A familiar package, plus some extra power (2024)

Pros

  • Sturdy construction

  • PowerWash cycle has great stain removal

Cons

  • Slow cycles

  • Detergent sometimes left behind in dispenser

Outfitted with a 4.3-cu.-ft. drum and Maytag's 10-year warranty on certain components, this washer will get your clothes clean, and won't frustrate you in the process.

The only problem? You'll notice the MVWX655DW wears no Energy Star badge. While it does meet the Department of Energy's minimum efficiency guidelines, it uses about twice as much water as a comparable front-loading machine. That's not unusual for a top loader, but those water bills add up over time.

Still, new technology means it's more efficient than older machines, making the Maytag MWVX655DW one of the best values on the market.

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Design & Usability

Tradition!

The MVWX655DW is designed and assembled in America, and embodies the essence of a traditional top loader. Its body is metal all around, with plastic controls that still feel sturdy. All the knobs respond with a satisfying "click" when you turn them, and the windowed lid has soft-close hinges.

When you get the lid open, you'll see a detergent dispenser. That alone is an unusual feature for a washer in this price range, but this one also slides easily on metal tracks. Keep in mind that this is a high efficiency machine, which means it needs less detergent to get the job done. It's a bad sign if the machine isn't using all the detergent you put in, and that could lead to soapy streaks on your dark clothes.

The drum features a wash plate instead of a pole agitator, which is gentler on clothing and requires less water. In practice, this means you cram a decent amount of laundry into the machine, and you can also reach it (the drum is just 29 inches deep) without any trouble later on.

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Performance & Features

The balance of PowerWash

Broadly speaking, there are three ways to clean laundry: chemical, thermal, and mechanical. Only the thermal and mechanical factors are totally within a washer's control. Thermal energy takes the form of hot water, and—since this mdoel lacks an internal water heater—the MVWX655DW scales back hot water use to avoid draining your hot water heater. To make up for this, each load ends up taking a long time, such as 52 minutes for Normal.

This machine also uses a lot of cold water to wash away stains. Based on national cost and use patterns, we estimate that the MVWX655DW will cost about $63 a year to run between water and electricity consumption. That's on par with most top-loading machines, but double what an efficient front loader uses.

A familiar package, plus some extra power (1)

However, the MVWX655DW at least puts all of that water to good use. At an hour and fifteen minutes, the PowerWash cycle proved to be the most... well, powerful. It used 20 gallons of water, but was more than capable of tackling everything from cocoa to blood stains.

Normal was the next best lab-tested cycle. It tested close behind PowerWash with about 4% less stain removal overall, but struggled against sweat stains.

For in-depth performance information, please visit the Science Page.

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Warranty

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Though there's a big "10 Year Limited Warranty" badge on the front, the entirety of the Maytag MVWX655DW is only covered by a one-year limited warranty. This covers parts and labor for any defects found after the time of purchase. Maytag does include a ten-year warranty on its drive motor and drum, but that only covers parts. Getting a mechanic in to fix it will still cost you.

Your Mother's Washer

Old-school design with some new-school tech

You likely learned how to do laundry from your parents on a machine that's now outdated. If you long for those days, the user interface of the Maytag MVWX655DW is basically the same as the washer you grew up with. While some of the technological aspects under the hood have been upgraded, everything else is decidedly old-school.

Soft-close hinges, a PowerWash cycle, and a 4.3-cu.-ft. drum add touches of class—as well as some modernity—to a highly affordable machine. If you're okay with those upgrades, and no others, and you don't live in an area with high utility costs, this machine should do a fine job.

By the Numbers

Science is the bedrock of our review process. We use empirical data gathered in our testing labs to construct our reviews. For washing machines like the Maytag MVWX655DW, the most important factors are stain removal and efficiency. To learn even more about how we test washers, click here, otherwise... read on.

Cleaning Performance

To test stain removal in an objective manner, we use mechanically coated stain strips. These cloth swatches are covered in common household substances like cocoa, red wine, and a human sweat analog.

We place these stain strips in eight-pound test loads made up of towels, bedsheets, and pillowcases. The test loads are washed in selected cycles. When it's done, we take the strips out and scan them with a photospectrometer. A computer then analyzes how much of each stain has been lifted.

A familiar package, plus some extra power (3)

After our analysis, we determined the PowerWash cycle lived up to its name. It outscored the Normal Cycle–the 2nd highest scoring mode–by 4%. Normal, in turn, outpaced the Delicates cycle by a whopping 10%.

Delving into individual stains, the MVWX655DW did best against cocoa and blood, and worst against oil and sweat stains. Both of these require a little heat to get rid of, which this Maytag doesn't really bring to the table. The highest temperature we recorded on the Normal cycle was an balmy 101°F, and that was with our inlet temperatures set to 60°F for cold and 120°F for hot.

Efficiency

Efficiency testing is two-fold. We calculate utility consumption by hooking the MVWX655DW to wattage and water meters to measure how much water and electricity the machine uses. Based on national average use and cost patterns, we estimate the Maytag MVWX655DW will cost about $63 a year to run. That's on the high side: typical front loaders cost about half as much.

