Regal Princess 2023/12/27 - 2024/01/07. Finished my cruise and I have thoughts

[KKB]

@starvenger Thanks for your thorough review.

We are on the Regal for 28 days in April.

We have done 12 or so Princess cruises (out of 40 total cruises) over 20 years.

Overall I'd say your review is spot on.

 

One note--sailed Ruby Princess out of Galveston in March & it was the fastest embarkation every! 

So go figure.

 

Glad to hear the beef is good--it does look odd to a Nebraska gal. 

But now that u mention they probably sous vie it, I'll try.

I usually have fish or seafood & am very pleased.

Pork seems to be a real issue. Aunt tried it on Discovery in Sept '22 & found it poor both in buffet & MDR. Luckily I'm not one to order it but I do advise others to avoid (will note the duck & possibly striploin as well!)

Yep, shows are "meh" & entertainment staff is fantastic (as are their events) on all our Princess ships.

Fortuna is an odd character--I get it for the dealing of the casino game, but her needing to be in costume all week?

[starvenger]

2 hours ago, KKB said:

Glad to hear the beef is good--it does look odd to a Nebraska gal. 

But now that u mention they probably sous vie it, I'll try.

I hope it doesn't disappoint after I've built it up!

 

[KKB]

4 minutes ago, starvenger said:

I hope it doesn't disappoint after I've built it up!

 

No worries—I get better seafood on a cruise than at home. 
I never expect the same with beef—and luckily I’m occasionally surprised.

Edited January 11 by KKB

[starvenger]

Just for completeness sake I'm going to list the "excursions" that we did on the cruise. I did not include them originally since these were not booked through Princess (I never book through the cruise line outside of excursions where the Cozumel ferry is in play), and will eventually (or not) write more detailed reviews in the relevant Ports of Call forums:

 

- Shuttle to Galveston: Galveston Shuttle & Limo (previously mentioned)

- Montego Bay: rained out - we were going to go to Doctor's Cove)

- Grand Cayman: Canceled - Stingrays with Rowan Watersports (got a refund - easy to reach via WhatsApp)

- Belize: Private Alton Ha tour with King David Tours (Very good tour)

- Roatan: Transport to West Bay Beach with Roatan Webster Tours (they took us to Fosters resort, which is expensive for food and drink (cocktails cost more than on the ship). I would recommend asking them to take you to just about any other day resort there)

- Costa Maya: Taxi to Krazy Lobster ($4pp each way, great time at Krazy Lobster)

- Cozumel: Private Island tour via Tours Plaza (went to San Gervasio ruins, the far side of the island, and Punta Sur)

 

Overall I think we enjoyed ourselves. I could have done better booking in Roatan but that was a pivot after we got booted out of Mahogany Bay.

Edited January 11 by starvenger

[rebeccalouiseagain]

Thank you for your review.  I love Regal.  I only ate at the buffet, Alfredos, or the Crown Grill.  I avoid the MDR on Regal because I've found it slow, noisy, and the food meh.  So I just don't bother with it.  I loved the buffet- namely the Indian food.  All the meats at that station were so tender and flavorful.  I also really liked the intimacy and attention to detail at the Crown Grill.  I didn't really care for Sabitini's on other Regal cruises- so didn't go there.  As for the desserts- they weren't good IMO but I don't need the extra calories.  I tried "Swirls" the first day and it's not really soft serve "ice cream".  I'm not sure what it is- but it tasted weird.  

[GonzoWCS]

Thanks for this review!

 

Cheers

[starvenger]

On 5/3/2024 at 6:36 AM, rebeccalouiseagain said:

I tried "Swirls" the first day and it's not really soft serve "ice cream".  I'm not sure what it is- but it tasted weird.  

It's probably the same frozen dairy product you get from the ice cream truck or in a Frosty.

 

Glad you liked the review. I didn't do any specialty restaurants, but I agree with you about the MDR.

Edited May 6 by starvenger