An Honest Review on Our First Experience with Princess Regal

Our First Experience on Princess Cruises: An Honest Review

Embarking on our first Princess Cruise was an exciting adventure. We chose a 6-day voyage on the Regal Princess, visiting Costa Maya, Belize City, and Cozumel. With so many cruise lines to choose from, we were eager to see how Princess Cruises compared. Here’s our honest review of the experience, covering everything from the ship itself to the service and destinations.

Embarkation & Luggage Delivery – ⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.8 stars)

Embarkation went relatively smoothly, though we hadn't reserved parking ahead of time, so we had to park in Lot B and take a shuttle to the port terminal. Thankfully, the shuttle driver was courteous, and the process was painless. Upon arrival, we dropped off our luggage and proceeded to check-in. The line looked long but moved quickly, and we were pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of passengers, including families, younger couples, and a majority of travelers aged 55 and up.

The Medallion expedited our check-in, allowing us to board smoothly. However, we were immediately greeted by Princess employees pushing upgrades on the Princess Plus package, which we had already purchased. This felt a bit unnecessary and repetitive. Once aboard, the ship impressed us with its elegant and regal design. We also learned that our beverage package started immediately, so we took a friend's advice and headed to Good Spirits on Deck 5 to meet Marc Anthony, a bartender who quickly became a highlight of our cruise. Our luggage was delivered to our cabin by 4:00 PM.

Ship & Atmosphere – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)

The Regal Princess is an elegant, mid-sized ship that offers a more intimate cruising experience compared to mega-ships. We loved the sophisticated design, easy-to-navigate layout, and peaceful ambiance. The ship never felt overly crowded, which made for a relaxing experience. From the stunning central Piazza to the inviting lounges and pools, every space was thoughtfully designed.

Stateroom & Cabin Steward – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)

Our balcony cabin was a standard size, but the beds were incredibly comfortable, allowing for restful sleep. There was ample storage space under the bed, along with a good-sized closet and shelves for shoes and hanging clothes. As expected, the bathroom was compact, but it worked fine for the two of us.

Since we worked for several hours each morning, our cabin steward had to wait to tidy up our room. However, he was very attentive and came frequently when we were away. He always left the Princess Patter (the daily schedule) on our bed and returned before we turned in for the night to provide fresh towels and turn down the bed. His service was exceptional and made a great impression.

Main Dining – ⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.5 stars)

If you purchase the Princess Plus package, meals in the main dining rooms are included. We highly recommend Alfredo’s Pizzeria on Deck 6—it exceeded our expectations, and we ate there multiple times.

Unfortunately, our experience in the main dining areas, Allegro and Symphony, was disappointing. Even though these are considered "anytime dining," reservations were required weeks in advance. If you didn’t book early, your only option was dining after 8:40 PM or no reservations at all. The app, which manages reservations, had glitches, and the menu displayed there didn’t always match what was actually being served. The food was warm at best, and even the bread—something hard to mess up—was consistently dry and dense. While the servers were kind and attentive, the overall experience was underwhelming.

On the other hand, we enjoyed other dining options like Horizon Court, the Horizon Bistro buffet on Deck 16, the grills outside, and the International Café.

Specialty Dining – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)

We didn’t make dinner reservations before departure and missed out on the steakhouse, but we did secure a spot at Sabatini’s, the Italian specialty restaurant. We thought Alfredo’s Pizza was going to steal the show, but Sabatini’s left us pleasantly surprised and stuffed! The five-course meal was outstanding, and at $43 per person (excluding wine), it was well worth it. Service was exceptional—true to Princess’s reputation. Next time, we’ll make reservations earlier so we can dine there more than once!

Drinks, Bars & Desserts – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)

With the Princess Plus package, you get two premium desserts daily, but it wasn’t clear where to find them. We later discovered they were available at the Gelato Stand.

The ship offers many bars, but we didn’t explore them all because we became loyal to Good Spirits. The bartenders there were phenomenal, making every drink an experience. They took the time to learn our preferences and crafted cocktails we wouldn’t have thought to order. Their hospitality truly made our cruise memorable. We won’t sail on the Regal Princess again unless these bartenders are on board!

Medallion Perks – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)

At first, we didn’t understand the hype around the Medallion, but we quickly appreciated its perks. Since we ordered ours before departure, check-in was a breeze. Most passengers wore theirs on lanyards, but we opted for watch straps.

The Medallion automatically unlocked our stateroom door as we approached, and it allowed us to order food and drinks via the app. Crew members could locate us and deliver our order wherever we were, whether on the pool deck or in our cabin. It was also used for casino transactions, making everything seamless.

Entertainment & Activities – ⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.9 stars)

The Regal Princess offers diverse entertainment, from Broadway-style performances to comedians and magicians. The Princess Theater is smaller than those on Carnival or Royal Caribbean ships, but the shows were enjoyable. The Vista Lounge, which hosted comedy acts, was in the aft of the ship, where movement was more noticeable.

The casino had a wide selection of slots and table games, with nightly events. The app was useful for finding entertainment options and navigating the ship.

Spa – ⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars)

Our spa experience wasn’t the best. Although, the spa was beautiful, relaxing and spacious we didn’t feel we got our money’s worth. We booked a seaweed massage on a heated water bed. While relaxing, it felt overpriced and the heater water bed did not work as it was described to us. Additionally, an automatic $50 gratuity was added to our bill. We were excited to take advantage of The Enclave Spa as we were allowed the flexibility to come and go as our schedule permitted it. The Enclave spa area was beautiful but often overcrowded, making it difficult to use amenities like the jacuzzi and heated loungers.

Shore Excursions – ⭐⭐ (2 stars)

While our tour guides in Belize and Costa Maya were great, the shore excursions lacked key details in their descriptions. Late arrivals also shortened our time at some destinations. However, we appreciated the refreshing towels and cold drinks Princess provided upon returning to the ship.

Disembarkation – ⭐⭐ (2 stars)

As Elite members, we had priority disembarkation, but it still felt chaotic. Public areas were overcrowded, making it difficult to maneuver with luggage. Despite this, we exited the ship and reached our car in about 30 minutes—though we were speed-walking!

Overall Ship Cleanliness & Appearance – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)

The Regal Princess was spotless and beautifully maintained. We had no complaints in this category.

Final Verdict

Our first Princess Cruise had its highs and lows. The elegant atmosphere, top-notch service, and Good Spirits bar made the trip memorable. However, dining reservations, shore excursions, and spa crowding left room for improvement. Would we cruise with Princess again? Absolutely—but with a few adjustments to our planning. One thing is for certain, we will definitely be on a Princess Ship to cruise Alaska!