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Name: John Mills
Email: cruiseaholic@mailexcite.com
Age: 39
Occupation: Systems Engineer
NumberOfCruises: 18
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Royal
SailingDate: 5/31/98
Itinerary: Scandanavia/Russia
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 100
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 99
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 Jul 1998
Time: 13:04:43
Remote Name: 146.138.254.111
Remote User:
Comments
I recently returned from my second cruise on the Royal Princess, the May 31, 1998 sailing
from Dover, England bound on a thirteen-day
Scandinavian/Russia cruise aboard this beautiful and classy ship.
Shore Excursions The shore excursions were reasonably priced, although more costly than
most Caribbean tours, which is to be expected.
There was a good variety offered in each port. They were informative and well conducted
and thoroughly enjoyable. Princess has this process
down to a science and they tours ran very efficiently, smoothly and on time.
The Food Food is a very subjective but in my opinion I can only say one word about the
food - excellent. The food on board was delicious,
especially in the Continental Restaurant. Our waiter, busboy and headwaiter were extremely
attentive. We only ate in the Bistro one evening, but
it was again, extremely good and well done. A nice change of pace.
The consistent quality of the food ranks it among the best I've encountered on any cruise
ship and the cuisine a cut above competitors. The
tableside spectacles starring the head-waiters who prepared various pasta dishes was
enjoyed by all diners. In keeping with my total Royal
Princess experience, dining was first-class all the way.
The Lido offered a nice selection of buffet entrees, salads, pastas and deserts. The
selections changed daily. At busy times, the lines moved very
smoothly and quickly. Tables were cleaned almost as soon as you walked away from the
table. The Lido staff were very adept at their jobs,
performing their duties very efficiently with a smile.
We were scheduled to one of the last groups off the ship, so we slept in a little and went
up to the Lido for breakfast. Checking the room one last
time, we said goodbye to our cabin stewardess and went up the Princess Court to wait.
Running ahead of schedule, we were off the ship almost
a half-hour before we were scheduled to be. We retrieved our luggage and were soon on a
bus for Heathrow. This was the end of an absolutely
wonderful vacation.
The Entertainment The evening shows consisted of the traditional production reviews, which
were executed very professionally, with the
dancers/singers showing great enthusiasm for what they were doing. There was a magician,
comedian, jugglers and classical pianist on board
who were fabulous. The live bands were good, but I spent most of my time at night in the
disco for Karaoke and dancing. The pianist who played
in the Princess Court, Pam Austin, was on board last year when I was and she continues to
be a crowd pleaser.
The Ship This was my eighteenth cruise. I have sailed on Royal Caribbean (5 times),
Carnival (5 times), Dolphin (2 times), Norwegian Cruise Lines
(1 time), Holland America (1 time), and Princess (4 times). Having sailed on the Royal
Princess last May (Mediterranean Mosaic cruise from
Athens, Greece to Dover, England), I felt like I was coming home when I walked on board.
While not the newest and glitziest ship sailing the
seas, she is an extremely comfortable and well laid out ship on which to sail. As with all
Princess cruises, she is exquisitely maintained and
manicured.
With malleable, impartial colors and graceful, sweeping curves, the Royal Princess offers
a spacious, free-flowing interior with a scintillating,
understated elegance enhanced by an amazing abundance of brass and glass. Few ships can
rival her sense of openness, a feeling created by
more than two acres of teak decking, plus windows everywhere. Whether you are exercising,
having lunch in the Continental Dining Room or
Lido Café, or enjoying the 360-degree panoramas in the rooftop Horizon Lounge you have
great views of the sea. She boasts more than
15,000 square feet of windows.
The focal point, and most dramatic public space on the ship is the Plaza foyer, a
two-story atrium with a curving, glass and brass trimmed
staircase. The purser's lobby is on the lower level, as is the Continental Dining Room.
Ascending one of the twin curved staircases leads you up
to the Riviera Deck, where the circular Princess Court piano lounge overlooks the foyer.
This is an excellent place to meet and have cocktails and
enjoy the view afforded you by the large picture windows flanking both the port and
starboard sides. It is on this level that most of the public
rooms are located (interestingly, the passenger cabins are almost all located on the upper
decks). Forward, the International Lounge offers
good sightlines from six levels of seating and is the venue for the lavish, Broadway and
Las Vegas style shows Princess offers on board. Aft is
the Riviera Club, an excellent spot for dancing to a live band. Also located on this deck
you will find the casino, boutique, photo shop, theatre
(offering first run movies) and the game room.
Up one more flight and you can exit onto the wrap around Promenade, a great place to walk
or jog (three-and-one-half times around the circuit
equals one-mile). Proceed up four more levels to the Lido deck and you find the main pool
area and the Lido Bar. Here, the indoor/outdoor
Lido Café provides a cheerful setting for breakfast and lunch, and in the evening becomes
the Bistro and Pizzeria.
Crowning the Royal Princess is Sun Deck, where you will find the Spa, a fully equipped
health and beauty club featuring exercise machines, two
saunas, two massage rooms, indoor whirlpool and ocean views. Outside, next to the Sun Deck
Bar is one of the largest lap pools at sea. Aft, the
Horizon Lounge with slanted floor-to-ceiling windows is a quiet observation area by day,
and a dance spot at night.
One of the prominent features of the Royal Princess are the cabins - ALL outside. All
feature a mini-refrigerator, color television, bathtub with
shower, and amenities package with terry robes. The twin beds convert to a queen-size.
Each of the 600 staterooms has a large picture window,
not just a porthole. In fact, with the exception of the Princess Theater, there are no
inside passenger spaces.
The ship is staffed with a dedicated group of British officers and a top-notch
international crew. The personnel are helpful and friendly, always
greeting you with a smile. Our cabin stewardess was one of the best I have ever
encountered, and her assistant would regularly call the cabin
after seeing us come back from tours to see if we wanted juice or needed anything.
The Captain and Cruise Director were regularly seen strolling around the ship and would
stop to talk to passengers. They were the most visible
and accessible that I have ever seen on any ship.
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