space27

1 minute ago, jajsmom said:

The food choices were just weird.  They combined ingredients that didn't go together. One night, they had salmon on the menu.  Everyone at our table was so excited. When we tried to order it, we were told that it was a mistake and no available.  I prefer a "healthy" way of eating, and I also enjoy many different ethnic foods.  The choices on our cruise were just wrong.

A similar thing happened to me. On the menu on the app, there was a surf and turf (they called it a reef and beef) one night. Then, we got to the restaurant and they had a completely different menu and it wasn’t there anymore. 

I think that the food is definitely catering to Australian tastes, or at least attempting to. The ‘Australian’ dishes taste like they’re made for American tourists. Like for example, the fish and chips aren’t authentic but they seem as if they’d impress someone from the US as being exotic and Australian. So the Australian dishes are hardly ordered by Australians because we can get something way better at home. So I can see how it would’ve turned out that way.

4 minutes ago, jajsmom said:

We did a BTB the first two Australia cruises this year.  the food was generally the same every single day.  After 23 days on board, I didn't want to eat anymore.  Came home after a month a few pounds lighter!

Interestingly, we're from the US.  We thought we didn't like the food at dinner as it was based on an Australian diet.  We met some Aussies on an excursion who were also complaining about the food.  They thought they were catering to the American crowd!  The food was just weird and not good.  We had been on the Sky Princess a few months earlier, and the food was much better.

Well then, I might see you aboard the ship! Have a great rest of your cruise and Wellington for today.

On 1/7/2024 at 4:31 AM, Jimmy147 said:

Hi Space 27

I’m also on Royal Princess leaving Sydney on 10th Jan

Fly out from Heathrow Sunday evening and stay at Four Seasons Hotel on the 9th

On 1/4/2024 at 3:47 PM, LaRoLarRo said:

Hi Space27, not long now until your cruise! Enjoy! 😀

Hi, sorry for the late response.

I’m currently aboard the Royal Princess and I think the food is quite similar to before COVID. Although not perfect, the food remains made with good ingredients. The MDR is a little iffy sometimes, there were a few dishes that I couldn’t finish because they were just inedible. (mostly their cured fishes were very hard and far too fishy and salty, didn’t feel fresh) Their risotto is always undercooked but still delicious. Their desserts were all good, in my opinion and their pastas are delicious. I mostly stuck to French Onion Soup and Prawn Cocktail after tasting some of their entrees, though.

The buffet, however, for dinner and lunch is always really good. With different stations each day, my family and I find it to be better than the MDR on some days.

The poolside grill and pizzeria makes good food too, my daughter probably ate her body weight in pizza and fries. 
 

A really nice touch for me was that they make everyone wash their hands before entering the buffet. I had many concerns about hygiene and this really helped.

Hey, I'm heading on a cruise on Princess soon where one of the ports is Christchurch. My daughter insists on working while in port and with connection and she would like to go to the city to find a library. I was told that the port when docking in Christchurch is a slightly long drive to the actual city, so does the cruise line provide transportation or do you have to have an excursion or your own means of transport? 

On 12/7/2023 at 3:21 AM, terrierjohn said:

Do you think there is any chance they will scrap the new system and go back to the old included one?

No, I don't think they will. When it was free of charge, it was hectic and they were also making less money. Even only a few customers at once gives them that cash grab they're desperate for. However, I have heard that the crew that work at Alfredo's are quite worried about their jobs, especially with the amount of people showing up.

3 hours ago, roobug said:

You will register on the app and there is supposed to be a schedule in your room on arrival.  However our last two cruises even though we registered we did not have a schedule so make sure you go up and check in early on boarding day.  If you miss the first event it is can be difficult for them to meet other kids.  

 

Where on the app? How early can I do it? Previously, I believe that it was just going up on embarkation day, as I have experienced on Carnival and 4 pre-covid Princess cruises. However, things do change and I'm unsure of what to do.

32 minutes ago, Abercrombie2019 said:

It will matter what itinerary/ship you are on.  People will be able to give you better advice if you give them more information.

