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 complete solid 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 approach I may say no. I used to be additionally truthfully desirous to expertise Princess Cruises for the primary time. I’ve been on a number of cruises, however by no means with Princess and seemed ahead to seeing what crusing with them is like. Sadly, the expertise wasn’t all the things I hoped it will be and so I really feel compelled to supply an sincere evaluate of the Regal Princess and Princess Cruises normally.
The Ship
If I hadn’t been on the christening, I might be shocked to search out out that the Regal Princess was model new. I don’t imply it doesn’t look good and glossy – it definitely does. However the format of the ship is so antiquated and complicated, it’s laborious to imagine it was designed and constructed within the 21st century. The ship is break 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. Relating to recreation areas, they’re pitiful. Not one of the lounge chairs have any type of shade or umbrellas, so if you’re truthful skinned you’ll bake. Wait, I stand corrected. They do have a stupendous and stress-free space with loads of shade and umbrellas, however you must pay additional 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 all the things. Even once we anchored within the Bahamas, the seashore umbrellas have been $29 for the day. It’s outrageous and I’ve by no means skilled that insane stage of nickel and diming on a cruise earlier than.
There was additionally little to do onboard the ship. There have been just a few swimming pools, a rec heart and a on line casino, however nothing enjoyable, revolutionary or thrilling. No sky diving or bumper vehicles on this ship no, as a substitute your decisions are trivia night time 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 employees simply getting used to issues. Then I realized that the Regal Princess had been servicing company for six months and I immediately misplaced numerous respect for the individuals who labored onboard the ship.
Slightly than one obtrusive instance of unhealthy service, my expertise was as a substitute a loss of life by a thousand cuts. Once I sat right down to get a smooth 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 employees member truly yelling at a passenger. Within the health club I made an appointment with the employees 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 way in which it ought to have. In hospitality the visitor is ALWAYS proper. Even when it means gritting your enamel and saying “Sure ma’am” or “Sir,” however open battle ought to by no means occur. In fact this doesn’t happen in a vacuum and finally factors in the 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 obtained nearer, I noticed one of many cruise ship employees 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. Nevertheless it goes to indicate how little the crew thinks about customer support.
Meals and all the things else
Wow, it actually appears that I hated my expertise onboard the Regal Princess, however that’s removed from the reality. We had an honest 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 just a few 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 may go and eat every time I wished to. Besides that’s not technically doable. My associate 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’ll be able to 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 stuffed with them. I may not have minded as a lot had the meals truly been good, nevertheless it wasn’t. It was as unimpressive, unimaginative as something I’ve ever seen and I doubt the menu has modified a lot up to now couple of many years.
Having cruised many occasions up 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 quick three-day journey, my associate and I have been greater than prepared to go away. We weren’t alone both. I chatted with numerous company who paid for the cruise, who have been there to get pleasure from just a few days away from dwelling and to an individual nobody was pleased with their expertise. One gents I met instructed me that he’s sailed 20 occasions with Norwegian and dozens extra occasions 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.
Nevertheless it 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 you probably have something in any respect with which to check it to, put together for some critical disappointment.
Have you ever sailed with Princess Cruises earlier than? What did you assume?