LIVE from Regal's Inaugaral Cruise

[Av8tor]

Hi! When you have time for questions....Does the Regal do the same kind of afternoon teas in a MDR as do the other Princess ships? Also for excursions...Do you know if cruisers who did the Princess excursions got of the ship any easier/faster than those getting off on their own or for non-Princess excursions? Welcome home and thanks for a wonderful review!

 

We don't attend the afternoon teas, so I can't accurately comment on it except to say I remember seeing it listed in the Patter, so yes they did do it on the Regal. I don't recall where it was held or if it was every day. I seem to also remember seeing an item about a special "Grand Tea" (or something like that) that I think had a $10-20 charge. Again, no interest in it, so I didn't pay much attention...

 

As for disembarking for tours, the answer depends on the type of port you're at. If the ship is alongside the pier, passengers with independent arrangements could disembark as soon as the authorities cleared the ship. There was no delay or preferential treatment for those on Princess tours. We docked at Mykonos, and I was one of the first 5 people off the ship to go on my privately arranged scuba dive tour. I was already waiting for my ride when the Princess tours started getting off the boat. At tender ports, the situation is a bit different. Once the ship is cleared to start tending passengers ashore, they tend to start sending the Princess tours off first and/or intermix Princess tour groups into the flow of regular passengers in line for the tenders. This also depends on whether or not they are just using ship's tenders, port tenders or both. We only tendered at Santorini and Dubrovnik. The operation was different at those two ports, but we had no delays at either (having Elite tender priority helped).

[Denali2003]

Hello. Do you remember how much the drinks were at the P & E Cocktail Hour?

[trinaM]

Jasperdo,

I wanted to tell you, I was looking at your Hawaii pictures. They are superb. Great job.

[anteaters]

We don't attend the afternoon teas, so I can't accurately comment on it except to say I remember seeing it listed in the Patter, so yes they did do it on the Regal. I don't recall where it was held or if it was every day. I seem to also remember seeing an item about a special "Grand Tea" (or something like that) that I think had a $10-20 charge. Again, no interest in it, so I didn't pay much attention...

 

As for disembarking for tours, the answer depends on the type of port you're at. If the ship is alongside the pier, passengers with independent arrangements could disembark as soon as the authorities cleared the ship. There was no delay or preferential treatment for those on Princess tours. We docked at Mykonos, and I was one of the first 5 people off the ship to go on my privately arranged scuba dive tour. I was already waiting for my ride when the Princess tours started getting off the boat. At tender ports, the situation is a bit different. Once the ship is cleared to start tending passengers ashore, they tend to start sending the Princess tours off first and/or intermix Princess tour groups into the flow of regular passengers in line for the tenders. This also depends on whether or not they are just using ship's tenders, port tenders or both. We only tendered at Santorini and Dubrovnik. The operation was different at those two ports, but we had no delays at either (having Elite tender priority helped).

 

Thanks so much for your input! I'm looking forward to August and our turn.

[Jasperdo]

Jasperdo,

I wanted to tell you, I was looking at your Hawaii pictures. They are superb. Great job.

Thank you for the nice comment. I'm glad you liked them.

[cruiseclues]

I always appreciate Live Reviews. Thank you for doing one. :):):):)

[insidecabin]

They are designed to dispense miniscule portions.

Here's a close up of what Princess now has in all their showers:

 

Star Princess - Hawaii Cruise by Jasperdo, on Flickr

[momthecruisedirector]

Thank you SO much for your live review. We are going in October and it's been wonderful reading your posts!

[loma linda ca a & j]

Thank you for the nice comment. I'm glad you liked them.

oh my goodness - it's almost like being on each ship viewing

all your beautiful photos !!!

was that elua on the star princess cruise ? we want to go

when they go to hawaii - perhaps next year ?

[calikid50]

Thanks for posting! Will be taking notes for future cruises!

[BrandiGreg]

What we didn’t get were the card with the dinner “dress code” schedule for the cruise (ie which nights are to be formal) and the Elite Happy Hour drink of the day and hor’s douvers schedule.

 

Our last 3 cruises, we did not get the Elite/Platinum Lounge schedule either. We even asked the stewards, and they had no clue what we were talking about. So we just went and took our chances.

[caribill]

What we didn’t get were the card with the dinner “dress code” schedule for the cruise (ie which nights are to be formal)

 

There is no "card" for this.

