cruise ship princess regal

Regal Princess® Cruise Ship

Explore and revel in the latest offerings at sea.

• Inaugural Cruise: May 20, 2014
• Christener: The original cast of "The Love Boat"
• Guest Cabins: 1,780
• Number of Decks: 19
• Tonnage: 142,229
• Length: 1,083 feet
• Height: 217 feet

Enjoy sweeping views from one of more than 1,400 balconies on Regal Princess or stroll on the SeaWalk®, a glass-floor walkway extending 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship! From the tranquil Sanctuary, a retreat reserved for adults, to the dazzling Princess WaterColor Fantasy light and water show and more, you'll find diversions for every mood.

Your Vacation – Effortless. Personalized.

Make your vacation truly yours on a Princess MedallionClass® cruise that features next-level technology, now on all ships. Enjoy fast, reliable Wi-Fi, TrulyTouchless™ experiences, food and drinks delivered wherever you are and so much more.

Learn more about Princess MedallionClass | Learn more about MedallionNet® Internet  

Accommodations

From the moment you step aboard, we want you to feel welcomed and right at home. And with attentive service from a friendly staff that knows what hospitality means, you’ll find your Princess® ship truly is your home away from home.

Photos, floor plan diagrams, amenities, and furnishings represent typical arrangements and may vary by ship and stateroom.

Most Luxurious Accommodations at Sea

Mini-suite with exclusive vip touches, add an element of luxury to your stay, spectacular views from your room, front row seat for beautiful scenery, our most affordable option, for guests with limited mobility, included dining.

Indulge your appetite whenever you wish on board Princess®. Every hour, our chefs are busy baking, grilling and sautéing great-tasting fare from scratch. Princess offers unparalleled inclusive dining options throughout the ship with a wide range of culinary delights to suit any palate, from endless buffet choice to gourmet pizza, frosty treats, decadent desserts and much more. 1

Dine My Way℠

Dine when, how and where you like.

Alfredo’s Pizzeria

Hand-tossed pizza, hot out of the oven.

Horizon Court

An ever-changing selection of favorites.

International Café

Sip and snack around the clock.

Trident Grill

Traditional southern bbq, with poolside ease, specialty dining.

Dining on board a Princess® cruise ship is a joyful celebration and our specialty restaurants always deliver an extraordinary experience. They are among the best at sea – or anywhere. We serve dishes made with the freshest ingredients, and our menus reflect regional flavors from around the world. You'll find our specialty restaurants are the perfect place to celebrate any occasion. 1

A Dazzling Dining Adventure

A taste of italy, enjoyed in luxury, timeless steakhouse traditions, a (seafood) fan favorite returns, wines from around the world, celebrate seafood, a private breakfast with a view, a sweet treat from italy.

On every Princess ship, you'll find so many ways to play, day or night. Explore The Shops of Princess, celebrate cultures at our Festivals of the World or learn a new talent — our onboard activities will keep you engaged every moment of your cruise vacation. 1

Discovery at SEA Programs

Discover even more with discovery™.

Vegas Style Casino

For novices, casual players, or high rollers.

The Seawalk®

Unparalleled views of the sea.

Princess Live!

Lights, sound, action.

Take a Stroll into the European-style Piazza

The Shops of Princess

Tax and duty-free shopping.

Art Gallery & Auctions

Art lovers rejoice—enjoy exquisite art aboard.

Freshwater Pools & Hot Tubs

Soak in a world of relaxation.

Sports Court

Get in the game with a variety of activities.

MedallionNet® Wi-Fi

The best wi-fi at sea.

Afternoon Tea

Celebration of tasty teas and divine desserts, entertainment.

Original musicals, dazzling magic shows, feature films, top comedians and nightclubs that get your feet movin’ and groovin’. There’s something happening around every corner; luckily, you have a whole cruise of days and nights to experience it all. 1

Movies Under the Stars®

A reel treat day or night.

Princess® Watercolor Fantasy Show

A spectacle of water dances to music.

Original Musical Productions

Great venues large and small.

Music & Dancing

Dazzling entertainment every day and night.

Featured Guest Entertainers

At night, the stars shine bright on our stages.

Princess Theater

Broadway-style productions at sea.

Lively Nightlife

Good Spirits At Sea

Good spirits, good stories, joyful rejuvenation.

Revitalize and refresh body, mind and soul with Princess®. From rejuvenating spa treatments and the tranquility of a top-deck retreat reserved just for adults to our state-of-the-art fitness centers, you’ll find all the elements to come back new.

Experience the Ultimate Night of Sleep at Sea

Relax in a tranquil retreat just for adults, go ahead, be pampered – you deserve it, a host of ways to get an energizing workout, luxuriate in our largest-ever thermal suite, kids, teens & family.

From family-friendly stateroom options to enriching youth and family programs, quality time is time well spent. Onboard activities spark curiosity and fuel creativity while excursions ashore engage and inspire!

Explore the Treehouse

Step into the lodge, hang out in the beach house, quality time together.

1 Activities, dining and entertainment options vary by ship and are subject to change. Photos represent typical arrangements and may vary in detail or configuration.

Quiltripping

Life is a patchwork of experiences

Cruising Like a Princess – A Complete Regal Princess Cruise Review With Photos

In this Regal Princess cruise review I share my detailed expereinces on this beautiful Royal Class ship, including lots of photos.

I was lounging in a deck chair with an Irish coffee in hand, tucked under a cozy blanket and watching a movie on the big screen as the sun set behind me.

I do not think of myself as a princess – quite the contrary. But occasionally, I do like being treated like one. For a little while, it’s nice to have someone else make my bed, cook my meals, and bring me a specialty drink when I am in the mood for one.

A cruise gives me all this and more. I love being on the water. I love the feeling of the gentle rocking of the ship under my feet. I love staring at the ocean and watching the sunshine play on the waves. And I love feeling and smelling the salty breeze when I am on deck. Being on a ship gives me a sense of serenity that I don’t normally feel when I am on land.

My Regal Princess cruise review

In recent years, I have really become a fan of cruising with Princess. For me, they offer a perfect balance of value, quality service, and interesting itineraries.

I have sailed on the Ruby Princess through the Panama Canal , the Sky Princess along Norway’s coast , the Sapphire Princess around South America and to Antarctica , and the Island Princess in Alaska.

This time I tried the Regal Princess with a 12 day cruise around the British Isles, and I was very pleased with both the ship and the destinations we visited.

What I loved about this Regal Princess cruise

After having been on a number of other Princess ships, the Regal had many familiar spaces that I have come to enjoy: the International Café, Movies Under the Stars, the Enclave, and the Piazza. Yet the ship also had unique design elements which made it fun to explore, like the fountains on deck 16.

As always, I cannot fault the service that I received while on board. It was efficient, prompt, and always offered with a warm and friendly smile. I know how hard the crew works on these ships and I am always amazed at the genuine friendliness that they offer. And I am happy to reward it.

I like to cruise with Princess because of their unique itineraries, and this one was no exception as this cruise took me all around the British Isles. With port calls in England, both parts of Ireland, along with Scotland, this was an easy way to get a taste of the different cultures in each country. It was a very busy schedule with only a few of the sea days that I love, but I certainly did get the opportunity to have many unique experiences.

How I got to the Regal Princess in Southampton

My first cruise from Southampton, England was on the Sky Princess and started with an overnight flight from the USA to Heathrow Airport. I chose to transfer on my own to the cruise dock which was quite easy.

After clearing customs at Heathrow, I went to the National Express information desk and purchased a bus ticket that took me directly from the airport to Southampton.

Getting to the bus station at the airport was an easy walk, even with my luggage, and was well marked – I just followed the signs. After waiting for my bus, it was a comfortable two hour bus ride to Southampton which let me take a quick nap after my overnight flight.

From the Southampton bus station, it was an easy 10 minute walk to my hotel, The Moxy, which is part of the Marriott collection of hotels. This was a hip, modern hotel and had everything I needed for my one night stay – in particular, a comfortable bed to catch up on sleep.

The next day I walked to the pier where the Princess ships dock (though you could also have taken a taxi).

For this trip on the Regal, I arrived in Southampton on a high speed ferry from the Isle of Wight where I spent a few days before the cruise relaxing and enjoying the scenery. Even though the ferry dock was not far from the cruise port, I chose a quick cab ride to get to the Regal Princess rather than walk with my bags for 20 minutes.

I booked this trip last minute and did not have a chance to fill in all the necessary information on the Medallion App. No worries – the check in staff added it all into their system for me in about 5 minutes. I picked up my medallion and was climbing the gangplank and heading to lunch in no time.

My Regal Princess room review

I booked a standard balcony cabin on deck 12 forward, almost at the very front of the ship. I don’t get sea sick and like the slight motion that I feel in a forward cabin, especially when I am sleeping. And since I was traveling alone, this was more than enough room for me.

My balcony cabin was 222 square feet and for just one person, was sufficiently roomy, with more than enough storage space (most of which I didn’t need). Each of the two nightstands had two drawers and an open shelf. The desk also had three drawers, one of which held a hair dryer.

Across from the desk was a credenza which held a small fridge and three open shelves. There was also a small round coffee table which I actually put into the closet area to get it out of the way since I really didn’t need it.

I love the beds on a Princess cruise – it’s one of my favorite features. The bedding is crisp and the pillows are fluffy, just the way I like them. With such a comfy bed and the slight rocking of the ship, I always sleep very well when I am sailing on a Princess ship.

My closet was roomy and came with 35 hangers (yes, I counted) and a floor to ceiling cabinet that held the safe and more shelves for storage.

The bathroom wasn’t large, but had enough space for one person to easily maneuver in it. There were three open shelves by the mirror and a large open shelf under the sink. There was also a walk in shower which I prefer over a bathtub-shower combo.

As I have often encountered on cruise ships, there were not enough outlets and no USB ports. There were only two outlets by the desk: one for an American plug and one for a European plug. This worked fine for just one person in the cabin, but may not be enough for two people and all their electronic gadgets.

There was also an outlet in the bathroom that took a two pronged American plug or a European plug.

To make sure I can charge all my electronics, I bring a cruise ship approved multi outlet power strip with USB ports. Note that surge protectors are not allowed on board.

The Regal Princess ship details

• Royal class
• Year inaugurated – 2014
• Last refurbished –2017
• Last dry dock – April, 2022
• Maximum number of passengers –3560
• Maximum number of crew -1346

A few things to note:

The Regal Princess is the sister ship to the Royal Princess and both ships are said to be very similar (though I have not been on the Royal yet). As one of the earliest ships in the Royal Class line, I found familiar elements from the Ruby and Sapphire, both of which are Grand Class ships that I had previously sailed on, along with elements that are distinctive to the Royal Class ships.

