Cruising Guide: Regal Princess
Princess Cruises made news in the pages of Travel last month when it was announced the fleet would have an incredible five ships based Down Under, including three - Sun, Dawn and Sea - cruising from Fremantle alone.
That amounts to a lot of royal waves and it's made possible by a recent expansion which saw the fleet's newest ship Regal Princess embark on its maiden voyage from Venice in May.
Following less than a year after its almost identical sister Royal Princess, Regal Princess has literally pushed the boundaries on the passenger experience with two public areas, the SeaWalk, a glass- bottomed enclosed walkway, and the Seaview Bar which actually extend from the ship high above the ocean.
Back on deck, Regal Princess brings ultra modernity and a cruise-ship chic that will captivate passengers who'll be greeted in the massive atrium by live music and street performers.
Above it all perches Bellini's cocktail bar. Or there's Vines wine bar or Crooners martini bar for a refined pre-dinner drink.
Meal options are myriad from the three main dining rooms, to the small-party Chef's Table Lumiere, the Wine Cellar, Sabatini's Italian, the Crown Grill steak and seafood and more casual offerings such as Alfredo's pizzeria, the International Cafe, Prego by the pool and sweet temptations such as Swirls ice-cream bar, Gelato and a pastry shop.
It's not quite all about eating - the Lotus Spa with its 18 treatment rooms offers more indulgence in the shape of a Turkish bath, a caldarium, heated beds and a hydrotherapy pool. On the top deck there are adults-only areas The Sanctuary and The Retreat pool. By night, the Fountain pool comes alive with a water and light show.
Nor is there a shortage of entertainment - Regal has the biggest outdoor cinema screen on a Princess ship, there are theatre productions, live game shows, comedians, musicians and singers in the Vista Lounge and a nightclub.
Cabins are big, even those on the inside, mini suites have separate sitting rooms and there are massive suites with walk-in cupboards and a big entertaining area, which look very regal indeed.
(It) brings ultra modernity and a cruise-ship chic.
Regal Princess cruises a series of week-long Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale, a 17-day Northern Europe cruise from the US via Ireland, France, the Netherlands and Germany to Copenhagen and, in September and October, seven-day Canada & New England cruises, round trip from New York. princess.com and 1300 551 853.
