Final fall I used to be invited by Princess Cruises to attend the christening of their latest ship, the Regal Princess. To sweeten the deal, they invited the whole forged of The Love Boat to take part within the occasion, together with greater than 20 former visitor begins of the long-lasting present of the 70s and 80s. Captain Stubing, Florence Henderson and Charo? There was completely no method I might say no. I used to be additionally actually desirous to expertise Princess Cruises for the primary time. I’ve been on a number of cruises, however by no means with Princess and appeared ahead to seeing what crusing with them is like. Sadly, the expertise wasn’t every little thing I hoped it will be and so I really feel compelled to supply an trustworthy assessment of the Regal Princess and Princess Cruises typically.
The Ship
If I hadn’t been on the christening, I’d be shocked to seek out out that the Regal Princess was model new. I don’t imply it doesn’t look good and glossy – it actually does. However the structure of the ship is so antiquated and complicated, it’s onerous to imagine it was designed and constructed within the 21st century. The ship is cut up between decks in order that after I wished to eat dinner on the restaurant on the 5th deck, I must go as much as 7 after which stroll down to five. On the subject of recreation areas, they’re pitiful. Not one of the lounge chairs have any form of shade or umbrellas, so if you’re honest skinned you’ll bake. Wait, I stand corrected. They do have a lovely and enjoyable space with loads of shade and umbrellas, however it’s important to pay further to entry it. That nickel and diming was rampant and I used to be shocked to see that little was free and as a substitute Princess associates a price with every little thing. Even once we anchored within the Bahamas, the seaside umbrellas have been $29 for the day. It’s outrageous and I’ve by no means skilled that insane degree of nickel and diming on a cruise earlier than.
There was additionally little to do onboard the ship. There have been a couple of swimming pools, a rec middle and a on line casino, however nothing enjoyable, progressive or thrilling. No sky diving or bumper automobiles on this ship no, as a substitute your selections are trivia evening with the crew or bingo. I think about retirement houses have higher choices.
Service
That is the place Princess actually misplaced me and I’m nonetheless reeling from the spectacularly unhealthy service I skilled onboard the Regal Princess. At first after I seen small moments of poor service, I chalked it as much as new workers simply getting used to issues. Then I discovered that the Regal Princess had been servicing company for six months and I immediately misplaced quite a lot of respect for the individuals who labored onboard the ship.
Somewhat than one evident instance of unhealthy service, my expertise was as a substitute a dying by a thousand cuts. After I sat right down to get a mushy drink, the waiter promptly started telling me how a lot he hated his job. I listened as I went on to inform everybody else the identical factor whereas pouring their drinks. I noticed a number of servers get actually impolite and sarcastic with company, one senior workers member truly yelling at a passenger. Within the fitness center I made an appointment with the workers they usually by no means confirmed up. It goes on and on. Like I mentioned, there was nobody horrible encounter, as a substitute nothing went the best way it ought to have. In hospitality the visitor is ALWAYS proper. Even when it means gritting your tooth and saying “Sure ma’am” or “Sir,” however open battle ought to by no means occur. After all this doesn’t happen in a vacuum and in the end factors in direction of what’s the bigger company tradition.
I noticed this lack of respect on show whereas ready to board the tender (small boat) to take us again to the cruise ship after spending the day within the Bahamas, our port of name. There was a 45-minute line for the tenders and it was not a fast paced line. As I received nearer, I noticed one of many cruise ship workers members ask the oldsters in line to not board the empty tender and as a substitute, his coworkers spent 20 minutes loading beer and wine onto the boat. In the meantime, company waited within the intense warmth watching as they have been proven by the actions of the crew simply how unimportant they have been. It was surprising and I believed a riot was going to interrupt out amongst the company round me. But it surely goes to indicate how little the crew thinks about customer support.
Meals and every little thing else
Wow, it actually appears that I hated my expertise onboard the Regal Princess, however that’s removed from the reality. We had a good time, however there are important issues that should be addressed. Meals is one other one. All company are entitled to eat within the normal buffet restaurant in addition to at a couple of different eating rooms with out reservations. Right here’s the kicker. I chosen anytime eating, which suggests there was no set time and theoretically I might go and eat at any time when I wished to. Besides that’s not technically doable. My companion and I confirmed up on the anytime eating restaurant and have been promptly requested if we had reservations. Dumbfounded I mentioned no, this was anytime seating. Seems anytime seating requires reservations prematurely! Whereas sure, theoretically you may present up and eat apparently demand was too excessive in order that they switched to an impromptu reservations system. It’s absurd and was only one extra disconnect on a ship filled with them. I may not have minded as a lot had the meals truly been good, however it wasn’t. It was as unimpressive, unimaginative as something I’ve ever seen and I doubt the menu has modified a lot prior to now couple of a long time.
Having cruised many instances prior to now, I used to be shocked at my expertise onboard the Regal Princess. The issues have been many and by the tip of the brief three-day journey, my companion and I have been greater than prepared to depart. We weren’t alone both. I chatted with quite a lot of company who paid for the cruise, who have been there to take pleasure in a couple of days away from residence and to an individual nobody was proud of their expertise. One gents I met instructed me that he’s sailed 20 instances with Norwegian and dozens extra instances with different cruise strains and that three-day cruise onboard the Regal Princess was one of many worst he’s ever skilled. That claims one thing.
But it surely additionally wasn’t the worst expertise I’ve ever had and if it’s your first cruise then you definitely’ll most likely prefer it. However when you’ve got something in any respect with which to check it to, put together for some severe disappointment.
Have you ever sailed with Princess Cruises earlier than? What did you assume?
