Royal Princess - British perspective

[fnewman]

The following review was written by our table-mates following the recent maiden transatlantic crossing of the Royal Princess. As extremely-experienced cruisers, I thought others might want to read their points-of-view. Remember, however, as others have said, opinions on this new ship varied considerably.

 

Reviewed By: Robinson, South Croydon on 28th Oct 2013

Cruise Line: Princess Cruises Times cruised before: 10+

Cruise Ship: Royal Princess Sailed: October, 2013

Destination: Transatlantic Age: 65+

Cabin: Inside

Just back from 18 night Venice to Fort Lauderdale, which we took mainly to experience the new ship named by Duchess of Cambridge in June, as we had been to all the ports before. Would it live up to all the prior hype?

This was the largest ship of the 30+ we have been on, with 3500 passengers of whom 1200 were 'Elite' Captains Circlers.

In many respects it was all that was claimed. Our cabin was larger than many, well equipped and well maintained by our steward.

No complaints about the vast variety of food, nor the service; we did not pay to eat in the 'specialty dining rooms'.

Throughout the ship, the staff struck us as particularly pleasant and helpful.

Entertainment was nicely varied and there were plenty of activities on the 9 sea days, although the scheduling could be strange and annoying.

Why did the morning trivia quiz always have to be at the same time as one of the visiting speakers?

Why was (in our view) the best speaker always on at 1 p.m., often with another having been on at noon?

Why was the second 'Liars Club' (back by popular demand after a packed first one) held in the same place so that lots of people could not get in, while at the same time the larger Vista Lounge had about 20 people listening to the resident trio?

The 'glitzy' piazza/atrium was well used but it was difficult for enough people to be able to see the activities except by standing on the two higher levels. Generally there was enough space for the ship not to seem crowded BUT whoever designed it needs to consider:-

1)There are only 3 'banks' of elevators with accompanying stairs except that in the centre the stairs only go up to level 7, the higher ones being for crew only.

The lifts were frequently so full that the rule became 'get into any one with space and stay in it whichever direction it is going.

2)Who in their right mind builds a ship with a promenade deck round which you cannot promenade? There is access to 4 short strips but you cannot walk round the front or the back!!

To do the usual 'Walk a Mile' you have to do 7 laps of the jogging track on deck 18.

3)Who in their right mind thinks that 14 computer terminals in the Internet Café are enough for 3500 passengers? There was always a long wait to get a machine in spite of many having their own ipads/iphones etc.; connection was very spasmodic.

4)The library/reading room/jigsaw room is the smallest we have ever seen in 30+ ships and is quite inadequate.

5)In the Princess Theatre, there are only 2 aisles down from the back (no side aisles) so passengers heading to the side have to walk along the front disrupting others.

6)The horizontal lines on all the blinds along the side of Deck 7 and the straight lines in the Theatre give an impression of being behind bars

7)Amazingly in these days of Norovirus threats, there was a complete lack of hand sanitizers except in the buffet and even there, there was no one checking or encouraging you to use them.

8) There are no reasonably priced cabins with bathtubs

9) There is no bar or lounge looking forward or aft. The Seaview Bar (with the glass walkway over the sea) on Deck 16 is halfway down the side.

 

Maybe many of the above will not worry the 5 or 7 day Caribbean cruisers

coming up, but it is enough for us to say, despite its many good points, 'Not again on this Royal Princess'; oh for the the previous ship of the same name which was our favourite and on which we sailed 8 times.

Quality of Food 5

Fixed 1st. sitting dining for dinner, otherwise Alfredo's excellent pizzeria, the International Café or Horizon Court (buffet)

Entertainment 5

Comedian Rikki Jay and Production Shows were very good

Shore Excursions n/a

Didn't take any

Staff 5

A very cheerful waiter, Sherwin.

Children's Facilities n/a

Onboard Activities 5

Plenty

Cabins 5

Better than many

Overall Rating 3

[CI66774]

Thanks for your review. Maybe it's just me but I don't get how you come to a "3" after rating so many areas as a "5." Unless, of course, you rate the overall ship a "-10" or something like that. Just don't understand your "3" rating. Also, I've never had a bathtub in an inside cabin. You get what you pay for.

[Mom33]

Thanks for the British perspective. They appear to have had a good cruise despite their opinions.:)

[Cauzneffct]

Thanks for your review. Maybe it's just me but I don't get how you come to a "3" after rating so many areas as a "5." Unless, of course, you rate the overall ship a "-10" or something like that. Just don't understand your "3" rating. Also, I've never had a bathtub in an inside cabin. You get what you pay for.

 

I noticed that as well. I see it a lot on the reviews page: all 3s, 4s, and 5s, but overall a 3

[cpj]

The following review was written by our table-mates following the recent maiden transatlantic crossing of the Royal Princess. As extremely-experienced cruisers, I thought others might want to read their points-of-view. Remember, however, as others have said, opinions on this new ship varied considerably.

