Picture of the Royal Balconies

[Sunviking]

We actually use our balcony a great deal and don't go to shows, the casino or most other onboard activities. (We're boring people.) We have in the last many years booked aft suites. We originally booked on the first day Royal bookings opened an aft S2. When we had an opportunity to look more at the deck plans (they only came out a day or two before bookings opened), we canceled because the cabin and balcony looked smaller than we had previously been used to having. Additionally there were some venues we did enjoy which were gone. The photos I've seen of the Royal since her debut have confirmed to us that we made the right decision. She has some lovely features but nothing that would persuade us to cruise on her.

[icat2000]

There going to be a few unhappy campers. Not even worth having a balcony after seeing those pictures.

[Pam in CA]

I'm personally unhappy with the balcony size on the Royal, but I'm sure Princess did some major studies before designing this ship and decided that the balconies were not used enough and not put in the extra expense in building bigger ones. As an example, when we were on the Alaska cruise and cruised College Fjords and Glacier Bay, we were on Baja and could see down many floors and balconiess and notice how many balconies were not even used. Same with many other cruises, I think most people just come out and stand to look as sailaways, etc. and then leave. We use the balcony extensively, but I have a feeling we're in the minority.

What Princess should do is post polls and threads here for our opinions. :) Who better to provide them with feedback? Social media and communities such as CC are a very valuable tool.

[culvercitycruiser]

I'm personally unhappy with the balcony size on the Royal, but I'm sure Princess did some major studies before designing this ship and decided that the balconies were not used enough and not put in the extra expense in building bigger ones. As an example, when we were on the Alaska cruise and cruised College Fjords and Glacier Bay, we were on Baja and could see down many floors and balconiess and notice how many balconies were not even used. Same with many other cruises, I think most people just come out and stand to look as sailaways, etc. and then leave. We use the balcony extensively, but I have a feeling we're in the minority.

 

I agree with you. We use our balcony quite a bit. I eat breakfast every morning. I watch us dock and sail away every time. These seem so small that the chairs can not even face out. It looks like you have to sit sideways. We are going to Alaska in September and managed to snag side by side Caribe balconies. We are very pleased.

[tequilasunrise]

Wow that's awful!:eek:

[Brisbanelionsfan]

Come on people, it's not a catastrophe, if the balcony on the Royal does not suit you, don't book it!!!

[KruzPrincess]

I agree that the balconies are tiny! I spend a lot of time on my balcony. I speculated some time ago that Princess chose the most uncomfortable balcony furniture that they could find in order to discourage people from spending time on their balconies. They want you spending money on the ship. Now, they build the new luxury ship with tiny, awkward balcony space.

[Cruise Junky]

Come on people, it's not a catastrophe, if the balcony on the Royal does not suit you, don't book it!!!

 

Of course it's not a catastrophe..but I do think it's eye opening to people that usually cruise on Princess balconies that things have changed... drastically. Buyer beware.

Edited June 17, 2013 by Cruise Junky

[JimmyVWine]

No way will I be forced to pick a different ship because of balcony size....we don't use the balcony 24/7, besides musical chairs with the family can be quite entertaining!;)

To each his/her own. But as CruiseJunky notes, Princess has turned off a large number of potential customers, at least so far as the new ships are concerned. You may enjoy "musical chairs", but saying to my daughter: "Sorry honey. Mommy and I are going to have breakfast on the balcony but you have to stay inside" is not an option. Same goes for cocktails at 4:00. Or watching the sunsets. Or watching dolphins swim by. It is all or nothing in my family and these pictures show quite clearly that it cannot be "all". But that is fine. We are very happy on the Grand Class ships.

[Psychedout]

Don't get you hopes up, they're tiny. Google USA TODAY Royal Princess Pictures. I believe there are picture of a mini suite's deck and try not to faint when you see how narrow the Penthouse suite's deck is.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/travel/cruises/2013/06/12/photo-tour-inside-the-new-royal-princess/2414273/

 

 

Thanks, yeah that is small:eek:

 

Hugh:(

[JimmyVWine]

 

I can't even imagine thinking of doing an UBD ...out there.

The list of "Features" for Royal does not list UBD as an option for Specialty Dining. Only Crown Grill and Sabatini's are listed. On other ships, UBD is listed alongside those other restaurants. So perhaps Princess recognizes that UBD is simply impractical, or even impossible on most balconies.

[Brisbanelionsfan]

JimmyVWine has said it very well, the balconies on the Royal do not suit him and his family, so he will stick with the Grand Class ships. I don't think Princess are all that worried some people will not book the Royal or Regal as Princess fans will still stay with the line, on an alternate ship.

[MauiLvrs]

I think we will too. I plan on booking a Caribbean cruise tomorrow and was really going for Regal..but not now. We can sail Ruby for less money, better itinerary and a far better balcony and I get my much beloved aft pool back. It's such a shame, I love the look of the new ships except the balconies.

Looks like we're in the exact same boat ... so to speak. Maybe we'll wind up on the same cruise...

[PhoenixRev]

What Princess should do is post polls and threads here for our opinions. :) Who better to provide them with feedback? Social media and communities such as CC are a very valuable tool.

 

They are a valuable tool, but companies are often too married to the idea that their MBA's and analysts know what people want better than the people know what they want themselves.

