New to Princess and Royal Princess

Would appreciate some advice. We have booked 14 nights on the Royal Princess at the end of August and want to make the best use of the time. Does anyone have any tips as to the princess experience and to Royal Princess itself? Thanks

Would appreciate some advice. We have booked 14 nights on the Royal Princess at the end of August and want to make the best use of the time. Does anyone have any tips as to the princess experience and to Royal Princess itself? Thanks

We have been on the Royal Princess for a Baltic, Transatlantic as well as for 34 days in the Caribbean. Here are some thoughts:

 

 

• Noticed you were on the Britannia. The Royal Princess is a sister ship, with very similar design.
  
• Anytime Dining works well.
  
• The buffet is the best of any Princess ship, but is very large. It will take some time to look around and get used to it.
  
• Buffet tables on the Horizon Terrace are a great place to sit for breakfast or lunch. The area also has some wicker furniture for sitting and reading or just resting and viewing. There is also a table sitting and soft chairs by and around the Lido pool area.
  
• Free coffee, tea and hot chocolate is available all the time the buffet is open. Coffee is made from grounds.
  
• Alfredo’s is open 11am to 11pm for lunch and dinner. It is walk in and no charge. It is a good alternate meal choice.
  
• The International Café, also no charge, is open 24/7. Adjacent to the International Café is the Espresso Bar. If you enjoy espresso purchase the coffee card. It has 15 punches for espresso drinks plus unlimited brewed coffee and special teas for the cruise. Punches can also be used for gelato at the gelato bar in the Piazza.
  
• Like wine? Try Vines in the Piazza. A large selection of wines by the glass.
  
• We enjoyed both the Crown Grill and Sabatini’s.
  
• The Wheelhouse Bar has the free Pub Lunch on some sea days.
  
• The Wheelhouse also had the BOGO happy hour each day from 3p-4p (buy one get one for $1). It was very crowded.
  
• In the evening there is live music in the Wheelhouse, Crooner’s and The Piazza with the Piazza basically being the center of the ship’s evening activities. Watch the Princess Patter for times, and music genre. If you like to dance the Piazza is where they have the space for it.
  
• The Ocean Terrace Seafood is a place you might enjoy. Charges apply.
  
• If warm the Retreat, adult only, Pool area is nice.
  
• The walking track up on deck 18 is quite nice providing the weather is good. On the transatlantic most days we could not use it. There is no walk able Promenade deck. There are four promenade sitting areas, two mid ship and two aft with cushioned lounges.
  
• The Royal Princess does not yet have a center stairway. Center elevators can get crowded. Use forward and aft elevators if possible.
  
• Princess Live. In my opinion the design was a mistake. A not too comfortable venue for any activity.
  

I reckon you will enjoy Royal Princess for more than Britannia.

 

We board Royal this Saturday and think it is superior to its younger sibling Britannia.

We were disappointed by Britannia when we sailed last... they messed up the booking and we had several problems... we felt the P&O brand wasn't as strong as before but liked the ideas so we thought we would try Princess...

 

From what we have heard, the Royal seems the best bet for the family and can't wait to try Princess... Can't wait to try a new line :)

'Sknight' description was good. My wife and I have been on Royal princess three times. We were on the maiden crossing Venice to ft lauderdale 18 days, a Caribbean cruise 7 days and a crossing from ft lauderdale to Southampton 14 days. We love Royal princess. One thing to add if you eat at the buffet walk around the whole horizon court and look at the dishes before you start (it's a lot). Have fun.

Would appreciate some advice. We have booked 14 nights on the Royal Princess at the end of August and want to make the best use of the time. Does anyone have any tips as to the princess experience and to Royal Princess itself? Thanks

 

Hi, We have sailed on BRITANNIA and also ROYAL PRINCESS - in our opinion, although ships are of the same layout ROYAL is far far superior to Britannia, in every way and do not think for one second you will be disappointed - have Fun and enjoy:)

Would appreciate some advice. We have booked 14 nights on the Royal Princess at the end of August and want to make the best use of the time. Does anyone have any tips as to the princess experience and to Royal Princess itself? Thanks

 

Well you started with the best Princess ship. Enjoy.

Thanks for this thread!

Hi, We have sailed on BRITANNIA and also ROYAL PRINCESS - in our opinion, although ships are of the same layout ROYAL is far far superior to Britannia, in every way and do not think for one second you will be disappointed - have Fun and enjoy:)

I would agree if the Royal had a venue like the Crow's Nest.

I would agree if the Royal had a venue like the Crow's Nest.

 

YES - a Crow's nest or similar would be PERFECTO!!!!! Totally agree:):)

Thanks all for your advice... We can't seem to find anywhere what are the plugs in the room? We are guessing American but are not sure? Are they big enough to fit UK adapters?

Thanks all for your advice... We can't seem to find anywhere what are the plugs in the room? We are guessing American but are not sure? Are they big enough to fit UK adapters?

At the desk on the Royal and Regal there are three separate single outlets, two U.S. 120V and one European 220V. Unlike on most Princess ships where there is only one duplex outlet at the desk, the two U.S. outlets are spaced far apart and are both usable, even with bulky adapters.

At the desk on the Royal and Regal there are three separate single outlets, two U.S. 120V and one European 220V. Unlike on most Princess ships where there is only one duplex outlet at the desk, the two U.S. outlets are spaced far apart and are both usable, even with bulky adapters.

 

Are there anywhere else in the cabin? We have stayed in this class of cabin on Britannia and are guessing that there is roughly the same number but as this is an older vessel you never know I guess

Are there anywhere else in the cabin? We have stayed in this class of cabin on Britannia and are guessing that there is roughly the same number but as this is an older vessel you never know I guess

The Royal is only two years older than Britannia [emoji6] but P&O could have altered the outlet arrangement. I did not crawl under the bed to verify but the 220V European outlet for one lamp on the nightstand should be accessible. There is also the low current draw combo U.S./European outlet in the bathroom. The outlet behind the television is really no longer accessible because the TV is wall mounted.

The Royal is only two years older than Britannia [emoji6] but P&O could have altered the outlet arrangement. I did not crawl under the bed to verify but the 220V European outlet for one lamp on the nightstand should be accessible. There is also the low current draw combo U.S./European outlet in the bathroom. The outlet behind the television is really no longer accessible because the TV is wall mounted.

 

Thanks :)

Yes, the Royal Princess DOES have a center stairway. It is open to passengers on the public decks, but not on the stateroom only decks, except during muster or emergencies. I took pictures last time we were on Royal (and Regal) of the center stairs on the public decks.

Yes, the Royal Princess DOES have a center stairway. It is open to passengers on the public decks, but not on the stateroom only decks, except during muster or emergencies. I took pictures last time we were on Royal (and Regal) of the center stairs on the public decks.

 

100% correct (crew stairs) and apparently they are going to be opening them up for passenger use very soon (thats what we were told when we were onboard in June:)

I would recommend taking the behind the scenes tour on a sea day. It was expensive but much more informative than the usual theater and kitchens tours. It took all morning and we had champagne and hors d'oeuvres on the way.