After trying Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Norweigan and Carnival, I was very impressed with Regal Princess. Despite some annoying but minor issues, we had a fabulous cruise and the Regal is an outstanding ship. I really liked the design of the upper outside decks with two outdoor pools (one for adults) plus a small soak pool at the back of the ship with a fabulous view. The buffet is roomy and fantastic. I really appreciated how the LGBT gathering was hosted on the first night to help overcome the awkwardness of seeking each other out. The production shows were by far the best I've seen on a ship - the show "Fiera" alone made the vacation worthwhile.

Small nitpicks: The room design felt a bit cramped and awkward (our group had an interior and a balcony). The drinks package offers amazing value but the selection of white wines by the glass is awful - even in the wine bar. Although the crew were generally very friendly, most never seemed inclined or empowered to try and fix problems or concerns (i.e. one night the dining room was boiling hot and our server just shrugged her shoulders and said there was nothing she could do...same reaction when I commented on the wines by the glass situation to the Assistant Maitre'D of one of the dining rooms).

Overall, though, I was very impressed and would cruise on the Regal again in a heartbeat.