Can you describe buffet setup on Regal?

[eandj]

Having read that people like the buffet set up on Royal and Regal, I'm wondering what is different? On the other ships we weren't thrilled and rarely used the buffet but for an occasional lunch.

[HUNKY]

Action stations, no defined line, pop in and out. More spread out.

 

Similar to the Solstice class on Celebrity, or a Vegas buffet.

[Loonbeam]

Size alone makes a huge difference. It's really just a matter of size and improved flow...

[Pam in CA]

Huge. Big, wide aisles. Chefs stationed behind every section so that everything is kept fresh and filled. Made-to-order sandwiches at lunch, a stir-fry made in front of you section, etc. At lunch, for instance, there are three different salad bars. Two or three different roasts. Many more dining room menu items available for dinner in the buffet. I could go on and on.

[dmwnc1959]

To illustrate Pam's wonderful description with some imagery, the last picture is of The Pastry Shop, which has two entries in the Horizon Bistro section of the lido deck buffet:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[satxdiver]

Nice pictures. We were on the Royal and the layout is really nice and very efficient. The larger table area is also a real plus. We loved it.

 

I never liked the small space they put the serving lines on the Grand class ships. It was way too congested. The later Grand class ships with the Cafe Caribe at the back of the HC helped some.

[dmwnc1959]

Nice pictures. We were on the Royal and the layout is really nice and very efficient. The larger table area is also a real plus. We loved it.

 

I never liked the small space they put the serving lines on the Grand class ships. It was way too congested. The later Grand class ships with the Cafe Caribe at the back of the HC helped some.

 

 

My buffet experiences in the Horizon Court on Ruby Princess were a nightmare; one entrance, one exit, and a space the size of a postage stamp. The layout of the Horizon Court and Horizon Bistro on the Royal-class is exponentially better than previous classes.

 

Here are some pictures of the seating areas on Royal Princess, Regal Princess will be identical in layout:

 

 

 

 

 

Plus, there's a nice large covered area aft of the Horizon Court outdoors with lots of seating and couches that's a great place to take your meals...

 

 

 

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

With many negative comments about the new class of ship this looks like a winner. I'm assuming the photo's apply to the Royal as well ? :)

[dmwnc1959]

With many negative comments about the new class of ship this looks like a winner. I'm assuming the photo's apply to the Royal as well ? :)

 

 

The pictures I posted above were from Royal Princess, however Regal Princess is going to be absolutely identical in its interior layout of public rooms and dining venues, as well as most of the outdoor spaces like that seating area aft of the Horizon Court, albeit there may be some minor decor differences.

 

:D

[richstowe]

Thanx for the excellent pix dmwnc1959 . The buffet area looks great, especially the outdoor area.

I love the broken up "station" version of buffets . Much better idea. Looking forward to the Regal.

[boone2]

Much better layout and we found the quality of food in the buffet far superior on the regal than on any of the grand class ships. Always found space to eat even at the busiest times a huge improvement

Terry

 

 

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[ChiefBoats]

It different from the other ships. It runs port to starboard. There are multiple sections which seems to feel less congested.

___________________________

Island Princess 2008 Alaska

Island Princess 2009 Alaska

Royal Princess (Old) 2010 Alaska

Golden Princess 2011 Alaska

Coral Princess 2012 Panama Canal

Star Princess 2012 Alaska

Crown Princess 2013 Western Caribbean

Caribbean Princess 2013 Western Caribbean

Royal Princess 2014 Eastern Caribbean

Royal Princess 2014 New England

_____________________

Future Cruises

Emerald Princess 2014 Western Caribbean

Ruby Princess 2015 Alaska

[singelsethc]

related to buffet..I found Princess had the most for me to eat. I'm vegetarian lacto-ovo and they had lots of things even small dishes like seaweed and quinoa, interesting little things like that which is part of reason why we're returning on Regal next yr.

do they still identify everything with V for folks like me, and have plenty of options there.

what's the breakfast like?

