Rough towels, Low water pressure

[Richard]

That's about all the negatives I have on our 10/25 repositioning cruise on the Royal Princess from New York to Ft Lauderdale. The cabin towels were not very soft and the pressure in the shower was not very strong. That's about all I could find wrong with this cruise. The ship is beautiful and has large public rooms. Yes, there is no midship staircase but I really didn't miss it. Other's complained about the elevators and except for the first day they were just fine. All of the food, MDR included, was very good. Well prepared and tasty. We had the best serving team we have had in 21 cruises. Dell our waiter and Ronald our Asst. waiter were very professional and knew their jobs. They were efficient, remembered our likes and had a good sense of humor.

 

We were blessed with perfect weather, sunny skies and calm seas which gave us plenty of time to enjoy the Retreat pool in the front of the ship. I have never been a great fan of shipboard entertainment but what I did see was OK. The ship has a huge library of films and the usual news programs. There was enough to keep one busy if they wanted. The casino was large and had the usual games and slots and I came out ahead too.

 

With all the negatives posted about the Royal, many by people who have not even sailed her, I have no hesitancy to sailing her again.

 

Richard

[Mom33]

Thanks for your review :). We agree with your assessment. We had a wonderful cruise on the Royal and can't wait to board her sister next month.

 

 

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[Loonbeam]

I do agree the towels could be better, but I guess like hotel towels they need to be able to stand up to all the laundering. Water pressure wasn't an issue for us, but I do remember the Engineer during the UST saying there were going to be doing minor upgrades to the water system soon, so maybe part of the system was down during the repo (would be a good time to do it).

 

That's about all the negatives I have on our 10/25 repositioning cruise on the Royal Princess from New York to Ft Lauderdale. The cabin towels were not very soft and the pressure in the shower was not very strong. That's about all I could find wrong with this cruise. The ship is beautiful and has large public rooms. Yes, there is no midship staircase but I really didn't miss it. Other's complained about the elevators and except for the first day they were just fine. All of the food, MDR included, was very good. Well prepared and tasty. We had the best serving team we have had in 21 cruises. Dell our waiter and Ronald our Asst. waiter were very professional and knew their jobs. They were efficient, remembered our likes and had a good sense of humor.

 

We were blessed with perfect weather, sunny skies and calm seas which gave us plenty of time to enjoy the Retreat pool in the front of the ship. I have never been a great fan of shipboard entertainment but what I did see was OK. The ship has a huge library of films and the usual news programs. There was enough to keep one busy if they wanted. The casino was large and had the usual games and slots and I came out ahead too.

 

With all the negatives posted about the Royal, many by people who have not even sailed her, I have no hesitancy to sailing her again.

 

Richard

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

I'm really beginning to wonder how much of an inconvenience not having a central staircase really is. I've read many complain about it & still other say it wasn't any worse than other ships. We'll just have to judge for ourselves. ;)

[woohooTOO]

I think massive compensation is in order. This outrage absolutely MUST be addressed before my cruise in January! Thanks for the information. Glad you had a great trip.

[USNUZULOOSE]

I guess I could bring my own soft towels and wash them midweek...:)

[Pam in CA]

I'm really beginning to wonder how much of an inconvenience not having a central staircase really is. I've read many complain about it & still other say it wasn't any worse than other ships. We'll just have to judge for ourselves. ;)

To put it into perspective, you don't see constant complaints about the lack of central stairs on the Grand Princess which has been around a heck of a lot longer. :) The vast majority forget that there are no central stairs on the Grand. :)

[bhopal21]

Since the subject of towels was raised I will comment that on our recent Ruby cruise October 22-November 3rd even though we occupied a suite and had the thick Egyptian cotton towels they were as rough as cardboard.

 

That is about as close a negative comment as I can come. It was disappointing that those luxurious towels were so rough.

