LIVE from the Regal out of Galveston, TX. January 14th - January 21st

[nini]

22 minutes ago, Crookshanks said:

I have multiple options for different situations. Clip is great for clothing or even clipping on a crossbody strap. 
 

I’ll move it to a keychain AirTag holder when we get off ship as there’s less chance of it falling off. 
 

I also have one that attaches to my watch band, which is nice if you don’t want to carry a bag. 
 

 

 

I have the AirTags so I can watch them move at airports. But the other now know to get them!!

 

BF’s bag has officially made it to Houston, but she’s opted to just get by with the clothes we bought for her there and what’s in my bags. Just afraid to send it internationally since things haven’t worked out well. 
 

Onto ship news! Great time so far! Trivia has been fun. Playing board games and casino also enjoyable. My brother is teaching me craps, though I still don’t grasp it well. Up on slots for the moment, but there’s time to lose the rest. 😂

 

We had the Voice of the Ocean auditions and I was lucky enough to end up being a finalist!! Super excited!  Gonna be a great show! So much talent! 
 

Chocolate cake at the International Cafe as Premium Dessert was wonderful and 4 of us couldn’t even finish it!! 
 

Mint Chocolate martini is a great nightcap! 
 

 

 

Congratulations!!! I wish we could hear your performance. We watched this show when on the Sky last June and it was really fun.

[starvenger]

2 hours ago, Crookshanks said:

I have multiple options for different situations. Clip is great for clothing or even clipping on a crossbody strap. 
 

I’ll move it to a keychain AirTag holder when we get off ship as there’s less chance of it falling off. 
 

I also have one that attaches to my watch band, which is nice if you don’t want to carry a bag. 

Those are pretty good ideas. I've started using a crossbody sling everywhere and stuffed our medallions in there when we were ashore.

[Tyskie]

On 1/16/2024 at 6:39 PM, Crookshanks said:

 

We had the Voice of the Ocean auditions and I was lucky enough to end up being a finalist!! Super excited!  Gonna be a great show! So much talent! 
 

 

Congratulations and good luck! 

We were on the Regal repo 2019 and our friend won the competition - such fun to root for him.

 

 

[luvseaside]

Hope the OP and family are having a great trip.  Would love to get update if there is a new Cruise Director on the Regal - saw that Allie may have left a couple of weeks ago. 

How's the entertainment?

[cruiserj12]

Hi All,

I hope either the hive mind or Crookshanks can answer this casino question for us. On Princess, can you use your medallion to play at the tables and if so, is there a transaction fee? Ultimately, is it better to just bring cash? Thanks in advance for any knowledge anyone can share on this topic.

Best,

Cruiserj12

[starvenger]

2 hours ago, cruiserj12 said:

Hi All,

I hope either the hive mind or Crookshanks can answer this casino question for us. On Princess, can you use your medallion to play at the tables and if so, is there a transaction fee? Ultimately, is it better to just bring cash? Thanks in advance for any knowledge anyone can share on this topic.

Best,

Cruiserj12

They use the medallion at the table to track and rate your play. Not sure about pulling money against your onboard account - I only use cash at a casino in order to limit my losses. 

[wallyj]

4 hours ago, cruiserj12 said:

Hi All,

I hope either the hive mind or Crookshanks can answer this casino question for us. On Princess, can you use your medallion to play at the tables and if so, is there a transaction fee? Ultimately, is it better to just bring cash? Thanks in advance for any knowledge anyone can share on this topic.

Best,

Cruiserj12

Yes, you can ‘charge’ chips or slot play to you shipboard account via the Medallion just like previously if you have a cruise card they would take the info from. 
 

Currently Princess does NOT charge any transaction fee to charge to your stateroom account. There have been rumors the casino will be separating accounts in the future as OBC is not supposed to be used against Casino charges, but it has not happened yet.

[cruiserj12]

5 hours ago, wallyj said:

Yes, you can ‘charge’ chips or slot play to you shipboard account via the Medallion just like previously if you have a cruise card they would take the info from. 
 

