More questions than answers?
Please email us at info@gamingbysea.com
Cruising is back with sailings out of the United States commencing now and out of Canada by February 2022 (our Alaska cruise out of Vancouver is in July 2022).
See below for FAQ if you want to know more about what happened with our events in 2020 and 2021 and how we worked with our guests and cruise line.
First, because it is a vacation – with games!
Second, we love to play games and you do too (hopefully – at least your friends or family do, right?)!
Third, we are not trying to be the biggest event out there. We are just getting together a group of (soon-to-be) friends to play games, go to dinner, do fun stuff, and hang out!
Fourth, we schedule our games! The size of our events allow us to do this, so you do not need to worry about coming on your gaming vacation and wondering when and what you will get to play (see How we Schedule Games, below). You will not spend time hunting around the ship looking for people to play that one game you have always wanted to play.
Fifth, there is a lot to do when you are not playing board games or great places to hang out and do nothing! No need to drive around town (no cars!) looking for something to do or eat – it is all right there (but then, there are adventures out there to enjoy, too)!
Sixth, there are probably lots of other reasons, but we cannot think of them at this exact moment – let us know if you come up with some others!
Yes. There are so many fun things to do. Please check the pages for each event, the Gaming pages, and the FAQ below to get some idea of all the fun there is to have!
If you cannot join us this year, be sure to check our website regularly, email us at info@gamingbysea.com to join our mailing list, or Like our Facebook page to stay up-to-date for upcoming events! We try to have the subsequent year’s cruises scheduled no later than first quarter of each year.
We do not have a set route that we take every year. Our first cruise was to Alaska. Next, we did a “pub crawl” of gaming stores in SE England – from Cambridge to London to Bath to Canterbury and beyond. After that, we spent almost two weeks in the Mediterranean going from Italy to the lands of the Aegean Sea, then on to Malta and Barcelona.
This is a gaming vacation, not a convention. So, we are looking to have a great adventure while enjoying great gaming with great gamers!
Visit the appropriate Royal Caribbean sites below for more information and “What to know before you board” site for more information.
Visit Royal Caribbean’s “Where is the Port of Galveston” for information on directions, parking, and transportation options.
Houston’s airports will provide the closest international access to the Port of Galveston, with Hobby being closer than Bush.
It is then at least 45 minutes to an hour from Hobby Airport to the Port of Galveston.
We are recommending that everyone fly in the night before and grab a hotel in Galveston – either with the group or separately.
Do not schedule an early flight home after the cruise!
The cruise ship will give you a disembarkation time prior to the last day, so you will know when to be ready to leave. You can spend your time enjoying a meal or in one of the lounges, perhaps playing a board game!
Remember that it can take hours for everyone onboard a cruise to disembark. Then, you need to get to the airport and, based on the airport, may need to be at the airport hours in advance to get through security. Of course, the cruise ship can be delayed being cleared by customs, which can further push back your time.
Do not risk missing your flight, give yourself plenty of time.
Visit Royal Caribbean’s “What should I pack for my cruise vacation?” for more information on packing and luggage for your cruise.
Summer 2025: It will be warm in the Caribbean. If you are planning to do any excursions that are more vigorous, be sure to wear close-toed or hiking shoes. Also, the sun is going to shining brightly. For extended periods outdoor, consider lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and sunscreen (when packing in your luggage, consider using a Ziploc bag to protect your clothes in the event of a containment breach).
Be sure to check this link from Royal Caribbean about bringing alcohol onboard the cruise.
If you miss your boarding, you will need to contact Royal Caribbean’s Emergency Travel Team to discover your options.
We recommend that you plan to arrive in the area of the port the night before your cruise to reduce the chance that travel delays could prevent your timely boarding.
Visit Royal Caribbean’s website for details on needed Travel Documents.
Remember, some countries may require a Visa or require you to complete an online “Visa” submittal.
Request your passport as soon as possible. If you have waited to within a couple months of the cruise, strongly consider paying a fee for an expedited process. Don’t forget, everything is slower these days!
Information for how to apply for a passport for U.S. citizens can be found here.
Citizens of Canada can find information here about applying for passports.
Mexican citizens can go here (en Español) for more passport information.
Generally, citizens of other nations should check with their foreign ministries.
Visit the Royal Caribbean website for more information on Dietary Requirements. Be sure to note these for each guest during Registration.
See the event’s page for details and buttons to press!
Prices for rooms for each Event are on the Staterooms or Rooms Tab on each Event’s Page.
If all rooms have been booked, those prices will be removed until we can secure another block of staterooms.
If we are unable to secure an additional block of group rooms (as the cruise date grows closer, it become harder to do so), there are often non-group rooms still available and we can help with booking those and adding them to the group.
Other
I am a Designer or Publisher, how can I participate? We would welcome a chance to let you play test a new game, present your game during our cruise or share information about your upcoming releases. If you have flyers or other paraphernalia to send, please let us know. We can provide shipping information, since it will need to be sent directly to the ship two weeks in advance.
Contact us at info@GamingBySea.com to discuss how we can make that happen.
I am a Vendor or Exhibitor, will there be space for me? We do not offer a vendor space, but please contact us at info@GamingBySea.com to discuss your interests if you are a producer or distributor of specialty products, a publisher wishing to promote a game, or one of our local supporters.
We would be excited to have you participate in our gaming adventure.
Keep the questions coming…Email us at info@gamingbysea.com if you need help with anything.