 

Reviewed By: Robinson, South Croydon on 28th Oct 2013

Cruise Line: Princess Cruises Times cruised before: 10+

Cruise Ship: Royal Princess Sailed: October, 2013

Destination: Transatlantic Age: 65+

Cabin: Inside

Just back from 18 night Venice to Fort Lauderdale, which we took mainly to experience the new ship named by Duchess of Cambridge in June, as we had been to all the ports before. Would it live up to all the prior hype?

This was the largest ship of the 30+ we have been on, with 3500 passengers of whom 1200 were 'Elite' Captains Circlers.

In many respects it was all that was claimed. Our cabin was larger than many, well equipped and well maintained by our steward.

No complaints about the vast variety of food, nor the service; we did not pay to eat in the 'specialty dining rooms'.

Throughout the ship, the staff struck us as particularly pleasant and helpful.

Entertainment was nicely varied and there were plenty of activities on the 9 sea days, although the scheduling could be strange and annoying.

Why did the morning trivia quiz always have to be at the same time as one of the visiting speakers?

Why was (in our view) the best speaker always on at 1 p.m., often with another having been on at noon?

Why was the second 'Liars Club' (back by popular demand after a packed first one) held in the same place so that lots of people could not get in, while at the same time the larger Vista Lounge had about 20 people listening to the resident trio?

The 'glitzy' piazza/atrium was well used but it was difficult for enough people to be able to see the activities except by standing on the two higher levels. Generally there was enough space for the ship not to seem crowded BUT whoever designed it needs to consider:-

1)There are only 3 'banks' of elevators with accompanying stairs except that in the centre the stairs only go up to level 7, the higher ones being for crew only.

The lifts were frequently so full that the rule became 'get into any one with space and stay in it whichever direction it is going.

2)Who in their right mind builds a ship with a promenade deck round which you cannot promenade? There is access to 4 short strips but you cannot walk round the front or the back!!

To do the usual 'Walk a Mile' you have to do 7 laps of the jogging track on deck 18.

3)Who in their right mind thinks that 14 computer terminals in the Internet Café are enough for 3500 passengers? There was always a long wait to get a machine in spite of many having their own ipads/iphones etc.; connection was very spasmodic.

4)The library/reading room/jigsaw room is the smallest we have ever seen in 30+ ships and is quite inadequate.

5)In the Princess Theatre, there are only 2 aisles down from the back (no side aisles) so passengers heading to the side have to walk along the front disrupting others.

6)The horizontal lines on all the blinds along the side of Deck 7 and the straight lines in the Theatre give an impression of being behind bars

7)Amazingly in these days of Norovirus threats, there was a complete lack of hand sanitizers except in the buffet and even there, there was no one checking or encouraging you to use them.

8) There are no reasonably priced cabins with bathtubs

9) There is no bar or lounge looking forward or aft. The Seaview Bar (with the glass walkway over the sea) on Deck 16 is halfway down the side.

 

Maybe many of the above will not worry the 5 or 7 day Caribbean cruisers

coming up, but it is enough for us to say, despite its many good points, 'Not again on this Royal Princess'; oh for the the previous ship of the same name which was our favourite and on which we sailed 8 times.

Quality of Food 5

Fixed 1st. sitting dining for dinner, otherwise Alfredo's excellent pizzeria, the International Café or Horizon Court (buffet)

Entertainment 5

Comedian Rikki Jay and Production Shows were very good

Shore Excursions n/a

Didn't take any

Staff 5

A very cheerful waiter, Sherwin.

Children's Facilities n/a

Onboard Activities 5

Plenty

Cabins 5

Better than many

Overall Rating 3

 

The hand sanitizors do not prevent the virus. Washing you hands after you go to the bathroom may prevent the virus. But when you have that many people on a ship there are some with poor sanitation habits and it is what is. Also the virus can get into the food. Ever notice during and outbreak they never close the casino and a lot of it is spread there.

[Pam in CA]

Why did the morning trivia quiz always have to be at the same time as one of the visiting speakers?

 

Why was (in our view) the best speaker always on at 1 p.m., often with another having been on at noon?

 

2)Who in their right mind builds a ship with a promenade deck round which you cannot promenade?

 

3)Who in their right mind thinks that 14 computer terminals in the Internet Café are enough for 3500 passengers? There was always a long wait to get a machine in spite of many having their own ipads/iphones etc.; connection was very spasmodic.

 

4)The library/reading room/jigsaw room is the smallest we have ever seen in 30+ ships and is quite inadequate.

 

7)Amazingly in these days of Norovirus threats, there was a complete lack of hand sanitizers except in the buffet and even there, there was no one checking or encouraging you to use them.