Currently Princess does NOT charge any transaction fee to charge to your stateroom account. There have been rumors the casino will be separating accounts in the future as OBC is not supposed to be used against Casino charges, but it has not happened yet.

 

8 hours ago, starvenger said:

They use the medallion at the table to track and rate your play. Not sure about pulling money against your onboard account - I only use cash at a casino in order to limit my losses. 

Thank you both for your help.

[JKcruise25]

Crookshanks, since you’re currently cruising  and have been visiting the  casino, would you mind asking next time you’re there  if the minimum age is always 18 to enter the casinos and gamble. We will be sailing on Emerald in May and have a couple of 19 year olds that will be with us. While Princess website states the age minimum is 18, I’ve read many conflicting things including here in cruise critic. Some articles and blogs list it at 21 so I was wondering if there had been a recent change or if that’s simply inaccurate. Hopefully it’s 18. Thank you so much! 

[starvenger]

I regret not taking photos of the tables when the casino was closed. I do remember seeing the triple zero roulette tables - first time I've seen one of those, actually. And the blackjack/"Fun" 21 tables had standard rules, so that was nice.

 

And I think I saw someone playing 3/4/5x odds in Craps. 

[beshears]

Still looking forward to reading more and seeing pictures as well. Unfortunately for me, a dear friend that was planning to go found out she has leukemia, and is to start treatments. I was really in a bind, but I found a dear friend that I just reconnected with after 20 some years, and she is going, and has NEVER cruised before. 🙂

[helenb]

5 hours ago, JKcruise25 said:

Crookshanks, since you’re currently cruising  and have been visiting the  casino, would you mind asking next time you’re there  if the minimum age is always 18 to enter the casinos and gamble. We will be sailing on Emerald in May and have a couple of 19 year olds that will be with us. While Princess website states the age minimum is 18, I’ve read many conflicting things including here in cruise critic. Some articles and blogs list it at 21 so I was wondering if there had been a recent change or if that’s simply inaccurate. Hopefully it’s 18. Thank you so much! 

 

I'm not Crookshanks, but IIRC, the gambling age, like the drinking age, varies depending in which part of the world the ship is currently sailing.

[CC Rider 69]

On 1/12/2024 at 6:12 AM, CC Rider 69 said:

18 to gamble

21 to drink alcohol

 

[starvenger]

4 hours ago, starvenger said:

I regret not taking photos of the tables when the casino was closed. I do remember seeing the triple zero roulette tables - first time I've seen one of those, actually. And the blackjack/"Fun" 21 tables had standard rules, so that was nice.

Sorry, I should have noted for anyone new to gambling that triple zero roulette is bad. 

[JKcruise25]

Helenb, specifically needing to know for a Caribbean cruise. I’ve asked Princess and they say 18 without stating any exceptions so it is a little confusing. 

[KKB]

On 1/11/2024 at 8:47 AM, Crookshanks said:

I also sailed on the Ruby last year out of Galveston.  Both times the embarkation was super quick and easy.  I'm hoping they are working the kinks out and just gets better each week.  

 

Hope you do escape the cold!  We have been lucky here and haven't had too much bad weather, but that can change quickly.  

 

I'm flying to IAH tomorrow evening.  Spending 2 days with my brother, which will be great!

Glad you are all onboard & issues behind you.

 

We had a great cruise...but maybe Galveston in January isn't my fav...you really lose 3 days of nice weather. Sea day at beginning was pretty cool; the one at the end was better but cloudy so still...

Quite the party cruise on NCL!

 

Have fun!

 

[PaperSniper4]

On 1/8/2024 at 12:46 PM, Crookshanks said:

Yes, that has been my biggest concern going into this cruise, so I'll be as transparent as I can in regard to those issues!  My Mom is an early bird, so we'll likely be arriving at the port at the earliest boarding time.  My app shows that boarding is from 10:30am - 2:00pm. We'll be driving from Humble (where my brother lives), though stopping at the famous Buc-ees for Brisket Breakfast Burritos. 😂

 

We are planning to bring at least one bottle of wine to get us through Sunday afternoon, maybe 2 as bestie is a Green Bay fan and I'm a Dallas fan. Also a 12 pack or 2 of soda.  

