The ship: Regal Princess | Itinerary: 7-Day Caribbean, Galveston to Cozumel & Roatan | Cruise line: Princess Cruises
Everything You Need to Know About the Regal Princess
Joe and I have a soft spot for Princess Cruises — ever since our South America adventure aboard the Sapphire Princess, we’ve been eager to get back on a Princess ship. When this 7-day Caribbean sailing from Galveston came up, it was an easy yes. We were promised relaxation, sophistication, and some fun in the sun — and the Regal Princess delivered on all three.
The Regal Princess is a different kind of ship — more refined, more understated, and with a few signature features you simply won’t find anywhere else at sea. Here’s everything you need to know, broken down by category.
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Ship Overview
The Regal Princess is a Royal-class vessel — launched in 2014 and carrying up to 4,272 passengers. She is a massive ship, but one that manages to feel surprisingly approachable. Princess has designed her around the idea of understated elegance rather than spectacle: tasteful décor, quality food, and attentive service rather than thrill rides and neon lights.
The ship’s social centerpiece is the Piazza — a sweeping three-deck atrium styled after an Italian town square, with dramatic backlit spiral staircases, a constant buzz of activity, and easy access to bars, casual dining, and entertainment all in one open space. It’s genuinely one of the best atrium designs at sea.
A few signature features set the Regal Princess apart: the SeaWalk, a glass-floored walkway extending 28 feet beyond the side of the ship, hovering 128 feet above the ocean; the Princess WaterColor Fantasy, a nightly fountain and light show synchronized to music on the pool deck; and The Retreat, a serene adults-only area at the bow of the ship.
Getting Around
Ship Layout
For anyone who has been on a cruise ship before, the Regal Princess is fairly intuitive to navigate. Deck 16 is the Lido, where you’ll find all three pools and most of the casual dining venues, including the buffet. The interior public spaces — bars, dining rooms, the Piazza, and entertainment venues — are concentrated on Decks 5, 6, and 7, which makes them easy to find once you get your bearings.
That said, the sheer size of the ship and the sheer number of venues could genuinely overwhelm a first-time cruiser. If you do get turned around, the Princess app and the touchscreen maps located near the elevator banks will set you right quickly.
The OceanMedallion App
Princess Cruises uses their OceanMedallion system — a wearable device that acts as your room key, onboard payment, and activity planner all in one. The companion app lets you check dining times, track fellow travelers, and order food or drinks delivered anywhere on the ship. While the technology is innovative, in practice we had persistent problems with connectivity due to slow WiFi speeds.
Elevators
The elevators were a persistent frustration on this sailing. The dispatch algorithm did not appear to be functioning correctly — the elevators on the port side of each bank were not communicating properly with those on the starboard side, resulting in long, illogical waits. On a ship carrying over 4,000 passengers this becomes noticeable quickly, especially around meal times and port departure. This is something Princess needs to sort out!
Food & Dining
Princess Plus / Premier tip: If you’re sailing with a Princess Plus or Premier package, some of the specialty and casual dining venues below are included. Make sure to take advantage of them!
Main Dining Rooms
The Regal Princess has three main dining rooms — Symphony (Deck 5, traditional fixed-time dining), Allegro (Deck 6, anytime dining), and Concerto (Deck 6, Reserve dining). All three serve the same rotating menu each night, so there’s no penalty for which one you’re assigned to. The menu changes daily and also maintains a list of “Princess Favourites” — comfort staples like pasta alfredo and grilled chicken — available every night regardless.
Service in the dining rooms was good throughout — attentive without being intrusive. Our one honest criticism is that some of the menus felt uninspired for a cruise line with Princess’s reputation. We found ourselves gravitating toward the buffet more than expected, simply because the quality there was on par with what was being served in the MDR — which says something positive about the buffet, but also something worth noting about the dining room menus. The nightly “Princess Favourites” list of comfort staples is a reliable fallback when the evening’s featured menu doesn’t excite.
Horizon Court & Horizon Bistro (Buffet)
The buffet on the Regal Princess is split across two adjacent spaces — Horizon Court and Horizon Bistro — and the combined spread is large, varied, and genuinely well stocked. While the buffet is not open 24 hours, it does operate continuously from 5AM to 10PM. For anything after that, the International Café in the Piazza is your only option. The quality here was solid enough that we ended up eating at the buffet more frequently than anticipated, often choosing it over the main dining room.
