Hi I’m Chris Frame and welcome aboard Royal Princess.
This is the first of the Royal Class of cruise ships, built for Princess Cruises by Fincantieri.
The ship is 330m long, has a gross tonnage of 147,314 and can transport up to 3,600 passengers.
The ship is a large-scale resort at sea, with multiple dining venues, on deck sports facilities,
a multi storey atrium, show lounges and even a daring walkway with a glass floor!
I sailed aboard Royal Princess in November 2023 as a guest of Princess Cruises.
While Princess Cruises provided the accommodation and the cruise, I was not paid to make this
video.
So come aboard Royal Princess with me to discover what its like aboard the first of the Royal
Class cruise ships.
[Music]
I often start ship tours on the wrap around boat deck, however as Royal Princess doesn’t
have one let’s instead start our tour at the very top of the ship and work our way
down.
The top most space aboard Royal Princess is Sky Deck.
Here you’ll find the Lawn Court where lawn bowls and putt putt can be played.
This small deck is accessed from Sports Deck, which as the name suggests houses most of
the shipboard sporting facilities.
These include a jogging track, driving range, games lounge, table tennis and a huge basketball
court which proved very popular on my cruise.
One deck down on Sun Deck, the Fitness Centre occupies a large chunk of the starboard aft
location.
It’s packed full of gym equipment as well as a studio for exercise classes while nearby
changerooms are on offer so you don’t have to wear your gym clothes throughout the ship.
On the Port Side are the kids and teens facilities.
Princess runs these in combination with Discovery Channel under the branding of Camp Discovery,
and they also feature this cool outdoor track for the kids to enjoy.
Amidships on Sun Deck, a large well overlooks the pools one deck below.
There are hot tubs on this level, as well as the upper level of two cantilever walkways
that jut out over the side of the ship – but more about that in a moment.
At the forward end of the deck is the Retreat Pool, and the Sanctuary.
While the Sanctuary requires a booking to access, the Retreat is open to all adults
to relax and is a quiet and secluded location with its own bar.
Stepping down one level and Lido deck is home to accommodation and more passenger amenities.
In fact it is the home of my favourite feature of Royal Princess – the Sea Walk!
Situated on the starboard side amidships, this cantilever walkway has a glass floor
and exposed sides giving a really adventurous way to get a great view of the ship, the sea
and the sky!
On the Port Side, a similarly shaped structure is home to the Sea View bar.
These features hug the fountain pool and plunge pool, while food and drink are available from
the Pizzeria, the Trident Grill and the Mermaid Tail Bar.
Heading aft and you’ll enter the domain of alfresco dining.
The Horizon Bistro and Horizon Court are interlinked and provide access to a variety of cuisines
served in a help-your-self buffet style.
This space includes multiple serveries and a pastry shop where cakes and puddings are
on offer.
There’s large windows with great views, or you can take your meal out to the aft deck
and find a table at the Horizon Terrace – with drinks served by the Outriggers Bar.
The Horizon Terrace is also a great location for drinks during the day and was popular
during sail aways.
Marina Deck, Aloha Deck, Baja Deck, Caribe Deck, Dolphin Deck and Emerald Deck are the
domain of cabins, mini suites and suites – with a few exceptions.
Rivera Deck is where you’ll find the Wedding Chapel and Concierge Lounge, used for weddings
at sea and receptions, while each of the passenger decks feature a DIY guest laundrette.
Baja Deck was my home during my cruise, with cabin B729 a standard balcony cabin being
located towards the aft of the ship.
The cabin was spacious, with a separate ensuite bathroom that featured a vanity, toilet and
shower with an adjustable shower head – definitely a win there for tall people like me.
There was a modest walk-in-robe nook meaning the cupboards and storage don’t block the
main walkway which is a definite plus.
Twin beds can be converted into a queen and the beds are probably the most comfortable
I’ve ever had on a cruise, while various pillow options are available.
The cabin featured a small desk, a mini-fridge and a flat panel TV linked to Princess’
Medallion Class interactive platform while a good-sized balcony offered great views.
During our voyage we took part in the breakfast on the Balcony experience which was a great
use of the balcony space and a fun way to start the day.
If we skip down to Promenade Deck we’ll find many more passenger facilities.
The name suggests there is a promenade here, however as mentioned the Royal Class cruise
ships have no outdoor promenade deck.
Rather, you can find several outdoor promenade nooks both aft and amidships allowing for
some outdoor access.
Internally, this deck is a hive of activity.
At the aft of the deck the Vista Lounge offers daytime and evening entertainment options
with a mid-sized stage and comfortable seating.
