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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Carole Hutchins
Email: gene@accnorwalk.com
Age: 63
Occupation: retired
NumberOfCruises: 9
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Regal
SailingDate: Jan. 15-25, 2000
Itinerary: Mexican Riviera
Cabin: E137
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 99
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 99
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 18 Feb 2000
Time: 23:54:19
Remote Name: pm11-24.accnorwalk.com
Remote User:
Comments
We had a group of ten seniors that took this cruise and we all had a great time. There were many
choices of activities and so really good shows in the showroom. I thought the cruise director, Mark
Iannazzo was absolutely the best ever. He did a great job as an emcee, but was also a relly funny
comedian, and was friendly. He would stop and visit when he saw you. This ship was easy to find
your way around. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that they didn't have a promenade deck
that went all the way around. They did have a smaller walking track up on deck 14. Also there
weren't any areas in the front of the ship to view the scenery. My room was adequate, and had more
than enough storage space.
We did have a problem with an unpleasant odor in our room. Our room
stewardess worked hard to eliminate the odor and finally succeeded somehow. She was a very
sweet girl from Romania, named Rodica. We were really lucky to have the best waiter, Bertrand. He
really went overboard trying to please us. He brought us extra food, just for us to taste. He was very
entertaining, as he nearly always acted like he was falling down while carrying food and never
spilled a drop. He also did several other tricks with the dishes, glasses and napkins. Ricky, his
side-kick, (assistant waiter) was quieter, but attentive. The head waiter was very attentive, too. The
food was good and displayed attractively.
The shows in the evening were good. The singers and
dancers were very talented and the costumes were magnificent. We really enjoyed the comedian,
Billy Vader. He entertained two different nights. He was so funny that we went back and caught the
second show of the evening just so we could see him again. The ship never seemed crowded,
although it was fully booked. There was always plenty of chairs on the deck around the pools.
Sometimes we felt the public areas were too cool. We were all glad to have a sweater in the
evenings. We chose this cruise because it was 10 days, and it had 4 days at sea. It was a nice
blend. I took some nice tours at some of the ports. Of the ten of us, we tried different tours, and
activities. Some tried the snorkling tours. A couple of the women went parasailing. A couple just
ventured out and did their own sightseeing and shopping by dealing with cab drivers. At dinner, we
would all share our days activities with the others. Some of us took part in the silly games they play
on ships. We went for scarf tying lessons. I played bridge several times, and met some real nice
people. Some went to the port talks. There were some late night parties, one was a New Years Eve
party, (even though it was a couple of weeks past New Years). There was also bingo, horse racing,
the casino, etc. There were so many activites, that a person couldn't do all the things they wanted to
do. I even found time a couple of days just to lay on a chaise lounge and read awhile.
We were also treated to an eclipse of the moon one night. It was great viewing it from a ship at sea.
One more thing that I liked about this cruise, was the tender service. We didn't have to go up and
down the outside steps, like usually happens, but we had access to the tender on the same level.
Just a few steps from the ship to the tender. I definitely would recommend this cruise and the Regal
Princess to anyone.
Name: H. Michael Ball
Email: heberb@hevanet.com
Age: 49
Occupation: Letter Carrier - USPS
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Regal
SailingDate: Feb. 14 -24, 2000
Itinerary: Mexican Riviera
Cabin: B203 I
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 91
CabinQuietness: 75
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 70
ShoreExcVariety: 75
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 70
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors: 100
BeautySalonStaff: 80
EntertainmentLounges: 50
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities: 75
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon: 80
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 75
Casino: 70
AirSeaProgram: 75
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 10
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 70
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 Feb 2000
Time: 11:55:14
Remote Name: ts03-ip47.hevanet.com
Remote User:
Comments
Regal Princess (Princess Cruises) Mexican Riviera (Feb. 14 - 24, 2000) by H. Michael Ball,
heberb@hevanet.com
Overview:
This was the second cruise for my wife and I, having sailed on The Crown Princess exactly a year prior.
We chose Valentine's Day knowing that this is the national holiday of the cruise line. Along for the voyage
were my nephew, Michael, and his wife Robin. This was their first cruise experience. My wife and I were
anxious to share their reactions to a truly great vacation.