International Café
Located right in the Piazza and open 24 hours a day — the only venue on the ship with those hours — the International Café is one of the most useful spots onboard. Fresh pastries, yogurt parfaits, sandwiches, salads, and quick snacks are all included in your fare. It’s the perfect grab-and-go before a port day, a light bite between meals, or a late-night snack after the buffet has closed. Note that specialty coffees carry an extra charge unless you have a drink package.
One standout tip: don’t miss the soup of the day, available in a large cauldron behind the counter — it was consistently one of the best things on offer and easy to overlook if you don’t know to look for it.
Alfredo’s Pizzeria (Deck 6)
Deck 6 | Casual Dining | Pizza & Pasta | Prix Fixe Menu $14.99 or $8.50 per pie
Named for former Princess master chef Alfredo Marzi and frequently cited as among the best pizza at sea, Alfredo’s is a sit-down restaurant serving freshly made, individual Neapolitan-style pizzas — hand-tossed and straight out of the oven — with an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs work. The prix fixe charge is $14.99 per person, and there are no reservations — it is walk-up only. Budget time accordingly, as waits can be longer during busy sea days.
Prego Pizzeria
Deck 16 | Complimentary Dining | Pizza
Here’s a secret worth knowing: the pizza at Prego on the pool deck tastes just as good as Alfredo’s. You’re trading the sit-down restaurant experience and table service for a grab-and-go slice at no extra charge — but the actual pizza quality holds up surprisingly well. If the line at Alfredo’s is long or you just want something quick poolside, Prego is absolutely the move.
Trident Grill
Deck 16 | Complimentary Dining | Burgers, Hot Dogs, & Fries
The Trident Grill is the ship’s poolside grill, serving burgers, hot dogs, and chicken sandwiches — a solid casual option when you don’t want to leave the sun deck. It’s complimentary and the food is exactly what you’d want after a morning in the pool. One fair warning: service is not fast. This isn’t a quick-service counter — expect a wait, especially on busy sea days. Factor that into your poolside plans.
Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar
Deck 7 | Casual Dining | Sushi | Prix Fixe Menu $14.99 or $5 per piece/roll
The Ocean Terrace earns its name — it has a fantastic view overlooking the Piazza below, making it as much a place to sit and watch the world go by as it is a dining destination. The sushi itself was fresh, the selection was good, and we’d highly recommend it. There’s an additional charge per item, and you can pair your selections with Japanese beer, sake, or wine. Don’t let the extra cost put you off — it’s one of the better casual dining values on the ship.
Vines Wine Bar
Deck 5 | Casual Dining | Wine | Charcuterie $14.99
Also in the Piazza area, Vines is a specialty wine lounge with a carefully curated global selection and a wonderful atmosphere for a pre-dinner drink. The charcuterie board, available after 4PM, is a great way to satisfy any hunger cravings that might come up while you sample the wine. Note that it carries a charge of $14.99 per person, but is covered as a casual dining credit if you have a Plus or Premier package.
Crown Grill
Deck 7 | Specialty Dining | Steakhouse | Cover Charge $55
The Crown Grill is Princess’s signature steakhouse — premium cuts, fresh seafood, traditional sides, and an extensive wine list in a polished, upscale setting. There’s a per-person cover charge for specialty dining. Located alongside the Wheelhouse Bar, it’s one of the quieter, more intimate corners of the ship.
Crown Grill’s dinner menu starts with upscale appetizers like jumbo shrimp, beef tartare, and crab cake, along with soups and salads such as onion soup, bisque, Caesar, and wedge salad. The main courses highlight premium steaks, lamb chops, and seafood like Chilean sea bass and lobster, with optional surf & turf combinations and a selection of gourmet salts and classic sides. Desserts include favorites like cheesecake and crème brûlée, complemented by an extensive wine list featuring selections from top regions around the world.
Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria
Deck 5 | Specialty Dining | Italian Cuisine | Cover Charge $55
A longtime Princess favourite, Sabatini’s serves a multi-course Italian feast — handcrafted pastas, seafood, classic entrees, and an indulgent dessert selection including a legendary quartet of mini desserts. The atmosphere is a step more formal than other dining venues, making it a natural choice for a special evening.
