bighairtexan

Skip the clothes steamer. They're on the prohibited list and there are plenty of photos on here of the "naughty table" where they've been confiscated.  (from the RCI webstite of prohibited items.... )
 

• Candles, Incense, Coffee Makers, Clothes Irons, Travel Steamers & Hot Plates. (Items that generate heat or produce an open flame. This includes heating pads, clothing irons, hotplates, candles, incense and any other item that may create a fire hazard. NOTE: The only exception to this policy are curling irons and hair straighteners. Matches and normal lighteners are allowed onboard. However ""torch lighters"" and novelty lighters that look like guns are not allowed onboard. Torch lighters emit a powerful concentrated flame, and therefore are prohibited.

Widely used in the US.  Even in Texas.

I always contact the special needs ahead of time about a CPAP requirements (water and cord). I'd say that 50% of the time they are in the cabin w/o me asking the steward and otherwise I just have to ask and VOILA.  

I got this also and agree there's no "new bookings only" clause I could find. I already booked a cruise through the Casino Royale so not sure if it would be double dipping but this APPEARS to be a separate "bonus".  So if you call and get the info, could you come back and let us know? (Save me from doing it ... 😄 ) Also every time I've called Casino Royale I've always gotten someone in the US.  I guess I've been lucky. 

Last night I was checking out a February 2020 Majesty cruise. I was going to book 2 Superior Ocean Views EACH ONE as a solo.  I got to the "choose cabin" , and had to go back to check something. When I came back to the process, all of a sudden there were no Superior OV's that could be booked solo. I got the "Sorry, there are no S.O.V.'s that can be booked for single occupancy. Try another date."  So I tried every single category and basically they said NOTHING could be booked solo. Now I realize having 3 or more in a cabin could cause life boat overcrowding issues. But having 1?  Are undercrowded lifeboats a problem? And I was paying the full 200% for the solo booking.  At FIRST they were going to let me book and then NADA.  I'm betting if I want to book and I CALL either RCI or Casino Royale, I'll be able to book 2 cabins as solos.  Quite probably if you CALL RCI same thing. I think (guessing going by past experience) that it's another lovely RCI IT issue. 

IMHO Elite perks are a bit better than Diamond perks.  But there are Diamond Lounges (D and up) on most ships that are open all day but which have continental bkfst as well as drinks and canapes in the evening. ALso often they load 3 drinks onto your card on RCI during the "happy hour" redeemable at most bars.

I also think Michael's (Retreat on many X ships) is much better than the suite lounge. You can get cocktails there for most of the day but only in the evening hours at the Suite Lounge.  The ambiance is nicer.  Last time in the RCI suite lounge there were a BUNCH of kids and not particularly well behaved.  Jumping from chairs to sofas. I haven't ever seen that on Celebrity.  Probably others have but I haven't.  

HOWEVER... the 2 bedroom 2 bathroom suites on all but the larger RCI ships are a fraction of the cost of say the Royal Suites on X (where you get 1 bedroom and 1 1/2 baths).  Each one has their own advantages. While I prefer Celebrity and its suite experience I really enjoy the Royal experience too.  

Honestly? I always carry it in my cleavage.  That way I always know where it is (make sure to take it out before going thru an airport scanner.... just saying. 🙄 )

Some may think it tastes better because it's free --if you're Diamond or above.

Another vote for either Uber or Lyft. I downloaded both apps and check first to see pricing which seems to be "dynamic".  

Uber/Lyft.  About 40% cheaper than a shuttle service and it's per vehicle not per person.  Galveston previously had rather onerous restrictions for Uber/Lyft and they both pulled out but now ride shares are regulated at the state level so no longer a patch work of restrictions from city to city so they're both back.  I want to say it's about $65 on Lyft from Hobby.

I've recently been staying at Schaefer Haus.  It's very reasonable. Run by absolutely lovely people, and it does take a single night reservations (A few places require a 2 night stay peak season on weekends).  Also it's w/in walking distance (a few blocks) to the historic area of Galveston w/ lots of fun restaurants.

https://www.schaeferhausgalveston.com/about-us-old/

That's annoying. Though the menu was limited, it was still nice to get something cooked to order as well as have a quiet place to sit if I got something from the buffet. It still lists "Private lunch seating for ships without Coastal Kitchen" 😞

Hmmmmmm last time I was on Liberty (Prior to the key) bkfst as well as lunch on sea days was in Chops, in that front room, including a lunch w/ small buffet and a limited menu. Like salmon, chicken or small steak.  But that was last year.  Now that they use Giovanni's alternating w/ Chops, it's obviously changed.  But , like many things w/in the RCCL family, it's not necessarily a beacon of consistency.  

JEANNE I've also used Cruise Park and have only good things to say.  Actually I've had no issues w/ any of the parking and I swear I've tried them all including some that no longer exist. Or exist under another name anyway.  

RE PARKING:

I use Lighthouse parking. You can't really walk to the ship from Lighthouse, as you can with Park N Cruise, but I don't want to schlep luggage that far anyway cuz I'm OLD and falling apart. Also the last really bad rain/hurricane/tropical storm in Galveston, Lighthouse was about the only one that stayed above water. It is the highest cruise parking in Galveston (but highest is relative. Maybe 3 feet).  They shuttle you to the terminal... very short ride. If you are completely mobile or don't have much luggage then I second Park N Cruise, but the ground isn't all that smooth so rolling luggage isn't the easiest thing, when you have a torn meniscus. LOL

15 minutes ago, Marine7 said:

Would any happen to know if you can use your Unlimited Dining Package for the premium selections in the main dining room?

