sredish

Curious if anyone has used Uber or Lyft from Hobby to Galveston/Galveston to Hobby since legislation was passed and they are now allowed back on the island? What rate did you pay?

Really? That is great news if true!

It is true, legislation passed and Uber and Lyft are back as of a week or two ago.

Your beer will run $6-$8 and your mixed drinks will be $12-$14. If you drink more than three or four mixed drinks a day, the drink package is the way to go.

I've sailed to Alaska three times during the first week of June and had spectacular weather every time. However, on each sailing we had one random day of cold and dreary drizzle...so we had shorts/t shirts weather most days and jeans/jacket weather all in the same week. Pack for it all! Layers! The only guarantee on the weather in Alaska is that it can change in a hot minute.

The dreary days were my favorite...the grey skies makes the green of the trees and mountains pop out that much more.

One tip...in Juneau take the public bus to Mendenhall Glacier. Then when everyone else gets off and all walk like a herd of cattle to the left toward the glacier viewing area...hang a right turn instead and walk back down the road the bus just came up a short ways. You'll come to a clearly marked and paved trail with a map of the trail loop. Follow the wide trail all the way to the end and you'll come out to an overhead view of the glacier. It's spectacular. We were the only two people on our little hike in the wilderness and had the view of a lifetime! Round trip took us a couple of hours. Not sure where to go...just ask the bus driver, they'll tell you exactly where the trail head is.

Enjoy!

You mean people take summer courses without checking with you first to make sure you will accept the credit? That seems crazy! We don't have that problem at my school, I can't imagine what people are thinking when they do that. I imagine you have a lot of disappointed kids and angry parents!:o

Absolutely they do! Yes, it is crazy. And they also get upset when told the student has to take the challenge test in order to have the credit placed on our transcript...which makes zero sense to me. If the student took the course and passed the course (with flying colors, naturally), they can pass the test. Now, if the parent took the course FOR the student...I can see why the student can't pass the challenge test. And yes, that also happens... :confused:

This post doesnt make any sense. You cant do an online credit recovery program without going through the school district. Either the school district has this as an option, which means they will for sure accept it or they don't which means its not an option. Its not possible to just do a 'random credit recovery' and then find that the school district wont accept it. It all MUST be done through the school district.

Actually, that is not correct. There are many online charter schools that offer summer school courses that are NOT part of a public school district...IE Primavera, K12, AlphaOmega Academy, and many MANY others. I work in secondary administration office for a large public school district and I can assure you that online charters exist and I can also assure you that students will take summer school courses through this avenues...hence why we require challenge tests to accept the credit when the final exam for the online course is not proctored.

I would offer that many high schools have online (often PLATO credit recovery) courses that can be used for this very thing.

Be very careful with online credit recovery courses...especially for core credits (science, math, English, social studies). If the online test does not offer a proctored final examination, the school district may not accept the credit as core credit without a challenge test.

For what it's worth, I'm also the mom of a 14 year old and a 10 year old and stepmom to a 14, 10 and 8 year old. I also work in secondary education at the district office level for a large school district. I would have zero qualms about leaving him behind with his mother to attend summer school while I went on my preplanned vacation. His poor choices resulted in him having to take summer school...his poor choices should not have any bearing on your family vacation or make you feel guilty for continuing on with it. Life has consequences and he needs to learn this. When you alter your entire families vacation plans to accommodate HIS unfortunate choices, you are enabling him. If he already has an entitlement problem, like you mentioned he does, this will only add to it by making him and his poor choices the focus.

Go on with the vacation, absolutely 100% go on with the vacation and put the 14 yo and 9 yo in their own room...they'll have a ball. Plus you'll get your own room with your husband...major bonus! On the reservation you will need to put you and your husband on each room, but just switch the room keys once on board...it's done all the time. And for goodness sakes, don't feel guilty for being a good parent. You are teaching him a very important life lesson, here.

I have scanned through so many reviews my eyes are getting blurry lol. Sounds like we cannot go wrong with either one but would like some honest reviews on which is your favorite and why. We like the inclusive idea, love Mexican food and seafood and good drinks.. keeping that in mind, recommendations? We may or may not be traveling with our 17-month granddaughter so keeping small children in mind as well. Thanks in advance.

