Regal Princess just don't do it!!!

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ron123

Guest
I will be posting a cruise review. I need a cool down period before I write. Suffice to say it is an old style boring ship with no modern ammenities.

No indoor pool.
No personal choice dining(unless you want pizza subject the there open schedule)
Gym on lower deck as to bump your head on the ceiling while on treadmill
Very bland food same corporate menus.. perpared for 80 year olds! No spices at all.
Late nite dining was bistro or stale breads, 3 cheeses or pastries only
Bistro was open til 4am however no one was around to seat you!!
Crowded , smoking everwhere ship with tons of walkers canes and buggies everywhere
Furthermore, out of 1590 passengers 90 of us were under 50!! including children.
200 were under 60 years, 700 or so were between 61 and 80 and at least 600 over 80-100.
I will only book grand class ships or new ships from here on out... DONOT make the mistake we did. If I seem disapointed vacaions only come once a year!!
Finally, complaining while on the ship got them to 'review there policy with you' -- and nothing else!!

Some of these things would be okay if we didnot have 10 sea days on our Hawaii trip!
THE ONE THING TOP NOTCH WAS THE SERVICE~ Excellent as usual!

We got handed a lemon, we made lemonade, we had a good time dispite. These are not just just my opinons but many of people I spoke to on the cruise---.
My advice is if you are considering this ship and it's destination JUST DON'T DO IT!! cruise some other line!

Ron
 
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Cruise cutie

Guest
=sad for you...That's why we are waiting to do the Island Princess...we did the 10 day Panama Canal on her sister ship the Coral last year in February and it was perfect..so we deliberately waited for the new Island Princess for 2007..all I've heard are wonderful things..:(...sorry you had to be so disappointed...Take care.:daisy....Joanne
 
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ron123

Guest
I've heard the same thing .... now I know!! Thanks for commiserating with me. We were going to do Panama Canal 2/05 but it is the Regal again......NO WAY!! BTW They are supposed to be drydocking and upgrading to pizza bar/ Sabitinis.. but, We are doing something else. Likely two back to back cruises out of Ft Lauderdale eastern/western on the STAR!!!
 
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CruiseAholic

Guest
As far as the layout and amenities of the ship, you have no valid complaints, nothing is hidden about these things in the brochure, videos - comes down to one thing, research.

I sailed on the Crown Princess which was identical to the Regal and have also sailed on the Regal and would do so in a heartbeat. I loved the layout of the ship.

As far as the age of the passengers, again research - the longer the cruise and/or more exotic the itinerary, the older the clientele tends to be.

I've sailed on the Island and Coral also and if given the choice, would choose the Regal in a heartbeat. To each his own.
 
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Mgram

Guest
I agree with what CruiseAholic has said ...... you obviously did not do enough research about the ship itself or you would have known what to expect in the way dining choices, ships layout, pools etc.

I have been on both the Regal(2003) and Crown(1998) and found them to be 2 of my favorite ships for size, layout and overall comfort.

As for food......yes that is subjective, but we had WONDERFUL, FLAVORFUL meals aboard the Regal last year. Food can change from ship to ship.....even on the same same ship as Chefs change.....even the change in Captains can influence cuisine.

I am in my late 50s......not quite ready for the grim reaper and not especially active, athetically ...... so my needs are different ... no rock climbing wall necessary to make me happy. Rest, relaxation, the sound/sight of the sea, a good book and good company are all I require. If it were otherwise, I would make sure that the ship I chose would fit THOSE needs. I hope that for future cruises, you will do a lot more research so as not to be disappointed again. We have a lot of seasoned Princess cruisers on this board and the Community Forum who can answer just about any question.

Curious.......you seem so definite......did you take a scientific poll about the demographics of that sailing ....... or did Princess possibly supply you with the info?

Oh....and I have also sailed the Coral(2003), the Star(2002) and have a Dawn booked for July......and the OLD Sun (1985)
 
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PEB

Guest
I am sorry you did not enjoy the Regal Princess. It obviously sounds like you picked the wrong ship for you.

As others said the longer the cruise the older the passengers. I would say that regardless of whether people were using canes or walkers perhaps you should take the time to get to know them you may find they can still have fun. I don't mean to flame you in anyway however I do take some offense to comments such as yours about older people and people who need walkers and canes. I have had many a good time with people in walkers and that use canes. I have also had great times with people in their 70's and 80's and a few in their 90's. It may not have been in the gym or out on the basketball courts but they do have some great stories and many do know how to have fun.

Like I said I do not mean to flame you because you did not enjoy the ship and that is your opinion, I am only suggesting next time get to know some of the older people and you may find you will have a better time than you would have thought you would have.
 
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Princess Pat

Guest
We've had to adjust our attitude and activites on the Regal on more than one cruise too but eventually we hardly remembered the offenses. Hope this happens for you, and by your closing it sounds like you may have already progressed.


Examples:

Seating in dining room right over engines--couldn't even eat the meal because of the strong vibrations. Re-assigned seating was with a family of four that couldn't help personal conversations, which was understandable. Ended up eating on the Lido deck each evening and met some really nice people.

Assistant Tour Director screamed at the assembled cruisers in a crowded bar and then reversed the order of departure so the last would be first.

The food was not especially good on one cruise and then fantastic on another, only the Captain had changed.

Pat
 
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gointothechapel

Guest
HMM well,
understanding that we will probably ( by far it seems) be the "kids" on the ship ( wait does this mean I get free crayons???) and also understanding that this ship is not a world unto itself like the Grand or other such class ships, I am so very excited still!
We love hawaii so much I don't think anything could ruin this trip, well besides, it is our honeymoon, so it would take a LOT to get us off of THAT cloud!
 
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ron123

Guest
Well....
I did do my research before hand. I have been spoiled by grand-class ships The Grand and The Star. We are 41 and 38 years old.
My point is not to discourgage anyone from sailing this ship.... I just want them to to be aware that Regal Princess' target audience 65- 85 years of age.
The line-up includes banjo players, Dick Gold, a has-been comidian (he is not funny). The usual sundry of broadway style shows.

Princess does not tell you their target audience in the brouchure. Clearly they fill this ship.

Included in these demograghics:
bland food,
soggy veggies,
very limited buffets other than meal times
the old style ship
the pools closed on 'moderate swells at sea' as water was all over the place
paint your own ceramics
by 11:00pm the ship is a ghost town

Whether young, or young at heart the age of passenger did not matter to us. We made great new friends from all age groups. Ramona, the future cruises sales director said, The passengers on the Stattendam was younger than the cruisers on this run ! she used to work for Holland America.

This ship gives Princess a bad name we expected so much more( Are you listening Princess). I am dissapointed because I've seen how good Princess Cruises can be.
IMO this forum is intended to benefit all cruises and cruisers, good and bad. It is my sincere attempt to save another newby from our mistake!!
Ron
 
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ron123

Guest
goin....

I am sure you will have a great time. We already recieved e-mails from our hot-tub friends! and previous cruisers we met before.
This ship is not on the scale of grand class at all.
We had a great time despite the aged ship ,bad weather, missed ports, break-down at sea for 5 hours!! rain water leaking the upper rooms

They really play-up the loveboat theme on this ship I'm sure you'll figure out why!!
Enjoy -Ron
 
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CaribbeanSun

Guest
I am 35 and I loved the Regal Princess. It really sounds like you have sailed newer ships and expected older ships to be similiar which means you and your travel agent did not do research. How can you criticize the pools and lack of PC cruising--this information is very well known and could easily have been answered if you had asked any board.

I hope they keep the Regal exactly how it is since it represents traditional cruising to me.
 
