MsOne

I know someone who just did this a few months ago in Houston. They live in a small town hours away and were told to go to the bigger offices. I was able to verify that info, but again, it has to be for a trip already booked and happening soon. They want proof of that trip, and it did not need to be for a funeral or anything like that (again, I was skeptical so verified for myself). Editing to add info (don't have to take my word for it haha): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast/passport-agencies.html This would be considered Urgent Travel (14 days or less), and you need to call to set it up. According to the person I know, they had to show proof of travel confirmations (ticket already purchased, etc.).

Try getting a last minute passport. Should be able to since you can show an international trip already booked coming up in 2 weeks. Also, is there a physical office you can go into to get a license the same day?

Is the rental car for getting from the airport or just to get around the island? There are a lot of other kind of rentals on the island like golf carts, Slingshots, little cruiser cars. Also, see if you can find someone on Turo offering a good deal that would be willing to let you drop-off in Galveston without paying an arm and a leg.

If only that were true the drinking package would be available day 1 departing from Galveston.

There's a Home2Suites in Texas City, right near La Marque where Walmart and Sam's Club are (just across the highway) -- might come in handy if you need last minute items. Several restaurants near too (Gringos, Olive Garden and some local spots to try plus fast food). Even with the construction you're still really only an exit or two up from the Outlet mall, and another 5 miles to League City with plenty of food/shopping options. All that said, Galveston might be the more economical option since you'll need to park also. So check hotels with the park-n-stay rate in Galveston to see if it'd be worth just driving back up to the outlet mall (about 20 miles, slightly less depending on where you stay on the island).

After realizing it shows you as "Midwest," you might actually need the hotel, so the high value of points necessary might be worth it if you need the room anyway. I was driving from either Dallas area, and now locally so I didn't need to stay the night prior. One time I actually didn't check-in until about 7am and we just hung out in the Executive Lounge as Diamond members and had breakfast, watched tv, made a last minute store run, then back to wait until shuttle time. Pro tip, sign up for the shuttle early and you'll have your pick of time slots. Hardly anyone else does this, but once they start checking out, the time slots fill up fast!

I've used Hilton for cruise parking multiple times and besides the shuttle driver breaking the handle on a suitcase one time, there were no other negatives. However, this next cruise I won't be using Hilton for the parking/shuttle. It is now a night stay PLUS $46 when in the past the rate included parking for up to 7 days. And after looking at the points cost, it's basically about $150 or more in points (in addition to parking costs and tip). So at that cost, I'll just use one of the other options. One other thing to note, once, for whatever reason, I was told to park in the parking garage of the convention center (basically at Hilton) and to make sure I parked on the bottom level. There was literally one other car there so I did not feel confident. BUT, I realized there was nothing in my car to be stolen, the worst that could happen is the car itself get stolen, and that's what insurance is for. Speaking of theft, every lot I've ever used for short or long-term parking has a disclaimer that they are not responsible for theft, so it's hard for me to see one as safer than the other when no of them will take responsibility if damage or theft happens to your vehicle. Oh, and I believe the normal way to park is in the back lot of Hilton, not the Convention Center. The ride to the port is pretty much traffic free, drivers are fast, and majority of hotel staff is what you expect from a Hilton (great 🙂)

I will make sure to look for this. Not really into sweets but the rave reviews in this thread have certainly peaked my interest 😋 ...especially the lack of artificial ingredients lol.

Earth LOL, I know the cruise cost isn't even close to Norwegian, just didn't realize there was a charge for Bolt. Would've been a disaster to have our son head up there to ride and wait in line all that time to be turned away (we don't give him charging privileges on his card). And yes, it seems fine with the OBC but still something I'm glad I know ahead of time. I like to be aware of all costs before making a decision but it didn't dawn on me to check for this since the ropes course, waterslide, etc. are free. Guess I need to go check to see if there's a cost for SkyRide (I thought I remember it actually saying free when we looked at the ship attractions...but who knows what's changed since I booked it 2 years ago).

Whoa, I didn't know there was a charge for Bolt. Does this mean Carnival is going the way of Norwegian and adding costs to these magnificent attractions?

LOL

That's a good idea...now that I think about it, I have ours in an online "cloud" as well...might also be in my email. I think you even bringing up the idea will now jog my memory that I have them easily accessible as long as I can access internet.