Notably, the Regal Princess still had a small library with books and games. There was also The Wheelhouse Bar and Crooners Bar, both of which I did not experience on the Sky Princess, one of the other Royal class ships I have sailed on.

Like the other Royal class ships, the Regal Princess did not have a fully open promenade deck. Deck 7 had an outdoor promenade area but you could not walk it around the whole ship and the lifeboats hung here so views were very much impeded by them.

However, the jogging track on deck 17 provided a circular walking area with unhindered ocean views.

Deck 5 – Plaza

The Piazza – The beautiful three story Piazza was the beating heart of the Regal Princess, and the one here on the Regal did not disappoint. Much like the piazza in an Italian village, this was the central gathering spot where I could have a cup of coffee, get a drink, listen to music, or have a meal. Lots of marble, glass, and gold accents made this a bright and cheery place to hang out day or night.

The Piazza was surrounded by bars, eateries, and shops, and there was usually some type of musical performance or fun activity going on throughout the day.

Surrounding the Piazza were:

The International Café   – this was my favorite spot to get breakfast, a light meal, little deserts, and delicious specialty coffees (extra fees without a package). The best part was that the café was open 24 hours so I could indulge in a late night snack after a show.

My problem was that they changed out the breakfast items at 10 AM so I had to make sure to get down there in time to get my favorite almond croissants.

Good Spirits at Sea – I am not a big alcohol drinker, but when I wanted to try a special craft cocktail, this was the spot to go to. This was also a good location to grab a seat and watch the action in the Piazza.

Vines Wine Bar – this bar was where I went to try different wines from around the world. This was also one of the casual dining restaurants where I could get a plate of charcuterie and truffles to accompany a glass of wine (extra charges applied without a package).

Gelato – I loved this ice cream spot which was one of my favorite indulgent snacks. There was a wonderful array of gelato flavors and options for creative ice cream concoctions (minimal extra charges applied).

Shops of Princess – Celebrations – if I forgot something, this shop had a very limited selection of necessities, along with touristy items.

I nternet  café – a small corner with desks and computer monitors where I could catch up on e-mails or ask for IT help.

Aft of the Piazza:

Symphony Dining Room – this was one of the three main dining rooms on the ship which and was open for breakfast and dinner on port days and breakfast, lunch, and dinner on sea days.

Forward of the Piazza:

Guest Services – I went here to get my questions answered and to get help during a cruise. The staff was always very professional and friendly. There was also a kiosk here where I could print my folio any time using my medallion. 

Shore Excursions Desk – I did not book any shore excursions ahead of time so the desk here was where I went to get information about what was available. I easily booked the shore excursions I was interested in via the Princess Cruises app but I could also book them in person with the desk staff here.

Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria – one of the specialty restaurants on board featuring delicious Italian dishes. I loved my dinner there one night.

Lotus Spa and Salon – the Lotus spa and salon offered all the usual services: massages, beauty salon, mani and pedi, etc. But my favorite experience here was the Enclave, an indoor heated space with a small pool, heated loungers, and steam rooms. To access the enclave I had to buy a package for the length of the cruise, though day passes were also available toward the end of the trip.

On the last sea day of the cruise I had a relaxing pedicure with views of the ocean as the chair massaged my back. Heavenly!

Deck 6 – Fiesta

Public spaces forward to aft:

Princess  Theater lower level – this large venue was where I went to see the evening production shows, other performances, and enrichment lectures.

Churchill’s Arcade   – a variety of arcade games replaced the cigar lounge.

Club Six – I liked going to this cozy lounge at night to listen to music. During the day it was a quiet spot that was usually not very busy.

Princess Casino – the Regal is unique in that it had an open spiral staircase in the center of the casino that led up to deck 7.  For those that like to gamble, there were many slot machines and gaming tables to choose from.

Bellini’s – with views of the Piazza, this was another nice bar to try a new mixed cocktail.

Photo gallery – the spot to look at and purchase my cruise photos.

Oceanfront – I had the option to purchase a variety of pretty accessories for my Medallion here.

Alfredo’s Pizzeria – this was another one of the casual dining options where I got a fresh, made to order pizza (extra charges applied without a package). I ate here on the first night of the cruise to celebrate the beginning of my holiday.

Concerto Dining Room – this dining room was open for all three meals on sea days and for breakfast and dinner on port days. This was and was also where afternoon tea was served on sea days. This was also the dining room where Reserve dining was offered for guests staying in Reserve mini suites and full suites.

Allegro Dining Room – another of the three dining rooms open for dinner. I could only access this dining room from the aft lift area. This was also where I had the special Chef’s Table Lumiere dinner.

Deck 7 – Promenade

Public spaces moving forward to aft:

Princess Theater upper level – I usually preferred accessing the theater from this level.

Fine Arts Gallery – showing new art for the art auctions at sea.  

The Shops of Princess – there were plenty of choices for browsing and buying.

Ocean Terrace Sushi  – one of the casual dining restaurants with sushi and sashimi. I could order from a set menu or just get a roll or two (extra charges applied without a package).

Crooners Bar – a large space with lots of cozy seating. I liked listening to the piano musician that often played here.

Shops of Princess – more choices for shopping.

Future Cruise Planning and Captain’s Circle Loyalty – I put a deposit on a future Princess cruise and received free onboard cruise credit.

Princess Live Cafe – another spot to get coffee in the morning or cocktails all day. There was lots of elegant seating in this area.

Princess Live! – one more venue for many different types of entertainment throughout the day.

Wheelhouse Bar and Crown Grill – specialty steakhouse restaurant serving fine steaks and seafood as well as a bar with lots of seating area.

The Library – unlike the newer Royal Class ships, the Regal Princess still had a library with some seating, and a nice selection of books and games to borrow.

Vista Lounge – another large venue for a variety of activities throughout the day, and more entertainment in the evening. Note that this space does not have its own bar.

Outside on deck 7 I also found the Promenade Deck and Alfresco Dining. This outdoor space did not go all around the ship and the forward portion was inaccessible while at sea. The lifeboats hung here all along the side of the ship, so the views were limited. There was a small area aft with some deck chairs that was usually not busy. 

Deck 14 – Riviera

Concierge Lounge and Wedding Chapel – This deck had mostly cabins, but this was also were the Concierge Lounge and Wedding Chapel were located. The Concierge Lounge was only available to suite guests.

Deck 16 – Lido

Prego Pizza – I love this thin, crispy crust pizza. I liked to get a couple of slices of Neapolitan style pizza for a quick snack or lunch. Each day there was a special that offered different toppings along with the typical cheese and pepperoni pizzas.

Mermaid’s Tail Bar – conveniently located between Slice and the Trident Grill, this poolside bar was good for drinks of all types to accompany that slice of pizza or burger.

Trident Grill – this spot by the pools was good for a quick lunch and had a menu of burgers, fries, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, or tacos. It was quite busy during lunchtime, but not busy in the evenings.

Fountain Pool and Plunge Pool – the Fountain Pool was the bigger, deeper pool while the plunge pool was a smaller, more intimate spot to cool off.  There were also a couple of hot tubs here.

Fountain area – In between the two pools was a deck area that acted as a stage for activities as well as a venue for evening fountain shows set to music.

Sea walk – each side of the ship had a  glass walkway on both sides of the deck with views down to water level. I don’t do well with heights, so walking on this was always a challenge, even though my brain told me it was just fine.

Sea Views Bar – another option for drinks while lounging in the pool or hot tubs.

Swirls Ice Cream – I could not resist a daily free soft serve chocolate or vanilla ice cream, or the bags of popcorn when watching Movies Under the Stars in the evening.

Horizon Court and Bistro buffet – the buffet area was huge with many, many choices for all tastes and dietary needs. Each day the chefs also presented regional dishes from a specific country (Italian, Mexican, German, Mongolian, etc.). The special cake event on the last sea day was quite impressive.

I traveled with a refillable water bottle and an insulated travel mug which I filled up at the buffet with water, iced tea, lemonade, hot tea, or coffee.

The Pastry Shop – tucked in the middle between the Horizon Court and the Horizon Bistro was where I went to look for self serve sweet treats. Each day gave me a diverse selection of cakes, cookies, puddings, and other delicious goodies. The fresh squeezed juice bar was located here as well and this was also another spot to get a specialty coffee.

Horizon Terrace and Outrigger’s Bar – aft of the buffet was a large, open deck area. I liked coming out here with my plate of food and watching the scenery go by as I ate. The bar staff were very good at bringing drinks as requested.

Deck 17 – Sun

Sanctuary – an adult only space that I had to reserve once I boarded the ship.

Retreat pool and bar – this was an intimate, adults only pool and hot tub area which I accessed from a door across from the forward lifts. This was a lovely place to lounge on warm, sunny days although it was quite popular and busy when the weather was nice.

Movies Under the Stars sitting area – a large screen above the Sky Pools where I watched movies and concerts. This was one of my favorite activities on the ship.

Hot tubs – there were two more hot tubs on the deck here, with views of Movies-Under-the Stars. There were also lots more lounge chairs for sunning.

Seawalk – peek down to water level if you dare.

Fitness Center – the place to go to work off all the calories from all that good food. I could walk for miles on a treadmill while looking out over the deep blue sea.

Camp Discovery and the Beach House Teen space – dedicated club areas for the younger set. The Beach House also had a dedicated outdoor deck space with a hot tub.

Terrace Pool – another small pool with deck space to relax and take in the aft views. There was also an outdoor smoking area here.

Deck 18 – Sports

Midship:  more deck area accessed by two sets of stairs.

Aft: this area could only be accessed by using stairs from deck 17.

Movies Under the Stars screen

J ogging track – if I walked   seven times around the track, that equaled one mile. This was also a good spot for unobstructed ocean views in all directions. 

Center court – a really big, netted, basketball or pickle ball court. Around the Center Court there was also a netted space with ping pong tables and a small netted driving range.

Deck 19 – Sky

Lawn court – a small putting green space that I could only access by  the stairs from the aft area of deck 18. There were golf clubs and golf balls that I could use to practice my putting skills on a bouncy ship.

Laundromats

For me, the self serve laundromats are one of the most useful features on a Princess ship. In the aft portion on each floor on decks 8 through 15, Princess put in a laundry room where I could wash a few quick loads midway through a long cruise.

The laundry room had a vending machine where I purchased tokens for the washing machines and dryers. I could also buy detergent, but I brought my own pods. There were also irons and ironing boards for guests’ use.

My Regal Princess itinerary around the British Isles

My only “complaint” about this cruise was that this was a very port heavy itinerary with only two sea days, so not as much free time to luxuriate in the ship’s amenities as I liked.

