Royal Princess Feb 2-9 My opinion.

[pilot]

We booked the Royal Princess in June 2013. Did a Deluxe Balcony Obstructed Guarantee (DZ). This was our 38th cruise, 11th on Princess. My wife and I are in our early 60's and traveled with my 2 sisters and their husbands. I always book a guarantee...only upgraded twice. We were assigned cabin E516 four days prior to our 2 Feb departure. Price dropped 4 times before final payment and our TA promptly got the lower prices.

 

My Military OBC was applied immediately and I faxed my Shareholders OBC form to Princess in October and it was applied in 3 days.

 

Flew to FLL on Jan 23 to do a Jan 26 Allure of the Seas. Stayed for 3 nights at the Marriott Courtyard on the Beach.

 

Took a taxi from the Allure on Feb 2 to Pier 2 to join the Royal Princess. $10 posted minimum fare.

 

Room: Very small balcony, but ok for 2 people. Shower was larger than most, but bathroom was small. Toilet paper holder was not an issue. Bed and pillows were very comfortable. Normal Princess open closet. Small couch was nice. Very quiet room. This room is located near center elevators on deck 8 so we used the forward and aft stairs from deck 7. No big deal that there is not a center staircase.

 

Horizon Court: Had breakfast and lunch here. Best buffet on any ship we have been on. Great selection of food and it was always hot. Coffee was good. Never used our coffee cards in the Piazza.

 

Alfredo's: Had dinner here one night. It was ok, but wouldn't go back.

 

Allegro Dining room: Had early seating, table for 6. Food and service was great!!

 

Shows: Went to all shows and they were ok. There seems to be more "lip syncing" going on. One song had 4 male singers and only 2 singers had mics. Several numbers had just the dancers and they pretended to be singing the song. Tech was great and all of the shows were entertaining. Three shows each night and you need to be in your seats 30-45 minutes early for the middle show.

 

Piazza: Great place to hang out. Something was always going on and it was never hard to get a seat.

 

Princess Cays: Worst tender experience ever. Thought the crowd would be thinned out by 11 am. Still waited over 30 minutes to get off ship.

 

Promenade deck: As reported, no place to walk. Walking on the walking/jogging track was hit and miss. First 2 days was too windy to walk...last 2 sea days it was not windy and pleasant and sunny.

 

WIFI: Seem to be fairly fast most of the cruise. I couldn't get a signal when in bed, but worked ok at desk in room.

 

Caution: I saw 6 different people fall. There are tile strips on the pool deck that are very slippery when wet.

 

Getting off the ship was very organized and we headed back to the Marriott Courtyard on the beach for another 2 days before flying back to cold, snowy KC.

 

Overall we enjoyed our week on the Royal Princess and would sail on her again in a heartbeat!!!

[Acosmo]

Nice review, thank you.

[cwtravel]

Thanks, nice review. Do you know where the smoking sections are on the promenade deck? We are not smokers and thus I do not want to book a balcony directly over the outside smoking section.

Final question, if you had to choose between the Ruby (or similar ship) & the Royal, which would you sail? The wife and I just completed our 14th Princess cruise, love the larger balconies on the Caribe deck and the aft mini's on the Grand class ships.

Edited February 14, 2014 by cwtravel

[Happy2cruise]

Enjoyed your review. We sailed her in November and liked some of the changes and others not so much. All in all, thought it was a beautiful ship and just booked her again for October of this year:D

[geoherb]

Thanks for posting your review. I was looking at a spring break cruise on the Royal and one on the Ruby. The Promenade Deck is one of my favorite places. I'm glad we'll be on the Ruby even though it's only five nights instead of seven.

[Working 2 Cruise]

Thanks, nice review. Do you know where the smoking sections are on the promenade deck? We are not smokers and thus I do not want to book a balcony directly over the outside smoking section.

Final question, if you had to choose between the Ruby (or similar ship) & the Royal, which would you sail? The wife and I just completed our 14th Princess cruise, love the larger balconies on the Caribe deck and the aft mini's on the Grand class ships.

 

One of the smoking sections are on Promenade deck aft... Starboard I think. As smoke usually evaporates... You really should be ok even on deck 8... All other smoking sections should not affect you.

 

OP, thank you for your review.

[Mom33]

Thanks for taking the time to add your experience to the many threads and posts on cruising the Royal. Happy to hear you enjoyed your cruise.:D

[58Piano]

We are going April 13th. We usually do early traditional dining. But this time we thought we would try late traditional dining. In your opinion will we miss any shows or activities? Or will we have to go to part of a show or activity then leave early to make the late dining time? We are in our late 50's. Not into staying up late to party and drink.