[MauiLvrs]

Kinda makes you wonder if they have a different market in mind for these ships like local Far East :confused:

 

If one looks at most apartments in Japan ... they are tiny by our standards.

[GuddyWit]

Looks like a case of 'Back to the Future' for Princess. Don't think they've had balconies that narrow since the Sun class boats of the mid-90s.

 

"I'm going out on the balcony - better breathe in..." ;)

[antsp]

Well lets just say the ship is not getting good feedback, the facts will be in the prices this ship commands in about 18 months time, will she be cheaper to sail on than say the Ruby or Emerald.

[bhopal21]

no wonder in Shogun's live thread he said someone in a suite was having a fit at the purser's desk about being conned. They have to be the worst suite balconies at sea.

 

Can you imagine being used to a PH balcony on previous ships and booking an early cruise for 10-14 days on The Royal and discovering that balcony?

 

Those cabins should have been WS as the balcony is almost unusable unless one wants to stand.

 

Mike:)

[sunnyv]

To each his/her own. But as CruiseJunky notes, Princess has turned off a large number of potential customers, at least so far as the new ships are concerned. You may enjoy "musical chairs", but saying to my daughter: "Sorry honey. Mommy and I are going to have breakfast on the balcony but you have to stay inside" is not an option. Same goes for cocktails at 4:00. Or watching the sunsets. Or watching dolphins swim by. It is all or nothing in my family and these pictures show quite clearly that it cannot be "all". But that is fine. We are very happy on the Grand Class ships.

We agree, our adult DD is booked with us in a deluxe balcony cabin and as of today, we will cancel this booking and we are booked on another ship that will accommodate all three of us on the same itinerary. That is not to say we would never cruise on the Royal, maybe someday, but we are not willing to compromise our family's total cruise experience with an unusable balcony for the 3 of us.

[Kinkacruiser]

I looked at all the photos and honestly can't see whay there are any complaines about the Royal. She certainly has the wow factor! I'm impressed :) The balcony is fine for a private glass of wine at sunset.

I hope we get a chance to cruise on her one day.

[redtogo]

I think I would be a bit upset if I didn't know the size of the balcony before I booked.

 

The balcony picture with the two blue chairs would appear more appealing if the table was either a square or rectangle. The table reminds me of the phrase "putting a round peg in a square hole".

Edited June 17, 2013 by redtogo
Word

[redtogo]

Anyone have a picture of one of the angular balconies? Thanks.

[rkacruiser]

In my opinion, this is another case of "what were they thinking? Not clearly, I don't believe!

 

Princess, let me get this straight: for her Inagural Caribbean season, you want to charge me a premium price, more per day than I paid for a world cruise per day, for a veranda where I have to sit sideways?

 

Time to look at MSC Divina. This will be her Inagural Caribbean season and is almost as new as Royal Princess. And, she appears to have many WOW features as well.

 

Very disappointing, Princess!

[littlesteelo]

I think the issue stems from the design of the ship itself, and it may be something Princess had very little control over.

 

IMO regulations now state that lifeboats cannot be 'embedded' in the side of the ship, as they are with the Grand class, and most other cruise ships pre-2009.

 

To get around this, there are two methods. One is to have the lifeboats hanging off the side. This allows the superstructure to be the same breadth as the hull. Two examples of this are Oasis of the Seas, and Carnival Dream. Carnival had to do this since the Dream class is modified from the Conquest class, which has embedded lifeboats. I am not sure whether this type of setup is permitted any more, since no new designs seem to use it.

 

The other option, and the one most lines are taking, is to simply have a narrower superstructure above the lifeboat deck, and then an overhang to give the desired width for the lido. This is the case on the Solstice class, the Norwegian Breakaway, and the Royal class. The new Quantum class for RCI has this design also.

 

The issue with this can be that the amount of space left for cabins is less, because you need space running down the center for crew areas, elevators/stairwells and machinery spaces. Now obviously the cabin space cannot be reduced, so the space is shaved off the balcony.

 

I also have a sneaking suspicion that the Royal class is simply a modified Grand class design. If you look at the deck plans, the layout is very similar. If that is the case, the reduced width isn't going to help with balcony sizes at all.

 

What they should have done is had the lifeboats half suspended over the water rather than fully sat on the deck as they are now, which would have allowed for extra width in the superstructure.

[bdjam]

What Princess should do is post polls and threads here for our opinions. :) Who better to provide them with feedback? Social media and communities such as CC are a very valuable tool.

 

Between the balcony size and center stairwell issue, I hope that people are forwarding their comments to Princess - hopefully the next class of ship will address these perceived faults. Meantime, I suggest that the reason balconies are so small is because Princess wants y'all inside spending, not outside relaxing.

I also have a sneaking suspicion that the Royal class is simply a modified Grand class design. If you look at the deck plans, the layout is very similar. If that is the case, the reduced width isn't going to help with balcony sizes at all.

 

What they should have done is had the lifeboats half suspended over the water rather than fully sat on the deck as they are now, which would have allowed for extra width in the superstructure.

Interesting theory, but I don't think the hull design of Royal is a derivative of the Grand Class - there's too much difference in the bow and stern and I do believe that the breadth of Royal is wider than the Grand Class. Seems if they made the ship wider, they could have added a few more feet so that the balconies were adequate size for a ship of this stature.

Edited June 17, 2013 by bdjam