Before booking any cruise we like to know exactly what we are getting into. Based on our research, we were expecting a good experience with some issues. Surprisingly, the experience was not good. It was excellent and we did not experience most of the major complaints found in other reviews. This was our first time cruising with Princess but wont be our last.

The embarkation was extremely efficient. We arrived at the port at around 12:45 and we were in our room by 1:15. This level of efficiency was the most noticeable aspect of the Regal. Many reviews stated bad wait times at the MDR or other issues related to wait times. The Regal staff must have taken heed of the reviews because we literally had no issues in this area. The efficiency was equivalent to the precision of a Swiss watch. The longest we ever had to wait at the MDR (anytime dining) was 2 minutes! We went to late dinners and early dinners and the result was the same both times. In fact, not only was the wait short but we also got exactly the table preference we requested every time.

The all the other dining options gave similar experiences with barely any lines that led to a wait time that was negligible. Disembarkation at the ports (including final disembarkation) resulted in similar experiences that minimized the feeling of "waiting too long in line." Speaking of waiting, one of the biggest gripes I had was the elevators. As others have said, during peak times the elevator wait time/experience can be described as extremely frustrating. The ship's layout is quite awkward overall so it leads to the experiences of walking around or getting places somewhat annoying. Read more