Safest Way to Travel Post-COVID

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Reviews: 2

Helpful Votes: 56

Review summary

It all starts with a booking number and a round disc called the Princess Medallion. Once I got them, I went right to my Medallion app and confirmed that my reservation was linked to my profile. My sailing was only 10 days away and I wanted to use the app for all the functions it was able to perform. That turned out to be a lot. With the app, it was easy to take the health survey and indicate the type of activities that appealed to me. I was also able to link my reservation number with that of my uncle who already was booked on this sailing, listing him as a traveling companion. Another section of the app showed the daily schedule of activities. It was easy to find the ones I preferred and choose which to attend alone and which to attend with others. Though the app listed shore excursions, as well, it seemed simpler to use the Princess web site to review, compare, and book them. I also arranged airport transfers to and from the ship while I was the website. Princess Cruise attendants provided assistance at airport luggage carousels and I waited only 10 minutes for the next shuttle. The ride back to the airport was just as simple, with shuttles lined up just steps outside the terminal. No cabs to hail and no Lyft or Uber to order. The app lets you select the time you want to board the ship but, here again, Princess does its best to accommodate early birds. My scheduled time was noon but I was an hour early. Princess agents graciously allowed me to start the boarding process, where I had my security photo taken, picked up my Medallion, and got to my stateroom in less than 15 minutes. The next step is the muster drill, which has been updated to create more social distance. The drill consists of a comprehensive safety video and information on finding the location of the muster station. However, instead of taking attendance as a group, it’s done individually with the Medallion. Next came lunch and a chance to explore the Regal Princess. At the Concerto Dining Room, I dined on a shrimp and avocado appetizer and a salmon dish prepared to perfection. Portions were modest, which meant I could enjoy several dishes without becoming too full. Touring the atrium, which extends from the fifth through the seventh decks, I found a pleasant atmosphere. Delightful music filled the air and it seemed a server was always at hand to bring my favorite beverage. The 24-hour International Cafe on deck 5 and was my favorite spot fort a light dessert or a cup of specialty coffee at any time of the day. Knowing that Princess Cruises has some great specialty restaurants, I definitely planned on trying them. I reserved a table for my uncle and me at the Crown Grille, and not a minute too soon. We ate there on the third night of the cruise and while others without reservations were turned away because they had not booked in time. We had a full four-course meal and enjoyed every bite. He chose prawns as an appetizer while I had the lobster cake. In between the Grille Salad and the Seven Layer S’Mores, he went with the porterhouse, one of the largest cuts of steak I had seen since I had been to a steakhouse in Texas, and I followed our server’s recommendation of beef chops. All in all, I can’t recommend it enough. The list of activities was vast and my uncle and I found ourselves addicted to trivia contests, of which there were at least three a day during sea days. I also enjoyed the Destination Presentations held on the first and second full days at sea, a fun way to learn about the history, geography, and cuisine of the locations we visited, as well as local language, currency and transportation. Those presentations were repeated on the stateroom television afterwards for anyone who missed them. I found a meetup geared to single travelers on the schedule and although I missed the first night, I was able to join about four others on the second night. The group grew to 11 by the third night and we enjoyed each other’s company so much that we continued to meet throughout the cruise. The Regal princess offered nightly production numbers and entertainers each night, though they weren’t the caliber of other activities. There was no shortage of talent but it often seemed organized haphazardly. Our port days fell on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after Christmas. Fearing that some businesses might be closed, I booked shore excursions on the first two days. The day before Christmas I enjoyed the pleasures of snorkeling off Aruba. Christmas in Curacao was spent on a tour that included remnants of slavery and a briefing on how slaves were essential to the island’s economy. We also learned about the Venezuelan natives who were the first to settle the island. In Aruba, I noticed that most of the people who signed up for snorkeling brought their own equipment. I’d also recommend bringing at least a thin wetsuit. The snorkeling excursion in Aruba was operated for Princess by Red Sail Aruba, which provided a friendly and helpful experience. On Bonaire, a lot of the businesses were closed the day after Christmas, partially because it was also a Sunday. Still, it was fun to walk around the harbor area and through the town. My favorite shop was Gio’s Gelateria & Café, where I stopped for a cup of cappuccino in the morning. It was so good that I had to come back for the gelato before the ship left in the early evening. Like most cruises, this one ended too soon. Two days before the Regal Princess returned to port, I got my luggage tags to disembark with instructions on where to wait before leaving the ship. Disembarkation could not have been smoother. It was easy to find my bag and it took no time at all to clear customs before boarding the airport shuttle. Though I felt sad about leaving, I took with me no shortage of wonderful memories.

Embarkation

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

Onboard Activities

Entertainment

Children's Programs

Service and Staff

Ship Quality

Cabin / Stateroom

Ports of call

Oranjestad, Aruba

Willemstad, Curacao

Bonaire, Netherlands Special Municipality

Disembarkation

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