lovesublime

Yes. The steakhouse is worth it. The food is excellent. Your kids are fine to go to the steakhouse. We took our 12 y/o niece to the steakhouse and she ate every bite and enjoyed it. Don't listen to the naysayers.

I think you're asking too much of your family and friends. There is nothing wrong with having a very simple inexpensive wedding and having hotdogs and hamburgers after. Here in Texas, BBQs with ribs, brisket, potato salad, rolls, sliced white bread and iced tea etc. are popular wedding meals....often done right in the back yard. You could easily afford plenty of food for a crowd of 100 people. And it would be fun. You already know that most people in your family cannot afford the cruise and airfare so why do you keep pushing it? It sounds as if the expense would be a hardship on them. That doesn't mean they don't care, they just cannot afford something like that.

Also, I was put out by you claiming that these same family members supposedly have plenty of money to eat out, go on vacations, go camping and so on. You even mentioned that your future MIL couldn't afford it because she refuses to work. Really? Grow up! It's their money and they have the right to spend it however they see fit. It's none of your business what they do with their own money. You're out of line by stating that family members should better allocate their funds so they can go on your wedding cruise. Also, I have to agree with another poster who commented on you shacking up for over ten years. Maybe your family just isn't impressed with your wedding plans which are a long time coming. Think about that.

Am I the only one who feels bad for Promech Air's staff? Not just the dead pilot, but everyone who works for the company. I am not seeing any grief for them or their families.

 

My mom is glad she chose Seawind Aviation for our Misty Fjords floatplane tour this summer. Can you imagine how many people are going to cancel flights with Promech Air because of the crash? Obviously money is nothing compared to life but PA is going to be affected financially for years because of how they lost nine people.

 

I really hope this does not cross my mind before or during my SA flight. So sad.

Well, Seawind Aviation has it's own history. Do a google search.

We used to take our son out of school for 2 weeks a year every year until he got into 4th grade and we switched to a Houston public school. Texas schools are not forgiving or understanding - they lose money for absences. I've had friends get threatened with social workers and taken to court for truancy. For taking their kids to Walt Disney World in one case, and for sending a daughter to Europe for her (British) father's wedding, which my friend was required to do by court order in another! The public schools are aggressive here in Texas.

 

So, I've quit doing it for now. It ups the appeal of private school or homeschooling to me. I am a firm believer in travel broadening a child's horizons and teaching them things they couldn't learn in a classroom.

Well, you're definitely right about Texas. Our son went to private school, but keep this in mind....private schools can dismiss (expel) for any or no reason at all and there is no recourse. At least in the public school system there is a bureaucracy and process of sorts you can go through. Not so with private schools. This is just my opinion, but I wouldn't send my dog to any school in HISD. My son is nearly 30 years old and we decided when he was age 5 to put him in private school. The schools here were that bad even back then.

We never took him out of school for vacations or cruises. Just not worth the risk and repercussions.

I have no doubt that the OP asked a simple and harmless question. That question has been answered by a number of well meaning people here and, again, I feel certain that the OP appreciates the answers that are couched in respectful attitudes.

 

I can certainly understand the attitude of those in the US who feel that if one is old enough to be conscripted into the military and possibly be maimed or killed in service to their country they should be considered old enough to drink alcohol if they so desire. I agree with that thinking but also understand the problems that can accompany youthful drinking.

 

Many other countries set a lower age limit for alcohol consumption and it seems that, when Princess itineraries originate from those countries, the lower limit is respected. When a Princess cruise originates from the USA the drinking age of the USA is the norm. Some will agree with this policy and others won't agree but, like many other policies, it still comes down to the fact that it's their ship so therefore it's their rules.

 

To the OP: I am sorry there was controversy here and I hope you realize that "most" people here are good people who understood your query as it was posted. Please don't think that all, most, or more than a small minority of people here have a problem with you asking your question. Such questions are one of the main reasons that this community exists. Please don't be discouraged from asking any questions in the future.

 

Thanks for participating in the CC community and I hope you will continue to do so.

Conscription is not currently being utilized in the U.S. The last time it was, most young people were already old enough to drink:)

Strangely, we've always went to the steakhouse and have not once ever seen children of any age present. The story about baby poop all over the sink I find hard to believe. If there was poop all over the place, why would you use the poopy sink to wash your hands and then return to dinner?

B

 

This is equally bad (and incorrect) advice. The documentation you mention only evidences dependence, not guardianship.

 

Do not trust the words of anonymous forum posters on such a crucial issue. I can assure you things will not be "fine". Again, I implore you to verify with the cruise line what documentation they will accept to prove legal guardianship. Only then will you know the right answer.

Such as yourself?

We took two very small children with us on two nights of our Breeze cruise to Cucina. Children are more than welcome and dinner was no where near two hours long. The 2.5 year old ordered from the children's menu, which was $5 at the time. He had the spaghetti and meatballs both evenings and the serving size was large enough for two adults. The youngest child mostly ate baby food and wasn't charged anything.

I can't believe someone actually suggested the OP could have made do with boxes of cereal and ham sandwiches.

They won't question her at dinner. They have been trying to give mine a glass of wine at dinner (when we order a bottle) since she was 14 :rolleyes: Wine with meals is extremely common in all cultures except Americans.

That's a broad generalization that just isn't so.

