Review of the Regal Princess during the Christmas voyage of the Eastern Caribbean from 12232018-12302018. This review will only be of the ship and at-sea activities. Ports will be reviewed separately.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Embarkation from Fort Lauderdale Florida) Overall it was just average to slightly above average. Terminal 2 is easily walkable from local hotels and I highly recommend walking to the Terminal rather than taxi as it becomes so congested. Time from Terminal entry to ship was a solid hour as the ship was near capacity. Everyone gets Medallions and a RFID Card, though the Medallion System is only partially implemented.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Dining Rooms are spectacular and service was equally spectacular. Specialty Restaurants are equally spectacular.
The Buffet was pleasantly wonderful. I am not at all a fan of buffets, for a myriad of factors, but the Horizon Court and Bistro are a significant step above what I was expecting.
The one area that was a huge disappointment were the bars and small fast-food establishments. They were so understaffed that it bordered on ridiculousness. The food and drinks were fine but the workers were obviously overwhelmed. However, to their credit, the Supervisors were quick to get help and responsive to my inquiries.
A true gem is The International Cafe, it was superior is so many ways. TIC is such a wonderful place for a quick bite of amazing dishes. A day did not go by without a visit to The International Cafe. I want to open one myself.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The swimming pools and hot tubs were in great shape. However, the aft pool should really be a hot tub as it is too small for a pool. In addition, I would like to see a wet bar in the Sanctuary (adults only area). But those are simply my opinions and should be taken as such, no offense given or taken.
Entertainment
2 out of 5
(The Bad)
If I had such a wonderful journey...What was “bad”? Well, there are things I “feel” Princess should consider. Once again, this is just my opinion and should be taken as such, no offense taken or given. Here they are...
* The shows are dated, I mean really dated. They were the same type of shows I experienced in 2010. With Princess Theatre taking up so much real estate you would think it should have equally spectacular shows. It doesn’t and is a major disappointment.
* Cover The Sanctuary. On days at sea it is not useable if the ship is cruising greater than 15 knots. It is like a tornado in there, seriously. I don’t recall this being a problem on the Emerald as I recall it being covered.
* Club 6 should be expanded and remain open later. It is a great venue.
* MUTS~Movies Under The Stars. This one is difficult to say but it needs to go or at least change dramatically. When it first came out it was truly revolutionary and enjoyable. Now it is a gigantic white elephant. It is too big and obnoxiously annoying. The programs are so random because they are trying to please everyone, but in-turn pleases no one. I feel it may work better if the programmers considered the following...Early mornings playing quiet nature documentaries. Midday to early evening playing contemporary concerts. Evening and night time playing Drive In movie style double features. Finally, Late night is perfect for documentaries and programs about space.
Children's Programs
No children
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Our Steward was prompt and attentive. Best of all he ignored all of our “contraband” which we easily smuggled onboard. Of course, a generous tip upon greeting may have been a factor.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Once on-board the ship you will be pleasantly surprised by the majesty of the ship’s interior and how easy it is to navigate. You only need to remember these three things...
* Deck 7 and 16 allow you to navigate the entire length of the ship forward and aft
* All female heads are on the port side, male heads are on the starboard side
* Recommend not using the elevators located midship, use the forward or aft elevators
If you have been aboard a Princess ship prior you will be at-home on the Regal. I travelled the Emerald Princess in 2010 and it was nearly the same ship. The Regal is, of course, much larger.
The Decks are laid out nicely and logical. Never felt cramped or claustrophobic. The ship is large enough that you can find secret places to get away from other passengers. Search them out as they truly give you remarkable and memorable views and experiences.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Cabin R309 Deck 14 just forward of midship with a balcony)
Booked an upper level midship cabin with a balcony as I feel it is about as good as one can get short of a Premium Suite.
I know this as “The Upgrade Fairy” waved her wand on me when I was aboard the Emerald Princess in 2010 granting me the luxury of The Penthouse Suite. Which I must say is the most amazing and luxurious experience one can have on a cruise ship, but I digress.
R309 is a wonderful cabin with plenty of space for two people. The bed is very comfortable and multiple pillows add to the comfort. The balcony is well sized and privacy is perfect.
Ship tip
Explore the ship. There are many areas which are very secluded and offer unique experiences.
A wonderful visit! Saddened to hear it experienced an accident and destruction due to fire. Certainly it will be rebuilt as it is a wonderful island stop.
Disembarkation to Fort Lauderdale Florida) Departing the ship is extremely efficient and relatively straightforward. Pack your bags the night before and leave them outside your door. The next morning go to your muster station to wait for your departure group to depart. Customs and Immigration was very fast if you are part of the US Customs and Immigration “Mobile Passport Program”. If you are not, what are you waiting for? It is free and you just go right through like TSA Precheck.
(gpet76) Gave our steward a $50 immediately upon greeting. He was pleasantly surprised and always was prompt at tidying up our cabin, keeping the ice buckets filled, and ignoring our contraband.
I'm going on my first cruise next month, I don't have any contraband, that I know of, but what is a good tip for my steward? I'm doing the prepaid tips as well, but I feel like the steward probably deserves a little extra?
Agree with your MUTS assessment. We were on the Royal in December and suffered frustration over the obnoxiously loud programs when trying to relax during the day. When we purposely went there for a Michael Buble concert in the afternoon, the sound was so low we couldn’t hear him singing over the pool and hot tub fray. Princess needs to rethink how they program this venue.
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