2013 Christmas Cruise on Royal Princess - A Photo Review!

[jb008]

Great pictures and very interesting review! Thanks for posting and look forward to the rest :)

[LittleMissMagic]

Time for lunch!

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

I liked the hotdog. Rachel said the chicken was good. The corn was rather tasteless.

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

People started leaving after lunch, and by 3:00 we were among the last on the beach (the last tender was at 4).

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

Edited January 4, 2014 by LittleMissMagic

[LittleMissMagic]

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

Sheltered play area for the kiddos...

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

[LittleMissMagic]

The line to tender was long. I don't believe that the last tender was actually at 4:00.

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

This house is marked as "private" and has children's toys in the patio. It looks as if it's a real residence, and I find it odd that it is so near all of the beaches and touristy part of the island.

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

And a satellite dish on the roof!

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

[chrysalis]

That residence is the home of the resident manager of Princess Cays.

[LittleMissMagic]

We tendered in life boats.

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

Compared to the other private islands I've visited (Royal Caribbean's Labadee and Coco Cay, and Disney's Castaway Cay many moons ago), Princess Cays definitely the least-developed private island I've visited, and if you're looking for a side-by-side comparison, it is closest in development to Coco Cay. Though it provides a nice beach day where you don't have to take a cab or worry about lunch, it's very basic and really provides just the minimum. I think it's important to note that you can't use the soda card for soda on the island (the bartender gave us juice instead) because they don't have the soda dispensers, only cans. That's something really simple that they're lacking. They have basic water rentals and snorkeling, but now that they're bringing the Royal Princess, I think they're going to really need to step up their game and offer more amenities. I know that I'm especially critical, being an architecture major, but I found myself looking at things like their brightly colored cabanas or Christmas wreaths hung half-hazardly under buffet signs and thinking, "Oh, that's cute that you're trying."

[LittleMissMagic]

That residence is the home of the resident manager of Princess Cays.

 

Ah, thank you. I just do not understand why they decided to locate it where they did. I think that particular location would sacrifice the privacy of the resident manager, and I'm sure that despite the "private" sign, they still get people wandering up onto their front porch.

[Winnigirl]

Wonderful report, as always, Victoria. Your photography really is amazing. Always nice to catch up on your family travels!:)

[LittleMissMagic]

Wonderful report, as always, Victoria. Your photography really is amazing. Always nice to catch up on your family travels!:)

 

Thank you, thank you! Glad to have my favorite Llama reading along! :D

[david737]

Thank you LittleMissMagic for the reviews and excellent photos its really given me a good idea as to what the ship is like, I am sailing on her in October out of New York on the New England & Canada in the Fall 7 day itinerary. David.

[DreamingBig1]

I am enjoying your fair evaluation of your trip, and of course the daily journal with pics. Well done!

 

Question: I am thinking of booking a cruise near Christmas (not on), and I am wondering how cold it gets? Realizing its the Caribbean, it stays warm, but I would imagine it gets colder.

 

From experience, can you give me input?

[LittleMissMagic]

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

When we got back onboard, Rachel went immediately to the spa because she overheard some women talking on our tender say that massages were completely booked. Well, they weren't. They were mostly booked for sea days. But Rachel came away very annoyed with the spa staff. She said they were very secretive about what times were available. Their conversation went something like this:

 

"What times do you have open on Wednesday?"

"We don't know yet. We don't work in times. If someone books a 90 minute massage, then it would be different if someone booked a 30 minute massage."

"I understand that, but what is available right now?" "We don't know yet."

"How do you not know yet? If a time isn't booked, that means it is available, correct?"

"But we don't work in times."

"I understand that, but you said you aren't completely booked, so you must have openings in your schedule. I'd like to know what times those openings are."

"Well, what time do you want?"

"I just want to know what you have available, and then I'll decide what time I want!"

"But we don't work in times."

 

She left without booking.

 

Rachel thinks that the reason for all of this nonsense is that the spa wanted everyone to think that they were really popular and mostly booked so that others would hurry in and book their appointments. That approach wouldn't work for me, because if I heard the announcement that the spa was almost booked completely, I would think, "Oh, guess I missed out on that one." I think that approach to marketing will only work for people who are really set on getting a spa treatment and will turn away others like me who might do it if they had a good deal running or something.

