TNcruising02

The iFly looks like a lot of fun. I like the cabana. Your view was so nice. Thanks for posting the videos.

I read that thread about the people who were going to be bumped from the Celebrity cruise. It was disturbing. A poster (twobluecats) said they called contacted the Captain's Club to verify their own reservation and ask about the bumping and they were told:

She said, "we never simply tell someone they no longer have a cabin. We offer compensation and an alternate solution. If the customer is not interested or capable of making a change, they keep their cabin and we move to someone else."

The people who were set to be bumped were told they were bumped, but then they later got different cabins than the ones they booked. It seems to me that Celebrity probably tries to bump people and only ends up doing it to the people who accept their offers. However, it looks like they act like there is no option to stay on the cruise, but somehow there really is. If this ever happens to me, I guess I will insist that being bumped isn't acceptable (unless, of course the offer is too good to pass up).

We stayed at Country Inn and Suites. At that time, we were travelling with my son and two of his friends. We were able to get a room with bunk beds and a separation between that area and the other area. Their free breakfast was decent and we used their shuttle service to the port. I was very impressed when I accidentally left my ipad in the room and they took the time to find me in the shuttle waiting area to return it to me.

I am not sure how RCL works, but on my last Carnival cruise if you had a very early flight you could go to guest services and get a special form that would allow you to wait in a specific area in the morning to walk off the ship very early.

I would definitely plan on self disembarking and arranging private transportation. With ship transportation, they have to fill up the bus before leaving for the airport so even if you get off of the ship early you will have to wait.

I use clear packing tape. I put the packing tape on the full length of the luggage tag (both sides) as if I am laminating it. I then fold the luggage tag through the suitcase handle and tape both sides together. It will not come off and is waterproof.

Reviews with pictures are the best. Thanks for a great review with so many amazing pictures.

Hotel Galvez has a free shuttle to the port.

That's good to know. Thank you. I'm thinking maybe I could prime someone on-board beforehand, too. Just in case.

I think that's a good idea. I have a similar condition, but with me it's only slight. I don't like feeling trapped. I have had balcony cabins and indoor cabins. The last time I had an indoor cabin I said never again because I couldn't stand not being able to tell day from night and for some reason that really bothered me. Plus, the indoor rooms feel a bit confining. The doors have never been an issue because I never thought about them not working until I read this thread. After being on several cruises, I feel certain I will never have a problem with the doors. I like that there is a phone in case of emergencies. If I ever did have a problem, I could just pick up the phone and someone would be there within minutes.

As far as leaving the balcony door open, maybe you would be comfortable just opening it half an inch or so just so you know it will open.

With the muster drill, if you wait until you are one of the last ones to show up, you should be closer to the doors. You can even mention your condition when you show up. Some muster drills are in the theaters or dining areas, so you can google it before your cruise and can always choose a seat by the door.

You can sit near the doors for shows, so that you will feel more comfortable and have a quick way out in case you feel uncomfortable. Same for eating meals. Also, you can eat meals out of the dining areas if you do the buffet. They should have tables overlooking the pool or center area. With the buffet, you can take your food and eat it anywhere.

It might help to view some youtube videos of the ship so you will be a bit more familiar with it.

When I booked my cruise on the Liberty, I didn't realize that it was a connecting room. I called customer service and they had no problem changing the room. I had the deck plans in front of me while I did it. That was a good thing because the person on the phone at first suggested another room that I saw was a connecting room. I had to look at each room suggestion to make sure it was not connecting. It was a quick process and I got a room on a higher deck, which I liked.

I would recommend first time cruisers book the tours through the ship. You will have tickets delivered to your room with the time you need to meet, along with the location (either inside of the ship or out on the pier). Some of the cruise lines have reviews for the excursions, which I always find helpful. You don't have to worry about making it back to the ship on time when you book an excursion through the ship.

It makes for a less stressful first time, in my opinion.

No, you don't have to pay for drinks if you have the package.

 

You just have a limited selection of alcohol and beer until you get 12 miles off the coast, because of Texas liquor laws.

Thanks. That's a relief.

 

Realize Houston is cheaper to fly to BUT cost of getting to port is not easy or cheap. The week she went, hotels were averaging $300 a night. Just check the cost to and from port and hotel cost if you fly in the day before like we always do. Another issue with Liberty...even if you have a drink package, all alcohol has to be purchased the first day due to Texas alcohol laws...you can't use the package.

 

My daughter went to Roatan on the Breeze and it was just ok for her. Port wise, I would do Oasis over Liberty. We love Labadee as we always do the excursion to the private sandbar/island.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I am booked on a cruise out of Galveston in June on the Liberty.