 

Mike:)

[2pbears]

I'm really beginning to wonder how much of an inconvenience not having a central staircase really is. I've read many complain about it & still other say it wasn't any worse than other ships. We'll just have to judge for ourselves. ;)

 

Most people blame the lack of a central staircase for the congestion on the mid ship elevators during peak times. I think that issue is more a result of the large number of passengers on board than the lack of a stairway mid ship. The only other ship that we have experienced the jammed up elevators mid ship was on the Crown and they do have a central staircase but also have an increased number of passengers for the size of the ship. JMHO.

[Loonbeam]

If the midship stairs (or lack thereof) is that much of an issue, it is literally a 2 minute walk to the forward stairs.

 

I think the unlinked and relatively small elevators are far more to blame for the congestion, combined with the fact they are feeding into the main venue of the ship.

 

(as well as a certain lack of manners)...

 

Most people blame the lack of a central staircase for the congestion on the mid ship elevators during peak times. I think that issue is more a result of the large number of passengers on board than the lack of a stairway mid ship. The only other ship that we have experienced the jammed up elevators mid ship was on the Crown and they do have a central staircase but also have an increased number of passengers for the size of the ship. JMHO.

[OCruisers]

Are the towels on Royal Princess different from the ones on other Princess ships? :confused:

LuLu

[whatcruiseisnext]

That's about all the negatives I have on our 10/25 repositioning cruise on the Royal Princess from New York to Ft Lauderdale. The cabin towels were not very soft and the pressure in the shower was not very strong. That's about all I could find wrong with this cruise. The ship is beautiful and has large public rooms. Yes, there is no midship staircase but I really didn't miss it. Other's complained about the elevators and except for the first day they were just fine. All of the food, MDR included, was very good. Well prepared and tasty. We had the best serving team we have had in 21 cruises. Dell our waiter and Ronald our Asst. waiter were very professional and knew their jobs. They were efficient, remembered our likes and had a good sense of humor.

 

We were blessed with perfect weather, sunny skies and calm seas which gave us plenty of time to enjoy the Retreat pool in the front of the ship. I have never been a great fan of shipboard entertainment but what I did see was OK. The ship has a huge library of films and the usual news programs. There was enough to keep one busy if they wanted. The casino was large and had the usual games and slots and I came out ahead too.

 

With all the negatives posted about the Royal, many by people who have not even sailed her, I have no hesitancy to sailing her again.

 

Richard

 

We were on this cruise as well. I do agree about the towels. Regarding the water pressure...once we figured out that you could adjust the pressure and the stream of water with the lever on the side of the showerhead......we were good to go. We were able to make it light...like rain...all the way up to a hard strong massage.

 

This was our second time on the Royal and we still are happy with the ship. We re booked on BtoB's on the Regal in January and again on the Royal in the British Isles in June and very much looking forward to the ship.

Edited November 10, 2014 by whatcruiseisnext

[janetz]

We were also on the

same cruise. Towels really need to be updated. We had a cabin forward on the Lido deck right near the elevators. They were pretty slow. Just little things that did not spoil our cruise. The Royal is a beautiful ship with a great crew, great service and the food in the MDR was excellent.

Edited November 10, 2014 by janetz

[Ethel5]

If the midship stairs (or lack thereof) is that much of an issue, it is literally a 2 minute walk to the forward stairs.

 

I think the unlinked and relatively small elevators are far more to blame for the congestion, combined with the fact they are feeding into the main venue of the ship.

 

(as well as a certain lack of manners)...

 

This certainly is a bigger issue! I have seen those in an elevator with plenty of room for one more not move an inch! Then there are others who jamb on the close door button so no one else can get on. Then the ones who get on any elevator just to be on one and take up room from those going in the right direction. RUDE. Not to forget those who push on in before people have a chance to exit the car.

