Royal Review B2B2B 10-29 thru 11-17

[dchip]

We have been home for a week so it is time to share my (our) thoughts about the Royal Princess with all of you. So much has been written, that I will try to talk about things I haven't seen posted (not that they haven't been). ;)

 

We loved the ship. We thought the ship felt alive! My DS and DBIL had the same feeling when they joined us the last leg of our B2B2B. When you walked the Promenade Deck there was always something going on.

 

We loved the Wheelhouse Bar's new positioning. Instead of wondering where everyone was on the ship, you knew. They were everywhere. The Piazza was wonderful for people watching and just plain having a great time.

 

Crooners is huge. We were always able to find a seat and have a lovely drink or two before dinner. We had two fabulous waiters who knew what we wanted to drink and our names after the first night. They have since left to go home for the holidays.

 

What I didn't like about the Promenade Deck was how dark it is during the day. The curtains are kept pulled and drawn all the time....except for the very last day when they were opened in Crooners. Because of this we felt like we were in a very high end hotel instead of at sea.

 

There were times we missed the outside Promenade Deck. Once was after muster! We always go outside and walk to our staircase. On the Royal it was a crush.

 

I loved the Jogging/Walking track on Deck 18 BUT we had several nights and mornings with showers which made it very difficult, if not impossible, to walk on the open deck.

 

We attended two wine dinners and they were nothing short of fabulous. Every bit as good as the Chef's Table we took part in a couple of years ago. Loved, loved, loved everything!!

 

Alfredos eggplant rollata was so good, we ate there 5 times during the 3 cruises. The vegetarian antipasta is delicious also. We felt the pizza at Prego was a wee bit better because we like a very thin crust.

 

Never did the Crab Shack (we live near San Francisco) and Fondues was on a formal night or the last night of the cruise.

 

I booked the Sanctuary for the second cruise because I knew the Chumley Bears would be aboard and they love fun in the sun. It was a good move. They did take over the Retreat Pool and Bar. Individually these were some really nice gentlemen. As a group, a bit overwhelming. One thing that was a turn off were the PDA's at the pool. I saw things I don't ever want to see from any body and I was just passing through. Lots of upset passengers. They were vocal!

 

Because of the Bears, we had to change MDR's three times. They had all of the Allegro Dining Room for Traditional Late Seating. We were disappointed because we had a lovely table and wait staff the first cruise.

 

It was interesting that I didn't miss the aft pool although it would have helped with crowding during the Bear Cruise. I was always able to find a lounge at the Retreat Pool on Cruises One and Three.

 

The fountains, while nice, are really a waste. Not to mention, they soak the decks big time. I saw more people slip and fall on these cruises then ever before. Much of it has to do with how the decks are finished. They only have the fountain shows a couple of nights at 11pm. Really? We saw them twice in 19 days!

 

The Horizon Court and Bistro won my heart. In 15 cruises, we have eaten at the Buffets maybe twice! This time we ate breakfast and lunch in the Horizon Court every single day. The food choices were wonderful. They even had two different salt free soups every day. Service there was great and the views lovely.

 

Service was more than fantastic no matter where we were on the ship.

 

Would we cruise on the Royal again? YES and YES, we are planning two more cruises in 2014 and 2015.

 

I know I will think of several things I forgot as soon as I hit post! I will try to answer questions but please know we don't do shows, bingo and not even the casino this cruise.

 

Cheers, Denise

[sunsetbeachgal]

Nice review...we also loved the Royal for many of the reasons you mentioned. I actually missed the Explorers Lounge....Princess Live was not my thing. We just loved the piazza and the whole vibe there too...it is like a lively town center.

 

We are also looking at summer cruises in Northern Europe and very well may end up on her again soon..yahoo!!

Edited November 27, 2013 by sunsetbeachgal

[chamima]

Thanks for the great review.

Do you happen to remember if there were any ingredients posted above the food in the buffet?

My husband is a vegan and I have some allergies and, while eating in the dining room is easy, it's no longer available for lunch on port days. I've found the staff in the buffet have no idea what's in anything and I feel uncomfortable asking the head waiter every time I eat.

[akeasley]

Thanks for the great review.

Do you happen to remember if there were any ingredients posted above the food in the buffet?

My husband is a vegan and I have some allergies and, while eating in the dining room is easy, it's no longer available for lunch on port days. I've found the staff in the buffet have no idea what's in anything and I feel uncomfortable asking the head waiter every time I eat.

 

 

I was on the Royal a few weeks ago and they didn't have the ingredients posted at the buffet. If I remember correctly, the sign did say if it was vegetarian item but that really doesn't help much if you husband is vegan.

