*** The Galveston, Texas "Cruise Cam" Watch Group ***

[CGBCruiser]

Just to add to the problems, I have read on another thread that Galveston will lose RCCL in 2015. I truly hope this is just a rumor. We love the ease of driving to the port.

 

The terminal has never been a problem to us, after all we are just walking through to GO ON A CRUISE!!!!! The people have always been very pleasant and done whatever they could to make any inconvience as easy as possible.

 

Just saying.

Sally

 

At this point it is just a rumor. It's out there because as of right now there is no Transatlantic scheduled for the Navigator from Galveston to Europe. So, who knows. I too love the ease of driving to the port as we're only 45 min. away! Used to have 2 RCCL ships in port year round, then Voyager came back part time in 2007 and we've had the part time ships since then.

 

The terminal has never been an issue for me either and I sail out of Galveston a lot! I couldn't agree with you more. But as you've probably noticed on these boards, some people just like to complain and are very loud about it. :rolleyes:

[mstelly]

Galveston:

[DeepWaterMariner]

Used to have 2 RCCL ships in port year round, then Voyager came back part time in 2007 and we've had the part time ships since then.

 

The terminal has never been an issue for me either and I sail out of Galveston a lot! I couldn't agree with you more. But as you've probably noticed on these boards, some people just like to complain and are very loud about it. :rolleyes:

 

RCCL has only had one year round ship in Galveston and that was Rhapsody. The Splendour was only seasonal. We did two TA on her when she was repositioning to Galveston to share the port with Rhapsody for the winter.

 

There are some very nice cruise terminals around the country but most ports have very similar facilities as Galveston and sometimes worse. Miami and Ft Lauderdale, the mega cruise ports have fairly nice terminals but even some of Ft Lauderdale's terminals aren't much better than Galveston...and the customs problems are everywhere, including Ft Lauderdale. BTW, about the nicest terminal we've found is in Norfolk...with no ship.

[klingoncruiser]

I find it hard to believe that RCL would abandon Galveston at this point. It has been a good bet for everyone. Norwegian is on the way back in out of Houston and Princess is moving there as well. HAL for Galveston to fill the void? Would be interesting to see or maybe a Celebrity ship back in town?

[BecciBoo]

Wow Galveston as usual! If it's not the weather and standing out in foul weather, or if you're lucky a day like today, it's the dumpy curise terminal! Wonder what keeps us Texans in Galveston curises besides the fact you don't have to pay airfare!! Come on Galveston spend some money! We know you cannot control the weather but you could build a much nicer terminal! We Texans deserve better!!

 

 

Earl

 

Whoa! That is really strange....we got to terminal at 10:30, waited 15 mins to enter terminal, then another 30 minutes, eating at WJ by 12:20 after checking our MDR table. We had no problems checking in or boarding! There was a bit of problem with an RCCL employee at the "wine Check table" who was still on the old rules and had to be "informed" about the new wine policy but the boarding went smooth. Computer must've gone down later...sure glad we got there early! As for the return yesterday, was smooth for Diamond and above, waited in Lotus Lounge at 7:30, started debark at 9 something and were in the car on way home by 9:20....posted review on RCCL main thread.

Hope Cindy's week is as good, we had a blast!:D

[BecciBoo]

Boarding was very late today...it was pushing 12:30 before they started. By the time they started boarding, it had gotten very uncomfortable in the terminal.

 

No matter...we're here now!

 

Cindy: the people at the terminal told us they had full customs checks yesterday, but it didn't seem to be any different, I doubt if we spent more than 60 seconds at the customs booth!:eek: Waltzed right through. From the time we left Lotus Lounge at 9:05, it took just 20 minutes to get to the sidewalk. Another 10 waiting for Todd to bring the car back over and whoosh, we're off.:D Don't know why your boarding was so late:confused:

[CGBCruiser]

RCCL has only had one year round ship in Galveston and that was Rhapsody. The Splendour was only seasonal. We did two TA on her when she was repositioning to Galveston to share the port with Rhapsody for the winter.

 

There are some very nice cruise terminals around the country but most ports have very similar facilities as Galveston and sometimes worse. Miami and Ft Lauderdale, the mega cruise ports have fairly nice terminals but even some of Ft Lauderdale's terminals aren't much better than Galveston...and the customs problems are everywhere, including Ft Lauderdale. BTW, about the nicest terminal we've found is in Norfolk...with no ship.

 

I had forgotten Splendour was seasonal. Totally agree with you about terminals AND customs!

[Cindy]

Update from the Mariner...we talked with Christina (the LA) this morning, and she said she seriously doubts Royal will pull out of Galveston. She said the more likely scenario would be a year-round ship. I mentioned that the information should be out tomorrow, and she said she doesn't think so...they're still waiting for last week's release.

We booked Navigator for April 6th next year...the Roatan itinerary. :)

[CGBCruiser]

Update from the Mariner...we talked with Christina (the LA) this morning, and she said she seriously doubts Royal will pull out of Galveston. She said the more likely scenario would be a year-round ship. I mentioned that the information should be out tomorrow, and she said she doesn't think so...they're still waiting for last week's release.

 

We booked Navigator for April 6th next year...the Roatan itinerary. :)

 

I hope she's right! I loved going to Roatan!

[bigeck]

Watching Cnn. Hope our Texas cruising friends are safe and well

[TLex]

Update from the Mariner...we talked with Christina (the LA) this morning, and she said she seriously doubts Royal will pull out of Galveston. She said the more likely scenario would be a year-round ship. I mentioned that the information should be out tomorrow, and she said she doesn't think so...they're still waiting for last week's release.

We booked Navigator for April 6th next year...the Roatan itinerary. :)

 

As I previously predicted, the deployment schedule is out thru May 2015 and Serenade out of NOLA is there with cruises from San Juan, FLL, and Baltimore. But as of noon CDT, NOTHING yet for Galveston. Still don't know if RCI is returning to Galveston in 2015, with Navigator or other ship, or if it is pulling out of Texas market or, L-RD willing, going year-round.

 

Cindy, if you've got info from LA please post it here. If anyone else has current info, please post.

 

Thanks.

 

VR,

 

T Lex

[BecciBoo]

I'm not worried in the least. I'm sure we'll have something if only for the winter/spring season. Way too early to get excited about it.

[ARCruisinNana]

Maybe Explorer after it's drydock???

[Cindy]

Official...as per the concierge and Vintages manager on the Mariner as of April 20...Navigator is staying in Galveston year-round!!!:)

 

I'll have more details tomorrow...we've just come back from the Chops wine-pairing dinner, and I'm having a hard time seeing and typing right now!:rolleyes:

[Texas Teen]

Morning everyone. I'm up to watch Mariner's final arrival in Galveston. She heads towards Europe (and then on to Asia) today.

[Cindy]

Mariner isn't leaving until 10:00 tonight...they are loading a bunch of construction stuff for "Asianizing" the ship.

[Texas Teen]

Mariner isn't leaving until 10:00 tonight...they are loading a bunch of construction stuff for "Asianizing" the ship.

 

Thanks for the heads up.

[Cindy]

Dylan, the concierge just told us it may be earlier than that...it depends on how long it takes to get everything on board.

[Cindy]

Disembarkation update...about 15 minutes from Chops to standing outside the terminal! We're on 45 already. :D

[cricketts]

As I previously predicted, the deployment schedule is out thru May 2015 and Serenade out of NOLA is there with cruises from San Juan, FLL, and Baltimore. But as of noon CDT, NOTHING yet for Galveston. Still don't know if RCI is returning to Galveston in 2015, with Navigator or other ship, or if it is pulling out of Texas market or, L-RD willing, going year-round.

 

Cindy, if you've got info from LA please post it here. If anyone else has current info, please post.

 

Thanks.

 

VR,

 

T Lex

Hi T Lex! Deedee here from last year's spring break Mariner trip. We're also anxious to know the RCCL plans for Galveston. Keep us posted!

[Ladysilver]

Mariner isn't leaving until 10:00 tonight...they are loading a bunch of construction stuff for "Asianizing" the ship.

 

 

I'm sorry to see her leave Galveston. We had an amazing cruise on her in December. We'll never forget it. :D

 

Looking forward to cruising on Navigator next December! :D

[TLex]

Hi T Lex! Deedee here from last year's spring break Mariner trip. We're also anxious to know the RCCL plans for Galveston. Keep us posted!

 

Sorry for all of the thread-hoppers, but Deedee, good to hear from you, and this is what I just posted on Texasmunk's OP thread:

 

Well, as I posted back to Cindy on one of the other three, count 'em, THREE threads discussing Galveston and year-round, if you can't trust your concierge (and why, Oh, WHY, is he transferring to Legend and not Navigator?) and your Vintages manager, then who can you TRUST??? :D:D:D

 

Unfortunately, RCI is still showing only 5 cruises out of Galveston ending in April 2014. But the tide appears to be rising and I know far, far, FAR better than to cross Ms. Cindy!!! :eek::D

 

Here's to a year-round return to Galveston...

 

VR,

 

T Lex

 

P.S. And since you were with us on the Glorious Mariner Spring Break 2012 Party Cruise, you KNOW what I'm talking about! ;)

[Cindy]

Now that I'm home and have better internet access, here's what I was told by various people on the Mariner this week...

When we were booking for next year, I asked Christina what she had heard, and I specifically asked if RCCL was leaving Galveston. She said she couldn't imagine them leaving, and thought the more likely scenario was a year-round ship. The captain also alluded to a year-round ship in comments to various people (the captain's comments are second hand information from other passengers).

Last night when we went down to the CL, Luca was all smiles when he told us Navigator would be staying in Galveston. I got the impression it was very new news, and he was sharing it with people as they came in. Right after that we went down to Vintages, and our waiter there also had the same information. He is going on vacation when the ship gets to Asia, and he already has his next contract...in Vintages on the Navigator.

