Royal (and Regal) Staircases

[Av8tor]

I assume you mean once they have walked from aft to mid-ship on deck 7.

 

You assume correctly and I must have had my head up and locked when I wrote that. I must've forgotten that the OP's relatives where on the Royal and not a non-Grand Grand class ship!

[terrierjohn]

Cost savings. A reported couple of million $ saved on a ship that was running over budget.

Is this fact or fantasy, as far as I remember the deck plans always showed the public stairs finishing on deck 7, and these were issued at least a year ahead of the maiden season.

Edited August 25, 2014 by terrierjohn

[dmwnc1959]

Is this fact or fantasy, as far as I remember the deck plans always showed the public stairs finishing on deck 7, and these were issued at least a year ahead of the maiden season.

 

 

Excellent, excellent point! This PDF file of her deck plans was released in March 2012, less than five months after the keel block was laid, and to give a visualize image, this picture was taken in June 2012 (three months after the deck plans we released)....

 

(Credit Princess Cruises)

 

 

So now I'm beginning to think this 'reason' for the unfinished center stairs 'due to cost overruns' is shaping up to be one of those Urban Myths? ;)

 

 

:D

Edited August 25, 2014 by dmwnc1959

[caribill]

Excellent, excellent point! This PDF file of her deck plans was released in March 2012, less than five months after the keel block was laid,

 

And the plans on the Princess web site still do not show the aft public staircase as reaching deck 17, even though there has been a picture posted of those stairs here on Cruise Critic.

[dmwnc1959]

And the plans on the Princess web site still do not show the aft public staircase as reaching deck 17 even though there has been a picture posted of those stairs here on Cruise Critic.

 

 

Which is a completely different point than saying that the mid-ships passenger stairs were suppose to be there originally, but were 'eliminated' due to cost overruns.

 

 

 

:D

[Mom33]

When I look at the deck plans for decks 5, 6 and 7, I think they wanted to improve the flow of passengers past all the venues in the enlarged atrium.

Walking to the aft and forward stairs accomplishes this. The stairs are not that far away from the mid ship elevators.

[MauiLvrs]

The stairs are not that far away from the mid ship elevators.

That would depend on how mobile one is and how many time one makes that trip !

[Mom33]

That would depend on how mobile one is and how many time one makes that trip !

 

I would assume that the people who would be willing to use the stairs mid-ship and are complaining about the lack of stairs mid-ship, would be mobile enough to walk to the forward and aft stairs.:)

[dmwnc1959]

I would assume that the people who would be willing to use the stairs mid-ship and are complaining about the lack of stairs mid-ship, would be mobile enough to walk to the forward and aft stairs.:)

 

 

Yup... ;)

 

 

:D

[caribill]

I would assume that the people who would be willing to use the stairs mid-ship and are complaining about the lack of stairs mid-ship, would be mobile enough to walk to the forward and aft stairs.:)

 

Yes, but if my cabin is midship on the Marina deck, I would really prefer to walk up one flight of mid-ship stairs to get to the pool instead of waiting a long time for an elevator that has been stopping on a number of floors to reach me for the one deck ride.

 

So I suppose I could walk back to where the stairs to the buffet is and then walk through the buffet in my swim attire to get to the pool.

[Mississippian]

I would assume that the people who would be willing to use the stairs mid-ship and are complaining about the lack of stairs mid-ship, would be mobile enough to walk to the forward and aft stairs.:)

I've got a cruise booked on the Emerald where our stateroom is on the Riviera Deck just a few steps from the central stairs. My guess is that we can go from our stateroom to the center of the Lido deck is less than a minute, perhaps less than 30 seconds. It is my hope and plan to make this trip at least 10 times a day.

 

If I had to walk to one end of the ship or the other it would add two to four minutes to the time it took me to get to the central portion of the Lido deck. That's perhaps 30 minutes per day lost to walking to the far end of the ship just to use a stairway or waiting on an elevator. That's 3.5 hours per cruise

 

Having 3.5 hours taken away from my vacation is a deal breaker. I will not book on any ship that doesn't have central stairs.

[terrierjohn]

When I look at the deck plans for decks 5, 6 and 7, I think they wanted to improve the flow of passengers past all the venues in the enlarged atrium.

Walking to the aft and forward stairs accomplishes this. The stairs are not that far away from the mid ship elevators.

Since decks 5,6 and 7 do have midship stairs I cannot really see this is the reason Princess chose to close them to passengers on the upper decks, so I am still waiting for someone to come up with a viable reason.

But I do agree with caribill that for anyone in a high deck midship cabin wanting to get to the lido deck at busy times will soon get very annoyed waiting for a an elevator with space, or they will have to walk all the way to the forward stairs.

