The Fun Researcher

4 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

One of the nicest benefits for us was the ability to pay a reduced deposit, which is no longer possible with fully refundable deposit bookings.  We have not visited the Next Cruise desk in a couple of years now.

Yeah we always book refundable (until we purchase airline tickets), so NextCruise a no go for us.   Once purchasing airline tickets we'll check to see if the non-refundable rate is lower than the refundable rate we had previously booked,  and if it is, we re-book non-refundable.

I hear ya on the deposit, but my mindset is that I'm going to pay it now or later so I don't mind paying a larger deposit up front, especially since it's refundable. 

Dan

The benefits are negligible IMO.  I'd rather spend my time enjoying my cruise than trying to figure out what cruise I want to book next.

Dan

I have a hard time seeing RCCL being able to manage the suggested arrival times.  Even if they decided to enforce it, it would make for a cluster of people just standing around waiting for "their time".  

Dan

Bummer that your embarkation took so long.  What time did you arrive?  We typically have the longest lines when we get on the ship on the early side (10am-noon).  Our most recent cruise out of Miami on the Navigator we showed up at 1pm and we literally had zero wait.  We arrived later because we flew in the night before but didn't get to our hotel until after midnight and needed some rest so we slept in and took our time in the morning before heading to the ship.  Arriving at 1pm, we walked straight to the bag scanners , directly to get our key cards, and onto the ship with no other passengers in front of us.  The really nice thing about this is that the rooms were also ready immediately so no need to walk around with any bags or luggage.  Also, since we ate lunch off the ship, there was no battling the craziness of the Windjammer which is always the busiest it ever gets and really a bad first impression.

I understand why people want to get started ASAP, but on a 7 night cruise arriving 2 -3 hours later isn't a big dent in your ship time, but can make for a VERY nice embarkation process.

We're sailing on the Liberty in March 2020 and I hope the condition of the ship isn't too bad.  We loved the crew and ship in Jan 2018.  My parents and 18 y.o. niece are going with us.  My parents haven't sailed in over 10 years (Alaska, Celebrity Summit) and it will be my nieces first cruise and we hope they have a great experience.

Dan

5 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

In fairness 3 of your favorites can’t be reached on a 7 day from anywhere other than San Juan, so that’s really not a Galveston issue. 

That is true.  Fair enough.   I would be happy if they did longer cruises out of Galveston that did reach those locations though 

Dan

2 hours ago, theotherchad said:

Several have suggested that upgrading to an Oasis class might be pushing the limits of demand, but honestly, every single cruise out of Galveston has been filled to capacity and I see no reason to think that won't continue. Suites and balconies mostly sell out well in advance. Someone else also mentioned limited destinations, but that is a red herring. 
Galveston ported 7 day cruises have gone and can go to:

1) Cozumel (obviously)

2) Costa Maya, MX

3) Progresso, MX

4) Roatan, Honduras

5) Belize

6) Falmouth, Jamaica

7) Ocho Rios, Jamaica

8. Montego Bay, Jamaica

9) Grand Cayman

10) Key West

11) CoCo Cay

 

None of our top 7 are on that list.

In no particular order:

Bonaire

Cuacao

Aruba

St. Maartin

St. Thomas

Labadee

St. Kitts

Sure some of that is completely our preference, but the Eastern and Southern ports are so much better IMO.

Dan

1 hour ago, karena1 said:

Dan, actually I think this is the company we looked at doing http://www.libertytoursjamaica.com/falmouth-

 

Thank you!

Dan

Having sailed both Voyager and Freedom class quite a few times, they feel nearly identical.  WAAAAY more similar than different.  Voyager is a little easier to traverse simply because it's shorter.  Having the two promenade food venues combined is very convenient.  No more going from one end of the promenade to the other simply to get both a slice of pizza and a finger sandwich. 

The amped ships are wonderful, and I'm so glad that Royal is giving that treatment to both of those classes!!!

Dan

The added width of the Freedom class ships is simply due to the fact that they included the cantelevered hot tubs or the bridge in the width.

They are the same width.  The Freedom class is longer however, which adds the spash area on the pool deck and makes the Promenade longer separating the Cafe Promenade and Sorrento's.  On Vovager class, Sorrento's and Cafe Promenade are combined into one.  Also Freedom has more space on Deck 4 for other venues.  

Dan

On 8/13/2019 at 5:54 PM, karena1 said:

We have done the river rafting down the Martha Brae a couple times and really like it.  Both time through the ship, but there are some private vendors that are good also.  We were going to use a private one last time, but we had so much on board credit we did it through the ship instead

 

karena1, if you don't mind sharing, do you recall who the private vendor was? 

I'm investigating:

1) A transfer from Falmouth to the Martha Brae river including the cost of rafting from a reputable, safe vendor 

2) Simply a transfer to and from the Martha Brae.  It looks like it's only about 4 miles from Falmouth.

• Are the taxi's reliable and safe?
• Will there be taxi's available at the end of the rafting to transfer us back to Falmouth?
• Can we just show up to Martha Brae like that?  We would use four rafts, assuming two per raft.

The best I could find, the rafting along is about $65-$70 for two.

Thanks,

Dan

Thank you JBSteelerfan.  That looks like another great option, and a nice laid back way to experience some local culture and cuisine.  I'll bring this option up with our kids and my parents as well.  Who doesn't love food?  🙂

Dan

I'm maybe one of the few who don't like the Oasis class.  To me, it's a downgrade to go from Freedom or Voyager class to a Oasis class in Galveston.  Hopefully the "smaller" option will still be a Freedom or Voyager class there.  I would love that as the prices may be lower than they are now due to having a bigger sister in port.