Thank You.

In my experience the answer is NO. The UDP covers the "Cover Charge" at the specialty restaurants. None of the upcharge steaks etc are covered in the MDR or the Specialty.  

42 minutes ago, Petroplex said:

They had The Key, and they promoted it aggressively. However, those folks had their Chops lunch in the MDR. The folks I talked to said they enjoyed it very much.

OH wow! Somehow I missed that Chops key lunch wasn't in CHOPS!!! 😄   We tend to do the UDP so in the recent past DID do lunch in Chops.  Pre-Key.

Ditto on Sabor for the embarkation lunch a couple months ago.

So you were the only one in Chops more or less on embarkation? Didn't they have the KEY on your cruise? I was wondering how this would effect us in November.  Not that you have a crystal ball for November... but if ya DO..... 😵  Again your blog is one of the best things out there for Liberty. Thanks again.

Thanks for the review.  I second Mangesh (MJ) as being great AND for SURE Janet Crick and the food tour in Falmouth.  And yeah on the Texas stamped and taxed booze. It is what it is but... I wish it weren't! LOL  I even agree that last time on the Liberty, I was pleasantly surprised at the MDR esp since normally I'm on Celebrity in Luminae.  

Weird about making you weigh IN PUBLIC especially after you'd been doing the slides already.  I'll be sure to check out your blog.   

9 minutes ago, lovetotraveltx said:

Although we are avid cruisers, this is our first time on Royal Caribbean. We are 4 adults late 50's to early 60's.

 

Read through some of the facts and just want to clarify, each stateroom can bring 12 water bottles on board and 2 bottles of wine? Do these items need to be carried on? 

Yes to all and it should be carried on.  As you mentioned it is per stateroom rather than per person.

 

Any tricks, if you are not buying the beverage package? Gamble enough in the casino and they'll track you, rate you and comp you.  Or book a true suite and you can have drinks in the Suite Lounge.  

 

Is the coffee card worth buying and how does the pricing actually work? Sorry but I always tend to get the drink package.

 

First time are main dining rooms good or should we think about buying the Chops Grille plus one before we board?  I usually cruise on Celebrity but I think the MDR is actually USUALLY very good. My Liberty cruise a few months ago was a pleasant surprise.  But whether you do Chops plus one is up to you. Chops is quite nice.

 

Do they offer any beverage package specials after we board, or only in advance? They do often offer a % off on the drink packages but USUALLY it's cheaper to wait for a sale (check frequently) and buy it before hand.

 

Where is the best place to do lunch when we board? I don't like buffets in general so sometimes I head to the Cafe or Sorrentos for pizza or small sandwiches when I board. It's usually a lot less crowded. Unless I have the UDP or when in a suite there's an area in a specialty restaurant where you CAN go to the buffet and bring it in there for a quieter experience.

 

What does Royal usually do on New Year's Eve? I can't speak to this.

 

Does Royal let you book shows in advance?  For 4 of us, should we book ahead for some nights on Anytime dining? No booking shows in advance on Liberty.  You can book anytime reservations also when you get on the ship and determine if you like a certain wait staff or table or time. 

 

Anything else a newbie on RCCL should know about embarkation day and beyond?  Anything not to miss do/eat/see.  ONE THING out of Texas. Your alcoholic beverages will be very limited until the ship sails. While in "Texas Waters" you're limited to Texas stamped alcohol.  

 

Thank you!

 

 

Elite will get you diamond status.  That is how I originally got Diamond on RCI (since have "earned it")  Some people report it was done automatically but not for me. I called the Crown and Anchor number and provided them w/ my Captain's Club info.

For me it was Zenith. Caribbean 1992. My kids HATED it b/c there were "no other kids" and begged to go back to Carnival. Now they're 37 and 39 and you can't drag them on to Carnival and they've cruised on Celebrity with their spouses... on their OWN DANG DIME!! 😂

Another thing to be aware of on things such as purses.

I saw a Valentino sale on board a few years ago. (I'm sorry but I can't recall if it was Celebrity or Princess or what, but I believe it was X).  People were snatching up "Valentino" purses for several hundred dollars instead of several thousand. These are NOT the true haute couture Valentino line.  They're from a "sister line" of Valentino called RED Valentino with none of the RED purses being found in the original Valentino line and vice versa; but it wasn't readily apparent that these were from the RED line.  Especially if the consumer isn't even aware there IS a RED.  Additionally, various MK or other purses MAY NOT be from the higher end designer line. Which is OK if that's what you want.  But something to be aware of.

AGAIN just know your merchandise and prices before you buy.  And make sure you're getting the SAME quality and line that you'd be buying on land.

Also you can almost 100% of the time find Tag Heuer watches considerably less expensively at HOME from a reputable vendor. Buyer beware. But if you see something you must have and have a bunch of OBC, and IT MAKES YOU SMILE... buy it.

Thanks for this. I'm sure many of us are enjoying your review.  Well I AM anyway! 😄

6 minutes ago, melmar02 said:

 

We have one of the 2 BR GS on Liberty coming up in about 80 days - cabin 9708. I can't wait to spread out and be able to tell the kids to "go to your room" if needed! 🤣 

TWO WORDS..... TWO BATHROOMS!!! 😁

While it doesn't keep me from booking, b/c we love those 2 bedroom GS, and they are only aft, I have to say that there's quite a bit of vibration going, but as stated above, only on docking and departing. 

I found the disadvantages (rocking and vibration) to be outweighed by the wake view and cabin and balcony.