We had viewed The Regal while she was in dry dock in our hometown of Portland, OR. The facilities of
Cascade General refitted her with a new, more powerful bow thruster. The Cafe Del Sol, (buffet,) on Lido
deck was completely redone. There was recarpeting and the basketball court was transformed into,
(gulp,) a youth center. Two December cruises to the Mexican Riviera were cancelled for this refitting. I
thought that the thruster must have failed... why else would the line lose all that money? But no, I later
learned that the thruster was fine - just replaced with a bigger and better one ... go figure! Standing there
on the bluff above her, we dreamed of the day just eight weeks away when we would board her for
southern shores.... we could hardly wait.
Getting There:
We had to fly from Portland, Oregon to LA International. We felt apprehension during the last two weeks
of waiting, (and for good reason.) We were booked for Alaska Airlines Flight 250, on an MD-80.... just two
weeks after the tragic crash of Flight 261. We were not fearful of crashing, but that the FAA would ground
the fleet or a late inspection of our plane would cause a delay.... or worse, a cancellation. We pictured a
mad dash to other airlines in hopes of getting to San Pedro on a deadline. The flight was 45 minutes late
but it did depart. My nephew and his wife were assigned aisle seats across from each other. This can be
blamed on our travel agent, (who will not be used again.) A fair warning to all travel agents - it's the little
things that count.
LAX is LAX.... rising concrete and asphalt with more concrete to asphalt. Princess utilized Sunset Tours
from baggage claim to dockside. All went well but keep in mind that I am a tad claustrophobic. I had
already been in a crammed SUV to the airport, a two hour flight in sardine can coach, and a 30 minute,
fully loaded bus ride.
Embarkation:
Finally, there she was... The Regal Princess. We could see her from a mile out on the freeway. To the left
was the Thomas Jackson Suspension Bridge that links San Pedro to Terminal Island. Lots of container
boxes mingled with palm trees in miles of flat terrain.
I wanted off the bus. No, I was not in a panic state but I was beyond any passive acceptance of my
plight.... I needed some space and I needed it soon. Up onto the bus stepped a representative of the
cruise line. She attempted to use the pa system and the microphone immediately began to squeal. This
occurred over and over until she surrendered the attempt and used her own, strong vocal chords.
Welcome to the Regal Princess... etc, etc.... first off would be those who used 'Princess Plus'. They had
stayed in LA and already had boarding security/ID cards. Okay, then more talk.... and suddenly I found
myself yelling out, 'Let us off this bus!' Needles to say, my wife was not amused by the outburst. It
seemed that all the dreams I had waited so long for were crumbling to rubble.... but we did get off the bus
and into the spacious terminal - almost there.
Next was a processing line. I only mention this because of a bad experience. An elderly gentleman was
standing in front of us and a bit to the side of the line. He was facing forward and, (unknown to him,) had
blocked the remaining walkway. From behind came an Afro-American princess attendant pushing a
wheelchair passenger. His way was blocked. He stopped and began yelling in a rude tone, 'Coming
through, coming through, excuse me, Excuse Me ! ! !' To my disbelief he began snapping his fingers high
in the air. He must have realized his outlandish behavior - after moving past he gave a backward glance -
looking for a reaction from those in the line. I would say that security was just a bit too secure. The staff
exuded an unfriendly and uncaring attitude toward the passengers. I will let the cruise line know about it.
More paperwork? No, we took care of that weeks ago.... I complained to an elderly male attendant who
realized that yes, the information was already done and appeared on our boarding papers. One last stop
for ID verification, room assignment and cruise/security cards. Done. Go to the ship. Once over the
gangplank a picture is taken which coincides with the barcode on the cruise card. Fast, efficient security.
We had made it... we were aboard and greeted by friendly, smiling faces. My apprehension melted. I felt
like a young child going through the gates of Disneyland for the first time.
My nephew and his wife had boarded ahead of us. My wife and I found them just inside at La Patisserie -
a fantastic little coffee/beverage bar on deck 5. More about that later...
Quarters:
Having cruised on the sister ship, Crown Princess, we knew the deck plan and declined an escort to our
rooms. The Regal has three sets of three elevators located forward, mid and aft. We proceeded to Baja
Deck, deck 10.
