Lots of questions about NOS and Galveston

[karenemily]

I have been searching and reading all week and I still have questions. I am hoping that someone can help me out.

 

A bit of background: I have cruised before (we just turned diamond). This trip is me, DH, DD, and DS. My dad and step mom are also going but this is their first trip. We are in a JR suite and are doing my time dinning.

 

Let's start with Galveston questions:

1. I've not cruised out of Galveston in 10- years. Where should we park?

2. What time can we arrive?

3. Is there a separate waiting area for Diamond or jr suite cruisers?

4. Is it difficult to bring on board water bottles?

 

NOS/ RCCI questions:

1. This is our first cruise as diamond. Should my expectations be different?

2. If we have access to the Diamond lounge each day do we really need a soda/ beverage package? (dh drinks some, me none but I would love to be able to get bottled water any time, and the kids would love soda)

3. Other than "happy hour" does the diamond lounge offer bottled water or other drinks? (for that matter, help me out with the whole idea of being diamond... I've read the list of "perks" and several posts about perks but I am struggling with how the new benefits are really different. I get the addition of the diamond lounge. :)

4. I vaguely remember that by the pool there was a roped off area, Dh said that this was just for suite guests. I thought it also included a diamond (maybe diamond +) and higher level. Can anyone shed light on this?

5. Outdoor movies: I have seen a couple of different cruise compasses with different movies listed. Do these stay the same week to week or do they change? If they change what is our chance of seeing the movies listed in the March 9 cruise?

6. With Belize being a tender (and it sounds like a long tender) should I even get off the ship?? We don't have anything planned for that port, and I really am ok for just hanging out on the ship. Just didn't know if there was anything that I am going to miss if we chill.

[jelayne]

We just booked parking right across the street from the cruise terminal. There is also parking right at the terminal. Google galveston cruise parking and find the options

[Weber Prof]

Port

1. Park at the garage across from the pier or some hotels will allow you to park for free if you are a guest before/after the cruise.

2. We were given a suggested arrival time, but the wait was over 2 hours. This was our first time in that port and others said it was always a wait.

3. There was a separate line for diamond and suite passengers. I missed it and a staff member thought I looked out of place in the regular line and personally escorted me to the correct line.

4. I had only a single water bottle, no problem to carry on for me.

NOS

1. Not diamond, can't answer

2. We don't drink either soda or alcohol so we are happy with whatever is in the concierge lounge or in the dining areas.

3. see #1 above

4. We didn't see the need, plenty of chairs in the open area and didn't want to be roped off.

5. NOS was not refurbished when we sailed in December.

6. Easy tender. The city is nothing, you need to get out. See the thread for Belize Port of calls for ideas. I loved the ruins.

 

Hope that helps.

[JimAOk1945]

We have sailed out of Galveston a few times.

 

There is always a wait. Sometimes longer than other times. We are not diamond but always sail in suites so we get in that line.

 

We usually carry a few bottles of water with us. We have had the security people shake them to make sure they are water.

 

We always park at the terminal and catch the shuttle back and forth to the cruise terminal. The shuttle is free and readily available.

 

We have been to Belize once. I don't remember exactly how long the tender ride took, but it didn't seem long. We booked the Lamanai & The New River Safari which included lunch. It was a fantastic experience. You might like to see the pictures my wife took and made into a slide show for her website. I'll insert a link below.

 

Lamanai & The New River Safari

 

Happy Cruising!

[denamo]

I have been searching and reading all week and I still have questions. I am hoping that someone can help me out.

 

A bit of background: I have cruised before (we just turned diamond). This trip is me, DH, DD, and DS. My dad and step mom are also going but this is their first trip. We are in a JR suite and are doing my time dinning.

 

Let's start with Galveston questions:

1. I've not cruised out of Galveston in 10- years. Where should we park?

2. What time can we arrive?

3. Is there a separate waiting area for Diamond or jr suite cruisers?

4. Is it difficult to bring on board water bottles?

 

Just off of the Navigator last week. Hope I'm able to answer your questions.

 

We have used Park n Cruise. Do an internet search and you can find them. They offer indoor parking in buildings across the street from the pier. They are a bit more, but like the indoor aspect. We drive through the port, drop off our luggage, go park and walk back with our carry on's. Not sure how many are in your party.

 

You can arrive as early as 11:00 A.M.

 

We walked right on, so no waiting.

 

Took about a half dozen bottles of water in a carry on. And some sodas. Had not problem getting them on board. Do need to carry on. If put in your suitcase, you will have to retrieve your luggage from the "naughty" room.

 

NOS/ RCCI questions:

1. This is our first cruise as diamond. Should my expectations be different?

2. If we have access to the Diamond lounge each day do we really need a soda/ beverage package? (dh drinks some, me none but I would love to be able to get bottled water any time, and the kids would love soda)

3. Other than "happy hour" does the diamond lounge offer bottled water or other drinks? (for that matter, help me out with the whole idea of being diamond... I've read the list of "perks" and several posts about perks but I am struggling with how the new benefits are really different. I get the addition of the diamond lounge. :)

4. I vaguely remember that by the pool there was a roped off area, Dh said that this was just for suite guests. I thought it also included a diamond (maybe diamond +) and higher level. Can anyone shed light on this?

5. Outdoor movies: I have seen a couple of different cruise compasses with different movies listed. Do these stay the same week to week or do they change? If they change what is our chance of seeing the movies listed in the March 9 cruise?

6. With Belize being a tender (and it sounds like a long tender) should I even get off the ship?? We don't have anything planned for that port, and I really am ok for just hanging out on the ship. Just didn't know if there was anything that I am going to miss if we chill.

 

The Diamond Lounge is a nice venue for being diamond. In the morning they offer a continental breakfast and a great coffee machine. There are goodies and fresh fruit available during the day in the Diamond Lounge. I think you can get bottled water during the happy hour. If not, the water on board is good. Appetizers are also offered during happy hour. No sodas are offered during the day in the DL, but you can get some during happy hour.

 

Diamond are not included in the roped off area by the pool.

 

Don't know how often outdoor movies are changed.

 

The Belize tender over was long, but much shorter coming back. Husband and I noticed this. Think it may have had to do with the tide. We couldn't figure it out. While in Belize we did the cave tubing and it was the best excursion we did the whole cruise. We did ours independently with cavetubing.bz.

[lady_cruiser]

If you think you'll like a can of coke during the day just ask one of the servers in the Diamond Lounge if you can have a can of coke to bring back to your stateroom.

 

My sister did this once and walked out with two cans; one coke and the other sprite (for me since he knew I don't drink dark colored soft drinks.)

[Cindy]

I haven't been on Navigator (yet) :), but I've cruised out of Galveston quite a bit. These are just a couple things I have different answers for:

 

 

 

Let's start with Galveston questions:

1. I've not cruised out of Galveston in 10- years. Where should we park?

 

I have always had good luck with EZ Cruuise -- http://www.ezcruiseparking.com. They currently have a $10 off promo if you book on-line. The code is "Anysail".

 

 

NOS/ RCCI questions:

6. With Belize being a tender (and it sounds like a long tender) should I even get off the ship?? We don't have anything planned for that port, and I really am ok for just hanging out on the ship. Just didn't know if there was anything that I am going to miss if we chill.

 

It's about a 15-20 minute tender ride, depending on conditions. Even if you don't have plans, you might enjoy getting off after the rush, and just walking around the port area. They have all the usual suspects for shops, but they also have some beautiful crafts and carvings by local artisans.

Edited March 21, 2014 by Cindy