Day 1 – embarked in Southampton, departed 4:00 PM

Day 2 – Portland, England

Day 3 – Guernsey St. Peter Port, England

Day 4 – Cobh, Ireland

Day 5 – Dun Laoghaire, Ireland

Day 6 – Belfast, Northern Ireland

Day 7 – Greenock, Scotland

Day 8 – at sea (finally!)

Day 9 – Invergordon, Scotland

Day 10 – South Queensferry, Scotland

Day 11 – at sea (yippee!)

Day 12 – Le Havre, France

Day 13 – Disembarked in Southampton

I will describe all the port stops and what I did in each in a seperate post.

During this cruise we had two formal dress nights, and the rest were all smart casual dress.

Regal Princess excursion reviews

I booked my cruise last minute and planned on sightseeing in each of the ports on my own. However, once on board, I did end up booking a couple of excursions through Princess via the app on my phone. I also booked an excursion via an outside vendor. I will write all about this in a seperate post.

Regal Princess food review

I consider myself a bit of a foodie, but I also like a good burger and fries. I can honestly say that I had no trouble finding a meal that I liked, especially since I didn’t have to cook it. I took advantage of all of the dining options that were available to me, including the special Chef’s Table event.

At each location, the service was always very good and was delivered with a smile and with efficiency. I found all the wait staff to be extremely personable and eager to please.

I describe the many dining options on the Regal Princess in my post Dining Like a Princess – All the Regal Princess Dining Options Including the Chef’s Table Experience

Regal Princess entertainment review

I won’t write a lot about the entertainment since it changes from one cruise to another and will vary on the destination. I always enjoy the large production shows in the theater which showcases the talented musicians, singers, and dancers.

I also really loved the other musical performances in the theater. Since this sailing was from the UK, I was not surprised that my favorite Beatles cover duo, Just John and Paul , were on board for a few shows. I saw them for the first time on my Sky Princes cruise to Norway.

Throughout the day, there were often musical performances in the Piazza or in one of the bar areas. There were also plenty of other activities and on board entertainment as well throughout the day: trivia games, bingo, Voice of the Ocean, arts and crafts, etc. Each day’s Princess Patter had all the listings. One interesting activity that I found interesting was the behind the scenes tour of the kitchens.

One of my favorite aspects of a Princess cruise are the diverse Enrichment Lectures. Besides presentations about each of the destinations we were visiting, there were other lectures throughout the cruise. This time I learned all about the history of whiskey and about the songwriters from the 60’s. I especially liked that I could also watch these lectures on the TV in the comfort of my cabin.

Additional Regal Princess cruise tips and information

Princess cruise packages

Princess offers Standard, Plus, and Premium cruise fare packages. Before each cruise, I evaluate which package makes sense for me for that particular itinerary.  Princess Cruise Drinks Packages and Fare Packages – Which One Is Best?

The Medallion 

The Medallion is a waterproof, round electronic button that held all my personal Princess cruise information and also acted as my room key. I prefer to pick up my medallion at check in at the port and wear it through the cruise on a pretty, beaded lanyard that I purchased on Amazon. Princess also sells fancier Medallion accessories like chains and wristbands on board the ship.

The Medallion automatically unlocked my room once I was within about 3 feet of my cabin door. I also used it for any on board charges for drinks, excursions, etc. It also acted as my identification to get back on the ship after getting off in port.

Since I picked up my medallion at the port I was in the “blue” lane. It only took a few minutes longer to check in and I was still on board the ship in about 15 minutes after dropping off my bags.

After boarding the ship, I also had to check in to the muster station with my medallion.

The Princess App 

I downloaded the Princess App to my phone before leaving home and entered all the requested information.

Once I was on board, I could use the app to schedule specialty dinner reservations, order room service, order drinks to be delivered to my seat, look at the activities schedule, track and find members in my cruising party, and look at my bill.

Interactive On Board Screens

Near each elevator, there were large interactive screens displaying a map of the ship or the current activities going on throughout the ship. These touch screens were very easy and intuitive to use.

MedallionNet  WiFi

I always get one of the WiFi packages for the whole length of the cruise. Since Princess has switched to Starlink technology, the WiFi on board has worked very well and has been surprisingly fast. I never had any problem when trying to connect and work on my blog.

Travel Tip – I always put my phone to Airplane Mode before I leave port so that you I do not incur roaming charges. I call home via WiFi while I am at sea or text via WhatsApp.

Princess Patter

On my cruise, my cabin steward dropped off the Princess Patter every evening and it listed the following day’s activities and shows. The Journey View touch screen by each elevator and

also on the app had the same information.

The TV had a large selection of movies and TV shows. Besides watching movies or TV programs, and listening to music, I was also able to watch the enrichment lectures that had been presented at the theater. I also watched the safety video on the TV in my cabin when I first boarded.

I can see where the Ruby Princess is currently sailing through its bridge cam at https://www.princess.com/bridgecams/

As with my other Princess cruises, I really enjoyed this experience – both the ship and the various ports of call. There is no doubt that this Princess cruise made it very easy to explore a wide variety of destinations with minimal effort on my part.

To book a Princess cruise, find all the upcoming Regal Princess cruises, and to see the most recent cruise line deals I go directly to the Princess website .

Please note that I received a media upgraded cabin from Princess.  All content and opinions in this post are my own.

You can find all my cruising content on my  Experience-Cruising  page.

Other related Princess cruising stories:

A full transit through the Panama Cana: A Full Transit Panama Canal Cruise – Passing Through An Engineering Marvel

Alaska cruise excursion tips:   Alaska Cruise Excursion Tips to Inspire Your Best Alaska Trip

Detailed Majestic Princess review: My Most Memorable Princess Cruise – A Complete Majestic Princess Review With Photos

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Regal Princess Decks and Cabins

• 7 - Promenade
• 8 - Emerald
• 9 - Dolphin
• 10 - Caribe
• 14 - Riviera
• 15 - Marina
• 18 - Sports
• Click here for ALL
• Deluxe Balcony
• Ship info and tracking
• Cabins Check
• Obstructed Views

Built in 2014, the Princess Cruises Regal Princess cruise ship weighs 142K tons and has 1780 staterooms for up to 4272 passengers served by 1350 crew . There are 18 passenger decks, 8 with cabins. You can expect a space ratio of 33 gross tons per passenger on this ship. On this page are the current deck plans for Regal Princess showing deck plan layouts, public venues and all the types of cabins including pictures and videos.

Princess Cruises Regal Princess

Last Drydock: May 2022

LIVE SHIP TRACKING

STATEROOM CABINS COMPLETE LIST BELOW

Floor Diagram Suite

Sleeps up to: 3 36 Cabins Cabin: 332 sqft (31 m 2 ) Balcony: 72 sqft (7 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

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 Accessible Info [+/-]

More info [+/-], deck locations, stateroom cabin features, important size information, stateroom cabin perks.

Floor Diagram Mini-Suite

Sleeps up to: 4 314 Cabins Cabin: 243 sqft (23 m 2 ) Balcony: 36 sqft (3 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

DELUXE BALCONY

Floor Diagram Deluxe Balcony

Sleeps up to: 4 364 Cabins Cabin: 185 sqft (17 m 2 ) Balcony: 36 sqft (3 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Floor Diagram Balcony

Sleeps up to: 4 724 Cabins Cabin: 174 sqft (16 m 2 ) Balcony: 36 sqft (3 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Floor Diagram Interior

Sleeps up to: 4 342 Cabins Cabin: 175 sqft (16 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Regal Princess Deck Page Menu

Click deck pictures to go to individual cruise deck plan pages where you can see all the public areas, venues and stateroom cabins categories for each deck.

Regal Princess Quick Stats

Big picture regal princess decks.

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Regal Princess Links

• PDF of all the decks
• PDF (choose your own decks)
• Regal Princess DECK DRAG
• Regal Princess Cabin Check

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Regal Princess Overview

Regal Princess  offers cruisers a bevy of new and exciting entertainment options. For instance, the pool deck, one of Princess Cruises' largest yet, hosts water and light shows where water will shoot up to 33 feet in the air as lights flash and music plays. The ship also has her very own TV studio, where passengers can attend a taping of a cooking demonstration, comedy act or magic show, all of which will be broadcast onto the televisions in every stateroom. On top of that there are more than a dozen places to dine aboard the Regal Princess , from the formal Chef’s Table Lumiere to the Gelato bar, featuring the most gelato options at sea.

• Passenger Capacity: 3,560 (double occupancy)
• Year Built: 2014
• Last Refurbished:  2017

• SeaWalk Princess Cruises gives you the opportunity to walk on water with their amazing SeaWalk feature. This is a glass walkway that is 128 feet above the water below. The walkway juts 28 feet over the edge of the ship as well, so when you look straight down you see the ocean below. This incredible walkway is sure to knock your socks off.  

• Balconies Regal Princess has done away with oceanview staterooms. All outside rooms on this ship include a balcony. Experience the fresh sea breeze in the morning and catch the sunset while wearing your robe - all from your delightful balcony.  

• Movies Under the Stars Regal Princess, along with her sister ship Royal Princess, are roughly 20 times larger than any other Princess ship, so you’ll find lots more space onboard, and Princess used this to their benefit on the very important pool deck. With a couple pools, the larger-than-ever Movies Under the Stars screen and now a light, sound and fountain show, you may never want to go to your stateroom.  

Regal Princess Cruise Destinations

Princess Cruises offers a wide array of cruising destinations, as well as a Cruisetour program that is revered in the cruising industry. This impressive selection includes over 100 itineraries reaching over 300 ports all across the world. Whether cruise to take in the beautiful fall foliage of Canada and New England or a splendid voyage to sunny Tahiti, Princess Cruises can offer you a great value with an exceptional experience. Other destinations include, but are not limited to: Asia, Hawaii, Mexico, the Panama Canal, Australia, and more. 

When you choose a cruise to the Caribbean, you can expect a sun-laden and tranquil tropical experience.

Eastern Caribbean

Adventures in the rainforest and sunny beach days at Princess Cays—two pieces of the perfect Eastern Caribbean cruise.

You can find everything from castles to crepes, and villas to Van Gogh on a European cruise vacation.

Southern Caribbean

Get in touch with the island cultures, ecosystems, and delicious tropical cuisine of a gorgeous region with a Southern Caribbean cruise.

Transatlantic

From coast to coast, take in the ocean breeze and interesting ports of call that come along with a Transatlantic Cruise.

Western Caribbean

Investigate Mayan ruins and rough it off-road in the tropical paradise that comes along with a Western Caribbean cruise.

