lrn2cruise

I am a Texan and would love to try the panoramic window cabin on The LOS! This cabin sounds wonderful. I do understand your concerns. I honestly like to stay AFT because of the same reasons of being close to the WJ, etc.

I just re-ordered the RCI Visa. Our main CC is our Discover Card that is paid off and no balance is carried over. One reason I ordered is that when traveling out of country a Visa CC is better to have. I just will keep it for travel and I might use it to get points.

We don't travel out of country too often, but we just got back from a 4 day to Cozumel. We use Discover Card as an everyday "go to" CC, but when out of the country, I learned to use a Visa CC. I had just forgot. We had our Discover CC with us, but from here on out, we will travel with Visa. I got The RCI Visa.

We have booked a spa junior suite on ovation for our first trip to Alaska in June 2019. I am hoping for spectacular views from our balcony and also from the 270 lounge and solarium as previously mentioned. Also think that North star might be quite popular?!

 

 

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You are already booked! How exciting! I was thinking about a spa jr also.

I personally don't agree with the popular opinion so far... Ovation changes the game in Alaska. Everyone posting so far, including myself, have only been on either Vision/Serenade/Radiance/Rhapsody or Explorer to Alaska, and I'm only guessing that none have Quantum Class experience. In my humble opinion the views in Two70 and the Solarium alone trump anything you will see from your balcony. Merion_Mom would be the authority here as she knows Anthem like the back of her hand as well as Radiance, having sailed Radiance last year for 67 days including to Alaska b2b.

Hoopster95 The Two70 was exactly my point. Also the Solarium is all glass also, i think. Don't know if I can go inside.

Marion_Mom Thanks for the info on the AFT. Not going there if it is high end.

We have knee cap (patella) issues in our family. Unless we wear knee braces, I don't think we should go on this excursion. My husband is a flashlight addict. I think he would be up for any flashlight challenge that he faced. If this is a RC excursion, I think RC needs to know where improvement is needed.

I am really appreciating your review. Very informative. Note on your Porter. IMO, I would have been taken off guard having the Porter speak the way he did. I am always looking for warm human contact in conversation. A robot talking and asking for money is not the best technique, I think. He might have been autistic? On that note, that is the best he might have been able to do. So there is grace there.

I just got back from Galveston Port. The Porters were all standing around and we had to walk our own luggage inside the warehouse and put it next to the number of the floor we were on. Not one Porter offered to help us with our luggage. Not impressed. No tipping happened there.

Appreciate the info on the WOW bands. Not sure if I would get one or not? It is just $5.00, so no biggy

My son is graduating from HS tomorrow, but he was in AO when he was young, and he LOVED it! You can do whatever you like with your kids. AO will let you know the evening schedule and how they feed the kids. For us, on the FOS, they pick my son up from the MDR (early)and took him up to AO. There are plenty of places to feed your kids around 5 to 6pm. You can do room service for them, take them for pizza, or the WJ. You can feed them then drop them off at AO and then go to dinner with the adults. If AO feeds the kids then, you can just drop them off. We would pick our son up at 10pm and then take him to eat some pizza at Sorrento. You will find all that info at the opening of AO when you register.

You guys are awesome! Thanks. I am honestly thinking about getting a jr suite aft. Not sure though. It will take some shoving some cash away through the year, but I would rather spend money on experiences then any more stuff

I am having a hard time finding cabin 3327? Do you mean 3328? Window cabin on 3rd deck?

I think 4 or 5 hours will be enough for Coco Cay if you just want some beach time. I would get up early and get some room service. You can order it the night before on your tv. Try to be one of the 1st ones down stairs to the tinder boat. The line down the stairs will get longer and longer as the morning goes on and you will just get stuck in that line. Not fun for a vacation, IMO. Once the captain says the tender boat is open, go. There are plenty of people who will sleep late, eat bfast in the windjammer, etc. They will get into line late. You should have your pick of lounge chairs if you go early. Park yourself and have some fun. The water is just beautiful. From what I understand, there is might be construction under way at Coco Cay with all the new changes coming up.

I am looking at booking Ovation of the Seas for July 2019 in Alaska.

Is there anyone looking to book or already is book for Ovation in Alaska?

Just curious because it is a new itinerary for The Ovation.

Also wondering if a balcony is just too cold for Alaskan cruise or is it just amazing to sit out on your own balcony and enjoy the sights as you go by.

The Ovation has some very large forward windows. Is it better to save the $$$ and leave the cabin and sit in a covered area?

Get ready for an excited 6 year old when they see the pullman bed pulled down. My son was 11 but he was flipping down onto our bed and having a great time. He loved it! You will have a happy kid between the pullman and the cartoons on the tv

Living in the area.. hopefully the construction on 45 will be opened up and you will be able to get to Galveston easily. That said, I agree with the poster above. Go on down to Galveston... Why would you want to stay near the airport? Hobby is considerably closer if you have cheap flights from Southwest, but IAH, is only about 45 minutes farther if that's a better flight for you.

 

If you stick with your original plan, leaving the hotel no later than 9 sounds about right. You shouldn't have much wait and would be able to get right on the boat.

