Regal Princess

Regal Princess is unmistakably elegant, accomplishing something mainstream cruise ships occasionally struggle with: finding a balance between fun and refinement. The decor is comfortable, with warm tones and plenty of wood and marble. The Piazza, a hallmark of the line, is truly grand; it's large, encompasses three decks and has three bold spiral staircases. At night, it's where you'll want to spend your time watching people, listening to music or sipping cocktails.

Regal Princess is a near twin of fleetmate Royal Princess, and, as such, it has mostly the same features that debuted on that ship just a year earlier. That includes the SeaWalk, a cantilevered glass walkway that juts out from the Lido Deck, allowing passengers to take in unobstructed views of the sea below. It's a fun touch, though it loses its appeal after you've taken the walk once. Editor's Tip: For a fun photo, station one person on the promenade on Deck 7, directly below the SeaWalk. Have the model look up to the SeaWalk and wave. Snap a pic looking down through the SeaWalk.

When Royal Princess debuted, passengers complained that two staples on the lines' other ships were lacking: the aft pool and the promenade deck. In response, Princess made changes to get versions of those on Regal Princess, with some success. The aft pool is a solid, though small, addition to Regal Princess, but the promenade still misses the mark. It doesn't wrap the ship like a true promenade; instead, it comprises two outdoor decks -- one portside, the other starboard side -- that are only accessible by cutting through the ship.

One item Princess didn't fix, unfortunately, is the weird staircase midship, which mysteriously ends at Deck 7. If you want to get up to higher decks from that location, you'll have to take an elevator. Walkers must go forward or aft and take the stairs there.

A highlight onboard is the food, which we enjoyed in most venues. The buffet offers tremendous variety, with many options for international palates, and the for-fee restaurants -- specifically Sabatini's and Crown Grill -- are reasonably priced. Still, those who don't want to pay have enough options that they won't feel slighted. Conversely, those who want to splurge on the Chef's Table and the Winemaker's dinner will likely feel as if it was money well spent.

While Princess fans will recognize the things they love about the line onboard Regal Princess, this class of ships represents a major evolution for the line. Careful thought has clearly been given to many of its public spaces, restaurants and activities, resulting in an overall vibe that's relaxing and fun -- exactly what you want a vacation to be.

Regal Princess Fellow Passengers

Passengers tend to be a solid mix of older and younger couples, as well as families, which are more prevalent during the summer and holiday seasons and while Regal Princess sails the Caribbean. While many passengers are North Americans, Europeans and Asians do sail the line, especially during Regal Princess' Mediterranean season, which runs roughly from late spring to early fall. In the Med, the passenger mix is decidedly international, with Japanese, Chinese and Korean cruisers heavily represented.

Regal Princess Dress Code

During the day, casual is the name of the game, with shorts, swimsuits and flip-flops the norm. In the evening, passengers wear resort-casual attire. For men, that generally means khakis or slacks and button-down or collared shirts. Women wear dresses or skirts, capris or slacks and blouses.

On formal nights, evening attire is the standard. For men, that includes suits, jackets and slacks or the occasional tuxedo. Women wear cocktail or evening gowns or formal pantsuits. Cruises of four days or fewer won't have formal nights, but those with five or six days will feature one formal night, seven- to 13-day sailings will have two formal nights and voyages of 14 to 20 days will feature three formal nights.

Regal Princess Gratuity

Princess automatically adds a gratuity of $12.95 per person, per day, ($13.95 per person, per day, for mini-suites and suites) to passengers' shipboard accounts. Passengers have the option of increasing or removing these gratuities from their accounts. Wait staff, cabin stewards, buffet stewards and housekeeping staff will share the gratuities.

A 15 percent gratuity is added automatically for beverage and spa services.

Tipping for room service is not included but is appreciated; usually a dollar or two is appropriate. The U.S. dollar is the onboard currency.

Regal Princess Cabins 

A whopping 1,438 cabins (81 percent) on Regal Princess have balconies. Thirty-six cabins (29 balcony cabins and seven interiors) are wheelchair accessible. There are no oceanview cabins, so if you want to see the outdoors from your room, you'll have to book a balcony stateroom. Cabins are decorated in neutrals: shades of brown and cream, with dark wood. On the whole, the sizes are in line with the industry average, though balconies are on the small side. (The exception is for true suites, which have large verandas with plenty of room for sprawling out.)

