Regal Princess to depart fleet

[bdjam]

I believe that we think alike. ;)

Be careful - that might get you in trouble around here ... ;)

[NSWP]

Just picked up a P&O flyer advertising Pacific Dawn (ex Regal Princess from Oct 07) pacific cruises. My word there are some changes to the old Regal: e.g. 2050 passengers up from 1590, achieved by adding 3rd and 4th berths to many lower deck cabins. 'Anytime dining' in addition to traditional set time and table in Palm Court dining room. Bravo's Trattoria and a Steakhouse, both with charges applying. Charges to apply for 24 hr room service. Charges also to apply for ice cream bar, bar snacks and patisserie. Plus of course the casino being relocated from the 'dome' top of ship to stage door tavern, lower down.

 

All these changes are apparently going to be done in 4 weeks after she arrives in Sydney on Oct 1, 2007 because early Nov 07 she is off again as Pacific Dawn doing South Pacific cruises, based in Sydney - Darling Harbour wharf 8.

 

:cool:

[AuzzieCruiser]

This is definately a step up for Australian cruising. Unfortunately here in Australia we get the 'older' ships from the Carnival fleet. Currently there are two ships in the fleet, the Pacific Sun (Ex Carnival Jubilee), and the Pacific Star (Ex Carnival Tropicale & Costa Tropicale).

As NSWP said, they will be adding 3rd and 4th berth to cabins, as most Aussies like to travel in groups. An extra 500 people will stretch the current facilities a bit I imagine. They already have delayed the first cruise due to the overhaul.:rolleyes:

A first is also balconies. Currently they are only in the suites, which is beyond most peoples reach. Even though the balconies are on the small side, it will give Australians the taste of that little bit of extra luxury.;)

I hope that Australians will appreciate her, and take care of her.

Talk is that we may receive a ship such as Sun Princess in the near future.:D

[qld cruiser]

This is definately a step up for Australian cruising. Unfortunately here in Australia we get the 'older' ships from the Carnival fleet. Currently there are two ships in the fleet, the Pacific Sun (Ex Carnival Jubilee), and the Pacific Star (Ex Carnival Tropicale & Costa Tropicale).

As NSWP said, they will be adding 3rd and 4th berth to cabins, as most Aussies like to travel in groups. An extra 500 people will stretch the current facilities a bit I imagine. They already have delayed the first cruise due to the overhaul.:rolleyes:

A first is also balconies. Currently they are only in the suites, which is beyond most peoples reach. Even though the balconies are on the small side, it will give Australians the taste of that little bit of extra luxury.;)

I hope that Australians will appreciate her, and take care of her.

Talk is that we may receive a ship such as Sun Princess in the near future.:D

 

 

Hi Aussie cruiser.....I am looking forward to the "Regal Princess" becoming "Pacific Dawn" ...husband and I cruised the inside passage Alaska , and had a lovely cruise.

I won't be using any 4 berth cabin though. I think the young ones enjoy that, also families. I enjoy the luxury of outside with balcony, but anywhere will do, as long as I am on the Ship.

I am sure we will appreciate her , she is a lovely Ship, I just hope the changes are not too drastic.. I like her as she is now.

I am personally going to miss the Pacific Princess, we have cruised on her at least once per season out here. this is her last.

kindest regards, Lorraine:) :)

[cruzisme]

I like the Regal the way it is now. We were fortunate to have a handicap cabin and it was wonderful in terms of size, closet space, drawer space.

 

Stage Door dance floor is great for dancing (in terms of size) Larger dance floor than the Sun Princess' Wheelhouse Bar dance floor.

 

Casino re-location: great idea to move from the Dome; however, where do you think they are putting the casino? Not in Stage Door I hope, as it would be a shame to lose the dance floor. Plus Stage Door is pretty small for a casino IMO. Any thoughts?

 

Sorry to lose the Regal but may it have a wonderful cruise life as the Princess Dawn.

[JLC@SD]

Here is her photo.....