[TorontoTL]

Wow, nice review, it really sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for posting your thoughts and impressions.

[ssawjo]

We were on your third leg with you. I agree with everything you say about the Royal. A great ship and crew. Also, we did the winemakers dinner and it was excellent, highly recommend. Great review and thanks for writing.

 

Bill

[caribill]

My husband is a vegan and I have some allergies and, while eating in the dining room is easy, it's no longer available for lunch on port days. I've found the staff in the buffet have no idea what's in anything and I feel uncomfortable asking the head waiter every time I eat.

 

Do not feel uncomfortable about asking the headwaiter every time you need to. That is one of the reasons he is there.

[Mom33]

Thanks for the review :D Sounds like you had a great cruise. We are interested in the wine dinners and are happy to hear you enjoyed them.:)

[lovevacadays]

Denise, thank you for your review.:)

[Keith1010]

Very nice review.

 

Keith

[5:00_Somewhere]

We were on your third leg with you. I agree with everything you say about the Royal. A great ship and crew. Also, we did the winemakers dinner and it was excellent, highly recommend. Great review and thanks for writing.

 

Bill

 

As I mentioned in another thread, we were also on your third leg with you, and chatted with you at the Retreat Pool one day. I agree with all your comments, as we discussed at the time. We are booked for the Regal next year, and looking forward to it and seeing any of the rumored/reported changes planned.

 

Welcome home, and thanks for posing your comments.

[lynwar]

Thanks for your review. We also enjoyed our cruise Nov 17-24. No major issues for us. The ship was beautiful. I do agree that the hall where the Wheelhouse Bar is located, going toward the Piazza is dark, but very "rich" looking, with beautiful paintings.

The Piazza was the place to be each night, for sure!

Alfredo's was very good. Hubby enjoyed the Calzone the first time, but it wasn't as good the second time. Since my foods are limited, I did get the salad and Hawaiian Pizza there, and was able to get the pizza without the tomato sauce. It was very good-cut in

4s, and I ate it all. The second time, I had the salad and the apple dessert. Very good. Alex was our server. A very nice guy.

 

Lynne

[dmwnc1959]

Hi Denise!

 

THANKS for a really wonderful review!!! Wish I too could do a B2B2B. Guess I'll have to settle for 14-nights. ;)

 

David

(from the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport) :D

 

P.S. 3 Days and Counting!

 

:D

Edited November 28, 2013 by dmwnc1959

[TorontoTL]

Hi Denise!

 

THANKS for a really wonderful review!!! Wish I too could do a B2B2B. Guess I'll have to settle for 14-nights. ;)

 

David

(from the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport) :D

 

P.S. 3 Days and Counting!

 

:D

 

OMG Dave! you're so close. Soon you'll she the Royal with your own eyes!

Edited November 28, 2013 by TorontoTL

[dmwnc1959]

OMG Dave! you're so close. Soon you'll she the Royal with your own eyes!

 

Not close enough though. ;) It's cold here and there's snow on the ground. Definitely not Florida!

[TorontoTL]

Not close enough though. ;) It's cold here and there's snow on the ground. Definitely not Florida!

 

Ok, how about now?

[dchip]

Hi Denise!

 

THANKS for a really wonderful review!!! Wish I too could do a B2B2B. Guess I'll have to settle for 14-nights. ;)

 

David

(from the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport) :D

 

P.S. 3 Days and Counting!

 

:D

 

Dave, I wish we were with you while you explore the Royal!!!!! I am so glad you didn't cancel. We almost made it to every bar and eating venue but fell a bit short! The ship is even more beautiful than her photos. Can't wait to read your thoughts!!

 

Have a fabulous time and know there are many, many folks wishing you a BON VOYAGE!!!

 

Cheers, Denise.

[dchip]

As I mentioned in another thread, we were also on your third leg with you, and chatted with you at the Retreat Pool one day. I agree with all your comments, as we discussed at the time. We are booked for the Regal next year, and looking forward to it and seeing any of the rumored/reported changes planned.

 

Welcome home, and thanks for posing your comments.

 

Hi You Two,

 

It was a pleasure meeting you on the cruise!! We have decided to do a 20 day on the Royal in 2015. The itinerary is wonderful. We get to visit several islands we LOVE and several we haven't yet seen.

 

Looking forward to your thoughts on the Regal next year.

 

Cheers, Denise.

[dchip]

Thanks for the review :D Sounds like you had a great cruise. We are interested in the wine dinners and are happy to hear you enjoyed them.:)

 

The wine dinner was one of the highlights of our cruise. It really was a wonderful night!!

 

Cheers, Denise.