[Mom33]

Yes, but if my cabin is midship on the Marina deck, I would really prefer to walk up one flight of mid-ship stairs to get to the pool instead of waiting a long time for an elevator that has been stopping on a number of floors to reach me for the one deck ride.

 

So I suppose I could walk back to where the stairs to the buffet is and then walk through the buffet in my swim attire to get to the pool.

 

Actually, you can walk forward, take the stairs one flight, walk back and avoid the buffet, or two flights and walk right out to the Retreat pool. :D

[Mom33]

Since decks 5,6 and 7 do have midship stairs I cannot really see this is the reason Princess chose to close them to passengers on the upper decks, so I am still waiting for someone to come up with a viable reason.

But I do agree with caribill that for anyone in a high deck midship cabin wanting to get to the lido deck at busy times will soon get very annoyed waiting for a an elevator with space, or they will have to walk all the way to the forward stairs.

 

When I look at the deck plans for deck 7, using the midship elevators would bypass a good number of shops and food and drink venues. If passengers are impatient waiting for the elevators, they would walk to the forward or aft stairs

and see these venues and perhaps visit them. Foot traffic can help a business greatly.

 

I go on a cruise to slow down and relax from the every day grind. I don't have to rush anywhere or watch a clock all day. Oh well, to each his own.

:D

[dmwnc1959]

If I had to walk to one end of the ship or the other it would add two to four minutes to the time it took me to get to the central portion of the Lido deck. That's perhaps 30 minutes per day lost to walking to the far end of the ship just to use a stairway or waiting on an elevator. That's 3.5 hours per cruise

 

Having 3.5 hours taken away from my vacation is a deal breaker. I will not book on any ship that doesn't have central stairs.

 

 

I go on a cruise to slow down and relax from the every day grind. I don't have to rush anywhere or watch a clock all day. Oh well, to each his own.

:D

 

 

I've 'wasted' more time waiting for the buffet to open, walking to a venue to relax only to find it Closed for a Special Function, or waiting for a show to begin because I had to show up 30 minutes early to get a good seat.

 

But I'm on vacation. I don't carry an egg timer or stopwatch with me. ;)

 

 

:D

[Iamcruzin]

When I look at the deck plans for decks 5, 6 and 7, I think they wanted to improve the flow of passengers past all the venues in the enlarged atrium.

Walking to the aft and forward stairs accomplishes this. The stairs are not that far away from the mid ship elevators.

In my opinion that is correct. I had made that assumption way back when this topic came up before the ship sailed. Having worked as a merchandiser in retail for over 30yrs I can tell you that traffic patterns are studied and the flow is designed to take the consumer deeper into the store. The spa is a destination venue. Only those who are interested will seek it out. However by moving it mid ship and creating a flow of traffic that forces you to pass it may increase the sales. I am sure they have a bunch of people outside the spa offering tours or hard selling services.

[kendon]

I would assume that the people who would be willing to use the stairs mid-ship and are complaining about the lack of stairs mid-ship, would be mobile enough to walk to the forward and aft stairs.:)

 

Exactly!!! You still have to get from point A to point B, the path you choose to do so may vary...same number of steps!

[kendon]

When I look at the deck plans for decks 5, 6 and 7, I think they wanted to improve the flow of passengers past all the venues in the enlarged atrium.

Walking to the aft and forward stairs accomplishes this. The stairs are not that far away from the mid ship elevators.

 

So true. There's also the convenience factor for the passengers having everything close and within a reasonable walking distance...even for the mobility challenged. That's why shopping malls are so popular over stand alone stores.

Edited August 26, 2014 by kendon

[kendon]

I've got a cruise booked on the Emerald where our stateroom is on the Riviera Deck just a few steps from the central stairs. My guess is that we can go from our stateroom to the center of the Lido deck is less than a minute, perhaps less than 30 seconds. It is my hope and plan to make this trip at least 10 times a day.

 

If I had to walk to one end of the ship or the other it would add two to four minutes to the time it took me to get to the central portion of the Lido deck. That's perhaps 30 minutes per day lost to walking to the far end of the ship just to use a stairway or waiting on an elevator. That's 3.5 hours per cruise

 

Having 3.5 hours taken away from my vacation is a deal breaker. I will not book on any ship that doesn't have central stairs.

 

So book a stateroom on the Lido deck if you spend so much time there.

[terrierjohn]

In my opinion that is correct. I had made that assumption way back when this topic came up before the ship sailed. Having worked as a merchandiser in retail for over 30yrs I can tell you that traffic patterns are studied and the flow is designed to take the consumer deeper into the store. The spa is a destination venue. Only those who are interested will seek it out. However by moving it mid ship and creating a flow of traffic that forces you to pass it may increase the sales. I am sure they have a bunch of people outside the spa offering tours or hard selling services.

