Cruise Review - Mexico March 23-30 Royal Princess

[travelphreak]

We just returned from an excellent cruise to Mexico on Royal Princess.  We are active seniors and live about 4 hours drive from the Port of Los Angeles so no airline flights were necessary.  This was our 30th cruise and we have done this particular cruise several times on multiple cruise lines.  Although we have some complaints and recommendations - this was a GREAT cruise and wouldn't hesitate to do it again.  Our whale watching excursion in Cabo was outstanding!

 

THE SHIP: The Royal Princess is the largest ship we have been on and this was the first Medallion cruise for this ship.  It had its issues (Medallion readers that wouldn't read!) but mostly worked.  It was necessary to do everything twice using both the Medallion and the cruise card but as Princess perfects the system that eventually won't be necessary.  We were in an obstructed view deluxe balcony stateroom.  The balcony is much smaller than other ships (we are spoiled by Caribe Deck on Grand/Star/Crown/Ruby).  The theater is about the same size as smaller ships but with 3500+ passengers it was necessary to get there almost an hour before to get a good seat.  The Horizon Court/Horizon Bistro was a mixed bag - its advantage is lots more seating but its disadvantage is that the buffet is spread out over a large area with no logic to what type of food is where.  It was necessary to wander up and down to find the type of food you were looking for.  It was also great to have a our duty-free liquor be delivered to our stateroom the night before disembarkation instead of having to stand in line to pick it up at 5 AM on debarkation day (are you reading this Carnival?).

 

INTERNET: This was by far the fastest internet we have ever had on a cruise ship - it was almost like home.  We are Platinum so our free 150 minutes each was more than enough.  I just used my laptop in the stateroom but my DW used her smartphone everywhere on the ship.  Princess now has unlimited internet for a good price - we didn't need it but it looks like a good deal.

 

ENTERTAINMENT: The stage shows, comedian and magician were all excellent.  I usually don't care for production shows but Encore! was FANTASTIC.  I can't imagine how difficult it must be for singers to do more than half the show in a foreign language!  The Cruise Director (Matt O) was very good although a little hyper - I don't know where he gets all that energy!

 

COMPLAINT #1: This may be nitpicky to some but it was really frustrating to us - I think Princess has regressed and could learn from what was right about older ships.  When you step out of the elevator on older ships the sign would tell you what deck you were on and arrows for ODD and EVEN.  It was also easy to know which direction because the carpeting was red on starboard side (odd numbers) and blue on port side (even numbers).  If you looked closer at the carpeting on each side there were designs showing a ship facing one direction or the other so you would know whether you were walking forward or aft.  The Royal Princess has none of these and we were often walking the wrong direction out of the elevator or coming from the stairs.

 

COMPLAINT #2: I have given up trying to find a decent cup of HOT coffee on a cruise ship.  I finally started drinking tea just so it would be hot.  How is it that McDonalds and Starbucks can get this right and cruise ships cannot?

 

COMPLAINT #3: On each cruise we usually eat in the Crown Grill at least twice.  The setting and the service is always outstanding - the steak not so much.  Over the past two or three years we have seen the quality of beef go from prime to what I could buy in the supermarket.  My ribeye was so bad on the first night that when we returned a few nights later I ordered lobster!

 

CONCLUSION: I'm glad we were able to try a larger ship.  We still prefer smaller ships but we can definitely see why people like a larger ship and we will probably try one again.  If anyone has any questions I will try to answer what I can.

 

Until the next cruise - cheers!  Harold & Donna

[Coral]

19 minutes ago, travelphreak said:

 

COMPLAINT #1: This may be nitpicky to some but it was really frustrating to us - I think Princess has regressed and could learn from what was right about older ships.  When you step out of the elevator on older ships the sign would tell you what deck you were on and arrows for ODD and EVEN.  It was also easy to know which direction because the carpeting was red on starboard side (odd numbers) and blue on port side (even numbers).  If you looked closer at the carpeting on each side there were designs showing a ship facing one direction or the other so you would know whether you were walking forward or aft.  The Royal Princess has none of these and we were often walking the wrong direction out of the elevator or coming from the stairs.

 

COMPLAINT #3: On each cruise we usually eat in the Crown Grill at least twice.  The setting and the service is always outstanding - the steak not so much.  Over the past two or three years we have seen the quality of beef go from prime to what I could buy in the supermarket.  My ribeye was so bad on the first night that when we returned a few nights later I ordered lobster!

 

Welcome back. On one of the ships I have been on with new carpet - there are colored squares on the outside to tell you if you are port or starboard. Most people didn't notice that.

 

Princess has never had prime grade of beef since I started sailing them in 1997. Maybe choice grade a long time ago, but never prime. I am guessing now the grade is closer to select. I can't say I have had good quality beef on Princess in a very long time. I live where we produce most of the prime grade beef so am pretty familiar with the grades. I would agree with you the steak on Princess is nothing to write home about.

Edited March 31, 2019 by Coral

[Mom33]

Here's a tip if you aren't sure which way your facing when you leave an elevator on a Princess ship: all their ships have their even numbered cabins on the port side and odd numbered  cabins on the starboard side. 

The lowest numbers go toward the bow and the higher numbers go toward the aft. The signs are posted in the entrance of the hallways from the elevator lobby similar to hotels.😊

[cynbar]

Thanks for your review. I loved your comment about ordering lobster --- it's so true that the quality of the steaks has gone downhill over the years! Hope the lobster was good. We live on coastal New England and generally don't like cruise ship lobster, but the one served to us at the Crown Grill last time wasn't bad at all.

[4cats4me]

Thanks for the review. We love these larger ships.  If you can recall, what time was earliest disembarkation, please? We are trying to decide between self disembarkation or traditional disembarkation on 4/13,  and I was curious about the earliest times for both categories, since we have a very long drive home and wish to hit the road ASAP.  Thanks so much.  

[teachtocruis]

We were on this cruise as well. It was a fabulous week! And what a beautiful ship the Royal is.

While it is quite large, with many passengers, I felt it absorbed the crowds well. Except for the popular games in Princess Live. Having the marriage match game in there was a huge mistake! It was standing room only and stifling hot.

I agree about the carpet and knowing which way you are going. Several times I found myself headed down the wrong way on the wrong side. Annoying. But I kept telling myself I was walking off that chocolate journey dessert. LOL

We ate at the Crown Grill twice on this cruise, a first for us, even though we have been on many Princess Cruises before. We had the BOGO for the first night and a gift from our travel agent for the 2nd. We were not impressed. The service was terrible both times and the food mediocre. We both felt we would have enjoyed the mdr more. Probably will not plan on that again unless we have another complete freebie. Wasn’t worth the $29 to us. But I do realize that food is subjective. 

All in all, a fantastic cruise and I would definitely sail the Royal again.

[oskidunker]

I also found the food poor in the crown grill. No more gor me. Dining room beef was better

[partybarbie]

Thank you for the review.  I was wondering about the Crown Grill, and after your experience, I will probably pass on it.  I'll be on the ship in a couple of weeks and I'm really looking forward to it. 

 

[CynCyn]

20 minutes ago, partybarbie said:

Thank you for the review.  I was wondering about the Crown Grill, and after your experience, I will probably pass on it.  I'll be on the ship in a couple of weeks and I'm really looking forward to it. 

 

I will echo their sentiments.  My experience on the Emerald with the Crown Grill was not fun.  They forgot my table and I waited a long time for my steak.  Once I got it, it was not great.  I am to a point where I will only order steak if I know the quality of the beef or I will purchase and cook my own! I did love the S’mores dessert but will not go back to the Crown Grill.  

 

I loved Share but it was the old menu.  Trying to decide if I will go back in May.

[travelphreak]

42 minutes ago, 4cats4me said:

Thanks for the review. We love these larger ships.  If you can recall, what time was earliest disembarkation, please? We are trying to decide between self disembarkation or traditional disembarkation on 4/13,  and I was curious about the earliest times for both categories, since we have a very long drive home and wish to hit the road ASAP.  Thanks so much.  

Self disembarkation is usually first and it was for us.  They will disembark from both decks 6 and 7.  We were in self disembarkation Group D and we met in the casino at 7:10 AM.  We actually walked off at about 7:50 AM because of a delay in clearing the ship (Princess can't control that).  Once we were off the lines for immigration/customs were fairly short (bravo CBP - they had 10 agents instead of the usual 3 or 4).  We have never actually checked luggage before but the meeting times were between 7:45 AM and 10:30 AM depending on whether you were catching a flight from LAX or not and depending on the color of your disembarkation tag.  We found the disembarkation pretty easy and fast - we were out in the parking lot in less than 15 minutes.

[partybarbie]

26 minutes ago, CynCyn said:

I will echo their sentiments.  My experience on the Emerald with the Crown Grill was not fun.  They forgot my table and I waited a long time for my steak.  Once I got it, it was not great.  I am to a point where I will only order steak if I know the quality of the beef or I will purchase and cook my own! I did love the S’mores dessert but will not go back to the Crown Grill.  

