Goodtimes57

right across from the pier. There are several places. You can't really miss them. Enjoy your cruise!

11 hours ago, matj2000 said:

Nothing really new

 

Princess use to sail out of Galveston.

 

NCL is coming soon also.

Must've been many years ago because the last time Princess was in the Texas market they sailed out of the Port of Houston. 

So Princess is returning to the Texas market once again and this time out of Galveston instead of the Port of Houston (Ship Channel). I find this interesting as the Port of Galveston is now suddenly getting crowded. Well....relatively anyway. I mean it isn't Miami or Ft.L but for Galveston and those that cruise out of Galveston... suddenly there are choices and options for Cruise Lines, Ships, and lengths of cruises. But pretty much the same port of calls. We've been loyal to Royal since... well forever. We've never cruised w/ any other line. But evidently someone or somebodies think the Galveston market can handle it. We'll see.

What I like most about them moving in is they're offering longer cruises than 7 days. Although they're pretty much going to the same, same port of calls. I hope that RCL will respond and do the same. We would book 10 or 12 day Southern Caribbean cruises if they were offered. But so far that hasn't happened yet, Anyway I did a bit of price comparison. Using the same dates, same type of balcony cabin w/ same location, and w/ the same ports, straight up RCL has Princess beat by $400 for two people. And that was even w/ Harmony of the Seas. But when you add Gratuities, WiFi, and Alcohol Bev Packages, Princess smokes RCL by $800 for two people. I doubt we would cruise w/ Princess unless they did a A,B,C Island, Southern Caribbean type cruise. But I do hope the competition will force RCL to re-think pricing and longer cruises out of Galveston. 

2 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

Odd how it varies. We have been asked almost every time in PE.

 

Have you cruised since the restart?

Nope... I have not. I have cancelled all cruises and/or replaced them because of this. I have been vaxed & boosted but I refuse to allow any company, service or individual to identify me and use some form of ID or paper to do so. I understand that others feel differently and I respect that. But for me, getting vaccinated and boosted was for my health, not for others to attempt to segregate me from others. That's my role, my responsibility and my choice.  

1 hour ago, moposh said:

I brought my cards, but no one asked to see them.

I have NEVER been asked to show any form of vaccination and/or asked if I've been vaccinated. Never. Thank God. 

I think the most you can do is at least try. But RC is not and should not be responsible to get people to/from a cruise ship. I seriously doubt they will budge. She might try her Home Insurance policy. 

And yes she should have went on the cruise. Folks were told to evacuate anyway. When Harvey hit Houston. It was announced on a Wednesday that Houston was the bullseye. On Friday to left for our Alaskan cruise. It hit two days later. There was NOTHING we could've done to mitigate damages. Nothing. And after the storm damages occur, insurance companies are on the hook for the repair cost.  

And someone has to say it.... She should have bought travel/cruise insurance. 

I suspect the limitations probably have more to do w/ sharing than anyone getting 'too tipsy'

Mine typically goes something similar to this

Day 1 10

Day 2 9

Day 3 8

Day 4 5

Day 5 8

Day 5 9

Day 7 10 

The good news, none of you have to eat at any Specialty Restaurant. 

I purchased the Unlimited Dining Package back in early July for a 7 day cruise on Harmony for $519, for 2 people, gratuities included. It was Royal math but it was 45% off at the time.

But I agree, $70/pp for Chops is ridiculous. 

On 8/27/2022 at 7:28 PM, fla33023 said:

I called today and said my husband wanted deluxe, I wanted refreshment and my daughter wanted soda. She said it was a great day to call because the package prices had come down. That was it.

This. Just call. They'll accommodate you. The online cart does not allow for this though. 

To cut to the chase and get you an answer w/o the baggage of opinion,

You can't buy just one Deluxe Package 'on-line'. 

But...

You can buy just one package if you call and order through an agent. But they will require you to purchase a refreshment package for all other adults in the cabin though.

Was it the Schooner Bar or Boleros you got the colonoscopy? Asking for a friend.

14 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Lots and lots of knock offs...just like that Rolex watch the guy on the corner is showing you.  😉 

 

My comment was...beware.  Go to reputable shop.   Too many vendors hawking "Cuban cigars" that take a fast hike when the cops roll by.  😄 

 

And...better smoke them there if you find the real ones.

 

 

Are Cuban cigars still illegal 2022?

 

 

The import of Cuban cigars, both for commercial purposes and personal consumption, is illegal in the United States. This is not because of the contents of these tobacco products but rather the political relations between the United States and Cuba.Apr 11, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

They're EZ PZ to bring home. You just gotta know how it's done.  

9 hours ago, George C said:

No pole , it did have a unique shape which we liked . 

It's a great aft cabin. Although the unique shape you mention did create a smaller closet. But still, even then we really enjoyed the cabin. Especially for a 14 day cruise. 

51 minutes ago, fredmdcruisers said:

People should be able to express concern without being told to cancel and stay home! Duh! Everyone knows that is a choice.

Look... I don't care if you cruise or not. But the fact remains you have choices. Like the rest of the world things in the cruise industry is beginning to get back to normal. Cruise ships are getting back to a normal passenger levels. Thank God. So yes... either stay home or book a smaller cruise ship. Whether you want to hear this or experience this, these are your options.  Duh!