 

8) There are no reasonably priced cabins with bathtubs

Overall, an interesting perspective. However, for an "experienced" cruiser, some comments didn't make sense.

 

To answer the first two points, there were a lot of activities planned throughout the day with several speakers scheduled per day. From what I heard, there were approximately 200 trivia players but hundreds of passengers attended the guest speakers. The bridge players would probably have the same complaint, i.e., speakers scheduled at the same time as their play times. It's a matter of choices. As for John Maxtone-Graham scheduled daily at 1pm, I can't answer that. It seemed to me that that time was probably best for most people. The entire Princess Theater was packed so it was probably a good time.

 

The promenade has been discussed before but to repeat, ships are now being built that way for safety and other reasons. Besides, if the promenade isn't wide enough to accommodate loungers, IMHO, it's not a "real" promenade. :)

 

The Royal was built for the future as much as the here and now. The reality is that most people have smart phones and/or tablets or netbooks. The need for computer terminals and Internet assistance is going to go down every year the Royal is in service. Looking around, I saw a few people with paperbacks or hardcover books. Most had ereaders. That's also the future.

 

The first three days, you couldn't enter any dining venue without having to use the hand sanitizer. At the entrances to the Horizon Court, there are two sinks right there to wash your hands. On the Royal T/A, I heard a lot of people with colds but didn't hear of one case of Noro.

 

As for the bathroom missing a tub, someone didn't do their research. Personally, I would much rather have a shower than a tub. It's certainly safer when there's a lot of ship movement.

[MarkSeattle]

Thanks for your review. Maybe it's just me but I don't get how you come to a "3" after rating so many areas as a "5." Unless, of course, you rate the overall ship a "-10" or something like that. Just don't understand your "3" rating. Also, I've never had a bathtub in an inside cabin. You get what you pay for.

 

The nine issues above the ratings (elevator issues, promenade deck, ...) are what brought it down to average, even with the excellent service, etc.

[CI66774]

The nine issues above the ratings (elevator issues, promenade deck, ...) are what brought it down to average, even with the excellent service, etc.

 

Thanks, Mark - I got that. I just didn't understand her "scoring" system. She didn't score those items but did place a score next to the others - that's all.

 

OP - FYI - the new Disney ships don't have a internet café at all - all in-cabin wifi. Didn't miss the internet café one bit while I was on that ship.

[cruznliz]

Thanks, Mark - I got that. I just didn't understand her "scoring" system. She didn't score those items but did place a score next to the others - that's all.

 

OP - FYI - the new Disney ships don't have a internet café at all - all in-cabin wifi. Didn't miss the internet café one bit while I was on that ship.

 

I agree. I think having a large internet cafe is a complete waste of space. We've been on cruises where the internet cafe was a ghost town. If it weren't for the occasional need to print something, we'd never use it.

[OCruisers]

Wow! Thanks so much for giving us the British Perspective!

 

Very good thoughts and things to consider.

 

LuLu

~~~~

[caribill]

As for John Maxtone-Graham scheduled daily at 1pm, I can't answer that. It seemed to me that that time was probably best for most people. The entire Princess Theater was packed so it was probably a good time.

 

I think the problem was there was a lecture from 12 until 1 and then another from 1-2.

 

Better scheduling would have let those who like to each lunch sometime between 12 and 2 do so without missing a lecture.

Edited November 5, 2013 by caribill

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

I think the reason you see so many folks give many items 5 out of 5

 

but an overall rating that is low, is that the one or two items

 

they did not like have such an impact on the cruise,

 

that great, food, service etc is still not enough to make up

 

for lack of prom deck, stairs etc.

 

Just a thought

 

 

yours Shogun

[cantwaitfornextcruise]

Thank you for the the review through your eyes, I did chuckle at the 'British Perspective' tag :rolleyes: after reading it as am still trying to work that out :confused:.

 

I do get how you have given an overall 3 taking all parameters into account.

 

Thank you

Edited November 5, 2013 by cantwaitfornextcruise

[dmwnc1959]

The following review was written by our table-mates following the recent maiden transatlantic crossing of the Royal Princess.

 

Did you yourself also write a review?

[aquilegia]

Wow! Thanks so much for giving us the British Perspective!

 

Very good thoughts and things to consider.

 

LuLu

~~~~

 

It's not 'the British Perspective'. It's the perspective of a single cruiser who happens to be British. I'm not even sure why they mentioned their nationality. I'm British, but if go on the Royal I'm pretty sure my perspective will be somewhat different. This person has sailed Princess over 10 times before and doesn't seem to know that cheaper types of cabin never have bathtubs?

[ltcal94]

I think the problem was there was a lecture from 12 until 1 and then another from 1-2.

 

Better scheduling would have let those who like to each lunch sometime between 12 and 2 do so without missing a lecture.