Notes from my Princess cruise last March 2023:

(Dec 2022) HOWEVER: “Once a vessel is outside of Texas territory, the state’s laws no longer apply.”

“Like any business which holds a Texas permit to sell alcohol, any alcohol sold by the cruise lines while in Texas must comply with the state’s alcohol laws. Sec. 28.07 of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code requires that any holder of a Mixed Beverage Permit (the permit most commonly used by the cruise lines) must obtain their alcohol inventory from the holder of a Local Distributor’s Permit. Again, once the vessel is in international waters, these requirements no longer apply.”

 

(Dec 2022) We have per-paid gratuities drinks and WiFi. But no drinks in Texas water on the plan! So ask before ordering a drink while still near Texas waters (an hour after sail away?) We'll probably have to pay full price that first night for any drink.

 

(Dec 2022) Confirmation twice on CC: We do NOT have the drinks package the first day, it is effective the following morning early. So anything we order that first night will be on our folio.

 

If I remember correctly, Princess credited us a little money for the Princess Plus not covering drinks that first day. I recall we asked in the bar later on if drinks were on the package, and the bartender said yes. But I remember it was pretty late, like after dinner?

 

 Doug

[PaperSniper4]

On 1/11/2024 at 10:29 AM, DrivesLikeMario said:

................. It wasn't any hardship for us but some people (newbies mostly) were very shocked they'd have to pay for the drinks.  What many of the waiters failed to tell people is that everyone got a $25 OBC to cover a few drinks for those first few hours onboard.

That was our experience also last March <2023>. However, maybe Princess now prices the "Plus" with the international water thing already considered? So cruisers may not see that additional OBC? Worth check if one plans a LOT of drinking that first night!😁

 

 Doug

Edited January 21 by PaperSniper4

[DrivesLikeMario]

3 hours ago, PaperSniper4 said:

That was our experience also last March <2023>. However, maybe Princess now prices the "Plus" with the international water thing already considered? So cruisers may not see that additional OBC? Worth check if one plans a LOT of drinking that first night!😁

 

 Doug

I don't think so.  We were just on a few weeks ago and had the Plus Package and paid the $60/pp pd rate.  The $25pp OBC is separate from that which is nice that they even offer that, IMO.  We went prepared not to drink alcohol until in international waters so the extra $50 for us was a win-win.  ;)

[azbirdmom]

@Crookshanks - I noticed that you haven't posted since Tuesday.  Hope you and your party are just having a wonderful time and are too busy enjoying yourselves to post.  Hope you are all well.

[Crookshanks]

On 1/18/2024 at 10:28 AM, luvseaside said:

Hope the OP and family are having a great trip.  Would love to get update if there is a new Cruise Director on the Regal - saw that Allie may have left a couple of weeks ago. 

How's the entertainment?

 

Our current cruise director is great! He was the CD on the Ruby last Spring, it’s Mika. He said he’ll be on Regal for 2 months and then go back to Ruby. 

 

On 1/18/2024 at 7:59 PM, cruiserj12 said:

Hi All,

I hope either the hive mind or Crookshanks can answer this casino question for us. On Princess, can you use your medallion to play at the tables and if so, is there a transaction fee? Ultimately, is it better to just bring cash? Thanks in advance for any knowledge anyone can share on this topic.

Best,

Cruiserj12

The answer was given earlier, but I can confirm that you can use medallion or cash. There were a handful of slots on the Ruby that wouldn’t accept cash, but you could go put cash on your account in guest services and use your medallion. 
 

No fees for charges to credit card on file. 
 

I will personally let it charge my card and use my winnings to pay the card off at home so I aquire points on the card. 
 

