lrn2cruise

You can look into the Kemah or Clear Lake area. NASA Houston is right there, not too far from Galveston. Kemal and NASA can be fun.

I did some google search and the area is also known as Webster Texas.

Any hotel on the highway from Hobby to Galveston can work.

This story sounds too "over the top" to me. The OP is not the 1st denture wearer to go on a cruise. People have medications, and other items that are in the cabin. Story is just too weird for me to believe. I am sure things get thrown away, but having to come to a board to rant about it is odd to me. Funny though

We were AFT on the same level as you were and the balconies that are in AFT cabins are much larger. Not sure if there are any available. You would have to get an inside across the hall though.

We eat in the Windjammer 90% of the time and the other time in a specialty restaurant. We are not the 'sit for hours and eat' type of people and the only time we do is when we go to Giovannis. We much prefer to choose from the large selection in the buffet and not have to dress for dinner. We are on vacation and don't want to be on a schedule :cool:

Totally agree. I would honestly opt out of the MDR on our next cruise. We love the WJ for dinner. I like to just wear shorts, get up and get what I want, when I want it. Waiters are very nice and are there to help and eager to help. Lights are low.

OP, I am so sorry that you are dealing with panic and anxiety. I have dealt with GAD most of my life (generalized anxiety disorder) from just growing up in a very toxic home with toxic unstable family. I am on medication for it which keeps it under control for the most part. Not sure if you have meds or if you can get some from your family dr. It can help.

I have only been on the Freedom. I didn't think of the muster drill until someone mentioned it. The Muster drill is hot, crowded and long. You would have to get special permission to not participate. Not sure if you would get excused or not? RC does not want anyone to miss. They roll-call and will know if you just hide out.

The Windjammer was NUTS on the 1st day!!!! My son was 12 at the time and he got so flustered. It made him somewhat anxious, I think. Being on the Oasis, I would avoid the WJ on sail day and eat at another location.

On the other hand, the WJ is very peaceful for dinner in the evenings. Most people have gone to the MDR. We loved the WJ for dinner. The lights are dimmed, we could get up and get what we needed. The MDR can be a goat-rope at times. We had kids all around us. We had our son too, so we were in good company. I thought it was nuts. Kids banging and making noise. My son was right in there clanking his silverware, etc

The show times, getting in and out of the theaters can get really crowded. The Tender boats, or just getting off the ship can get crowded too. We got off the boat to Coco Cay 1st thing. When we got back to the ship, the line to get on the tender was all the way up several flights of stairs. I recommend not sleeping in and get off the ship early. Eat room service, then GO.

Show times in the promenade will get crowded too

The bottom line is, IMO, we all have to know our own boundaries and limits and try not to go where a trigger will set off.

Don't let your fears in life stop you from missing out on life's experiences. I know it is hard though

Room Service was one of the highlights of the cruise. We liked to order Bfast on port days so we could just eat then get off the ship. My husband loved clicking through the tv and ordering at night when we were back in the cabin. I felt bad that I didn't tip the waiter. I didn't get out of bed since I was in my pjs. The poor waiter cut his eyes away from me. It was a bit awkward and the waiter moved so quick to get out of the room. I think it is good to take one dollar bills and just leave them on the table and tell them to take it-quickly!!! With the new fee, I am thinking it takes the place of the tip?

I don't mind the fee really. Like the soda package, I just enjoy the vacation and not to worry. My biggest concern is that my husband will flip out. He is cheap. If the fee could be hid from him, it would work fine

I would look and see what your needs are. If you want to be closer to the WJ, then stay AFT. If the Solarium is a priority, then stay forward. We stayed AFT on the Freedom. We could head right up to the pool and WJ. My son was close to the kids area as well. We loved being AFT and would do it again. No issues with the walk or vibrations.

I am looking into Panoramic view on Liberty and it is forward. So whatever works!

I have stayed at Guidos before. Not for a cruise, just a stay in Galveston. It is on the seawall. Motel style. Guidos restaurant is right next door. It works for a basic motel stay.

We stayed in Houston near NASA and it was a great area with a short ride to Galveston the next morning. Galveston was way too expensive for just a place to sleep the night before a cruise

Kemal and NASA area is fine. We have stayed at NASA several times, then went on to Galveston. the Holiday Inn, and other chains are nice and will work well.

I live in Texas and have been to Houston/Galveston several times. It is honestly up to you what is best for you. You will need about an hour or more to get to Galveston. Houston traffic is just a nightmare. There is a chance it could be fine, but there is a chance it could be horrendous. Galveston is an amazing town. The old mansions are amazing. There will be more to do and see in Galveston. The price points are all over in Galveston. I would recommend that you stay in the Seawall area. Eat some great seafood. This is your vacation. Enjoy. the gulf is so ugly (imo) in the seawall area, but walking the seawall is very nice, have a nice dinner, etc. Find maybe a chain hotel on the best price point for you and just relax and enjoy. You will enjoy the drive into Galveston. Kemah is nice too. Close to Galveston. Have a great trip. I have not sailed out of Galveston as of yet, but we stay there at times on Crystal Beach and The West End of Galveston. Crystal Beach is a ferry ride from Galveston. We love it over there. Just one small grocer and a bunch of beach houses.

This is awesome! Every once in a while we would love to do a short cruise ( and usually shorter notice) we can drive to but refuse to do Carnival anymore. Whoo Hooo!

I agree! I have been waiting for RC to do short cruises from Galveston. I dont see Labadee listed as a port? I wish we could get to Labadee from Texas. I have a teen son and I think Labadee is perfect for his age group. We are looking at a cruise for his senior class trip May 18'

I refuse to do Carnival also. When that Carnival cruise got stuck out in the middle of the ocean and poop water was flowing, that is enough to say "Never"

The sex thing?

