Royal Princess Review - Jan 19-26, 2014

[Daniel1313]

Great Review !!!!

 

We people dressed up at the crab shack on formal night or just wearing casual???

 

Thanks

[Acosmo]

Great Review !!!!

 

We people dressed up at the crab shack on formal night or just wearing casual???

 

Thanks

 

Everyone was dressed casually except us, it's kind of a messy (but delicious) meal. We were dressed for formal night, not tuxes and gowns but little black dress and DH in a jacket. It wasn't necessary or expected for diners to be dressed up.

[Acosmo]

We are cruising in March and I have been reading everything I can about the Royal. Your review of your experience was much appreciated, thank you for your positive outlook! I'll be looking forward to your pictures. Thanks for taking the time to post. I know how much shoveling can be ;)

 

Your cruse will be here before you know it! Have a great time, we made the most of 7 days and every tip we read before hand was helpful.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Acosmo

[benemmom]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post your review. All the reviews and photos from everyone are building my excitement by leaps and bounds. We have been counting down to sail her since December of 2012. Glad to say we are 54 days away!!!

[dorisis]

So glad you liked it and the pictures, I used a little point and shoot camera that fits in my pocket. DH uses a big camera with all the lenses, his pics are better and there are more of them; I just don't have time to weed through all of them.

 

We were talking about the cruise this evening and agreed that 7 days wasn't long enough on this ship. A 10 day or back-to-back would have been ideal to get the full monty, but that's what brings us back to cruising and makes us dream about retirement-traveling.

 

We are retired and have booked a B2B on Royal. We leave soon and I have been taking notes while reading your review. One of the most informative reviews I have read. Thanks.

[Acosmo]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post your review. All the reviews and photos from everyone are building my excitement by leaps and bounds. We have been counting down to sail her since December of 2012. Glad to say we are 54 days away!!!

 

We are retired and have booked a B2B on Royal. We leave soon and I have been taking notes while reading your review. One of the most informative reviews I have read. Thanks.

 

For months before we left I read every review and kept a draft email of notes, things to remember/look for on the ship. Right before we left I printed and added it to the travel folder. If not for that document I wouldn't have known or remembered about the Crab Shack.

 

I also printed off the menus from Dave's (dmwnc1959) extensive review and file of pictures to prep for the Ocean Terrace, Crown Grill, and Alfredos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/57377062@N04/sets/72157638843840634/page3/

 

Here are the excerpts from others reviews that I copied and pasted:

Warning, the following is not part of my review, these are snippets I copied from other reviews into a note file to help with our cruise:

 

We ate at the Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar twice for sushi and sashimi and it was very, very good. Didn’t try the salmon, caviar, or other seafood offered. Each time we ate there, the chef (Ernesto) added a special creation in addition to the food we ordered (Hawaiian poke, salmon roe and scallop sushi). Also wakame and edamame. Seafood Bar items are sold "a la carte, prices vary depending on what you order.

 

Must try item: Chile & lime crab margarita at Ocean Terrace - huge amount of crab meat. Well worth the $6 charge.

If you're adventurous try the Strawberry & Pepper Margarita...amazingly good. Another bonus is they serve salsa, guacamole and chips with your drinks. The Ocean Terrace is another venue that serves free appetizers with your drinks. For a minimal charge you can also order oyster shooters, sushi, crab & lobster cocktails and for only $70 caviar with all the trimmings.

 

The Crab Shack was also a hit with us. The food is “clambake” style—one steaming pot of seafood, potatoes, corn, sausage, etc. I had the crawfish—pinch the tail, suck out the head—and my wife had the mixed seafood. Both very enjoyable and nicely presented. This meal wasn’t offered at the back end of the cruise, so go early if you are interested. We didn’t try the Fondue. $20/pp, Patters says you need reservations

 

The theater seating is very tight, I would highly recommend an aisle seat on the lowest level near the stage if possible. It means arriving early but you will be far more comfortable during the show.