 

It is likely the scheduling is done on purpose in order to extend lunch time such that there is not a crush of people trying to,eat at the same time.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

[kruisey]

Overall, an interesting perspective. However, for an "experienced" cruiser, some comments didn't make sense.

 

To answer the first two points, there were a lot of activities planned throughout the day with several speakers scheduled per day. From what I heard, there were approximately 200 trivia players but hundreds of passengers attended the guest speakers. The bridge players would probably have the same complaint, i.e., speakers scheduled at the same time as their play times. It's a matter of choices. As for John Maxtone-Graham scheduled daily at 1pm, I can't answer that. It seemed to me that that time was probably best for most people. The entire Princess Theater was packed so it was probably a good time.

 

The promenade has been discussed before but to repeat, ships are now being built that way for safety and other reasons. Besides, if the promenade isn't wide enough to accommodate loungers, IMHO, it's not a "real" promenade. :)

 

The Royal was built for the future as much as the here and now. The reality is that most people have smart phones and/or tablets or netbooks. The need for computer terminals and Internet assistance is going to go down every year the Royal is in service. Looking around, I saw a few people with paperbacks or hardcover books. Most had ereaders. That's also the future.

 

The first three days, you couldn't enter any dining venue without having to use the hand sanitizer. At the entrances to the Horizon Court, there are two sinks right there to wash your hands. On the Royal T/A, I heard a lot of people with colds but didn't hear of one case of Noro.

 

As for the bathroom missing a tub, someone didn't do their research. Personally, I would much rather have a shower than a tub. It's certainly safer when there's a lot of ship movement.

 

Are you saying Pam that after all the years of having promenade decks on ships it has been decided they are now unsafe?

[kruisey]

I would imagine stockholders some of whom are passengers naturally will keep defending their interests.Oops maybe I should not have mentioned this;)

[Woobstr112G]

Hi All

 

I think the reason you see so many folks give many items 5 out of 5

 

but an overall rating that is low, is that the one or two items

 

they did not like have such an impact on the cruise,

 

that great, food, service etc is still not enough to make up

 

for lack of prom deck, stairs etc.

 

Just a thought

 

 

yours Shogun

 

Shogun;

 

Spot on thoughts from you as usual. After I calmed down about the size of my cabin, I can say I had a good cruise. There were many beautiful and memorable things about the Royal. The negatives I experienced however made me decide the Royal isn't a ship I'll likely book (I didn't say absolutely not) in the future. I am however still a loyal Princess cruiser.....:):):)

Edited November 5, 2013 by Woobstr112G

[Esprit]

Thank you for your comprehensive review.

 

Having toured the ship the day before the naming ceremony, nothing you have said or I saw has put me off this ship.

 

I saw it as an innovative ship removing antiquities such as the promenade deck, and introducing a much smaller library.

 

I also liked the greater choice of restaurants, the huge Spa and the vastly improved Horizon court.

 

For me this ship was a step forward in the right direction.

[caribill]

It is likely the scheduling is done on purpose in order to extend lunch time such that there is not a crush of people trying to,eat at the same time.

 

 

 

Extending lunch time past the time the dining room is open

[kruisey]

Thank you for your comprehensive review.

 

Having toured the ship the day before the naming ceremony, nothing you have said or I saw has put me off this ship.

 

I saw it as an innovative ship removing antiquities such as the promenade deck, and introducing a much smaller library.

 

I also liked the greater choice of restaurants, the huge Spa and the vastly improved Horizon court.

 

For me this ship was a step forward in the right direction.

 

You should have mentioned'Just your personal opinion' Many of us still like to walk in the fresh air even when the sun does not shine in a more sheltered area but still outside.The library is also for those with their kindles,ipads and smart phones to read in a peaceful area away from their cabin on cooler days in comfortable chairs.:cool:

Edited November 5, 2013 by kruisey

[partybarbie]

I love the internet cafe. I can't stand the thought of carrying my laptop through airport security, and off and on the airplane. God forbid if you lose it or it get stolen.:eek: It doesn't matter if you have insurance or not. There is still the hassle of replacing it and the possibility of identity theft. I'm on vacation to unwind, and bringing personal electronic devices is just one more thing to worry about. I agree with the OP. I'm glad Princess provides the computers for us.

[terrierjohn]

I noticed that as well. I see it a lot on the reviews page: all 3s, 4s, and 5s, but overall a 3

I guess it comes down to personal weighting factors.

[chrysalis]

You should have mentioned'Just your personal opinion' Many of us still like to walk in the fresh air even when the sun does not shine in a more sheltered area but still outside.The library is also for those with their kindles,ipads and smart phones to read in a peaceful area away from their cabin on cooler days in comfortable chairs.:cool:

 

Could you not find any other quiet place on board to read other than the library? Which sailing were you on?