PaperSniper4

I wonder how it works if we want to go IAH to Galveston hotel instead of to the pier directly. We plan on flying in the night before the cruise. I suppose that could be arranged with any of the shuttles.....hopefully. Doug

Thanks for those links, I have entered them in my cruise planning document. I'll continue to try to try to find a contact for SWMs. Doug

And you are not alone......we're another two.😎 I think we know it's 'easy' to join facebook or the other "social media" things, but I can think of no earthly idea I'd want to do that. Well, other than trying to contact SWMs <g>. I am surprised that an outfit such as SWMs doesn't have a regular URL or email address. I'll keep trying to contact them, as they have gotten good reviews here on CC. I tried finding the cost for the Princess Excursion/airport shuttle at Princess.com and the only one they list has several tourist stops and cost about $99 pp, and I recall that is just one way. Doug

Thanks. I have heard lots of good things about "the Moms". However, we are not facebook members and wonder if anyone has a URL for them, or at least a phone number. The later mode of communication is for old people.....like ME! 😉 Doug

We're never sailed from Galveston, couple of questions: Q1 Anyone know what Princess charges IAH-ship-IAH? I've seen rates $30-$200 plus for shuttles. Any personal recommendations? Q2 For those who have sailed from Galveston after a flight/drive, where did you spend your pre-cruise hotel if applicable? Near IAH or in Galveston? Thanks Doug

We don't do facebook. Anyone has a their URL? Doug

Appreciate that, thanks. Good to see "adequate" whiskeys on the list. 😉 Doug

"1. Can you refare/rebook as often as you like? On Princess Air you can rebook as many times as you like up to 45 days out with no fees, so wondering if it's similar 2. Are they significantly cheaper than thru the airline on flights to Europe? 3. Do they include all major US carriers? " 1. I think so, but I've only had to change my flights once with Flights by Celebrity. Long hold on the phone but did it. 2. In my experience the flights are always less expensive, especially for international flights. However, I prefer to use the cruise line's "flights" mainly for other reasons, like the ability to change flights if necessary, not pay until final payment, and if I have to cancel the trip. 3. Well, it depends on what you mean by "major". I've never seen Southwest or Jet Blue for instance. Doug

Oh I agree, it's not the ship as much as the passengers with COVID, except perhaps with things like norovirus. Some ships do seem to have more of a history. Our behavior and inoculation history is pretty close to yours, so if we must catch the bug, I hope we also will be mostly asymptomatic. I really don't like being ill, even with the "common cold", which is one reason I probably offend folks by wearing a mask nearly everywhere I go in public when I cannot maintain that good ol' social distancing!😉 Nobody has ever said anything, but I do occasionally get a weird look....doesn't bother me at all; hell, my mask is probably protecting them more than me! For our cruise in a few days we are taking cold meds, ebooks, and hopefully the right attitude so we'll enjoy the week. We do plan on avoiding crowds as much as possible, including avoiding the MDR if we cannot get a table for two. We're already agreed that if we feel uncomfortable during the week we'll just stay in our cabin! I understand the turkey club is excellent. Only issues then of course is our beverage package......might have to sneak our to grab some Famous Grouse or Dewers and Cabernet from time to time. 😎 I agree about the longer cruises. That's why we canceled our two TAs we had planned. Paranoid perhaps, but we can enjoy ourselves on the shorter one week cruises also, and decrease those long range airplane exposures and transits. Those are still very much on on bucket list, and Lord willing we'll be able to take a few before our days are all gone. PS - Please; no comments on our choices for our cruise, thanks everyone! We already know we are slightly weird....or maybe really weird. You enjoy your time your way, and we will our way, and we promise not to criticize your choices if you will do the same.😎 Doug

I hope more and more of us have that immunity!

