Paula_MacFan

Here's a pretty shot of the full moon from our aft balcony. Smooth sailing now 🙂

The weather has vastly improved from when we left Galveston and the pool decks are crowded. Seas are a bit calmer but still heard some folks seeking Dramamine. Pretty windy but the temp is around 80 so it feels pretty good after leaving snow and cold at home 🙂 Even the comedian joked last night about cruising from Galveston in the cold.

It is noon and we're having lunch in Alfredo's. Every table is full and there is a line waiting. Last night the Crown Grill was packed as well.

Here's the daily buffet themes.

We are from Salina and first sailed from Galveston on Princess in 2004 on the Grand. We've been hooked ever since and have done many Caribbean trips from Galveston, Houston 2x, and Ft Lauderdale over the years. We've also done Alaska from Seattle, New England from NYC, and most recently a 12 night European from Southampton. Next we have a 14 night Alaska cruise tour and then Panama Canal. So we obviously like Princess. I've said on this forum the Regal was our favorite ship and we are having a good time. Just pointing out a few disappointments doesn't mean we're totally unhappy, just keeping it real. We usually drive to Galveston as it's comparable travel time for us vs flying logistics. We always get an aft room if it's available. We love the quiet location and spending time on the balcony. Yes the weather was colder than normal in Galveston but still nicer than home. We've had 3 weeks of sub zero temps, snow, and ice. We usually sail this week every year for husband's birthday and to escape the cold. Today's forecast looks better with 70s. The next 3 port days look to be in the 80s, so yay 😀 If you have other questions I'm happy to try and answer. We typically don't do the MDR much nor attend production shows. Last night we enjoyed the comedian and several music acts. There is also a acrobat couple who have done shows in the piazza with feats of strength and juggling.

I took your advice and asked our steward for better/fluffier/non feather/whatever pillows. After a deer in the headlights response to 'see what he could find' I'm happy to report we now have 2 additional flat pillows 😄 It's fine and we will survive.

Yes, it's $10 extra. The lobster is huge though 😊

We had a wonderful meal tonight in the Crown Grill for my husband's birthday. We both had the surf and turf and it was delicious. This was our first time trying the Nolan Ryan beef products now offered on the Regal. Our last experience in the CG was on the Island a few months ago and this was better. Our filets on the Island were bigger but tonight's were better. Absolutely melt in your mouth. Our neighbor diners commented that our meals looked so good they were coming back later in the week to order what we had. The service was excellent and we didn't receive a bill for the 18% charge as we had prepaid prior to the change.

We ate at Gaido's the night before our cruise and it was amazing! I don't think I'd consider staying at the hotel though. It's been there a long time much like the restaurant 😊 We stayed a few blocks away on the Seawall at the Holiday Inn Express. Also had a balcony gulf view room and it was very nice. No complaints.

We've been very happy before on the Regal and it's OK now, but the bed on the Island was heavenly and this one is sagging badly and the pillows are flat. We are in a premium deluxe true aft balcony cabin. I may try to post some pictures later.

This Princess map shows the route taken by their larger Royal class ships vs the other smaller ones. Due to size they sail west of Vancouver Island vs east. See the map key and black dotted line. If you want to sail east of VI then look into the smaller ships doing one way itineraries to/from Vancouver vs round trip from Seattle.

Forgot to mention that yesterday we immediately watched the safety video upon boarding at 11:15, then immediately after that checked in to our muster station in the Vista Lounge. App showed we were both green and good to go. Then last night at 9:30 the steward delivered a letter that I had not either watched the safety video or attended muster (it said 'or', wasn't specific). I immediately tried calling guest services and when that was busy for 20 minutes I tried crew chat. Never did get a response from crew chat but finally got through to guest services who said there was a 'technology glitch'. I'm sure they were inundated with calls if lots of people got that letter.

It's definitely gotten warmer with an air temp of 72 today. However it's still windy and some open deck areas are closed. At least some people are actually sitting around the pool deck today unlike yesterday. Most people appear to be participating in indoor activities this afternoon due to wind and somewhat choppy Seas. We've sailed on the Regal twice before (eastern Caribbean from Ft Lauderdale and New England from NYC), but we'd kind of forgotten how many passengers there are. Our last cruise was 3 months ago on the Island with way less people. Also the Island seemed to be in better shape. Most of the public areas on Regal have been ok so far, but our room needs a refresh. The coffee table is literally falling apart, the bed is not as good as the Island, our bathroom door is hanging off the hinges (hubby had to tighten screws hanging out of brackets), and there is a lot of rust on the balcony. None of that is ruining our trip, but the Regal isn't as regal as she's looked in the past to us.

The boarding pass showed up around 10 days I think? I still have both apps on my phone. I edited out the personal info.

Our Travel Summary said boarding started at noon, but as we got closer to sailing the app boarding pass said check in started at 10:30. Sail away was probably our coldest ever. Usually we would be out exploring the ship and enjoying sail away from our aft balcony; however, it was only 41 degrees so everyone was inside. Even for Galveston this was pretty chilly. It's supposed to be in the 80s at ports so hopefully we'll make up for it. We let the porters take our large suitcases and we carried on our smaller bags. Lots of people were carrying on bags and suitcases.

Thanks!! Somehow we will survive 😀 Good thing we have 2 blue tote bags in our suitcases!

Yes, I'm aware. Was only describing the process so others would know what to expect. I have no reason to smuggle on beer as we have the drink package but prefer Pepsi over Coke. Side note -- years ago sailing from Galveston you could bring on beer. Slap on a luggage tag and they'd deliver it your room with the luggage 😀

We used this site. If you follow them on FB they have coupon codes. We parked directly across from the ship in a covered garage for $130 which included tax. They email you a code for the gate, but there were attendants there this morning checking people in and helping park. You might check your pier assignment on the port website too. We were at 25 but the Regal has been at 28. Edit to add they have other options besides the covered garage. https://www.portofgalveston.com/240/onlinespecial?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnrOtBhDIARIsAFsSe53_zG3V49ok8ZbKN7WayPYD_kYIRdQ-NpFwxShpM5OlGK7NMp1bcZ8aAk5hEALw_wcB

Pushing away from the dock now to the Love Boat Theme ❤️ They kept announcing how over 1,200 people still hadn't checked in to muster so that may have delayed us slightly.

This folder of info was brought by the steward. We didn't have this on our last cruise in October so may be new? NFL playoff games are on MUTS, in Vista Lounge, and cabin TVs.

See thread from yesterday: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2986397-bringing-soda-wine-or-water-onboard/#comment-66787628 Cans only.

Our room was ready at boarding but they announced not all rooms were. It's a quick turnaround day here leaving at 3pm. Another random observation -- we've already seen an usual amount of kids, probably 30 or so just in the last 30 minutes. We have sailed this week many times (birthday week) and there are usually very few children.

We just carried on 2 12-packs of diet Pepsi in Galveston. We have the drink package but prefer diet Pepsi over diet Coke from the gun. We drove to Port so no reason not to carry on. They had a table after security where they took out every can from the sealed boxes and checked them over, then taped them back up. It was quick.

We arrived at the terminal at 10:40 and we're in our room right now at 11:15. We had reserved parking across the street, easy walk into terminal, no waiting outside. Quick check-in through the Green Lane and immediately boarded ship, no waiting in the lounge. One of our quickest embarkation experiences ever in Galveston. Side note the Regal is at Terminal 25 today and not 28.

We leave on the Regal today. Basic activities have been populated in the app for a few weeks. Yesterday NFL games, shows, and musical events populated.