Hi there. I've been to Nache and I didn't see one child, and there were plenty on the ship. Children are allowed at Nache, but it is a very quiet environment...no loud music, no water toys, etc. I also didn't see any changing tables in the bathroom, but that may have changed since I was there in Oct. 2015. If the toddler isn't coming with you, I'd for SURE say go to Nache over Mr. Sancho's!! It's amazing!

If the baby will be with you, then I would tend to refer you to Mr. Sancho's so that there are other kids for the little one to play in the sand with. I believe Nache is more suited for older kids/adults. Just my two cents!

When is the Liberty Scheduled for Dry Dock? We sail her May 8, 2016, just wondering!

January! Well before your sailing. So you'll get the new and improved version with the water slides, etc.

If you walk in to your Promenade view room and the cabin isn't up to your standards, promptly do the following:

1. Stomp your foot in a huff and throw your bags onto the bed in anger.
   
2. Take photos of the offensive window for documentation. Start a LIVE thread on Cruise Critic and warn future cruisers of the deplorable condition of the room.
   
3. Promptly make your way to the front desk and LOUDLY demand to see the hotel manager.
   
4. Roll eyes at everyone who looks at you.
   
5. Loudly proclaim to the hotel manager that you deserve either; a full refund, an immediate move to the Grand Suite, or ample OBC as compensation.
   
6. Roll eyes at everyone who looks at you.
   
7. Demand to be given Michael Bayley's email.
   
8. Loudly express your shock and complete dismay that you are not being given either; a full refund, an immediate move to the Grand Suite, nor ample OBC as compensation.
   
9. Vow to email Michael Bayley.
   
10. Proclaim to your table mates at dinner each and every night your horror at the condition of your room. Exclaim to anyone who appears interested that you were denied ample compensation for your immense troubles. Vow to email Michael Bayley.
    
11. Roll eyes at everyone who looks at you.
    
12. Upon your return, promptly write a review on Cruise Critic, making certain to express how your cruise was RUINED because you were forced to endure such conditions. Make sure to post said photos as undeniable proof of the wretched condition of the room. Make sure you do NOT respond to anyone who posts questions to your review.
    
13. Email Michael Bayley
    

:-)

These new cards had nothing to do with your next cruise vacation booking. It takes MUCH longer than a couple of days to get a letter regarding a credit card being opened. Usually 4 - 6 weeks. This was something you filled out weeks ago.

Credit cards don't just show up willy nilly. You have to actually apply for them, fill out a credit app, and qualify.

We just got home from 4 night cruise on The Navigator of Seas! While we were on board we book a future cruise to take advantage of the lower deposit.

 

Today we just got our mail and we had 2 letters from BOA congratulating us on approval of our new RCCL credit cards! What we never gave authorizieation for RCCL Credit cards.

 

I spent over 45 min on the phone with BOA they made a Fraud case to cancel these cards.

 

Has this happend to anyone else while on RCCL? Do you know what departmen at RCCL I should call or does anyone have an email address I can send a message too?

 

Thank you.

Without you submitting your SS# for a credit check...how would you have been awarded the cards?

I've booked an RCL cruise this Xmas, travelling with my family, who have never sailed on RCL before, in 3 other cabins.

I applied for the Crown & Anchor 'Bring a Friend' on-board credits ($25/cabin), and have been advised on the RCL web site that the status of the request is pending.

I'm concerned that, as I will be getting a separate OBC with my cruise booking, that that may negate any 'Bring a Friend' OBC.

Has anyone had their BaF benefit denied because they had another OBC?

Thanks for any advice,

MP.

I've put in for Bring a Friend on three different cruises and have NEVER received the OBC for any of the reservations. Most recent was a cruise on October 4. When I called to ask why I didn't receive it, I was told that because I received OBC with my initial reservation as part of a promotion, that makes the Bring A Friend OBC, void. Seems silly that they even offer it when they apparently give every reason not to have to honor the promotion.