Wow, I think I'm glad I'm sailing on the Infinity rather than the Eclipse. Please, is anyone knows any covid horror stories about that ship, please keep them to yourself!😁😉 Doug

I really like reading that someone is healthy!😉 We plan on doing the same on our cruise in another 8 days or so..........knock on wood.....where's some wood.........oh, here on my desk.😌 Doug

I have thought about that. On our last cruise on the Summit this past July, we actually felt "safer" on the open air aft lido deck after getting our lunch/dinner from the buffet. I compare this to the crowded MDR where our table for 2 was actually a table for 10....with only 3-6 inches between tables. Your suggestions are good IMO. We always try to use common sense to reduce our chances of "catching" anything, the common cold included. Doug

Yes, that is possible and that's what we did last time (Summit, July 2022). I'm not sure, but I think anyone in any public area could do that...but most don't because they want to disembark ASAP to allow the crew time to clean those areas. We try to stay on the ship until such time that we have only an hour to wait at the airport.....but often that is not possible, or fair for the crew, so we leave when we can. Doug

Ooops, I wrote the below before I reread and saw you wrote the ELEVATOR and ESCALATOR. Yes, I have often seen that, we use the elevator at the cruise terminal. Generally it's not crowded enough that we have to wait long, and MUCH safer than trying to get multiple pieces of luggage on a moving escalator.😳 We generally do the self-disembarkation. We're in our mid-70s and use two medium sized suitcases and one small one, all three are those with the four swivel wheels and easy to maneuver. We have no trouble at all moving throughout the ship, but then we do use common sense about elevators. Never have had any problems, or even seen an of those "elevator guards". We avoid doing the "bags outside cabin last night of the cruise" because we've had our bags "misplaced" several times by the cruise/dock personnel. Never had anything lost, but nearly missed a flight once while it took nearly an hour to find our "PURPLE-disembarkation-time tagged" bag in the "YELLOW-disembarkation-time tagged' stack at the far end of the warehouse. Color blind crew maybe?😉 I often wonder if some of those people on a rush to get OFF the ship were the same ones on a rush to get ON the ship! And now they are in a rush to get to the airport to wait there........😁. When our schedule allows, I'd rather wait on the ship ; much more comfortable there. 😎 Doug

Dang, best explanation and set of directions I've ever seen here! I am a Firefox user also. I just did that as you described above. I am trying to find the solution to Celebrity.com often telling me on the screen that I am "Locked out" of certain places I try to go, like to view my airline reservations made through Flights by Celebrity. I have been working on this for a couple of years with both my TA and with the Celebrity IT group. No luck so far. I've tried several things to unlock my record at their suggestion, but nothing has worked to date. Hopefully removing those cookies as you describe will "unlock me". If I am successful I will update here. Doug

Too bad I don't play anymore. Some of his and Jimmy B's were my favorite go-to's. Alas, old age has taken another thing from me: trigger finger and arthritis in the hands means no more ukes or guits. Doug

Were they hard of hearing? Maybe....they could have been as old as I was at the time!😎 I can only report my person experience. I don't recall being disturbed by noises from an adjacent cabin more than once or twice in the 40+ cruises we've taken. Usually that noise was from folks talking too loud on their balconies, but occasionally kids slamming doors, running down the passageways, etc. I hope that experience continues! Doug

Cabin with balcony door shut. I'm assuming a "normal" voice and acoustic (not amplified) instrument. I did that for years with an acoustic guitar or uke and never had an complaints....I did ask our neighbors when I saw them. According to them they never heard me. Doug

Send an email to special_needs@rccl.com (yes, rccl,com....you can send to celebrity.com but your email just gets forwarded to RCCL.) Request distilled water and an extension cord for your cabin. In the email include your booking number, cabin number, date of sailing, your names, etc. I've done that and our last 10 cruises or so and it's always been approved and answered within a couple of weeks. BTW, most cruise lines will provide those items, although you may be charged for the water. I think either Princess or Carnival charged a pittance for the distilled water. Only once did the ship not have an extension cord; we always bring a "simple" extension cord just in case. Doug

With Celebrity, the beverage gratuity is indeed already included with your "Free" package....at least for our last couple of cruises it has been. However, in case anyone is considering NCL's "Free" package, be advised their packages do not include beverage gratuities. Other cruise lines may he like NCL's or like Celebrity's; it pays to check.😉 I'm not saying NCL's deal is worse than Celebrities, it's just priced differently. 😎 Doug

Not really interested in a private tour with any of the tour operators, we are just thinking of catching a taxi or whatever to see the zoo. How far is it from where the tenders dock? Any recommendations? Care to share your experience? Thanks! Doug