Regal Princess Review
Rating by category
Additional details
First cruise of this length. The allure of an Atlantic crossing got our attention. 5 days at sea; relaxation, entertainment, pampering, gourmet dining, interacting with others. We're not regular Princess Patrons, but the itinerary through Scandinavia, Scotland and Ireland was very appealing.
That proved to be a pipe-dream, for a whole lot of reasons that you'll see below.
Embarkation was simple and efficient, but we were very bothered with the the handling of passports. We are told to NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, SURRENDER YOUR PASSPORT. Before we knew it, the passports were gone and a coat-check-like slip was in our hands. This has never happened to us on any other cruise. The passports were delivered back to us on the way to Scotland by a stateroom attendant, and recollected after an onboard customs check. There is a whole lot of wrong with this process. We get the passenger convenience thing, but find a different way.
Cabin Review
Mini-Suite with Balcony
Roomy, nicely appointed and ample closet/storage space. There was something going on with the ventilation on this trip that caused a foul, almost sewer smell from time to time on entering the stateroom. Princess worked hard to rectify and seems to have fixed it by the end.
As a negative, the allure of tranquility with an aft-facing stateroom was scuttled in two ways: first, the setup of the ship meant that people on the Lido Deck looked directly into our balcony. Secondly, ship engine exhaust is right over your head. Each morning the balcony was littered with black specs.
That leads to the overall "average" rating on the room
Port Reviews
Copenhagen
Wonderful Copenhagen. Such a feeling of freedom, vitality and acceptance. Tours are not needed here. Just amble about the centrum and see amazing sites.
Kristiansand
Seemed like a bizarre choice for a stop. Nice little village, and very walkable, but not remarkable.
Cobh (Cork)
Blarney Castle and the Blarney stone is the main attraction. Tours are not necessary. Public transportation will get you right to the gate. You gotta kiss the stone, even though we were not exactly sure what we were kissing! People are moved through the area really fast, so it is over before you know it. Would like to go back and really understand the allure, folklore and actually see it! The estate grounds are spectacular.
Not much to do or see in Cork, but Cobh is a living post card. Spend some time exploring.
Halifax
Peggy's Cove. Absolute must see. We rented a car which was a quarter of what the ship excursions cost. Car rental is in the train station right across from the port. And having the car let us amble about Peggy's Cove and enjoy some local lobster rolls. YUM! We visited the citadel and ambled about the port. Very special day, leaving us with big smiles and fond memories of our new Canadian friends.