 

St Thomas - Coki Beach It was $9.00 pp each way. It took about 15 minutes to get there, same coming back. It's a great place if you love to snorkel.

 

we took a cab to Coki beach. you can get food and drinks from servers. We walked out to the taxi area and told them where we wanted to go. We got in a taxi with a few others heading to the same beach and were there in no time. We found the chair and umbrella guy. He got us all set up, asked us what time we wanted to go back and the beach server said she would make sure there was a taxi at that time. It is a beautiful beach with lots of servers for food and drinks. They have a nice area with water related items for rent, snorkles, floats etc. There is also public washrooms and an outside area to rinse the sand off before heading back. We ordered lunch, jerk chicken with rice and beans and fried plantains, very good. After we had spent a nice day relaxing we decided to head back. There was a taxi waiting for a few of us.

 

Personally for me, the most important is being off the ship early, to maximize our time and not get caught up in the crowd frenzy to get a cab.

 

Last Oct we did not have much time in St. Thomas we discovered Secret Harbor, which I can not recommend enough if you want a beach to get away from the cruise ship crowds and enjoy great drinks and food and feel like you are swimming in an aquarium! It was a wonderful day.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Acosmo

[crewzr]

Thanks for the awesome review! Great pictures! I will be on my honeymoon cruise on the Royal in less than a week and I can't wait!

[Acosmo]

Thanks for the awesome review! Great pictures! I will be on my honeymoon cruise on the Royal in less than a week and I can't wait!

 

Congratulations to you - what a great time you'll have to celebrate!

[Mom33]

Thanks for your review! I wish I was organized enough to do a review!! I have been on this ship twice now on 2 different sailings and I have to say to everyone that has an upcoming sailing, please, do not be worried!! We had excellent food, excellent entertainment and most of all, an excellent staff with great service!!! We can't wait to sail on her again!!! We are looking at the 10 day cruises in the fall or looking at sailing on Regal!

 

Now that is quite a recommendation! You went back 2 months later to spend more time on Royal! :D Can't wait :D

[bichonsx2]

Thank you so much for that splendid review and gorgeous pictures! Your way of describing everything was just as though we were having a back and forth chat. Loved it. Secret Harbor is on our list. We've already done the ferry over to St. John and Trunk Bay. So this time in St. Thomas we just want to plop ourselves on a beach.

 

We've decided not to take formal clothes this time. Just that decision alone made us relax even more!! We will go to one of the specialty restaurants on formal nights. Crab Shack sounds wonderful.

 

Where in the Northeast are you? We're expecting the snow/ice storm tonight into tomorrow and we absolutely cannot wait to get out of here for a week. We prefer 10 day cruises, but with my job, I'm not allowed to take more than 5 consecutive business days off. That stinks...but it is what it is.

 

Post more pictures if you can. They are so enjoyable!

[Acosmo]

Thank you so much for that splendid review and gorgeous pictures! Your way of describing everything was just as though we were having a back and forth chat. Loved it. Secret Harbor is on our list. We've already done the ferry over to St. John and Trunk Bay. So this time in St. Thomas we just want to plop ourselves on a beach.

 

We've decided not to take formal clothes this time. Just that decision alone made us relax even more!! We will go to one of the specialty restaurants on formal nights. Crab Shack sounds wonderful.

 

Where in the Northeast are you? We're expecting the snow/ice storm tonight into tomorrow and we absolutely cannot wait to get out of here for a week. We prefer 10 day cruises, but with my job, I'm not allowed to take more than 5 consecutive business days off. That stinks...but it is what it is.

 

Post more pictures if you can. They are so enjoyable!

 

Thank you for your kind words, we just happen to be 115 miles west of you. :) Looks like this evening is going to get interesting into tomorrow. If we get the weather they're calling for and I'm at home tomorrow, I'll try to post some more pictures.

