Two-time Carnival Cruiser Headed Out on Regal Princess

[TexasRon]

What good/bad things should I expect as differences between the lines?

 

We've enjoyed both of our Carnival cruises (Dream and Victory) but we want to try a different line next time. There was nothing "wrong" with Carnival--we enjoyed both cruises even with missed ports and some confusion, they were GREAT vacations!!

 

We're doing a mini-Suite on the Regal Princess in November of 2014 and I am already working on the planning.

 

So, Princess people, tell us what a couple of 50-somethings will see as differences (good and bad) from Carnival. We do enjoy piano bars--each night we spent some time there--and the casino. I do book our excursions outside of what the cruise line offers.

[skynight]

What good/bad things should I expect as differences between the lines?

 

We've enjoyed both of our Carnival cruises (Dream and Victory) but we want to try a different line next time. There was nothing "wrong" with Carnival--we enjoyed both cruises even with missed ports and some confusion, they were GREAT vacations!!

 

We're doing a mini-Suite on the Regal Princess in November of 2014 and I am already working on the planning.

 

So, Princess people, tell us what a couple of 50-somethings will see as differences (good and bad) from Carnival. We do enjoy piano bars--each night we spent some time there--and the casino. I do book our excursions outside of what the cruise line offers.

 

Read over the current "Live from the Royal Princess" postings. This will give you an idea of what to expect on the Regal a sister ship. I personally would avoid a mid ship upper 3 or 4 decks mini suite under the skywalk. Also, if you select your cabin and like it ask your TA to put a "no upgrade" on it, otherwise you may be upgraded to higher cat., but in a location you don't like. FYI, The Royal does not have a passenger use center staircase. Current deck plans for the Regal show the same.

[TexasRon]

Read over the current "Live from the Royal Princess" postings. This will give you an idea of what to expect on the Regal a sister ship.

 

Great advice...I have been reading here every day about the Royal Princess and I will continue to do so as it sails this year and also in the threads sure to follow about the Regal Princess reaching the same point in her life next year...

 

 

I personally would avoid a mid ship upper 3 or 4 decks mini suite under the skywalk. Also, if you select your cabin and like it ask your TA to put a "no upgrade" on it, otherwise you may be upgraded to higher cat., but in a location you don't like. FYI, The Royal does not have a passenger use center staircase. Current deck plans for the Regal show the same.

 

The folks I used to book pointed out the "no upgrade" thing due to the fact that upgrades aren't always necessarily upgrades as normal folks would see them. This seems even more true given the access issued in the mid-ship area with no staircase. Not a "deal killer"; just an inconvenience, so we'll stay forward with no upgrades...

[lfk60]

We have cruised on Carnival and Princess, as well as others. We are also in our early 50's. While we have never had a bad cruise on any of the lines, Princess has become our favorite. For us, the decor is more appealing, calmer I guess, and very classy. Time spent by the pool is fun, but a bit scaled back on some of the regular Carnival features, i.e., no hairy chest competition..lol.

 

Specialty restaurants are excellent on Princess, and less expensive! We just paid $35 pp for the steakhouse on the Dream, which included one app, one salad/soup, one entree and one dessert. It was fantastic, but on Princess, it is $25 pp and you can order whatever and however many of each you'd like! Not to say that we left hungry on the Dream, absolutely not!! But it's nice to have the option to 'share' an order of lobster tails with your other entree for no additional charge. :)

 

Princess generally has a great piano bar venue to enjoy, as well as many other areas to grab a drink and relax. We've always had a great time in their casinos as well, great casino hosts to make your 'contributions' a bit more palatable. ;)

 

For us, we also find the Princess rooms better appointed than Carnival. Suite amenities can't be beat!! We are in a mini suite on the Royal, and while there have been complaints of balcony size, we went with one of the larger balconies under the Seawalk. Not really worried about exposure, since our balcony on the Dream could be seen from all on the Promenade, but we found that folks on vacation aren't really wasting their time staring into other balconies!

 

All in all, a cruise is what you make of it, and Princess definitely gives you the tools to have a great one!

 

Have a fantastic time!!

[caribill]

For us, we also find the Princess rooms better appointed than Carnival. Suite amenities can't be beat!! We are in a mini suite on the Royal, and while there have been complaints of balcony size, we went with one of the larger balconies under the Seawalk.

 

Since this is a first Princess cruise for the OP, he/she needs to be aware that suite amenities do not apply to mini-suites, only to full suites.

[sassyredhat]

We have sailed both. We are in our late 60's, and we have decided PCL is a good fit for us.

We are lo-key cruisers, so hairy chest contests etc are not for us. PCL seems more "sedate", and exactly what the others have said.

We are tired of the loud or drunk 30 somethings--no flaming please. I know every line has some.

We do like CCL's cabins, beds, and the food wasn't bad. PCL is just 'more'. Also, the International Café is our favorite place, but I'm not sure if Regal has one.

I think you will be very pleased with PCL.

Pat

[TexasRon]

Since this is a first Princess cruise for the OP, he/she needs to be aware that suite amenities do not apply to mini-suites, only to full suites.

 

That was something we did notice but the amenities weren't worth the upgrade to a full suite for us. Everyone has to make their own choices...

[Pam in CA]

We do like CCL's cabins, beds, and the food wasn't bad. PCL is just 'more'. Also, the International Café is our favorite place, but I'm not sure if Regal has one.

The Regal, like the Royal and most other Princess ships by now, will have the new pillowtop mattresses that are very comfortable. The Regal will most definitely have an IC.

[Cruisin' Chick]

A lot less PA announcements on Princess ships (some cruise directors will leave you alone more than others), aside from the noon one "from the bridge," the muster drill one, and any from the captain and his staff about any ports that need to be skipped or sick passengers needing blood.

 

Each cabin, no matter the category, has a mini-fridge (our last cruise on Carnival was in 2002, and we never had a fridge on any of our six cruises with them).

[Julia’s Journey’s]

We have sailed both. We are in our late 60's, and we have decided PCL is a good fit for us.

We are lo-key cruisers, so hairy chest contests etc are not for us. PCL seems more "sedate", and exactly what the others have said.

We are tired of the loud or drunk 30 somethings--no flaming please. I know every line has some.

We do like CCL's cabins, beds, and the food wasn't bad. PCL is just 'more'. Also, the International Café is our favorite place, but I'm not sure if Regal has one.

I think you will be very pleased with PCL.

Pat

 

This put me off cruising CCL for the last 8+ years until last month when I did a Med cruise for DD's HS graduation and never experienced this.

I found the shower on CCL much bigger than PCL and the cabin bigger too.

Enjoyed the towel animals for a change too :)

CCL had 2 coffee bars with cakes and dessert like the International cafe but with a small charge.

The pizza on CCL was the best I have eaten in the last 20 years since living in the US - way better than Alfredo's - of course this is my opinion:D

The decor on CCL (Legend) was TACKY to me but after a day or two of a port intensive itinerary I stopped even noticing.

 

Enjoy PCL:)