ssb

Only Mother Nature knows 

5 minutes ago, villagenut said:

So it’s been your experience that you just go to the luggage drop off area, get in line, they take your luggage, and then you proceed to building?  

We are not in rush and do not get there at 9 or 10 in the morning. When we arrive leisurely later , there has not been lines by times for passengers at drop off . The baggage handlers are spaced out all along in the drop off area in front of the terminal 10 for Royal Caribbean ships . Hand off baggage to them , and proceed through one of three entrances into the terminal foyer and up one of multiple escalators elevators to checkin . It has been easy/pesy every time for us . It can be a relaxing experience, everyone will be on ship . 

If we have just  carryons and medium size baggage, we bypass baggage folks and  proceed up to check in and screening and on to ship . We have never experienced a problem at Royal Terminal 10 boarding a ship . . 

After cruising many times out of Galveston on Royal, we never have experienced this . And unaware of the times being displayed anywhere . 

On 4/10/2024 at 8:45 PM, buncosquad said:

I am doing this embarkation port next month with a 10 person family group flying in from 4 cities around the country to IAH.

 

Using private transfers from IAH to Galveston then spending two nights at Tremont House before cruise embarkation.

 

Using same company for private transfer from Tremont House to port for morning of embarkation. 

 

For disembarkation, once again using same private transfer from port, via Johnson Space Center, then continuing on to IAH.

 

I just want to relax. And have a drink (even if limited in port by Texas law). 😎

You will not be limited in port to drinking by state law . You will be limited by “Royal” because they will not buy in Texas all liquors they serve in Federal waters and at sea. Royal may only serve liquors in Texas they buy and pay tax on . All liquors are available in Texas for Royal to buy . They will no do it . 

1

If you only have medium (25"+-) and carryon size baggage , you do not need the tags . Both fit through screening machines . Check in around 1:00 and go straight to cabin . 

Consider for no flying over the pond

and four days in Portugal and/or Spain

 Special events downtown usually are beginning after noon and are not busy during morning hours of cruse activity. 

14 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Find a TA with refundable group rates if that's why you dont want to book sooner. I wouldnt wait a year out the way prices are going. My TA says cant book rcl air 2 sea and transfers until about 11 months out. I booked the TA from port Canaveral to spain and the next 10 day leg. Some booked a 3rd leg, which is 7 days because it ends in athens they wanted to see.

 

The TA is a really good price, the extra legs are much higher, almost double per day. There is a section on cc where people suggest hotels in whichever city you are flying in or out of. Posters advise to book hotels direct in europe, though seems a lot more expensive. I see deals on Priceline half what booking direct is. Lots of good tips on the other cc sections. I'll end in rome and they post be careful to get the original hotel bldg as many hotels there have built annexes that may be not as historic and not even the same block as the hotel you think you booked.

 

They also suggest booking in the currency of where you will be staying. In my case euros. I saw some article where some major hotel is accusing of scamming by booking in usa dollars and adding to the price when they convert.

 

 

 

Do not overthink it . 

13 hours ago, TeamCan said:

We're thinking of booking a cruise next January. We would have to fly out of IAH in the afternoon after disembarkation as we have another cruise booked the next day.   How often are cruise ships delayed in docking due to fog? Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

Not saying it will not happen but ships in Galveston NOW will move in the fog unless it really circumstantial .  We have cruise booked in January. And have generally cruised out of Galveston every January for birthdays . 

1 hour ago, theotherchad said:

I don' t generally have any issues as we are on the island at least 6 or 8 times a year for the last decade or more (COVID first year excepted), but I have definitely encountered some gridlock and way more traffic than usual on those special event weekends. 

Its all relative to where and  when you are going

14 hours ago, cynt said:

 

 

@IceChick and @txjim09 how did you manage transferring between the two terminals?

Taxi 

On 3/26/2024 at 2:18 PM, theotherchad said:

Not once you're at the cruise terminal and on the ship it's not, but getting around the island can be a bit challenging on those days. 

Getting around the island is easy for us . 

6. BOSTON  , MASSACHUSETTS

6. SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

On 3/24/2024 at 1:25 PM, theotherchad said:

I think all the issues you listed are an issue for some folks and not as much for others. I wonder how Galveston will stack up against some of the much busier ports like Miami (when we have significantly more ships than we do now)  when it comes to how difficult all those factors are (parking, getting to the port, etc.). I've heard lots of horror stories and accounts of things being super easy. Everybody's experience is different, I guess. 

 

I would say that unless it's during one of the big holidays/festivals/biker ralllies, etc. I don't see an issue with there being sufficient restaurants, etc. On those weekends, though, all bets are off. Galveston is a madhouse during those special weekends. 

Galveston cruising is not a madhouse on those special weekends .

10+- am is the earliest . However it really doesn’t matter much , for embarkation process in Galveston is so easy these days with new terminal and all the close available parking . 

It is covered and inside a building  and is walkable and/or has shuttle to front door . 

Royal Caribbean transfers between IAH and Galveston are not that expensive. 

On 3/10/2024 at 11:22 AM, cruisegal40 said:

On my May 27th sailing the Hide Away Day pass is $74.  I am holding out for that to go down? Or book now and hope for the best? 

Seen them in 20ies and booked Utopia for 40.99.

In general terms - large size suit cases will not fit through screening machines . 

Medium size and smaller ones will . 

We check in around 1 and go direct to cabin with bags. 

On 2/28/2024 at 2:14 PM, travelberlin said:

As far as I understand you can get them removed once onboard. You will have to tell them the reason.

No reason required

8 minutes ago, doghog said:

Suck that Bar Harbor is no longer allowing cruise ships. One of our favorite ports on the NE/Canada cruises. 

Yes that was one of our  favorites also . However However !! 😂

And would have loved Quebec again . However However !!😂

2 hours ago, cruisin from florida said:

I was really hoping for Quebec! We did the snowbird migration from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale in 2019. It was amazing. 

 

Yes we were definitely hoping for Quebec in the mix to go back, but not .

so we booked btbtb

• Brilliance of the Seas

•         Oct 26 — Nov 2, 2025

                           7 night maine canada cruise

1. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

2. PORTLAND, MAINE

3. SAINT JOHN, NB (BAY OF FUNDY)

4. HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA

5. SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA  

6. BOSTON  , MASSACHUSETTS

• Brilliance of the Seas

•       Nov 2 — Nov 9, 2025

                        7 night boston to san juan cruise

1. BOSTON  , MASSACHUSETTS 

2. ROYAL NAVAL DOCKYARD, BERMUDA

3. ST. JOHN'S, ANTIGUA

4. TORTOLA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

5. SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

• Brilliance of the Seas

•      Nov 9 — Nov 16, 2025

                      7 night bvi southern caribbean cruise

1. SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

2. TORTOLA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

3. ORANJESTAD, ARUBA

4. ORANJESTAD, ARUBA

5. WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO

6. SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

Krogers on Seawall 

CVS on Broadway 

Just now, c-leg5 said:

Presumably they just pass the fee on?

That's a  decision in the operating model of the business .