Am I reading the deck plans incorrectly? I thought the spa was tucked away at the pointy end of deck 5 beyond the forward stairs and miles away from the piazza.

[Iamcruzin]

Am I reading the deck plans incorrectly? I thought the spa was tucked away at the pointy end of deck 5 beyond the forward stairs and miles away from the piazza.

 

Yes but if you didn't want to wait for the mid ship lift you would walk through the Spa Entrance where the desk is on your way to the forward stairs or lift. That is where they solicit you. The rooms where they provide the service are at the end past the stairs and lifts. To add I don't think that it was by accident that passenger services and the shore excursion desks are planted by the spa.Those two spots generate a high flow of traffic. You can't even walk Aft on that deck to get to the aft lifts and stairs. I don't think that's a coincidence either.

Edited August 26, 2014 by Iamcruzin

[terrierjohn]

Yes but if you didn't want to wait for the mid ship lift you would walk through the Spa Entrance where the desk is on your way to the forward stairs or lift. That is where they solicit you. The rooms where they provide the service are at the end past the stairs and lifts. To add I don't think that it was by accident that passenger services and the shore excursion desks are planted by the spa. You can't even walk Aft on that deck to get to the aft lifts and stairs. I don't think that's a coincidence either.

Not a coincidence but neither is it to force you to the forward stairs, it's because the 2 midship dining rooms are in the way, in fact on all Grand class ships, and the new Royal class, the only public decks you can walk all the way through are deck 7, promenade deck and lido deck and promenade deck is where most passengers will head for if they want to find the stairs.

I will grant that having the passenger services and shore excursions desks close to the spa might help to increase custom, but I am still to be persuaded that shopping footfall has anything to do with Princess changing the upper midship stairs to crew use only.

[Iamcruzin]

Not a coincidence but neither is it to force you to the forward stairs, it's because the 2 midship dining rooms are in the way, in fact on all Grand class ships, and the new Royal class, the only public decks you can walk all the way through are deck 7, promenade deck and lido deck and promenade deck is where most passengers will head for if they want to find the stairs.

I will grant that having the passenger services and shore excursions desks close to the spa might help to increase custom, but I am still to be persuaded that shopping footfall has anything to do with Princess changing the upper midship stairs to crew use only.

 

On the Grand Class ships the Spa is located on the upper decks. deck16 I think. Hardly any traffic unless you are going to the gym or sanctuary. This is why they moved the spa to the heart of the ship. Otherwise why would you make it difficult for someone who is working out to have to go all the way to deck 5 to use the sauna after a work out? Follow the money. The Spa is in a perfect location on the new ship to generate business.

 

On deck 6 you have to walk through the Casino or if you are smart you can by pass that by going through Club 6. My guess is that because the Casino is more prominent that there is a natural flow that cuts through there.

The venues on deck 7 are venues that passengers will more than likely spend so there is no need for hard sell in that area. Deck 5 also has the international cafe which is also a big draw.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

Also, passengers whose cabins are located closer to the forward and aft stairwells will no longer be able to walk to the mid ships stairwells and walk down to the mid ships dining venues. They can either take the steps down near their cabins and walk along decks 5/6/7 and pass all the bars and lounges and or spa or walk to the mid and wait for an elevator. Being a stair user myself I'd be more likely to do the former than the latter. Chances are, and this is what the designers/cruise line execs are betting on, that I'll stop somewhere along the way where there is a potential revenue generating opportunity.

 

They are also counting on passengers getting tired of waiting for the elevator on decks 5/6/7 and choosing instead to walk to the forward or aft stair/elevator lobbies creating the same opportunities for revenue generation.

 

Nothing about cruise ship design is by accident and making the stairs inaccessible to passengers (except in emergency) above deck 7 is designed to create traffic flows that enhance revenue generation opportunities.

[caribill]

When I look at the deck plans for deck 7, using the midship elevators would bypass a good number of shops and food and drink venues. If passengers are impatient waiting for the elevators, they would walk to the forward or aft stairs and see these venues and perhaps visit them. Foot traffic can help a business greatly.

 

 

The venues one would pass going from where the mid-ship stairs should be to the aft stairs are Princess Live Cafe, Princess Live, Wheelhouse Bar, The Library, and Vista Lounge. Those heading to their cabins would be unlikely to stop at any of these places. A few might buy a drink at a bar and take it with them.

 

For someone heading to the aft stairs (and possibly not happy about having to do so) not much additional revenue will be generated.