Deployment 2018-19 booking season begins

[mconthehighseas]

In case you're wondering what's happening with the Vision Galveston 2018/19 sailings.

 

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1997/Cruise-Ship%2C-2417-Passengers--3024096/Italy#.WOPXnvkrJ1t

 

 

Last time we saw a cruise listing like this it was Splendour and Legend.

This post makes me sad. I sailed on Rhapsody in 2004, and it was SUCH a comfortable cruise. It got my husband hooked on cruising out of Galveston.

[LisaAtlCruiser]

This post makes me sad. I sailed on Rhapsody in 2004, and it was SUCH a comfortable cruise. It got my husband hooked on cruising out of Galveston.

 

I have heard cruising out of Galveston is horrible. But I am often interested in the cruises sailing from here. Since you like it - is it really not as bad as folks say? Does it depend on if you are flying in to Houston? Or driving?

[internetwhiz]

I have heard cruising out of Galveston is horrible. But I am often interested in the cruises sailing from here. Since you like it - is it really not as bad as folks say? Does it depend on if you are flying in to Houston? Or driving?

 

 

We drive and it's fine. There's reliable transport from Houston. Honestly, I really don't get that it's any different than landing at MCO to get to Port Canaveral. Hotels are pricey on the island, though. If you book, get your hotel squared immediately. That's my biggest downer. Since we drive, we stay about 20 miles from the port.

 

The new terminal gets folks on the ship fairly quick. Customs can be slow coming off the ship if you don't disembark early.

[LisaAtlCruiser]

We drive and it's fine. There's reliable transport from Houston. Honestly, I really don't get that it's any different than landing at MCO to get to Port Canaveral. Hotels are pricey on the island, though. If you book, get your hotel squared immediately. That's my biggest downer. Since we drive, we stay about 20 miles from the port.

 

The new terminal gets folks on the ship fairly quick. Customs can be slow coming off the ship if you don't disembark early.

 

Thanks - this is very encouraging. I will definitely give Galveston a try!

[mconthehighseas]

We drive and it's fine. There's reliable transport from Houston. Honestly, I really don't get that it's any different than landing at MCO to get to Port Canaveral. Hotels are pricey on the island, though. If you book, get your hotel squared immediately. That's my biggest downer. Since we drive, we stay about 20 miles from the port.

 

The new terminal gets folks on the ship fairly quick. Customs can be slow coming off the ship if you don't disembark early.

As above, It's really not much different than getting from Orlando to PC, or Fort Lauderdale to Miami. There are lots of flights into Houston, there's lots of hotels all along the way, and there is plenty of parking if you drive. The terminal is very well run, and the bad part is finding your luggage after you get off the ship.

I live in close driving distance, so it's a no-brainer for us, but even friends of ours who drive from Austin and Dallas prefer it.

Somet things to make it easier:

Plan for traffic. Check http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/layers/ to see if you need to avoid construction. Reserve parking in advance to avoid driving around if you hit a high traffic time. If you are flying in, try to come in the day before, or use the cruiseline's shuttle.

[travelgoddess1]

I have heard cruising out of Galveston is horrible. But I am often interested in the cruises sailing from here. Since you like it - is it really not as bad as folks say? Does it depend on if you are flying in to Houston? Or driving?

 

I have sailed out of Galveston a number of times. I live in southern California, and flying into Houston's Hobby airport is fine, if you like Southwest. It is the only nonstop flight available to us. There is no regularly scheduled shuttle service that we've ever found, other than what the ship provides on the day of the cruise. We normally pay $150-$200 each way for a private town car. As mentioned, hotels in Galveston are pricey, and many will only allow you to book 2 nights, minimum.

 

All of that is tolerable to some extent. What finally got us to stop sailing out of Galveston was the unpredictable fog. We got caught in it several times. Cruising between November and late February is a roll of the dice.

 

I have not sailed out of the new terminal. The old one had long lines checking in on embarkation day and clearing customs on disembarkation day. It was not user friendly.

 

JMO

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

In case you're wondering what's happening with the Vision Galveston 2018/19 sailings.

 

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1997/Cruise-Ship%2C-2417-Passengers--3024096/Italy#.WOPXnvkrJ1t

 

 

Last time we saw a cruise listing like this it was Splendour and Legend.

 

Oh no, not Vision, the newest of the class!

It's worth noting that the GT/dates perfectly match Rhapsody, not Vision. Rhapsody will also be in Italy (listed as the ship's location) in 2018. Maybe Vision will replace Rhapsody in Tampa for the 18/19 season, instead of going to Galveston?

 

I'm just hoping I don't get booted from my Rhapsody sailing next June.

[ARCruisinNana]

There are now several shuttles. I've used Galveston Express which picks up passengers at both Hobby (the closest airport to Galveston) and IAH which has a lot more airlines and flights.

 

 

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[Clarea]

It's worth noting that the GT/dates perfectly match Rhapsody, not Vision. Rhapsody will also be in Italy (listed as the ship's location) in 2018. Maybe Vision will replace Rhapsody in Tampa for the 18/19 season, instead of going to Galveston?

 

I'm just hoping I don't get booted from my Rhapsody sailing next June.

Rhapsody would be just as bad, she and Vision are the two newest Vision class ships. Very sad to see these ships go.

[internetwhiz]

There are several shuttles available and reliable. Galveston Express is the most often mentioned. Many hotels on the Island will book one night. If you are sailing in the summer, the hotels generally book for two nights because people come there to go to the beach. Other times we have stated on the island, we have never stayed more than one night. Have sailed Liberty 4x in the past year.

 

New terminal is great, check in downstairs, escalator up to seating and boarding is fast.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

Rhapsody would be just as bad, she and Vision are the two newest Vision class ships. Very sad to see these ships go.

