(Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises)
ABOARD THE REGAL PRINCESS –– Princess Cruises has struck gold with Regal Princess. The cruise line is getting ready to celebrate 50 years, (golden anniversary, don’t you know). The ship left Pt. Everglades full for a four-day cruise to the Bahamas yesterday afternoon. Decorative touches of the color gold bring home the point in an astonishingly beautiful way throughout the spacious ship.
It is another beautiful day in Paradise, with the vessel anchored off the coast of Princess Cays on the lovely white sand beaches of the island of Eleuthera. Guests have traveled ashore by tender.
Some are doing island tours, others are playing Fantasy Island on the beach, and sunning, swimming and enjoying the island’s facilities.
I am sitting in the beautiful Sanctuary on Deck 17. It is pricey, but oh so soothing, and a lovely place to enjoy a great day. The regular outside deck, where the rest of the ship’s pools are, is totally enjoyable but the Sanctuary is worth considering if you seek quiet.
Let me tell you a bit about this new vessel. It was inaugurated in May in Europe and the formal naming ceremonies took place earlier this week. Weighing in at 141,000 tons and accommodating 3,560 guests in a total of 1,780 cabins, the ship is big.
She’s also beautiful, featuring lots of airy public rooms, three major dining rooms, three pools, a driving range, bulls eye shooting simulator, jogging track and lawn court.
GET A ROOM
Cabins are comfortable – hardly the largest at sea – but comfortable. Our cabin, D511, can sleep three or four with the use of a couch. There is a television, a safe, the usual seaboard comforts. Suites are large. Inside cabins earned rave reviews from two couples so ensconced.
There are and wide halls, twice daily housekeeping service and warm and friendly staff attitudes. Twin beds convert to a queen. Bathrooms are small, great shower, but gels for soap and shampoo.
AND MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC
Three dining rooms are named Allegro, Concerto and Symphony. Can we discern a trend? Every variety of music — country, rock, opera, classic, Broadway hits – they play ’em all over the vessel, all day long. Entertainment in the amazing Princess Theater varies nightly and offers something for every taste. The room is magnificent. There are also Movies under the Stars, lounges, games in the TV studio and more.
Tomorrow I will tell you more about weddings on Regal Princess.
November 7, 2014
Heidi, Editor-In-Chief
