May 2015 - 11 Night Scandinavia & Russia (Copenhagen Roundtrip) Cruise on Regal Princess
Disappointing Cruise
Oregoncruiser
Third Mate
Joined 05/2015
1
Cruise2
Reviews138
Helpful VotesPast cruises
Jewel of the Seas
Sail date: November 11, 2019
I chose this cruise because of the ports visited. Lots of things packed into a few days. The trip was pretty exhausting but we saw a lot in a short time. The ship experience was a disappointment. The drinks are overpriced to encourage purchase of beverage plans. Lots of "nickel and diming" charges on top of cruise cost. Poor communications sometimes with staff unsure about details. Shore excursions and transfers are also over priced based on tours I was able to book on my own.
Regal Princess
Sail date: May 13, 2015
I agree with other reviewers about the poor layouts in the buffet area, the lack of promenade deck, central elevators without stairs as well. Overcrowded dining in buffet. Poor service in many areas. One example, I ordered a Diet Coke with my lunch in the Horizon Court and the waitress stopped to clean some tables and tidy the drink area before even going for my drink. Then she brought it and dropped the can as she served it. She then had to go back for another which took forever. My lunch was totally cold by the time I got my drink. This spilling of drinks happened twice as they were not paying attention to what they were doing.
Too much upselling products and services. Very annoying. Disliked the production shows... good talent but poor themes and too sexy. Would have liked more shows related to the areas we were visiting.I did enjoy the in room entertainment via the port talks, port information, and on demand movies and TV. That was a really nice feature. Waiters were friendly with each other but seemed really bored and uninterested in passengers. Maybe the "required" gratuity system has caused service to disintegrate as there is no real incentive toward excellent service. Have cruised on 5 other cruise lines and the service, entertainment, and general ship layout were much better. This is my first cruise on a "mega" ship and I'm disappointed. I will NOT cruise Princess again based on my experience with other cruise lines.
Cruise tips
Port was closed due to weather
We stayed in Rome before the cruise. Very crowded city but booked a private driver and saw a lot.
Hired private tour guide. Great tour and wonderful site to visit
Ugly city. Did a city tour but was not impressed with the ability to see anything from the bus.
Jewel of the Seas
I would say choose another ship. RCI has ships that are much nicer and more comfortable ships with great food and wonderful entertainment.
Did not care for excursion. Should have just visited on our own.
Did the excursion to Jerusalem from this port.
Did not visit this port for security reasons
Hired private guide. Great tour and fabulous day
Spent time on our own
Vasa museum is must see. Had a great lunch. Rest of tour was so so. Overpriced for what we did.
Did the tour including Sculpture Garden, Folk Museum, and Ski Jump. Just great. Guide was lovely. Not too strenuous, but learned a lot.
Loved the Old City. Took a taxi to the top and walked down. Took taxi back to ship. Lots of walking but lovely town. Good shopping.
St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
Peterhof fountain gardens, Catherine's Palace, Faberge Museum (not on Princess itinerary)
Loved the Berlin on your own with the train from the port to Berlin. Easy to do. Good meeting place for tour to end. Saw everything on the Hop on Hop Off.
Did an add on at the end of our cruise. Stayed at Crown Plaza near the airport but there was a great Metro train that took us to downtown area in just a few minutes. Easy to do and very convenient. They also have a free airport shuttle.
Regal Princess
I booked a cabin midship with a "partial obstruction" view, better priced but it was a great location and the view was totally fine. Liked the E deck.
Badges earned (Learn more)
Points (View leaderboard)
0
This week
This week
21
Total
Total
I agree with other reviewers about the poor layouts in the buffet area, the lack of promenade deck, central elevators without stairs as well. Overcrowded dining in buffet. Poor service in many areas. One example, I ordered a Diet Coke with my lunch in the Horizon Court and the waitress stopped to clean some tables and tidy the drink area before even going for my drink. Then she brought it and dropped the can as she served it. She then had to go back for another which took forever. My lunch was totally cold by the time I got my drink. This spilling of drinks happened twice as they were not paying attention to what they were doing.
Too much upselling products and services. Very annoying. Disliked the production shows... good talent but poor themes and too sexy. Would have liked more shows related to the areas we were visiting.I did enjoy the in room entertainment via the port talks, port information, and on demand movies and TV. That was a really nice feature. Waiters were friendly with each other but seemed really bored and uninterested in passengers. Maybe the "required" gratuity system has caused service to disintegrate as there is no real incentive toward excellent service. Have cruised on 5 other cruise lines and the service, entertainment, and general ship layout were much better. This is my first cruise on a "mega" ship and I'm disappointed. I will NOT cruise Princess again based on my experience with other cruise lines.