 

While Rachel was debating her spa treatments, I wandered for photos.

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

[LittleMissMagic]

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

[Lynda90]

Victoria, thank you for your wonderful review and fabulous pictures. This is my first time visiting one of your reviews and I can see why everyone is raving. I was on the Royal in October and I'm thoroughly enjoying the re-visit. Thanks, again for sharing your cruise with us. Can't wait for more!:p

[LittleMissMagic]

I am enjoying your fair evaluation of your trip, and of course the daily journal with pics. Well done!

 

Question: I am thinking of booking a cruise near Christmas (not on), and I am wondering how cold it gets? Realizing its the Caribbean, it stays warm, but I would imagine it gets colder.

 

From experience, can you give me input?

 

For our Christmas Caribbean cruises, we've had everything from sweltering heat to rain and cold weather. It's really a toss-up and depends on the year. Our first two Christmas cruises from Tampa and Port Canaveral were cold (60s) for the first sea day, and we'd had enough, so decided to depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico for our next to leave from warm weather. The Southern Caribbean route ensures that you'll have warm weather. This year was the first since that we took another gamble with an Eastern Caribbean, but it proved to be warm the entire time. Florida weather is so bizarre in the winter that you never know what temperature you'll be leaving from (or returning to), but I've never found the Caribbean islands to be cold (private islands near the Bahamas, can be, though).

[Clutterlady]

Loving every minute of your blog and great photos.....Thank You:)

[carib]

Thank you! Also, your review of the Royal Princess is one which convinced me to book it!

I am glad you chose the Royal when you could have chosen any other ship. You are a good match - her beauty and your ability to capture it. :)

 

Princess Keys is a nice little stop for a relaxing day and your camera didn't miss anything. Cute pic of your family hauling in that shark. You have a nice family. Such a fun dad and a mom willing to put up with all the family antics. :)

[spingal]

That residence is the home of the resident manager of Princess Cays.

 

Yep. Last time I was there it was a really nice woman who was living there with her husband.

[DreamingBig1]

For our Christmas Caribbean cruises, we've had everything from sweltering heat to rain and cold weather. It's really a toss-up and depends on the year. Our first two Christmas cruises from Tampa and Port Canaveral were cold (60s) for the first sea day, and we'd had enough, so decided to depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico for our next to leave from warm weather. The Southern Caribbean route ensures that you'll have warm weather. This year was the first since that we took another gamble with an Eastern Caribbean, but it proved to be warm the entire time. Florida weather is so bizarre in the winter that you never know what temperature you'll be leaving from (or returning to), but I've never found the Caribbean islands to be cold (private islands near the Bahamas, can be, though).

 

I appreciate it. Yes, having lived in Florida for close to ten years, the weather is very unpredictable as far as temperature that time of year.

[BettyPC]

Great review! I've read your others on RCCL and enjoyed those - now you are making me want to jump ship over to Princess.

 

Betty

[LittleMissMagic]

Great review! I've read your others on RCCL and enjoyed those - now you are making me want to jump ship over to Princess.

 

Betty

 

Royal Caribbean and Princess are more alike than they are different. I've had an excellent time on both lines.

[LittleMissMagic]

After Rachel's stressful attempt at booking a massage (ironic, huh?), we went to the top deck to relax and read.

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

We were relaxing in loungers reading our books when suddenly, with no warning, music piped and we were blasted with water. We grabbed our things and ran away shrieking.

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

This fountain show sprays water EVERYWHERE for an hour on the top deck. If the deck wasn't slippery enough (really, they need to coat it with something that has a grip because I watched so many people slip and fall this week), just try walking around without busting it during this musical water number.

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

Edited January 4, 2014 by LittleMissMagic

[LittleMissMagic]

The fountain show was a unique novelty, but I'm afraid that it went underutilized. Except for those of us getting surprised by water sprays, there weren't a lot of people on the top deck to enjoy the show.

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

See how empty!

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

I don't think it helped that the shows went off between 5:15 and 6:15, an hour during which most are either eating dinner or preparing for it. I think they would have better attendance if they did a show later in the evening.

[LittleMissMagic]

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

[LittleMissMagic]

Tonight was Italian night.

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr

 

12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr