Mini “LIVE” , Allure from Galveston 12/4

[niksmom630]

Thought I would attempt a live “mini” report. Sailed this ship many times and have done several live reports…... But, I know  Allure is pretty new to Galveston, so it’s definitely a new experience-even for me. 😊 

 

I’ll be posting a few photos and some commentary along the way. Happy to answer any questions if you have a sailing coming up! 
 

observations, day 1 

 

FOG

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

 

[niksmom630]

Plenty of open spots at the pool

 

 

 

and in the smoking section because it’s currently closed because the ship is  refueling 

 

 

 

 

 

[footzz]

Thanks for the Mini Live post. If you would be so kind, how was the boarding process for you? Please do tell. Thanks.

[Ozark_Kid]

The fog looks cool.  Did the fog delay boarding?  

Don't go out of the way but if you visit Bow and Stern there is a bartender named Joshua.   Really good guy.  He told us he was going to try to get his contract extended through January.   We are hoping to see him again January 22.

I hope you have a fun and safe cruise!

[niksmom630]

8 minutes ago, footzz said:

Thanks for the Mini Live post. If you would be so kind, how was the boarding process for you? Please do tell. Thanks.

horrendous, I’m sorry to say. Pack some extra patience . It’s been years since I’ve sailed out of Galveston so before the new terminal , and on a smaller ship. I’ll have more coming up on this! 

 

my port boarding experiences have been pretty much limited to Miami

and Fort Lauderdale most recently, where the process is sooooo efficient, even after Covid. 

[niksmom630]

15 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

The fog looks cool.  Did the fog delay boarding?  

Don't go out of the way but if you visit Bow and Stern there is a bartender named Joshua.   Really good guy.  He told us he was going to try to get his contract extended through January.   We are hoping to see him again January 22.

I hope you have a fun and safe cruise!

Hey @Ozark_kid! Thanks!  I’ll definitely look him up. 
 

no delay because of the fog , but the terminal / parking process was rough…😫 

[footzz]

18 minutes ago, niksmom630 said:

horrendous, I’m sorry to say. Pack some extra patience . It’s been years since I’ve sailed out of Galveston so before the new terminal , and on a smaller ship. I’ll have more coming up on this! 

 

my port boarding experiences have been pretty much limited to Miami

and Fort Lauderdale most recently, where the process is sooooo efficient, even after Covid. 

Sorry to hear about your boarding experience and am lookin forward to further commentary.  We sailed out of Galveston on the next to the last cruise before the opening of the new terminal and it was relatively painless. Hope your cruise is smooth sailing for here on out. 

Edited December 4, 2022 by footzz

[GetToLivin]

37 minutes ago, niksmom630 said:

but the terminal / parking process was rough…😫

Ooooh, can you elaborate on this one? Usually we go down the night before, stay at a hotel and book a "cruise" package where the hotel shuttles us to the port and picks us up after. I've only parked at Galveston once and that was a few years ago. BUT, I was considering parking so we can disembark and leave early once off the ship...very interested to know what's up with the terminal/parking situation.

 

Lastly, have you noticed any refurbishments/updates on this ship at all? 

[niksmom630]

Ok, so the boarding process…,.. we are on this sailing with my brother and sister  in law who live in Houston. She booked the parking at location not far from the pier where they shuttle you to the port. They’ve cruised out of Galveston a few times using this location. I’ll get the name later. 
 

in any event, she was  reluctant to book the parking at the new terminal because she wasn’t sure how much walking would be involved, and also the offsite garage where they park is covered parking. 
 

Arrived at the garage around 10:15. Our boarding  window was 11-11:30. Boarded the shuttle with luggage, and then the driver pulls over to the side of the road. Says that they only allow on company shuttle in and out to unload at a time. 😐 

 

after about 15 minutes, we were on our way …. 
 

entrance to the port -taxi rates

 

 

After pulling into the terminal, you see all these numbered drop off stations for shuttles. Except our  driver says they aren’t allowed to use them. This is also where the doors to enter the terminal are. 
 

 

 

when you drive a little further, there’s another set of drop off spots numbered 7 - 12. All

were full with shuttles from various company’s. When one left, another could enter the port area. 
 

So we shlepped are luggage back to the entrance of the terminal by the spots that we had passed. The porter situation was a little odd. There were a ton of them walking around but we couldn’t tell if they were actually taking luggage, or just helping to transport it with people back to the front the terminal. Once we figured out they were in fact taking it as a check in, we entered a side by side  series of 6 lines. No signage. Like check in time slots, C&A status, suites etc…. 
 

more confusion. No one asked our boarding time and we were just herded inside 

 

 

this was a lone sign for suites and pin’s…. Except no one was there …. Perhaps they were quickly escorted into the terminal 🤷🏼‍♀️

[niksmom630]

Then we entered the building . 😫 Bodies everywhere but no clear signage for check in. I am vertically challenged at 5 feet,  and all I could see was the security sign, so we just moved with the flow like cattle until we found ourselves in a row waiting for the agents to do the check in. Turns out this is before you go thru security.

