Sailing on the Regal Princess for the First Time. Any Advise or Recommendations?

Hi Everyone,

We're excited to be sailing on the Regal Princess for the first time this weekend. It's our first time on a Royal class ship.

Any recommendations on regarding not to miss venues or activities? What's your favorite place for embarkation day lunch? How do we find it?

What's special about the Regal Princess, as opposed to the older ships we've sailed on (Ruby, Sun, Dawn, Sea, Golden and Grand?)

Thanks in advance for any input!:)

Our favorite place for lunch on embarkation day is Alfredos, a casual Italian bistro type restaurant on Deck 6 midship in piazza area.

They have salads, pizza and a few other specialties. I love the veal ravioli and the eggplant. Good tiramisu too.

While we love the buffet on the Regal it can be hectic on embarkation day. If you don't feel like going to the dining room for dinner here and there try the dinner buffet on the Regal, it is excellent

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Hi Everyone,

 

We're excited to be sailing on the Regal Princess for the first time this weekend. It's our first time on a Royal class ship.

 

Any recommendations on regarding not to miss venues or activities? What's your favorite place for embarkation day lunch? How do we find it?

 

What's special about the Regal Princess, as opposed to the older ships we've sailed on (Ruby, Sun, Dawn, Sea, Golden and Grand?)

 

Thanks in advance for any input!:)

We like Alfredo's for lunch, not just on embarkation day, but any day. The International cafe is also a nice place. The Regal has an extensive buffet.

The Regal is different from other Sun and Grand Class ships you have been on. Some nice things, some not as nice. For example, no truly walkable promenade like other ships. The horizon Terrace is a nice place to sit, have your buffet meal, or just have tea or coffee. It could be cool there on your voyage. Many of the ship's parties take place in the Piazza area. The ship does not have any lounge large enough to hold parties.

We will be on our first Princess cruise next month on the Regal. In addition to Alfredo's we will also try to get the Winemaker's Table. It is a $40 pp specialty meal with wine and I think they are only on the Royal class ships.

Enjoy your cruise :D

Alfredo's is great for lunch but be aware that most crew will try to direct you to the buffet. As soon as we stepped on board a crew member was telling us to come this way to the buffet. I imagine they've been told that most will want to go to the buffet so they're trying to be helpful. Just ignore them and head to Alfredo's.

Is the main dining room open on embarkation day? Where is it located?

Hi Everyone,

 

 

 

We're excited to be sailing on the Regal Princess for the first time this weekend. It's our first time on a Royal class ship.

 

 

 

Any recommendations on regarding not to miss venues or activities? What's your favorite place for embarkation day lunch? How do we find it?

 

 

 

What's special about the Regal Princess, as opposed to the older ships we've sailed on (Ruby, Sun, Dawn, Sea, Golden and Grand?)

 

 

 

Thanks in advance for any input!:)

Can't give any advice regarding The Regal but we sailed on The Royal this year and the two ships are identical I believe. We loved to eat at the international cafe when we boarded It was interesting watching everyone as it was our first cruise. Stunning ship and i'm sure The Regal is too

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Can't give any advice regarding The Regal but we sailed on The Royal this year and the two ships are identical I believe. We loved to eat at the international cafe when we boarded It was interesting watching everyone as it was our first cruise. Stunning ship and i'm sure The Regal is too

 

 

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We are beyond excited for this cruise! Just hoping Hurricane Jose doesn't mess with us.

You've gotten some great advice so far. We went straight to Alfredo's on our cruise on the Regal and had a fantastic lunch and there were only 3 other couples there so no fighting the crowd at the buffet. The buffet is outstanding and we ended up eating many of our dinners there. Loved the variety and the theme nights in the buffet.

If you have a balcony, try the UBD (Ultimate Balcony Dining) that is $100 ($50 pp). Well worth it and a lot of food. We found the lobster to be much better than what you get in the MDR.

If you like trivia and games, check out Princess Live! on the Regal. In previous cruises, we never really went to events like these but we have a great time with the events held in Princess Live!

Enjoy your trip on the Regal. One of the best cruises we've had was on her.