[dchip]

I forgot to mention the MDRs. We thought they were a big improvement over Princess usual design. We loved the bright chandeliers and the colors used in the rooms. Concerto and Symphony are exactly the same. Allegro is much different and has the Chef's Table.

 

The internet was very fast the first two cruises. It was only when they started installing new ports that there were problems. Hopefully it is all fixed by now.

 

The toilet paper thingy was a non issue for sure. I was planning to do tricks that weren't necessary. :p

 

The Bloody Mary and Margarita menu at the Outrigger Bar is nothing short of amazing. We only made it there twice in 19 days but the drinks were yummy.

 

Crooners doesn't have the Cucumber Martini on the menu but will make it if you ask. They got in a supply of cucumbers for me. :eek: :D

 

While I thought the Promenade deck was dark during the day, I did appreciate all the high end finishes and really great looking furniture and paintings.

 

Cruise Two and Three were our first as Elite!! I will never overpack again!!! The laundry came back in excellent condition. What a blessing this is going to be on future cruises.

 

I truly entered this ship with great trepidation after reading so many negatives. What a joy to find out I loved the Royal.

 

Cheers, Denise.

Edited November 29, 2013 by dchip
Added content

[gracie65]

Denise: I hate we didn't meet on your last leg. We had even emailed before hand and it just didn't hit me till now. Love your review!!!

[lynwar]

I really think we need to take another cruise on the Royal to do all the things we missed on our first cruise. :D We used to hang out at the Outrigger Bar, especially in the evenings. This time Hubby missed some good drinks. Also, we didn't go into Crooners later as we usually did because there were other things happening earlier and Kory started after they were over, which was getting late.

Every time we cruise we have the "Casino Talk"--we have to stay out of it, but..... we always end up in there (this time it paid off for me), but we miss so many other activities by being hypnotized in there.

We will really have to eat in the Crown Grill or have the English Pub Meal in the Wheelhouse Bar.

 

Denise, thanks for your review. It is keeping those of us on recent cruises going for awhile longer and getting through our PCD. That said, I watched the Royal depart Pt. Everglades today!!

 

Lynne

[Pam in CA]

Denise, thanks for the review. Excellent synopsis and I agree with your observations. My sister would never, ever consider dinner in the buffet but after a couple of dinners in the dining room, that's what she preferred! The choices and layout are far superior to other Princess ships.

 

We're on the Sapphire in March and I know we're going to miss the Piazza and buffet... but then we have the Royal to look forward to in September. I suspect it'll be a different cruise experience on the northern route T/A where the weather won't be nearly as warm or agreeable. Which 20-day cruise are you on next year?

[dchip]

Denise: I hate we didn't meet on your last leg. We had even emailed before hand and it just didn't hit me till now. Love your review!!!

 

Gracie, we got off the ship on 11/17. So happy you enjoyed your cruise too.

 

I really think we need to take another cruise on the Royal to do all the things we missed on our first cruise. :D We used to hang out at the Outrigger Bar, especially in the evenings. This time Hubby missed some good drinks. Also, we didn't go into Crooners later as we usually did because there were other things happening earlier and Kory started after they were over, which was getting late.

Every time we cruise we have the "Casino Talk"--we have to stay out of it, but..... we always end up in there (this time it paid off for me), but we miss so many other activities by being hypnotized in there.

We will really have to eat in the Crown Grill or have the English Pub Meal in the Wheelhouse Bar.

 

Denise, thanks for your review. It is keeping those of us on recent cruises going for awhile longer and getting through our PCD. That said, I watched the Royal depart Pt. Everglades today!!

 

Lynne

 

No matter how long we are on a ship there never seems to be enough time to do everything!! Except go back and do it again. Glad you enjoyed the review.

 

Cheers, Denise

[dchip]

Denise, thanks for the review. Excellent synopsis and I agree with your observations. My sister would never, ever consider dinner in the buffet but after a couple of dinners in the dining room, that's what she preferred! The choices and layout are far superior to other Princess ships.

 

We're on the Sapphire in March and I know we're going to miss the Piazza and buffet... but then we have the Royal to look forward to in September. I suspect it'll be a different cruise experience on the northern route T/A where the weather won't be nearly as warm or agreeable. Which 20-day cruise are you on next year?

 

Hi Pam,

 

We are going to do the Caribbean itinerary that I believe the Emerald is doing right now. It includes islands we love and three or four we haven't seen.

 

We love the warm weather, beautiful water colors and I can't snorkel enough.

 

Next month will be interesting when we board the Grand for Hawaii. I know I am going to miss that Horizon Court!

 

Cheers, Denise