Sail on One of the "Love Boats" -- Regal Princess Cruise Ship
Regal Princess Cruise Ship Profile
Princess Cruises launched the Regal Princess in May 2014 in Venice, and the new ship spent her first summer in Europe, crossing the Atlantic for the first time in late October. I attended the special christening event of the Regal Princess in Fort Lauderdale in early November, and loved seeing and hearing the celebrities who attended this gala "Love Boat" reunion. Princess Cruises celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2015, and didn't the company pick a great way to kick off their anniversary year!
Those who have sailed on the Regal Princess' sister ship the Royal Princess will be delighted to know that this ship looks very much the same, with just a few modifications. The popular SeaWalk and SeaView bar are continued on the Regal Princess, and Princess has added a poolside fountain show on the Lido Deck. The company has partnered with Discovery Communications to add some exciting new entertainment and program options for kids of all ages. Another new partnership is bound to be popular--one with well-known chocolatier Norman Love. These "Chocolate Journeys" include new chocolate desserts, chocolate drinks, and even a wine and chocolate pairing/tasting event.
This article details some of the great features of the Regal Princess, and provides links to more details and photos of the different areas of the ship.
The features of the ship covered include:
Regal Princess Cabins and Suites
The Regal Princess has 1,780 guest cabins and suites. Over 81 percent have a private balcony and only 342 are interior cabins. The cabins are restful and well-designed.
All the cabins and suites on the Regal Princess have features that include: a private bath with shower or tub and shower; twin or queen-sized beds; toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, lotion); satellite flat screen television; refrigerator; hair dryer; room-controlled air conditioning; 110 and 220 volt plug-ins; daily housekeeping service; and nighttime turn-down service with pillow chocolates.
Click on the links below to read more about the five basic types of cabins and suites on the Regal Princess. Note that 36 cabins ((29 with balconies and 7 interior) are wheelchair accessible, and 50 of the cabins are adjoining.
Page 3 >> Regal Princess Dining and Cuisine
Regal Princess Dining and Cuisine
Princess Cruise ships are well-known for their food, and the Regal Princess continues this reputation. The number of venues, along with their diversity and food quality, is bound to send most cruisers back to their diets when they return home.
Past Princess cruisers can find old favorites like the Crown Grill and Sabatini's, along with three traditional dining rooms and the Horizon Court and Bistro.
Many of the smaller casual dining venues are near the Piazza, like Alfredo's pizzeria, Gelato, Ocean Terrace seafood bar, and the popular International Cafe. I thought Alfredo's pizza was some of the best I've had at sea, and the pastries and sandwiches at the International Cafe are delicious.
Those wishing a special dining experience can visit one of specialty restaurants on the Regal Princess or try one of the amazing dining experiences like the Chef's Table Lumiere or the Wine Maker's Dinner. The ship has over 18,000 bottles of wine and champagne in its wine cellar, so there's bound to be one of your favorites onboard
Page 4 >> Regal Princess Interior Common Areas
Regal Princess Interior Common Areas
The most spectacular interior common area on the Regal Princess is the 3-deck Piazza and atrium. This area serves as the hub of the ship, and guests can always find some type of entertainment or dining/drinking option in the Piazza.
Guests need to be sure to explore the Regal Princess thoroughly to see some of the 4,000 pieces of art on the 1,083-foot long ship. (That's longer than the Eiffel Tower.) They can either walk off some of those calories they've enjoyed during the cruise, or visit the Regal Princess fitness center for a workout.
The restful Lotus Spa is found right off the atrium area. It features all of the treatments you would expect from a full service spa, plus has some fascinating experiences like a Chocolate Indulgence Body Treatment that is part of Princess' new "Chocolate Journeys" or a Thai Coconut Poultice Massage.
Other indoor areas like the Princess Live! television studio have interesting programs throughout the day.
Page 5 >> Regal Princess Outdoor Decks
Regal Princess Outdoor Decks
The first Regal Princess outdoor deck feature most cruise travelers want to see is the SeaWalk. This 60-foot long passageway has a glass floor over an inch thick that provides spectacular (or scary) views of the sea below.
One new outdoor feature on the Regal Princess not included on her older sister ship the Royal Princess is the small Terrace Pool, which has nice views of the wake from its aft location.
The Fountain and Plunge Pools on the Lido Deck are split by a wooden island stage that is used as part of the nightly musical fountain show.
In addition to the indoor fitness center, exercise enthusiasts can enjoy the Sports Deck, with its walking/jogging track, circuit training equipment, and basketball court. One deck up is the miniature golf course.
