"LIVE" from Regal Princess - October 24, 2023

[rwest898]

I enjoyed your review! This was the first review I have read of yours. When will the next one be? 

[Radio]

1 hour ago, rwest898 said:

I enjoyed your review! This was the first review I have read of yours. When will the next one be? 

Thanks for the nice comments. I think I will be sailing again in February '24, but I'm not sure of the ship and sail date.

 

Radio

[beshears]

Yes, it may have been Glen Campbell or one of the others that sang Galveston.

 

Radio, once again for filling me in on my question of miniature golf, or put put. It sounds like I will be a little disappointed, as I have always enjoyed doing miniature golf on the cruise ships.

[rcprncss]

Thank you for the live review.  I enjoyed learning about the ship. 

[Radio]

Hello everyone and good evening. Welcome to the Final Episode of “LIVE” from Regal Princess.

When we last spoke, I was getting off the ship around 10am Sunday morning (Nov 5). Debarkation was painless, and I waited in a short line while on the ship and once I made it to the gangway, things went very quickly. As I made it down into Terminal 2, the process was very smooth. The CBP Agent just looked at my Passport and waived me through the line.

 

I then went outside and there were about 40 buses for excursions and airport transfers. InterCruises, (The port shoreside service team) did not have enough manpower to staff the debarkation process, excursion operations, and transfer operations. Passengers were confused about where to go, what bus to get in, where the excursion buses were, and what airport each bus went to. I blame this on the port facility, As it kind of left a bad taste in the mouths of passengers who just returned from a great 12-night cruise.

 

The bus took about 2 hours to get to IAH (George Bush Intercontinental Airport) My GPS suggested that it should have taken about 1.5 hrs., but traffic and a couple of wrong turns held things up a bit. The broken air conditioner on the bus didn’t help things much.

My hotel was right on the IAH grounds, so it was nice to just walk down one level and take the subway about 400ft to the hotel. I stayed at the Airport Marriott which was a very enjoyable stay. I loved the service and accommodations. This was a corporate-owned hotel, and it was easy to tell that it was not a franchise property.

It was nice to get to my room and “watch news for a bit” before dinner. They offered a very nice restaurant and M Club at this location. I had a good sleep and woke up on Monday to relax before my flight home at 6pm.

 

I really like the Airport, and was surprised to see that there are several NASA stores inside Terminal C (I’m sure there were many others), and I was able to pick up another NASA cap. The flight home took about 2.5 hours, and I woke up suddenly as we landed at BWI around 10pm.

 

I arrived home last night at around 11PM, and as I am happy to sail any Cruise Ship, I must remember the lyrics of a song I used to know from the 70’s Rock Band, Grateful Dead “What a long, strange trip it’s been.”

“Long” meaning that I am not usually away for 15 nights straight, and “Strange”, because I usually never take a repositioning Cruise, and never take a connecting flight (I hate to fly), I also loved the weather and hated the weather. That might not make sense to most readers, but the weather was very, very good, or very, very bad.

 

My memory of my sailing must include that I really loved the ship, the service, the food, and the itinerary. There were a few things off, but certainly not things that I would rant about or complain about. (Sometimes it wasn’t easy to get from point A to point B without having to go to point C first)

I will post more pics and vids in the coming days after I edit some pics from the “Radio cutting room floor.”

 

Thanks for all the supporting comments, and discussions. Of course, it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t end the post with a comment. “Thanks for tuning in”

 

Radio

 

 

 

Ok, it's time to go. . .

 

 

 

 

A lot of luggage in the Terminal

 

 

 

 

The passport process was quick, and it was time to leave Terminal 2

 

 

 

 

 

Terminal signage

 

 

 

 

Now I have to get on the bus

 

 

 

 

I arrived at the Airport 2 hours late

 

 

 

 

I loved the Airport Marriott Hotel

 

 

 

 

This was an unusual design

 

 

 

 

My view of IAH from my room

 

 

 

 

 

The airport had Sky Trains to take you to different Terminals.

 

 

 

 

 

NASA shops at IAH

 

 

 

 

My plane is ready

 

 

 

 

Ok, it's almost time to go.

 

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Edited November 8, 2023 by Radio

[Radio]

Regal Princess Arrives in Galveston, Texas, for Inaugural Season.

©2023, Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd

 

Radio

 

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[sunscreen]

On 10/21/2023 at 9:37 AM, Fortunate 2 travel said:

We had a fantastic time on the beautiful Regal Princess this past summer.  British Isle cruise.  She is a beautiful ship.  Have a fantastic time!!

 

[sunscreen]

Was thinking about booking for April 2025 the British Isles from Ft Lauderdale.   Can you tell me if I should book an aft balcony due to weather or stick with traditional mid section balcony?    I heard that because its cooler your better to book aft but wasnt sure.  Any advice appreciated.    Tks

[Radio]

1 hour ago, sunscreen said:

Was thinking about booking for April 2025 the British Isles from Ft Lauderdale.   Can you tell me if I should book an aft balcony due to weather or stick with traditional mid section balcony?    I heard that because its cooler your better to book aft but wasnt sure.  Any advice appreciated.    Tks

Passengers like the view from the Aft Balcony, but it may be too long of a walk to your cabin from the elevator for some. I had a portside balcony near the AFT elevators on Dolphin Deck 9.

