MS Regal Princess is a Royal-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises. Regal Princess, as well as her sister ship Royal Princess, were ordered on 17 February 2010. The final contract was signed on 4 May 2010. She was delivered to Princess Cruises on 11 May 2014 in a ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. In attendance were the Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi and the President of Princess Cruises Jan Swartz.

Construction

Construction of Regal Princess began in August 2012 at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone where the ship's keel was laid. Her float-out ceremony was conducted on 26 March 2013 and she was floated free from the builder's dry dock on 29 March 2013 then moored alongside the outfitting pier where construction continued.

Regal Princess successfully completed her sea trials in the Adriatic Sea from 16–21 April 2014 and conducted a 4-night pre-inaugural cruise 16–20 May 2014 from Trieste, Italy to Kotor, Montenegro prior to her maiden voyage which departed Venice, Italy on 20 May 2014.

Itinerary

Regal Princess had her inaugural season in the Mediterranean before departing Venice on 17 October 2014 when she headed for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, arriving 3 November 2014. She had her official naming ceremony in Fort Lauderdale in the presence of the six main stars of the television series The Love Boat. Regal Princess then took up her inaugural winter season of seven-night eastern Caribbean cruises with port stops at Princess Cays, St. Thomas, and Saint Martin.

Facilities

Regal Princess's amenities include two public areas extending over the side of the ship on the top deck, the SeaWalk and SeaView Bar, an atrium and a small aft pool area.

In the News

On March 5, 2019, Regal Princess rescued two survivors after their private plane crashed into the Caribbean near Grand Turk. The cruise line released a statement, saying "Princess Cruises can confirm that upon request from the U.S. Coast Guard Regal Princess assisted in the rescue of two U.S. citizens whose private aircraft went down southeast of Grand Turk in the Caribbean Sea. Both people rescued sailed onboard Regal Princess as the ship sailed to the next port of call St. Thomas."

In March 2019, Regal Princess was named the "Number 6 Best Cruise Ship Overall" in the 9th annual Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards.