BlondeValor

BlondeValor…… if you are sailing out of Long Beach you can expect the weather to be cool the next day. Once you get into the westerly wind currents day two will be warm enough to probably wear shorts. Should be smooth sailing after that. Enjoy those nice sea days.

Thank you so much!!

We are going to be on the Carnival Splendor this October for the Journey cruise to Hawaii. We'll see how the sea days go - I'm hoping I'll finally relax enough to enjoy the sites!

One question I don't seem to find anywhere is what the weather will be like "mid-ocean" and that time of year?? Temperatures??

IMHO - for a celebration, I'd choose the Victory over Ecstasy. I've been on both, they are both beautiful, but Victory has more to offer I feel for a young adult. Ecstasy would be better for an older crowd IMO.

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Agree that McComb is a bit further than you want the day of... However, it was about as far as I wanted to drive from MI in one day (we ended up eating supper at 10 PM that night in McComb). So it's a balance. If you can make it further try to, but don't over exert yourself either so that you stay safe!

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We've been to Doctor's Cave twice when docked in Mo Bay and have taken a taxi both times with no problems. They drop you off right at the entrance. Be advised though, while they do have umbrellas to rent, the chairs are not loungers, they are low to the ground canvas almost Adirondack style and extremely uncomfortable :(. This was the case in 2011 and 2012 when we were there.

 

I did google doctors cave bathing club and the chairs look newer from the last time we were there, but still not your typical full leg lounger. But it's a decent beach none the less and w/in walking distance of Margaritaville if you so choose

BlondieB - about how much was taxi fare to and from Montego Bay? We are there early April and this is looking like a relatively inexpensive way to spend the day.

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My cruise is the beginning of April, so maybe it has to be closer to the date?!? I'll cross my fingers for you too!

Airport Drive is where Hobby Airport (HOU) is located. If you are flying into IAH then you are reserving from the wrong airport. IAH is off JFK blvd/Terminal Drive.

By "On Airport" I meant as opposed to in Humble as we have been discussing because the airport in general charges fees that were making our rental searches exorbitant for our timelines "Location: HOUSTON - GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT" per my reservation confirmation.

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Yes, I was getting pretty frustrated with the airport fees jacking the price up sky high!

We are staying in Galveston 2 days before the cruise and I felt I needed to get a hotel on the Seawall to be able to walk to most places, that wasn't easy price wise either.

I did find a hotel with free parking for the cruise and we are going home a day after the cruise for the same reason you stated about customs and traffic and what not so hopefully we like the hotel enough to get their shuttle back to where the car is and check back in for the night :)

I was able to book a car from Avis in Humble, TX for 10 days at $295 and I'm guessing a $20 taxi ride there? But it is just the 2 of us. The shuttles are running $300.00 roundtrip plus what 20% tip?

 

This by far has been the most hassle I have ever gone through to take a cruise :eek: But there is that "list" where I have to check a Galveston cruise off of LOL

Addictedtocruising-

Just an FYI, I was able to book a Standard size car ON AIRPORT from Dollar last night for 9 days for $232 total including all the fees that the airport locations have! SO, it appears that it is just a matter of watching prices often you can find decent prices from the airport. :) Never thought that would happen!

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Wish I would have asked this question before I booked flight into IAH. Transportation costs are all much higher from IAH to Galveston. Definitely go into HOU unless it is several hundred dollars cheaper, because the shuttles are more expensive, and "on airport" car rental fees are astronomical thru IAH.

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Yup, tips only add to enormous cost of getting to the port. I'm so glad I was booked before we figured out that transportation was such a hassle! At least as you say I'll be able to check it off the list! LOL!

I am going to send out a message to my friends on Facebook too to see if anyone has relatives in the area that might be willing to drive us to Galveston for gas money and a nice dinner?!?

IF anyone sees better rental pricing especially on airport though it would be great to pass that info on!

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I asked the same question a couple weeks ago and got very little response. Most were very cautioning, and in the end, when I added it up, it was only like a $10 difference total for us unless we found a hotel that we wanted to keep the car at for free... But for us that kinda defeated the purpose of being able to head to the airport right away in case customs was slow like a LOT seem to have happen... Unless I can get the price down to like $250 including taxes I'm inclined to use Galveston Shuttle for $145 to the island and then take Carnival Shuttle back for $180... Don't like it, but not finding a car that will hold 4 people and their luggage for less than $300... Add in parking of $40-$50 and we are right back to where we started...

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I agree Rewind - this will be our last Galveston cruise due to the hassle of transportation!

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We had four of us in April and the taxi was easy and least expensive I could find as well.

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Best I can see for a car service is $140 each way from 24hourtaxi or something like that. With tip that's $160 each way, and the reviews are mixed. Then we'd still need taxi to the port from our hotel and we'd be relying on someone else's schedule. Appreciate the feedback, and the price quoted was from a Budget Car Rental national chain, not a mom and pop type shop. I guess for two days before a cruise I see a bunch of freedom by having our own vehicle. If there was a spot to drop off at the port I'd only rent one way but that doesn't really exist... Was just looking to see if others have done this to get around the outrageous airport rental fees and if it worked out.

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Has anyone ever rented from "off airport" sites and kept the car thru their cruise? I would have never have booked out of Galveston if I knew what a pain and expense it was to get from the airports to port (two days early too). Anyways, it appears that if I rent from an off-airport location the car rental prices drop from $900 for the 9 days to a reasonable $300 for that time (and I can still drop off at the airport). Add in a taxi ride to the off-airport site, parking at the cruise port and gas and it looks about the same price as shuttles and taxis for 4 people. Way more flexibility too... Am I missing something?

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Keep checking the car rentals and looking for codes. I received one from Upromise and was able to get a one day rental MCO to cape canaveral for $29 for an economy car...

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They did have the new drink ware! I purchased the twister - they come in different sizes and the staff isn't really up to speed on the prices... I ended up getting the large twister for the wrong price of $12.95 while at HMC (with drink, which turned out to be a bargain!), and then was SHOCKED when a refill was going to be $18.95... So, word of caution, watch the sizes and pricing. Sorry, don't remember the pricing on the other drink ware.