 

Radio

[plastx]

We sailed on the Regal's Transatlantic voyage last month. Some good advice for TA sailings we got was to get a cabin that faces south as you will get the most sunlight. Sailing east you would want the starboard side. 

[BohJang]

I just found this review and read the whole thing in one sitting.  We are boarding the Regal Princess on 11/19 for Thanksgiving and my birthday.  The ship looks beautiful and the food pics are making me hungry.  Thanks for a wonderful preview of my upcoming cruise.

[beshears]

Hopefully one of you or Radio might know the answer to my question. I didn't think anything about it, until I believe someone mentioned or maybe I seen a picture, of the champagne tower/fountain. When I read or seen that, it took my mind waaaaaaaaaaaaay back as I remember doing it (not drinking), or pouring the champagne in the glasses. Since I have MANY photo albums, I thought I would look and see if I could find my pictures, still not knowing what year I had done it. To make the long story short, I did find my pictures of me pouring the champagne into the glasses, and it was 23 years ago. My time DOES fly by. 🙂

[fun_one]

Radio,

We sail Sunday - can't wait!  I was having trouble finding a complete list of the casual dining options.  I know they have Alfredo's and Vines but do they have O'Malley's , Planks, or the Salty Dog Pub?  Thank you in advance for your information.

 

[Dreamscaper]

2 minutes ago, fun_one said:

Radio,

We sail Sunday - can't wait!  I was having trouble finding a complete list of the casual dining options.  I know they have Alfredo's and Vines but do they have O'Malley's , Planks, or the Salty Dog Pub?  Thank you in advance for your information.

 

I know you asked Radio, but I just saw this and I'm here so...

 

Casual dining options are Alfredo's, Vines and Ocean Terrace (sushi).  The others you mention aren't on the Regal.

[fun_one]

Thank you!

[lhsail]

11 minutes ago, fun_one said:

Thank you!

We were on the last cruise. Loved Alfredo’s.  We tried sushi one day. Met others that had a good experience. Our service was very slow and tuna was extremely fishy tasting. Might be best early in the cruise. We left and went to Alfredo’s. 

[Radio]

21 hours ago, fun_one said:

Radio,

We sail Sunday - can't wait!  I was having trouble finding a complete list of the casual dining options.  I know they have Alfredo's and Vines but do they have O'Malley's , Planks, or the Salty Dog Pub?  Thank you in advance for your information.

 

There is no O'Malley's, Planks, or Salty Dog. The newer Royal Class ships will have those.

Radio 

[Radio]

Seascape plays for us before the Captain comes out for the Elite gathering in the Vista Lounge.

 

Radio

 

 

 

 

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Edited November 11, 2023 by Radio

[Radio]

Port Puerta Maya, Cozumel was very crowded, with Regal Princess and Carnival Glory on Friday (Nov  3, 2023)

 

Radio

 

 

 

 

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[Radio]

CD and Asst. CD go over the rules for the YES/NO show at Princess LIVE.

 

Radio

 

 

 

 

 

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[Radio]

A violinist plays so beautifully with piano accompaniment in the Wheelhouse Bar on DECK 7

Oct 31, 2023 (Tues)

Radio

 

 

 

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[Radio]

Rainy Day at Sea (Thur Oct 26, 20023)

 

Radio

 

 

 

 

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[Radio]

The Beautiful Piazza (Decks 5-6-7)

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

 

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[Radio]

My Cabin  D624 (Standard Balcony CAT BB) Portside MID AFT

 

Radio

 

 

 

 The storage area was very spacious

 

 

 

 

There is no sofa in a STD Balcony Cabin

 

 

 

 

 

The bed was very comfortable

 

 

 

 

 

The desk area is a perfect place for the "Radio Press Room"

 

 

 

 

 

The US and EU plugs were on each side of the desk.

 

 

 

 

 

The phone was handy for getting messages from Guest Services

 

 

 

 

 

5 drawers were available for electronic storage of socks/undershirts

 

 

 

 

 

The Table behind the desk had a mini fridge underneath

 

 

 

 

 

This cabin was a great size for me

 

 

 

 

 

I wish the shower had glass doors

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was plenty of room for me, even at 6'3"

 

 

 

 

 

Lotion and Bodywash were very nice

 

 

 

 

 

The water pressure was fantastic

 

 

 

 

 

Even the shower has body wash and shampoo

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was no obstruction when you looked out

 

 

 

 

 

The only partial obstruction was if you looked down

 

 

 

 

 

2 chairs and a table were on the balcony

 

 

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[Radio]

Regal Princess pays tribute to the  Love Boat cast, as they christened Regal Princess when she was built in 2014. The original "Love Boat" series is broadcast at all times on your Cabin TV.

 

Radio

 

 

 

 Love Boat Cast in 2014 during the Christening of Regal Princess

 

 

 

 

Love Boat Display on DECK 5 near Guest Services

 

 

 

 

Original Love Boat Cast

 

 

 

 

Love Boat reminders up on Deck 17 above the Pool Deck

 

 

 

 

The Original Love Boat was MS Pacific Princess in 1977

 

 

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Edited November 12, 2023 by Radio