OMG, are you serious?

Any parent who travels with kids should not be expecting sex during the vacation. True for a cruise, a land-based vacation, a camping trip, or ANY kind of travel.

Curtains, dividers, privacy screens, whatever - nothing works. Travel with kids = no sex. Get used to it!

 

(although creative use of bathroom time may be worth further consideration..........:evilsmile:)

Hubby and I actually managed. My son, who did sleep above our head on the pullman, LOVED the kids area. He could not wait to get there in the evening. That left us several hours to ourselves to do what we wanted to do. At the pick up time, we would go get our son, take him down for pizza if that is what he wanted or ordered room service and all went to bed.

I think attitude and gratitude are everything. Enjoy your cruise

We were on FOS in 11'. I was on deck 8, but we checked out the other floors. Deck 2 is nice and quiet. I think you will enjoy being down there. There was a movie theater down there. Hubby saw a movie one night. I thought it smelled like cigarette smoke-yuck!

Have a great cruise! We love FOS!

- the ship was over run with Mexicans (people who reside in mexico, not Mexican-Americans)...i would say over 50%. They were rude, loud , obnoxiouos, demanding, rude , obnoxiouos, starting drunken fights with the staff, rude...u get the hint. They would cut in line, step in front of you at any point to get their way, the kids running wild, no discipline...it almost ruined the experience.

I have cruised more than a dozen times and have never seen this.

I can relate to this and I am so sorry if this sounds "Un PC" too.

We went to South Padre Island this summer. My favorite Texas Beach. Over run by Mexican Nationals. The beach was so crowded. It was a turn off.

We went grocery shopping for our condo and exactly as the OP said. The kids are rude and have no discipline. The take over the whole aisle in the store and dont move (no courtesy) They are just a rude group of people!

I find the being around them does not bring out the best in me at all.

I think it is important to not project our expectations of manners onto these Mexican Nationals. They are a different culture

I am so turned off my this. Knowing that NOS is the same way makes me not want to go on this ship.

Also remember that our government is allowing these Mexicans in and they are allowed to stay illegal

Interesting, we will be on the Liberty in August. My husband and I were talking the other night(even before the sliding board post ), that RCCL was getting too family oriented and we are going back to Celebrity after this.

We have done numerous Celebrity and HAL cruises, even one each on Crystal and Silversea for special occasions and certain itineraries.

When we decided to do the Caribbean again this past fall we did the Allure and loved it. It really was great for that itinerary. We wanted to do the New England/Canada and Royal had a nice 10 day.

As some of the other posters have stated, we also don't want a playground atmosphere either and this will probably be our last RCCL cruise.

 

Barb

Texans are getting LOS out of Galveston pretty soon. I like the idea of the slide since we are still raising our son. I do understand the need for an "Adult" atmosphere. I can see Hubby and I going towards less kids when our son is raised. We work with children for our careers and we need time away. We are in our 50s too now

You might get your post bumped down to the excursion board. Check down there and click on Belize and see if you can get your question answered down there.

Goodness. Texans know that we are a very friendly State and we are proud that we go out of our way to be kind. It is just the way it is here. In saying that, I dont know if what was said about people from other States was needed. Not on a public board

There are a lot of great people from other states too.

I am at Labadee in my mind already!

My son wants to go to Atlantis, so I am looking at the Oasis in a year or two. Got to save up. The cruise also goes to Labadee. This will be our gift to him before he starts his senior year in high school.

I am wondering if breakfast in Chops would be any better as far as the food is concerned? I think the lack of crowd is worth it for sure. We like room service on port days.

Remember that Dream Works is on RC. There was a parade. It was late though, like 10pm or so. My son was 11, so he didnt really care to go. There is also a breakfast, etc. I am sure you can read the list of activities.

We saw a 3d movie Kung Fu Panda.

Check to see if there is a Promenade Family Cabin available for your sailing and then your kids can watch the parade from the window in the jammies.

We had 3 also. We were in a D3, I believe. I remember mine going under the bed for sure. I think DH and our son went in the closet. There are drawers, so you could unpack if you want.

It was tight for my suitcase under the bed too.

Also, we put the glass coffee table in the closet too. DH did that. Not sure how he fit it in. Our son slept on the pullman, so we did not have the sofa bed out

I am a Texan and a school teacher. Texas SB is usually consistently the 2nd week of March.

If that is Holy Week, then the students will have the Friday off and that is about it for public.

I wouldnt worry too much unless it is SB for out states that are leaving out of Texas

Sometimes I also wish RCL had a short cruise out of that port when you'd just like a quick get away.

This is exactly what I would like to see RCCL do also. I am so scared of Carnival. It was the Carnival ship out of Galveston that does short trips that got stuck out at sea and toilet water was everywhere. I work too hard to spend my money like that:eek:

It would be fun to have a RC ship to get on out of Galveston that would go to Cozumel and come back like Carnival.

I also wonder if it is possible to get to Labadee from Galveston?

Thanks for all the responses. I am a little nervous about the warmth. We could wait till the summer and do a 7 day on The Oasis. This cruise is a year and a half away so I can put some thought into it.

We live in San Antonio and wear shorts on Christmas Day a whole lot, but we dont swim. So, I am a bit nervous

My son just finished his Freshman year and he would be a junior on this trip. My husband and I want to take him to Atlantis as sort of a pre-graduation gift.

The Grand Caymans is beautiful but it was a goat rope for us. We were on FOS and we were Eastern and got switched to Western because of a storm.

All our excursions changed.

I will tell you this: The American dollar is worth about 80 cents on the island. So I say, the other islands are just as beautiful and go on The Oasis.

I love FOS and would go on it again for sure, but I really want to do Oasis.