Sabatini’s menu features authentic Italian cuisine, starting with dishes like ribollita soup, arancini, and antipasti such as seafood stew, prosciutto with burrata, and curated meat and cheese platters. Handmade pastas like seafood linguine, truffle fettuccine, and carbonara are highlights, alongside main courses including ossobuco, lasagna, veal milanese, and vegetarian options like eggplant parmigiana. The meal finishes with indulgent desserts like tiramisu and chocolate-almond cake, complemented by Italian wines, prosecco cocktails, and classic after-dinner drinks like espresso and limoncello.
Crab Shack
Deck 5 | Pop-Up Dining | Seafood | Cover Charge $55
The Crab Shack is a pop-up dining experience that doesn’t run every night, so check the Princess Patter for dates. When it does appear, it’s a seafood lover’s dream: clam chowder, popcorn shrimp, and a signature steamer pot piled with king crab legs, shrimp, and clams. There’s an additional charge, and it’s worth every cent if seafood is your thing. Note that this venue is not covered by the Premier Package.
Crab Shack offers a casual, seafood boil–style dining experience with a laid-back atmosphere, popular among families and seafood lovers. The menu features starters like popcorn shrimp, hushpuppies, and clam chowder, followed by hearty options such as seafood pots with crab, shrimp, and shellfish or Cajun-style boils with sausage, corn, and potatoes. Guests can also choose a chilled seafood bucket for two, loaded with lobster, crab, and shrimp, served with a variety of dipping sauces.
Chef’s Table Lumiere
Deck 5 | Experiential Dining | Cover Charge $150
The most exclusive dining experience on the ship — a small-group, multi-course dinner hosted by the ship’s executive chef, with wine pairings throughout. Guests are literally surrounded by a curtain of light for the experience, hence the name. Reservations are required as capacity is very limited. The price is significant, but if you can afford it, this is perfect for a milestone celebration.
This exclusive dining experience features an elaborate eight-course meal, beginning with refined hors d’oeuvres like crab lollipops or foie gras and often including a behind-the-scenes galley tour with additional tastings. The menu typically progresses through dishes such as scallop carpaccio, lobster bisque, truffle risotto, a choice of meat or seafood entrée, and a palate-cleansing sorbet before dessert. Each course is paired with carefully selected wines, presented by a sommelier to enhance the overall experience.
Gelato
Deck 5 | Casual Dining | Ice Cream & Gelato | $2 per scoop
Located in the Piazza area, this is marketed as a gelateria — but one thing worth knowing: not everything on offer is actually gelato. Some selections are standard ice cream. The quality varies accordingly. There’s a charge per scoop, and here’s an important heads-up for package holders: despite being labeled “casual dining” by Princess, Gelato is not covered by the casual dining credit included with Plus or Premier packages. You’ll pay out of pocket regardless of your fare level.
Bars & Lounges
Wheelhouse Bar
Located on Deck 7 adjacent to the Crown Grill, the Wheelhouse Bar is the ship’s British pub — a warm, clubby space that does most of its business during pre-dinner cocktails and live piano entertainment. The standout event: on one sea day per cruise, Princess hosts a complimentary British-style pub lunch featuring fish and chips, bangers and mash, and bread pudding. Lines can be long, so watch the daily Princess Patter and show up early.
Crooners Martini Bar
The ship’s martini bar, also on Deck 7, with the best seats being the two-tops overlooking the promenade deck. In the evenings it usually features a piano player and group sing-alongs — front and center seats may result in you being handed a microphone. There’s a popular afternoon happy hour during the day.
Good Spirits at Sea
Good Spirits at Sea is a lively cocktail lounge where each drink is crafted to tell a story through regional flavors and ingredients from around the world. Guests can enjoy handcrafted cocktails while watching engaging mixology demonstrations, as bartenders bring each creation to life with a blend of technique, storytelling, and theatrical flair. The experience is enhanced by a stylish, relaxed atmosphere and a menu developed by expert mixologist Rob Floyd, featuring unique signature drinks alongside guest favorites designed to reflect destinations visited during the voyage.
Pools & Water Zones
Fountain Pool (Main Pool)
The Fountain Pool surprised us. When we first heard that Princess had given up potential pool space to a fountain system, we were skeptical — but those fountains turned out to be one of the highlights of the entire Lido Deck experience. Guests of all ages were drawn to them throughout the day, and combined with the WaterColor Fantasy show each evening, they transformed the pool area into something genuinely special. The pool itself is on the smaller side for a ship this size, but the surrounding deck space is well laid out.