On 1/19/2024 at 8:45 AM, JKcruise25 said:

Crookshanks, since you’re currently cruising  and have been visiting the  casino, would you mind asking next time you’re there  if the minimum age is always 18 to enter the casinos and gamble. We will be sailing on Emerald in May and have a couple of 19 year olds that will be with us. While Princess website states the age minimum is 18, I’ve read many conflicting things including here in cruise critic. Some articles and blogs list it at 21 so I was wondering if there had been a recent change or if that’s simply inaccurate. Hopefully it’s 18. Thank you so much! 

I will also ask this after show. 😃 Line was crazy so I asked a server and she said 18 in International waters and 21 in some ports.

 

I have learned that I don’t do LIVE very well! 😂😂😂 So much stuff to do and I had 3 people with me, so I hardly used my phone!
 

Cruise was soooooo great! Ports were wonderful as well as the excursions we went on. 
 

We booked the bike ride and glass bottom kayak in Costa Maya. It’s about 3 miles from port to kayaking. Bikes are a bit old, but worked well. Watch out for pot holes on the roads to and from!! Kayaking was a lot of fun. Seeing the reefs under you is just super neat. Had a little break to enjoy a delicious beverage and then rode back. 
 

Roaton was our lazy port. We didn’t get off the ship until noon. Walked around the beautiful gardens, took some pictures, did a bit of shopping. Mom and Brother went back to ship to relax and BF and I went snorkeling. I brought my own snorkel and Jessica rented one for $20. Saw more reefs, and I found quite a few conch shells with inhabitants!  That was a first for me!! Had to get on ship a bit early to do the first Voice of the Ocean rehearsal and that went well. 
 

Cozumel was so much fun. We booked the Dolphin Swim with Manatee encounter and it was great! I had done this same excursion last March with my 12 and 8 year old sons, so I was more focused on them than what I wanted to do. This time I got to walk a lot of the gardens, got spooked by a moving wall that ended up being an iguana! 😜 The sea lion show was short but very sweet and we got pictures with one and those were perfect! Food was not amazing, but it filled the void enough to get back on the ship to enjoy the delicious food. 
 

Last Sea Day was packed. Watched the culinary show (but skipped the galley tour, crowded and we were hungry) and that was super cute. They had a great banter going on. 
 

Alfredos for lunch and off to dress rehearsal for The Voice. The Finals were pretty early. 4 pm. Didn’t have a full theater if only because the ship was full of Texas residents and Houston was playing a playoff game. But it was still well attended and so very much fun! Everyone did such an amazing job! I was blessed to have been voted the winner and I’m so excited to proudly display the trophy on my desk at work! 
 

I’m a sucker for Trivia and did hit those as much as possible, but really enjoyed most of the little shows we saw. Only got to the Theater once, but I was happy that I did. The show was Bravo and it was just fabulous!!  Lucy, one of the ACDs was just amazing! She will go far, that one!! What a hoot! 
 

Food! Oh all the food!! I really didn’t have a bad meal at all! Pizza, Crown Grill, Sabatinis were all amazing! Main Dining Room was wonderful as well. Last nights lamb shank was superb. The Veal at Sabatinis was just mouth watering. 
 

Disembarking was not smooth today. Gangway wasn’t connecting properly and facial recognition was down so we had to have passports out for physical examination.  We were scheduled to get off at 8:35 but didn’t get out until 10. I know there were some very unhappy passengers that booked flights around noon. There’s definitely a reason they say not to book a flight until 2 or so. Once the line started moving we were off quickly. 
 

I will add a smattering of photos for your viewing pleasure. 
 

[azbirdmom]

Good to hear that you enjoyed yourselves and that all is well.  And congratulation on winning The Voice!  Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[starvenger]

Congrats on winning!

 

Which trivia did you like best? I know DJ Jaro was workshopping his Marvel Cinematic Universe trivia, and trying to get a Game of Thrones one going.

 

I like the Masi wine. I haven't had that in a while and now I've got a hankering to buy one.

[nini]

@Crookshanks Congrats!

[Honolulu Blue]

@Crookshanks: I'm glad you had a good time on your cruise! I'm not so glad about your disembarking issues. We will be back in Galveston in a few days and hope things are smoother then.