The new Regal Princess experience while onboard Cruises Inc conference

Yesterday, a past guest called me, to inquire about a cruise for March.  As normal, I take folks up on my website, so they can “see” options … See reality of what is actually there.  Whether it be dates … cruise lines … itineraries.  The value of seeing the pricing, is basically only to see the minimum rates available, however, until I go into another system, one could never know, that they like the minimum price option or the cruise line rules attached to that price !

It wasn’t long, before this client was asking me about my Regal Princess cruise that I had just embarked from.  The caller said, I have experienced a Princess and truly enjoyed them.  So we immediately began looking at Regal Princess on my website.  Easy to find:  put in month/year, Princess, and the ship name.  Since client knew they only wanted Eastern Caribbean, we plugged this in too (only Eastern sailings will show up).

There were 4 dates in March to choose from.  And all but one date, showed the balcony pricing to begin at $ 699pp.  I then looked in our A-Z promo, provided from my staff, to see if there was some type of sale being offered by Princess.  Yes, a sale through Dec 2, based on capacity control, that was lowering the rate to 2 for 1.

 

TIP:  2 for 1 means off brochure rate, not what you are seeing online.  Also what you see is the 2 for 1 already broken down.  So if it shows $ 699, it’s $ 699 per person, cause the normal price was estimated $1400 per person.

 

Customer then began asking me about my experience on the Regal Princess last week.  All kind of memories began coming up.

Like on other Princess ships, the Regal had a large Piazza area.  Full of glass and brass and marble. The lowest deck was deck 5 and expanded to decks 6 & 7.  This is great place to meet and socialize, whether it was in the day or at night.  You were able to enjoy, on the higher decks, the music from deck 5.  Several days, there were 4 ladies playing string instruments, causing you not to want to leave.

There were complimentary dining venues, outside of the dining room and cafeteria.

(1)    There was the deli (street-café) on deck 5 at the atrium.  This is open 24 hours.  In the morning there were fresh Danish.  But by noon, there was chicken salad, shrimp salad, quiche, shepherd pie and more.   Also desserts, such as cheese cake, tiramisu, and others.  Some of the options were there every day and others were not.  Either way, it was great.  My roommate and I ate there at least 2-3 times. 

(2)    Wheel House Lounge on deck 7 aft.  At lunch, fish-n-chips was served.  Never found time to see if it was there every day, but did pass by at least 3 days, and saw this option.  My roommate and I never found time to try this out, but others said it was very good !  At night, there was a restaurant, further back, at additional cost.

(3)    Alfreda’s pizza/pasta restaurant, deck 6, at the atrium.  Not only could you get pizza on the deck, you could have a sit down option here.  There were salads, pasta, pizza, and calzones.  My roommate and I ate here one day for lunch.  Truly had wanted to return !

 

There were so many areas with music and shows !  My roommate & I only had time to visit a few.

·         Club 6 on deck 6, forward.  This was near the Casino and Churchill’s (cigar bar).

·         Princess Live.  As we passed by, we could listen to the karaoke.  Other times, this venue offered lectures or game shows.

·         Main pool area.  One night there was “Latin night”.  There was a band on the deck above the pool (17), for folks to view from both deck 16 & 17. 

·         On the same night as Latin night, there was a a mini show with the dancers.  The stage was mid-deck 16, which could be viewed from deck 16 & 17.  This included the light and water show, where water comes up 33 feet. 

·         Also on same night, after Latin Night and the light/water show, there was disco under the stars at the Serenity pool.  Here there are the cabanas.  And for this night, they had put out many size “plastic” balls, in the water and on the deck, that would change colors.  This was awesome !

Each night, our group social was near the SeaView Bar area.  This is where you can look thru the glass (SeaWalk), at 128 feet down, and see the water and lower decks.  I personally chose to view what was down below, without standing on the glass !

There were several features/benefits that I personally liked about pool deck 16.

·         There weren’t endless lounge chairs everywhere.  So this was spacious.
·         There were other sitting options besides “lounge chairs”, which totally added to the décor for me !
·         Because the stage was in middle of pool deck, it could be viewed, almost equally around deck 17 pool area.
*         When it was time to watch a “movie under the starts”, hamburgers, pizza, and ice cream were  nearby for snacking !

Loved the Horizon Court area.  Beautiful !  Colors great !  Seemed so fresh !  My roommate and I only had time for lunch here, 2 days and breakfast once.  However, we walked through here several days, just to view.  There is several areas with food on display, so you need to make full rounds.  It’s a great social area too. 

·         Best feature … You sit down and your drinks are brought to you.  No getting up to get them.
·         Cloth napkins on the tables
·         At night, the tables are already set up with wine & water glasses, before you even sit down
·         2^nd best feature … Many of the food area lines go from left to right of the ship, instead of parallel.  You’re not trying to squeeze by folks who are in the food line.
·         There’s a whole area for just desserts.  I’m not talking about a small section, but a walk through area !  Several desserts on display to include bread pudding or a cobbler.  And as you walk out of the area, you also find cookies !  Nicely displayed.
·         The last sea day, there was sushi, which my roommate loved !

 

Now that there is no more smoking on the balconies, the smoking areas are important for cigar and cigarette users ! 

·         Deck 6, forward, was Churchill’s.  Somewhat small, yet never crowded.  Restrooms, Club 6, the casino, and the Princess lounge were right there.

·         Deck 17, aft (just above Horizon Court).  Wicker chairs to enjoy.  However, best part, was the coffee and there was an attendant there.  You could order drinks too.  This was all fabulous !  There is also a pool and lounge chairs in this area.  Definitely met hear for socializing ! 

 

There is so much to do on this ship.  Not everything is covered here.  As mentioned, my roommate and I did not have time to try it all.  The disadvantage of having our conference onboard and going to “class” almost every day.  Guess we’ll have to go back !  Oh, poor us !