Regal

[wilber1]

Just found the site:D we are headed to Alaska on the regal! any inf. would be great! I have read some post's, hope every thing will be great! We leave july and I'm starting to get the jitters:eek: !

 

wilber1

[GloriaF]

Welcome to Cruise Critic, and if you haven't already checked out the Alaska board, here is the Link: http://messages.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=7&f=55

Lots of good info & experts on the ports of call Alaska board :)

[boom op]

When in July? We are on the 15th. In fact received cruise docs in mail Friday

[gabberqueen]

heheheh good stuff on booking your cruise!!! iam looking into bookingmy cruise soon having such a hard time picking a ship!! lol

[Bases5]

Wilber

Welcome to the board, There is so much good info here, you can read for days.So ask as much as you want. Now, one thing you need to learn is that every one has opinions, people tend to be more vocal when things go bad than good, so don't get scared when you read bad things, take it for what it is worth and make your own opinion.

 

We are on the Regal July 5 maybe you will be joining us.

[Druke I]

Enjoy your trip.

 

We've been on the Regal 3 times, most recently 3-9/22-06, 'round the Horn, Buenos Aires to Valparaiso, and enjoy the ship very much.

 

Sailing out of San Francisco Bay, and under the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge is truly a thrill.

[Spikesgirl]

Alaska, but not at the same time. The Regal is a great little ship - she reminds me of the way cruise ships used to be before they had to start competeing so heavily in the market. Alaska is a beautiful spot and will give you time to reflect what some people had (have)to go through to live there. Take the White Pass Train in Skagway, see the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, enjoy the local cuisine in Sitka - take a good mosquito repellent and have a wonderful time.

 

Happy Sails

 

Charlie

[Pam in CA]

The Regal is my favorite ship and it has several plus' and some minus' vs. other Princess ships.

 

Plusses, most of which you won't find on other Princess ships:

 

* The cabins (both outside and inside standard) are larger

 

* The bathrooms are larger and the showers are tub-sized

 

* It's well laid-out with a number of lounges for people to go to

 

* It has a dedicated pizzaria with seating (but you can't take the pizza out)

 

* The back of the ship is all open deck that's half-covered, half-uncovered with chairs and loungers -- great for scenic viewing since you can be somewhat protected from the wind and elements

 

Minus' (but it depends on what you want from a cruise):

 

* It's older and elegant, not glitzy and new

 

* There's only one dining room with traditional dining (but you can go up to the Bistro -- set up as part of the Lido buffe -- for anytime dining)

 

* The library is smaller and there aren't the leather lounge chairs you'll find on other Princess ships

 

* Because it's older and smaller, the average age of the passengers is older (whether that's a minus depends on whether you're bringing kids and expecting hundreds of other kids for them)

 

Hmmm... I'm trying to think of other differences between the Regal and other Princess ships I've been on. Perhaps someone else can chime in.

[wilber1]

Thanks for all of the info! We are sailing on July 15and are counting the days! i have a couple of qeastions: does the dinning room serve breakfeast and lunch as well or do you go to the Bistro? Are there places to sit and veiw landscapes for hours at a time? some one said that the back of the ship is open, but are there other decks you can walk around the ship on the outside? Also how is boarding the ship? Are there long lines, we will be driving arre there parking near by? Is the drop off crazy with baggage? That is just some questions for know and thanks for all of your help!!!

 

wilber

[wilber1]

Is there any way that people can get tours of the Bridge?

 

Thanks!

[fourel]

My favorite excursion was the dogsled ride. It is expensive but well worth the money. My son and I loved the sites from the helicopter and the dogsled ride was terrific! At the end of the ride you can pet the dogs. What an experience. At the end of the trip my son wanted to repeat the experience, so the next time we do an Alaska cruise we will be repeating the dogsled excursion. Have a great time.

[bdjam]

Thanks for all of the info! We are sailing on July 15and are counting the days! i have a couple of qeastions: does the dinning room serve breakfeast and lunch as well or do you go to the Bistro? Are there places to sit and veiw landscapes for hours at a time? some one said that the back of the ship is open, but are there other decks you can walk around the ship on the outside? Also how is boarding the ship? Are there long lines, we will be driving arre there parking near by? Is the drop off crazy with baggage? That is just some questions for know and thanks for all of your help!!!

 

wilber

The dining room serves breakfast and lunch in an open seating arrangement. Food is of better quality than the buffet and you do get served, so who can argue with that? Check the Princess Patter on board for dining times.

The back of the ship is fully open and the pool deck and the deck above are wide open for full vistas. You can also see a lot from outside on Promenade Deck (deck 7) and it’s usually not crowded there. All the way forward on Baja deck is an observation platform – you need to go forward as far as you can on the starboard side of the ship, then make a left turn and a right turn and out the door. If you choose to use this area for glacier cruising, get there early as it fills up fast.

Check online at the Port of San Francisco for parking arrangements. There is a parking area for cruise ship passengers, but I don’t recall where. Lines for embarkation can be long, however if you get to the ship about an hour or so after embarkation begins, the first rush will be gone and lines will be more reasonable.

Tours of the bridge are restricted due to security reasons, however if you ask at the Purser’s desk, they may put in a request for you.

[wilber1]

Thanks bdjam for the info! This site is AWESOME!!