 

The schedule for the entire cruise is on page 2 of the embarkation day Patter.

[Elua]

oh my goodness - it's almost like being on each ship viewing

all your beautiful photos !!!

was that elua on the star princess cruise ? we want to go

when they go to hawaii - perhaps next year ?

Aloha Kakou,

Yep, that's us! Great pics!

 

Dave

(of Elua)

http://www.facebook.com/eluamusic

[Av8tor]

What we didn’t get were the card with the dinner “dress code” schedule for the cruise (ie which nights are to be formal) and the Elite Happy Hour drink of the day and hor’s douvers schedule.

 

Our last 3 cruises, we did not get the Elite/Platinum Lounge schedule either. We even asked the stewards, and they had no clue what we were talking about. So we just went and took our chances.

 

We did get the card for the P&E lounge menu and drink specials on the second portion (6-day Athens to Venice) but, alas, never found the time to make it to the function. I had wanted to try their guacamole and of course the shrimp "fountain" but simply was to busy on those evenings and simply forgot until it was too late... The P&E nightly functions were held in Club 6 each night except they weren't held on the night of the Captain's Circle Club cocktail party. Sorry, I can't remember what the card said the price of the nightly cocktail special was for those P&E gatherings.

[Av8tor]

I am subscribed too! Thank you for taking time out of your fabulous vacay to fill us all in. I do have one question....I thought I saw on the patter from a cruise on the Royal that they are now doing a murder mystery type thing in the Princess Live stage/theatre....if you see that and attend could you tell me what it is about? Curious if it is like those murder mystery dinner type things...

 

Sorry it took so long to answer, but...

 

Yes they did have a Murder Mystery function in the Princess Live Studio. We didn't attend, so I can't give details and there wasn't a description in the Patter or the web schedule. I HEARD that the CD staff plays the various roles and the audience tries to figure out who done it

[Av8tor]

The channel for the weather & ship's position and planned course still exists under one of "tabs" for a sub menu. Not easy to find, but it's there. Also there is the ship's forward cam view.

 

I looked and looked and still couldn't find it, even after drilling down for sub-menus on each available tab...

[Av8tor]

Paul

without wasting too much time on this, would you be able to give an idea of breakfast venue options (opening times and a broad idea of menu)? I would trust your observations way more than a princess website - Given their inability to even update basic info. Also was wondering about price of a soda/cocktail/glass of wine bought on their own (minus any card). And which dining venues allow me to drink my own wine (with corkage fee of course)? Have a fabulous cruise and many thanks

 

And with a coffee card , I understand there's unlimited brewed coffee . Where can I get that other than IC? For ex would it be available at princess live cafe or in the MDRs or any of the bars or restaurants?

 

Parul

 

Sit-down breakfast is available to order from a menu in one dining room each morning, I think the hours are about 7-9am ish. The horizon Court is also available for a buffet type breakfast from around 6-10 am. They have a wide selection of items that changes daily. Omelets and eggs to order are available in addition to the buffet items. Scrambled eggs, bacon, fruits, cereal, breads and pastries are always on the buffet plus regional specialties. Room service also is available for breakfast, and even though the pre-printed RS menu card only lists "continental" style items, if you write in an omelet or egg entrée, they will usually provide it! Room service breakfast is not available on turn-over port days.

 

Never bought a soda so I can't say what the price was. My Canadian Club and 7-up cocktails were about $7.45 each plus the 15% gratuity IF they charged the .50 for the mixer, otherwise they were $6.95. Other drink prices varied depending on the drink and quality of the alcohol. Wines by the glass ran anywhere from about $6 to $10+. If you pay the corkage fee, ANY dining venue should provide glasses and pour the wine you carried on board.

 

On Regal, you could get specialty coffee at IC, Princess Live Café, Horizon Bistro and I believe a few other various places including most dining venues. "Normal" brewed coffee should also be available at all those places. IC is 24/7, the others had differing hours and should all be open for meal times (except Princess Live Café which didn't seem to have a firmly set schedule).

[Av8tor]

Av8tor thank you so much for your review so far, sorry the thread has gone crazy but these changes have rattled us, made worse by calling Princess UK Who knew nothing about these extra charges, infact the staff member had been on the 4 day first cruise and these charges where not in effect for them :confused:

 

Anyhow, looking forward to your next instalment. Could I please ask if you get time to post the movies that are being shown, I presume they'll be the same in August...

