How to Enjoy a 10-Night Regal Princess Adventure
I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what to pack for our cruise. I had never cruised with my kids before, hadn’t been on a cruise myself in over a decade, and had never cruised with Princess. I am writing this post in hopes it helps another mom determine what best suits their family and gain the courage to get out there!
Our Itinerary
Before diving into the details, let me share our itinerary on the Regal Princess, which departed from Galveston for a 10-night adventure:
- Day 1: Galveston
- Day 2: At Sea
- Day 3: Cozumel
- Day 4: Roatan
- Day 5: Roatan
- Day 6: Belize City
- Day 7: At Sea
- Day 8: Grand Cayman
- Day 9: At Sea
- Day 10: At Sea
- Day 11: Galveston
Booking and Cabin Details
While planning this cruise, one of our biggest concerns was booking with young children. Our son was 11 months old at embarkation. Important note: Children under 6 months cannot cruise, and if there are more than 2 consecutive days at sea, children must be over 12 months on most lines.
We booked a Deluxe Balcony Cabin, which is a step up from a standard Balcony room as it includes a fold-out couch bed and a fridge. Our 3-year-old slept on the couch bed, and our baby slept in a pack-n-play set up in the closet just outside the bathroom door. While cruise cabins are cozy, we managed well with a sound machine. We brought a Slumberpod but didn’t need it as the wall provided enough visual division for baby.
Pro tip: Reserve a pack-n-play and fridge for milk storage in advance.
Getting to the Ship
We took an Uber from Houston Bush airport to Galveston the day before, using our Doona car seat. The ride was about an hour, and we stayed at the beautiful Grand Galvez hotel, where we had dinner that evening. The next day’s embarkation process took over two hours. Staff checked passports, assigned each person (including baby) a lanyard necklace, and then began the lengthy boarding process. Remember to pack snacks and water in your carry-on, as checked luggage arrives in your room later.
Essential Packing List
Here’s what proved essential for our family, cruise-specific. If you want to know my baseline packing strategy. Check the Master List here.
- Passports
- Diapers and wipes for every day (pack extra!)
- Sound Machine
- Sleep Suit
- Medications and preventatives
- Bottles, soap, bottle brush
- Formula (Sammy’s Packets are great for travel)
- Pumping supplies & milk storage bags
- Laundry Pods
- Analog Clock (track schedules across time zones)
- Snacks and water bottles
- Amma Wrap nursing cover
- Chargers for all devices
- Two formal outfits per person
- Smart casual attire for the main dining room
- Baby carrier & backpack
Clothing and Beach Essentials
Otherwise, we packed for your standard beach vacation: hats, a couple swimsuits, rash guard, sunscreen, and two pairs of shoes per person – one dressy, one for walking. I aimed for about five outfits per person, focusing on dual-use items for both day and night. Think linen dresses, button-up shirts and a cable knit sweater for layering. I also included gym outfits for me since we had unlimited workouts with our Premier Package. The ship offers laundry facilities, and I did three loads during our stay.
Health and Wellness Supplies
The Facebook groups warned me to pack all the medications. I packed what I knew I couldn’t get easily at a port or from the infirmary:
- Dr. Green Mom’s Immunity & Vitamin D drops
- Active Skin Repair for sunburns
- Boiron Oscillococcinum
- Vitamin C, Zinc, and activated charcoal for adults
- Seasickness remedies (wrist bands proved useful during “wavy season”)
The Premier Package Experience
Here are our favorite pieces of the Premier Package on Princess we really took advantage of.
- No cover charge at specialty dining restaurants
- Wi-Fi access
- Drinks under $20 (including specialty coffee, tea, and alcohol) on Ocean Now delivery
- Unlimited workout classes
- Photo package (8 printed photos and unlimited digital downloads)
- Crew Appreciation, we also tipped our stateroom attendant at the end
Dining with Little Ones
We alternated each night between specialty dining and the main dining room throughout our cruise. The specialty restaurants (Crown Grill and Sabatini’s) offered notably higher quality food, though the main dining room was perfectly acceptable. We strategically booked early reservations (5:00-5:20 PM) to accommodate our children’s 7:00 PM bedtime. This timing allowed for a more relaxed dining experience, as specialty restaurants typically have a slower pace for drinks and food service.
Note: While specialty dining had no cover charge with our Premier Package, there was an additional charge per reservation for the toddler.
Activities and Port Days
We chose not to book pre-planned excursions due to our baby’s schedule, which worked in our favor given the occasionally rainy weather. In Roatan, we discovered a lovely beach via the “nature walk,” easily accessible with our baby carrier. The Doona stroller served as both car seat and stroller for port in Cozumel.
Princess’s onboard app, while not the most user-friendly, proved invaluable for tracking shipmates and ordering drinks. We found plenty of family activities despite the sometimes-challenging weather: dancing to live music, puzzles over coffee, mini golf, pickleball, cooking show, galley tour, trivia games, art viewings, swimming, afternoon tea, and more. Even with ten days at sea, we never ran out of things to do and we never set foot in the kids club.
Final Thoughts
We’ll definitely cruise again! While some activities catered to an older crowd, we found plenty to enjoy as a family. The crew was exceptionally accommodating with our children, and the convenience of having no cooking or cleaning responsibilities made it a true vacation. The twice-daily room service and attentive dining staff (who even cut our toddler’s food) were wonderful touches. Departing from Galveston made the whole experience even more convenient for us as Texas residents. Best of all, my husband and I got to enjoy quiet evenings reading after the kids’ early bedtime – a rare treat!
Have you cruised other lines? Tell me how it went in the comments!
Pro Tip: If you need anything during your cruise, join your sailing’s Facebook group (example: “Princess Regal Jan 19-29”). Fellow passengers are usually happy to help with spare supplies or advice.
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