[Deloresgardella]

Here is a web site that may help you. I think the parking is about $18 or $20 a day not sure about that. The parking is enclosed and just a couple blocks from the pier. I went on the Regal to Alaska a couple years ago and loved it. I did most of the tours on my own, took my daughter her and I had a great time

 

http://www.*****.com/SanFrancisco/portinfo.htm

[wilber1]

Thanks for the help with the parking info.!! Would you go on that same cruise again?

 

wilber

[cflutist]

Websailor and I just returned from the 5/26 sailing on the Regal.

 

While at one of the "meet the CD" sessions, we told cruise director Janet about our Rollcall on cruisecritic.com and how we all met for breakfast on the first day at sea. She seemed interested in what we did so she arranged a meeting the next day for all cruisecritic.com members and published it in the Princess Patter. She attended to meet all of us during which we asked for a tour of the bridge. We were only a group of 5 couples ... I always wondered why we didn't have more posters on our rollcall ... LOL ... it was because this particular sailing was full of seniors who don't use the Internet.

 

Two days later we all receive personal invitiations from Captain Romano for a tour of the bridge. There are pictures of the bridge tour in our 2006 Alaska website (link is in my signature). Just click on the thumbnails to expand.

 

Enjoy your cruise. The Regal is a grand old lady with a lot of charm and elegance that you don't find in the newer ships.

[Deloresgardella]

I will gladly take that cruise again. I want to either go next year or the year after. I only live about 50 miles north of San Francisco so we drive to Larkspur and take the ferry across the bay. Usually my daughter or son drives us. Then we take a taxi to the pier. It is about 1 1/2 walk to the pier from the ferry building. I have done it but it can be long. If you have time go to Alquatraz it is really quite interesting. Also pier 39 is a lot of fun, we usually eat at Bubba Gumps at pier 39. It is a fun place.

I know you will have a good cruise. The Regal is a bueatiful ship.

[bdjam]

Two days later we all receive personal invitiations from Captain Romano for a tour of the bridge. There are pictures of the bridge tour in our 2006 Alaska website (link is in my signature). Just click on the thumbnails to expand.

 

Enjoy your cruise. The Regal is a grand old lady with a lot of charm and elegance that you don't find in the newer ships.

Thanks for the link to the great pictures of my baby Regal Princess. I was on board for the repositioning from Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco through the Panama Canal – it seems strange to see the upper decks empty in your pictures when the entire area was covered with lounge chairs full of people during my trip! I agree with you – Regal Princess is a great lady.

[wilber1]

Wow thanks for the info.! Your pictures were great! What type of camera did you use? We are thinking about up grading are camera and could use some help. I will try to talk to the CD about a tour! thanks again!

 

wilber

[deevmo]

An indoor place to watch the scenery would be the casino/dome on deck 14. There are tall windows with groups of chairs and small tables around the whole room. The only draw back is smoking is allowed, so if you don't smoke that could be a negative.

 

If you like playing games, they have fun group games each day, there is different lounges with different musicians in each (Kemble in the Adiago is great).

 

If you like meeting people then eating breakfast and lunch in the dining room is a good way to do that. They usually fill up the tables as people come in, so you sit with different people each time. Otherwise the buffet on deck 12 is available.

 

And YES I would go again - I just got back on the 15th and I'd leave again tomorrow if I could.

 

Enjoy it!

[partybarbie]

If you like playing games, they have fun group games each day, there is different lounges with different musicians in each (Kemble in the Adiago is great).

 

I was on the Panama repositioning as well and Kemble was on our cruise too. My DH and I loved him. He did special requests for us and gave us one his postcards with a personal autograph. He is such a nice man and so funny and talented too.

[Pam in CA]

i have a couple of qeastions: does the dinning room serve breakfeast and lunch as well or do you go to the Bistro? Are there places to sit and veiw landscapes for hours at a time? some one said that the back of the ship is open, but are there other decks you can walk around the ship on the outside?

Yes, the dining room is open for sit-down breakfast and lunch on all Princess ships. It's "open" seating at those times where you just walk in and are seated at a table. The menus are posted well ahead of time so you can decide whether you want to eat in the dining room or the buffet. Many of the dining room lunch menu items are available in the buffet. This is true for all Princess ships.

[cflutist]

Wow thanks for the info.! Your pictures were great! What type of camera did you use? We are thinking about up grading are camera and could use some help. I will try to talk to the CD about a tour! thanks again!

 

wilber

 

We have 2 cameras. Hubby websailor uses an Olympus C-750 (bought in 2003) that has 10x optical zoom but is only 4 Mp. It has been replaced with newer/better models. I have an Olympus Stylus 720 SW which is waterproof (to 10 ft) and shockproof (to 5 ft) which we just bought. It only has 3x optical zoom, is 7.1 Mp and is the size of a deck of cards. We plan to take this camera on snorkel trips in Tahiti next year.

 

Here's another tip for you. If you eat breakfast in the main dining room and like orange juice, ask the waiter for the "fresh squeezed" OJ. Much better than the stuff from the cartons. Friends told us about it, so we

have enjoyed it on the Star, Tahitian, Coral and the Regal.

[Katiekakes]

Fantastic photos! Thanks for sharing. We will be cruising the Regal next March, Panama Canal Cruise.

[FredS]

Pam in MA, would you not say the Regal sails better in rough seas than the newer ships? It has the cut of a ocean going vessel and while the newer ships go on the ocean they are not meant to be ocean crossing cruises, although they do that. Regal is more V bottom and the newer ships are flatter bottom to gain more space. The V bottom cuts the waves smoother.