Caribbean cruise aboard the Regal Princess Archives

Regal Princess 14: Caribbean welcoming guests after September hurricanes

January 3, 2018January 3, 2018 by Jackie Scheckler Finch

ABOARD THE REGAL PRINCESS – Hibiscus are blooming. Palm trees swaying. Shops selling. Cold drinks waiting. St. Thomas is open for business. After devastating September hurricanes, the Caribbean island is welcoming cruise ships and visitors. When the Regal Princess docked in St. Thomas, I was happy to see the remarkable recovery efforts and the welcome mat rolled out for cruise ship passengers. Two other cruise ships were docked there as well and the dock area was festively …

Regal Princess 13: Dining at specialty restaurant Sabatini’s

January 3, 2018January 3, 2018 by Jackie Scheckler Finch

ABOARD THE REGAL PRINCESS – If I didn’t see the ocean waves outside the dining room window, I might think I was in some elegant restaurant in Italy. Instead, I am enjoying a leisurely meal at Sabatini’s, the specialty restaurant aboard the Regal Princess. The Tuscan-inspired décor features beautiful murals, warm woods, etched glass, Roman columns and grandiose chandeliers. A large glassed case displays fresh-made pasta and a huge circular case showcases special wines. The carpet is …

Regal Princess 12: Repeat cruisers get perks on Princess ships

January 3, 2018December 18, 2017 by Jackie Scheckler Finch

ABOARD THE REAL PRINCESS – A sure sign of Princess cruise popularity is the huge turnout for the Captain’s Circle cocktail party. For repeat cruisers, the invitation-only get together was packed on my Regal Princess cruise. No wonder. Of the 3,291 passengers on my cruise, 2,400 were repeat Princess cruisers, Captain Tim Stringer said. “We welcome you back and appreciate your loyalty,” he said. That’s a whole lot of people. But the most surprising number was the …

Regal Princess 11: Now ‘Born to Dance’ show spotlights talented performers

January 3, 2018December 13, 2017 by Jackie Scheckler Finch

ABOARD THE REGAL PRINCESS – Broadway’s “unsung heroes” are saluted in the new stage show “Born to Dance” presented aboard the Regal Princess. The multi-media show has an awesome pedigree. It was produced by Oscar, Grammy and Tony award winner Stephen Schwartz, who composed “Wicked,” “Godspell” and “Pippin.” The show spotlights a who’s-who of acclaimed choreographers and dancers to trace the journey of the great artists and shows that made musical theater history. The theater was packed …

Regal Princess 10: Crown Grill specialty restaurant is a real jewel

January 3, 2018December 12, 2017 by Jackie Scheckler Finch

ABOARD THE REGAL PRINCESS – During my leisurely dinner at Crown Grill on the Regal Princess, diners toasted two birthdays and an anniversary. That might tell you that the ship’s specialty restaurant is a place for celebrations. It certainly is. I had no special date in mind when I paid $29 to dine in the Crown Grill. I had just heard that the dining spot was popular with passengers and wanted to see for myself. First, of …

Regal Princess 9: Ship offers lively children’s programs for various age groups

January 3, 2018December 11, 2017 by Jackie Scheckler Finch

Carefully scooping sand into a pail, the boy looked as though he might be searching for treasure. Which he is. As part of its children program, the Regal Princess offers a treasure hunt in the sandy playground of Pelican’s Perch on Princess Cruise Line’s private island resort of Princess Cays. “One of our activities on Princess Cays is to hide things in the sand and the children search to find them,” said Olena Saltan, youth activities manager …

Regal Princess 8: Ship’s soft drink package offers more, costs less

January 3, 2018December 11, 2017 by Jackie Scheckler Finch

ABOARD THE REGAL PRINCESS – Cruise lines that charge for soft drinks could take a lesson from the Regal Princess. Charge less. Offer more. It’s always been a pet peeve of mine when cruise ships charge inflated fees for soft drinks. My caffeine of choice is cola, Pepsi preferably, which most cruise ships don’t carry. It irks me to pay almost $3 for a small can of Coke or to buy a cruise-long soft drink package at …

Regal Princess 7: Ship’s wine tasting is fun and educational

January 3, 2018December 6, 2017 by Jackie Scheckler Finch

ABOARD THE REGAL PRINCESS – As soon as maître d’ Federico Arcos Cantos started talking I knew I was going to enjoy this wine tasting seminar on the Regal Princess. “To know about wine is very easy,” Cantos said. “If you like it, then you have found a wine that you like and you know about wine.” It is not necessary to be snooty or a well-experienced wine drinker to be able to choose wine, Cantos added. …

Regal Princess 6: Visiting the private island retreat of Princess Cruise Line

January 3, 2018December 5, 2017 by Jackie Scheckler Finch

ABOARD THE REGAL PRINCESS – Bill plans to snorkel and take photos of the colorful fish in the coral reef. Mae is looking forward to browsing through local arts and crafts at beach shops. And their son Mike wants to practice his paddleboarding. The family from Maine says they have been looking forward to Princess Cays which offers plenty of adventure and attractions. Or folks can just lean back in a beach chair and relax. The private …

Regal Princess 5: Movies are part of the onboard ship entertainment

January 3, 2018December 4, 2017 by Jackie Scheckler Finch

ABOARD THE REGAL PRINCESS – The moon watched from the night sky and the waves crashed below as Wonder Woman unleashed a lightning bolt to kill the villain and save the world from impending disaster. But we weren’t sitting in some movie theater watching the popular 2017 Gai Gadot film. And those weren’t make-believe waves we were hearing. We were snuggled in deck lounge chairs with warm blankets and freshly popped corn on the top deck of …