Okay, we made a mistake. We booked over eight months in advance and 'played' the upgrade game. It
worked on The Crown..... we booked low inside and received an outside window. It did not work this time
and let it be said that one gets what one pays for.... an inside cabin - spacious and clean, but the drapes
on the wall said it all. Throughout the cruise I awoke and did not have the foggiest clue as to what time it
was. If this dark, cave atmosphere doesn't bother you then save a few dollars and hibernate. As for me
and mine, we will pay the extra and book an outside with balcony. We both smoke and it is a joy to open
the patio door and let in the fresh sea air.
Princess offers eight channels on TV cable. A satellite patch to CNN keeps one in touch with the outside
world, (if that is a desire.) A movie channel offers four current VHS releases per day. Excursion lectures
are recorded and piped to the rooms, offering a better chance to join in other activities.
Our steward seemed burned out and not overly thrilled with his task but he did it well and took great care
of us. My nephew and his wife were two cabins down and had a different steward. They sang praises
about him. The throw of the dice.... you never know.
Cuisine:
The Palm Court - Formal Dining, Deck 7 - I truly looked for flaws and found few. Could the carrots have
been a bit tenderer? No, they were fine. All dishes arrived piping hot from the kitchen. The dining tables
could have been better. On the inside aspect of the restaurant the tables are round. Outside are square.
We were outside at a table of four. To one side was a partition; to the other was a table for six with no
room between. The staff had to serve us by walking completely around. Our waiter was from The
Philippines and spoke poor English. He was, however, experienced and most professional in serving. The
Court is beautiful in its new design with deco style curving woodwork of oak and mahogany - crafted
facades with pink marble faces.
Cafe Del Sol - Buffet, deck 12 - The main dining area was once open to the aft and exposed to the
elements. The tables and chairs were plastic. It is now completely enclosed and windowed for great
ocean viewing. Real tables and chairs. A wide variety of fine food for all appetites. Last year Princess
Line put out a press release, saying that sushi was now offered on all vessels - while at sea, from eleven
a.m. to four p.m. First day at sea I anxiously went to del sol with sushi in mind. No, no sushi. I questioned
the staff and learned that it would be served twice - on the third day and ninth days, both at sea. Indeed,
on the third day, there was my sushi, (California roll style,) and behind the especially prepared table was
a Philippine assistant waiter with ginsu blade in hand and wearing a headband, at the ready to cut
another roll, and trying his best to look like a samurai. Quite amusing. That, however, was the only day
for sushi and it was only served for two hours. Again, Princess Lines will be notified.<br> I found the
secret to their excellent coffee in Cafe Del Sol... it is bottled. Yes, bottled. Under the dispensers are
containers with a thick coffee extract. A tube runs up and is connected to the hot water supply. It comes
out in a perfect blend, (most of the time.)<br> The changes to del sol are to bring it up to the standards
of 'Grand Class Cruising'. Twenty-four hour dining. Del Sol has bistro dining from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Burger Bar - Dogs and burgers, deck 12. Located at the starboard entrance to Cafe Del Sol from the
pool area. A quick way to grab an American bite on the run. Served with french fries.
Bravo - Pizza, deck 12. We went there once and that was enough. The crust was paper-thin. The service
was bland. No carryouts. Tipping is suggested.
La Patisserie - Specialty coffee, drinks and pastries, deck 5. My nephew and his wife fell in love with this
spot. An excellent place to plan the day, people watch and enjoy a mocha. Coffee prices are reasonable.
Entertainment:
International Show Lounge, decks 7 & 8. In one word: lacking. We had five musical productions on The
Crown. On this cruise we had, well, let's say 2 1/2. C'est Manifique is the main show. I found it being a
piece meal attempt at Paris atmosphere but it came off, shall we say... a bit 'frogish'. Some fine clips on
the backscreen of Maurice Chevalier and fond songs from Gigi but little more. Songs of America offers
patriotic/ hometown chants. The other evenings were filled with comedians, magicians and two nights of a
solo violinist.
Lido Deck, deck 12. Customary Jamaican, one man band music by one Robert Smith. I lost track of how
many times he played Yellow Bird. Throughout his performances he strummed an electric guitar that was
not plugged in.... no one seemed to notice.