 

You'll love your cruise and you'll still have a great time without your formal wear. Alfredos (no charge) is a must do, we went the first day in the early afternoon and another time for dinner. The servers encourage you to order a variety of foods.

 

I keep remembering things to add about our trip, the casino penny slots paid out nicely in the early morning on sea days, from about 7:00 - 9:00. I played Fishin' For Loot, on a $20 bill I tripled my money twice. The first time it went to my Sail Card Bill the second time I kept playing and sadly, the machine ate my winnings. :rolleyes: Note to self, quit while you're ahead! :D

[gr82cu2]

 

She told us that Sapphire Beach is closed due to declining sanitary conditions so taxi drivers and cruise tours are scrambling for beaches to end up after the island tours are done. Secret Harbor is one that they've started coming to as an alternative.

 

[/b]

 

Do you know anymore details about this situation? That sounds extreme and unexpected. And sad :( I love Sapphire!

[Acosmo]

Do you know anymore details about this situation? That sounds extreme and unexpected. And sad :( I love Sapphire!

 

Apparently it's a sanitation issue and problems with the buildings on the beach. The beach itself is still open, you can't really "close" a beach, but there are no public restrooms, no place to purchase food or drinks.

 

I just checked the ports of call on CC and there are threads about Sapphire Beach closing. One of them linked this article:

 

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/secret-harbour-sees-boost-in-tourist-traffic-1.1621621

Edited February 6, 2014 by Acosmo

[gr82cu2]

Apparently it's a sanitation issue and problems with the buildings on the beach. The beach itself is still open, you can't really "close" a beach, but there are no public restrooms, no place to purchase food or drinks.

 

I just checked the ports of call on CC and there are threads about Sapphire Beach closing. One of them linked this article:

 

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/secret-harbour-sees-boost-in-tourist-traffic-1.1621621

 

Ahhh, ok! Thanks for the link. We have stayed at Sapphire Beach Resort a couple of times and love it there. I had visions of some contaminate washing up on the beach or something, LOL. I guess it's really just a lack of restrooms/food/drink for now.

[jagmanss1]

Excellent review and pictures. Thank you so much....

[Colo Cruiser]

Great review.

[chamima]

Some observations:

 

1. Boxed Wine was being served at the bars outside the Crown Grill and in the Retreat Pool bar, this was a bit of a surprise, I never expected to see it on a cruise ship. Not a problem to me but there has been discussion on the boards about the quality of boxed wines compared to bottles.

 

Boxed wine was served at Vines also. We were really unpleasantly surprised to see that. But there are also some better wines and a GREAT , entertaining waiter named Romeo.

 

 

2. I had my very first experience in toilets not flushing easily on this cruise. They did flush eventually but I pushed and pushed on a couple in public areas as well as the one in our cabin and had issues a few times, not EVERY time, just here and there.

 

Had that problem MANY times! As you said, it was a surprise on a brand new ship. It eventually flushed but I wish that the people before me had been more persistent, if you get my drift. :eek:

 

 

3. We missed the first Pub Lunch, and the second one was packed. Get there by 11:30 when they open or you may have to wait for a seat.

 

4. At the Pub Lunch you can get seconds or extras of everything they serve. The mushy peas are delish.

 

5. Laundry is on the aft section of each pax deck floor, on deck 15 there was one on each side of the ship. I only saw one other person in the room, I did laundry 3 times throughout the cruise.

 

6. Any card can be used in the light switch by the cabin door, it doesn't have to be your Princess card. We used a Hyatt points card but my Hallmark card would have worked, too.

 

7. I brought foaming bath gel along to use in the mini-suite tub but could have used the bath gel provided in the bottles in the showers. If you're washing small items in the sink, the shower gel works well as a soap. Unscrew the pump and work the bottle out of it's holder to pour some into the basin.

 

8. I loved the sinks, it seems I read complaints but I could wash/rinse my hair with no problems.

Loved the large sink!

