sjlogghe

Been there, done that. I’ve spent lots of time looking at shuttles, car services, trying to book online, multiple times. None of the shuttles have availability for that morning, and haven’t for weeks. And I’m not willing to pay the $200-250 one way for 2 people that the car services are asking. Royal won’t let me book their shuttle because I’m not flying in the same day, and the royal shuttle on disembarkation day is wait listed. I tried the salt water moms people through fb, they were booked over a month ago. Believe me - I’ve spent WAY more than 10 minutes doing research on this, and not just last minute either!! It’s been very frustrating to say the least, and will probably prevent me from cruising out of Galveston again. So if anyone is able to answer my original question about where Uber drops off, I’d greatly appreciate it!! 😊

Where did Uber drop you off at the port? I've read that they aren't able to drop you off in the terminal, but Lyft can. I will be going from IAH to Galveston this Sunday. Lyft is $32 more for a scheduled ride right now, I'm trying to decide if that is worth it to be dropped off at the terminal. If Uber would only be a block or two walk, then yes, we can handle that. But if it's more than that, with luggage and such, I'm thinking it might be worth the extra money. Thanks for any info you can give me!

Just make sure it's a certified birth certificate. Has to have the raised seal on it.

Do you know where Uber drops you off at the port in Galveston? I've heard they didn't pay to be able to drop off at the terminal, but then I heard they now have paid. Reserving an Uber is about $30 cheaper than Lyft right now. Can you reserve a Lyft on the day you return? I've never reserved a ride through Uber/Lyft before, so I'm not sure how it works. I guess I'll see in a week when I have a scheduled Uber from Houston to Galveston!!

Sorry to hear this! I was almost in the same boat - I really didn't want to have to use a birth certificate, but was glad to have it as a backup option and not have to completely cancel my cruise. I submitted my online renewal on January 24th, expedited service. It said 3-5 week processing time. As of this past Thursday, 3/23, still "in process." I had seen a video online of someone mentioning contacting their state Senator, so I looked into it. Both of my senators had a specific page on their website regarding passport help! On Thursday afternoon I filled out the online form, then printed and faxed an authorization form to them. Friday morning I got an email from the Senator's office stating they had contacted the passport agency on my behalf. What do you know, I received an email from the passport agency Friday evening at about 6 pm saying my passport had shipped!! It arrives Monday, I leave for my cruise Saturday. Phew! It is so frustrating that this is happening to a lot of people. And also frustrating that it took contacting my Senator to get anything accomplished! I had called the passport line many times, most of the time I couldn't get through, and the 2 times I was able to get through they weren't much help. And forget trying to make an in person appt, they told me I'd have to wait until Monday and good luck actually getting an appt!

I would contact your state Senator. I saw this mentioned on a video, so I tried it. Both of my Senators had a specific page on their website that I could fill out info, then I had to sign and fax a "release" form for them to be able to contact the agency regarding my passport. I did this on Thursday afternoon. Friday morning, I received an email from my Senator's office that said they had contacted the passport agency on my behalf. And magically on Friday afternoon, I received an email that my passport had shipped!! I should have it in hand on Monday. 🥳 I also called the general passport line on Wednesday. They said they would send a message to the passport agency assigned to my renewal (mine happened to be Tuscon) and let them know it is now urgent, that I have travel within 14 days. I don't know if that did anything, I really think it was probably contacting my Senator that actually helped.

Or cutting it into 2 halves of 4 oz each?

We'll be on Allure out of Galveston in about 2.5 weeks. There aren't a lot of options for transport to/from the terminal from Houston! I currently have an Uber reserved on embarkation day ... the shuttle I had found only had times left that would get us there after our check-in time. Also, we are staying at a hotel the night prior, so I think it will just be easier to be picked up at the hotel then to have to take a shuttle back to the airport to catch another shuttle. Right now, Uber is about $60 for 2 people. Does that sound about right? How long should I plan for to get from Houston (IAH area hotel) to the terminal? I'm debating on how to get from the terminal back to the airport. We fly out of HOU. There is Galveston Express that has a decent time available. There's also a shuttle booked through RC - are there different times to pick from or is it just one time, and you're pretty early off the boat? Or an Uber, but that's not letting me reserve ahead of time because I'm going to the airport. I've read a few things that say the new Galveston terminal is sort of a nightmare in terms of finding the shuttles or Uber. Does anyone have recent experience with this?? I'd like to book Galveston Express, as it's less expensive than the RC shuttle, and I can pick a time that's not super early (I'd rather stay on the boat a little bit longer than sit in the airport.) But if it's going to be more hassle than it's worth, then maybe it'd be better off to book RC shuttle. Any insight or recommendations would be appreciated!

This makes my blood boil!! (Ticked at the passport people, not you. Ha) I submitted mine for expedited renewal on Jan 24. Still nothing. 3 weeks before yours was submitted, and still showing in process. 🤬 It's been 7 weeks now. That means the initial email I received that said 3-5 weeks was wrong and the online current processing time of 5-7 weeks is incorrect as well. I am so annoyed, and would like my $60 back that I paid for expedited processing - because clearly it hasn't been expedited!!!

Just looked at the email again, and this is what it says: I really hope that you can forgive us and understand that it was an honest mistake. We will though provide you with a $50 USD Onboard Credit, which can be used pre-cruise to book packages and experiences via My Royal Cruise or use it anywhere onboard. (My bolding) So I think we'll be ok!

