Royal Princess

[Fun to Cruise]

Has anyone cruised on the Royal Princess? I know it's an older ship and wondered if anyone was satisfied cruising on it.

 

We received a brochure mailed out to Captain's Club members that advertised a 30 day Royal Princess Asia/India/East Africa cruise that sounds intriguing.

 

Would appreciate hearing from anyone who can tell me about this older ship.

[Druke I]

The Royal Princess is one of my favorite ships, having sailed on her 4 different times.

 

She doesn't have all the "bells & whistles" of the newer ships, but does have a very easy traffic flow and deck plan, lots of open decks, and should you hit rough water, a very good rider, due to hull shape and form. The RP was truly revolutionary when introduced, and is still a very good looking ship.

 

A little searching on Cruise Critic will turn up lots of information on the Royal Princess, both pro and con.

 

I am sorry that she has been scheduled to leave the fleet. I just might have to book one more cruise on her before she goes.

 

Michael

[Fun to Cruise]

Michael,

 

Another question on RP, they are supposed to be all balcony rooms but I thought I read somewhere that you had to climb over bed to get to the balcony. Any truth to this? Thanks.

[CruiseAholic]

I have sailed on the Royal Princess 2 times, and am sailing again, 5/19. She is a great ship, and like has been said, she doesn't have all the 'bells and whistles' that the new ones have.

 

I believe that the balcony cabins on her are designed a bit unusual. If you put the beds together as one, it blocks the door to the balcony and you have to climb over the bed to get out.

[Flyer]

What CruiseAholic said!

 

Flyer

[usavvy2]

read the embarkation & days at sea of my review from last summer, maybe that'll give you a feel. We loved the ROyal and booked another cruise this coming fall to Europe on her! The entire review is more focused toward the ports than the ship.

 

Royal Princess - Norwegian Fjords cruise review

 

not taking vacations but collecting experiences - usavvy2

 

Royal Princess 9/04/04 - "Europe or Bust!" 

[Princess Di]

FUN TO CRUISE,

 

All cabins on Royal are OUTSIDE cabins. They are not all Balcony cabins. Many of the window cabins are obstructed by lifeboats. If the beds are made into a queen-sized configuration, some balcony cabins have an obstructed door to the balcony and you will climb over (or just roll over) the bed to get out onto your balcony. When the beds are in twin configuration, this is not a problem

 

A Smile is just a little curve that sets a lot of things Straight.

Fair Winds and Following Seas!

[Fun to Cruise]

Appreciate the feedback you've given me on the RP, many thanks.

[BJS]

Even though many on this board think the Royal Princess is a great ship and their favorite we share a different opinion.

 

We and others who we have spoken with had a lot of mechanical problems on our Royal Princess cruises last year - A/C, water, toilets, torn bedding, etc. The wall beds and cabin layout is the worst we have experienced. Even though she has great service, layout and a great crew we found these problems to overwhelm the positives and we are glad to see she is going back to P&O. There are several itineraries she sails that we have wanted to take and will be pleased to see another ship taking her place. It is not that we wouldn't sail on her again but it would be our last choice.

 

Future cruises:

Sept. 04 Star Princess x 2, Jan. 05 Diamond Princess

 

Past cruises:

04 Dawn Princess x 2

03 Grand,Sun,Tahitian,

Royal Princess x 2,Island Princess

01 Ryndam x 2

00 Sky Princess

79 Sitmar's Fairwind

[dshimizu]

We are interested in the 30 day Rome to Bangkok cruise too. Our TA, who we trust, has said we will love the Royal Princess in comparison to the Star Princess which just completed the reverse trip, Bangkok to Venuce Mar-April 04. Mind you, we have heard that our friend's inlaws had a wonderful time on that cruise. Haven't been able to find anyone that has signed up for this cruise yet, have you?

[ssbeagle]

I wish I had the time to take a 30-day cruise on the Royal. We have been on her 4 times and loved each one. Once we got lucky and got upgraded to a minisuite where the beds in queen configuration didn't block the balcony door. We even had a sitting area. Mostly we have stayed in one of the obstructed view cabins on Caribe deck. The ship has so many places outside to view scenery, we didn't miss having a balcony.

 

She is beginning to show her age and I don't think Princess in maintaining her as well as they used to because she is leaving Princess and going to P&O. It's a shame because she is a friendly ship and an excellent sailor.

 

Grand Princess

Tahitian Princess

 

 

[jandm]

Thanks usavvy2 for your excellent review of the Fjords cruise. We are planning on taking that cruise this summer and found your extensive notations very useful.

[GottoCruise]

To be "nit picking" truthful - although we have sailed the Royal many, many times - and always enjoyed her size and layout -- the majority of the cabins, with the one bed fold up in the wall, leaves something to be desired. Yes - the cabins are laid out so that there is plenty of space to put everything away - and the bathrooms are nicer than other ships, but the "fold up bed" is not to my liking, and very narrow and if you put the beds together - as others have said - one side is against the wall so that you have to climb over your partner to get out(which I hate) and you have to "roll out" to get to the balcony.... If you take a Mini-suite - you will not have this problem - then everything about the ship is just wonderful -- but there are not that many Mini-suites, and they are usually pricey. The "full suites are great - with a "commode room" toilet and plenty of cabin space....but again, very pricey. Too bad - as I really do love her size - and have enjoyed many adventures on the Royal but not my first choice....I only went on her because of the itineraries. JMHO

 

Until PACIFIC PRINCESS Islands of the Pacific Theater

<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;7;25;12;0;00&timezone=GMT

Until GOLDEN PRINCESS British Isles back-to-back TransAtlantic

<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trfb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ooooff&cdt=2005;8;25;12;0;00&timezone=GMT

 

Until GOLDEN PRINCESS

British Isles back-to-back w/ TransAtlantic

<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;8;10;12;0;00&timezone=GMT

[pmcrusta]

Just recently off the "old girl". Enjoyed her.

Never had a torn sheet never saw many of things

others mentioned. Other than a couple of marks on some furniture. That was as shabby as it got.

Enjoyed the crew. They seem to enjoy the ports as much as the passengers. And after 30 days you

almost become family. I will miss this ship. As I don't think I'll get back on her before she leaves Princess. She will be missed by many as

there were loads of repeat passengers on her.