Agreed. Sad to see the Vision Class go.

 

Just recently sailed on Enchantment and quickly became one of our favorite ships.

[kccrzr]

 

I'm just hoping I don't get booted from my Rhapsody sailing next June.

 

Same here! We have a B2B scheduled for next May/June. We've already been booted from one planned sailing out of Venice - we'd hate for it to happen again.

[SherriZ366]

In case you're wondering what's happening with the Vision Galveston 2018/19 sailings.

 

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1997/Cruise-Ship%2C-2417-Passengers--3024096/Italy#.WOPXnvkrJ1t

 

 

Last time we saw a cruise listing like this it was Splendour and Legend.

I saw that too on the site we are not supposed to mention. It is Rhapsody. They also posted that Grandeur is for sale as well as Celebrity Millennium and Constellation, which are the same hull and size as Radiance Class. I hope RH and GR don't sell as they can get under bridges and into ports like Tampa and Baltimore. We are looking at smaller ships.

 

RCCL should transfer Milly and Connie from Celebrity to RCI and convert them if they are sure that the propulsion problems have been fixed. They can fit into those ports. RCI had a 5th Radiance ship on option but never picked it up.

[Ladysilver]

In case you're wondering what's happening with the Vision Galveston 2018/19 sailings.

 

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1997/Cruise-Ship%2C-2417-Passengers--3024096/Italy#.WOPXnvkrJ1t

 

 

Last time we saw a cruise listing like this it was Splendour and Legend.

 

 

I hope it's not true! When will we know for sure? :')

[Wilson]

Agreed. It's Rhapsody that is up for sale.

[pspercy]

Agreed. It's Rhapsody that is up for sale.

 

 

:loudcry::loudcry::loudcry::loudcry::loudcry:

 

To be replaced with yet another twelve story apartment block(n)

 

We went on Liberty last December, DW said too big, never wanted to go on it again (a first for her).

We like Voyager class the best, followed by Vision OTS.

[travelgoddess1]

I stand by my previous post. Fortunately, we all have our favorites, or we'd all be trying to board the same ship at the same time out of the same port. :D :D

[newcastlemam]

A bit off topic but not if you know what I mean

We booked a future cruise when onboard harmony and were going to change it when the new itineraries were released but unfortunately the anthem sailings are not as good as I had hoped port wise. What happens if we just cancel we are in the uk and I know I will loose the low deposit but we got some obc on harmony for booking what happens with that ?

 

 

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[MsDolly]

A bit off topic but not if you know what I mean

We booked a future cruise when onboard harmony and were going to change it when the new itineraries were released but unfortunately the anthem sailings are not as good as I had hoped port wise. What happens if we just cancel we are in the uk and I know I will loose the low deposit but we got some obc on harmony for booking what happens with that ?

 

 

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Nothing should happen, you had the credit on the Harmony if you cancel they keep your deposit so they recoup what they've already given you.

[newcastlemam]

Nothing should happen, you had the credit on the Harmony if you cancel they keep your deposit so they recoup what they've already given you.

 

 

Great thanks I'm booking Ncl instead [emoji22] bit apprehensive really wanted to do anthem but I'm sure we will get around to it will save me a fortune in the casino as I hate Norwegians casinos [emoji85]

 

 

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[MindyJohn]

With Vision class I had imagined they'd retain Vision and Rhapsody since they're sisters - just the efficiency of deck plans etc. Obviously I have no clue as to how the decisions are made :eek: The layout I favored most of the Vision Class I've sailed was Legend with the lounges on opposing sides on 9, but she's gone now :(

[John&LaLa]

With Vision class I had imagined they'd retain Vision and Rhapsody since they're sisters - just the efficiency of deck plans etc. Obviously I have no clue as to how the decisions are made :eek: The layout I favored most of the Vision Class I've sailed was Legend with the lounges on opposing sides on 9, but she's gone now :(

Decisions could be based on what overall condition the ship is in.

 

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[MindyJohn]

Decisions could be based on what overall condition the ship is in.

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app

 

You can bet I thought of that!!! Rhapsody was the only ship we've sailed that had a flood emergency in the middle of the night when 5 windows broke in outside cabins on deck 3 during a storm. We would have been displaced had it not been for upgrading to a balcony a month or so before the cruise. Over 50 cabins had to be evacuated due to water damage and they didn't have enough space to accommodate everyone. The ones who were disembarked in Corsica the second day of the cruise did not receive a higher settlement than those who finished the cruise, which was nine days from Barcelona to Venice. The choice about who stayed and who went home was arbitrary. And P.S. last fall there was another incident in the Adriatic. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2403838

[travelgoddess1]

You can bet I thought of that!!! Rhapsody was the only ship we've sailed that had a flood emergency in the middle of the night when 5 windows broke in outside cabins on deck 3 during a storm. We would have been displaced had it not been for upgrading to a balcony a month or so before the cruise. Over 50 cabins had to be evacuated due to water damage and they didn't have enough space to accommodate everyone. The ones who were disembarked in Corsica the second day of the cruise did not receive a higher settlement than those who finished the cruise, which was nine days from Barcelona to Venice. The choice about who stayed and who went home was arbitrary. And P.S. last fall there was another incident in the Adriatic. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2403838

 

I believe there was a sewage flood on RH just the other day. It was reported on another site. So it very well could be Rhapsody, although I would hate to see her go! Rhapsody and Vision are my 2 favorite Vision Class ships.

[Blue Eyed Belfast Belle]

I thought that the Vision Class were the only ships able to sail into Venice due to the tonnage limits. It would be a shame if Venice was lost as a embarkation port.