Just to be clear, are you saying that even if you have the alcohol package, you will have to pay for any drinks the first day? So when the ship is sailing out of the port on Sunday and they offer drinks, I will have to purchase them even if I have the alcohol package?

All of the rooms come with phones so you can communicate with the crew 24 hours a day. The crew members can be at your room quickly if you need them.

I am glad it turned out fine, but wow, I can't imagine the stress involved. I don't think I will ever book a GTY cabin after reading this story. When I book a vacation, I have to go a a particular time. There is so much involved in planning a cruise that having the cruise line boot me off at the last minute would be unacceptable.

My first cruise was a little less than four years ago. I was nervous because it was something I had never done before and I didn't know what to expect. I am the type of person who gets dizzy on a swing or roller coaster. I was worried that I would get sea sick. I have gotten sea sick on small boats. Surprisingly, I haven't been sea sick once after 6 cruises.

Once I went on my first cruise, I was hooked. It was a Disney cruise and everything was amazing. Since then, I have been on Carnival, Norwegian, and RCL. I love being on different ships and having different experiences. I enjoyed every one of them and have two more cruises planned for this year. Thankfully, my husband loves cruising just as much as I do.

Right now the price is $46 per person per day (pus 18% gratuity added) for the Liberty of the Seas cruise in June.

There are no pre-cruise reservations for any shows on Liberty.

I thought people had to make reservations for shows on the Liberty. I have never been on it and am booked on a cruise in June. I have checked the entertainment tab every day, but nothing shows up. Do the shows require reservations? If so, do people book them as soon as they board?

I don't mind if people wear shorts in the MDR. I think the only night people should not do it is on formal night out of respect for the event. All of the other nights, I don't see why it matters to people what other people are wearing. The last thing I concentrate on while having a meal with my husband is what other people are wearing. In no way does it impact the enjoyment of my meals.

That cabin is huge. Thanks for posting the pictures.

With most MDRs having three large levels, why not just make one level a formal night level, that can be selected at booking? It would do a few things...

1. Give those that want to do two formal nights (assuming 7 day cruise) a place to dine with those of similar mind.

2. Give RCL a true read on the demand for formal nights

3. Allow riff raff like me to wear more casual clothes to dinner. (I still say no flip flops, swimwear, or tank tops).

 

Thoughts??

I think it's a great idea. If anything, the people who select to participate in formal nights when they book the cruise could be seated in the same area. RCL could post the dress code for formal night when the person is making the selection.

I will never participate in formal night and can't imagine hauling formal clothes on a cruise. However, I see that many people enjoy it. They deserve an area where they can dine with other people who appreciate the effort. Then I could dine in the more casual area and not have to eat at the buffet.

I am loving your review. The next best thing to going on a cruise is reading posts and seeing pictures posted by someone on a cruise.

I have no problem with the food in the Windjammer. I have to admit that because of work I spend a ton of time in a Holiday Inn Express so any breakfast is an improvement! With that said, I avoided it for awhile, not because of the food, but because I had a horrible experience with another cruiser. I was waiting for my husband and after more than 10 minutes got up to get coffee. When I got back to my table some guy was sitting at it. I left my stuff on the table and he told me to collect my things and move. The Windjammer Staff had to come over and make him leave. It upset me so I did not even step foot in there for the rest of that cruise or the next.

This reminds me of something that happened on my last cruise (Carnival). My husband and I set our drinks and silverware down on a table for two and then went to get our food. There were empty tables all over the dining area. When we walked back with our food, a lady was sitting at our table eating her meal. It was so strange because there were empty tables everywhere.

Who determines who is disabled ? Lots of people have disabilities that do not require a disabled cabin but they are disabled .I have COPD and I am disabled but cruise in a regular cabin . Should I be given free room service ? How about all the people with bad arthritis or recovering from Cancer . To give some disabled people free room service and not all is discriminatory .

I don't know, maybe people who booked a disabled room or who use a scooter? It seems like if a person needs a scooter, then they are more likely to have mobility issues than a person who does not.

Does that include tip? I didn't see it on the menu.

If I use it, we will make it worth it and not order just one thing. We will order only what we will eat, but make it worth paying the service charge. There are some decent items on the menu. The irritating thing is that I wasn't made aware of this change at the time I booked. There should have been some kind of alert to the change and the effective date. I hope they waive the fee for all disabled people. I am not disabled, but I do think there should be a free food delivery option for people who are.

I'll be o the Liberty in June and am looking forward to your review.