Day 1 aboard the Regal Princess marked our embarkation day. We enjoyed lunch on the ship, where I had street tacos paired with loaded fries. After participating in the muster drill, we discovered that our room was ready, so we headed up to unpack and relax for a bit before dinner. For the evening meal, I chose the pork medallions, which were good.
Following dinner, we attended a show featuring the Barricade Boys, a UK theatrical vocal group. They entertained us with their singing and dancing, even performing “Bohemian Rhapsody,” one of Queen’s iconic songs. It was a delightful experience.
Later, my friends and I strolled around the ship, exploring the various areas. While they opted for the hot tub, Kel, Tommy, and I chose to visit the Wheelhouse Bar for a few drinks before retiring to our room for the night.
Day 2 was a day at sea. I woke up around 7 am and prepared for the day ahead. We headed down for breakfast, where I enjoyed pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs. We took the opportunity to do some laundry, with Kel opting to stay and wait while Tommy and I relaxed, went through our photos, and retrieved the clothes from the laundry room. Once we wrapped up the laundry, we made our way to lunch at Alfredo’s, where I had the Margherita Pizza.
After lunch, we attended afternoon tea, though I didn’t indulge since I was still full from the earlier meal. Following tea, we returned to our room to rest before getting ready for formal night. Formal night is when everyone dresses up, takes photos, and enjoys a special dinner. I felt quite uncomfortable in my dress, as I don’t think it flattered me. My feet were aching from my shoes, so I ended up taking them off after the pictures and carrying them. For dinner, I had halibut followed by cheesecake for dessert.
After dinner, our friends retired to their room while Kel, Tommy, and I headed to the Wheelhouse bar for a drink. I ordered a Mai Tai and a Coke Zero. We didn’t stay for long, as we wanted to be well-rested for our upcoming port day.
Day 3 was spent roaming around Orkney. Orkney, a group of islands off the northeastern coast of Scotland, is a place where ancient history and wild beauty meet. The islands are home to some of Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic sites, like Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar.
Walking around Orkney feels like stepping into a living history book. The wind carries the scent of sea salt, and everywhere you look, there are echoes of the past—Neolithic ruins, Viking relics, and stone cottages that seem to grow right out of the land. Sheep and cows dot the green hills, and the coastline crashes dramatically below.
We began our adventure by visiting the Italian Chapel, a remarkable structure built from war remnants by Italian prisoners of war during WWII. After capturing some photographs, we explored the area a bit further and made our way to the Brough of Birsay. This lighthouse, located off the northwest coast of Mainland Orkney, sits on an uninhabited tidal island. Access to the island is possible via a tidal causeway at low water, but it’s essential to check the tide times. The causeway can be found at the Point of Buckquoy.
Initially, I hesitated to navigate the loose rocks leading to the island, but with Tommy’s encouragement, I found the courage to make the crossing. Once on the island, we hiked up the hillside for a while before returning down. The others were looking for puffins, which are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water, but unfortunately, did not find any.
We stopped by Skara Brae, where we had lunch before exploring the prehistoric village. Older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids, it was uncovered in the 1850s after a storm stripped away the sand dunes that had hidden it for centuries. Walking through its stone dwellings, you can still see beds, hearths, and shelves—remarkably well-preserved glimpses into Neolithic life.
After that, we made our way to Skaill House. This historic manor is located in Sandwick parish on the Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands in Scotland. The house boasts views of the Neolithic site of Skara Brae and the Bay of Skaill. Exploring the interior was quite fascinating, though the age of the house gave me the sensation that I might just slip through the floorboards.
We then visited the Ring of Brodgar. The Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge is an enormous ceremonial site dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. Surrounded by heather, lochs, and wide skies, the standing stones form a perfect circle. No one knows exactly why it was built, but standing there, it’s easy to imagine rituals, gatherings, or stargazing long ago.
We then visited a smaller circle of stones. The smaller stone circle in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage site is called the Stones of Stenness. It’s a henge monument featuring a circle of standing stones surrounded by a ditch. It is located on the headland opposite the south-eastern tip of the Ness of Brodgar peninsula. Once part of a larger circle, these Neolithic stones may have been used for ceremonies or gatherings.
We concluded our tour with a visit to the Unstan Cairn, a fascinating Neolithic burial chamber. As you approach, a low, narrow passage leads you into a tranquil stone interior. I had to duck to enter, while Tommy and a friend of ours had to crawl to navigate both in and out. Constructed over 5,000 years ago, this site is an excellent example of a stalled cairn, a burial chamber type unique to Orkney, featuring stone slabs that divide the interior into separate compartments. Notably, Unstan also exhibits characteristics of a round cairn, making it a rare hybrid of architectural styles.
We were then dropped off at our ship, and our tour guide proved to be excellent, showcasing a deep knowledge of Orkney and its surroundings. I thoroughly enjoyed the outing. After returning to the ship, we stopped by the International Café, where I got a chocolate mousse and a cappuccino. Later, we all headed to our rooms to relax before dinner. Tommy and I reviewed our photos, and I shared mine online. Then, I began writing in my journal.
We went down for dinner around 6:30. I ordered the English Roast Beef with Yorkshire pudding and enjoyed a New York cheesecake for dessert. There was a mix-up with my drink order; I requested a Bahama Breeze but received a Bahama Mama instead, which turned out to be surprisingly good! I’m quite pleased with the mistake. Now that we are back in our room, Tommy is already asleep while I finish my journal entry. I think I’ll watch a video or two before heading to bed.