Terrace Pool (Aft)
Added to the Regal Princess by popular demand after it was omitted from sister ship Royal Princess, the Terrace Pool sits at the aft of Deck 16. Unfortunately, this one comes with a significant drawback: the location puts it directly in the path of fumes from both the ship’s smokestack and the nearby designated smoking section. On most days it made the area noticeably unpleasant. A shame, because the aft views and the quiet atmosphere would otherwise make it a great alternative to the main pool.
Retreat Pool (Adults-Only)
The Retreat was one of our favorite areas on the entire ship. The adults-only pool on Deck 17 has a genuinely upscale, quiet vibe — completely removed from the activity of the main Lido Deck. The pool is well maintained, the loungers are comfortable, and the atmosphere is calm without feeling sterile. Cabanas are available to rent if you want the full VIP experience. If you’re looking for an escape from the crowds without paying Sanctuary prices, this is your spot.
Hot Tubs
There are hot tubs spread across several areas of the ship, but here’s a tip worth passing on: don’t miss the hot tubs on either side of the upper Lido Deck. They’re not prominently positioned and most passengers walk right past them — which means they’re often empty even when the main pool area is crowded. A genuinely underutilized gem.
The SeaWalk
One of the most talked-about features on the ship — a 60-foot glass-floored walkway extending 28 feet beyond the starboard side of the ship, hovering 128 feet above the water. Looking straight down through the glass floor at the ocean far below is genuinely vertiginous and exhilarating, whether you find it thrilling or terrifying. It’s lit up beautifully at night for a completely different experience than during the day. The SeaView Bar sits across the ship on the port side with a similar over-the-water feel and entertaining bartenders known for bottle-flipping and flair.
The Sanctuary — Adults-Only Retreat
The Sanctuary is Princess’s signature adults-only escape, positioned at the very bow of the ship on Deck 17. It’s a fee-based experience — there’s a per-person daily or half-day charge to access the space — but what you get in return is a genuinely peaceful alternative to the bustle of the Lido Deck: plush padded loungers, dedicated Serenity Stewards who bring chilled face towels, Evian mist, light spa-inspired meals, and signature beverages directly to your chair.
There’s no pool in The Sanctuary — it’s purely a sun and relaxation space — but private cabanas are available to rent for those who want the ultimate seclusion, including the option of al fresco massages. One important tip: loungers in The Sanctuary fill up on embarkation day, often within the first few hours of boarding. If you’re planning to use it, head there as soon as you’re aboard to reserve your spot.
Entertainment & Nightlife
Princess Theater
The main theater on the Regal Princess hosts nightly productions ranging from original Broadway-style shows — including the crowd-pleasing Bravo! (opera and musical classics) and Fiera (a carnival love story set to pop hits) — to comedians, illusionists, and guest musicians. Check the JourneyView planner in the Medallion App at the start of your sailing to plan which shows you want to catch, as the best seats go quickly.
Princess Live!
Princess Live! is an onboard TV studio that runs interactive entertainment throughout the day and into the evening — game shows, culinary demonstrations, live concerts, karaoke competitions, and reality-style events like “Voice of the Ocean.” It’s a fun, energetic venue that tends to draw a crowd for the game show events in particular.
Vista Lounge
On Deck 7, the Vista Lounge is a proper show lounge with a large stage and ample seating, hosting comedians, illusionists, and musicians throughout the sailing. It also doubles as a movie screening venue — a good alternative if Movies Under the Stars is too loud or the weather isn’t cooperating. Worth checking the daily schedule as the acts rotate and quality varies. Note that this venue does not have its own bar, so bring a drink from elsewhere before you settle in.
Movies Under the Stars
Princess has perfected this concept, and the Regal Princess has the largest Movies Under the Stars screen in the fleet. Each evening, the pool deck transforms into an outdoor cinema — padded loungers fill the deck, crew members distribute cozy fleece blankets, and complimentary fresh-popped popcorn and cookies with milk make the rounds. The film selection typically includes newer releases as well as concerts and sporting events. There’s something genuinely magical about watching a movie under the stars in the middle of the Caribbean. One note: on the Regal Princess, the screen is directly over the main Fountain Pool, which means the audio can be quite loud if you’re trying to relax nearby without watching.