Same - I was wondering if this would happen. I was going to book something last night to use the $200, but there wasn't anything else I wanted to book. And the things I already have booked were cheaper when I booked them, so it didn't make sense cancelling and rebooking. Bummer. I can still use this credit on board the ship, correct? Even though it says to spend on pre-cruise purchases??

Actually, this is true. I've done it for years! I hate lukewarm water, and I hate paying $5/bottle for it when there's fountains and bottle fillers all over. Before I leave home I fill up my water bottle with ice from the fridge, then when I get to the airport I just dump out any of the melted liquid and send the water bottle with ice through in my backpack. I've never had any issues! I actually had a TSA agent tell me this one time when he saw me dumping out the water and ice from my bottle.

As others have said, don't wait for the email! I'm on Allure the first week in April. I basically just checked online every day. Our cruise leaves April 2, booking became available March 4. I didn't get the email about booking until the afternoon of March 6. I would also recommend checking a couple times a day when it gets to around that 30 day mark. When I checked on the 4th mid morning, it talked about reserving times, but nothing was actually loaded and available. Then early afternoon, I happened to check again, and bam - they were there!

Supposedly there was a breakdown in the system for renewals, and that's why it's all of a sudden taking so long?? I don't know, I got that info from my sister - who doesn't even have a passport. LOL She also told me that a friend of hers tried to get an in person appt for renewal, because they had a trip coming up, and were told they can't renew in person. Which is not what I've read online - I'm wondering if she wasn't able to get an appt because they were all booked up and misunderstood?? I'm starting to freak out a little bit ... our cruise is out of Galveston, we visit Honduras and Mexico. Is it true I can take a certified birth certificate if I don't have my passport by then?? I'm hoping this is true!! I'll also be gone on a trip to AZ in 1.5 week, so that complicates trying to go in person if I haven't gotten it yet!

It doesn't yet, it says Request Submitted. Thanks for that info - I didn't know I could look at that. I'll keep an eye on it!

Thanks. I called and got a message that they can't take my call due to high call volumes. Ha. I will try later. I did go online and change my shipping to expedited, hopefully that sends a flag to them that I need it now? 😅 I didn't do the expedited shipping initially, because I figured 3-5 weeks for expedited processing still gave me a month for it to get to me through shipping. Plenty of time! HAHAHA If I don't get it by Friday, I'm calling to make an appt ... it'd still be 3 weeks out from my trip, but I'll just try for an appt that's within the 14 day timeframe for my trip, hoping that by calling early I'll have a better chance at getting an appt!

What number did you call to check on completion?? I'd like to do that!!

I submitted online for renewal on 1/24. I don't know what day it flipped to "processing" as I didn't keep that close of an eye on it. I did pay for the expedited processing. When I submitted, it said expedited processing time was 3-5 weeks. 2 weeks after, it changed to 5-7 weeks. Tomorrow will be 7 weeks since submission. 🤬 If it doesn't change to Printed in the next day or two, I may call and make an in person appointment! Ugh. I leave for my cruise 4/1, so I do have a LITTLE bit of time - but it's still making me nervous!! 😩

I cruise on Allure first week of April. Our entertainment times just became available for booking, and to me they are all at weird times!! Admittedly, this is my 2nd RC cruise and my previous cruise was just a 4 night about 5-6 years ago. So I feel like this is really my first RC cruise. We are booked for the late traditional dining, which is 7:45 on our cruise. We have found we don't like to be rushed after a day in port or on the pool deck to make early dining, but prefer traditional dining with the same waiters, no wait, etc. A few of the times for the shows were at 7:30 or 8:00, with not really an earlier time to go before late seating. I'm used to there being an early show for the late diners to go to, and a late show for the early diners to go to. Not the case at all on this cruise! I was able to find times that work for all the big shows we want to see, but one night we are going to have to skip the main dining and go somewhere else because the show starts at 7:30. Also, the afternoon showing of Mamma Mia! is on a port day!! I was a bit disappointed about that, but what do you do! 🤷‍♀️ ETA: I have cruised quite a bit on other cruise lines, I guess I'm just not used to the RC way of things! Ha

Not careless for going at all, this is definitely the new norm! I avoided Covid for 2 years - I'm a Nurse, was working in a large hospital with many Covid surges at the time, so I was proud of myself! Then I went on a cruise, and that ended my Covid free bragging rights! 😆 I got it bad - laid me out for an entire week! Didn't regret the cruise one little bit. The funny thing - there were 3 of us all in the same room, myself and 2 good friends. Only 2 of us got Covid! We pretty much did the same things, all flew there and home, same excursions, etc. There really is no rhyme or reason to Covid - so I don't worry about it anymore. Enjoy life while you can!! 😎🚢 ETA: Thanks for the review, I really enjoyed it! Headed out on Allure in April, my second time on RC and first time on Oasis class ship. Your points are very helpful!

Oops! Didn't mean to post twice in a row, I didn't realize I had to click the follow thread button before I posted. And then couldn't delete a post!

I would love to hear from you after the Feb cruise as well! We're looking at doing LFK in April, but just nervous after the fb posts, seeing posts about being scammed, etc. I hope you have an amazing time!!