Regal Princess questions- a laundry list

Hi, I am sailing on the Regal Princess in November and I have quite a few questions about it.

1. Is the outdoor promenade fully walkable? I have read some things that it is not good for joggers/runners, but is it fully accessible, even if thin in some places?
   
2. How does the casino app work? (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/princess-casino-slots-blackjack-poker-and-roulette/id963359228?mt=8) Can you actually win real prizes and play onboard (the app has zero reviews)?
   
3. When do ocean medallions ship out and where to you customize them? There is very little information on this and we are on the first weeklong cruise with them.
   
4. Are the balconies in a standard/deluxe cabin big compared to other ships?
   
5. Is there a way to open the balcony partitions?
   
6. Are stewards generally okay with people leaving other cards in the power slot to keep stuff charging while away?
   
7. Is the aft pool usually crowded? Do they leave it filled above the deep area?
   
8. We have a free specialty dining credit and we can eat both steak and seafood. Should we use the credit at Crown Grill or Sabatini's?
   
9. Due to the lack of a staircase mid, are the elevators there usually overcrowded/slow?
   
10. Are there any 24-hour restaurants?
    
11. Which restaurant(s) is used for anytime dining?
    
12. Is gelato an extra charge?
    
13. Can onboard credit be used before we board (for example: buying drink packages)?
    
14. Is the tender process relatively smooth?
    
15. Is the MDR open for breakfast and lunch?
    

I know this is a ridiculously long list, so it is okay if you only know the answer to one or two of these :). Thanks!

With the caveat I have not yet sailed Regal, here are some arbitrary answers:

• No complete 360 outdoor Promenade
  
• As you will be on the first Ocean Medallion sailing, expect to be learning as you go as everyone else will
  
• Balconies are quite small (36 sq ft)
  
• Your steward will open the balcony partitions for you--so long as the two adjacent cabins do not have a firewall between them (if the first digit of the cabin numbers are the same, then the partitions can be opened)
  
• The aft pool on Regal is barely larger than a splash pool
  
• I would recommend Crown Grill; question is whether Sabatini's on Regal will have switched to its new "trattoria-style" menu by the time you cruise. Menus for both are on the Princess web site
  
• I have read that the center staircase is to be opened up after the next drydock; will have to wait for confirmation
  
• International Cafe is open 24 hours
  
• ATD will be in Symphony Dining room all evening, Allegro Dining room additionally after about 7:30.
  
• Gelato is an extra charge; on Regal sundaes, crepes, and alcoholic concoctions are available for purchase
  
• OBC cannot be spent until after you board. If you are contemplating a drink package but the ship will have started Ocean Medallion on your cruise, you need to check out the concurrent thread here on that topic
  
• MDR is open for breakfast daily, lunch on sea days and any afternoon port arrivals. Be sure to check the Princess Patter for opening times and be on time--they tend to close the doors a few minutes early.
  

Links to specialty restaurant menus here: http://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/food-and-dining/specialty-restaurants/

Thread regarding drink package availability (or the possible lack of): http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2489800

Correcting the above: Concerto (deck 6 mid) is the AT DR after 7:30. Allegro (deck 6 aft) is traditional for both seatings

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Correcting the above: Concerto (deck 6 mid) is the AT DR after 7:30. Allegro (deck 6 aft) is traditional for both seatings

All my Princess cruises have had the Deck 5 midship MDR as the full time ATD one, as there are places to wait and bars to grab a drink from, with the Deck 6 midship the split TD/ATD. If Regal does the reverse I stand corrected.

All my Princess cruises have had the Deck 5 midship MDR as the full time ATD one, as there are places to wait and bars to grab a drink from, with the Deck 6 midship the split TD/ATD. If Regal does the reverse I stand corrected.

That is correct. I think you misunderstood what I was correcting.

- Symphony (Deck 5 mid): ATD full time

- Concerto (Deck 6 mid): Traditional early; ATD after 7:30 or so; closes 30 minutes later than Symphony on my two Regal cruises

- Allegro (Deck 6 aft): Traditional both seatings

The promenade decks are walkable though narrow behind the life boats from midship to the aft. It wasn't busy the many times I was down there during my recent cruise.

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Hi, I am sailing on the Regal Princess in November and I have quite a few questions about it.

 

 

1. Is the outdoor promenade fully walkable? I have read some things that it is not good for joggers/runners, but is it fully accessible, even if thin in some places?
   
2. How does the casino app work? (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/princess-casino-slots-blackjack-poker-and-roulette/id963359228?mt=8) Can you actually win real prizes and play onboard (the app has zero reviews)?
   
3. When do ocean medallions ship out and where to you customize them? There is very little information on this and we are on the first weeklong cruise with them.
   
4. Are the balconies in a standard/deluxe cabin big compared to other ships?
   
5. Is there a way to open the balcony partitions?
   
6. Are stewards generally okay with people leaving other cards in the power slot to keep stuff charging while away?
   
7. Is the aft pool usually crowded? Do they leave it filled above the deep area?
   
8. We have a free specialty dining credit and we can eat both steak and seafood. Should we use the credit at Crown Grill or Sabatini's?
   
