This was our second Princess cruise - the last one was six years ago. We wanted to try a new and larger ship, and the Regal Princess fit the bill. We have cruised with four different cruise lines, in twelve years, and are getting a bit more particular about "bang for our buck." Here are some highs and lows of this trip.

The food was fabulous! We ate in the Symphony dining room and at the buffet (level16) for all our meals. Everything was tasty, well-seasoned and interesting! Our favorites were the myriad of cold salads in the buffet line, and the wonderful desserts. I must mention the prime rib on the first night ...truly delicious! The service in the Symphony dining room is not as attentive or elegant as in the main dining room six years ago, but it seems that all the cruise lines have eased back on their attention to details. The wait staff seemed a bit over-worked and frenzied this cruise. But never rude! Just would forget to fill our water or bring another serving of bread when we asked.

The ship was beautiful and mostly spotless. The exception in cleanliness was our cabin. We were mid-ship on level 8 (Emerald) and the room needed a good cleaning. The carpeting had many, and I mean many, large stains. This surprised us since the ship in only two years old! The pillows smelled musty or something ....not pleasant. The bathroom floor had dirt in the corners and along the edge of the shower. The cabin stewards no longer seem to work in teams of two, and details get overlooked. Read more