The Casino, deck 14. Located in the 'dolphins head'. Spacious and appealing. A bit too far forward.
During rough seas, one can expect to weigh somewhere between five pounds and 400 ! No kidding ! ! !
Six nickel machines. About fifty quarter and the rest are dollar and up. Ample gaming tables. Roulette.
Craps. Caribbean Poker. Black jack minimum is $5.
Bars / Lounges:
The customary scenes that one would expect for the age groups: The Stage Door, deck 8. Ages 21 to 40
ish. The Bengal Bar, deck 7. Ages 40 ish to 60. The Adagio Lounge deck 7. Ages 60+ but that isn't fair.
It's a slow paced piano lounge.
Excursions:
I'll keep this short: My nephew caught a marlin while deep sea fishing at Mazatlan. A 200-pound black
marlin. This is rare. He was the only one on the excursion of some 20 people that went. Catch and
release tournament... except the skipper and crew decided to kill and hide the marlin, claiming that they
'accidentally' hooked it wrong to get it on board. They asked everyone on board to keep quiet about it...
that they would get in big trouble for their 'accident'. Right ! If you want fishing try Cabo. You are only in
Cabo for six hours but the chances are much better.<br> We went horseback riding in the pseudo
jungles outside of Puerto Vallarta. Three armed guards who tactfully scouted our area. Fun, but a bit
uneasy.... are the bandidos around?<br> At Zihuatanejo stay in town and do not take the Ixtapa tour. All
you are going to see are high rise hotels and golf courses. You are taken to a high priced flea market...
that's it.
Itinerary:
From March through April, 2000, Regal Princess cruises round-trip from San Diego and Los Angeles on
7 and 10-day Mexican Riviera cruises. In April she will cruise Hawaii and Tahiti on 9 and 12-day cruises
through May. In May she will begin her Alaska 7-day Inside Passage cruises through September. After a
repositioning cruise to Osaka in September she will begin her season in the Orient, Australia/New
Zealand and South Pacific through May, 2001.
And Finally:
A youth center is now on board. Family oriented cruising. We cruised during school dates and there were
still over fifty children on board. Don't take this vessel unless you can tolerate the younger of the young.
The Regal is a flat-bottomed ship. I am no expert but I do know that flat bottom vessels pitch more. Yes,
the barf bags were out in force on days eight and nine. Finally, another bad experience at the terminal.
We used a porter to get our luggage to the bus. Before removing our luggage, he put an apathetic hand
out and thanked us for the gratuity. I had twenties and two ones. I gave him the two ones and he
proceeded to lob our luggage into a pile - corner to corner. Nice way to destroy fragile contents. Again,
the cruise line will receive notice of this behavior. Princess is a great cruise line.... but in this world,
nothing is perfect.
H. Michael Ball, heberb@hevanet.com
Name: Art Friedman
Email: settle2000@msn.com
Age: 57
Occupation: Attorney
NumberOfCruises: 13
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Regal
SailingDate: 2/14/2000
Itinerary: Mexican Riveria
Cabin: P117/outside
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 80
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Mar 2000
Time: 09:43:01
Remote Name: 199.115.11.217
Remote User:
Comments
Valentines Day is a National Holiday on the Love Boat and everything for the first few days was keyed to
that theme! This was our second Princess cruise and we absolutely loved it! As ballroom dancers,
Princess often had 4 venues available with wonderful dance music from early evening until 1:00am. All of
the groups were great and enthusiastic. There were a number of dancers on this cruise that made it a lot
of fun. Several of the dance floors were quite large as well. As before we befriended the musicians who
were eager to play our choice of music. Regal is an unusual ship with a profile something like a 747! The
Dome as it is called houses the casino, with a wrap around lounge and was one of our favorite late night
dance venues. The views are spectacular and the room itself incredible. We found the service and
attitude to be superb. Posted on the ship and in each cabin is the Princess philosophy.