Regal Princess Departure Ports

Princess Cruises has one of the most extensive set of sailings. Their ships travel the world embarking from popular ports like New York City, Vancouver, Venice and Los Angeles. They also have cruises that sail from smaller, more exotic ports like Kobe in Japan and Valparaiso in Chile. We’ll help you find a Princess cruise you’ll love, give us a call today. 

With incredible weather, delicious fare and some stupendous attractions, you will find that Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades is one of the most attractive ports in the entire US.

Galveston, Texas

Indulge in the local flavor with fresh Gulf shrimp, Galveston Bay oysters and pristine Gulf coast beaches as you relax in southern comfort in Galveston, Texas.

The cruise port of Southampton features tons of diverse attractions that provide insight into England’s culture and storied past, including fortresses, gardens and national parks.

Regal Princess Deck Plans

Fiesta deck, promenade deck, emerald deck, dolphin deck, caribe deck, riviera deck, marina deck, sports deck, regal princess staterooms.

Balcony (DD)

Choose this enhanced version of a Balcony stateroom with more space and a comfortable sofa bed. Enjoy a larger balcony with more room to view the beautiful scenery as you sail from destination to destination and take in the ocean breeze for a wonderful and romantic evening or morning. This stateroom also includes some of the amenities offered in a Mini-Suite stateroom.

Balcony (DE)

Balcony (df).

Balcony (DA)

Balcony (db), balcony (dc), balcony (dv).

Deluxe Balcony (Obstructed) Choose this enhanced version of a Balcony stateroom with more space and a comfortable sofa bed. This cabin has an obstructed view balcony from which to enjoy the fresh sea air. Enjoy a larger balcony with more room to view the beautiful scenery as you sail from destination to destination and take in the ocean breeze for a wonderful and romantic evening or morning. This stateroom also includes some of the amenities offered in a Mini-Suite stateroom.

Balcony (DW)

DELUXE BALCONY (OBSTRUCTED) Choose this enhanced version of a Balcony stateroom with more space and a comfortable sofa bed. This cabin has an obstructed view balcony from which to enjoy the fresh sea air. Enjoy a larger balcony with more room to view the beautiful scenery as you sail from destination to destination and take in the ocean breeze for a wonderful and romantic evening or morning. This stateroom also includes some of the amenities offered in a Mini-Suite stateroom.

Balcony (DZ)

Balcony (d4).

Larger than a Deluxe Balconcy Suite. Choose this enhanced version of a Balcony stateroom with more space and a comfortable sofa bed. Enjoy a larger balcony with more room to view the beautiful scenery as you sail from destination to destination and take in the ocean breeze for a wonderful and romantic evening or morning. This stateroom also includes some of the amenities offered in a Mini-Suite stateroom.

Balcony (BA)

This impressive stateroom offers the added indulgence of a balcony and gives you more space than a standard stateroom. Enjoy your own private outdoor space with a table, two chairs, and a relaxing view of the inspiring scenery surrounding you, whether a beautiful sunset over the ocean or a new city to explore. It's also perfect to enjoy cocktails before dinner or a leisurely breakfast.

Balcony (BB)

Balcony (bc), balcony (bd), balcony (be), balcony (bf), balcony (bv), balcony (bw), balcony (by).

Inside (IA)

These staterooms are the perfect place to recharge your batteries. Our most affordable option, featuring two twin beds or a queen-size bed. Other amenities include a refrigerator, hair dryer, TV, closet and bathroom with shower.

Inside (IB)

Inside (ic), inside (id), inside (ie), inside (if).

A premium stateroom category featuring our best located Mini-Suite staterooms, as well as the great amenities found in all Mini-Suites plus premier dining benefits and luxurious perks. Each night, enjoy Club Class Dining, an exclusive dining area featuring expedited seating with no wait, expanded menu options, dedicated wait staff and tableside preparations. Other amenities include priority embarkation and disembarkation, a complimentary one-time wine set-up and so much more!

Choose a luxurious Mini-Suite with balcony which is substantially larger than a Balcony stateroom and receive a complimentary welcome glass of Champagne. Mini-Suites include a separate sitting area with sofa bed, premium bathroom amenities and two flat-panel televisions. For families or groups needing a little extra space, Mini-Suites offer an appealing and affordable option.

Penthouse Suite features a spacious cabin and balcony. Enjoy exclusive suite-only upgrades and benefits. Surrounding you with deluxe accommodations, a spacious Suite with balcony includes all the amenities of a Club Class Mini-Suite, plus incredible premiums. Enjoy more living space, a sofa bed and separate seating areas, and wonderfully enhanced amenities that range from priority embarkation and disembarkation to a complimentary mini-bar setup in suite and so much more.

Surrounding you with deluxe accommodations, a spacious Suite with balcony includes all the amenities of a Club Class Mini-Suite, plus incredible premiums. Enjoy more living space, a sofa bed and separate seating areas, and wonderfully enhanced amenities that range from priority embarkation and disembarkation to a complimentary mini-bar setup in suite and so much more.

Photo Gallery for Regal Princess Cruise Ship

A lot has changed since the days of the Love Boat . Check out this photo gallery of what a Princess ship looks like in the 21 st century. 

Regal Princess

Piazza Atrium

Top deck at night

Treatment Room

Top 10 Regal Princess Cruises

• Regal Princess 7 NIGHT Caribbean - Western CRUISE Departing From Galveston, Texas (Oct 2024 - Mar 2026)
• Regal Princess 8 NIGHT Caribbean - Western CRUISE Departing From Galveston, Texas (Dec 2024 - Mar 2025)
• Regal Princess 6 NIGHT Caribbean - Western CRUISE Departing From Galveston, Texas (Dec 2024 - Mar 2025)
• Regal Princess 10 NIGHT Caribbean - Western CRUISE Departing From Galveston, Texas (Jan 2025)
• Regal Princess 11 NIGHT Caribbean - Western CRUISE Departing From Galveston, Texas (Jan 2025)
• Regal Princess 12 NIGHT Caribbean - Southern CRUISE Departing From Galveston, Texas (Mar 2025 - Mar 2026)
• Regal Princess 14 NIGHT Transatlantic CRUISE Departing From Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida (Apr 2025)
• Regal Princess 24 NIGHT Transatlantic CRUISE Departing From Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida (Apr 2025)
• Regal Princess 10 NIGHT Europe - Western CRUISE Departing From Southampton, England (Apr 2025 - Sep 2025)
• Regal Princess 11 NIGHT Europe - Western CRUISE Departing From Southampton, England (Apr 2025)

Learn More About Princess Cruises

Accessibility

Learn about Princess Cruises' handicap accessible cruise ships and accommodations for guests with special needs, disabilities or mobility restrictions.

Savor dining aboard Princess Cruises, including the Main Dining Room, Sabatini's, Sterling Steakhouse, Crown Grill, Bayou Café, International Café, Chef's Table, room service and more.

Entertainment

Enjoy Princess Cruises' onboard entertainment, including Movies Under the Stars, stage shows, dancing, karaoke, comedy shows, casino games, bars and lounges.

Onboard Activities

Engage in Princess Cruises' onboard activities, including movie nights, ScholarShip classes, pools, hot tubs, poolside activities, sports courts, art auctions, ship tours, duty-free shops and more.

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Learn how Princess Cruises takes care of your every need with an extensive list of onboard services. Plus, view Princess Cruises' awards.

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Unwind at Princess Cruises' spa and fitness programs from the Lotus Spa and Lotus Fitness centers. Relax with a massage, facial, pedicure or Botox, or get a workout with a gym class.

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From holidays to weddings, make your Princess Cruises vacation even more special by celebrating at sea.

Explore Princess Cruises' premium staterooms, including suite, balcony, oceanview and inside staterooms. Princess Cruises' family- and mini-suites give you room to spread out.

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Learn about cruising with children aboard Princess Cruises. Most ships have youth programs for ages 3+, including kidsitting, youth dining, youth centers and teen lounges.

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Everything You Need to Know about the Regal Princess – A Review

• Last Updated 16 March 2024

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An in-depth review of the Regal Princess cruise ship from Princess Cruises – including cabin reviews…

Want to know exactly what to expect from a cruise on the Regal Princess ? I’ve travelled on this ship twice now and know first-hand how much fun it can be.

So, following those two trips, I decided to write up a review of the Regal Princess to give you an idea of what to expect on board.

As one of the largest ships in the fleet of premium cruise line Princess Cruises, this huge ship is packed with incredible facilities and amenities.

A few years ago, when I cruised Scandinavia and Russia with Princess Cruises , I posted a review of the trip and the ship mixed together. Since I’ve now done two trips on the Regal Princess, this is kind of an updated review, a ship tour, and a breakdown of everything that’s available onboard.

Hopefully, this will help you plan and get excited for your own trip on the Regal Princess. If you’re still looking for your perfect cruise, this post could also help you decide if the Regal is right for you.

Regal Princess Review

Balcony cabin, interior cabins, gym and sports facilities, other facilities, regal princess entertainment review, restaurants included in your dining option, speciality restaurants (additional fee), regal princess bars, princess cruises oceanmedallion review, princess premier, princess cruise review – conclusion.

This Regal Princess review is based on two press trips I’ve done with Princess Cruises and Traverse. The photos featured are from both trips. As always, all words and opinions are my own and unbiased.

The Regal Princess ‘ inaugural cruise was in May 2014, so it’s still a relatively new ship – and that’s reflected in the decor and overall upkeep throughout. Before I crack on with my full review, here are a few facts about the Regal Princess to introduce the ship:

• Guest Capacity:  3,560
• Number of Crew:  1,346
• Length:  1,083 feet
• Height:  217 feet
• Tonnage: 142,229
• Number of Decks:  19

Regal Princess Cabin Reviews

There are a total of 1,780 cabins onboard the Regal Princess, including 38 wheelchair-accessible cabins. These are the 5 different kinds of staterooms onboard:

• Inside: 161-240ft 2
• Balcony: 222-333ft 2
• Deluxe Balcony: 233-312ft 2
• Mini-Suite: 299-465ft 2
• Suite: 440-705ft 2

On my two trips, I’ve stayed in both a Balcony cabin and a Mini-Suite, so I can review two of the room options onboard the Regal Princess. Next time, hopefully, I’ll get to try out a suite and update this post with some more info!

At first glance, my Balcony cabin looked quite small, but it was actually surprisingly spacious. The rooms are really well designed to make use of the space, with lots of clever storage options and an enormous wardrobe area.

My favourite part of the room was the bed!  Princess Cruises are known for their beds: the Princess Luxury Bed was designed in collaboration with a sleep expert! I adored mine. It was so comfy, and the huge upholstered headboard was a nice touch for watching TV whilst lazing in bed.

