After pouring through countless itineraries and ship comparisons, our extended family (8 members) decided to plan our summer trip onboard the brand new Regal Princess. Having sailed on Princess before, I knew they would be able to accommodate our mix of first time cruisers and seasoned travelers. I also knew that being it was only the second sailing for this ship, there would be a few hiccups. Both of these aspects were correct.

Overall, the ship is lovely. Classic Princess style. Spacious, airy and even at almost full capacity, never feeling crowded. There was always a deck chair available during the day (even at sea) and at night during the Movies under the Stars. The public spaces were decorated tastefully and also always offered plenty of seating. The staterooms were definitely photographed with a wide-angle lens on the website, but are still roomy enough for two adults to maneuver without tripping over each other. The stateroom balconies are a little more narrow however. Great for sitting upright or standing.

The dining options were perfect for the length of our cruise. While we mostly ate in the Concerto dining room (anytime dining) we also tried Alfredo's as well as Sabatini's ($25 cover charge). All venues offered a nice range of dishes that accommodated our parties' various requirements (vegetarian, non-dairy, etc) and the food was good. The Horizon Court/Bistro (buffet) was pretty large and offered a lot of food, however we all found it to be typical of a cruise line buffet... food often warmed-over and heat-lamp dried out. This was also the one area that always seemed manic and ill-designed. You're bound to have someone step on you or push you out of the way for that shrimp cocktail. Read more