Where was the movie theatre? Can't seem to find it :/

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There isn't one, I believe...they just show movies on the pool deck under the big screen.

Sailing in January on Grandeur - there will be 2 formal nights. Can I wear a dress shirt and tie - really don't want to wear a suit or a sport coat. Hoping to make packing easier and more comfortable dress after days at the beach. Please advise - thanks! Or must I wear a jacket to get into MDR - seems this varies by ship.

Yes, you certainly can. You will also see men with no ties happily enjoying their dinner in the MDR. No shorts or t shirts allowed, but I've seen everything in between on Formal nights.

I just called Galveston Express to move to an earlier shuttle. He did mention that traffic was crazy this last weekend because of a HUGE motorcycle rally on the island. I'm now going earlier than I wanted, but it will give me plenty of leeway.

This was back on October 3...no rally then. Thank goodness we arrived the day prior to sailing, or else we would have missed the ship.

Have you checked out Galveston Express? It's a new company getting good reviews. $25pp. I'm using it on Friday.

BE WARY OF GALVESTON EXPRESS!! We booked them for a 1:30 pick up from Hobby. At 2:00 we were still sitting there and no shuttle. We called and got a recording saying the voice mail box was full. Called and called over and over and someone finally answered. He told us they were "stuck in traffic" and it would be another half hour. An hour later, no shuttle. A grand total of three and a half hours past our pick up time, we hired a Super Shuttle to get us to Galveston. When we called to tell them that they were no longer needed, Galveston Express tried to tell us that our confirmed pick up time was 3:30 and not 1:30 (keep in mind it was now almost 4:30, anyway). We promptly emailed them back their own confirmation with 1:30 pick up time clearly called out in red and in bold. They ended up refunding our money. I checked their Facebook page and saw several others posted that the shuttle never came and their voicemail box was full.

Their issue is they have ONE shuttle. So if something happens...you're out of luck.

I stole this from a Galveston Cruise port website:

"The fare from Houston Intercontinental to the cruise Terminal is roughly $90-110 one-way ($180-220 round-trip)."

Our van taxi from the terminal to Hobby was $96 plus tip one way, for reference.

Will you be posting pictures? My husband and I are considering taking the kids on the Liberty out of Galveston. Would like to see how she looks.

Your kids will LOVE Liberty. There will be pretty major changes after the drydock, so current photos probably won't help you much unless you're sailing prior to the drydock. Your kids will LOVE the images of the new water slides that are going in...check out the RCCI website and you can see the artist renderings. Liberty is a beautiful ship. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to take my kids on it.

Oh bummer!! No more Liberty Dunes??? No more putt-putt tournaments????? What's more fun that trying to putt-putt with two hands while still holding onto a drink? I'm sad about this. :(:(:(

Purchase it on board. Our itinerary had our port stops at the beginning and our sea days toward the end. So we waited and got the packages on the fourth day of the cruise and it was prorated for those days. We figured, why pay for a full day when you're off the ship enjoying the port? Plus your first day is limited as you aren't on board for the entire day, and we didn't feel we'd drink enough that first day to pay for the package on that particular day. We feel we came out way ahead doing it this way.

Hey,

 

The RCI website says they are giving $200 of onboard credit in their offers section.

 

But despite getting to nearly the end I can't see any sign of it on the booking process, will I definitely get it?

 

Thanks

 

Elliot

Hmmm...I don't see anything about $200 OBC on Royals site right now...only "up to $100 on Allure/Oasis sailings".

Typically, the offers read "Up to $200 on select sailings". Your sailing may not be eligible. The amount given typically depends on total cruise fare. I would call before you book, if it's a deal breaker for you.

Are you limited to the amount of drinks per day on the packages

I answered above. No, there is no limit per day. There IS a time limit between transactions, I believe 10 minutes. About enough time to drink a drink, and want another.

Oh, ok. that explains the confusion. I had wanted to do day 2 through 5, and that is where I was being told "no". So based upon your good info, we could place order on-board on 3rd day, and pay for 5 days (remainder of cruise).

So what about disembark day? Do we pay for that also?

No you don't pay for disembark day, as that day isn't counted. Day one is embarkation day.