 

9. The hand-washing stations at all entrances to the buffet are a brilliant addition, however locating the paper towels in the center causes a wet floor from the sink to the towel dispenser. Maybe they'll move the dispensers closer to each of the basins.

 

 

A few little things that I noticed:

 

* No magnifying makeup mirror in the bathroom

 

* Surprised at the number of cracked tiles on the sun decks. The last day as we disembarked, maintenance was chiseling out the tiles for replacement.

 

A lot of the ship seemed to be in disrepair for a brand new ship.

 

* It seemed that some of our fellow passengers were looking for things on the ship to be unhappy with, comparing it to all the other Princess ships they've sailed. We were awed by the ship, the cleanliness, friendly crew; we would occasionally have conversations with passengers who felt like us and were enjoying every aspect and minute on the ship.

 

Well that's about all I have to offer, if you have questions feel free to ask. I'll be on and off over the next hour, have to go out and see what shoveling is left. :p

 

I do have some other pictures of the cabins/balconies we took on the last day. I'll probably post those in a separate thread.

 

Thanks to all for the encouragement to post this review and for reading it.

 

Bon Voyage to those of you sailing the Royal Princess, she's a beautiful ship!

 

Just back from the Royal and I,too, wasn't going to write a review but will just add my comments to yours.

They are mostly in red in the body of your review.

The crew is the same wonderful, caring, smiling crew we've always encountered on Princess.

For us this ship is a little too large with too many passengers so we'll be back to the smaller ships. (Booked the Ocean for next year.)

The biggest negatives for us were the lack of shaded lounger areas outside and the volume of MUTS and musical entertainment during the day.

To get some shade we booked loungers in the Sanctuary (where it was only partially shaded, even there) but the volume was so high from the main pool that I had to use the MP3 players with the sound cancelling earphones that they provide there to get some "sanctuary". There is absolutely NO reason that the volume has to be so high that it goes all the way from the main pool, through the retreat (what retreat?) pool and all the way to the Sanctuary at the bow. I did complain but was told that there was nothing anyone could do.

 

Again, she is a beautiful ship with an absolutely wonderful crew.

[cruisehome]

good information

[yoyosma]

thank you so much for your review. I have only a few weeks left and this is very helpful, even though I have already cruised on the Royal. I didn't learn everything on that first cruise.

[Acosmo]

Just back from the Royal and I,too, wasn't going to write a review but will just add my comments to yours.

They are mostly in red in the body of your review.

The crew is the same wonderful, caring, smiling crew we've always encountered on Princess.

For us this ship is a little too large with too many passengers so we'll be back to the smaller ships. (Booked the Ocean for next year.)

The biggest negatives for us were the lack of shaded lounger areas outside and the volume of MUTS and musical entertainment during the day.

To get some shade we booked loungers in the Sanctuary (where it was only partially shaded, even there) but the volume was so high from the main pool that I had to use the MP3 players with the sound cancelling earphones that they provide there to get some "sanctuary". There is absolutely NO reason that the volume has to be so high that it goes all the way from the main pool, through the retreat (what retreat?) pool and all the way to the Sanctuary at the bow. I did complain but was told that there was nothing anyone could do.

 

Again, she is a beautiful ship with an absolutely wonderful crew.

 

You make good points, the Retreat is a small space for the size of the ship. If you weren't out early there were very few opportunities to get 2 loungers together until later in the day. It was nice to have restrooms close by and the bar right there for drinks. Thanks for adding your thoughts!

[Acosmo]

thank you so much for your review. I have only a few weeks left and this is very helpful, even though I have already cruised on the Royal. I didn't learn everything on that first cruise.

 

There were a lot of areas tucked away here and there throughout the ship, we really enjoyed just walking around and seeing the layout. I'd sail Royal again but am looking forward to trying some of the other Princess ships, maybe Ruby will be next.:)