Royal Princess Inaugural Sailing Oct 27th /13
The Royal Princess is the first new ship for Princess since the Ruby and it is also the largest and most contemporary in the fleet.
The Royal Princess provides a classic style of cruising, no water parks, rock climbing walls or carousels.
The Sea Walk and Sea View bar on the upper deck, cantilever 28 ft. over the ocean with a glass floor that you can look below 128 ft.
The beautiful Piazza Atrium is spread over 3 decks with venues for dining, drinking and meeting. Bellini’s on the 2nd level of the atrium features 8 different Bellini’s as well as champagne and wine. “Champagne in victory one deserves it and defeat one needs it” (Napoleon…wonder if he had access to it in Elba). At the Ocean Terrace, you can snack on sushi and seafood or you can eat pizza at Alfredo’s. The International Café is open 24 hours for specialty coffees and teas as well as light snacks. Across the atrium is the largest Gelato shop at sea serving several different flavours of gelato as well as pastries.
Off of the Atrium is Vines, an elegant wine bar with a great variety of wines. This area is another great spot to enjoy the pre dinner music and meet before dinner.
Princess has moved the spa area from the upper deck to deck 5 off of the Atrium. This allowed Princess to expand the spa facilities enabling more passengers to use the services in this area. The new Enclave relaxation area has thermal beds, steam rooms and a hydrotherapy pool. This area has a fee for use.
The Sanctuary area on the upper deck is a beautiful relaxing area for adults only with comfortable lounge chairs and cabanas with TV’s. Make sure to reserve early to guarantee your spot. Cabana rentals are $50 for a half day and $80 for a full day.
The Retreat area has a pool with easy accessible stairs into it. This is also an adult only area with cabanas that can be reserved.
The main pool area has the fountain of dancing waters separating the pool and a splash pool. This area has tiered seating and a large screen for Movies under the Stars as well as viewing important sporting events.
Princess makes great use of this space during the evening with the dancing waters and a light show featuring the Princess Dancers. We were treated to a spectacular fireworks show on this Inaugural sailing from Fort Lauderdale.
The Horizon Court has a buffet with many different food stations eliminating long line ups. On our 1st morning at sea we counted 7 different kinds of French toast. This area also features a Pastry Shop in the centre of the Court – a first for Princess. Aft of the Horizon Court there is a lovely covered outdoor terrace with both table and comfortable sofa seating to enjoy your lunch or breakfast or an afternoon retreat from the sun.
The Crown Grill located behind the Wheel House Bar is one of Princess’s specialty dining restaurants that offers a selection of steaks, pork chops and seafood for a nominal fee. Come hungry! There is a nominal fee of $25 per guest for both Sabatini’s and the Crown Grill.
The Royal Princess features 3 dining rooms. The Allegro dining room is for traditional dining passengers with 1st or 2nd dining reservations. The Symphony and the Concerto dining rooms are for the guests with anytime dining reservations.
The Royal Princess is truly a beautiful addition to the fleet.
Fact: The Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton) is the Godmother to the Royal Princess. This is the 3rd Princess ship with the Royal Princess name. In 1984 Princess Diana christened the first Royal Princess.