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PEB

Guest
ron123 it deffinately sounds like you would prefer new ships and nobody should fault you for that. You do make sure you mention people in walkers and using canes and in my opinion whether they have a walker or cane should not matter regardless of the age of the ship. I know of many young people with walkers and canes as well as old and this has nothing to do with their personality or whether they are fun people. These comments are not appreciated by me and have nothing to do with the cruise. They are just a bad, in my opinion, comment about people who cannot help their physical condition. My wife walked with canes for years and has walked with a leg brace for 15 years. She is slow walking does this make her a bad person or a person not worth getting to know? My wife always likes to be as active as she can but due to her injury she is limited in her abilities. Does this make her uninteresting? FYI my wife was 3 time National Judo champion before her injury. She also is a registered International Judo Referee. She has been active in community clubs as well as National and International Judo events even after her injury. My whole point is don't think that someone with a cane or walker cannot be fun and interesting. You may find out they had a very interesting life prior to their handicap or even after their handicap.

You say you did your research and that may be true to some extent however if you did your research you would know that a 15 day cruise will more times than not always have an older group of passengers regardless of the ship or cruise line. The older people generally have more time to spend on a vacation than the younger people.

This ship and cruise was not for you and like you said you enjoy the Grand Class ships so I wish you the best on your next cruise and hope you have clear skies and calm seas for your next cruise.
 
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Sea Turtle

Guest
Your thoughts/opinions lost all creditability with your contradicting posts. Your topic title screams 'just don't do it' as does the closing line in your original post. Then you come behind it in your second entry stating 'My point is not to discourgage anyone from sailing this ship....'
 
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ron123

Guest
Sea Turtle
I am trying save future cruise folks from a dissapointing old Ship. Chris Nichols, cruise director, said this ship was due for replacement except for 9/11. Princess decided to keep it around. It should be sold off as the sister ship was! It is going to be drydocked this fall and updated with Sabitinis and a pizza bar instead of pizza resturant.

To them I say Just don't do it

Furthermore, it is my attempt to get this information out in a not-to negative-way However, many responders to this thread feel that I was just mis-informed. ( the newest review was in 2001 which I read) I also posted several threads about this ship and trip, nearly no one spoke up at all.

It is clear that some prevous posters wish to keep there opinion and and I mine. Additionally, gointothechapel and others posting on these boards are taking Regal Princess Cruise. I consider it rude to tell them to cancel there vacation.

To them I say they can decide for themselves.....

Finally, if I contradict myself on this thread, or if you feel that I still have, well--- I keep an open mind at all times..... -Ron
 
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2m2cruz

Guest
I was on the Feb 20 Regal LA to Hawaii cruise, my 14th cruise, 5th on Princess, and 3rd on the Regal. All aspects of the cruise were satisfactory except for the food. It was in no way up to par with my other cruises. It was the first time I ever sent food back during a cruise dinner.
Had a good time even with the rainstorm, stopping dead for 5 hours, and missing the port of Maui.
Will not cruise the Regal again.

Mike & Mary
 
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gointothechapel

Guest
"It is clear that some prevous posters wish to keep there opinion and and I mine. Additionally, gointothechapel and others posting on these boards are taking Regal Princess Cruise. I consider it rude to tell them to cancel there vacation."
2m2cruz wrote:

> I was on the Feb 20 Regal LA to Hawaii cruise, my 14th cruise,
> 5th on Princess, and 3rd on the Regal. All aspects of the
> cruise were satisfactory except for the food. It was in no way
> up to par with my other cruises. It was the first time I ever
> sent food back during a cruise dinner.
> Had a good time even with the rainstorm, stopping dead for 5
> hours, and missing the port of Maui.
> Will not cruise the Regal again.
>
> Mike & Mary
>
>


Well, I will be sure to post a review when we get back as well. I have never been on a Grand class ship, this will actually be my first Princess cruise ever, so I feel I am somewhat of a blank slate. Still looking forward to the trip, as Hawaii is one of my favorite places on the planet.
Happy Travels to all!
 
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ljeanbrown

Guest
gointothechapel,
You have exactly the right attitude and I think you will really enjoy your cruise :wave while some of the ships out there on every cruise line are not newborns, they are by no means ready to put to pasture either! I find I like the "older " ships better for the most part. My favorite ships are the Nordic Empress new in 1990 and since renamed and the Century new in 1995. They are wonderful ships and so is the Regal, it just is not the super sized newest ship but it has class.
 
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