 

I loved Share but it was the old menu.  Trying to decide if I will go back in May.

Surprisingly, a lot seems to depend on the ship.  My rib-eye on the Ruby was terrible.  The cut was uneven, causing one end to be med-well, the middle med-rare (my request) and the other end rare.  On the Grand last year, I ordered the filet mignon, and it was really good.  Hopefully we will be able to do the Wine Maker's dinner on the Royal.  I also like Sabatini's, both the old and new menu, so that's an option for us too.

 

Edited March 31, 2019 by partybarbie

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for the comments.

[4cats4me]

49 minutes ago, travelphreak said:

Self disembarkation is usually first and it was for us.  They will disembark from both decks 6 and 7.  We were in self disembarkation Group D and we met in the casino at 7:10 AM.  We actually walked off at about 7:50 AM because of a delay in clearing the ship (Princess can't control that).  Once we were off the lines for immigration/customs were fairly short (bravo CBP - they had 10 agents instead of the usual 3 or 4).  We have never actually checked luggage before but the meeting times were between 7:45 AM and 10:30 AM depending on whether you were catching a flight from LAX or not and depending on the color of your disembarkation tag.  We found the disembarkation pretty easy and fast - we were out in the parking lot in less than 15 minutes.

 

Thank you so much.  This is very helpful information.  In FT. Lauderdale we are usually off the ship by 7:15, and SaN Pedro  usually around 8:00 -8:45 am, so now I have a much better idea  what to expect.   We will definitively do self disembark, since the later the wait the longer the lines. 

We will just plan on waiting  in the Vista lounge to disembark, as usual.  

Edited March 31, 2019 by 4cats4me

[4cats4me]

1 hour ago, oskidunker said:

I also found the food poor in the crown grill. No more gor me. Dining room beef was better

 

We found it excellent on the Crown Princess 5 months ago and every time on the Regal and Royal.  Only time it wasn’t so great was on the Grand four years ago.  

I always order the filet and my husband gets the rib-eye.  

We have had excellent service every time except for once on the Regal when the place was packed, we think, due to  Princess giving out lots of free dinners for certain booking promos, and the server was overwhelmed, unlike the relaxed service we encountered on the Crown a few months ago.  Very enjoyable.  

Edited March 31, 2019 by 4cats4me

[oskidunker]

I was on the grand. 

[CineGraphic]

I always get the lamb chops, and it usually ends up being the best dish of the entire cruise.

[4cats4me]

48 minutes ago, oskidunker said:

I was on the grand. 

 

Well, that explains it, Oskie, you need to sail on better ships. LOL. (Just kidding, we love the Grand)

[oskidunker]

No e. Thanks

[oskidunker]

Do the right thing, Princess. Buy better beef and don’t freeze it for more than 6 months. 

[Cruise Raider]

23 hours ago, 4cats4me said:

Thanks for the review. We love these larger ships.  If you can recall, what time was earliest disembarkation, please? We are trying to decide between self disembarkation or traditional disembarkation on 4/13,  and I was curious about the earliest times for both categories, since we have a very long drive home and wish to hit the road ASAP.  Thanks so much.  

 

We are also on that sailing and have an early flight out from Long Beach.  Glad to hear that disembarkation wasn't a huge issue.  

[Cruise Raider]

On 3/31/2019 at 11:50 AM, travelphreak said:

INTERNET: This was by far the fastest internet we have ever had on a cruise ship - it was almost like home.  We are Platinum so our free 150 minutes each was more than enough.  I just used my laptop in the stateroom but my DW used her smartphone everywhere on the ship.  Princess now has unlimited internet for a good price - we didn't need it but it looks like a good deal.

We are sailing on the Royal in a couple of weeks.  I have pre-purchased the unlimited internet for the 7 night sailing for $60 for one device.  Did you happen to know if they were offering it at a cheaper price onboard?  I've heard that they were offering a special for $50 for elite members ... just wondering if I should cancel my pre-cruise purchase and repurchase once onboard.  It is only $10 but that would equate to a martini for one of us.  

 

COMPLAINT #1: This may be nitpicky to some but it was really frustrating to us - I think Princess has regressed and could learn from what was right about older ships.  When you step out of the elevator on older ships the sign would tell you what deck you were on and arrows for ODD and EVEN.  It was also easy to know which direction because the carpeting was red on starboard side (odd numbers) and blue on port side (even numbers).  If you looked closer at the carpeting on each side there were designs showing a ship facing one direction or the other so you would know whether you were walking forward or aft.  The Royal Princess has none of these and we were often walking the wrong direction out of the elevator or coming from the stairs.

