I just boarded the Regal Princess in Galveston. The first thing I did once I got onboard was stop at my muster station. There was no demonstration here. I just scanned my medallion and she told me I needed to watch the video on the TV in my room prior to sailaway.

The door unlocked automatically when I approached it. That is the best thing about the medallion in my opinion.

Something I do no like is it has full names on the doors. I have been told you can have guest services remove your name from the door. I have also heard that since my cruise they changed it to you first name and the first initial of your last name.

They have instructions in case you don’t know how to open a door.

This is the room. I originally booked an interior guarantee. When upgrade bidding happened I bid $105 per person on a standard balcony. They double that for solos so it was a $210 bid. I won the bid and got this room.

One thing I want to point out is it’s a small balcony room compared to what you would get on Carnival. There is no couch in here. I think it’s possible the lack of a couch may have been what allowed me to get it on a cheap upgrade. Carnival would usually want about $700 for me to upgrade to a balcony. 

This is the closet/bathroom area. I do like the way it’s separated from the rest of the room. It gives you a changing area. But I liked what my sideways interior was going to have with a little hall and open closets/shelves on each side leading to the bathroom.

I have heard some complain about fighting the doors if one person is in the bathroom and the other is in the closet area.

The bathroom is pretty standard. It comes with liquid hand soap, lotion, shower gel, and shampoo/conditioner.

Two outlets and no USB by the desk. There are no USBs at all in the room.

The hairdryer is in the desk.

The refrigerator is about the size I’m used to. The ice bucket is full.

This is a look at the balcony.

I made it to the room just in time for football. I didn’t have to sign into the WiFi here. As soon as I connected to the ship’s network, I was on WiFi.

The safety video must be watched on the TV prior to sail away.

Here is today’s schedule of events.

They have a list of buffet specials for the week.

I saw there were only 20 minutes left for lunch in the MDR lunch so I headed down. My suitcase is already here.

I passed through the casino on the way.

Salad

Spinach ricotta cheese ravioli 

Beef tenderloin

Soufflé

It’s too bad they don’t have a package where they can show more than one or two games at a time. This would make a decent sports bar.

The theater is pretty comfortable. It has very skinny armrests though.

It has super small steps going up.

A sizable area for wheelchairs and scooters in the back.

We are now above the casino.

This is interesting seating outside of Princess Live.

Princess Live Cafe

Princess Live

Wheelhouse Bar and the Crown Grill (Steakhouse).

They have the same game on in the Vista Lounge that they had in the other lounge.

I stopped by the Italian Restaurant, Sabatini’s to get on the waiting list for the Chef’s Table. It’s $130 with wine or $110 without wine. I’m not a big wine person but I went with in case that extra $20 gets me in over someone else. 

This is the Cruise Director, Ali.

The godparents of this ship are the cast of The Love Boat.

One thing I like about the medallion is the door unlocks when I approach it.

And we are pulling away.

We are approaching Carnival Dream.

Ocean Star Museum

Harbor House Hotel

Next we are coming up on Harmony of the Seas.

The Pilot boat peels off.

The Giants vs. Cowboys game is on in the rooms.

My steward stopped by during sailaway.

I was wondering if this is a first cruise thing. From what I’ve been able to gather this is unusual. They may have figured out that I’m a blogger.

The game is also on lido deck.

Apple Martini at Good Spirits. It has a greenish hue, but it tastes like straight vodka.

There was a 15 minute comedic acrobatic show in the atrium. They are supposed to be here with new stuff the next two nights.

After that we had the steel drum in the atrium.

I moved over to Crooners for a drink.

Wayfinding is cool. It just doesn’t work so far…apart from knowing where I’m at.

This is Dunes. It has Malibu coconut rum, Midori melon liqueur, banana liqueur, pineapple juice and sweet & sour.

The steakhouse has no availability all week according to the app. I walked up and asked the manager. He says “why not?” and walks off to talk to the hostess.

We dine.

This bread is a winner.

Lobster cake

Shrimp bisque

Ribeye and three salts.

Like on Carnival the mushrooms are a side and like on Carnival I asked to have two sides so I can have the mushrooms for my steak.

For dessert I asked the waiter to bring me the best one. I guess he couldn’t decide.

Triple chocolate treasure

Creme Bruleee cheesecake

After tasting both I would say the chocolate one is too chocolate. I would go with the cheese cake. Unless you can just eat a big piece of fudge. I can’t. That’s what the chocolate one reminds me of.

My opinion of this steakhouse is it’s on par with the Carnival steakhouses but above the NCL steakhouse. If you only brought me the baked potato and the ribeye, I would’ve thought it was a Carnival steakhouse. They were that similar.

The other sides and the desserts would’ve been a giveaway since they are different from what Carnival offers. I love the bread here more than any Carnival bread other than possibly the Cucina Del Capitano bread.

During dinner I could hear but not see the piano player because of that pillar.

Thank god. I thought someone was torturing an animal from down the hall.

Son of a gun we’ll have big fun on da bayou.

Renfeld is on in the Vista Lounge.

On Princess it’s pickleball 24/7.

Mission Impossible 7

I like these bar stools that face the screen.

Every Tom Cruise movie has to have a running scene.

This is their pizza by a slice place. I’ll have to try it sometime. Maybe Belize day when I get back from that excursion. 

I have heard it’s unusual to get your robe the first day and that you don’t get slippers unless you are in a suite.

These are too small for me but it’s the thought that counts.

I’m also told that towel animals are rare on Princess.

I’m off to bed. Good night!