On Could 20, 2023, I boarded Regal Princess for the primary time in Southampton, UK, for a 14-night British Isles cruise.
Our port-heavy itinerary referred to as for stops at Portland, UK; Guernsey (within the Channel Islands); Cork (Cobh), Eire; Dublin, Eire; Belfast, Eire; Glasgow, Scotland; Invergordon, Scotland; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Paris / Normandy (Le Havre), France.
Whereas I’ve sailed on different Princess cruise ships earlier than – and on different cruise strains – this voyage was additional particular as a result of it was my first ever alternative to remain in a set at sea.
And this wasn’t simply any suite. It was the penthouse suite.
After I was a child, I had all the time slept on a pull-out sofa or cot in my mother and father’ customary balcony cabin. As I acquired older, my mother and father would enable me to convey a pal – and we’d keep in our personal inside cabin close to my mother and father’ stateroom.
As soon as I reached maturity, I actually stored the inside cabin state-of-mind – largely feeling that’s all I wanted since I’m the sort to spend as little time in my stateroom as potential. I often solely go to my room to sleep or prepare for my subsequent exercise.
Certainly, I selected inside cabins for my first cruise with my now-husband on Disney Dream in 2022 – and once more when I took a bachelorette cruise with my bridesmaids on Carnival Radiance in September 2024.
However now that I’ve sailed in a luxurious penthouse suite, I’ve realized that it’s actually laborious to journey some other means.
The Penthouse Suite
I’m not exaggerating after I let you know that this suite was nicer than some residences I’ve lived in throughout my tenure as a Los Angeles, California, resident.
After we entered our cabin, we went down a brief hallway that led to a mini bar – which was free to make use of and restocked every time we requested or throughout every day cleanings – and a snug lounge with a TV, pull-out sofa, and two cozy chairs.
The sliding doorways led out to the longest non-public balcony I’ve ever had – with one other entrance to the balcony additionally positioned in the primary bed room.
The lounge and bed room had been separated by a heavy curtain that functioned like a door and largely stifled the sound from the opposite room.
Like the lounge, the bed room was additionally fairly good – full with a queen-sized mattress, two nightstands (one among which doubled as a desk), one other TV, and a fairly sizable closet.
Not like different cruise cabins I’ve stayed in, there had been loads of shops and we by no means had any points discovering sufficient spots to cost all our gadgets.
However maybe my favourite a part of the room was the massive rest room – full with a soaking tub and a separate bathe.
The lavatory was divided into sections, in order that one particular person could possibly be utilizing the bathroom or within the bathe whereas one other nonetheless had entry to a sink to be preparing on the opposite aspect.
The lavatory added a lot ease and effectivity to our preparing course of – one thing I’m positive most households would agree is invaluable.
The Perks
By now, you possible can inform that the Penthouse improve was completely price it – however enable me to substantiate that it actually was.
In my mom’s phrases, the suite virtually paid for itself due to all of the perks and freebies we acquired with it – together with all the additional area.
Along with the free mini bar entry, we additionally acquired free laundry service – which we used a number of occasions throughout our voyage.
Members of the housekeeping group would choose up our garments throughout their every day service, and they’d be cleaned and hung up in our room once more inside 24 hours. Usually, this service may value between $60-$80 a bag.
We actually favored this, because it enabled us to pack gentle and rewear outfits – and in addition keep away from airport charges for heavy baggage, which I’m positively responsible of getting to pay on multiple event.
We additionally had entry to an unique concierge lounge that was throughout the corridor from our cabin. All through the day, the concierge group introduced in meals and snacks in order that we may eat in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere away from the crowds.
If we didn’t like all of the meals that was already out, the group was pleased to go get us just about something we needed and produce it to us within the lounge – and even allowed us to decide on entrees from specialty eating places like Crown Grill.
In addition they had a candy deal with ready for us in our room on embarkation day – after which introduced us contemporary fruit every day and provided a free every day excessive tea service.
Certainly one of our favourite perks was that we acquired precedence entry when getting off the ship in port – which was notably worthwhile in tender ports, the place the strains may get lengthy.
The concierge would personally take us in a secret crew elevator to disembark – watching till we had been off the ship to verify our precedence entry was honored.
A True VIP Expertise
Talking of the crew, the concierge and his group went above and past to verify we had an incredible trip. We truly loved their firm a lot that we exchanged contact data and are nonetheless in contact greater than a 12 months later.
First, getting access to the concierge meant that we by no means needed to go wait within the visitor companies line if we would have liked assist. Anytime we needed to make a brand new eating reservation or had questions on shore excursions, all we needed to do was stroll throughout the corridor.
However the visitor service wasn’t simply higher as a result of was had simpler entry to a choose few of Regal Princess’ 1,346 crew members. These workers actually did every part potential to go the additional mile.
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For instance, my telephone charger broke about half means via the crusing. We requested the concierge the place we may purchase a brand new one, and some minutes later he knocked on our door with a charger from his crew cabin that he gave to me as a present.
On a notably stormy day at sea, the concierge had a provide of antacids and Dramamine in his desk that he was pleased to provide away without spending a dime to all suite visitors. Usually, we’d have needed to buy these drugs or get them from the medical middle.
Talking of which, I rolled my ankle whereas visiting a historic church in Inverness (Invergordon), Scotland, and wanted to get it checked out as soon as I returned to the ship.
The medical middle had an extended wait – however the concierge had a wheelchair delivered to our cabin in a matter of minutes and I used to be seen by the docs immediately. Though it wasn’t a great state of affairs, I felt a bit like a celeb.
The VIP experiences additionally continued all through the crusing – with my household getting invited to take a free, non-public tour of the bridge and to satisfy the Captain one-on-one.
We additionally acquired precedence entry for unique alternatives just like the Chef’s Desk expertise. We in the end opted to not partake as a result of my mother has a extreme shellfish allergy and the menu was pre-set with shellfish included, nevertheless it was thrilling that we acquired first dibs.
Reserving and Value
The final time I went on a cruise with my mother and father previous to our 2023 crusing, I used to be nonetheless a teen. Since this is able to be my first time becoming a member of them on a cruise as an grownup, we opted to guide a mini suite to provide us all slightly extra space.
Nevertheless, about three weeks earlier than our cruise, my mother and father obtained an e mail from Princess Cruises asking in the event that they wish to bid to improve our suite.
My mother and father initially bid on a premium suite, which we didn’t get. Nevertheless, Princess despatched a counter provide for the penthouse suite, which is a fair nicer choice.
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My mother and father accepted the provide – and ended up paying about $3,000 (USD) extra for the crusing than they might have if we stayed in our previously-booked mini suite.
The public sale course of they went via allowed the cruise line to fill these costlier lodging and make a bit extra of a revenue from booked passengers, whereas individuals like us had been in a position to get right into a nicer suite at a fraction of the price.
That stated, suites are often out there to guide via your journey agent or straight via the cruise line if you happen to don’t wish to attempt your luck on a bidding course of which will or might not occur.
In case you’re torn between splurging for the improve or not, our take is that it was price each penny – particularly for an extended crusing.
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