Did you drunk buy it?

I mean it looks like you got cut off from the bar before youI even went to the bar.  😆

On 3/26/2022 at 12:21 PM, fredmdcruisers said:

Thanks for your unsolicited opinion. 

Hmmm. This would be the time to say "You're welcome for the unsolicited Thanks". 

On 3/25/2022 at 1:48 PM, EatonDoolittle said:

 

 

I'm with ya on the 50% or less.

I've had 4 glorious low occupancy trips since Nov, but I'm afraid that the Golden Age of Cruising

(post - Covid edition) is soon over.

 

 

 

The 'Golden Age' ? How about the 'Covid Days' ?

I'm good w/ ships filling up. Life is finally getting back to normal and cruising just being one of the many things we have all missed. For those that desire a smaller crowd I'm pretty sure there are ships in the Royal line up that fits the bill. Now if we can only get passed the testing requirement then things will even be better. 

Well the time was nearing to either cut bait or fish w/ regards to our summer Jewel British Isles cruise. We decided to cut bait. We studied everything and decided to book the Harmony out of Galveston in Nov 2023. It's another long wait for us. Hopefully by then, masks, testing, waxing, everything will be behind us all and we can freely enjoy the ports w/o mandates. Hopefully.  If not, we'll always have a big, nice, beautiful ship to play on. 

14 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

But I want to pick out MY OWN extra crispy bacon!  None of that limp, undercooked stuff!

 

😉  😄

Can anyone explain why Royal can not cook bacon properly? It's a 1st world cruise problem. 

1 hour ago, topnole said:

Well, getting married isn’t exactly superficial.  Not sure I get your point in that.  The rule is a spouse gets the same status.  Lots of rules like this exist.  Before getting married my wife wasn’t on my health insurance.  We got married and she was.  Buy a family museum pass or zoo pass and my family can go (not any friends as substitutes).   
 

You may view it as an arbitrary reason, but I’m not sure you are conceptualizing future outcomes if friends were invited by policy.  For example, what if a cabin mate can join you every cruise?  Now when a couple cruises with another couple they can just officially book the guys in one cabin and the girls in the other.  Now they are officially traveling with friends and everyone gets in the DL.  The DL is already packed on so many cruises.  Stories of it being empty surely exist.  But that isn’t the norm during peak hours on many of the ships.  Overflow lounges exist for a reason and that comes at a cost and it deteriorates the experience.  Why make it worse.  Few people expect they could just bring friends to a lounge designed for those who achieved a given status with a company.  Sure, some companies might do that.   But those companies make it very hard to get to a level where lounge access is achievable.  So crowding isn’t as likely or an issue.  

Again.  Not my company, not my rules.   I’m sure we all change some things if we were in charge.   But there are reasonable justifications for all of the rules.  

 

 

 

Yep, it's superficial. The new spouse did not earn their way into a DL w/ time and money spent. Their loyalty was awarded, issued, given to them. The same with a stepchild. And for God's sake no one is requesting a permanent placement like your wife on your insurance policy but rather a seat at a table to sip on a drink for a happy hour. But I do somewhat agree that comparing a DL to a zoo is pretty spot on. 

6 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

Drink selection is no longer "slim" with the vouchers.  Most any drink up to $13 or pay the difference if > $13.

So... they set up a complete full bar selection in the DL & CL now?

12 hours ago, topnole said:

Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds?  Your friend isn’t taking your husbands place, she is going on the trip with you.  It doesn’t matter whether you even have a husband or travel with him normally.  You can’t just substitute who you want in your husbands spot because he would’ve been there otherwise.  
 

I don’t care whether your friend gets in the lounge.  If you want to ask the concierge if she can join you, have at it.  I don’t care about how many cruises anyone else has been on.  Royal status is about the last thing I care about in life and I sure as heck would never judge anyone by it.  But your overly simplistic justification for why you think you are entitled to bring who you want into the lounge is pretty ridiculous.  
 

Just because Royal doesn’t allow it, and people here are telling you so, that doesn’t make them snobs or your friend a lowly person.  99.99999999999% of diamonds haven’t replied to this thread anyhow.  So why never go back with your husband.  Just relax and try to understand why Royal prohibits friends from the lounge.  There are valid reasons you are ignoring here.  

Do you understand that if she was to re-marry the new spouse would immediately qualify for Diamond status? My point is that it is all really just so superficial. 

On 3/7/2022 at 2:27 PM, dleahy4444 said:

I’m diamond but my friend has never cruised before. Will she be able to access the diamond lounge with me if we go together? I assume she won’t be getting the diamond vouchers but if she gains entrance and feels like a cocktail could she purchase one there? Thanks!

As weird as it sounds, you & your friend can drink anywhere on the ship & at any bar on the ship except the Diamond Club. Only because many feel they are 'above' your friend because they have spent more money & time. If you're Diamond you've probably been in one of these spaces. It's really a strange, select, unique club of people. What's really odd is that in most cases the views aren't that great & the drink selections are very slim. The bar service is ok. But they do serve up finger foods. Think High School cliques but with liquor that share the enjoyment of cruising and have earned the right to do this. Having said this I've met some interesting people in these spaces but also a lot of duds. 

Bottomline, your friend won't miss much. Enjoy your cruise.