[iamkingofall]

" The ship is beautiful and has large public rooms. Yes, there is no midship staircase but I really didn't miss it. Other's complained about the elevators and except for the first day they were just fine. All of the food, MDR included, was very good. Well prepared and tasty. We had the best serving team we have had in 21 cruises. Dell our waiter and Ronald our Asst. waiter were very professional and knew their jobs. They were efficient, remembered our likes and had a good sense of humor.. The ship has a huge library of films and the usual news programs. There was enough to keep one busy if they wanted.

With all the negatives posted about the Royal, many by people who have not even sailed her, I have no hesitancy to sailing her again. " .......Thank You ,Richard . I'm on it for a short 5 day in Dec. Was a little taken aback with some of the bitching . I can make do with the towel situation .I'd be more concerned over food and the elevator problem , if there even is one . I think I'll be just fine .

:):):):):):

Edited November 10, 2014 by iamkingofall

[kendon]

Are the towels on Royal Princess different from the ones on other Princess ships? :confused:

LuLu

 

Seems like it. They were like sandpaper. Just off the CB several months ago and they weren't nearly as bad. Go figure.

[richstowe]

If the midship stairs (or lack thereof) is that much of an issue, it is literally a 2 minute walk to the forward stairs.

 

I think the unlinked and relatively small elevators are far more to blame for the congestion, combined with the fact they are feeding into the main venue of the ship.

 

(as well as a certain lack of manners)...

I've read here about this Royal class design error . I am amazed that this is an issue.

DW and I have never noticed a "stair" issue on any of our cruises because we hardly see anyone

actually using the stairs. Last cruise we went on a cabin crawl of about 2 dozen.

We were 2 of the 4 that used the stairs to climb 1 or 2 decks instead of using the elevators.

And people wonder why they gain so much weight cruising.:confused: (Only talking about the perfectly able)

Edited November 11, 2014 by richstowe

[OCruisers]

Seems like it. They were like sandpaper. Just off the CB several months ago and they weren't nearly as bad. Go figure.

 

Thanks for replying! Our towels on other Princess ships have always been good.

Hope these "bad ones" are limited to Royal and not going to be the new towels fleet-wide. :o

LuLu

[caribill]

To put it into perspective, you don't see constant complaints about the lack of central stairs on the Grand Princess which has been around a heck of a lot longer. :) The vast majority forget that there are no central stairs on the Grand. :)

 

I do not know if there were complaints when the Grand first sailed, but Princess did correct that design on subsequent Grand Class ships. The surprise to me is that the same "mistake" (in my mind) was made on the new design and then repeated on the Regal.

 

I have sailed on the Grand and would do so again. I was once on the Aloha deck on the Grand in a mid-ship cabin. Every time I wanted to go up one flight to the Lido deck it bothered me as I would have preferred to use the stairs. Ditto when I wanted to come back to my cabin from the Lido deck.

 

I am definitely not in the "vast majority" as I will never forget the lack of central stairs on the Grand.

[OCruisers]

I am definitely not in the "vast majority" as I will never forget the lack of central stairs on the Grand.

 

Guess we are not in the "vast majority" either because we also really missed the lack of the central stairs on Grand Princess. :(

LuLu

[lovevacadays]

Thank you for your thoughts. There seems to be more and more positive reviews.

 

 

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[AE_Collector]

I'm really beginning to wonder how much of an inconvenience not having a central staircase really is. I've read many complain about it & still other say it wasn't any worse than other ships. We'll just have to judge for ourselves. ;)

 

I would think it comes down to whether people are "walkers" or "elevators". Anyone who regularily uses the elevators isnt going to be inconvenienced much by the lack of a stairway.

 

Virtually the only time we use the elevators is when my wife wont do the stairs heading to and from formal night events in high heels. All other times we are doing what we can to reduce the amount of weight we are going to gain by using the stairs. We see people all the time who appear to be perfectly able (yes I know, a few of them might appear able but aren't really) take the elevator one or two floors and sometimes they are going down!

 

Being "walkers" we would quickly learn where the stairs are and aren't and adjust our route accordingly. As mentioned, there usually isnt a line up to get onto the staircase!

 

Terry