9. Due to the lack of a staircase mid, are the elevators there usually overcrowded/slow?
   
10. Are there any 24-hour restaurants?
    
11. Which restaurant(s) is used for anytime dining?
    
12. Is gelato an extra charge?
    
13. Can onboard credit be used before we board (for example: buying drink packages)?
    
14. Is the tender process relatively smooth?
    
15. Is the MDR open for breakfast and lunch?
    

I know this is a ridiculously long list, so it is okay if you only know the answer to one or two of these :). Thanks!

#1 No,, this ship as well as the Royal does not have a complete walkway around on deck 7. If you want a large balcony they are in the middle of the ship & the rear, otherwise they are small. The pool in back on lido is not crowded, best pool for adults is in front deck 18.Anytime is Symphony & allegra. Mdr for lunch is not open on port days in Allegro. Gelato is a charge Or a punch on coffee card. You will have no problem finding food all day. Cannot use obc prior to boarding. No policy on opening partition, just ask cabin steward, we never had a problem.

Regarding the beverage package:

Recent changes to the Princess site show this verbiage in regard to the All Inclusive Beverage Package:

Package is NOT available for purchase within 3 days of sailing. Package is NOT available for voyages 2 nights or fewer. Package is NOT available for purchase on Ocean Medallion™ voyages.

Hopefully they will get this figured out and changed before you sail. It is supposedly due to not having considered the issue of the promise to deliver drinks to you wherever you are on the ship. It is a logistical nightmare and Princess hasn't yet decided how to deal with it so they changed everything suddenly and posted that notice. Those who already purchased the package or have it due to booking under the Sip and Sail or some other promotion still have it but, at this time, it can no longer be booked for Medallion cruises.

Hi, I am sailing on the Regal Princess in November and I have quite a few questions about it.

*Are the balconies in a standard/deluxe cabin big compared to other ships?

Almost all balconies for Balcony, Deluxe Balcony and Mini Suites are 9'x4', smaller than Princess Grand & Sun Class ships. There a few cabins with larger balconies. Check the deck plans

 

*Are stewards generally okay with people leaving other cards in the power slot to keep stuff charging while away?

We have brought along a previous cruise card for this purpose. But, you will not have a cruise card. You will have a medallion. Don't know how the lights feature will work with the medallion. I do believe some plugs are always active. The bathroom one comes to mind.

 

*Is the aft pool usually crowded? Do they leave it filled above the deep area?

Just so you know a portion of this area is smoking

 

*Due to the lack of a staircase mid, are the elevators there usually overcrowded/slow?

Yes, slow and crowded during busy times, even if and when the staircase is opened.

 

*Are there any 24-hour restaurants?

As posted, the International Cafe in the Piazza. This is not a sit down restaurant. It is walk up.

 

*Is gelato an extra charge?

Yes, as posted. You can also get gelato for a punch on the coffee card.

*Can onboard credit be used before we board (for example: buying drink packages)?

No. Except you can now use it to purchase ship's excursions on line.

*Is the tender process relatively smooth?

Yes. You report to the DR mentioned in the Princess Patter, usually the deck 5 DR where you will get a tender ticket. When your ticket number is called all those with the number are led to the pontoon to board the tender. There is a rush hour for the first few hours of tendering. At some point tender tickets are no longer required. Tender tickets are given out one ticket per person. All wishing to go ashore together must show up together to get their tender ticket. You can not pick up a tender ticket for another or for an entire group. For return to the ship just show up at the tender dock.

I know this is a ridiculously long list, so it is okay if you only know the answer to one or two of these :). Thanks!

See above for additional information

Package is NOT available for purchase on Ocean Medallion™ voyages.

That is absolutely crazy!

The aft pool is very near to the designated smoking area. People also smoke when using the loungers near this pool. Unfortunately the smoke odor has made the aft pool unusable for me.

Gelato is included in the coffee card punches. The sundaes are one punch and are delicious! The coffee card is well worth it if you like gelato and specialty coffees!

If you are a jogger or walker there is a nice track up on the sports deck. I think it is 7 laps for a mile

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Sailed on Regal the past two years...Allegro Dining Room is totally traditional seating. Symphony was totally ATD and Concerto was early traditional seating then ATD the rest of the evening. On the day we were in port late into the evening...the ship had open seating in any dining room just for that night.

The aft pool area on deck 17 was taken over by the smokers on our cruise, even though only one side of the aft pool area is designated as smoking area. As non-smokers, we just avoided that area on deck 17. Plenty of other places to hang out.

Elevators - Yes, it can be slow and crowded especially the midship ones. We used the stairs whenever we could. Had an aft cabin on deck 9 helped a lot in that regard.

So-Called Promenade outside deck - See my video here:

Started right outside Princess Theater and went all the way aft. I sped up the video since the walk in the narrow parts were kinda industrial & boring.

It doesn`t even look like a pool, how about a large tub?, with a smell of disgusting smoke. Lets call it a cancer pool.

From my experience with a cruise after August, you CAN use your onboard credit for advanced purchases on your Cruise Personalizer. I did just that with my shore excursions. Not sure if it'd work on drinks too, but it's worth a try.

Update: a new midship staircase was added today.

Update: a new midship staircase was added today.

The stairs were already there.

They just added decor and reconfigured them for passenger use instead of the bare metal walls that they had for crew only prior.

They did the same on the Royal last year.