One of the items
is a prohibition on any crewmember saying "no" to a passenger. Instead they must refer the request to a
supervisor. We never had occasion to test that out as every one of our requests was responded to in a
cheery and prompt manner. Cabin size is unbelievable. There were only 2 ships with this design (Regal
and Crown). While there are some design issues that I will mention later, we have not been on any ships
with standard cabins that come close in size and layout. As with most of the newer ships (Regal -92) all
but the top categories are essentially the same size, price depending only on location. Our cabin was on
the next to lowest deck all the way forward. We had a picture window and a room that was essentially a
miniature Marriott! We have not had so much room since sailing in the upper cabins on the QE2 or the
second category on the Noordam. This has obviously been "corrected" on newer princess and similar,
i.e. RCI! We actually could practice some of our dance steps. If you want a large cabin, this is the ship for
you!
The other drawback is that both the dining room and bistro (only other place to eat) are at the back
of the ship. Just a little bit of sea creates a lot of movement. Likewise the showroom is at the bow with
similar effects. Most ships built after moved the dining room closer to mid ships. Although our seas were
quite smooth on most of the trip, there was enough movement on a couple of days to create a little
queasiness for some passengers. (And yes, you are a "passenger" -- not a "guest". Also, as on our last
Princess cruise and unlike several other lines, even though the ships were full, you just don’t EVER feel
crowded, I don’t know how they do it. Lastly, although built in 1991, it shows no wear anywhere, inside or
out, it is very well maintained. Mark Iannazzo, the cruise director is truly a living legend. We never have
had a cruise director that was more involved or more entertaining than Mark. He is on the TV for his
morning show at 7AM and closes the last show in the evening after 11:30! He often verges on hysterical
and is among the most quick witted and funniest people you will ever see. He planned activities we have
not seen before that were an unbelieveabe hit. It is worth cruising on any ship that he is on. (Has been
with Princess etc. for around 20 years and picks his cruises!)
I can't say too much about him. He was in
skits and activities, was always around for any activity -- he hosted the cooking demonstration that had
the audience laughing and rocking in the isles!! What's funny about cooking? You have to see it to
believe it!!! Who would stick a wireless mike into a pan of sizzling olive oil? Also Joy will bring back
memories of Julie on the original love boat. Finally, Chow for now, Y’all! Cabin service was fine. Nothing
special. Our attendant was from Romania and was probably new. Did a fine job. Dining room waiter and
assistant also appeared to be new and were below average most of the time, but they were likeable and
no one had any real complaints. Head waiter – non-existent. FOOD: We have sailed on 3 cruise lines and
4 ships in the past 13 months. Food is definitely not what it used to be. However, if you are following
prices, they are dropping quickly. Our 10-day cruise was $899. It's hard to be too fussy at that price.
Actually, the food is fine, it's just nothing special.
Cruise: There really isn't much along the West Coast of
Mexico. Most of the stops are pretty much 3rd world. The only exception is Cabo San Lucas, it is quite a
nice little resort. Beach and beach related activities are about the only thing to do. There are lots of
shore excursions, but if you read them carefully, there just isn't anything there. That was confirmed by
one of our tablemates that went on tours at each port! We really like the ship and don't care much where
it goes. There were 4 sea days and that was fine with us. We were told this cruise will not be continued
next year. Probably an over supply resulting in our fantastic rate. Also sailing from LA was Carnival on 7
days and in Cabo we anchored with Zenith and Rhapsody. That's a lot of ships for this market. Boarding:
Smoothest ever. We arrived about ½ before scheduled boarding and were whisked immediately on
board. We toured the ship and when we returned to our cabin, our luggage was INSIDE already.
Departure was much the same, our number called after about 30 minutes and we were in LAX within
another 30 minutes. It couldn’t have been easier. SUGGESTION: Book your own air with a cushion and
your own shore excursions. You will save plenty (more than 50%). Just check the internet. However,
check the times with your travel agent or cruise line direct. We relied on the Princess web site that
showed ship departure for midnight (same as our trip last year). We found out when our tickets arrived it
was actually 5 PM – a potential disaster! Feel free to contact us at settle2000@msn.com (Art & Bonnie
Friedman)
Name: Melanie Tatum
Email: mtatum@ttacs.ttu.edu
Age: 41
Occupation: Purchaser
NumberOfCruises: 0
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Regal
SailingDate: 06/25/00
Itinerary: Alaska Inside Passage
Cabin: D176
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 92
CabinComfort: 96
FoodRoomService: 98
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 96
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 96
ShoreExcVariety: 99
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 98
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 96
EntertShowLounge: 99
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 93
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 98
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 97
OverallCruiseValue: 99
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 17 Jul 2000
Time: 10:04:23
Remote Name: hgm001.hous.ttu.edu
Remote User:
Comments
I did not find any negatives about our trip. Everything we encountered was an absolute positive. The
only thing I would like to have different was the amount of time spent in Sitka, we were a little rushed.