The decor is lovely and bright, with soft neutral colours. With the room being dominated by the patio doors to the balcony, you get a lot of natural light. There’s nothing better than lazing in bed in the morning with the doors open, listening to the sound of the ocean!

The main highlight of the room is, of course, the balcony. It’s a lovely, big space with a small table and chairs and a glass barrier. This was the perfect spot for lazing about watching the world – or the sea – go by!  

The interior cabins were more or less the same as the balcony cabins on the Regal Princess, minus the balcony. Similar decor and size, and just as comfortable, but without the sea views. If you’re not on a tight budget, it’s definitely worth the splurge to opt for a room with a balcony!

On my more recent trip with Princess Cruises , I stayed in a Mini-Suite onboard the Regal Princess.

This was substantially larger than the balcony stateroom, which made for an even more comfortable experience. The decor was similar – with the addition of a sofa, coffee table, and a larger desk. There were also two wall-mounted TV’s, so you can watch from the sofa or from bed, depending on your mood!

The sofa is actually a sofa-bed, and there’s a curtain dividing the two “sections” of the room. So you could actually fit up to four people into the Mini-Suite if you wanted to. I’d say this is a better option for families with small kids, as it might be a bit of a squeeze for 4 adults. Then again, if you don’t plan on spending much time in the room other than sleeping, it’s a handy way for a group to save money on their Regal Princess cruise.

Overall, the upgrade to the Mini-Suite felt very much worth it. The extra space and amenities made for a much more comfortable experience!

Activities and Facilities

There are SO many activities and facilities to enjoy onboard the Regal Princess. I’ve already written about all the activities and entertainment options onboard in this post , with more in-depth info, so check that out for a full breakdown.

There are three excellent pools, several hot tubs, and numerous sun loungers if you want to simply relax and enjoy the sunshine on deck.

My personal favourite was The Retreat, an adults-only area near the front of the ship which was often a bit quieter than the main pool.

There’s also a wealth of sports facilities onboard, including a large gym where you can exercise with a sea view!

• Fitness Centre with a well-equipped gym and a private aerobics studio
• Outdoor Jogging/Walking Track
• Centre Court – can be used for basketball, tennis, volleyball and badminton
• Driving Range
• Batting Cage
• Simulated Laser Shooting
• Lawn Court – a grassy area for putting, bocce ball, croquet and lawn bowling
• Game Lounge –  including table tennis and virtual gaming with Kinect TM  systems
• Lots of daily activities, from ballroom dancing to zumba to yoga. Check the daily schedule for more details.

Lotus Spa – A surprisingly large space with dozens of treatments rooms, as well as a gorgeous thermal suite called The Enclave . The staff are all lovely and the treatments are spot-on! I’ve visited twice and can highly recommend it.

The Sanctuary – a private, adults-only area of the outside deck where beds and/or cabanas can be hired out for an additional fee.

It’s $20 for a half-day and $40 for a full day, so pretty reasonable for the luxury of peace and quiet! I absolutely LOVED my afternoon spent lazing in the sun here on a plush lounger, with attentive service from our own personal server! Plus the afternoon tea was fab.

SeaWalk – a glass walkway jutting out from the edge of Deck 16, some 128 feet over the ocean. Perfect for Instagram snaps!

Casino – a pretty large casino filled with slot machines, electronic games, and traditional table games.

Onboard shops – There are a surprisingly large range of shops onboard the Regal Princess, including an art gallery

The entertainment onboard the Regal Princess is absolut ely top-notch. All the performers I saw were amazing, from the musicians playing live in bars to the dancers and singers in the theatre productions.

There was such a huge range: fun classic covers from the ship’s band, celebrity guests (we had a Gareth Gates concert on my most recent cruise), comedians, and West-End-worthy theatre productions.

Again, you can find a full breakdown of the entertainment options onboard the Regal Princess in my other review, so I won’t go into details here. Instead, here’s a quick list:

• Princess Theatre: a full-blown theatre company with a different show every night – and with several big musical numbers. Don’t miss the signature show, BRAVO.
• Vista Lounge: a more intimate entertainment venue where the ship’s in-house band perform, as well as other performers such as comedians and illusionists.
• Movies Under the Stars: big screen on the top deck.
• Nightly Fountain Show
• Princess Live!gameshow 
• Trivia Sessions
• Classes – demonstrations, classes, destination-themed activities, fitness classes, and even lectures

Regal Princess Food Review

One of the best things about the Regal Princess is the food. There are SO many options, and it’s all so good. Many of the restaurants are included in your dining option, including some that you might expect to pay extra for. Be sure to try as many as you can on your trip!

I’ve already written a full review of the Regal Princess dining options  and a breakdown of all the different restaurants, so check that out for much more in-depth info. Below I’ll just share a brief overview of all the options.

4 Main Dining Rooms

You can choose between fixed dining and anytime dining at the Regal Princess main dining rooms. Fixed Dining means you’ll be assigned a table and dine at the same time every evening (unless you choose to dine elsewhere) – so you’re always guaranteed a table.

For Anytime Dining, you’ll be assigned one of the other two main dining rooms and can simply head there whenever you’re ready (but you might have to wait for a table at busier times).

Allegro’s – Fixed dining.

Symphony – Anytime dining.

Concerto – Anytime dining.

All of them have the same menu every night, so you don’t need to feel left out about only being assigned one. The menu is a la carte and changes every day, although there’s also a list of about 5-6 “Princess Favourites” which are available every day.

Other Restaurants included in your Dining Option

Horizon Court and Horizon Bistro – two adjoining buffet restaurants on the lido deck near the top of the ship. 

International Cafe – open 24/7 with pastries, sandwiches, and other snacks – as well as a coffee bar*.

Alfredo’s Pizzeria – sit-down restaurant serving up gourmet pizzas.

Prego Pizzeria  – poolside eatery serving pizza by the slice.

Trident Grill – poolside eatery with mainly bbq food.

Swirls – ice cream parlour.

In-Room Breakfast – room service breakfast, which you order by filling out the card in your room.

*Additional charges apply to the speciality coffees unless you have a Beverage Package or Princess Plus (more on that later).

Sabatini’s –  Italian speciality restaurant – $35pp.

Crown Grill – Incredible steak and seafood restaurant – $39pp. One of my favourites on board.

Chef’s Table Lumiere – set menu served at a special table surrounded by a “curtain of light” – $110pp.

Ocean Terrace – a la carte seafood and sushi restaurant. The sushi here was amazing!

Gelato – ice cream parlour also serving waffles and crepes.

24/Hr Room Service

A list of all the bars onboard the Regal Princess – there are 13 to choose from!

• Vines – wine bar.
• Bellini – champagne bar.
• Piazza Bar – different performances thoughout the day.
• Good Spirit’s – cocktail bar with a live cocktail-making show in the evenings.
• Wheelhouse Bar – nautial themed.
• Crooner’s Bar – live piano music.
• Mermaid’s Tail – poolside bar.
• SeaView – poolside bar.
• Outrigger Bar – overlooking the terrace pool.
• Churchill’s – cozy pub-style bar for smokers.
• Princess Live! Cafe bar – along the side of the ship.
• Vista Lounge – live entertainment venue.
• Club 6 – small nightclub with dancefloor

One of the things that sets Princess Cruises apart are their fab OceanMedallions™ .  These are tiny, wearable devices  (about the size of a 10p) which make your whole onboard experience effortless – and contactless!

Roshni, one of the bloggers I was travelling with, has written an excellent post reviewing the OceanMedallion in-depth – so check that out for full details.

It’s your room key first of all – but you don’t even have to get it out of your bag. As soon as you walk near your door, the digital display outside greets you and the door unlocks!

The medallions also allow for contactless boarding. As soon as you walk near the scanner, your profile photo pops up, and the staff greet you by name. It made boarding so much more efficient than my last two cruises

Using the MedallionClass app, you can use the OceanNow feature to order from the bars, restaurants and shops for delivery right to your location. The staff will use your OceanMedallion and the logged profile picture to find you – so you don’t have to queue – or even move!

The same technology also allows you to find your friends and family onboard – you just have to add them as a friend in the app, and you can locate them whenever you need to.

There’s also a map on the app which you can use to plot a route to wherever you need to get to.

The Medallions come on a lanyard, but you can also buy other accessories to make it more discrete. I like the little clips, which I clipped to my bag.

Finally, the JourneyView planner function  lets you see all the activities and entertainment coming up  on your Regal Princess cruise. It’s a great way to stay on track and plan your days on the Regal Princess.

All-Inclusive Princess Plus Fare

On my most recent trip on the Regal Princess, I tried out the new All-Inclusive Princess Plus Fare for my review.

This includes unlimited WiFi, an all-inclusive drinks package, Unlimited juice bar, Premium desserts (2 per day), Fitness classes (2 per cruise),  2 casual dining meals per guest, OceanNow® delivery, room service delivery, and Crew appreciation (tips) – and it’s only £50pp per day.

When I took my last cruise with Princess, the Plus Fare package covered less stuff but only cost £30 a day – which I thought was well worth it. Now, I think it’s only worth it if you think you’re likely to spend at least £50 day on drinks and treats during your cruise. If you’re not a big drinker, you might want to simply pay as you go.

Plus Beverage Package

The Princess Plus Fare comes with the Plus Beverage Package, which I made full use of on my trip!

I’ve copied the following from the Princess Cruises website to make sure I get it right:

Our Plus Beverage Package includes the classics: sodas, Speciality coffees and teas, cocktails, spirits, wine and beer up to $15 each. Even hot chocolate, smoothies and water to go. You’ll also enjoy 25% off all bottles of wine. Whatever you want – with tips included!

Even if you don’t plan on drinking much in the way of alcohol, it’s good to know that all your soft drinks and speciality coffees etc are covered.

Best WiFi at Sea

Princess Cruises pride themselves on having the “best WiFi at sea”!

If you’re going on holiday to switch off, you might not care much about that. But if you want to stay in touch with folks back home via WhatsApp or email, or post to social media during your trip, you might want to stay connected. And data roaming charges can be excruciating, especially at sea.

The WiFi onboard wasn’t always perfect, but it worked well for me almost all of the time. I struggled more using my laptop when trying to do a bit of work (involving uploading photos), but I was able to post photos and videos to my Instagram stories and Twitter throughout the trip without a problem.

A couple of the others in my group said they encountered connectivity problems, but I didn’t have any. On the whole, I’d say it was pretty decent WiFi – especially for such a large ship, at sea in the middle of who-knows-where!

Crew Appreciation

Princess Plus also includes Crew Appreciation. Basically, this means tips are paid in advance on your behalf, so you don’t have to worry about bringing cash onboard with you.