Royal Princess, early January, from Sydney Australia going to New Zealand. Australian holidays are 15th of December until 30th of January.

Yep, Australia. 13 nights to New Zealand. Why do you think there be lots of children on board because I'm leaving from Australia?

Just looking for some points of views from different ages, countries, etc. 

My daughter is concerned about being the only teenager onboard the ship during 2024 summer holidays. Are there enough children that you see them onboard often? She's very worried about not seeing anyone her age while we're on vacation.

What are your opinions on the medallion class experience? Please give reviews and thoughts.

How did it go?

Yep! I'll definitely let you know.

How do I register my kid for the Beach House Club? 

When are you going? I'm going on the 10th of Jan, so if you're going after then, I am happy to provide my review on it. 

However, I've been on the Majestic Princess from Aus recently which is mostly the same as Royal. The food was great. I rarely ate at the buffet, though, because it's just not my style. But I ate a few times, and it was pretty good. 

Cruise food in general is repetitive and a lot of recycling ingredients but I still thought it was very good. The main dining room was delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mostly, I ate on the Lido deck pizzeria/grill for an early lunch, snacked around between lunch and dinner and then ate at the main dining room. Food is not something that you will be concerned about on an Australian Royal-class ship.

Is Princess a satisfactory ship for teenagers? We booked Princess because we usually book it and we're satisfied with the quality. When we used to book, my daughter was at the age where she preferred to stick with my husband and I and not go to the club. Now she's a teenager and she's anxious that because Princess' target age is for older people, maybe there won't be anyone to meet at the teen club. Will this be an issue? We're going right in the middle of summer break and they'll both be in the Beach House club. I'd prefer to give them a heads up and plan some activities for them to do with our family than leave them in the dark. 

Are there many kids aboard a Princess Royal-Class ship during summer break?

Also, if anyone has a schedule for the Beach House club or has any idea what sort of things they do, please let me know.

Is there a new one?

Is the internet less messaging free on Princess? I know on Carnival, it's a few bucks, so what is it on princess?

What is offered at Trident Grill? I've seen many different menus, so anyone that's sailed on a Royal Class ship recently (Royal Princess to be exact), please let me know. Also, what sort of Pizza is at Prego's? I know there is a special 'princess' pizza, so what types of pizza is it usually? What flavours are at Swirls, I've heard it changes, but I've also heard that it's just chocolate and vanilla. 

How far in advance do you think I should book? Is the morning of the day okay or do you mean before the ship even sails?

35 minutes ago, Thrak said:

The 6-7:30 times will fill up well in advance. We like to be able to go to the first show in the theater (my wife doesn't want to do the late show) so I book at 5:40 each night in the same dining room. I book my dining well in advance and, so far, haven't had an issue getting that time slot for all of my meals. This includes 2 cruises last year and a recent 6 segment multiple B2B.

 

If you want to "just show up" you may well be told to go to the aft dining room so it might be best to just plan on eating there if you want true "anytime" dining.

 

When I try to pick if I want my medallion shipped to me or to pick it up at port, (I cannot have it shipped because I live in Australia), it says a random suburb underneath the pick-up at port option. I do not live in this suburb stated, not anywhere close, and it isn't near the port that I am getting on at. Does anyone know what it is and why it's there? 

How does the booking system work for the MDR? If you don't book for the main dining room, can you still go? Or would you recommend to book the same time everyday? I'm just concerned about booking the same time every day because there might be a show or something that my kids would like to go to. Are booking times very scarce? Like, will the 6-7:30 times usually be gone every day or can I just book a few minutes before and be okay? Would you recommend booking the same time every day, booking in the morning, right before we plan to go to the MDR, or just walk in and wait? 

What drinks are included on a Princess Royal class ship? 

I've been on Princess Cruises before but we rarely went to the buffet for ice, and now my daughter is nagging me about it. I'm aware most cruiselines have coffee, but she's very picky and I want to make sure she is allowed to bring the drink packets that she likes.