It would have been nice if Ketchikan had been one of our ports, but I understand that you cannot do
everything in a seven day cruise.
There were six of us on this cruise, two children ages 11 and 15 and four adults ranging in age from
41-64. All of us were absolutely thrilled with the cruise. Our stewards could not have been more
helpful and courteous and our head waiter, waiter and assistant waiter were wonderful. Our waiter
seem to anticipate our needs, we never had to ask for anything. The nights that we had crab and
lobster he brought extra plates so that each of had more than enough to eat. We caught a fish in
Skagway and they cooked it for us on the ship. It was great, the waiter brought it out on a silver
platter and all three waiters came to the table to present it. It made us feel really special (especially
the older boy who caught the fish). We all agreed that we will not cruise with another cruise line
because we are afraid we will be disappointed in any other cruise line. Princess cruises goes above
and beyond to make you feel special and to take care of each and every passenger. The entire crew
was extremely friendly and they all made a point of speaking as you passed them in the hall or the
deck. We loved the trip and would recommend it to anyone, young or old. It's beautiful in Alaska and
on the Regal Princess.
Name: Andrew Silver
Email: ansilco@aol.com
Age: 50
Occupation: Vice President, Manufacturing Company
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Regal
SailingDate: August 20,2000
Itinerary: Inside Passage of Alaska
Cabin: B160 Category BB
FoodDiningRoom: 97
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 75
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 92
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 97
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 92
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 87
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 40
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService:
TenderService: 75
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 65
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 60
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 92
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 92
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 15 Sep 2000
Time: 20:53:31
Remote Name: spider-wb084.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
We sailed on the Regal Princess, departing from Vancouver, B.C. on August 20, 2000. Our itinerary
included travel through the Inside Passage with stops in Juneau, Skagway, and Sitka. In addition, we
had one day of cruising in Yakutat Bay to observe glaciers and wildlife.
This was the second cruise for my wife and I, the first for my mother and father-in-law. Because we are
in our fifties and my in laws in their seventies, we naturally did not partake of some of the more daring
shore excursions such as helicopter flights to glaciers or kayaking and can not comment on them. In
spite of what one might think after reading some of the comments, we did in fact have a good time.
Our problems actually started during booking. On page 137 of the Princess brochure it states that ‘all
meals are included aboard ship, except for alcoholic beverages, some specialty drinks, sodas and
certain snacks.’ Believe it or not, it took four phone calls and discussions with as many Princess
personnel to get clarification of just what specialty drinks and certain snacks were not included.
Throughout the cruise there were other cases of conflicting information being given, a source of some
irritation.
Of greater concern than conflicting information was the misleading information that bordered on false
advertisement. More on that in the discussion of wildlife viewing and shore excursions.
We booked our own flights into Seattle, and they were fine. The bus transfer from Seattle was
uneventful and smooth. The Embarkation line was a bit slow, which was a puzzle because when it was
our turn to check in, it took only a few moments. We presume it was someone in front asking a lot of
questions. Debarkation was amazingly quick and painless. Hats off to Princess on that one.
Once on board, things ran very smoothly. The ship staff seemed knowledgeable and, with one
exception, always ready to help. The exception was the medical staff. We had a minor problem and
when we called the infirmary, were promised a call back in a few minutes. The call never came.
Fortunately, the rest of the staff was very helpful, friendly, and very hard working. They could use
some work on their English language skills. More than once, it was obvious that they did not
understand a simple question and it had to be repeated and clarified.
Our cabin steward, Roderick was very good. However, we noted that all the stewards were more
noticeable than on our previous cruise on Carnival. On the Fantasy, you never saw them at work,
ever. On the Regal, there were supply carts throughout the hall, reminiscent of any run of the mill
motel in the world.
