Royal Princess Review

4.0 / 5.0
1,777 reviews

One More Royal Disappointment and a Couple Overall Princess Ones

Review for the Western Caribbean Cruise on Royal Princess
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Champella
10+ Cruises • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Jan 2019
Cabin: Mini-Suite with Balcony

We have sailed 21 cruises with Princess and over 200 days total and the only two times we have been truly disappointed have been on the Royal Princess. The first time the Royal was new and we had sincere major concerns over the lack of mid ship stairs and mid aisle stairs in the theater both of which we considered safety factors. To Princess credit we discovered they had corrected both of those issues so we decided to try the Royal again for a 2 week cruise..

We are Elite level and have paid for a mid ship mini suite cabin for all but our first cruise. Therefore, we are entitled to and have come to expect excellent and extra special service. Unfortunately that was not the case on this latest Royal cruise. Your cabin steward is probably the most key factor to maximize your enjoyment. Ours was the worst we have ever had and if he had not advised us that he was leaving to go home to the Philippines at the end of our cruise we would have asked for a change and for sure would never have accepted him as a cabin steward in the future. Instead we expressed our displeasure by providing Princess feedback on their survey and for the first time in 21 cruises not giving our cabin steward a large extra tip. However, his was not the only poor service we received. Repairs to problems in the cabin took 2-3 calls and days to correct. Laundry took 48 hours to be returned despite only 15% of the passengers the first week being Elite and 35% the second week. Misinformation was provided by the front desk on two occasions. Traveling companions who paid for very expensive cocktails advised they could hardly taste the alcohol. We were not able to trade our beer in the mini bar for a beer of the same price (Dos Equis for Blue Moon). These are the examples I noted but there were more so we won't be sailing on the Royal Princess again.

In addition, Princess has made overall changes we are not happy with and we have provided them this feedback. The specialty coffee card which cost $35 plus entitles you to 15 special coffees. In the past it was a punch card and if you did not use all the punches you could save it and use them on a future cruise. That has now changed and your room key is used for the 15 coffees and if you do not use them all you cannot carry them forward or get a refund on the unused number. On the last formal night they used to offer broiled lobster and prawns and it was delicious and a highlight of the onboard dining. That has changed to a tasteless lobster tail..not broiled or buttered..on a bed of what looked like green risotto which had more taste than the lobster. In a mini suite you have 2 TVs. One in the living room area and one in the bedroom area and you used to get 2 remotes. Now you only get one remote. Beach towels used to be provided in the room. Now you have to go to the pool area to get your own or remember to pick them up on your way off the ship if you have a water type excursion. A heavy leather pad used to be put on the beds to unpack your luggage and then again to pack it. Those pads are no longer used.

Cabin Review

Mini-Suite with Balcony

Cabin MA

Cabin steward and service on items needing to be repaired were the problem not the cabin itself.

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