I have no reason to think this is just a rumor...I can't imagine Luca telling everybody if it wasn't official. I know the cruises aren't showing up on the RCCL site yet, but that's their IT department for you!

I think it makes sense for RCCL to bring a full-time ship back to Galveston. They're not making any money in Europe right now, and I don't think they can send the whole fleet to China!:rolleyes: I never thought Royal would pull out of this market completely. Even if they're not the most profitable cruises, they sail full every week without heavy discounting. I think if RCCL pulled out completely they would be conceding a huge chunk of the country to another cruise line. Whether it be Carnival, Princess, or Norwegian, if people became comfortable with those lines when they cruised from Texas, that's probably the first place they'd look when they cruised from another port.

As for the Mariner, wow...by the time she leaves port tonight the ship will already look very different. They were throwing out the casino carpet as we were leaving the ship this morning, and there was a huge crane on the pier to load construction materials. They are taking out a lot of bars (I think they said 7) to make room for more high-end shopping and gambling. The jewelry store was closed all week, and had a "grand re-opening" at noon yesterday. I'm not sure what they did, because it didn't look any different to me. They were doing construction all week to create a new Logo shop in the starboard side of Boleros, and that opened yesterday as well. The big Logo store will be repurposed for a different type of merchandise.

This one makes me sad...Vintages is coming out.:( What a shame! They spent a lot of money on it in the drydock, and it's just lovely. The area off to the side -- where the TV is will already be blocked off for construction when people board today. That part of Vintages is going to be a Michael Kors store, and then the bigger part of Vintages will become a Coach store.

We took a galley tour yesterday. Interestingly, the menu really isn't changing. I think he said they were replacing one soup and two appetizers, but the menu for the most part will be the same.

They are adding lots of Chinese staff, both in the galley and throughout the ship. Some of them, like our cabin steward, are experienced and very good, but there are others who have a LOT to learn. All the employees in the stores now are Chinese, and frankly some of them just don't know what they're doing. Many of the photographers are also Chinese, and they're so new that they have to consult their iPad between each pose to see what shot comes next!

I'm thrilled the Navigator is coming to Galveston, and I hope I love that ship the way I love the Mariner. I do kind of wonder what their thought process was though...why make all the changes to the Mariner to turn around and rip it out a year later, when you have the Navigator that hasn't had the upgrades yet?:confused:

I don't think I would want to be on the TA that's leaving today...the construction is going to be excessive, even though the powers that be claim otherwise. I found it annoying on our cruise, and this morning they were basically loading up and preparing for a major renovation project with passengers on board.

I think that's all. I'll take a look at my iPad later and if I jotted down anything else that was interesting I'll post it! For now I'd better deal with the suitcases and the laundry.:(

[TLex]

Welcome Home, Cindy! You know that I never doubted you for a MOMENT! :p:D

 

Actually, for us old hands (and I am referring to experience, folks, not age...although in my case, ---sigh---, both), we went thru this the first time in August 2007 with beloved Rhapsody. I took my third daughter on her graduation cruise, had a great time, met some super folks, but was struck by how the crew had changed from the people we'd known for years to nearly half Chinese and Asian crew. They were nice and made their best efforts, but it was clear that many were in training for the next life of Rhapsody and, to be candid, it was a "unique" experience to see a ship already in transition.

 

As for Mariner, sure sounds like a very substantive and substantial overhaul, but we'd read this on other boards earlier this year and for the demographics and cruises that are already up on the RCCL website, it makes sense. Can't wait until the ship clears Dubai and Goa to make these changes. But I wonder what sort of experience those who are taking Mariner to Europe, Middle East and finally Asia will have (hope that some post!).

 

Anyway, sure you won't change your mind about March 2014??? :D:D

 

VR,

 

T Lex

[Cindy]

Welcome Home, Cindy! You know that I never doubted you for a MOMENT! :p:D

 

Actually, for us old hands (and I am referring to experience, folks, not age...although in my case, ---sigh---, both), we went thru this the first time in August 2007 with beloved Rhapsody. I took my third daughter on her graduation cruise, had a great time, met some super folks, but was struck by how the crew had changed from the people we'd known for years to nearly half Chinese and Asian crew. They were nice and made their best efforts, but it was clear that many were in training for the next life of Rhapsody and, to be candid, it was a "unique" experience to see a ship already in transition.

 

As for Mariner, sure sounds like a very substantive and substantial overhaul, but we'd read this on other boards earlier this year and for the demographics and cruises that are already up on the RCCL website, it makes sense. Can't wait until the ship clears Dubai and Goa to make these changes. But I wonder what sort of experience those who are taking Mariner to Europe, Middle East and finally Asia will have (hope that some post!).

 

Anyway, sure you won't change your mind about March 2014??? :D:D

 

VR,

 

T Lex

 

Hmm...nope! There were only about 120 kids on the ship this week! It really was noticeably less crowded.:)

One thing I forgot to mention was we did My Time Dining for the first time and loved it! I don't think I could go back to eating at 8 or 8:30 every night.