Embarkation day was the worst. Not having a ship map, getting separated as soon as we walked on the ship, the mass of humanity, getting the wrong ship card…none of that was a good way to start a cruise. But, fortunately or unfortunately, it could only improve from there, and it did.
Our cabin (5263…so inside the cabin across the hall was an inside) was quiet and cozy and, like the ship, nearly new and in perfect condition. The bathroom was amazing, and the large shower and its glass door will be sorely missed on the Regal Princess. Housekeeping service is only performed once per day in the morning, and I missed that turndown service. We generally shower before dinner, and it’s nice to get rid of the wet towels before we retire for the evening.
The best part of the cabin was that it was a Cloud9 Spa Cabin and included the thermal suite for free. In fact, that really made the cruise for us. We both really enjoyed it, and because it was just a couple minute walk from our cabin, we used it every day.
Also good: the musical entertainment all around the ship. The Center Stage performances were all fantastic, with aerialists and laser lights and pyrotechnics. We also enjoyed several Comedy Club shows in two different venues, and the piano bar entertainer. But the production shows were a disappointment compared to Princess and certainly compared to Royal Caribbean. There just wasn’t enough substance to them. We also weren’t fans of the game shows, but then we aren’t on Princess either.
The extra cost restaurants ranged from excellent to okay. I was not impressed with Chibang though I heard someone else raving about it. The Cucina del Capitano and Teppanyski were excellent, and Emeril’s Bistro was very good.
The food at breakfast in the dining room was excellent. G said that the OJ on board was worlds better than in Princess, and I loved the avocado toast. I found the food in the dining room at dinner to be passable at best. And the ambience in the HoJo Atlantic was pure truck stop, with the Pacific Dining Room marginally better. The music in both was just the thump thump thump of percussive bass. Nothing else could be heard. It was so bad it was funny. And I managed to get off the ship without ever once eating at Shaq’s Big Chicken (G’s favorite) or consuming a single French fry.
The ship was beautiful and new and the outside decks were awash in comfy seating, pools and hot tubs. The Waterworks area for kids, including water slides, the ropes course and the roller coaster looked like a lot of fun. We don’t need or use those things, but it was fun to watch the few kids on board enjoying them. I can’t imagine Spring Break or the holidays on this ship.
The Carnival app and method of electronically queuing for tables in the restaurants is far, far better than what Princess offers. I don’t know why that technology can’t be used by Princess. Of course, Carnival lacks the medallion, GPS tracking and Ocean Now deliveries but Princess has all those features already, and they’re the expensive part. They just need to get the Carnival IT people to redesign the Medallion app and Princess would have the best of everything. Also, there was facial recognition in the terminal, so disembarkation was an easy walk off.
The best part of the cruise was the very friendly crew (every one of them!) and our fellow passengers. The demographic was very different (!!!) than on Princess, but they were so friendly and happy to be cruising. I think some of it was the younger age group. I was, frankly, very worried to be on this ship out of Texas during election week, but we never once even heard it mentioned. Never. Others have reported that it was quite different on some Princess ships last week. I was so happy and relieved. We got caught up in several friends and family groups traveling together and formed some wonderful friendships.
But…this is a huge ship. We had 5800 people on our sailing, and the public decks are packed and the noise level is off the charts. If it hadn’t been for the Thermal Suite as a place to decompress, I’m not sure I would have survived it. But with that space to escape to, I would do it again. I’d just plan to eat dinner only in the extra cost venues. It would certainly be easier second time around.
And was certainly a good way to spend 7 days during the Regal debacle. Though we have total flexibility in terms of time and responsibilities compared to some other Regal guests caught up in the cancellations, we didn’t have the luxury of driving to New Orleans or easily flying to another port to get a cruise. We were limited to cruises going out of Galveston, and any empty cabins were quickly snapped up as the Regal cancellations continued. We were lucky to get a cabin on the Jubilee, and, yes, my husband was right to suggest insist we take that cruise.
Will he ever let me forget that?