Our waiter, Jesse and his assistant, Gabriel, were exceptional and deserve high praise. Gabriel, in
particular, was super. He had a great personality, and went above and beyond to be attentive.
A hot topic on every cruise is the food. Here, the Regal lived up to her name. Dinners in the Palm
Court were outstanding. The breakfast and lunch buffets in the Café del Sol were great as well, with a
wide variety of dishes. It isn’t easy to feed 1500 people and have every dish appear fresh and
appetizing, but the kitchen staff pulled it off. We noted that the head pastry chef was the employee of
the month. Based on the desserts served in both the Palm Court and Café del Sol, that is easy to
understand!
The one criticism we have of the Palm Court is that it had the atmosphere of a cafeteria. The lighting
was bright to the point of being harsh, and it was very noisy. The waiters were great, but obviously
overworked. They seemed to be constantly running around and in a hurry.
The shows in the International Lounge were O.K., but nothing exceptional. We did not visit the casino.
We didn’t really go for that. Which leads to our biggest complaint.
Alaska has an abundance of breathtaking scenery and natural beauty. We would highly recommend
that everyone visit there once. However, if you let Princess plan your shore excursions, or if you
believe their literature, you will be sorely disappointed. We were led to believe on more than one
occasion by Princess literature that we would see an abundance of wildlife. This was just not true. The
following paragraphs, which are direct quotes from the Princess Patter (the ship’s daily guide to
activities) are prime examples. There are more, but you will get the point.
‘A variety of large land animals can be found in the Yakutat Bay area, including moose, mountain goat,
brown and black bear, Sitka black-tailed deer and wolf. One of the more unusual mammals found in
the region is the glacier or blue bear.’
‘The various marine mammals present in Yakutat Bay include sea lions, porpoises, harbour seals and
whales. Seals can be viewed frequently, floating on icebergs from Disenchantment Bay. Sea Lions
haul out on the bluffs in the north end of the bay. Birds numbering in the millions congregate in
Yakutat Bay in May and June to breed. Many remain throughout the summer with their young.’
Now the truth. We spent almost the entire afternoon on deck while we were in Yakutat Bay. We saw a
total of 6 gulls. We saw no sea lions, no porpoises, no seals, and no whales. We saw no land animals
either. It wasn’t much better sailing the Inside Passage. Although Princess literature hails it as the best
place on earth to see Killer Whales, the only thing we did get a brief glimpse of appeared to be a dall
porpoise. It is important to be clear on two points. First, we had an outside cabin with a veranda. In
addition to spending quite a bit of time on deck, we were on the veranda watching. In addition to
investing in time, we had equipment; a set of high-powered binoculars and a digital camera with 25X
optical zoom and 450X digital zoom capability.
The two shore excursions we took were also disappointments. The Historical Skagway & Days of 98
tour consisted of a 45 minute bus ride that could have taken about 10 minutes and a one hour play
that was on a par with average high school productions. The Russian American History tour of Sitka
wasn’t much better. The problem in Sitka was that we were rushed through each stop under the guise
of being on time for a performance of authentic Russian folk dancing. It seemed to us that the real
motive was to insure we had ample time to buy souvenirs.
The best time we had ashore was in Juneau, where we explored on our own. The Red Dog Saloon is
good fun.
Two comments of a general nature: The Regal Princess is about 10 years old. Although there were a
few flaws in her complexion, overall, she was surprisingly clean and well maintained. Also, an
improvement over the Carnival Fantasy is the apparent difference in policy regarding tipping. On
Carnival’s Fantasy we were constantly reminded that wait staff and cabin attendants worked for tips, to
the point where it became offensive. Princess was much more low-key about this point and it was
appreciated.
My wife and I agreed that despite being misled about wildlife and the shore excursions, we still had a
great vacation and would heartily recommend seeing Alaska if you can go. We also debated on which
cruise and cruise line is better. In the end we agreed that because of the time between the cruises, the
difference in itineraries and other factors, a true comparison would not be fair. The real test is, would
we sail on either line again. We’ve reserved judgement on Carnival for now. As far as Princess is
concerned, the misrepresentations are cause enough not to sail with them again.
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