 

 

 

line after line of weaving and it was hadky moving. Turns out they were herding way to many people thru a single security line that was also dedicated to handicapped cruisers. While others were just zipping through the other 5 open security lines. The couple in front if me attempted to “jump” or shouldn’t say crawl under the line divider and were quickly chastised by an RCI agent. 
 

all the while I am hearing a shrieking announcement telling passengers already thry the security lines to “wait” until there group us called….Key, suite, pin, D+, D … and so on….

[niksmom630]

Once we FINALY git thru security…. Another mass of people….. apparently lowly gold, who still weren’t allowed to board. 
 

worst boarding experience ever…. Actually, I did have one worse out of Tampa that because of a fog delay we didn’t board until almost 7 pm….,

 

guess I am spoiled after so many sailings out of Miami and FLL 

 

moving on to more positive commentary now…,: just consider yourself forewarned 😉

[stahlee]

We just disembarked the Allure today after two weeks. We didn't have any issues boarding. It was pretty smooth.

[niksmom630]

1 hour ago, stahlee said:

We just disembarked the Allure today after two weeks. We didn't have any issues boarding. It was pretty smooth.

Thanks good to know 😊 what was your boarding time on the first leg? 

[niksmom630]

At noon the windjammer lines were pretty rough. 
 

 

opted for a sandwich at the park cafe which was not crowded at all

 

 

Drink  package “special” 

 

[irishgal432]

Could you tell where ubers/lyfts would drop people off?

[Jimbo]

31 minutes ago, niksmom630 said:

At noon the windjammer lines were pretty rough. 
 

 

opted for a sandwich at the park cafe which was not crowded at all

 

 

Drink  package “special” 

 

Doesn't seem so special at $73.50 per person per day.

[BonTexasNY]

I'm sorry you had such a difficult boarding.  I hope a wonderful cruise makes up for it.  Was your sailing delayed?  I think your sail away was scheduled for 4pm? I had the Galveston cruise cam on and noticed Allure was still docked at 5pm.   It was on the move soon after but then it seemed to stop after pulling away.  It did seem very foggy.  I had to go prepare dinner so never saw the outcome.  Hope all is well.

[denamo]

Sorry to hear your report of your boarding experience. Sadly, your boarding process was a total 180 degrees from ours. We were even told to come an hour later than scheduled due to getting cruisers out of the parking lot.  We actually were right on schedule for our boarding time.

 

We boarded the Allure two weekends ago, a Thanksgiving week cruise.  Second paying cruise at the new terminal out of Galveston. We had no problem with the parking lot shuttle we used which was an off site lot.  Pulled right up into a slot.  Luggage unloaded, porters took it. walked into the port, checked in.  Went through security line. Walked right on to the ship. Guess it was just timing for us.

 

Awful that your shuttle was told only one per company.  That's nuts.  I know at the old terminal, there would be a couple of shuttles at a drop off spot for both embarkation and disembarkation. Kind of wonder if the various shuttle companies have to pay more to have more than one slot at the port at a time.

 

Only minor glitch is one in our party has a heart pacer and got shuffled to a new line when could have started there without waiting and confusion, even though asked and received incorrect info. This isn't the only terminal this has happened.

 

Wishing you a great cruise even with the glitches getting on.

 

 

 

[chukli]

8 hours ago, niksmom630 said:

Thought I would attempt a live “mini” report. Sailed this ship many times and have done several live reports…... But, I know  Allure is pretty new to Galveston, so it’s definitely a new experience-even for me. 😊 

 

I’ll be posting a few photos and some commentary along the way. Happy to answer any questions if you have a sailing coming up! 
 

observations, day 1 

 

FOG

 

 

 

 

[chukli]

Just now, chukli said:

 

If possible, can you post the vegetarian options in MDR and Windjammer please?

 Thanks 

[Ozark_Kid]

4 hours ago, niksmom630 said:

 

opted for a sandwich at the park cafe which was not crowded at all

 

 

The sandwich looks good. We have had some not so good experience with the Park Cafè.  The one stop we made last October on Allure the sandwich was so fatty I couldn't eat it.  Are they back to being good?

[stahlee]

5 hours ago, niksmom630 said:

Thanks good to know 😊 what was your boarding time on the first leg? 

 

11am

[JamesEM]

Following along, sorry you had to endure such a bad check in experience.

[Ocean Boy]

16 hours ago, niksmom630 said:

 

 

 

 

 

These chairs did not exist in April. This is on the pool deck?