NEW SHIP REVIEW
This, just one of four new production Transformed by night into the Horizon
Bistro, this expansive room offers themed menus such as European bistro, British pub grub and a Brazilian-style churras- caria. In the aft section, passengers can indulge at the Crab Shack, complete with brown-paper table coverings, lobster picks and crackers, as well as aprons to protect clothes when they tackle Bayou-style ‘Mud Bugs’ and colossal crab legs. This alternates during each cruise to be-
come the Fondue Dispensary, a casual take on the cheese-laden Swiss speciality. Both incarnations have a cover charge of $20. There are no fewer than 14 bars on board, many of which are located around the Piazza on Decks 5, 6 and 7. Vines is a perennial favourite with a superb selection of wines by the glass, while, on several occasions, the sommelier hosts a ‘Stam- mtisch’ pairing of New World red wines and Artisan cheeses ($15 supplement). Regional snacks and Venetian cicchetti are also featured in the Wheelhouse bar where Culinary Ambassador Alfredo Marzi (who has spent 40 years at sea and gave his name to the onboard pizzeria) offers a seem- ingly endless array of mouth-watering treats. The stakes have been upped in enter- tainment, too. With unimpeded sightlines from every seat, the Princess Theater ac- commodates 962 and, the night I attended the ‘Colors of the World’ production show, it was so well patronised guests were standing in the aisles.
76 WORLD OF CRUISING I Autumn 2013
shows specially-choreographed for the ship, was a well-costumed romp per- formed with more than a soupçon of camp and syncopation by the troupe of 17 sing- ers and dancers. However, it was the male tenors who were truly outstanding.
L
ate-night revellers can party the night away in Club 6, which is more like a bar with a dance floor than a disco.
There’s also the Princess Casino, with several ‘no smoking’ nights each cruise. The only other indoor smoking venue is Churchill’s cigar lounge, which lacks suf- ficient ventilation. Weather permitting, the Dancing Foun-
tains Show on Deck 16 is a five-minute tribute to the breathtaking water-and-light show made famous at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas as 85 coloured water-jets create an interactive sound and light spectacle.
ROYAL PRINCESS FACTFILE
Maiden Voyage: June 2013 Tonnage: 141,000 Length: 1,083ft Beam: 125ft Draft: 28ft
Speed: 22 knots Passengers: 3,600 Crew: 1,346
Passenger decks; Registry: Bermuda
ITINERARIES: autumn, transatlantic, Caribbean; winter, spring, Caribbean, transatlantic; summer, N Europe, Mediterranean. Sister-ship Regal Princess, due next June, operates similar Med voyages, with a 12-night ‘Grand Mediterranean’ cruise sailing July 25 and priced from £2,145pp for a balcony stateroom. Gratuities are $11.50 per person per day.
MORE INFO: in the UK, call 0845 075 0031; in the US, 1800 774 6237; or visit
www.princess.com
Seating 276, Princess Live is an inti- mate performance venue where guests can watch ‘The Wake Show,’ live cookery demonstrations, game shows, late-night comedy and small-scale performances by the ship’s accomplished musicians. Movies Under the Stars on Deck 16 boasts the largest screen yet on any Princess ship and, on sea days, there are four different movies shown throughout the day. One night, I settled down to watch Les Misérables under a specially monogrammed fleece blanket and tucked into hot popcorn. Never has ‘I dreamed a dream’ sounded more poignant. Princess Cruises is a consummate
player when it comes to civilised life at sea and, at the end of my voyage, I was left in no doubt this all-encompassing ship is at the vanguard of the new wave in big ship cruising.
Despite being a nouveau arrivé to this acclaimed fleet, service in all depart- ments was fastidious; no doubt due to the motivation the proficient Hotel General Manager Dirk Brand imbues on the entire crew of Royal Princess.
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