 

 

at least she will not have big red lips and eyeballs like her sister.....the ex-Crown...now AIDAblu

 

[NSWP]

Yes the casino on Pacific Dawn (ex Regal) is going into the Stage Door Tavern area, according to new deck plans of the Pacific Dawn.

 

Regal does look smart though in her new colours from Oct 07. Bit of a worry though increasing pax capacity from 1590 to 2050 by extra beds in cabins. How will the dining room handle it, my limited experience on cruise ships shows they generally have capacity problems at meal times.

 

I reckon Carnival wants to make BIG BUCKS from Pacific Dawn by filling the ship to overflowing. She will operate from Wharf 8 -Darling Harbour, Sydney which has a very small passenger terminal, can hardly cope with the likes of Pacific Princess (680 pax) and Pacific Sun (1400 pax) which operate from that wharf now.

 

It's a worry.:confused:

[Zace]

We just booked cruise on the Regal for August 16, 2007, round trip Los Angles to Hawaii and back. Learned this is the next to last cruise. This will be our 3rd trip on the Regal. Sorry to see it leave the fleet

[NSWP]

ZACE, that would be right the Regal cruise of 16 Aug would be her second last, we are on the last 31 Aug LA to Sydney, 32 days.:o Going to be just about full I reckon, we just got an oceanview on Plaza Deck, Category F, no balconies left, not that I wanted one anyway.:cool:

 

Be sure to leave some beers on board for the couple of hundred Aussies who will be on her last cruise.:cool:

[Riffraff]

It's good to read so many good reports about the Regal Princess, as we're looking forward to cruising on her as Pacific Dawn. I think she's a good looking ship and is improved by the addition of the blue and yellow in the photoshop images. Hopefully it'll look that good in real life.

One other change that's being made in the refit (which I'm hoping is being done here in Brisbane at the same yard that changed Sky Princess into Pacific Sky) is the loss of the cinema :( .This is going to be used as a storage area, according to P&O. Shame - it's always better to watch the moves in a proper cinema rather than just a pull-down screen in the show lounge!

P&O have a countdown to Dawn's arrival - only 328 sleeps to go!

[cheznandy]

Yes rifraff, I agree, I love the "real" cinema!!

 

I hope they are leaving the pool bar as is, oh and the spas on Aloha Deck, we booked on Aloha deck for the Tahiti cruise in 2008 so we had close access to this wonderful back deck!!!

 

Can't wait!!

 

Cheryl

[Dortmunder]

Thanks for posting the picure of the new look. It's interesting.

I have some fantastic memories of the Regal Princess. Sad to see her go...

[cheznandy]

dortmunder or any one else who has sailed on Regal Princess,

 

Would love to hear your experiences, great places to relax, best cabins and all that stuff!! Might help us Aussies get acquainted with her!!

 

We are sad you are losing her but excited to have a great ship to sail on!!

 

Cheryl

[marinearchit]

Don't know if this was mentioned already.

Actually, Regal Princess is now being transfered to P&O Australia as their new Pacific Dawn. P&O Australia is already booking cruises for her. Heres a site about the transfer. http://www.e-cruiseworld.com/pacificdawn.htm

 

And heres P&O Australia's site.

http://www.pocruises.com.au/html/

 

And the AidaBlu (ex-Crown Princess) is the new Ocean Village Two.

http://www.oceanvillageholidays.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=879

[cheznandy]

Thanks marinearchit! I have already booked her as Pacific Dawn for a 28 day tahiti cruise from Sydney June 2008.

Just thought it would be nice to hear some other cruisers experiences on her!!

 

Cheryl

[NSWP]

People, have a read of my earlier posts where I described the changes to Regal Princess on becoming Pacific Dawn.

Do not worry friends, I shall report on the last cruise of the 'REGAL, when I return on 1 Oct 07.!!:cool:

[marinearchit]

Thats some good info on her design changes. I wouldn't be suprised if the dome becomes a restaurant. Dome Buffet? (There are 400 more passengers.)

 

I wonder what the dome was origionaly meant to be. (Before Princess bought the incomplete ships.)