RNCindy

We also park in the new terminal parking lot. We pay ahead of time and show the QR code when we get there. You can circle around and drop off people and luggage, if needed, and then go park. It costs a bit more but so worth being able to get off the ship and be in our car in less than 10 minutes!! No shuttles to deal with. Look at the Port of Galveston website.

Agree! We have received the majority of our upgrades from our casino comps. We usually have a balcony comp and always ask if an upgrade is available. We have bid on Royal Up a few times but have never won one.

We usually go on the Monday-Saturday itinerary and there are very few "younger and rowdier" people. It's mostly middle aged to retired (as we are). There were a few college kids on our last one in May but they never bothered us!! I guess your travels will be what you make of them!! 😉

Really?!? We go on the 5 nights cruises out of Galveston and we've never encountered any issues!!! There was a guy in the casino on our last cruise that got caught cheating at cards, though! He was escorted out of the casino. Not sure why the shorter cruises would attract a crowd that you didn't want to deal with.

We have rode the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Seward and back several times. I'm sure it's the same railway route we took 25 years ago. The scenery is beautiful and we saw lots of wildlife (moose, bears, dall sheep, etc.). Lots of things to see and do in Anchorage, too. And, lots of good restaurants!! If you have a chance, go to Humpy's Alehouse for their halibut and chips. YUM!!!

Yes, we are happy with ours, too. But, it never hurts to bid UP!! Good luck!!

We sail next Monday, the 13th, and all three of our bids are still showing "submitted" and our sailing has been sold out for several weeks. You never know what is going on behind the scenes!! We'll see.....

We have 3 bids in for upgrades to a Junior Suite, a 1 bedroom Grand Suite or a 1 bedroom Owners Suite on the Mariner out of Galveston next Monday, the 13th. Our low bids are still shown as "submitted". I'm fine with our spacious balcony but it's fun just to see if we get a "Royal Up"!!

We got an Emerald pin several years ago! I guess they discontinued them.

You'll not only be competing with other cruisers at the airport, there will be tons of people coming and going to Disney World. The holidays at the parks are packed! (I've been there!) And, the security lines at MCO can be forever long, up to an hour. Any other time of the year MAY be doable but NOT the Christmas/New Years holidays, or any holiday for that matter!! 😉

Go to the Club Royale website first and you can see what cruises are offered to you. When and if you see one that you want, call Club Royale and tell them which one you are interested in. Very simple!!! Ask for an upgrade and they will tell you if one is available and what the price, if any, will be (we get free upgrades frequently). We do this all the time and they are very helpful.

I'm not sure if this is the case in Australia, but I always ask if I can get an upgrade when I call them and, if there is any available, I usually get one at no additional cost. It never hurts to ask!! We have two separate accounts (me and husband) and I give them both numbers and we are offered mostly balcony cabins. The last cruise I booked, we got an upgrade from a balcony to a Junior Suite. If you go to ClubRoyale.com and put in your account number, you can see what cruises are available to you. Good luck!!!!

We always call to redeem our "free" cruises with Club Royale. I always ask for an upgrade and have rarely been denied (I ask them to combine my account and my husbands account for the redemption). Last cruise I booked, I was upgraded to a Junior Suite from a balcony for no extra charge. It never hurts to ask!! We frequently utilize the Galveston cruises (close to home) and we usually pay no more than just the port charges and taxes.

Our adult daughter does not have motion sickness in cars BUT she did get queasy when sitting at a window dining table with her back to the front of the ship (backwards?? 🤔). It didn't bother her to sit forward.

I think you can modify your reservation up to the day before your arrival. If they say anything, just tell them you decided to rent a car instead of driving your Lamborghini to the port. LOL!!!

Since we live about 1 hour from Galveston, it's a breeze for us on embarkation day!! For those flying in to Houston, I would highly recommend to try to fly into Hobby Airport which is much closer to Galveston than Bush Intercontinental and get an Uber or some sort of shuttle to Galveston. I would NOT stay in a hotel near Hobby Airport - that is a very shady area with lots of shady people! I would get a hotel, condo rental or AirBNB on Galveston island and start your vacation there. There are lots of great restaurants on the island and you're much closer to the port.

I usually bring a few of the cheap battery powered votive candles. They are not real bright and we can place them where we want.

We spent a week in Hawaii in March and the week after we got home, we all came down with cough, sinus stuff and headaches. Some of us tested positive for Covid and some not - who knows?!? Because of my age, etc., I took Paxlovid for 5 days and it did help a lot. Until we all build up stronger immunity to these new viruses, we'll get them. This will not stop me from living my life and my 2 cruises this summer!!