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We sail 4 generations on our family cruises. We love the options the Oasis class offers. We're already talking about the Icon for 2024. My text messages have been going crazy since they released the new Icon information. We'll probably wait a year or so. But the Icon is definitely on our radar. That's why we love cruising. So many cruise line options, ship options, amenity options, itinerary options, restaurant options. The list goes on and on. There is something for everyone.

Terminal/Pier 10 the new Royal terminal. https://www.portofgalveston.com/91/Cruise-Parking--General-Information

Yes Jr Suites get double points!! Funny story that happened this morning. I forgot all about the Covid double point offer from last year. Last week's cruise was his Bday cruise that we booked summer of 2021. We upgraded to a Jr. Suite (we enjoyed the space tremendously). This morning my hubs comes bouncing into my office with a goofy grin and saying we're 19 points from Diamond plus. I was like huh!?!? And sure enough the Jr Suite landed us 28 POINTS!!!! I was like HOT DIGGITY DOG!!! And then I did what any other cruise fanatic would do; look for 10 night cruises with a Jr. Suite available. 🤣😂

I just returned from a group cruise aboard the Symphony. We did not want to be tied at the hip so we let everyone do their own thing for the most part. These are the activities that worked best for us. 1. MDR 5:30PM - this was way too early for our group. In hindsight, we should have scheduled it for late dining. But we went with it and most nights everyone was there. We used this as our daily meet time so we didn't have to add another item to everyone's calendar. This worked well for our group and making any announcements, etc. for the next day. 2. Cabin crawl on 1st sea day. Poor participation because everyone was out and about on the ship enjoying its many options. And we were OK with it since it made for a quick cabin crawl so we could go back to enjoying the ship. 3. Slot pull. Cancelled. We were just enjoying the ship and didn't want to have a slot pull. LOL!!! Plus the casino was already getting everyone's daily donation. 3. One private group excursion in Cozumel. I would definitely do this again. Everyone enjoyed it. 4. Something we didn't anticipate but it just happened was attending various cruise sponsored activities together. A couple of us would go to karaoke and look up and their was 10 of us in there. Same thing happened at trivia and line dancing. 5. Formal night pics - Everyone was already dressing to impress so we just told everyone to meet at Promenade cafe at 5PM for a group picture. The pictures even turned out great. FYI... The staircase is the only place our party of 13 could take a picture together as a group. Reflecting back on our cruise, I'm glad we didn't add a bunch of extra Family activities to everyone's calendar. We were on the Symphony and there were tons of things to do, see and explore. It seemed liked minded individuals ended up at the same ship sponsored activities anyway so I didn't need to plan additional activities for our group. It worked out great for our family. Everyone was able to enjoy their cruise vacation and not feel obligated to join "family activities". There are so much to do on these ships now you're bound to run into your family to join you. Happy planning!!! And remember this is your vacation too so try not to plan it to death! Kind of think of it as the "cruise" is the family activity so no need to plan extra "family activities" on the family activity. 😁

Adding a hotel and parking garage at the terminal would be fantastic!! I sure hope they are able to do that, especially if the hotel and parking garage is walkable to the terminal. Driving down a day early from the Dallas Metro area, parking and walking to my hotel and not having to move the car again until I return from the cruise sounds fabulous to me!! That would be a game changer. OMG! What if you could check in for the cruise when you check in for your hotel room!?!? Yes, I have a great imagination! That would be incredible.

We just pre-paid $97 for parking over Thanksgiving weekend for 4 nights North lot. I don't mind paying a hundred bucks to park and not have to full with holiday airline travel. I've been looking at the Port of Galveston webcam and it seems like the North lot to the terminal is walkable so we don't need to bother with shuttles. Time will tell I reckon.

Look a little closer. It also goes to deck 5. So casino to the Royal promenade escalators. Great idea. Deck 5 Deck 4

Escalators! Yes sir! I like that. I just got off the Symphony and going up and down the glass stairs drove me nuts. Thx Royal. Love the escalator idea.

I just got off the Symphony. My cabin steward brought me a compass each evening.

NO! I do not want to check out or reserve ANYTHING ELSE on a cruise! Let the chair hogs have their chairs by the pool. I don't want them anyway. I'm perfectly fine lounging in a chair with shade. We reserve enough things on Royal ships. HARD NO to reserving lounge chairs.

I would love longer cruises out of Galveston to southern ports on any ship.

Yes you can check her in when you check in.

I have not heard of tipping in this manner. How exactly did you do this?

4 cruises since the reopen. Future cruises - I cruise this Saturday and Thanksgiving week. We still love it and actually like the improved cleaning due to C19. From my 1st cruise since C19 in Sept 2021 to my June 2022 cruise things certainly have evolved aboard the ships. I wish they would continue serving in the buffets but that was gone on my June cruise. Mask are gone as well as social distancing. So my next cruise I'll be a little more mindful and try and keep myself safe.

Are the showers on Symphony accessible via the gym? Or are the showers connected to the spa and you need to obtain access by the staff? Or are there any showers up there at all? I'm looking at videos on YT and it looks like just restrooms in the gym. We're on the Symphony in October and my bro n law is 6'4" and 350+ lbs with broad wide shoulders. He will not fit in the shower tube. I just want to know if he will have access to gym locker room and can shower at his free will or if the showers are connected to the spa and he will need a key card to gain access. Thanks

Does anyone know what this blank space is on deck 8 on the Vista? I'm looking to book a balcony cabin across from this space and want to make sure I'm not going to regret it. I'm thinking maybe it's the kitchen. Thanks. O and I tried searching and couldn't find anything.