I used to love when cruiseships had some red waves woven into the carpet on the port side of the ship.  And ... those waves pointed in a certain direction that you always knew which way you were headed.  Alas, I haven't seen that on a ship in a few years now.  Why they got rid of them most certainly did with cost.  It's easier to patch with one type of carpet than two.  I will have to figure out how we are going to fare when we sail on her ... maybe we'll just get a lot of extra exercise walking up and down the hallways and then retracing our steps.  LOL 

 

COMPLAINT #2: I have given up trying to find a decent cup of HOT coffee on a cruise ship.  I finally started drinking tea just so it would be hot.  How is it that McDonalds and Starbucks can get this right and cruise ships cannot?

Just a thought ... and I agree with you wholeheartedly... the coffee is intentionally not hot on a moving ship.  Think of all the complaints of severe burns they would get if the beverages were steaming hot.  I've noticed that even the hot water for tea is not as hot as what we make at home.  It's just a guess on my part .. maybe all poppycock!!  

 

COMPLAINT #3: On each cruise we usually eat in the Crown Grill at least twice.  The setting and the service is always outstanding - the steak not so much.  Over the past two or three years we have seen the quality of beef go from prime to what I could buy in the supermarket.  My ribeye was so bad on the first night that when we returned a few nights later I ordered lobster!

I was thinking about trying the Crown Grill but on second thought, I may pass.  I don't even eat red meat but my DH does and he wouldn't be happy with a so so steak.  We were on the Grand with my brother and his wife and tried the Crown Grill for her birthday.  The waitress told us that the filet mignon was great, so my brother and his wife ordered it an said it was outstanding.  I got the lobster, also a great choice.  My DH tried the rib eye ... said it was awful.  It was the last night of the sailing and he was full from all the sides so didn't even bother to mention why he couldn't eat it.  He will always go for the server's recommendation from now on, though.  

 

Thank you for your review.  We've never sailed on an of the newer Princess ships and am excited to try it out in a couple of weeks.  

Also, thanks for the answer above about the disembarkation.  Glad to hear it went relatively well.  

 

[greenie082756]

Thanks for doing the review! 

 

We will be on her this Saturday and I am so looking forward to experiencing this class of ship. 

 

Did you happen to try Alfredo's? I am looking forward to trying a calzone as I have not had one in many, many years. If the pizza is not thin crust I think my DH would like to try a good pizza.  Neither one of us care for the pizza by the pool. Thin crust and flavor not that good. 

 

 

[4cats4me]

33 minutes ago, greenie082756 said:

Thanks for doing the review! 

 

We will be on her this Saturday and I am so looking forward to experiencing this class of ship. 

 

Did you happen to try Alfredo's? I am looking forward to trying a calzone as I have not had one in many, many years. If the pizza is not thin crust I think my DH would like to try a good pizza.  Neither one of us care for the pizza by the pool. Thin crust and flavor not that good. 

 

 

Alfredo’s crust is wafer thin. Wood firef, with emphasis on ingredients vs bread, like in Italy. It is more like a cracker and wayyyyy thinner than the pizza up by the pool. 

[greenie082756]

20 minutes ago, 4cats4me said:

Alfredo’s crust is wafer thin. Wood firef, with emphasis on ingredients vs bread, like in Italy. It is more like a cracker and wayyyyy thinner than the pizza up by the pool. 

Hmmmm...well he will just have to try something else while I have a calzone 😁

[jasbo49]

On 3/31/2019 at 11:50 AM, travelphreak said:

 

COMPLAINT #1: This may be nitpicky to some but it was really frustrating to us - I think Princess has regressed and could learn from what was right about older ships.  When you step out of the elevator on older ships the sign would tell you what deck you were on and arrows for ODD and EVEN.  It was also easy to know which direction because the carpeting was red on starboard side (odd numbers) and blue on port side (even numbers)....

 

This whole navigation thing became a lot easier for me when on our last cruise (Regal) I realized that almost every time I got off an elevator I was facing forward. There are just a couple of odd elevators at midship (those glass tube things in the Piazza) that faced the stern. 

 

So, for the most part, when you get off the lift, just go left if you want the port side and right for starboard. No color codes necessary.

 

Jim

Edited April 1, 2019 by jasbo49