Ship Review: Royal Princess

Introduced in June 2013, Royal Princess is Princess Cruises’ first new ship design in 10 years. She carries 3,600 passengers, the largest ship in its competitive set. It boasts

a large variety of dining and entertainment options, all packaged within a more upscale cruise experience.

Royal Princess’ major distinction: The ship was christened by Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge.

Her portrait is displayed on deck five, between the Atrium and Guest Services.

Few travel experiences can top sitting in a piazza, watching the world pass, sipping a cappuccino or a glass of chianti, or

digging at a delicious dome of gelato.

My Deluxe Balcony Stateroom on Dolphin Deck included a sofa bed in addition to the queen bed (or two twin)

configuration. It also offered enhanced bathroom amenities, like terrycloth towels and waffle bathrobes.

The Chef’s Table, Lumiere, within Allegro. This exclusive dining experience, including the

chef’s specially prepared meal, costs $115 per person.

Increasingly, spa and fitness facilities are gaining prominence on cruise ships. Some vacationers simply don’t want to break their fitness routines. Others seek restoration and rejuvenation in ship spas while cruising.

Four new productions are featured aboard Royal Princess, allowing travelers a variety of nighttime entertainment choices. For gamblers, the Princess Casino features

everything from blackjack to Texas Hold’em, roulette to slot tournaments.

Princess Cruises’ largest-ever top deck pool and largest Movies Under the Stars screen. The pool also features

regular performances of dancing fountains, with themes ranging from Frank Sinatra to James Bond.

One new feature on the pool deck is the SeaWalk, a vertigo-inducing walkway that extends

28 feet beyond the side of the ship.

Review by Ralph Grizzle, The Avid Cruiser Photos courtesy of The Avid Cruiser and Princess Cruises Slideshow created by Gail Jessen, A Series of Adventures