Crew incentive is $16 per person per day for Interior, Oceanview, and Balcony staterooms, $17 per person per day for Mini-suite and Club Class staterooms and $18 per person per day for Suites.

The next level up is the Princess Premier package, which includes everything Plus covers – as well as a whole lot more.

It costs £65 per guest and includes:

Wi-Fi (up to 4 devices per guest), Premier Beverage Package (drinks up to $20 each), Unlimited juice bar, Premium desserts (unlimited), Fitness classes (unlimited), Photo package (unlimited digital + 3 prints), Princess Prizes, 2 speciality dining meals per guest, Medallion accessory, Reserved theatre seating (for production shows only), Unlimited casual dining meals, OceanNow® delivery, Room service delivery, and Crew appreciation (tips).

The Premier Drinks Package “includes everything our Plus Beverage Package does as well as drinks up to $20 each with a premium selection of spirits, cocktails and wine by the glass. You’ll also enjoy 25% off all bottles of wine.”

I’ve travelled on the Regal Princess twice now and had a fabulous time on both trips. There are so many things to do, so many facilities to enjoy, bars to drink in, shows to watch, and foods to eat that you could never be bored!

The thing I like best about Princess Cruises is that they let you have exactly the kind of cruise you want. Whether you want to lounge by the pool all day drinking cocktails, or fill your days with ping pong tournaments and bingo sessions, there really is something for everyone.

You can keep yourself as busy (or as un-busy) as you like – it’s your holiday, after all!

Search for cruises here to find your perfect trip on the Regal Princess.

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6 thoughts on “Everything You Need to Know about the Regal Princess – A Review”

Thank you for all this great information. We are headed to the Caribbean in February on Regal. I have looked everywhere online for a Princess Patter for general info on times of shows. Would you happen to have a copy of one Thank you

I don’t I’m afraid. But I believe the entertainment schedules and show times are different for every cruise, so even if you do find one I don’t think you’ll be able to make any plans around it. Could you contact Princess Cruises and ask if they have the schedule yet for when you’ll be onboard?

Your review was very informative, this will be my first cruise o the regal princess. What was included in the thermal spa or enclave. I only seeking steam sauna, jacuzzi pool, as I have always called the wet area, it will be a 7 day cruise. Thank you ,

Hi Rita, thanks for reading. There was a hydrotherapy pool, steam room, sauna, and a few other features like a giant rainforest shower and day beds for relaxing on. I believe you can pay to just use the “wet spa” – or it’s included with treatments. You can go and chat to the spa staff on your first day to make bookings etc. Hope that helps :)

Going on regal princess in may to British isles. Need WiFi but don’t drink and wondering if just better to pay by the day or get a package.. thanks for help. I have 2 devices.

Hi Carolyn! I think that depends on whether you’ll use the other stuff that’s included on the package. Princess Plus includes WiFi for 1 device per guest, but also things like Premium Deserts and Fitness classes, and dining at some of the a la carte restaurants instead of just the buffets. In terms of drinks it’s not just alcohol – but also all the sodas, speciality coffees (like lattes etc – I think only filter coffee is free). If you’ll use all those extras then it’s worth paying for the package – but if the only thing on the list that you’ll use is WiFi then it’s going to work out cheaper to just pay for that daily. WiFi costs $24.99 (about £20) per day at the moment, whereas the Princess Plus package is £50 a day.

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Caribbean Princess

Cruise line Princess Cruises

• Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida)
• Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida)
• Vancouver (BC Canada)
• Southampton (England)
• Whittier (Alaska)

Caribbean Princess current position

Caribbean Princess current location is at North East Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 52.76738 N / -5.47618 W) cruising at speed of 15.9 kn (29 km/h | 18 mph) en route to Holyhead. The AIS position was reported 2 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Caribbean Princess

Caribbean Princess current cruise is 14 days, round-trip Ireland, Scottish Highlands Wales . The itinerary starts on 29 Aug, 2024 and ends on 12 Sep, 2024 .

Specifications of Caribbean Princess

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Caribbean Princess Itineraries

Caribbean princess review, review of caribbean princess.

The 2004-built Caribbean Princess cruise ship is the 6th Grand-class Princess Cruises liner, with sisterships Crown , Diamond , Golden (Pacific Adventure) , Grand , Emerald , Ruby , Star (Pacific Encounter) and Sapphire .

The vessel (IMO number 9215490) is currently Bermuda- flagged (MMSI 310423000) and registered in Hamilton .

History - construction and ownership

Princess Cruises is a USA-based passenger shipping company headquartered in Beverly Hills CA. A former subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises (1977-founded), in 2003, the company merged with Carnival Corporation - the world's largest cruise shipowner. Among Princess Cruise Lines Ltd's assets is the Caribbean private island resort Princess Cays (on Bahamas Eleuthera Island's southern end), located approx 80 km (50 mi) from Nassau .

The 2600-passenger ship Caribbean Princess underwent a major drydock refit in early 2009 when were added facilities available on the younger fleet mates Crown, Emerald and Ruby. Now passengers spend hours sitting in the cosy, patio-style seating places, sipping coffee, reading, playing board games and watching occasional performers, ranging from a Cirque-type cube-spinner to a BMX biker. The new Piazza-Vines Wine Bar is the place to try over thirty wines by the glass while snacking on artisan cheeses, sushi and tapas. Of the changes, the most remarkable and appreciated, is the transformation of the former atrium into a new 3-deck-high, street-cafe-style Piazza - home to the International Cafe (a combination bakery, deli and coffee shop), Vines Wine & Seafood Bar, the Internet Cafe & Library, and an amusement zone.

Decks and Cabins

Most Caribbean Princess staterooms (1569 total, in 34 grades) are 170-ft2 balcony cabins (675). Almost 80% of the outside accommodations have private step-out balconies. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 25. The largest accommodations are the Grand Suites (615 ft2 / 57 m2 with terrace sized 115 ft2 / 11 m2).

The boat has 18 decks , of which 15 are passenger-accessible and 9 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Caribbean Princess features three dining rooms, all with twinkling lights on their ceilings and tasteful, Caribbean-themed menu. The Palm is for fixed-seating dining, while Island and Coral are for passengers who have chosen "Anytime Dining". Reservations are available but are not required. Coral also welcomes guests for waiter-service breakfast and lunch. Rotating menu options include soups, appetizers, mains and desserts. There are also signature pasta and choices like Caesar salad and salmon. The healthy Lotus Spa selections are low in sodium and fat. Cafe Caribe and Horizon Court look identical and are open all day long. The Horizon section serves as a lido buffet restaurant and features breakfast buffets. Lunch choices may include unusual dishes like peanut butter sandwiches and fried bananas. 

Follows the complete list of Caribbean Princess restaurants and food bars.

• Island Restaurant (ship's aft Dining Room; dinner only - offers “Anytime Dining” between 5:30 p.m. -10 p.m.)
• Crown Grill (160-seat steakhouse/seafood restaurant, reservations recommended; on select days serves British Pub Lunch, complimentary)
• Coral Restaurant (ship's forward Dining Room for Breakfast 7-9 a.m., Lunch 12-1:30 p.m., Afternoon Tea 3:30-4:30 p.m.; features “Anytime Dining” for Dinner between 5:30-8 p.m. or 8-10 p.m.)
• Palm Restaurant (dinner only aft Dining Room; with 2 fixed seatings at 6 p.m. or 8:15 p.m.)
• Sabatini’s Restaurant (Italian specialty restaurant; reservations recommended)
• The Salty Dog Grill (replacing Trident Grill, self-service, complimentary fast food bar)
• World Fresh Marketplace (replacing Horizon Court, self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary)
• Planks BBQ and Steamers Seafood (replacing Cafe Caribe, aft self-service buffet restaurant)
• Slice (formerly Pizzeria, with west and East Coast offerings, classic Neapolitan-style pizza)
• Coffee & Cones (formerly Scoops, offers free ice cream cones, treats of gourmet ice cream sandwiches, specialty coffee)

In April 2024 Princess Cruises announced that starting September 14th (2024) fleetwide would be introduced 3 distinct main dining/dinner table service options – Traditional, Reservable, and Walk-in Anytime. By the new program (introduced with Sun Princess) on each ship are allocated 3 separate dining rooms - one for Traditional dining (offering early and late dinner seating), one with Reservable times, and one for Walk-in Anytime (open-seating). The new options are integrated with the OceanNow service, allowing anything to be ordered anytime, and delivered anywhere onboard.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Princess Theater is the main venue on Caribbean Princess for comedy acts and production shows with a variety of music and selections appealing to a broad mix of ages. Each of the ship's venues has a different offering. Crooners feature music trivia contests and a pianist. Explorer's Lounge hosts events for everything from Wii sports tournaments to art auctions, plus comedy shows and magicians.

The Piazza offers various demonstrations, circus-lite acts and musical performances throughout the day. 

Club Fusion is a part game show, part nightclub venue. Skywalker Nightclub, Princess' trademark, hosts the 70s-, the 80s- and the 90s-inspired nights and a few nights with a variety of modern music.

For low-key dancing, head to the Wheelhouse Bar, which hosts combos playing standards and soft rock.

Follows the complete list of Caribbean Princess lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• The Piazza Atrium (3-deck open floor area; features live performances entertainment and lobby Bar Piazza)
• Princess Fine Arts Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop; Platinum Studio
• International Cafe (24-hour specialty coffee bar and patisserie)
• Vines Bar (wine/seafood/sushi bar)
• Library (with Internet stations); Internet Cafe (24-hour)
• Princess Caribbean Theatre (2-level musical and show productions; hosts workshops, seminars, game shows)
• Churchill Lounge & Bar (smoking lounge and sports bar)
• Calypso Cove Shop; Essence Shop; Limelight Shop; Meridian Bay Shop; Facets Shop
• Princess Caribbean Grand Casino
• Crooners Lounge & Bar (live music; also used for seminars)
• Explorers Lounge & Bar (disco/show lounge; hosts karaoke, comedy, game shows and art auctions)
• Wheelhouse Bar (piano bar during the day and an English pub nightly).
• Club Fusion Lounge (hosts dance classes and quizzes, after 7:30 p.m. becomes Disco & Nightclub)
• Scoops Bar (Sundaes Ice Cream Bar, complimentary)
• Outrigger Bar (poolside bar); Tradewinds Bar
• Caribbean’s Lotus Spa complex; Beauty Salon; Fitness Center (with Aerobics Studio)
• Hearts & Minds (Wedding Chapel)
• Movies Under the Stars (LED screen outdoor cinema)
• Video Games Arcade; Teen Center; Youth Center with Paddling Pool and outdoor playing areas
• The Sanctuary (adult-only open-air area)
• Camp Discovery (Youth Center)
• Calypso Reef & Pool area; Neptune’s Reef & Pool area; Pirate’s View Pool area (served by Morgan’s Bar)
• The Skywalker (Jogging Track); Sports Court (volleyball, basketball, European football); Princess Links mini golf course, Cybergolf simulator
• Skywalkers Disco & Nightclub

Reef Splash Zone (kids aquapark / without waterslides) was added during drydock refurb 2019. Read more in the ship's Wiki section .