[eandj]

Thank you for all the pictures. I was having trouble picturing it with what I had read. We tend to cruise Celebrity and find the S class buffets to be great. Altho this is different, at least they are attempting to spread things out. We will report back on set up and offerings after cruising in late Jan. ;)

I presume the international cafe still has the same light choices ..like my favorite shrimp salad and the small panini sandwiches ?

[taxatty]

I presume the international cafe still has the same light choices ..like my favorite shrimp salad and the small panini sandwiches ?

Yep. I'm a big fan of the chicken salad.

[dmwnc1959]

I presume the international cafe still has the same light choices ..like my favorite shrimp salad and the small panini sandwiches ?

 

 

The International Cafe was another favorite of mine, not just for some of the new offerings, but also because it's seating capacity has doubled over previous ships.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 11, 2014 by dmwnc1959

[dmwnc1959]

International Cafe breakfast pastries

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dmwnc1959]

Maybe someone can verify the lunch offerings were the same as on Royal Princess?

 

 

International Cafe on Embarkation Day

 

 

 

[dmwnc1959]

 

 

 

 

 

[gremlinbangles]

It different from the other ships. It runs port to starboard. There are multiple sections which seems to feel less congested.

___________________________

Island Princess 2008 Alaska

Island Princess 2009 Alaska

Royal Princess (Old) 2010 Alaska

Golden Princess 2011 Alaska

Coral Princess 2012 Panama Canal

Star Princess 2012 Alaska

Crown Princess 2013 Western Caribbean

Caribbean Princess 2013 Western Caribbean

Royal Princess 2014 Eastern Caribbean

Royal Princess 2014 New England

_____________________

Future Cruises

Emerald Princess 2014 Western Caribbean

Ruby Princess 2015 Alaska

It is different but the problem I noticed was people entering from both sides causing collisions in the middle since people were going in opposite directions

[Loonbeam]

On the royal they had someone directing traffic on our cruise, so that was a minor issue after the first day or so.

 

It is different but the problem I noticed was people entering from both sides causing collisions in the middle since people were going in opposite directions

[dmwnc1959]

On the royal they had someone directing traffic on our cruise, so that was a minor issue after the first day or so.

 

 

By time I got on, the 'traffic directors' were no longer visible, or at least I never saw them.

 

The same 'collisions' took place on the Ruby Princess in the Horizon Court, the problem was that that space was so much smaller, whereas the Royal-class has those nice wide isles. I never witnessed any of the 'collisions' on Royal Princess, everyone took their time and were pretty much respectful of each other waiting turns at getting their selections.

 

:D

 

It is different but the problem I noticed was people entering from both sides causing collisions in the middle since people were going in opposite directions

Edited November 11, 2014 by dmwnc1959

[gremlinbangles]

By time I got on, the 'traffic directors' were no longer visible, or at least I never saw them.

 

The same 'collisions' took place on the Ruby Princess in the Horizon Court, the problem was that that space was so much smaller, whereas the Royal-class has those nice wide isles. I never witnessed any of the 'collisions' on Royal Princess, everyone took their time and were pretty much respectful of each other waiting turns at getting their selections.

 

:D

It was an interesting change and there were pluses and minus some can just be attributed to learning the new way.

 

It seemed like rows and rows of food spread out and if you are with others easy to get separated. Personally I was afraid my food would get cold b4 I went up and down the aisles. [emoji1]

[dmwnc1959]

It was an interesting change and there were pluses and minus some can just be attributed to learning the new way.

 

It seemed like rows and rows of food spread out and if you are with others easy to get separated. Personally I was afraid my food would get cold b4 I went up and down the aisles. [emoji1]

 

 

I remember when most of us were still learning about Royal Princess from the inaugural LIVE threads coming from the Med, and the one tip most commonly mentioned was to first establish your table, then browse the rows of food, and once you've decided on what you want, go back for those items and head back to your table. Worked pretty well. ;)

 

:D

[Boatingmom]

Thanks for the pictures. Now I'm hungry:o