highwaydude]

and if you'd like to see my photos from the cruise you can find me on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/highwaydude

[Mike&Nancy]

Hey Highway Dude,

We're booked in aft cabin 725 and it appears that it is right below the Windjammer and also that the deck is NOT covered. Which would mean if someone were standing at the edge they would be able to see into/onto our deck. Can you verify this for me in some way?? We love to sail aft but not comfortable with someone looking at me in the morning when I'm having my coffee, if you know what I mean, LOL. If I have to give this up, and I will if there's no cover, I'll go for a mini. Thanks in advance.

[Northender]

Thanks for your review. Enjoyed reading it.:)

[OnVacation11]

Highwaydude,

 

Thanks for your review! And your help with my Enclave question.:D

 

One more question.....do you know if American was one of the airlines that allows you to check luggage at the pier?

 

Yes, it is. I used this service with American to PHL for the 1st time in December 2015 and it worked flawlessly. The best $20 ever spend on a cruise :)

[Mom33]

Hey Highway Dude,

We're booked in aft cabin 725 and it appears that it is right below the Windjammer and also that the deck is NOT covered. Which would mean if someone were standing at the edge they would be able to see into/onto our deck. Can you verify this for me in some way?? We love to sail aft but not comfortable with someone looking at me in the morning when I'm having my coffee, if you know what I mean, LOL. If I have to give this up, and I will if there's no cover, I'll go for a mini. Thanks in advance.

 

Horizon Court is above the aft decks on Royal Princess. There is no Windjammer on the ship.

Which deck is 725 on? If it is Marina, then the chances are you can be observed on your balcony.

Some of the aft decks are partially covered.

 

OP....thanks for your review.:)

[Highwaydude]

Hey Highway Dude,

We're booked in aft cabin 725 and it appears that it is right below the Windjammer and also that the deck is NOT covered. Which would mean if someone were standing at the edge they would be able to see into/onto our deck. Can you verify this for me in some way?? We love to sail aft but not comfortable with someone looking at me in the morning when I'm having my coffee, if you know what I mean, LOL. If I have to give this up, and I will if there's no cover, I'll go for a mini. Thanks in advance.

 

If your cabin in the rear of the ship then yes. When I would stand at the edge out back in the Outrigger Bar you can look down right into the balconies below. You do get a larger balcony thou in the aft balcony rooms.

[Highwaydude]

and here's my video I created from the Royal Princess Cruise.. enjoy

 

[Redwing55]

and here's my video I created from the Royal Princess Cruise.. enjoy

 

 

Great vid... Nice tease for our trip next week..... Different itinerary;), but same ship.

[vickie_bernie]

Great review, you got on the day we got off. We were in R605

 

Yes we too found a lack of bar staff on the pool decks but manageable.

 

I don't know about less staff though. Note the ship does not go into drydock until Sept so the issue with contracts would not be the reason. Also the ship keeps all the crew on board during a dry dock and they are assigned jobs. The dry dock will only be two weeks and is mainly a tune up for warranty purposes.

 

I can report that the ship is getting the mid ship staircase converted from crew only to passenger access. I agree with you, it was a bit of a pain but certainly not a huge issue, like you we adapted.

 

She is also getting a staircase from deck 17 aft to deck 16 aft to the open lounge areas.

 

Of course a lot of behind the scene work too. You know kick the tires :D