Itineraries

Caribbean Princess itinerary program is based on seasonal deployment in Europe (voyages out of Southampton England UK ) and in the Caribbean (roundtrips from Port Canaveral/Fort Lauderdale Florida USA ). When changing regions (in spring and fall), the ship offers 2-week-long Transatlantic crossings between Europe and the USA (RepositionCruises.com).

Photos of Caribbean Princess

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•   show more news

Other Princess Cruises cruise ships

• Coral Princess
• Crown Princess
• Diamond Princess
• Discovery Princess
• Emerald Princess
• Enchanted Princess
• Grand Princess
• Island Princess
• Majestic Princess
• Regal Princess
• Royal Princess
• Ruby Princess
• Sapphire Princess
• Sky Princess
• Star Princess
• Sun Princess

Caribbean Princess Wiki

Princess Cruises Caribbean ship belongs to company's Grand-class liners ( Fincantieri Monfalcone -built), with (same-designed) sisterships Crown  and  Emerald . The ship is slightly bigger than the other (similarly-designed) Grand-Class liners  Star (now Pacific Encounter) ,  Golden (now Pacific Adventure)  and  Grand . The reason for this is the additional cabin deck (Riviera Deck). The vessel also has no sliding roof to cover the swimming pool area as this liner was planned for exclusively Caribbean itineraries.

Ship's christening ceremony was on April 2, 2004, held in  Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida) , from where also started the inaugural cruise (maiden voyage). Ship's godmother was Jill Whelan - US actress, best known for her role of Vicki Stubing in the 80's TV series "The Love Boat". The vessel was the biggest one in the fleet right until June 2013, when Royal Princess  entered into service.

Fun fact: Caribbean Princess is the first cruise vessel to have an open-air theatre/ outdoor movie screen (named "Movies under the Stars").

Ship's European maiden season was based on homeport Southampton England . Then, it was repositioned to  NYC New York  to operate Fall Foliage cruises to New England, then relocated back to Fort Lauderdale for roundtrip Caribbean itineraries. In April 2013, the liner was deployed back to Europe for the British Isles and various Northern European itineraries in Baltic Sea.

In early-September 2018, Caribbean Princess became fleet's first vessel with installed  Carnival Corporation's OceanMedallion technology  (wearable devices allowing passengers access to "virtual concierge" services and amenities, as well as interactive entertainment). The new technology also includes the MedallionNet - Wi-Fi connectivity via access points installed in every stateroom. Passengers on MedallionClass cruise liners experience land-like connection quality allowing streaming of movies, music, videos, video phone calls, real-time sharing on social media platforms.

Panama Canal cruise itineraries 2017

In 2017, Caribbean Princess made her maiden season of  Panama Canal transition cruises  through the new locks. The ship operated on the 10-day itinerary (with partial transits through the new Agua Clara locks) on roundtrips from  Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida) . The ship's first ever transit was on October 26, 2017. Prices started from USD 1250 pp (double occupancy). This voyage also celebrated Princess Cruises' 50th anniversary of the 1967 crossing (world's first ever on passenger ship).

The fleet mates  Coral  and  Island  continued to transit the canal through the 3 old locks (Pedro Miguel, Miraflores, Gatun). The new locks were officially inaugurated on June 26, 2016. They are the result of a 9-year (USD 5,2 billion) construction project.

USA to Greenland itinerary 2019

A new Greenland cruise roundtrip from USA (NYC New York ) was revealed in January 2018 for the Princess Cruises Caribbean ship.

• The cruise departure was scheduled for August 19, 2019.
• The 16-days long itinerary's ports of call were in Greenland (Nanortalik, Nuuk, Qaqortoq) and Canada (Halifax, Sydney, St Johns).
• Cruise prices started from USD 2,500 pp (double occupancy Inside Cabin rate) plus additional USD 220 in Gov taxes and port fees.

Caribbean Princess refurbishment 2019 review

During drydock 2019 refurbishment (in June, done in Freeport Bahamas ) on the ship was installed fleet's first-ever waterpark - Reef Splash Zone (without waterslides!). Located aft-portside on Deck 17/Sports Deck (beneath the ramp leading to Skywalkers Nightclub on Deck 18), the water park was added as a new section to the original aft swimming pool (Pirate's View). The redesigned area now includes a large-sized Splashpad (outdoor water playground) fitted with splash pool, water cannons, water sprays, showers, interactive whale-like structure (with a "raining" fluke). The surrounding lounging area (designed for families with kids) was updated with new patio furniture (comfortable sectionals, chairs, sunloungers, padded garden couches with tables), new fixtures and finishes. The existing swimming pool, whirlpool hot tub (large outdoor Jacuzzi) and poolside bar (Morgan's Bar) were also renovated.

The newly-added Game Zone hosts family fun competitions and features oversized backyard games (the likes of Jenga, Cornhole, Connect Four). At Morgan's Bar (kids-friendly) parents can enjoy mocktails and cocktails. The surrounding lounge area is furnished with comfortable sectionals. The water-park is protected by wind panels (throughout the area) while its Shade Canopy (aft-starboard) is a sun-protected seating area covered with canvas canopies. The music system and lighting were upgraded (to the steps and swimming pool) and new wall lighting was installed for the evening open-deck parties, activities (including stargazing and educational kids programs) and themed events.

On Deck 16, the Spa complex (forward) was renovated, redesigned and updated with contemporary artworks and signage. On Deck 16 aft, at Camp Discovery Youth Center (kids-only complex for children 3-12 yo), the Outdoor Play Area was upgraded with an interactive water table for current itinerary/destination-themed fun activities.

Caribbean Princess refurbishment 2017 review

During the ship's 2017 drydock refurbishment (March 25 - April 5, done in Freeport Bahamas) resulted in the following deckplan changes:

• New kids area ("Camp Discovery" / kids and teen center) was added aft on deck 17.
• Pool deck's MUTS screen ("Movies Under the Stars" / 850-seat outdoor movie theatre) was upgraded.
• The number of interconnecting cabins (for families) was increased with an additional 87 pairs.
• (Lido Deck 15) "Horizon Court" was replaced by "World Fresh Marketplace". The ship's new buffet restaurant now has new decor, improved layout and more food options. Breakfast includes 24-hour cereal station, designer pancake station, hot cereal choices (like shrimp & grits and polenta porridge). Lunch includes hand-crafted sandwiches, regionally-inspired soups, a wide selection of meats (sausages, hams, roasted). Dinner includes family comfort foods, PB&J bar ("Peanut Butter and Jelly").  Nighttime buffet offerings include live-action cooking station (stir-fry, customized pasta, salads).
• (Lido Deck 15) the ship now has 2 casual specialty restaurants formed from the old "Cafe Caribe". Both restaurants are designed for families with kids. The first at-fee restaurant ("Planks BBQ") serves family-style meat planks (ribs, beef, sausages, chicken) plus sides (fries, chili, coleslaw, charred toast, dill pickles).  Dinner here is served and costs USD 12 pp.  Free buffet-style breakfast and lunch here include customizable breakfast bowls, signature soup, fresh-made salads, fork & knife sandwiches. The second at-fee restaurant ("Steamers Seafood" offers steamers with regionally sourced seafood (Black and Blue Mussels, Scallops and Sausage, Classic Clams, Crab-stuffed Flounder).  Dinner is served and costs USD 12 pp.  Free buffet-style breakfast and lunch choices include egg dishes and ramen bowls.
• Following the 2017 refurbishment, the ship's pool deck (15) offers 4 outdoor dining options. "The Salty Dog Grill" (formerly "Trident Grill") offers “The Ernesto” burger (best at sea), other specialty beef burgers (with handmade patties and buns), also Street Tacos (with grilled chipotle-lime chicken or roasted sweet potato, corn tortillas), fries and classic hot dogs. "Slice Pizzeria" (formerly "Prego Pizzeria") offers Neapolitan-style pizzas, Deep Dish Focaccia (with marinara, meatballs, cheese), California Artisanal Toast, Sliced Stromboli (calzone filled with deli meats and cheese). "Coffee & Cones" (formerly "Scoops Bar") offers gourmet ice cream sandwiches, free ice cream cones, specialty coffees and teas. "THE MIX" (formerly "Blackbeard’s Bar") / poolside drinks bar) was updated and redesigned.
• The specialty Italian Trattoria restaurant Sabatini’s (formerly "SHARE by Curtis Stone", on Promenade Deck 7) was redesigned, debuting a new menu with antipasti and handmade pasta dishes by celebrity chef Angelo Auriana, Sabatini’s new menu was implemented fleetwide in 2017. Angelo Auriana is an Executive Chef and partner in the Los Angeles' Italian restaurants "The Factory Kitchen" and "Officine BRERA". Chef Auriana's dishes are based on using old-world grains (like buckwheat and durum wheat) giving them the protein strength necessary to keep the house-made pasta's shape. He also uses numerous non-traditional herbs (like mints and marjoram).

All stateroom beds (a total of 3200 units) were replaced with the company's signature "Princess Luxury Beds”.

Carnival's Ocean Medallion technology was installed in September 2018.

Tipping on a cruise: What to know about cruise ship gratuities

How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. That's because some cruise lines tack daily service fees onto passenger bills — yet many travelers still hand out additional cash gratuities, either as a matter of course or for exemplary service.

The extra cost of the automatic gratuity charges can be a shock to first-time cruisers. At some lines, these charges run as high as $25 per day. And, unlike the typical service fee or resort fee found at a land resort, they are not per room. They are per person .

At some big lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line , it's not uncommon for a family of four staying in a single cabin to see more than $70 a day in service fees added to their bills. On a typical seven-night cruise, that's around $500 in fees.

That's before you add in any additional tips you wish to give to your room service or favorite bartender or automatic gratuities tacked on to bar, restaurant and spa bills.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Still, not all lines have service fees that high. Some don't charge a service fee at all. In many cases, the service charges are adjustable.

Tipping on a cruise does not have to be complicated, but you need to understand the big picture to budget for your vacation appropriately. Read on to learn all about cruise ship tipping culture and how much you'll need to tip on your next cruise, based on which cruise line you're sailing.