Do they have somewhere to slow dance to a nice band?

[satxdiver]

Thanks for the review. We board the Royal in two days and looking forward to the new ship. In FLL right now.

[pilot]

Thanks, nice review. Do you know where the smoking sections are on the promenade deck? We are not smokers and thus I do not want to book a balcony directly over the outside smoking section.

Final question, if you had to choose between the Ruby (or similar ship) & the Royal, which would you sail? The wife and I just completed our 14th Princess cruise, love the larger balconies on the Caribe deck and the aft mini's on the Grand class ships.

 

Not sure where the smokers are on the promenade deck. Couldn't smell anything on our balcony. Didn't see/smell any smoker "cheaters" on the balconies. They have really curtailed smoking in the ship. Other than the casino, the air was clean.

 

We did the Ruby in Jan 2012 and thought it was a great ship. However, given the choice of the two, would pick Royal.

[pilot]

We are going April 13th. We usually do early traditional dining. But this time we thought we would try late traditional dining. In your opinion will we miss any shows or activities? Or will we have to go to part of a show or activity then leave early to make the late dining time? We are in our late 50's. Not into staying up late to party and drink.

Do they have somewhere to slow dance to a nice band?

 

You will not miss any shows or activities. They do a good job scheduling several different times. Several people were dancing nightly in the Piazza. All kinds of music, both slow and fast. In fact there was a group of about 60 people that were in a dance club dancing to the music every night. Plenty of room for others to dance also.

[caribill]

Shows: Went to all shows and they were ok. There seems to be more "lip syncing" going on. One song had 4 male singers and only 2 singers had mics. Several numbers had just the dancers and they pretended to be singing the song.

 

My understanding is that only the featured singers actually sing live and that any of the voices of the dancers singling are pre-recorded. This is due to the diffculty of active dancing and singing at the same time.

 

The featured singers will also have their voices recorded in case illness prevents them from properly singing live.

 

What I do not like is when the band/orchestra is only a recording.

Edited February 15, 2014 by caribill

[Woobstr112G]

OP;

 

Thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts on your recent cruise on the Royal.....:):):)

 

Bob

[riclop]

Thanks for the Royal review.

[IECalCruiser]

My understanding is that only the featured singers actually sing live and that any of the voices of the dancers singling are pre-recorded. This is due to the diffculty of active dancing and singing at the same time.

 

 

 

The featured singers will also have their voices recorded in case illness prevents them from properly singing live.

 

 

 

What I do not like is when the band/orchestra is only a recording.

That is the same information we have been given several times on the backstage tour.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[Pam in CA]

As smoke usually evaporates... You really should be ok even on deck 8... All other smoking sections should not affect you.

I don't know of anywhere on deck 8 (Emerald deck) where smoking is allowed. I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out where you're suggesting smoking is allowed. Care to share?

[caribill]

I don't know of anywhere on deck 8 (Emerald deck) where smoking is allowed. I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out where you're suggesting smoking is allowed. Care to share?

 

Maybe the poster was saying that smoke from smokers outside on deck 7 would not affect people on balconies on deck 8.

[satxdiver]

Maybe the poster was saying that smoke from smokers outside on deck 7 would not affect people on balconies on deck 8.

 

The original statement was that they did not want a balcony cabin on deck 8 right above the smoking section on the promenade deck 7 for fear the smoke would drift up to their cabin. As long as the ship is moving forward at 17 to 21 knots, the smoke should drift to the stern. Smoking is only allowed on one side of the ship deck 7 and I believe it is the port side. I have not seen that many smokers on ships in the last few years so it should not be a problem.

[coo359a2]

My understanding is that only the featured singers actually sing live and that any of the voices of the dancers singling are pre-recorded. This is due to the diffculty of active dancing and singing at the same time.

 

The featured singers will also have their voices recorded in case illness prevents them from properly singing live.

 

.

 

This is also what we were told by the dancers on the Ocean Princess.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the info ...

[ChiefBoats]

Thanks for your review. We are booked in March and again in October. Looking forward to sailing on her.

 

_______________________

Previous Cruises

Alaska - 2008 Island Princess

Alaska - 2009 (B2B) Island Princess

Alaska - 2010 Royal Princess

Alaska - 2011 Golden Princess

Panama Canal - 2012 Coral Princess

Alaska - 2012 Star Princess

Western Caribbean - 2013 Crown Princess

Alaska - 2013 Island Princess

 

Future Cruises

Eastern Caribbean - 2014 Royal Princess

New England – 2014 Royal Princess