If you are not into all that activity, the Regal Princess has hundreds of comfortable deck chairs for those who like to sit and read, drink, or nap in the sun or the shade.
Page 6 >> Regal Princess Bars and Lounges
Socializing is a big part of any cruise experience for many travelers, and the Regal Princess has several bars and lounges that are perfect for either sharing a drink with new friends while listening to music or sharing a drink with that special person in a romantic corner.
The Wheelhouse Bar next to the Crown Grill and Vines Wine Bar next to Sabatini's are popular for a before or after dinner drink.
For those who like to people watch, Bellini's has terrific views of the Piazza from its "floating" location.
Being outdoors is important to many cruise travelers, and the Outrigger Bar, which is aft on deck 16 behind the Horizon Court, offers great views with its comfortable seating.
Page 7 >> Regal Princess Itineraries
The Regal Princess spent her inaugural summer in the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic from Venice to her wintertime homeport of Ft. Lauderdale. The new Princess ship sails 7-day cruises from Ft.Lauderdale to the eastern Caribbean, with stopovers in Princess Cays, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten until April 2015, when she repositions back to Europe.
From May through August 2015, the Regal Princess sails a very similar Baltic and northern European itinerary to the one I sailed in June 1014 on the Royal Princess.
This marvelous itinerary allows guests to sail round-trip from one of three ports--Copenhagen, Berlin/Warnemunde, or St. Petersburg, and also includes ports of call in Oslo, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Tallinn. Although most people board in Copenhagen, many who wanted to see Berlin spent a few days there before taking the train to Warnemunde. Then, they just had to walk about 1/4 of a block since the train station is right next to the cruise port. Mostly Russian travelers board in St. Petersburg since others must have a Russian Visa to visit when they are not staying on a cruise ship and taking official tours (either with the ship or a licensed guide).
In September and October 2015, the Regal Princess sails 7-day "leaf peeping" cruises from New York to Atlantic Canada before returning to Ft. Lauderdale to spend the winter months of 2015 and 2016. During that time, the ship sails to both the eastern and western Caribbean.
Wherever the Regal Princess sails, travelers will get good value for their vacation dollar, plus bring home priceless memories of this lovely ship and her fascinating ports of call.
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary cruise accommodation for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.
Princess Cruises launched the Regal Princess in May 2014 in Venice, and the new ship spent her first summer in Europe, crossing the Atlantic for the first time in late October. I attended the special christening event of the Regal Princess in Fort Lauderdale in early November, and loved seeing and hearing the celebrities who attended this gala "Love Boat" reunion. Princess Cruises celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2015, and didn't the company pick a great way to kick off their anniversary year!
Those who have sailed on the Regal Princess' sister ship the Royal Princess will be delighted to know that this ship looks very much the same, with just a few modifications. The popular SeaWalk and SeaView bar are continued on the Regal Princess, and Princess has added a poolside fountain show on the Lido Deck. The company has partnered with Discovery Communications to add some exciting new entertainment and program options for kids of all ages. Another new partnership is bound to be popular--one with well-known chocolatier Norman Love. These "Chocolate Journeys" include new chocolate desserts, chocolate drinks, and even a wine and chocolate pairing/tasting event.
This article details some of the great features of the Regal Princess, and provides links to more details and photos of the different areas of the ship.
The features of the ship covered include:
- Page 2 >> Regal Princess Cabins and Suites
- Page 3 >> Regal Princess Dining and Cuisine
- Page 4 >> Regal Princess Interior Common Areas
- Page 5 >> Regal Princess Outdoor Decks
- Page 6 >> Regal Princess Bars and Lounges
- Page 7 >> Regal Princess Itineraries
Regal Princess Cabins and Suites
The Regal Princess has 1,780 guest cabins and suites. Over 81 percent have a private balcony and only 342 are interior cabins. The cabins are restful and well-designed.
All the cabins and suites on the Regal Princess have features that include: a private bath with shower or tub and shower; twin or queen-sized beds; toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, lotion); satellite flat screen television; refrigerator; hair dryer; room-controlled air conditioning; 110 and 220 volt plug-ins; daily housekeeping service; and nighttime turn-down service with pillow chocolates.
Click on the links below to read more about the five basic types of cabins and suites on the Regal Princess. Note that 36 cabins ((29 with balconies and 7 interior) are wheelchair accessible, and 50 of the cabins are adjoining.
Page 3 >> Regal Princess Dining and Cuisine
Regal Princess Dining and Cuisine
Princess Cruise ships are well-known for their food, and the Regal Princess continues this reputation. The number of venues, along with their diversity and food quality, is bound to send most cruisers back to their diets when they return home.