Is the main dining room open on embarkation day? Where is it located?

Yes, one of the dining rooms at midship will be open from noon to 1:30. Just check one. If it's not open the other will be.

The MDR lunch is always a nice calm way to start your cruise. But I tend to agree with most here and go for Alfredo's. That's because its more relaxing than the buffet and not as long a process as the full dining room lunch. It lets you eat a nice meal and still get out in maybe 45 minutes to explore the ship if you want.

One little feature I liked about the Regal and Royal was the walking/jogging track up on Deck 18. There are a number of odd low-tech exercise contraptions scattered around and, at least on warm days, they often have a water station and a little fruit-on-a-stick stop you can partake in as you circle the track.

Jim

We are beyond excited for this cruise! Just hoping Hurricane Jose doesn't mess with us.

Have a wonderful trip!

No one has yet mentioned the passenger photo gallery. (On the Royal and Regal, not sure about Majestic) One of my favorite things to do was to do a full walk around all the cabin decks admiring each photo. Amazing!

Our favorite place for lunch on embarkation day is Alfredos, a casual Italian bistro type restaurant on Deck 6 midship in piazza area.

They have salads, pizza and a few other specialties. I love the veal ravioli and the eggplant. Good tiramisu too.

 

While we love the buffet on the Regal it can be hectic on embarkation day. If you don't feel like going to the dining room for dinner here and there try the dinner buffet on the Regal, it is excellent

 

 

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Alfredos sounds yummy. Where do we find it, since it appears the staff will be trying to send us to the buffet?

BTW, what's special about Regal's buffet? We're not usually a fan of buffets, but will give it a try if there's something special about it.

You've gotten some great advice so far. We went straight to Alfredo's on our cruise on the Regal and had a fantastic lunch and there were only 3 other couples there so no fighting the crowd at the buffet. The buffet is outstanding and we ended up eating many of our dinners there. Loved the variety and the theme nights in the buffet.

 

If you have a balcony, try the UBD (Ultimate Balcony Dining) that is $100 ($50 pp). Well worth it and a lot of food. We found the lobster to be much better than what you get in the MDR.

 

If you like trivia and games, check out Princess Live! on the Regal. In previous cruises, we never really went to events like these but we have a great time with the events held in Princess Live!

 

Enjoy your trip on the Regal. One of the best cruises we've had was on her.

Thanks, we're really looking forward to it! Due to my job, I have to wait til the last minute to book, and Princess is usually sold out on the itineraries we want. We feel really lucky to have gotten a cabin on this sailing.

Have a wonderful trip!

Thanks for the good wishes!

Yes, one of the dining rooms at midship will be open from noon to 1:30. Just check one. If it's not open the other will be.

 

The MDR lunch is always a nice calm way to start your cruise. But I tend to agree with most here and go for Alfredo's. That's because its more relaxing than the buffet and not as long a process as the full dining room lunch. It lets you eat a nice meal and still get out in maybe 45 minutes to explore the ship if you want.

 

One little feature I liked about the Regal and Royal was the walking/jogging track up on Deck 18. There are a number of odd low-tech exercise contraptions scattered around and, at least on warm days, they often have a water station and a little fruit-on-a-stick stop you can partake in as you circle the track.

 

Jim

Sounds like we'll have lots of good options to choose from! Thanks for the information.

Please let me know how it was and what you like and dislike as our first cruise on Princess will be aboard the Regal in Feb. we are going on only our second cruise overall to the Western Carib. Have a great time!

BTW, what's special about Regal's buffet? We're not usually a fan of buffets, but will give it a try if there's something special about it.

Regal/Royal buffet is so much bigger than other ships' buffets, and offers a lot more fancy choices. Plus, Chocolate Journey desserts are also available at the buffet. And once day they even had sushi - it was an Asian/Japanese themed lunch. Terrific!

I usually go for all the seafood choices.

Alfredo's is right in the middle of the ship in Piazza. It's a specialty restaurant, and we always thought we had to pay, so we never tried it. We will this time!

Alfredos sounds yummy. Where do we find it, since it appears the staff will be trying to send us to the buffet?

On deck 6, midship.