lasvegascruising

Another silly question(because I really don't know the answer). I just picked check in time of 11:30am to noon. What is the earliest time they start? This time I picked was the earliest listed. This just made me think that I waited too long to choose. I like to get on the ship as early as I can. My cruise is in January 2017.

Galveston Limo shows online pricing from Hobby to Galveston Cruise Terminal for $40 round trip. That is amazing. Carnival is $37 each way!

Please, anybody out there, is Galveston Limo a good solid choice? I have always used cruise trip transfers because I know they are reliable and always have nice people waiting in baggage claim for us. Big money savings if I choose Galveston Limo.

What was the cost to rent a golf cart? This sounds great!

BrotherCraig

Do you suggest booking this excursion through Carnival or trying to find an independent tour(to save a little $$). I wanted to find out if the Carnival trip starts right at the ship or does the trip start at the pier(have to tender in). Thanks for the heads up on lunch. I would rather get to Caye Caulker and find a little spot that looks good for lunch.

My last cruise(January of this year) on Norwegian Jade was great especially the price but I am back to Carnival for my next cruise(January 2017). One big thing I didn't like about the Jade, the whole cabin. Very small compared to all five different Carnival ships I have been on. I am looking forward to my Breeze balcony cabin. I know I will like the bathroom set up too. The Jade's bathroom was just too small overall(nice shower but the toilet closet was tiny. I don't know how tall people can even sit on the toilet and not have their legs hit the wall). I think Royal and Carnival have nice cabins and about the same size in my opinion(referring to balcony cabins).

I am trying to figure out the difference between two excursions that Carnival has.

1. Shark, Rays, Barrier Reef Snorkel & Island Escape, $94.99(adult), three choices for departure time

2. Shark, Ray & Island Getaway, $104.99(adult), one departure time.

I have read the reviews for each excursion on the Carnival site. Customers mentioned that they snorkeled on both excursions. I thought this may have been the difference since it's not noted in #2's description. They both go to Caye Caulker but sounds like they dock at different spots. Does anyone know what other differences there are? I'm leaning towards #2 as the reviews were much better. Thanks for any info.

easyboy,

I pre-booked. I didn't have to pay any money up front. When I got to Boden's booth, our names were on their list. We paid for our trip when we got to Boden's "zoo". I think you can just go to the booth at the port and let them know you would like to go on one of their tours. I didn't seem them turn away anyone. I signed up online liking the fact I didn't have to pay then and also, they knew I was coming. My husband even kept the business card for our driver so that we could call him next time we were on the island.

Thanks for this information. So very helpful to see actual pictures of the area, menus, etc. It's true, a picture is worth 1000 words.

I did the Fun & Sun tour in January with Victor Boden tours. We had to tender to the port then walked through the port shop area over to where there were a bunch of vendors selling tours. It was very easy to find Boden's desk. Waited for a bit for others to arrive and off we went. There were three couples total in our van. We too picked this tour because we had never been to Roatan and wanted to see some of the island and go to the beach. We took a drive through the town and up to a mountain top. Got out to look at the view. There were residents selling things from their little areas. Next, the drive down the mountain and to Boden's "zoo". It was a nice drive there and we got to see the island(homes, landscape, etc). At the "zoo"(my description) was really neat. We all went in as a group to the monkey cage and got to give them sunflower seeds and let them jump on us. There were other animals to see. This is where we paid for our tour, use the restroom, etc. After this, off to Bananarama. Our driver gave us a tour showing us his house, where his wife worked and just bits of information that we enjoyed. He escorted us down to the beach area and got us settled into our beach chairs. We all agreed to be picked up at 2pm for the drive back. I liked Bananarama. We just swam, had a few drinks and some food. Side note, the next day when we woke up we noticed red, itchy spots on our legs below the knee. We both had them. We first thought we had bed bug bites but I think it probably was sand flea bites. I have read that some use a spray and I wish we would have. In my opinion, this was a perfect way to see some of Roatan for a first time visitor and the price was excellent.

Wow...that section about getting a new flight just gave ME stress. I can't imagine how you did it. I wouldn't wish this on anyone and I would have been crying the whole time trying to figure out what to do. You must be an amazing person! Way to go!

Best to wait and follow the rules. I'm sure the stewards appreciate the guests who follow the rules and I bet they notice the ones who don't. I for sure don't want to give my steward a bad first impression of me as a guest.

I too send my deepest sympathy to you. You have inspired me today and I want to thank you for that. I hope that I will be as brave as all of you solo travelers. I think this sends out a message to all of us that when we are on a cruise to be friendly and if you see someone sitting alone at trivia maybe ask them if they would like to join your group. Sitting next to someone that appears to be alone on the pool deck engage in conversation. I'm sure if that person wants to be left to themselves, they will give clues. Happy Sunday to all!!

Best of luck to you both. I know this sounds kind of mean but maybe you two do activities that they don't like to do. This would give you time together. How about anytime dining that way you could say you are not ready to eat when they are and then you two can go earlier or later than they are going. At least with anytime dining you can have some dinners with them and some alone. OR just hang with the parents and enjoy every minute with them as life really is short. Plan another cruise and don't tell anyone you are going until the last minute(if this is possible).