Dan

Thanks karena1.  Much appreciated.

• Looks like the Martha Brae is pretty close to Falmouth.  Roughly how long of a drive was this from Falmouth?
• Was the rafting done in tubes, or on a bamboo raft?
  • Any idea how a group of 8 would be situated?

Dan

Our port is Falmouth in March 2020.  The excursion can be from a reputable safe private vendor or through the ship.  We do either, although lately it hasn't been through the ship. 

We’ve already done Dunn’s River Falls and Grotto caves and they were fun but don’t need to do them again.  Earlier in the cruise we will have done an all-inclusive beach day in Cozumel, and snorkeling/sting rays in Grand Cayman.

We will have my able bodies parents with us, who have never been to a Caribbean Island.   We will have four children, girls ages 18, 18, 15,  and our son 12.  If possible we would like to do something that is unique to Jamaica, or at least unique to Caribbean islands.  Things to rule out would be ATV’s, horseback riding, and ziplining.  Rum tastings are fun but too narrowly focused to be of interest.  We have a wide range of interests, from island tours, to tubing, to snorkeling, to all-inclusives, etc,

Thanks in advance!

Dan

2 hours ago, fdthird said:

Yes. Texas now regulates it not the city. 

Thanks, but wondering how many Uber and Lyft drivers are available on the island during a slow (for Galveston) month like March.

Dan

Avis has a location in Texas City as well.

Dan

Is there reliable Uber or Lyft on Galveston Island now?  (I'm also talking about March 2020)

Just now, BND said:

That is because RCI will not let anyone under 21 book their own cabin, with the exceptions noted. Otherwise, when sailing with a minor who you are not the guardian or parent of you would need a letter from the parent/guardian allowing their travel with you.  18 is an adult as far as not needing parental permission, but under 21 cannot drink or book a cabin ( except with waived exceptions you posted above).  You're mixing up being able to book vs being able to sail.

Thank you.  Just being extra cautious, as I don't want to show up to port and have anyone denied.

Dan

By the way, this is the policy as stated on RCCL's website. (copied below)  It appears that since she is in the same cabin as my 44 year old wife that she is fine.?  However, what if she were 15 and not from our immediate family.  Would RCCL let her sail with us without her parents notarized consent?   Sure, at 18 she is legally an adult in the U.S., but RCCL seems to lump all those under 21 into the same bucket.

-Dan

For voyages originating in North America:
No Guest younger than the age twenty-one (21) will be assigned to a stateroom unless accompanied in the same stateroom by an adult twenty-one (21) years old or older. A guest's age is established upon the first date of sailing.

This age limit will be waived for children sailing with their parents or guardians in connecting staterooms; for underage married couples; and for active duty members of the United States or Canadian military.

Thanks all.  I appreciate the knowledge and glad to know that nothing is REQUIRED for her to travel with us. 

Glad I started this thread because it's brought up some things that I didn't think of, mainly medical treatment.  In case she is incapacitated in some way while with us that would keep her from being able to make her own medical decisions, (i.e. concussion or worse) is there a form she should/could fill out and get notarized allowing us the decision making authority?   I don't want to overthink this, but I also want to have all of our bases covered.  Thanks.

Dan

Bummer.  Hopefully this was just one of those "duds".  We sailed L.O.T.S. about a year and a half ago and loved it.  The ship was clean, food was good, and crew and wait staff were some of the best we've had.  (the wait staff in particular were THE best we've had to date)

Overall, we've had excellent service on RCCL since we started sailing 7 years ago.  It's hard for me to imagine expecting much more for the price.  Auto tips have been a part of our trips since the beginning.  RCCL isn't a true $$$ luxury line where impeccable service is more expected, so I keep my expectations in line with the cost of service.

BTW, what's the fascination with turkey breast?   Did you ask any of the staff in the buffet or dining room? 

Dan

17 minutes ago, CORKY_Q said:

I would also suggest that you and your wife be given permission to make medical decisions if necessary.  Happy sailing.

 

Sea ya!

Thank you.  I forgot about this part.  That alone makes it worth them going through the trouble of providing notarized authorization.  Just in case, heaven forbid, something would happen requiring my wife and I to make medical decisions on her behalf.

Dan

We are bringing our 18 year old niece with us on our upcoming March 2020 cruise (closed loop Western Caribbean from Galveston on the Liberty).  She will have her passport.  We have two connecting interior staterooms.  (She is in the stateroom with my wife and two of our kids.)

The RCCL booking agent wasn't sure if she needs a notarized authorization from her parents allowing her to sail with us but figured it was better safe than sorry.  I'd rather know for sure so I can let my sister know if she needs to get notarized authorization.

I figured some of you Cruise Critic folks would know.

Thanks,

Dan

20 hours ago, davekathy said:

In your opinion. Just for my own curiosity, what would you recommend instead of a mast/pool grill burger for lunch? 

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

 

Sometimes it's just nice to have a burger.  Is it unreasonable to expect quality?  What else should we eat?

 

The last thing I'm going to do (on a cruise of all things) is tell someone what they should eat!

Want a burger?  Eat a burger.  Unfortunately I haven't found any "good" complimentary ones on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity.  The burgers at mast grill aren't bad in my opinion, and will do if you just want something to grab and go.  We tend to eat lunch at the buffet primarily for the variety offered, or the main dining room for the relaxed pace and slightly better food quality.

Dan

38 minutes ago, va2vegas said:

Do you just walk up for lunch?

Yes