MAJESTIC PRINCESS Reviews

Our family of 8 just finished a 12-day British Isles cruise on the Majestic Princess, and unfortunately we came away disappointed compared to the service we have received from other cruise lines.

The room set the tone early. Chairs scraping across the ceiling until midnight, creaking that sounded like woodpeckers all night, a shower head that needed replacing, and a tub that would not drain unless we removed the plunger ourselves. Not exactly the restful start to a vacation you are hoping for.

From the moment we boarded, we felt like we were living in an infomercial. We bought the premium package thinking it would cover us, but the upselling never stopped. Ice cream costs extra. Staff walk around pushing Sabatinis reservations and rolly polly glasses after dinner. Balcony dinners, menu surcharges, even upcharges inside the specialty restaurants. Room service claims to be included with the package, but half the items carry charges and service fees for the same food you can get for free in the buffet. It is exhausting.

Dining was mostly a letdown. Crown Grill had us getting our own water, served me a steak that was burnt all the way through, and charged me an extra $20 for lobster that was like rubber. They remade it, but by then everyone else at our table had finished eating. Salty Dog lost my order entirely. The creme brulee in the Concerto restaurant was more of a soup. The one shining light was Sabatinis, where the food was consistently great and the service was amazing every time we went, thanks to Neonell and both Antonios.

The excursion experience was where Princess really showed its true colors. We booked an excursion through the ship and then had to pay out of pocket to get from the pier to the meeting point. The tender ticket system was a mess. In Edinburgh, I was in line an hour before they started distributing tickets and we still lost three hours waiting. When I went to guest services, they had another guest yelling about a missed tee time and bumped her to an earlier tender. We were missing a private excursion we had booked and they would not do the same for us. The lines themselves were a safety hazard.

What frustrated us the most was how Princess pretends to listen. We raised concerns through guest services and were told someone would get back to us. They never did. The food and beverage team approached us at breakfast one morning, took notes, took our room number, and said they would follow up. Nothing. At a certain point you realize the feedback process exists to make you feel heard in the moment, not to actually fix anything. I am sure this review will not change that, but hopefully it helps future guests prepare properly, understand the challenges, and set their expectations accordingly.

It was not all bad. Frank at the pool bar on Deck 16 gave us consistently good service. Robin in the art gallery was fun to chat with. Hilton at Alfredos impressed us with how he handled a difficult group while keeping his composure and humor. And the Medallions and Princess App worked well for room access, check-in and out, and locating family members around the ship.

But for a family of 8 spending this kind of money on a 12-day trip, you expect the basics to work and you do not expect to feel like a walking revenue opportunity every time you turn a corner. We will not be booking with Princess again.