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Just returned from Regal Princess

sallybrown2012

By sallybrown2012,
in Princess Cruises

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sallybrown2012

sallybrown2012

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We finished up our 7-day Regal Princess Western Caribbean cruise on Sunday (3/5), and it was a fantastic time.

 

It would take too long to list all the wonderful aspects of this cruise, because there were a lot of them - from watching the Oscars "under the stars" to the beautiful days on deck, from the delicious food to the comfort of our balcony cabin. Our waiter did his best to accommodate the dietary needs of one of the members of our party. She did better at the buffet, but we still went to traditional dining most nights to enjoy our window-side table. We used the fitness center, did a yoga class on the beach, and found books and games in the library. Sitting outside in the sun by the Retreat pool is still one of my very favorite things to do.

 

As far as ports, three of the four were excellent (the dolphin excursion on Grand Cayman was a definite highlight), but tendering at three ports was by far the worst part of the cruise. Tendering increased our back and forth time by up to an hour or so each way, and dramatically increased our tiredness and frustration. This was annoying enough that for our next cruise we will definitely take it into consideration - other ships (MSC, Carnival) were docked in some of these ports while we had to tender, which didn't make us feel good about Princess.

 

Happy to answer any questions!

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JF - retired RRT

JF - retired RRT

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This was annoying enough that for our next cruise we will definitely take it into consideration - other ships (MSC, Carnival) were docked in some of these ports while we had to tender, which didn't make us feel good about Princess.

Don't blame Princess for your tendering issues. The harbor master decides who docks where, not the cruise line.

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sallybrown2012

sallybrown2012

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We also tendered at Montego Bay, and Princess Cays (no dock) (we also went to Cozumel, and docked there, although be aware the pier is the southern-most one and you need to take a cab into town, I think it cost $8 - if you wind up at the same pier). We were supposed to go to Ocho Rios, not Montego Bay, but about two-three weeks before the cruise we learned that the port was changed to Montego Bay. Other ships were docked there, presumably because they had arranged to be in Montego Bay from the beginning. The change in port was a pain, and the tendering just added insult to injury.

 

Also note that the excursion in Montego Bay we went on included Doctor's Cave beach - it is small and very crowded. If I ever wind up in Montego Bay again, I would look for a different beach. We still had a good day - the water is amazingly beautiful - but you definitely got the feeling that several cruise ships' worth of passengers were all on the same small beach.

 

Horizon Bistro/Court is the buffet restaurant, and we liked it very much. There's a great selection of food, special themes on some days for lunch (sushi, BBQ) and in the evenings, and the set up is extremely convenient so that you are never waiting in line, it's more like multiple stations. There is always a big spread of desserts in the pastry section, and salads and breads in another one. It's open early, and late... all good. They will make you an omelet at breakfast time with whatever you would like in it - delicious. Coffee, tea, iced tea, hot chocolate, and water are always available, and orange juice in the mornings, and waiters will bring your drinks to the table.

 

The Ocean Terrace is really just a bar in the piazza area. It seems like they have sushi, but most of the food items are an extra charge - just a few are available for free, and only then if you buy a drink. We looked at it but didn't eat there. We did enjoy the bars on the decks, including the aft pool and bar, and the Retreat pool and bar, and a bar in the piazza area with very comfortable seating and a piano (Crooners, I think).

 

Another favorite was watching movies "under the stars" at night on deck. Make sure to get the popcorn - it's in the little spot with the soft serve ice cream (also a nice treat while watching a movie).

 

To the reader who is heading off soon - you'll have a wonderful time - enjoy it!!

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easyboy

easyboy

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The Ocean Terrace is really just a bar in the piazza area. It seems like they have sushi, but most of the food items are an extra charge - just a few are available for free, and only then if you buy a drink. We looked at it but didn't eat there. We did enjoy the bars on the decks, including the aft pool and bar, and the Retreat pool and bar, and a bar in the piazza area with very comfortable seating and a piano (Crooners, I think).

Did you buy any drinks package?

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sallybrown2012

sallybrown2012

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Our traditional dining was at 5:45, which turned out to be just fine. Same time the day of boarding. Any later and you'd never get to the early showing of the movie on time (7:15).

 

But on the Cozumel day they opened up all the seating to anytime, and they did not hold your regular table for you. They said this was because the ship didn't leave port until 9:30 pm. All the nighttime activities were a little different that night. We actually chose to go to the buffet that night, and saw our regular waiter from the Allegro dining room working in the buffet (he was super nice the whole time, where ever we saw him).

 

We did not buy the drinks package. Usually I only had one or two drinks a day.

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  • 4 months later...
Nygirl26

Nygirl26

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We finished up our 7-day Regal Princess Western Caribbean cruise on Sunday (3/5), and it was a fantastic time.

 

It would take too long to list all the wonderful aspects of this cruise, because there were a lot of them - from watching the Oscars "under the stars" to the beautiful days on deck, from the delicious food to the comfort of our balcony cabin. Our waiter did his best to accommodate the dietary needs of one of the members of our party. She did better at the buffet, but we still went to traditional dining most nights to enjoy our window-side table. We used the fitness center, did a yoga class on the beach, and found books and games in the library. Sitting outside in the sun by the Retreat pool is still one of my very favorite things to do.

 

As far as ports, three of the four were excellent (the dolphin excursion on Grand Cayman was a definite highlight), but tendering at three ports was by far the worst part of the cruise. Tendering increased our back and forth time by up to an hour or so each way, and dramatically increased our tiredness and frustration. This was annoying enough that for our next cruise we will definitely take it into consideration - other ships (MSC, Carnival) were docked in some of these ports while we had to tender, which didn't make us feel good about Princess.

 

Happy to answer any questions!

 

 

Can you please tell me which days were the formal nights?? Were they the days at sea? Thanks so much!

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Selion

Selion

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Can you please tell me which days were the formal nights?? Were they the days at sea? Thanks so much!

If nothing changes from this past March, first formal was on the first sea day and second formal was the night after leaving Grand Cayman.

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