Princess WaterColor Fantasy
Each evening, the Fountain Pool area transforms for the WaterColor Fantasy — a choreographed water and light show where jets shoot water into the air, synchronized to music and lit with dramatic color. We loved it. It’s one of those unexpected touches that genuinely elevates the onboard experience and shows that Princess has thought carefully about what makes evenings at sea special. Don’t miss it.
The Piazza
The Piazza earns its reputation as the heart of the ship. Throughout the day there’s live music, street entertainment, and a buzzing social energy across all three levels. In the evening it shifts gears into a proper entertainment hub — live bands, dance performances, themed events — with bars surrounding the space so you’re never far from a drink. Because the atrium is open across multiple decks, you can watch whatever’s happening below from the upper levels while enjoying a quieter vantage point.
Relaxation & Wellness
Lotus Spa & The Enclave
The Lotus Spa — named “Best Spa on a Cruise Ship” by Spafinder Wellness — has 18 treatment rooms, including two Couples Villas with side-by-side massage tables, a private whirlpool bath, and ocean views. Within the spa is The Enclave, a thermal suite experience featuring a herbal steam room, dry heat sauna, and a hydrotherapy pool — similar in concept to the thalassotherapy pool found on Carnival’s Dream class. Access to The Enclave typically carries an additional fee.
Fitness Center
Smaller than you’d expect for a ship this size, but there’s still plenty of equipment to get a solid workout in — treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, free weights, and strength machines. If you need more room to stretch, do floor work, or just want a less confined space, head up to the Sports Complex nearby — there’s ample open area there that works well when it isn’t being used for organized activities.
Sports Complex
The Sports Complex was well used throughout our sailing, with pickleball being by far the most popular activity — if you want court time, check the schedule and sign up early. There’s also a solid putting green and a driving range for golfers. One note: the laser shooting range was closed on our sailing, and looked like it was permanently decommissioned.
The Library & Game Lounge
Unlike many newer large ships that have abandoned the library entirely, the Regal Princess still has a proper one — and it was always a pleasant, quiet space to retreat to. A nice touch: there was always a puzzle set up and in progress, a communal project that felt genuinely welcoming. There were also an assortment of board games, cards, and of course, books for cruisers to borrow.
Staterooms
One of the Regal Princess’s most impressive statistics: 80% of all staterooms have a private balcony, and every outside cabin has one. For a ship this size, that’s remarkable. Standard interior and balcony cabins are comfortable and well appointed, with flat-screen TVs, a refrigerator, and plenty of storage.
But the headline feature of any Princess stateroom? The beds. The Princess bed is, without exaggeration, the most comfortable bed either of us has slept on at sea. If you’ve ever woken up on a cruise ship feeling like you slept on a glorified cot, the Princess bed will be a revelation. It’s one of those things that sounds like marketing until you experience it.
If you want a step up, the Reserve Collection Mini-Suites come with more space and a couch to lounge on, as well as priority embarkation and disembarkation, a dedicated dining area in the main dining room with exclusive menu options and tableside preparations, and a complimentary bottle of wine on embarkation day — a meaningful upgrade for those who eat in the MDR regularly.
Hidden Gems & Pro Tips
Things worth knowing before you sail the Regal Princess:
- The buffet closes at 10PM — it is not open 24 hours. The International Café in the Piazza is the only around-the-clock option. Plan your late nights accordingly.
- Prego and Alfredo’s taste the same (in our opinion) — save your casual dining credit for somewhere more interesting and grab a free slice from Prego on the pool deck instead.
- Alfredo’s is walk-up only, no reservations — and the charge is $14.99 per person. Time your visit strategically to avoid the longest waits.
- The Gelato stand is not covered by Plus/Premier casual dining — despite being labeled “casual dining” by Princess, you’ll pay out of pocket regardless of your package.
- The hot tubs on the upper Lido Deck are almost always empty — they’re tucked on either side of the deck and easy to walk past. Seek them out.
- Avoid the Terrace Pool — between the smokestack fumes and the nearby smoking section, it’s rarely a pleasant place to spend time.
- Book The Sanctuary on embarkation day — loungers fill up fast, often within hours of boarding. If you want a spot, head there the moment you’re aboard.
- Walk the SeaWalk at night — it’s a completely different and arguably better experience than during the day. Don’t skip it.
- Don’t miss the WaterColor Fantasy fountain show — it happens every night, and only lasts about 15 minutes. You’ll find the exact time in your daily schedule.