Past Princess cruisers can find old favorites like the Crown Grill and Sabatini's, along with three traditional dining rooms and the Horizon Court and Bistro.
Many of the smaller casual dining venues are near the Piazza, like Alfredo's pizzeria, Gelato, Ocean Terrace seafood bar, and the popular International Cafe. I thought Alfredo's pizza was some of the best I've had at sea, and the pastries and sandwiches at the International Cafe are delicious.
Those wishing a special dining experience can visit one of specialty restaurants on the Regal Princess or try one of the amazing dining experiences like the Chef's Table Lumiere or the Wine Maker's Dinner. The ship has over 18,000 bottles of wine and champagne in its wine cellar, so there's bound to be one of your favorites onboard
Page 4 >> Regal Princess Interior Common Areas
Regal Princess Interior Common Areas
The most spectacular interior common area on the Regal Princess is the 3-deck Piazza and atrium. This area serves as the hub of the ship, and guests can always find some type of entertainment or dining/drinking option in the Piazza.
Guests need to be sure to explore the Regal Princess thoroughly to see some of the 4,000 pieces of art on the 1,083-foot long ship. (That's longer than the Eiffel Tower.) They can either walk off some of those calories they've enjoyed during the cruise, or visit the Regal Princess fitness center for a workout.
The restful Lotus Spa is found right off the atrium area. It features all of the treatments you would expect from a full service spa, plus has some fascinating experiences like a Chocolate Indulgence Body Treatment that is part of Princess' new "Chocolate Journeys" or a Thai Coconut Poultice Massage.
Other indoor areas like the Princess Live! television studio have interesting programs throughout the day.
Page 5 >> Regal Princess Outdoor Decks
Regal Princess Outdoor Decks
The first Regal Princess outdoor deck feature most cruise travelers want to see is the SeaWalk. This 60-foot long passageway has a glass floor over an inch thick that provides spectacular (or scary) views of the sea below.
One new outdoor feature on the Regal Princess not included on her older sister ship the Royal Princess is the small Terrace Pool, which has nice views of the wake from its aft location.
The Fountain and Plunge Pools on the Lido Deck are split by a wooden island stage that is used as part of the nightly musical fountain show.
In addition to the indoor fitness center, exercise enthusiasts can enjoy the Sports Deck, with its walking/jogging track, circuit training equipment, and basketball court. One deck up is the miniature golf course.
If you are not into all that activity, the Regal Princess has hundreds of comfortable deck chairs for those who like to sit and read, drink, or nap in the sun or the shade.
Page 6 >> Regal Princess Bars and Lounges
Socializing is a big part of any cruise experience for many travelers, and the Regal Princess has several bars and lounges that are perfect for either sharing a drink with new friends while listening to music or sharing a drink with that special person in a romantic corner.
The Wheelhouse Bar next to the Crown Grill and Vines Wine Bar next to Sabatini's are popular for a before or after dinner drink.
For those who like to people watch, Bellini's has terrific views of the Piazza from its "floating" location.
Being outdoors is important to many cruise travelers, and the Outrigger Bar, which is aft on deck 16 behind the Horizon Court, offers great views with its comfortable seating.
Page 7 >> Regal Princess Itineraries
The Regal Princess spent her inaugural summer in the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic from Venice to her wintertime homeport of Ft. Lauderdale. The new Princess ship sails 7-day cruises from Ft.Lauderdale to the eastern Caribbean, with stopovers in Princess Cays, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten until April 2015, when she repositions back to Europe.
From May through August 2015, the Regal Princess sails a very similar Baltic and northern European itinerary to the one I sailed in June 1014 on the Royal Princess.
This marvelous itinerary allows guests to sail round-trip from one of three ports--Copenhagen, Berlin/Warnemunde, or St. Petersburg, and also includes ports of call in Oslo, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Tallinn. Although most people board in Copenhagen, many who wanted to see Berlin spent a few days there before taking the train to Warnemunde. Then, they just had to walk about 1/4 of a block since the train station is right next to the cruise port. Mostly Russian travelers board in St. Petersburg since others must have a Russian Visa to visit when they are not staying on a cruise ship and taking official tours (either with the ship or a licensed guide).
In September and October 2015, the Regal Princess sails 7-day "leaf peeping" cruises from New York to Atlantic Canada before returning to Ft. Lauderdale to spend the winter months of 2015 and 2016. During that time, the ship sails to both the eastern and western Caribbean.
Wherever the Regal Princess sails, travelers will get good value for their vacation dollar, plus bring home priceless memories of this lovely ship and her fascinating ports of call.
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary cruise accommodation for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.
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