I live in San Antonio, not Houston, but have traveled that way to Galveston plenty of times. In reality, you are just fine with your plan now. All the recommendations are just to get you closer to Galveston. If you leave the hotel at 9am and even give yourself 2 hours, then that is 11am. The most unpredictable thing about Houston (and San Antonio is catching up, unfortunately) is the traffic. So that is why I say "2 hours" 2 hours is in case the traffic is just terrible. No telling though. Once you get past Houston and get closer into Galveston, the traffic should ease up some. Do what is best. If you want to change to Hobby, then do so. Stay in a hotel that is closer to Galveston for the night, then do that. If you check into the Nasa/Kemah area, then you are getting very close to Galveston. We have stayed in the NASA area when going to NASA and the hotels are just fine. Matter of fact, if you are into space, the you might enjoy doing NASA the day before, or going to Kemah Boardwalk. Galveston also has a new Boardwalk with rides, etc. Galveston is a fun city to visit. I love the historical mansions and the history. There are touristy things there and some great restaurants. It is your vacation, so do whatever you would enjoy. PS. The north side of Houston is very nice area. My friend from college lived there and I visit her a whole lot. BUT...there is not a whole lot to see or do up in that area. It is more suburbia.

Thanks for sharing!!!! Following

For those flying into Houston this weekend for your cruise on Sunday, I think you'll be in good shape. For those driving into Houston, you'll most likely hit rain. And especially if you're traveling from the north or east. So leave earlier if possible and take your time. If you're not familiar w/ flash floods...be careful... and remember this if you hit any high waters...

TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN. Stalling your car in high water that is rising can have your car float off in seconds. It happens just about every year in Houston.

This is TRUTH. I would watch the weather very closely and also the traffic in Houston can be a nightmare in great conditions. Take care and caution and take your time.

Here is the most recent prediction from the National Hurricane Center. Heaviest rain between Pensacola and New Orleans. Galveston and Houston look to get off with relatively little.

 

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/203851.shtml?rainqpf#contents

This is great news.

Born & raised in Houston. TS' can be dangerous w/ tornadoes & floods. But as of now, Cindy is not carrying the winds to create a bad coastal 'surge' which brings typical major flooding. What this TS does have is rain. If it slows down and/or stalls along the coastline, flooding will get bad as the low coastal grounds always will. But unless things change, the projected path as of right now has landfall on the east side of Galveston on Thurs early AM. This is a very good sign for Galveston which is where the OP was concerned. East Texas will get hit w/ rain, no doubt about it. Also, it should be pointed out that by Sat & Sun when the incoming & outgoing of cruisers hit Galveston, Cindy will be long gone & in Ark or further north.

Good to know. Thanks for the specifics. We are watching close from San Antonio. I am not on a cruise, and grateful I don't have to deal with driving into Houston in any bad weather-EVER!!!

Given its current strength and predicted track, this tropical storm shouldn't be much of an problem outside of some heavy rains and possible flash flooding.

Nothing like spending thousands of dollars on a vacation and have to go through flash flooding to get to the port. Sounds like a great way to start.

Are any of you that are commenting from East Texas and understand what Galveston/Houston has been through with TS and Hurricanes? Just wondering?

Ok. I stand corrected. Tropical Storm. I know when I was on the FOS, our whole itinerary was changed because of a Tropical Storm. We were to go east and it was changed to west. Royal Caribbean did an awesome job of taking care of the situation. The news is saying that Bolivar Peninsula is going to ride the storm out, so we will see what happens.

http://abc13.com/weather/carnival-changes-itinerary-due-to-tropical-storm-cindy/2122624/

Hurricane Cindy might hit the Texas coast. I am sure RCCL will contact their customers. Carnival has changed.

I would book AFT since you have the kids. I sailed The Freedom, which is like Liberty. The WJ is AFT, the Kids Club is AFT, the kids area of the pool is AFT also. We had an AFT balcony which is larger. Some people will tell you that the walk is far, yada, yada. It is no big deal. My 11 year old son would run ahead of us to mess up the towel animal-just for fun. My son loved the AO Kids Club, like begged to go. I want to get on the Liberty really bad, but I have never done Oasis Class, so I am torn. I live in Texas, so The Liberty is easier for us.

I think a little sundress with some bike shorts under for your daughter, and dress shorts with a polo and fisherman sandals for your son. I would just look at the websites where you like to shop for them, The Children's Place, Gymboree, Crazy 8 has some cute items as well. Gap has some great items too

I would not stress too much. This is your vacation and you are spending a lot of hard earned money on HOTS.

My son was 11 when we went on FOS. He is 17 now. He loved the Kids Adventure and could not wait to get there. We ate early in the dining room and someone from AO would meet the kids at the entrance to the MDR.

What I suggest (what we learned from our experience) is feed your little ones early at the WJ, Room Service, Serrentos, whatever they would like, then take them to AO and you and your Hubby have a quiet meal. But if you want to eat as a family in the MDR, then by all means do that. Just have fun and have a great time!:cool:

Loving your review and sharing with us! What a blessing to be able to be in a Loft Suite! Your little girl is just beautiful! I need a cruise to look forward to, so following yours is a treat for me!!! Thanks!

I do not want to break the news of the room service fee to my husband. It was one of his favorite activities on the ship. Scrolling on the tv and picking food and our excursions.

To me, I would look at it as an automatic tip. Pretty large tip though($40.00 meal tip). I guess it keeps people from ordering just a chocolate chip cookie. Nothing is stopping people from ordering the whole menu though.