Worst Cruise Ever! If under 70 don't go

Item: Royal Princess
Rating: 3.3
Author: AshleyVittori

Royal Princess Cruise Review to Caribbean

AshleyVittori

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 45

Overall rating:

3.3 out of 5

14 Night East/West Caribbean Adventurer (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 29, 2018

Ship: Royal Princess

Cabin type: Balcony

Traveled as: Large Group

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

I would like to started by saying I waited 9 months to write this and tried more cruise lines too. This is my 12th cruise and 1st on this line. We were really looking forward to the food options since I heard such wonderful things. But everything and everyone was just lack luster. Disaster started right after check in, were I received a call to come down to the port office due to something in my luggage. Once I finally made it back off the boat with another 30 or so other aimless customers in the same predicament. At the port, Customs and your Princess officials started in a heated argument in regards to who made the rules. We were dragged around to three different areas where the same altercation happened but in the end no one knew what to do, so let us all back on the boat. Over items they didn’t even know what they were…might I ad There was no WOW factors, I know I should have not had my hopes so high but geez you lost me at the no music. I know the cliental which you cater to is over 80 but good lord so boring!I mean the worst for a holiday cruise to Caribbean. Been on several, and I must say thee saddest New Years I've ever had. NO music by the pool, NOT one Caribbean song the entire time. It was a holiday!!! NO dancing, literally no fun. The design of the ship was awful, a lot of small closed rooms. Nothing open with a promenade or any of that, or not really anywhere or anything to do at night. Shopping minimally boring. There wasn't one real space on this boat for everyone to enjoy for any events, except the show room. You couldn't pay me to step back on a Princess Cruise Line before the age of 70 ever again, and I'm not exactly a spring chicken. My words are true don't spend the money. We were with a group of 20 ages 3 to 95, and my 95 Nana was bored. Just saying.......

Embarkation

1 out of 5

Disaster started right after check in, were I received a call to come down to the port office due to something in my luggage. Once I finally made it back off the boat with another 30 or so other aimless customers in the same predicament. At the port, Customs and your Princess officials started in a heated argument in regards to who made the rules. We were dragged around to three different areas where the same altercation happened but in the end no one knew what to do, so let us all back on the boat. Over items they didn’t even know what they were…might I add.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

2 out of 5

This is my 12th cruise and 1st on this line. We were really looking forward to the food options since I heard such wonderful things. But everything and everyone was just lack luster. There was no WOWs I know I should have not had my hopes so high but geez you lost me at the no music. I know the cliental which you cater to is over 80 but good lord so boring!

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

I mean the worst for a holiday cruise to Caribbean. Been on several, and I must say thee saddest New Years I've ever had. NO music by the pool, NOT one Caribbean song the entire time. IT was a holiday!!! NO dancing literally no fun.

Entertainment

2 out of 5

Anything compared to Celebrity and RC forget about it. If you never have been a on a cruise I'd give it a 3

Children's Programs

1 out of 5

What programs?

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Everyone is fine in this area

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

The design was awful, a lot of small closed rooms. Nothing open with a promenade or any of that. Shopping minimally boring. There wasn't one real space on this boat to everyone a lot of people for any events, except the show room.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Everything was great in the room!

Ship tip

If you under the age of 70, book another line.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

5 out of 5

Always love Lauder

Thumbs Up 0

Princess Cays (Cruise Line Private Island)

4 out of 5

Pretty, and clean

Thumbs Up 1

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

5 out of 5

Love

Thumbs Up 0

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

5 out of 5

Love

Thumbs Up 0

Disembarkation

5 out of 5

Much smoother process gretting off.

15 Comments

mrwonderful 5 years ago

This is BS!!

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AshleyVittori 5 years ago

Great feedback gang! Happy cruising enjoy Princess.

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Justlovecruisin 5 years ago

Huh. I'm reading these comments and I love Princess for the lack of an 'amusement park' feel. I've met many people - staff and passengers alike that I stay in touch with. There is always something going on - dancing in the lounges, bands, violinists, piano players, DJs, games, entertainments has always been very good - even when It wasn't to my personal liking (I can only see Bravo so many times) I wouldn't say it was bad. Good variety of MUTS too. So many friendly people and just relaxation. The food has always been good, sometimes great, but never bad. I haven't been on Royal, but have on Regal (sister ship) and I will say I don't like the Princess Live as much as Explorers. But the huge piazza is wonderful for games and such. And I love the Medallion system! Oh, and I'm under 70. It's sad that people do not look into a cruise line before they sail on it. For instance, I am positive that I would not enjoy Carnival at all (too much party for me) and RC and Disney are just too much amusement park, so of course I would have a bad time. But still, I don't think I would trash it with comments that seem blatantly untrue, such as "No music." Anyone who has been on a Princess ship knows that is just plain false - there is music everywhere. As for something in your bags? What what is? They don't normally take someone off the ship - just down to deck 4 into a holding area to retrieve something out of a bag, unless it is possible illegal? Hmmm.

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gladiatorkd 5 years ago

Wow, when 1000,s of passengers love Princess and one doesn't, that tells me that you are the problem, not the cruise line. The one thing I know I can look forward to, is not seeing you on my next cruise.....woot.

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Linlondon 5 years ago

Who waits 9 months to give a review?

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thebob 5 years ago

Must have been wearing earplugs if they didn't hear any music

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emilyfleet 5 years ago

This is weird to hear. I went on Royal Princess 4 years ago on my 20th birthday and it was the best experience of my life. Food was fantastic, always music and movies on the pool deck and there was dancing in the main lobby. There was always something to do. I actually made friends with many staff members on board and we still keep in touch to this very day. Princess was lovely, easy to get around the ship, clean, there was always someone cleaning. The food in the buffet was different each day, as for night time I enjoyed just sitting and lounging and taking in the breeze and listening to the waves. This is disappointing to hear as it was one bad experience with Princess, doesn’t mean the rest of them are like this. Princess has an impeccable reputation for a reason. I’d say give it another shot and if you still don’t like them then to try a different cruise line.

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Muffykins123 5 years ago

Ok my first response is go on Carnival. We Loved Royal Princess to Mexican Rivera we had a 50 music dance a balloon drop 70's/80's music dance. The sail away party was fun too. Now l am in my 60's & l do like it quieter. But l enjoyed food, entertainment & 2 excursions. I am booked again on Royal Princess for a California coast cruise in 2020.

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bonniehogie 5 years ago

Pretty much sums up our experience also. Boring cold food, same food day after day. To many tight spaces, staff not interested in getting to know anyone. First and Las cruise on princess, and it was their medallion class ( that system sucks)

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cruzrbachoua 5 years ago

I find it hard to believe no music by the pool...I typically like to lay out and read and find it hard to do so at the main pool as it is always hopping with recorded music or a live band...no dancing every time we have been on princess they've had a deck party...all of this just happened last year....

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Jules15 5 years ago

Wow..how deprsssing!

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2TallKim 5 years ago

If you are looking for a party ship I suggest Carnival. I loved my last Princess Cruise and can’t wait for my next in 23 days! 🤗

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RetiredRay 5 years ago

Promenades seem to be going away on the newer ships, a waste of space that could be generating income. As far as the fire/oil spill, what should they have done different? Some folks said they made announcements on the status, but in either event, safety first (been involved in both several times over my Navy career). 13 days, then we board for the Sea of Cortez. Looking forward to it.

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bobduck1993 5 years ago

Sorry you didn't enjoy your cruise,I been on the Royal Princess and thought it was really nice, did not you enjoy the people you were with?

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CruzeFan 5 years ago

Thanks for the review. We loved Princess because of many of the reasons you hate it.

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