The other factor is water retention, or how much excess water is removed from your laundry at the end of a wash cycle. The wetter your laundry is, the more time it needs to spend in your electricity-hungry dryer. We like to see washers spin out of at least 50% of a laundry load's weight in water. The MVWX655DW only spun out around 38%, so it gets a middling score from us.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.

Meet the tester

A familiar package, plus some extra power (4)

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews

Checking our work.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

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A familiar package, plus some extra power (2024)

FAQs

Do both people have to buy the drink package on Princess? ›

On Princess there are two ways to have the drink package. One way is to book with the Plus or Premier fare in which case both parties in the cabin must have that fare. The other way is to purchase the stand-alone Plus drink package.

What is the difference between Princess Plus and Standard? ›

^General Princess Plus Terms:The original Princess Plus package consists of Plus Beverage Package, Wi-Fi, and Crew Appreciation; the upgraded ($60 USD / $65 AUD) Princess Plus package includes all of the foregoing original package items plus Medallion shipping, Premium Desserts, Juice Bar, Fitness Classes, select ...

Are gratuities included in the Princess Plus package? ›

With these upgrades, you will save money on their drinks and wifi packages and it will also include the gratuities as well. See below for a full list of benefits when booking these fares.

Is bottled water included on Princess Cruises? ›

Drinks - Plus-Beverage Package

The following drinks are included: Beer, wine and cocktails by the glass (up to 15 USD), 500ml bottles of water, fountain sodas, fresh juices, specialty coffees and teas, Red Bull energy drinks, Gong Cha tea, frappés at Coffee & Cones, and smoothies.

What happens if you get caught sharing drinks on a cruise? ›

If you're caught, they have the right to revoke your package, even if you are only a few days into your weeklong cruise. The sharing of packages isn't permitted for a few reasons. First, they profit off of each package sold.

How many drinks can you have on Princess Plus? ›

The package includes the additional benefit of a 25% discount on the following excluded items: all bottles of wine, one-liter bottles of water and bottled juices. The package has a daily limit on alcoholic beverages of 15 beverages over a 24-hour period (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.).

Is it cheaper to buy a drinks package on board? ›

Some rumors have circulated that onboard-purchased drinks packages will save you money, but that is almost always not the case. According to Cruise Critic member pete14, "The only price reductions for a drinks package that I have seen are a special offer for buying the package in advance.

Can Princess Plus be added after booking? ›

Do I need to upgrade to Princess Plus at the time of booking? No. If you've already booked your cruise you can upgrade to Princess Plus at a later date, although we would always recommend not to leave this too late.

What's not included on Princess Cruises? ›

Things that aren't included in the basic cruise fare are airfare, shore excursions, alcoholic beverages, spa treatments, souvenirs and casino games. The cruise you choose will also affect your total cost.

Are specialty coffees included in Princess Plus? ›

Plus Beverage Package Includes:

Cocktails, wine by the glass, beer, specialty coffees fountain sodas, bottled water, fresh juices and healthy smoothies (juice bar), new juice bar, mocktails and crafted cocktails by Mixologist Rob Floyd.

Is room service included on Princess Plus? ›

Order whatever you need — burger, beer, chocolate cake, cocktails, etc. — and we'll bring them right to you, with free delivery. Keep your distance, keep your seat, and still enjoy great service. Guests with the Princess Plus® and Princess Premier® packages enjoy OceanNow® and room service delivery with no charge.

Can you opt out of tipping on Princess Cruises? ›

Are gratuities on Princess Cruises compulsory? This question has been answered before. ALL gratuities are optional. Cruise lines don't go out of their way to tell you this, but you are free to ask for gratuities to be removed from your account by visiting the customer service desk at any time during your cruise.

Can you bring a 12 pack of soda on a cruise? ›

Guests may also bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on boarding day. Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. Milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use are permitted.

Can I bring juice on Princess Cruise? ›

A small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, juice, milk) packaged in cans or cartons may be brought on board on embarkation day, only if carried on in Guests' hand luggage (not in checked luggage).

Can I take my own alcohol on a Princess Cruise? ›

Each passenger may bring one bottle of wine or champagne up to 750 ml per sailing. Any additional bottles brought onboard will be subject to a $15 corkage fee. Any alcohol purchased in-port will be confiscated when re-boarding and returned to you at the end of your cruise.

Can two people share a drink package on a cruise? ›

No. As this is a personal package, only one beverage per guest will be served. Packages can be purchased by individual guests. All packages are for single guest use and cannot be shared by multiple people.

Does everyone in a room on a cruise have to buy a drink package? ›

Here's the biggest stumbling block, to my mind, of cruise line drink packages: everyone in your stateroom who is of age must also purchase the drink package. That's fine and dandy if you and your friend, spouse, or partner both drink at roughly the same level. Few couples I've met, though, actually do.

Can only one person get Princess Plus? ›

^Princess Plus fare is valid for the first two guests in the stateroom. Princess Plus is contingent on ship capacity and only available on select voyages. Princess Plus fare includes the cruise fare packaged with the Plus Beverage Package and Wi-Fi.

Does everyone in your room have to get the drink package on Carnival? ›

A 'pack' or 'package' is considered one product. Our CHEERS! Beverage Program must be purchased for each adult (21 years of age or older) assigned to the same stateroom.

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