Tipping on a cruise ship: The big picture

Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. Lines with such charges include both of the two giants of the cruise business, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line , as well as the next three biggest lines MSC Cruises , Norwegian and Princess Cruises .

That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators are folding tips and gratuities into their base fares.

Lines that now cover gratuities in their fares include Azamara , Ponant, Regent Seven Seas Cruises , Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Seabourn , SeaDream Yacht Club , Silversea Cruises and Virgin Voyages .

For lines that do have them, service and gratuity charges are touted as a convenient alternative to the practice of cash tipping on cruise ships — something that once was common.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

Cruise lines say they pass the money collected from service charges to the shipboard crew. They say the money is shared not just with front-of-house crew, such as room attendants and waitstaff, but also with behind-the-scenes workers. In that sense, the current system is more equitable than the old system of cash tipping, which favored certain workers, lines say.

Still, some critics see the charges as a sneaky way for cruise lines to make their fares appear lower than they really are. In this line of thinking, lines with these charges are essentially breaking out a good chunk of onboard labor costs as a separate line item on your bill.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

How service charges are levied

At most lines, you can pay your service charges before sailing (at the same time you pay your cruise fare). Alternatively, you can have the charges added to your room bill on board.

The big advantage to paying cruise tips in advance is that you lock in the current rate. If your line raises the rate between the time you pay and the time you sail, you won't pay more.

Some people also like to pay their service charges in advance for budgeting purposes. It'll be one less thing on your final bill at the end of the cruise.

If you prefer to pay for tips once you're on board your cruise, you'll generally find that the gratuities automatically appear on your bill. You don't have to do anything.

That said, if you want to, you can often adjust the charges (either up or down) while you're on board by visiting the guest relations desk. If you are adjusting a gratuity charge downward, expect to be asked about the reasons behind the adjustment. The guest relations staff will want to know if you've experienced particular service issues.

If you leave the service charge on your room bill, you are not expected to leave additional cruise tips for your room attendant or waiters. That's the whole point of the service charge.

Similarly, if you're on a higher-end ship that lists gratuities as being included in the fare, that means just what it says. You don't have to tip on these cruises because the line is already paying gratuities to the staff on your behalf. Additional cash gifts are not expected.

Still, some people do leave a little extra for crew members who go above and beyond. Others tip their room service or waitstaff at their favorite bar, either early in the cruise in the hope of getting better service or at the end to thank them for enhancing the vacation experience. How much to tip extra on a cruise is entirely up to you because it is in no way required.

Related: 10 times you do not need to tip on a cruise

Included cruise tips as a booking perk

If you dislike tipping on cruise ships but can't afford to sail on an all-inclusive line, look for promotions when cruise lines with service charges throw in free gratuities as a booking incentive.

For instance, in recent years, Norwegian often ran Free at Sea promotions that included free crew tips in addition to free shipboard Wi-Fi and a free drinks package . The line hasn't been doing that as much lately, but these offers often come back at times when brands need to drum up more business.

Additionally, several major lines in the past couple of years have begun offering bundle pricing to customers who pay for cruise tips, Wi-Fi charges and an onboard drinks package all at once in advance of sailing, potentially at a discount.

Princess, for example, has added a Princess Plus plan as a booking option. It gives passengers prepaid gratuities (Princess calls these "crew appreciation" fees), a single-device Wi-Fi plan and a basic beverage package for a single bundled price of $60 per person, per day.

Don't worry: When lines offer such deals, it doesn't mean the crew will receive fewer tips the week you cruise. The lines that offer these deals say they'll pay a normal gratuity to the crew on your behalf.

Related: The best cruise booking perks — and which ones are actually free

Additional cruise ship tipping

Daily service charges are not the only cruise tips you will pay on board. Many cruise lines will tack an automatic gratuity charge onto the bill for extra-fee drinks, restaurant meals and spa treatments.

The included tip amount varies by cruise line but is typically 15% to 20% of the bill. Be warned that the receipt often includes a line for an additional gratuity, even when one is automatically added. This can trick many cruisers into tipping twice. Never feel pressured to add an extra tip when you've already paid one.

Note that if you purchase a dining or beverage package, most cruise lines will charge you gratuities based on a percentage of the package price. If you get one of these packages for free as a booking perk, as with Norwegian Cruise Line's Free at Sea promotion, you might still be required to pay the gratuities on the free perk.

For example, Norwegian offers a complimentary Open Bar drinks package for travelers who book its Free at Sea promotion. The cost of that package is typically $109 per person, per day. The mandatory 20% gratuity comes out to nearly $22 per day. That means two people sharing a room on a seven-night cruise would pay $308 in tips for an otherwise free drinks package — on top of their daily service charge fees.

Cruisers should also bring cash to tip the porters who bring their bags onto the ship (usually $2 per bag), as well as tour guides in port ($5 to $10 per person for half-day tours, $10 to $20 for full-day excursions and $2 for non-guide drivers). Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request.

How much should you tip on each cruise line?

If you're wondering how much you should tip on the specific cruise line you're considering or have already booked, we've compiled that information here. Below is a line-by-line look at policies for automatic gratuity charges (called service charges or "crew appreciation" charges at some lines). The rates listed are per person, per day. They were accurate as of the publishing of this story.

Remember that all additional tipping is at your discretion. Any amount is fine and will be appreciated by the hard-working crew.

Alaskan Dream Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : None.
• Details : Gratuities for the crew are not included in the fare and are at the discretion of travelers.
• Details : Gratuities for the crew are included in the fare. One area of exception: An 18% gratuity is added to bills for spa services.

Carnival Cruise Line

• Automatic gratuity charge : $16 to $18 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $16. Those in suites pay $18. Children younger than 2 are exempt from the charges. Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills, the cover charges for the Chef's Table and Bonsai Teppanyaki restaurants and the a la carte fee at Bonsai Sushi, Emeril's Bistro, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse and Seafood Shack.

Related: Cruise giant Carnival joins Princess, Norwegian in sharply hiking service fees

Celebrity Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : $18 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $18. Passengers in Concierge Class pay $18.50 and, for bookings made after Oct. 4, 2023, passengers in AquaClass cabins also pay $18.50 (for AquaClass bookings made before that date, there is no charge for gratuities). For bookings made after Oct. 4, 2023, passengers in The Retreat suites pay $23 (for The Retreat bookings made before that date, there is no charge for gratuities). Note that passengers who book a Celebrity cabin under the line's pricier All Included rate plan also do not pay gratuity charges. Additionally, a 20% gratuity is added when a passenger orders a drink that's not included in the line's All-Included rate plan, as well as when purchasing a minibar item. An 18% gratuity will be added for spa and salon services.

Celestyal Cruises

• Details : Gratuities for crew and bar staff are included in the fare.

Costa Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : $12.50 to $17.50 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers on ships operating on the U.S. dollar generally pay $12.50. Ships operating on the euro have an 11 euro charge ($11.60 at current exchange rates). On cruises departing from China, Japan and Singapore, the charges range from $13.50 to $17.50, depending on the cabin category. Passengers younger than 4 are exempt from the charges. Gratuities for children between 4 and 14 (up to 12 on cruises departing from Japan, China and Singapore) are half the adult rate. Additionally, a 15% gratuity is added to beverage purchases.

Cunard Line

• Automatic gratuity charge : $14.50 to $16.50 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $14.50. Passengers in Grill Class suites pay $16.50. Additionally, a 15% gratuity is added to bar, wine and salon bills.

Disney Cruise Line

• Details : While Disney doesn't add an automatic gratuity charge, it suggests that passengers staying in most cabins pay $14.50 per day in total when tipping various dining staff and room attendants. The suggested amount for passengers staying in concierge cabins and suites is $15.50. Passengers can prepay the amount in advance or on board. Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service bills, and an 18% gratuity is added to bills for spa services.

Holland America Line

• Automatic gratuity charge : $17 to $19.00 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $17 for what the line now calls a "crew appreciation" charge. Passengers staying in suites pay $19.00. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills and dining room wine purchases.

Related: Is this love? Holland America chooses Valentine's Day for service charge price hike

Lindblad Expeditions

• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare for passengers on National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Orion. On other ships, gratuities are at the passenger's discretion.

MSC Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : about $13 (12 euros) to $16.
• Details : Gratuity charges are $16 on voyages from and to the U.S., with the exception of sailings with pricing in euros, which have a gratuity charge of 12 euros ($12.66 at current exchange rates). Gratuities for children between 2 and 11 are half the adult rate on most cruises. Gratuities are not charged for children younger than 2.

Norwegian Cruise Line

• Automatic service charge : $20 to $25 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $20. Those in suites or The Haven pay $25. Passengers younger than 3 are exempt from the charges. Additionally, a 20% gratuity is added to bills at bars, extra-charge specialty restaurants and ship spas. Cruises to Hawaii will also pay a 4.275% prepaid service charge called a general excise tax.

Oceania Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : $18 to $23 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers staying in most cabins pay $18. Passengers in top suites with butler service pay $23. Additionally, a 20% gratuity is added to bills at bars, the extra-charge La Reserve restaurant and at ship spas.

Paul Gauguin Cruises

• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare.
• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare. However, passengers can give more at their discretion; Ponant recommends $10 to $12 per passenger, per day.

Princess Cruises

• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $16 for what the line now calls a "crew appreciation" charge . Passengers in mini-suites pay $17, while those in bigger suites pay $18. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills, dining room wine purchases and Lotus Spa services.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal caribbean.

• Automatic gratuity charge : $18 to $20.50 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers staying in most cabins, including junior suites, pay $18 per day. Passengers in higher-level suites pay $20.50. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bills at bars, minibars, salons and spas.

Related: Royal Caribbean quietly raises automatic gratuity charges

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Seadream yacht club, silversea cruises.

• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare, except for beauty salon and spa treatments.

Star Clippers

• Details : The line recommends that passengers pay 8 euros ($8.44 at current exchange rates) per day in gratuities, but the payment is at the passenger's discretion. There is a 15% gratuity added for bar purchases.

UnCruise Adventures

• Details : UnCruise recommends that passengers pay $35 per person, per day in gratuities, but the payment is at the passenger's discretion.
• Automatic gratuity charge : $17 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers pay $17 in gratuities for all cabin types. Also, a 15% gratuity is added to bar bills.

Virgin Voyages

Windstar cruises.

• Automatic gratuity charge : $16 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers pay a "hotel service charge" of $16 for all cabin types. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service bills. Alternately, Windstar cruisers can upgrade their bookings with an all-in package that includes unlimited beverages, Wi-Fi and the hotel service charge for $89 per person, per day.

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