huntnewt

How is the Cloud 9 Spa area on the ship as well as locker room sauna?

Also, I guess Galveston will not have a 4/5 day ship for February-April 2026? I assume we will have to wait for the 2026-2027 deployment cycle to see who will replace Mariner in February 2026, unless she is just going for drydock.

Any thoughts on sending Serenade or Radiance to Galveston for the Long Caribbean cruises? Galveston has Jewel doing Long Caribbean cruises in the 2024-2025 season, but nothing yet in the 2025-2026 season.

Has anyone been on Carnival Breeze and have any insight? We will be in a Cloud 9 Spa Balcony.

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I am slightly intrigued on the Mariner dates released. I see that the last departure date from Galveston is January 29, 2026. I know in these cycles, the dates released are usually May-April. It would be about time for Mariner to go into dry dock considering the last dry dock was in April 2023. Does anyone have any indication as to what will happen to the Galveston 4/5 runs after that date, when we will hear, what ship, etc.? Also, is there any indication that Galveston will get a Long Caribbean ship in 2025-2026, like Jewel is doing in 2024-2025?

I am able to see Mariner from Galveston.

Has anyone been on Carnival Breeze lately? We have a Cloud 9 Spa Balcony and are wondering what the spa area is like. We had a Cloud 9 Spa Balcony on Carnival Splendor and enjoyed it.

Most definitely! It's all about revenue! I follow the Deployment thread, so we will have to see how the future plays out for future deployments. It's always so much fun trying to speculate and put the puzzle pieces together!

I did see that. I think we know almost for certain that Star is going to PC considering the schedule that is already released. Some are speculating that Galveston will get Icon 3 because it is due to come out around that time, but I just do not see that being the case. I think it will be more profitable in Florida, but with Miami having Icon and PC having Star most likely, it will be interesting to see where it goes. I expect Symphony, Wonder, or Utopia, but leaning towards Symphony, so that the newer ships stay in Florida for Harmony's replacement after she leaves in 2026. For 2025-2026, I see that Harmony is doing more 6/8 instead of purely 7, which is a nice change. I know that they don't really have the pier space unless they start using Terminal 28 again or the new Terminal 16, if it gets approved (I saw in an article that RCL expressed interest in this along with MSC, Princess, and NCL), but I wonder if Royal would ever have a ship dedicated to 6/8, one to 7, one to 4/5, and one to Long Caribbean so that they can compete directly with Carnival. I think that more lines are leaning towards the 6/8 model instead of purely 7 to allow for more diversity in itinerary options. I am also curious to see if Mariner stays with us for 2025-2026 or if we get another ship (I wonder if we would get a Freedom class on 4/5 since Oasis class is moving to the 3/4 in Florida). I fully expect a Radiance class to stay on the Long Caribbean for 2025-2026, but we will have to wait and see which one. I would be interested to know your TA's opinion on all of the above speculations.

Thank you for the information. I did not expect it to come to Galveston, but was hoping so!

I have heard some rumors that Icon of the Seas will do a tour so to say before it goes to Miami. Is this true? If this is true, I am wondering if it will make it to Galveston.

What are the odds of Star going to Galveston?

I understand that options are limited from Galveston, but Carnival could investigate other options, like possibly a 6 Day Bahamas to Key West and Nassau or somewhere in the Bahamas or an 8 Day Western to change it up in order to offer Bahamas cruises on the 6 day run and western Caribbean on the 8 day run that could include Jamaica and Grand Cayman. There could also be other options for Jubilee, just introducing more ports in the Western Caribbean. I also noticed that Breeze 5 days no longer include Costa Maya and only offer Progreso. This makes sense due to the afternoon arrival into Costa Maya, but I am slightly disappointed in Carnival, as expressed above due to the lack of variety. On the flip side, I do not feel that we have room to complain about our ship offerings, as we have 2 Dream class and 1 Excel class, which is fairly premium compared to other homeports. I hope they put another ship on the longer runs like Miracle will be doing.

With that, the question then becomes, what O class will be based in Galveston? I do not imagine an O class (will be Harmony in April 2025) doing cruises to St. Maarten from Galveston. This makes me wonder if Galveston will get Wonder, Utopia, or maybe Icon 2?

Walk around the Strand right across from the cruise terminal. Lots of shops and restaurants.

Is there one site that you go to see these port bookings or is it just on each port's respective website?

Brickhouse Tavern is just down east of the hotel on Seawall Blvd—good restaurant and bar.

I have thought the same and have wondered if Galveston would receive the second Icon class due to all of the attention that it has had lately.

Home2 Suites in Texas City is a good one that we have stayed at several times.

It seemed like it was a medical emergency.

Not necessarily. Planning a cruise for Summer 2024 and looking at several ships - Legend, Mardi Gras, Panorama, Magic, Celebration, Vista, and Horizon

Thanks for the info. That would be great.

Does anyone have any experience with Carnival ships? I only have experience with Carnival Splendor that has a shared pool and steam rooms and a small sauna in the men’s locker room.

When you say naked, do you have the towel wrapped around your waist or just sitting on a towel and not covering yourself?