It links on the starboard side to a main walkway that offers access to a small Library that
was a popular place to play card and board games during our cruise.
The library looks out onto the Wheelhouse Bar, which is a staple of the Princess Cruises
design and is decorated in a style that harks back to the P&O-Princess cruise ships of days
gone by.
This is because Princess was, for many decades, owned by P&O and if you want to know more
check out my video about P&O Cruises in the info card.
The Wheelhouse Bar sits alongside the Crown Grill which is one of the extra tariff restaurants
aboard Royal Princess.
Here you’ll find some of the best steaks and seafood we’ve had aboard a cruise ship
with very friendly service and a unique, deep-hued ambiance.
Forward of the Crown Grill is Princess Live.
An aluminium-style entry welcomes guests into what is effectively a TV-studio at sea.
Terraced seating overlooks a stage with TV cameras, lights and sound equipment on full
display.
This is the venue where the Princess Live TV show is filmed, while the space is also
used for other multi-media style entertainment.
It is supported by a co-branded bar – the Princess Live Café.
Amidships the Atrium is the central focus of the ship.
Similar to most Princess Cruises ships, this is the main hub of the vessel and many of
the shipboard facilities hug this area across three decks.
On Promenade Deck you’ll find Crooners Bar, the Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar, the Captains
Circle Loyalty Club and Future Bookings desk, as well as some of the shops.
More shops can be found just forward of the Ocean Bar, with a unique design that hugs
a well overlooking the sizeable casino below.
This well is encircled by the art gallery on the starboard side, which links though
to the Princess Theatre towards the bow.
This theatre is a fantastic space, with terraced seating and unobstructed sight lines.
The modern design is fascinating, and I especially liked the moving lighting that accents this
space during the day.
Descending to the lower level of the Theatre and we find ourselves on Fiesta Deck.
Heading aft past the small Cigar Lounge, Club 6 offers a bar and slot machines which hug
the port side of the Princess Casino.
You may wish to enjoy a drink in Bellini’s, or head to Alfredo’s Pizzeria for freshly
cooked pizzas with views to the atrium on the port side, or the ocean on the starboard
side thanks to large windows.
On the opposite side of the atrium is a huge photo gallery which is also home to Ocean
Front where you can talk to the Princess crew about all things Medallion – which is a
wearable disc that acts as your cruise card and payment method as well as an identifier
that helps with embarkation and onboard activities.
The atrium features twin staircases and panoramic lifts that link its three decks.
Aft of the atrium, the Concerto Dining Room along with the Allegro Dining Room offer complementary
dining for all guests aboard the ship.
They are joined by the Symphony Dining Room one deck lower on Plaza Deck to round up the
complementary main dining room offering.
Plaza Deck is home to the Piazza, which is the lowest level of the atrium.
This space is used throughout the day and night for activities, quizzes, trivia, games
and other activities.
On our cruise, there was even paper aeroplane throwing competitions that were popular with
adults and kids alike!
Surrounding the Piazza, Good Spirits at Sea offers a cocktail experience, while
The Vines Wine Bar, as the name suggests, specialises in wines from around the world.
The international café offers café style food, coffee, tea and other beverages while
the pièce de resistance has to be the Gelato bar which serves an array of gelato and specialist
sundaes – yum!
To complete this space, a small shop and internet café can be found just aft of the Gelato
bar.
If we head forward we’ll find the Guest Services desk where you can chat to the Pursers
staff about any shipboard issues.
However Princess Cruises app also features a chat function meaning you don’t need to
line up at the Guest Services desk to get support from the crew.
Sabatini’s is found on the starboard side and offers perhaps the best cuisine aboard.
Freshly made Italian fare is offered here, with some delicious pastas and interesting
desserts on offer.
The staff are knowledgeable and friendly and do a great job to theme the entire experience
wish an Italian flavour!
And finally the forward part of Plaza deck is home to an extensive spa facility called
the Lotus Spa.
Treatment rooms and a beauty salon hut a central hydrotherapy facility known as the Enclave,
offering a great space for relaxation.
There is one more deck – Gala Deck, just below the atrium.
This is home to the tender embarkation lounges – useful when Royal Princess operates anchor
ports.
It is also home to the Medical Centre, but none of us want to end up there, so lets head
back to the atrium before we depart the ship.
I hope you enjoyed this tour of Royal Princess.
If you want to hear more about the onboard experience, check out the dedicated episode
of The Big Cruise Podcast – I’ve linked it in the description.
Thanks so much for watching, and until next time I hope to ‘sea’ you onboard.