Top 10 Best Royal Princess Features

Princess Cruises’ new Royal Princess has now begun to grace the shores of North America with her presence, and the cruise ship is a knockout with plenty of exciting features that will appeal to Princess Cruises’ loyal followers and newcomers alike. Let’s get right into exploring the top 10 best Royal Princess features according to Popular Cruising.

Top 10 Best Royal Princess Features is continued below… More Cruise Reviews from Popular Cruising’s Royal Princess, Florida Inaugural 2013 sailing: THE WEEKEND TRAVEL SHOW – Royal Princess

1. The Piazza

As the largest cruise ship in Princess Cruises fleet at 141,000-gross-tons and with a 3,600-guest capacity, the Royal Princess surely stands out as a stately mega cruise ship from the outside. Once inside, she is all class. The interior design is truly what luxury liners should aspire to, and The Piazza atrium is the crown jewel of all her appointments. It’s purely luminescent with clean white and golden hues that sparkle, calling to the ship’s guests to gather for a casual drink, snack, meal or ice cream.

2. SeaWalk (and SeaView Bar)

A lot of attention has been given to Royal Princess’ SeaWalk, a curved, cantilevered walkway that stretches 28 feet off the side of the ship and 128 feet above the ocean (seen in the header and above). Not until you experience the glass-enclosed and -floored passage firsthand do you truly appreciate the thrill – one accessible to all ages, mind you – of levitating well above the rest of the ship. Plus, the SeaView Bar on the opposite side of the vessel affords the same opportunity while sipping on a cocktail and admiring the dramatic vistas below.

3. Water & Light Show

Royal Princess’ Water & Light Show is a new entertainment offering that features a production fountain perched on an island at the heart of the pool deck. In the evenings, an array of dancing nozzles shoot illuminated water up to 33 feet into the air and choreographed to music. Periodically, stage performers even dance and sing amidst the hydraulic fun for even more excitement, and during the day, the island converts back to a sunbathing oasis for guests to enjoy.

4. Deluxe Balcony Staterooms

Another first for Princess Cruises are the Deluxe Balcony Staterooms onboard Royal Princess. Previously, the only way to book a cabin with a convertible sofa bed was to reserve a larger and more expensive Mini-Suite. Now, this new category offers a convenient sofa-sleeper as an add-on that is missing from standard Balcony Staterooms. Other features include a 37” flatscreen television and updated bathroom amenities.

5. Horizon Court and Horizon Bistro (and The Pastry Shop)

Most cruise ships suffer from traffic jams at the lido buffet, particularly at the cul-de-sacs on previous Princess Cruises ships, but the Royal Princess has improved the experience by doubling the amount of service areas and creating pass-throughs from one side of the ship to the other. With more room also comes more variety like the extensive list of tasty treats found at the new Pastry Shop throughout the day.

6. Pizza, Pub Lunch and Gelato

While on the subject of food, it’s worth highlighting the delicious pizza on Royal Princess, both at Alfredo’s and Prego, with pies that are some of the very best at sea. Another unique option onboard is a traditional British Pub Lunch served at the Wheelhouse Bar and Crown Grill. Nothing beats a platter of fish and chips with a pint of Guinness on a cruise ship. For dessert, the ship has set aside a comfortable location in The Piazza for premium ice creams and sundaes at Gelato which are not to be missed.

7. Lotus Spa

Spas on other cruise ships often and inexplicably take up prime real estate at the very top and front of the vessel. Since you normally have your eyes closed for a massage, the Royal Princess has brought the Lotus Spa downstairs to The Piazza, freeing up the upper decks for staterooms and suites that can better appreciate the view. At its new location, the spa remains world-class and features The Enclave with a steamy hydro pool and warm stone beds.

8. The Sanctuary and Retreat Pool

Two other secluded spaces dedicated to relaxation onboard Royal Princess are The Sanctuary and Retreat Pool, the two adults-only zones on the ship. Private cabanas with refrigerators and televisions offer shade and isolation between dips in the pool, and Serenity Stewards serve spa snacks and drinks. Guests can also enjoy massages, MP3 players, noise-canceling headphones and chilled towels.

9. Movies Under the Stars

Also out on deck is Princess Cruises’ signature Movies Under the Stars experience with dramatic sound and a high-definition screen on Royal Princess that is twice the size of those on the line’s other ships. Passengers get to enjoy movies, concerts, sporting events and nature scenes throughout the day plus popcorn, milk and cookies, pillows and blankets to cozy up with at night.

10. Art Auctions

Princess Cruises’ has a superior selection of high quality art fleet-wide and onboard Royal Princess with the line’s in-house Global Fine Arts subsidiary. We personally discovered the immeasurably talented Carrie Graber thanks to Princess, and other works available at the auctions include pieces by Fabian Perez and Disney Fine Art.

For more information on the Royal Princess, visit Princess Cruises‘ website here.

What do you think about these shipboard features? Please feel free to let us know in the comments section below…

HEADER IMAGE SOURCE: JASON LEPPERT