The latest incarnation of Princess Cruise Lines’ Royal Princess set sail on its first voyages in June 2013 after being christened by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge (you know, Prince William’s wife, the former Kate Middleton). It became the line’s biggest ship and featured a new batch of state-of-the-art cruise ship amenities. Unique to Royal Princess is the “Sea Walk” – a glass-enclosed walkway that hangs off the edge of the ship, over 120 feet above the water. The SeaView Bar occupies a similarly scenic spot on the opposite side of the ship.
Royal Princess has the usual variety of staterooms, from the windowless interior rooms to mini-suites to full-size suites. All outside staterooms have balconies. Passengers in suites get sitting areas, an improved level of furniture on the balcony, complimentary mini-bar, luxury linens and bathrobes, fresh flowers, walk-in closet and upgraded bathroom supplies. Some of the highest-end suites have hot tubs, PC’s, wet bars and fireplaces.
Dining onboard is available in both “Traditional” (fixed time, table, waiter, etc.) or “Anytime Dining” (eat whenever and with whomever you’d like). Specialty restaurants include Sabatini’s (featuring – you guessed it – Italian fare) and the Crown Grill steak and seafood restaurant. Horizon Court is the big top-deck buffet. Other casual eateries include Alfredo’s Pizzeria, a pastry shop, the Ocean Terrace seafood bar, the Gelato gelateria, the International Cafe and “Vines” – a wine, sushi and tapas bar (that’s “tapas”, not “topless”).
The top-deck pool on Royal Princess is the cruise line’s largest ever and transforms into a water and light show at night. The Sanctuary and Retreat Pool are also on the top deck, but offer a bit more peace and quiet as “adults only” amenities. The Sanctuary has been enlarged on Royal Princess and features a new design. The pool area is also home to the “Movies Under The Stars” video screen.
In addition to those outdoor movies, other night-time activities include entertainment in the Princess Theater, dancing in Club 6, gambling in the Princess Casino plus drinks and entertainment in the Vista, Bellini’s, Crooner’s and Wheelhouse bars/lounges. A completely new addition to the entertainment line-up is “Princess Live!” – a TV studio-style theater where they’ll be staging cooking shows, concerts, game shows and comedy performances.
When you’re not venturing forth on land when the ship is in port, you’ll find plenty of on-board daytime activities. More than just some great pools, Royal Princess has the Lotus Spa; fitness centers; an aerobics studio; a “lawn” space for putting, bocce or croquet; jogging track; a basketball, volleyball, tennis court; a laser shooting range and an indoor golf driving range.
As of July 2013, Royal Princess was scheduled to spend the next two years on a mix of voyages to the Mediterranean, Caribbean and northern Europe. See the comprehensive current schedule of Royal Princess cruises.