All cabins have hair dryers, safes and mini-fridges. Flat-screen TVs are large, and in-room movies and TV shows on-demand are free, a unique and much-appreciated touch. The selection is current, with plenty of options for all ages. The daily show, featuring the cruise director discussing upcoming events, is also available on demand, as are some shows about the various ports you'll visit on your trip. (Some programs are better than others, and not all ports are included.)

Each cabin also features two twin beds that can be converted into one queen bed, a closet, phone and desk with chair. Bathrooms are small but comfortable enough, with showers (featuring ledges that can be used to prop up a foot for leg-shaving), toilets and small sink areas with shelves for storage of toiletries. Showers have curtains, but they're big enough that they won't cling to you. They include dispensers for shower gel and a shampoo/conditioner combo that isn't really great at shampooing or conditioning. Fresh fruit and bathrobes for use during the cruise are available; just ask your cabin attendant.

Regal Princess has 10 interconnecting balcony cabins (at three berths each) and 10 interconnecting mini-suite cabins (also three berths each), so families of up to six can book two connecting cabins to accommodate.

Interior: Regal Princess offers 342 interior cabins measuring 166 to 175 square feet. Interior cabins are found on decks 8 through 16.

Balcony: As is the trend with new-builds, balconies on Regal Princess are small, even at the mini-suite level. We still were comfortable sitting outside and watching the world go by, but enjoying a meal or stretching out was tough. The ship offers 1,092 balcony cabins, located on decks 8 through 16. The 732 Standard Balcony cabins measure 222 square feet, including 41-square-foot balconies. The 360 Deluxe Balcony cabins measure 249 to 333 square feet, including 41-square-foot balconies. Whereas Standard Balcony cabins have chairs, Deluxe Balcony cabins have small loveseat/sleepers that can each accommodate a third passenger. Each balcony includes two mesh chairs and a stool-sized metal table.

Mini-suite: The ship's 306 mini-suites are located on decks 10 to 16. Square footage ranges from 299 to 329, including balconies that range from 36 to 105 square feet. (Editor's tip: Look for angled balconies midship for larger outdoor space.) Mini-suites include a seating area with full-size sofa bed coffee table and chair, separated from the sleeping space by a curtain. Cabins at this level have two flat-screen TVs -- one each in the living area and the sleeping area. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations. Balconies are equipped with a pair of mesh, reclining chairs, an ottoman, and a dining-height table, but are pretty tight, space-wise. Passengers in mini-suites get welcome glasses of Champagne and a starter mini-bar setup, including mini-bottles of alcohol, beer and sodas; after the initial supply is used, you must request refilling -- and pay a fee -- for all beverages.

Suite: Regal Princess has 40 suites, which fall into one of three categories: Penthouse Suites (Deck 14), Premium Suites (decks 9 through 12) and Owner's Suites (decks 8 to 15). Penthouse Suites are located midship and offer 440 square feet of space, including 72-square-foot balconies. Each includes a separate sleeping area and living area with a couch, table and chairs. The bathroom includes a separate tub and shower, and surface areas are made of marble. Balcony furniture at the suite level is upgraded, too, with two wood chairs and two loungers and a larger table.

Premium Suites are about 554 square feet, with 69-square-foot balconies. They are located all the way forward on the ship and offer a little more privacy than you will get in other suites. These are laid out exactly the same as the Penthouse Suites, though they have slightly larger interior space.

Owner's Suites on Regal Princess are located at the aft corners on each deck, which means they have fabulous wraparound balconies with plenty of space. Owner's Suites are 587 to 682 square feet, including 158-square-foot balconies.

All suite passengers get upgraded amenities, including in-room DVD/CD players, complimentary laundry and dry-cleaning, and a one-time mini-bar setup. (The initial mini-bar setup, with assorted soda, water and alcohol options, is free; once the bar is restocked, passengers will pay for the beverages.) They also have exclusive access to the Concierge Lounge on Deck 14, which, with its interior location and lack of view is not terribly appealing, but comfortable enough for reading, relaxing and noshing on hot and cold snacks. Staff there will arrange for dinners at the alternative restaurants or shore excursions, so suite passengers can skip long lines or phone wait times. Another perk: Suite passengers can eat in Sabatini's for breakfast.