Just returned from a one-week cruise on the Regal Princess, itinerary was standard Eastern Caribbean with stops at Princess Cay, St. Thomas, and St. Martin. With approximately 45 cruises under my belt, many with Princess, I always go with a pretty good idea of what to expect. Further, we sailed on the Royal Princess during her inaugural season in 2013 so I was quite familiar with the layout of the Regal even before boarding her. Knowing some of the design issues made getting around the Regal much easier the second time- there are some subtle differences but nothing major.

Princess continues to do some things very well and they certainly met expectations. One real positive is the loyalty program and the perks one gets as time goes by. I am Platinum level, which meant quick, seamless embarkation, 150 free Internet minutes, a nightly lounge, and a special disembarkation room. A nice upgrade put me in a balcony cabin located in an ideal location near the aft stairway. Because of work obligations, I had to travel solo this time so I did have to pay 200 percent of the fare but it was still reasonable especially considering the upgrade.

The Regal Princess is certainly a beautiful, albeit huge, ship. Everything gleams and the crew keeps her spotless. Just as on the Royal, everything centers around the Piazza and there is constant activity. For first time cruisers this must be very impressive, personally I do prefer smaller ships that don’t make you feel like you are in a Las Vegas hotel. Read more