It may be your right to know while sitting at home in your living room, but it is very tacky in a social situation to try to find out what a person earns. Very tacky indeed.

I never stated that I would ask someone their income while in a social setting. I would never. I would never ask that question in any setting. I think it's very tacky of you to accuse me of doing such a thing.

Only in a general sense. What I specifically make is personal and not released without my permission. They can tell you, if you file the proper paperwork, that I'm in a particular position and grade and tell you the pay range for that position and grade is say $50,000 to $70,000. What I personally make in that range is not public record without some legal gymnastics. Yes, unfortunately there are other sources that have leaked onto the Internet. Bottom line is that I'm under no obligation to tell you what I make in a conversation over dinner on the MSWhatever. :)

I have to disagree with you on this. Public servants in the state of Texas have their names and salaries published here in a major newspaper. You have to look for the database on their website. I used to work for a state agency and every year, my name and income was published and surprisingly any bonuses or stipend were also included. My BIL works for the city of Houston (asst. fire chief) and his income and name are also published annually in this database. There are no forms to fill out or legal wrangling to find this info. It is public information. It is the taxpayers right to know.

I cruised Liberty the end of March this year and it was overrun with young kids! Where it was really annoying was WJ. If you stay away from the height time or places that should help to eliminate some of it. Dine late; go to late shows, and stay to clubs and adult pools, and that should help. If it is Easter it will be little kid central.

 

I would also try to check the party university close to the TX port and when their Spring break is, because the FL Gators took over 2/3 Liberty in early March, and the reports were nuts of the college kids running amuck, and wild. Apparently keeping bartenders, security and cleaning staff very busy. Maybe that is more or not to your liking. That is a route I believe is very favorable for college kids.

 

Congrats on your wedding! Happy sailing and Liberty is big and very beautiful.

What? There is no party university near any of the ports in the Galveston/Houston area. Where did you get that idea?

Plenty of grease to go around. Even the buns are greasy. Limp, soggy fries. Tried it once. No thanks. Anyone who watches DDD, knows that Guy Ferry eats tons of garbage food. He has absolutely no checks on what he eats. I guess he thinks everyone else feels the same about what they eat. Yuck.

We haven't cruised in a few years and have recently been thinking about booking one. We were leaning toward NCL, but with these recent changes, we're totally turned off. We'll probably end up on Carnival again. Limit of two room service items per person? For nearly $8? What? I've never in my life heard of anything so ridiculous.

One of the funniest things I've read here on these forums was a post by a pax who observed a large family group in line to board the ship. The family was carrying on several buckets of KFC.

To be honest though, the KFC was probably a lot better than some of the slop served at the buffet.

Ticket consolidators like Expedia are very hard to work with for changes or problems.

Expedia is not a ticket consolidator. They are an online travel agency.

Disappointed to see the chicken fajita wrap and vegetable sticks are eliminated.

Thank you, I forgot about that place. I will have to see if they allow overnight parking.

It looks like Walmart is out, from what I can find they do not allow overnight parking in the parking lot. But its a game of chance, some say they have been asked to leave by security and some say they have stayed there several times and never had a problem. I can see why they wouldn't, I'm sure there would be all kinds parking there if it were allowed, because of Galveston being a tourist community. So who knows! We may just find ourselves driving around all night or hitting all the 24hr fast food places...lol

Just so you know, the Walmart parking lot in Galveston is full of vagrants, beggars etc. They do not hesitate to approach. Have fun.

This is a vacation. The crew are not glorified babysitters. Maybe a kid needed to come back and gets the parents photo id.

 

As long as they have the sign and sail card they can leave the ship

Oh, that's right, the crew are not babysitters. However, even Chuck E Cheese has a very good plan in place that prevents children from leaving the facility alone, and also from leaving with a stranger who didn't bring them. They have matching armbands for the kids and adults that prevent this. They are checked coming and going. That essentially makes the employees of Chuck E Cheese glorified babysitters as you put it. Too bad the staff of a cruise ship is above that.

they will also fawn all over your child everywhere it is. and sorry but having to deal with feces and urine deserves a tip.

 

children cost money. when you have then you accept that

 

furthermore your child is taking up a berth that will NOT be supplemented by an adult buying booze, eating in specialty restaurants and otherwise generating income.

What does tipping have to do with it? Not all onboard purchases involve tipping. You're basically saying that infants should be charged full tips because they aren't generating income for the cruise line.

Yeah, I have never seen Steak of Lobster in the buffet line. Some items might be the same, but not all.

Enjoy the MDR. It's not all that stuffy that it sounds like. Look at it as a great experience.

On our Magic cruise, we saw steak on the buffet one evening. Looked like New York strips.

How quickly some people forget that Cuba was one of the first countries to send medics, field hospitals and approximately 83 tons of medical supplies to those areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, yet then-president George Bush declined their offer....

Yes, well most of Cuba's imports of food, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies are from the U.S. Betcha didn't know that.

No thanks.

The one that truly stands out was a gal had a dark brown and white zebra striped purse. Her hair matched it exactly.

I can't stop laughing!!!

I guess the one thing I don't think looks good fashion wise are the women who wear cropped, capris or pedal pusher pants (especially with the pants having wide legs) with big clunky work out sneakers. I understand the comfort factor, but full length pants or a more streamlined shoe or sandal would look much better.