I have used Carnival, Royal and Norwegian transfer service from Houston & George Bush Airport to Galveston and Port of Houston. I was told by the reps that the busses are waiting at the port for the first round of passengers to debark. Once loaded with the first group, they are off to the airport. When they arrive and unload, the bus pulls around to baggage claim area(where we have been waiting)and off we go. Last cruise on Norwegian in January 2016, we left the airport about 10 am for the port and must have got there about an hour later. We do the same thing as many of you. Fly in the day before, free shuttle to hotel, free shuttle back to airport in the morning and off to the port. Since it is just my husband and myself, it has proven to be the most cost effective when in Texas. To tell you the truth, it is kinda exciting at the airport in the morning with everyone so happy, laughing, smiling and just waiting to get to the ship. The reps there are so friendly and happy too. I have enjoyed the bus rides to the port just looking at the scenery of the great state of Texas.

I am thinking about booking this excursion with Carnival for my cruise in January. Were you picked up at the ship or did you have to take the tender in?

How long was your total tour in hours compared to what the tour description tour said it would be?

bptex and xteach281,

I have heard before here on cruise critic that "all you can drink" packages are against the law in Texas. I just can't imagine why a cruise line would break the law so that just can't be it. I, like xteach281, have used my "cheers" package on day one as soon as I boarded the ship. I paid for a package on RCCL Navigator of the Seas/Galveston and had the free package on Norwegain Jade from port of Houston. They only thing these two cruise lines had in common is that the list of drinks I could order was limited and yes, the bottles they poured from had the TX stamp on them. There is a reason Carnival doesn't offer "cheers" on day one. I just have to figure out why. I will be on the Breeze in January and I will have to ask the bar manager. Maybe I will be enlightened.

I am so puzzled by this whole Texas liquor thing on cruise ships. Why can NCCL and RCCL serve their guests adult beverages who have purchased a "cheers" type of drink package on their cruise ships on day one? Do these lines pay taxes on all the booze they purchase in Texas therefore they can serve day one? I am guessing that all lines out of Texas provision their ships with booze from Texas. Is the answer that Carnival only agrees to pay taxes on a certain amount of bottles and only those bottles will be served in Texas waters? I see pallets of booze loading onto the ship on day one. Is it that that stamp is only put on so many bottles and only those that have been stamped & taxed can be served. The other bottles loaded onto the ship have not had the tax paid on them therefore they can't be served? Maybe someone here on Cruise Critic works for the state of Texas and can explain?

I suggest Drury Inn & Suites at Hobby for an over night stay. Last year, we arrived from Vegas about 4 p.m., called Drury and the shuttle came and picked us up. We got checked in and settled just in time for the evening reception to start(5:30 p.m.) Each guest gets three tickets for adult drinks, they have a soda machine that is no cost from 3-10 p.m., popcorn from 3-10 p.m. and a nice buffet. All of this included in the room rate. The buffet changes each night and the night we were there it had pasta & meatballs, items to make a nice salad, hot dogs, chili, baked potatoes and a few more things. It ends at 7:30 p.m. The next morning, breakfast buffet is included with all kinds of things to pick from. That morning, the shuttle took us back to the airport and we hopped on the cruise line shuttle to the port. There is absolutely no where to walk to except a few other hotels that are adjacent(remember we didn't have a car. There is a fast food Mexican restaurant across the street and we walked over there for a little dessert. We are cruising in January 2017 and I have already booked a room at Drury.

After reading all of these great tips, I have a thought. I like the idea of bringing a stack of ones. I will tip the bartender $1 for every drink I get. At the end of the cruise, I will know how many drinks I ordered and can see if I got to the 6-7 needed per day to "break even". I may have to fine tune this idea but I might be onto something. Please don't laugh at my idea!

Once again, everyone here on Cruise Critic has passed on such helpful information. Thanks!

This has been so fun reading. My only experience with a cheers type of cruise was on RCCL & NCL(included with cruise fare). For our 30th wedding anniversary, we with cruised with RCCL out of Galveston and paid dearly for the drink package. It was just great and made me(the money manager in this family)enjoy things I would have never ordered such as a Lemon Drop! On NCL, the beverage package was included in cruise fare, was so much fun. As a side note this was out of Galveston too. I still don't understand why Carnival doesn't have Cheers on day one, please explain. We have a cruise planned for January 2017 on the Breeze and I will be purchasing the Cheers program for us. We are looking forward to trying many different drinks and nice that it includes bottled water and other non alcoholic items.

Please continue to share. This is the only way I have learned so very much. Cruise on my friends!!

Hey all....I am born and raised in Vegas. It's all about what goes through those machines/tables. It is not about how much you win or loose. It is about how much is circulated through those machines. Keep circulating that money and you may be on the receiving end of an invitation on a ship or in Vegas!

When I am planning a vacation, I always think about what the costs will be for hotel rooms and food. A cruise vacation is such a great deal in my opinion. A little snack here and a little snack there. A breakfast here and dinner there. What a great financial deal.

My experience is that shower gel and shampoo are provided in dispensers that are hanging in the actual shower. I have used the shower gel and thought it was just fine. I like my own shampoo and conditioner for my hair(I'm a girl in case that matters!!) I always bring my own stuff(Bath & Body Works) because it smells terrific and my own hair products(just because I am a girl). I think my husband doesn't give a rats hair and uses what ever is there.

I just applied for a Carnival credit card(approved). I plan to charge the cruise cost, transportation, cheers and anything else I can(double points for Carnival charges). I will redeem for on board credit. This can pay for excursions or on board credit for things I want to purchase. Has anybody else done this?

What a great review so far. I can't wait for you to post more pictures. When I look at your pictures, it really takes me to that place that reminds me of past cruises and to the excitement of my next cruise. Thanks for that!!