Regal Princess Cruise Ship Guide: Cabins, Dining and Verdict

Photo: Tony Webster | Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0; crop by CruisePing.

CruisePing verdict

Regal Princess remains a credible, often well-priced route into the modern Princess experience. The Piazza, SeaWalk, Sanctuary and balcony-heavy design still work, but later Royal Class sisters offer refined aft spaces and newer venue combinations. Book Regal when the itinerary and fare are strong, not because the ship itself is the fleet’s best version.

Regal Princess at a glance

Cruise line	Princess Cruises
Ship class or type	Royal Class, second ship
Entered service	2014
Last major refurbishment	2017 major refurbishment; later maintenance does not make it a new-generation ship
Gross tonnage	142,229 GT
Length	330 m / 1,083 ft
Guest capacity	3,560 guests at lower-berth occupancy
Crew	1,346
Passenger decks	19 decks in official ship data
Cabins or suites	1,780 staterooms in the current official ship data
Accessible cabins	Wheelchair-accessible cabins in selected categories; verify the exact current deck plan
Dining venues	Three main dining rooms plus Crown Grill, Sabatini’s, Gigi’s, buffet and casual choices
Bars and lounges	Piazza venues, Crooners, Princess Live!, Vista Lounge, Wheelhouse and Club 6
Pools and hot tubs	Multiple pools including Retreat Pool, plus hot tubs
Library	Dedicated library and Internet Café
Spa and fitness	Lotus Spa, Enclave thermal suite, fitness centre and sports deck
Children’s facilities	Princess youth and teen centres for ages 3 to 17
Adults-only facilities	The Sanctuary, Retreat Pool and Enclave
Wi-Fi	MedallionNet available; fare and device limits vary
UK departures or deployment	Varied international deployment; check current Europe and North American schedules rather than assuming a UK season

Best suited to

Travellers wanting established Royal Class at a potentially better fare
Couples who value the Piazza, Sanctuary, library and traditional lounges
Passengers comparing itinerary and price ahead of newest-ship status

Think carefully if

You expect the WakeView and later refinements of Sky, Enchanted or Discovery
You are paying nearly the same as a newer sister on a similar route
You want a small ship or short walking distances

The booking decision

Regal Princess helped establish the template that still defines much of the fleet. The central Piazza, SeaWalk, balcony-heavy accommodation and combination of main dining, specialty venues and traditional lounges remain effective. The ship feels recognisably modern Princess rather than an old vessel surviving through nostalgia.

Its weakness is comparison. Sky, Enchanted and Discovery Princess refine the same formula with WakeView and later venue choices. Regal therefore wins through route, fare and availability. A well-priced balcony on the right itinerary can be excellent value; a small discount against a later sister may not be enough.

Original Royal Class layout

The Piazza provides a strong sense of place and makes navigation relatively straightforward. Princess Theatre, Princess Live!, Vista Lounge and Club 6 distribute evening activity, while the SeaWalk creates the signature outdoor viewpoint. The dedicated library is a practical advantage over several later ships that rely on lounge seating for reading.

The design also has familiar Royal Class weaknesses: no full wraparound promenade, reliance on central lift banks and crowd concentration after shows. Passengers with limited mobility should choose a room close to the venues they use most and review accessible routes before booking.

Cabins and balcony strategy

Current Princess ship data lists 1,780 cabins. More than 1,400 have balconies, making Regal attractive on scenic or warm-weather routes. Standard balcony cabins have good outdoor access but limited lounge space; mini-suites provide a more comfortable sitting area and are easier to live in for two weeks.

Avoid choosing solely by category. Cabins beneath public decks, near lift lobbies or overlooking active areas can produce noise or privacy compromises. A midship room buffered by accommodation is the lowest-risk choice. The SeaWalk can affect privacy for nearby balconies.

Dining and evening atmosphere

Three main dining rooms are supported by Crown Grill, Sabatini’s, Gigi’s Pizzeria, International Café, Horizon Court and casual poolside food. The selection is broad enough for most passengers without the additional complexity and premium positioning of Sphere Class.

Crooners, Wheelhouse, Piazza music and theatre entertainment suit travellers who enjoy a conventional evening sequence. Club 6 can feel less central than the newer WakeView-style spaces on later sisters. The ship is strongest for couples who want choice without a high-energy resort atmosphere.

Age, refurbishment and expectations

Regal entered service in 2014 and received a major refurbishment in 2017. Maintenance keeps the ship operational and presentable, but cabin technology, sockets and bathroom design should be judged as a 2014 platform. Do not interpret fresh carpets or venue changes as a complete new-build transformation.

Age can work in the passenger’s favour when fares are lower. The underlying Royal Class layout remains competitive. The important question is whether the price difference is large enough to compensate for later sisters’ refinements.

Families and adults-only space

Youth centres cover children and teenagers, while pools, films and sports provide shared activity. Regal is a family-capable ship rather than a family attraction ship. Children who need large slides or constant novelty may prefer a different line.

Adults have the Sanctuary, Retreat Pool, Enclave, library, Crooners and specialty dining. This balance is one of Regal’s enduring strengths. The atmosphere becomes more family-heavy in school holidays, but adult spaces remain meaningful.

Before you book Regal Princess

Compare the fare directly with Sky, Enchanted and Discovery Princess on similar itineraries.
Check balcony privacy near the SeaWalk.
Treat 2017 as a refurbishment date, not evidence of new-generation cabins.
Use the library and traditional lounges as part of the decision if quiet indoor space matters.

Regal Princess compared with other Princess ships

Ship	Main difference	Choose it when
Sky Princess	Later Royal Class with WakeView and UK relevance	Choose Sky for Southampton and later refinements
Enchanted Princess	Larger later sister with broader current venue mix	Choose Enchanted when prices are close
Caribbean Princess	Older, smaller-tonnage but denser Grand-related design	Choose Caribbean for route or a substantial fare saving

Regal Princess Cruise Ship