Texas Tillie

I was on the ship that date and after looking at the menu, I'm sure I ordered the chicken broth and the veal scallopini.

The math speaks for itself. It's just a matter of deciding if the food, service and enrichment on Crystal is that much better to justify the price difference. My one experience with Silversea says, yes, Crystal is that much better. YMMV. Patty

Only the Symphony is transiting the Red Sea, under protection of the US Navy. Since they paid next to nothing for the Symphony, maybe they aren't too worried about insurance coverage, like you carry just liability insurance on your 10 year old car.

Not sure you can purchase wine other than at the duty free store and you need to be on an international outgoing flight to purchase there and the bottles are delivered to your flight. Also, there are 5 terminals at IAH and you won't be flying into the international terminal.

Crystal has trash cans by all the elevators.

Think of the carving station that's always at the front of the hot part of the buffet, they have whole turkeys, whole pork loins, etc. already cooked. Put them in the fridge and use them in a day or so in another recipe. If it's a casserole and there's an extra, send it to the cruise mess. I'm sure they are pretty good at knowing how much to prepare, but it can't be 100% all the time. Patty

Very few people post these days on the Crystal roll calls. There is no indication as to how many are booked based on activity there. Patty

It got to be that I'd go to check out how the hard boiled egg penguins were decorated. Never did take even one! 🤪 Patty

Question in regards to food waste, my understanding is that if the food has been placed at the serving station and is still there when the venue closes, it must be thrown away. However, things prepared but still in the galley can be used again, either for guests or the crew galley. Correct or no? Patty

No offense intended to Julia, but I wish people would stop asking this question. Crystal says gratuities are included. Extra gratuities, if any, is very personal. Do what you think is right or don't do anything else. Patty

Think I remember reading that Greyhound had closed the bus terminal near downtown Houston. Check on it.

The problem is the difference between the subject of this thread - Hobby Airport Hotel with shuttle - and seeming to indicate you are referring to a Galveston hotel. Are you flying into Hobby or driving to Galveston? FYI, Hobby is at least 40 miles from Galveston. We need to understand exactly what you are doing before we can make suggestions.

I am doing the same cruise 2 weeks before yours. I booked door to door and that includes a bus transfer from Anchorage to Seward. The train would be an extra $250 charge. I elected to not add the train as I've done the transfer 3 times before and at least part of the way the train tracks run parallel to the highway. Since you were told to go to the Egan Center - the convention center in downtown Anchorage - I believe you will also be on the bus. All buses to Seward, no matter which cruise line, leave from the Egan Center. Suggest you do a Google search of a map for downtown Anchorage to locate the Egan Center.

At this time, the other cabins not designated as solo are usually (important distinction) available at 50% single supplement for that category, or about 40% more than those designated as solo. The only difference is the location more midship. I don't know about the identical cabins on the other decks with a balcony. Those are also identical to the Deck 7 cabins except the balcony. All suites are 100% single supplement usually (see above). I'm a long time Crystal cruiser and have done 1 Silversea with another booked and can tell you that everything on Crystal, especially food and service is better. Others disagree, but that's the way life goes!! 😱 Patty

Yes, it worked and yes, we want to see them. Thank you Patty

No way canola can be grown in Texas, it gets way too hot in the summer. However, we have plenty of things that set off allergies. April will have all kinds of pollens floating around. And, fyi, the area you mentioned isn’t considered South Texas, there’s a lot more Texas south of those areas. Welcome to Texas!!

Not Rob, but can report that the hotel director is Scott Peterson. Patty

Just an FYI, if you are diagnosed as Covid positive by the ship’s doctor, you are quarantined to your cabin for 5 days. Patty

The sea wall doesn’t extend the entire island but does for most of the places a tourist would want to go.

😵‍💫🙄😳😳🙄😵‍💫 That’s a good project for someone to figure out how many “airplane” bottles it would take to fill the pool! Patty

Ship gossip is always interesting. I’d heard he didn’t join the ship in Miami because there was a visa issue and that he was to join in Grand Cayman, now Cartagena, hopefully. A detail and the result is the same. Patty

There's a sign with the info as you enter the port area. I've always been able to see the ship as you get close to the port. Just tell your taxi/Uber "that one" and they know how to get around in the port area. Patty

And don't forget, it's the bean counters at Royal Caribbean who are now in charge.

This is eastern Colorado? Patty

Explains a lot. The person is new to Crystal and didn't know that the unwritten rule is if you get a complimentary upgrade you don't go around bragging about it. It opens a can of worms that needs to be kept closed! I'm sure there are folks here who have received upgrades from old Crystal and possibly new Crystal, but they had the good sense to keep their mouths' shut. 😵😉 Patty