Yikes, I think I forgot these details about what's acceptable since I have my passport and use our son's birth certificate. I will need to make sure the "new to cruising" people traveling with us have everyone's birth certificates because I know they don't have passports! And like everyone else, I LOVE this story! Yes, you can count on mom 🥰 Reminds me of my baby shower a thousand years ago where my sisters asked me for contact info for my friends and I emailed them a list with names, phone numbers, emails over a month before the baby shower. On the day of the shower, I overheard them arguing in the corner about who was supposed to invite which friends. Everyone there was family my mom invited, mainly the "old crowd" just happy to be out of the house for the day lol. I was telling a friend about it (and why she learned of it after the fact), and her response -- We can always depend on mom, can't we!!! Still rings so true -- again, LOVE this story 💝

Okay, thank you both. I remember now that they were out of bacon besides what was left sitting on the edges of the griddle and I think we did see some bacon on the toppings bar. Either way, it left no appeal to eat there again. And this was several years ago, before the reported bacon crisis 😄

That's not true.

Well since all the Guy's Burger connoisseurs are here, let me ask a question. How did the bacon on the burgers used to be served. I ate there once, embarkation day several years ago and the bacon they put on our burgers was super crispy/overdone, and small pieces of it almost like it was scraped off the griddle as clean up. Is it always served like that or did/do they normally serve actual slices of bacon on the burger?

Still at it. No surprise there.

Oh absolutely! I think a lot of people could have understood it if they weren't in defense mode. For some reason they are taking it as a personal attack that someone believed the deal they were booking actually included what it said it did 😄

Wow, so many assumptions and explicitly rude (and wrong) statements. Before going into keyboard warrior mode, give thought about what you plan to say and how you say it. Do you pray? If so, try that about the way you talk to people. If not, at least step away before selecting the Submit Reply button, then return and read over what you wrote and think about how you can get your point across where people will remember the point and not be bogged down by all of the insults in your attempt to "win." Because whether right or wrong, in the end the prize you actually won is a virtual ribbon that says something along the line of "Biggest _________." So, probably not the kind of person you want to be known as.

I don't make purchase furniture or appliances if I can't afford to pay cash for them. Same for cruises.

Thank you for pointing that out. I was actually just looking at a Norwegian Cruise and I knew from a few years ago that all of the "free" stuff added on a huge amount, but I certainly didn't realize free specialty restaurants would mean 1-2 meals. This is the first thread that I clicked on and I'm still on page one, but wow, the comments look like they're from employees of a scammy business. A lot of blaming going on towards the few people surprised free specialty dining doesn't mean unlimited; or that free drinks added on hundreds of dollars (lol, laughable). Comes across as the one making noise is the one that got hit (translation, they are taking the surprise as a personal attack and striking back)! I was under the impression the free specialty restaurants inclusion = just that, because when I've cruised other lines and been on those boards, occasionally someone will bring up how they love how they were on NCL and didn't have to pay all the extras for the drink package and specialty dining. Now again, I knew the price difference and other extras so I didn't buy into it as an apples-to-apples comparison, but I certainly didn't expect 1-2 meals as the "free specialty dining" advertised. I was thinking more along the lines of Virgin or some of the luxury lines that are still all-inclusive. EDIT: oh my gosh! I just read the comment about 150 minutes for internet in the "free wifi" Yes, at this point it's just comical. Especially the berating for not being aware of the restrictions or to even ask about them. Sad, but comical -- and only comical because I know BEFORE paying/going.

This is disappointing to learn of because I was on Breeze in 2018 and it was definitely some extremely crowded/bad flow areas...I thought Vista was the same, didn't learn until this thread that it's supposedly worse. Too bad it's 2 weeks before our cruise (just did online check-in). AND, it's a sold out sailing. Hopefully the first time cruisers I'll be with won't be turned off from cruising or Carnival. 🤷‍♀️

For your wine/liquor use Drizly or a similar service (alcohol delivery from local stores). Doordash also has options for convenience stores (7-11 or similar) that includes anything in store. I've noticed a lot of regular in store prices through Drizly, while Doordash tacks on their fees BUT offers more coupons.

Wow you are describing me in that first part! I can DRINK, but I pour heavy and that's what I'm looking for. When I'm with friends are family and they like to order the big pretty daiquiris and margaritas I don't even bother. Every now and then (like every few years) I get suckered in to getting something, and like you said, I'm so full and don't even have a buzz. They're ready for a second and I feel like I'd bust if I tried. Forget a fishbowl margarita with an extra shot, give me a screwdriver with an extra shot lol. Just say no to slurpees! Make that, just say no to big gulp sized slurpees (masquerading as cocktails)!

I see the Mifaso that's pictured with a 10% off coupon on Amazon which brings it down to $16.20, or on eBay for $15.