 

Sorry, I didn't really pay attention to the movies playing on MUTS. We just had too much other things to do than watch MUTS. In room movies on the flat screen were on-demand. They had a WIDE variety and selection of movies available in categories such as New Additions, Comedy, Drama, Action, Childrens/Family, etc. etc. You could watch part of a movie, leave to do something else and resume where you left off later...

I'd say that movies in Aug would be different than those we had in Jun at least for MUTS and the New Additions section for on-demand

[Av8tor]

Thank you for posting about your trip and the ship. I do have a few questions:

 

Does the smoke from the casino drift upstairs?

I didn't notice that as I walked by

 

Do they have Milk Shakes at Swirls (or anywhere else on the ship)?

Didn't notice milk shakes, but I wasn't looking for them! Did have soft serve from Swirls, but believe it or not, never made it to the Gelato place so I can't say whether or not they had shakes too.

 

The photo gallery - are the photos pre-printed or are they digital and only print what is wanted? Photos were pre-printed and on display. They are all digitized, so you MIGHT be able to ask for customized prints in sizes and formats you want.

 

I notice in a picture on the Royal that there are only 2 dispensers in the showers. Which 2 things are they? shower Gel and Shampoo/Conditioner

 

In the States when you buy any drink card on Embarkation day, you are charged a local sales tax - on top of the 15%. Do they do that in Venice? Pre-purchased my DW's drink package so can't answer that. I don't THINK theres a local tax charged while in Venice.

 

I also saw a picture (not sure which ship) that they have Power Hours (like Happy Hour) and the drinks are $3.99 each (from 2-4pm and 10p - 12a) Is this available on the Regal?

I didn't see anything about any Power Hours on this cruise

 

Thank you!

 

Hope this helps

[Av8tor]

Hi! When you have time for questions....Does the Regal do the same kind of afternoon teas in a MDR as do the other Princess ships? Also for excursions...Do you know if cruisers who did the Princess excursions got of the ship any easier/faster than those getting off on their own or for non-Princess excursions? Welcome home and thanks for a wonderful review!

 

See post #201

[cruzrbachoua]

Sorry it took so long to answer, but...

 

Yes they did have a Murder Mystery function in the Princess Live Studio. We didn't attend, so I can't give details and there wasn't a description in the Patter or the web schedule. I HEARD that the CD staff plays the various roles and the audience tries to figure out who done it

 

Oh that is neat. Great thank you and don't worry about the wait....you were enjoying your cruise...whcih you should.

[Moksha22]

Sit-down breakfast is available to order from a menu in one dining room each morning, I think the hours are about 7-9am ish. The horizon Court is also available for a buffet type breakfast from around 6-10 am. They have a wide selection of items that changes daily. Omelets and eggs to order are available in addition to the buffet items. Scrambled eggs, bacon, fruits, cereal, breads and pastries are always on the buffet plus regional specialties. Room service also is available for breakfast, and even though the pre-printed RS menu card only lists "continental" style items, if you write in an omelet or egg entrée, they will usually provide it! Room service breakfast is not available on turn-over port days.

 

Never bought a soda so I can't say what the price was. My Canadian Club and 7-up cocktails were about $7.45 each plus the 15% gratuity IF they charged the .50 for the mixer, otherwise they were $6.95. Other drink prices varied depending on the drink and quality of the alcohol. Wines by the glass ran anywhere from about $6 to $10+. If you pay the corkage fee, ANY dining venue should provide glasses and pour the wine you carried on board.

 

On Regal, you could get specialty coffee at IC, Princess Live Café, Horizon Bistro and I believe a few other various places including most dining venues. "Normal" brewed coffee should also be available at all those places. IC is 24/7, the others had differing hours and should all be open for meal times (except Princess Live Café which didn't seem to have a firmly set schedule).

 

Thanks very much for this info. Sure helps

[PathfinderEss]

Enjoying your live thread Av8tor, thanks for all the information.

[Av8tor]

Finally getting around to posting some photos:

 

Piazza aft starboard staircase

 

Piazza forward stairs and balconies for Bellinis and Seafood Bar

 

Piazza waterfall lighting by circular stairs

 

Regal's bow alongside Katakolon

[Av8tor]

Aft Pool - Note shower enclosure and wet deck surrounding pool

 

Lounge chairs on port side of aft pool

 

Port stairs to aft pool

 

Starboard stairs to aft pool