GJustice

We HATE flying, but looking at Galveston schedules into 2026 it looks like we have no choice but to depart from Florida to get anywhere different. 😞 Which of the four (FLL, PCN, MIA, TPA) is the easiest to travel through coming from DFW area? DW has mobility issues, so availability of wheelchair assistance at terminal(s) and on-board scooter rental/pickup/dropoff are important factors. I'd like to pick one as our "Second Home port" since we only cruise once or twice a year and like having a "routine" pre/post cruise. Given the travel required, most likely only looking at 7+ night itineraries.

And always turn the deadbolt when you're in the room🤪

Well, the "new" ones are available now and all that's "new" is Allure replacing Harmony in March 2026 with a couple of additional itineraries to the same old destinations. Guess I'll have to surrender and start flying to FL since the 4th busiest port in the US (Galveston) won't see more destinations next year. Or I guess I can defect to one of the other TX based lines 😞

Pick a nice one in Galveston and start your vacation a night early. 🤪

AND, you can have them make a VERY SHORT call just to let you know that YOU need to contact them. THEN, you can get internet to email/message/call (wifi calling, etc) to have a conversation.

Really depends on if/how long the arriving ship is delayed clearing and unloading. We ALWAYS get there early, as we spend the night before in town. We've been in line at 9:30 (3rd in line) and depending on how long the Suite/Pinnacle/Key line is, been inside at 10:15-10:30. ONCE, we had to wait outside until after 11:00 due to delays unloading and a LONG S/P/K line that formed during the time. Not "really" checked until the crowd gets big enough to need crowd control. If you're in line, you get in.

When I was flying all the time, I'd park closer to whatever terminal I was returning to, as I always made time to get there early for departure and didn't want to mess with navigating parking when I got home. DFW was notorious for scattering departure/arrivals all over the place.

Got a Black Friday deal for 18.99 so bought. Won't pay much more than that.

Look pretty close to identical, just flipped! https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/ships/Jewel-of-the-Seas

Seems not too accurate, as the terminal is on the water. This address seems to be something other than the actual terminal. Yellow is the actual terminal, not sure what the red one is 😞 1028 Harborside Drive AKA Royal Caribbean Way

Around $340 for a 7 night. In Galveston they deliver it to your stateroom and you drop it off on the ship in the departure area.

We've never had issues with the Scootaround 3 wheelers. They're pretty massive machines.

Last time(s) we've used the Key, I actually DROPPED my carryon in the holding area and didn't GIVE it to anyone. Porters at the curb have LOTS of places to "lose" a bag before it gets on the ship. If I drop my carryon in a room ON the ship, I'm confident it won't be "missing" when I need it. Keeping up with a carryon bag, CPAP machine and rollator makes the Key a deal IF it's priced right.

Unfortunately, the last few times I've gone "early" I've found the machine in "service mode" or otherwise "offline" and been unable to get coffee. Seems they are expected to be deep cleaned DAILY and it takes about 20 minutes and requires a bunch of steps. SOMETIMES, it's as simple as dumping the Used Grounds container and pressing a button or two.

From sitting on WARM all night long 🙂

It's blocked from install on TABLETS via the Play Store, but will install fine using the uptodown installer. I have to do this on both my old and new tablets.

Gaido's for sure

I wasn't clear I guess. The menu is the same on all ships AFAIK and the items are the same you would get even if the particular restaurant isn't ON the ship you are on. RC ships share a common cookbook. 😀

Typically, NO, but China rules may be different.

It is a sample of Royal's offerings across the line, NOT just the restaurants on the ship you're on. From the sample menu: Cocktail from Hooked Starter from Wonderland App from Giovanni's Table Main from Chops Desert from 150 Central Park Did it once, and enjoyed it, but since it never (rarely?) changes, wouldn't do it again.

Guess you didn't see this 😞

Hadn't seen this here, apologies if I just missed it. Probably more to the story coming. https://www.foxnews.com/us/royal-caribbean-cruise-vacation-florida-turns-deadly

Autocomplete has been flakey for months on all my devices both the website and the app. Autocomplete works, just have to fiddle with it.

Last visit to WJ early found lukewarm coffee leftover from the day before and no one seeming to care about making fresh 😞 😞 😞

WJ has been hit or miss recently unfortunately. I've always been a early riser and NEED my coffee to get functional. Diamond lounge coffeemaker has been equally out of service but IS accessible 24 hours. Cafe Promenade also wasn't open until 6ish and even then, they were JUST making coffee when they "opened" 😞