Celebrating on the Love Boat
Royal Princess Cruise Review
Contributor Level:
Third Mate
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 107
7 Night Mexican Riviera (Los Angeles Roundtrip)
Sail date: February 22, 2020
Ship: Royal Princess
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: D408
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 4 years ago
Review summary
The love boat cruise to the three ports on the Mexican Riviera was worth the time and effort to cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific. I can understand why west coast residents take this cruise often, like we visit The Caribbean. I would love to do it again.Embarkation
We completed the profiles to be ocean ready on-line and ordered our medallions. We forgot we had ordered these. When a package from Shanghai came we were concerned until I reminded my wife that we were expecting medallions. Medallion class ships like the Royal Princess give you an easy way to manage your cruise. The medallion can open your door before you arrive at your cabin, notify the dining room staff of your reservation or arrival before getting to the desk, and an easy way to make a purchase. It also makes embarqment a breeze.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The main dining rooms are pleasant, the staff is attentive, and the food was great. While the classics offered every night includes salmon, my wife’s favorite. The beef classic is a burger. Fear not there is a steak option every night and one can order some meals from the Crown Grill, a specialty restaurant, in the main dining rooms at a reduced price. Our 25th Anniversary celebration at the Crown Grill was wonderful! It was a five course meal, and yes they ordered the no sugar added desert from the main dining room so I could enjoy my meal at the Crown Grill, rather than having to find a different venue for desert and coffee. This is only the second one this easy accommodation was offered for a diabetic.
Onboard Activities
We had a balcony on this trip since we were celebrating, so we spent more time in the stateroom balcony. There are your basic activities - music lectures, photo classes, dance lessons, bingo, trivia contests, game shows, jewelry raffles, sale events, and spa specials.
Entertainment
The entertainment included your production numbers by singers and dancers in the Princess Theater, talented lounge acts and dance music. My favorite was called Encore. We enjoyed shows after dinner, dancing til we dropped. A singer came onboard for a Whitney Houston tribute. My wife’s favorite was the comedian who did two shows. He was hilarious and she laughed so much that the tears of joy left me with one soggy handkerchief. There was a little something for everyone.
Service and Staff
Service was good on the Royal Princess. As many were from the Philippines, you may have to explain a request. For example, I would like a Strongbow cider. Beer? No, they make a hard cider. Is the beer in a bottle? No, the apple cider comes in a black can on this ship. I got my cider.
Be patient, smile, and this crew will try their best to keep your smile there.
Ship Quality
The saving grace of this ship is the medallion screens throughout the ship. The layout gets one a little lost and you’ll need your cell phone or screens to find your party. My wife noted that she needs a little refurbishing, she is starting to show her age.
Cabin / Stateroom
The cabin was comfortable, and a very tranquil beige. The loveseat gave us a good view out the door of the balcony when it was too cool to sit outside. The bathroom is a tiny one person area. The balcony is extra large and hosts 2 chairs with leg rests and a side table. The view towards the front of the ship on the left and in front is clear of obstructions. The view to the right towards the rear is partially obstructed by the ship’s lifeboat crafts on a lower level. Soap and shampoo are dispensed in the shower. The bathroom was so small you can turn around and use the liquid soap in the shower to wash your hands. The blow dryer is in a drawer next to the balcony door. There is a laundry with irons on each deck. Sorry, no dry cleaning, get the tux or suit cleaned before the cruise. You can order ice and robes through your mobile phone or just ask the steward.
Ship tip
Book your excisions before you arrive, otherwise you may not do the one thing you expected on your visit to a port. If you have been there before, you can just venture out on your own. If you feel nervous about being in a foreign country, stick with an excursion that offers the activity you love and round trip transportation.
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Ports of call
You will have to be transferred from the ship to the port via a tender. Leave without food from the ship, your bag will be checked and it delays the lines when you are carrying food, especially fruits.
The marina host places to eat, drink, and be merry. Yes, it has a Mr. Frog, you will sit it on your way in.
If you like shopping, the marina area host silver shops, tee shirt and other tourist goods. Before buying try the market which offers a density of goods and be ready to negotiate a good price. It is best to compare. Otherwise you may be sorry within a few minutes when you spy a better deal or a better design on a tee shirt or jacket. Same advice for all ports.
Try visiting the town shops a short walk from the marina area. We didn’t have time to explore but we wished we had.
The best part of our trip was a visit to lands end ant the arch. We saw a humpback whale on our way back and a deal jump on the back of a yacht.
The bus ride to the cathedral featured a lovely church with a great bakery across the street. The last stop an overlook of the city with a beverage was the low point in our excursion.Especially when the bus brokedown. Otherwise a fine outing at this port.
Fun port, we took a walking excursion that took us by a sea walk to the local church featuring a crown on its tower and an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
We went to a silver store and leather store in town for shopping. And finally travelled out to a tequila factory, Dona Engracia, for tequila tasting and option to purchase. There was a luncheon and folkloric show featuring dancers, a lasso expert, a dancing horse and cowboy. There was also a contest for males and females, and a audience participation dance with the performers. Lots of fun to fill the day. The port building also had shopping, but better prices were available in the shops and market outside the port area.
We took a bus tour of Mazatlán. We visited a lovely cathedral. There was a great bakery, with restrooms, across the street. We visited the Golden Zone for shopping and picked up a couple of nice tee shirts at great prices. We visited a site with cliff divers and then returned to the port. The port offers wonderful shopping at some very nice stores and a big bazaar area. If all you want to do is shop, you can take the tram to the port building without venturing away from the port.
San Pedro (Los Angeles), California
The port is in an industrial area, but has an an attraction onsite, I believe it was the battle ship, the Iowa. This is LA, so a trip to Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim was a must for us. It was a great way to start our adventure.
Disembarkation
We normally use self-disembarkation with our rolling luggage. However, we had a late flight and enjoyed the normally scheduled disembarkation. It was nice to have a leisurely breakfast before settling in the Princess Theater to await our disembarkation group with transfer to LAX. Everything went smoothly.
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